Chapter VI: Part 6

I preceed then to other Matters, and shall give you an Example of the Chastity of _Turkish_ Women. The _Turks_ take more Pains to have their Wives modest, than any other Nation; and, therefore, they ordinarily keep them close up at home, and hardly suffer them to see the Sun; but if any necessity calls them abroad, they go so hooded and veil’d, as if they were Hobgoblins or Ghosts. ’Tis true, they can see Men through their Veils or Hoods, but no part of their Bodies is open to Man’s View; for they have this Tradition among them, that it is impossible for a Man to look on a Woman, especially if she be young and handsome, without desiring to enjoy her; and by that Desire the Mind is excited, and therefore they keep them all covered. Their own Brothers have Liberty to see them; but their Husband’s Brothers have not the same Permission. The nobler and richer sort, when they marry, do it with this Condition, that their Wives shall never set a Foot out of Door; and no Person living, either Male or Female, be the Cause what it will, shall ever have leave to see them; no, not their nearest Alliance in Blood, except only the Father and Mother, who, at _Easter_, (their _Bairam_) are permitted to see their Daughter; and, in lieu of this Strictness, if the Wife have Parents of the better sort, and she bring her Husband a large Dowry, the Husband, on his part promiseth, that he will never have any Concubines, but will keep to her alone.

In other Cases, the _Turks_ have as many Concubines as they will, besides their lawful Wives; and the Children of both are equally respected, and have as much Privilege one as the other. Their Concubines they either buy, or take them in War, and, when they are weary of them, may sell them in the open Market; only if they have Children by them, then they obtain their Liberty. This made _Roxolana_ stand upon her Terms with _Solyman_, in having brought him forth a Son, when she was a Slave, and thereby obtain’d Manumission. Hereupon she refused to submit to his Will any longer, unless he married her; which he, doting for Love, wou’d do, against the Custom of the _Ottoman_ Princes.

A lawful Wife, with them, differs from a Concubine, only upon the account of her Dowry, which a lawful Wife hath, but a Concubine hath not. And when once her Dowry is assigned her, then she is a Mistress; Governess of the House, and all the other Women under her. And yet the Husband hath leave to lie with which of them he pleases at his Choice; and when he makes known his Pleasure to his Wife, she bids the Maid of his desires prepare herself for his Bed; and she obeys; perhaps, more joyfully than her Mistress commands her. Only _Friday_ Night, which is their _Sabbath_, the Wife claims as her due, and she thinks herself wrong’d, if her Husband defraud her thereof; other Nights he may lie with which of his Slaves he pleases.

Divorces are made among them for many Causes, which Men easily pretend; and when a Wife is divorced, her Dowry is restored, unless she be put away on a dishonest Account: But Women have but few; to instance some among those few, this is one, if their Husband do not allow them due Maintenance; and if they offer to abuse them against Nature, (a Crime usual among them) then the Wife goes to the Judge, and tells him, she can no longer endure to live with her Husband; when he asks the Cause, they say nothing, but pull off their Shoe from their Feet, and turn it up and down, which is a Sign among them of the unlawful use of Copulation. The greatest sort among them, that have abundance of Women, set _Eunuchs_ to guard them, not such as have only their Stones taken out, but such whose Yards are also impaired; because other wise they think, such as have lost their Stones only, may desire the use of a Woman, tho’ not for Generation, yet for Pleasure. The great Men also have Baths at their own Houses, wherein they and their Women do wash; but the meaner sort use public Baths.

A _Turk_ hates bodily Filthiness and Nastiness, worse than Soul-Defilement; and, therefore, they wash very often, and they never ease themselves, by going to Stool, but they carry Water with them for their Posteriors. But ordinarily the Women bathe by themselves, Bond and Free together; so that you shall many times see young Maids, exceeding beautiful, gathered from all Parts of the World, exposed Naked to the view of other Women, who thereupon fall in Love with them, as young Men do with us, at the sight of Virgins.

By this you may guess, what the strict Watch over Females comes to, and that it is not enough to avoid the Company of an adulterous Man, for the _Females_ burn in Love one towards another; and the Pandaresses to such refined Loves are the Baths; and, therefore, some _Turks_ will deny their Wives the use of their public Baths, but they cannot do it altogether, because their Law allows them. But these Offences happen among the ordinary sort; the richer sort of Persons have Baths at home, as I told you before.

It happened one time, that at the public Baths for Women, an old Woman fell in Love with a Girl, the Daughter of a poor Man, a Citizen of _Constantinople_; and, when neither by wooing nor flattering her, she could obtain that of her which her mad Affection aim’d at, she attempted to perform an Exploit almost incredible; she feign’d herself to be a Man, changed her Habit, hired an House near the Maid’s Father, and pretended she was one of the _Chiauxes_ of the _Grand Seignior_; and thus, by reason of his Neighbourhood, she insinuated herself into the Man’s Acquaintance, and after some time, acquaints him with the desire of his Daughter. In short, he being a Man in such a prosperous Condition, the Matter was agreed on, a Portion was settled, such as they were able to give, and a Day appointed for the Marriage; when the Ceremonies were over, and this doughty Bridegroom went into the Bride-chamber to his Spouse; after some Discourse, and plucking off her Headgeer, she was found to be a Woman. Whereupon the Maid runs out, and calls up her Parents, who soon found that they had married her, not to a _Man_, but a _Woman_: Whereupon, they carried the supposed Man, the next day, to the General of the _Janizaries_, who, in the Absence of the _Grand Seignior_, was Governor of the City. When she was brought before him, he chide her soundly for her beastly Love; what, says he, are you not asham’d, an old Beldam as you are, to attempt so notorious a Bestiality, and so filthy a Fact?

Away, Sir, says she! You do not know the Force of Love, and God grant you never may. At this absurd Reply, the Governor could scarce forbear Laughter, but commanded her, presently, to be pack’d away and drown’d in the Deep; such was the unfortunate Issue of her wild Amours. For you must know, that the _Turks_ make no noise when _secret_ Offences are committed by them, that they may not open the Mouths of Scandal and Reproach; but _open_ and _manifest_ ones they punish most severely. I am afraid the Relation of that dismal Example hath grated your Ears. I shall, therefore, now endeavour to make you amends, by acquainting you with a pleasant Story, which, I believe, will go near to make you smile. ’Tis this.

Upon the Account of the Troubles in _Hungary_, there came lately a Messenger to me, with an Express from my Master, the Emperor. The _Bashaws_ would not let him bring his Letters directly to me, as they were wont to be brought, but they carried him first into the _Divan_. The Reason of this their unusual Procedure, was, because they would fain know what _Cæsar_’s Letters did contain, before they were delivered, in regard they suspected I dealt not faithfully with them, in communicating my Master’s Sense, but that I suppressed some of his Concessions. The Messenger was cunning enough for them; for, having some inkling of the Matter before-hand, he hid _Cæsar_’s Letters, and only shew’d them those that were directed to me, from some particular Friends. Their interpreter, _Ebrahim_, a _Polander_ by Birth, had acquainted them before, that the Letters, that brought any secret Commands to me, were not written in an ordinary Character, but in a new kind of Marks, called _Cyphers_. As they were searching all my Letters, at last they light upon One, that was wrote to me by a Friend of mine, a Secretary of _Burgundy_. _Ebrahim_ saw, through the thinness of the Paper wherein ’twas writ, some shining Letters, which were not of an ordinary sort. O! says he, now I have found it out; don’t you meddle with any of the rest of the Packet, for here’s the Secrecy in this. Whereupon the _Bashaws_ commanded him to open, read, and interpret it to them, and they all stood listning to hear the News; but _Ebrahim_ told them plainly, that he could not read one Letter of it. That’s strange, says the _Bashaws_; what, did you never learn the _Christian_ Alphabet; or have you forgot it? Says _Ebrahim_, this sort of Character is only known to those who are Secretaries to Princes: They did not well understand him; but however, say they, if it be so, why dost thou not make haste to the Secretary of the _Bailo_ of _Venice_, or of _Florence_? _Ebrahim_ presently makes haste to them, and shews them the Letters; (they were writ in might such a Character that a Child ten Years old have read them;) but both those Secretaries, when they saw the Letter was superscrib’d to me, threw it back again before they had well look’d upon it; alledging, in Excuse, that such kind of Letters could be read by none, unless by him who had another Cypher to unfold them. This was all the Answer _Ebrahim_ could get of them. Upon his Return to the _Bashaws_ therewith, they could not tell what in the World to do: At last, starts up one (I could not tell his Name) saying, there is a Patriarch in Town, and old Man, and a _Christian_, and, besides, a great Scholar; if any Man can read these Letters, it must be he. When they came to the Patriarch, he told them, he could not read a Tittle of them, for they were not writ in _Greek_, _Latin_, _Hebrew_ or _Chaldee_. Thus they were disappointed there also. At last, _Haly Bassa_ runs to _Rustan_ (otherwise a Man not ready to jest) and says to him _Cardassi_ (Brother in _Turkish_), I remember, I had once a Servant, an _Italian_, who was skilled in all Letters and Tongues, I do not question but he could have read the Letter; but, alas! he is lately dead. At last, they being at a stand what to do, thought it best to send the Letters, which they could make no use of, to me. I knew all the Matter by _Ebrahim_ beforehand, (neither could it be kept secret); whereupon I began to stamp and fret that they had intercepted my Letters against the Law of Nations, and in Contempt of _Cæsar_ who sent them; and, withal, I bid _Ebrahim_ stay, and to Morrow he should see that Letter translated for the _Bashaws_. The next day, when _Ebrahim_ appeared in the _Divan_, they asked of him, whether I could read those Letters? Read them, says he! as easily as his own Name; and thereupon he produced some of them translated before them, _viz._ what I had a mind to discover. Whereupon, says _Rustan_, this Ambassador is but a young Man, and yet we see he can understand what the old Patriarch could not so much as read; without doubt, if he live to be old, he will prove a very _Nonsuch_ of a Man. For that reason it was, or perhaps some other, that a while after, having Conference with _Rustan_ about our Affairs, he treated me more familiarly than he used to do, (which was a rare thing in him) and at last he ask’d me, why I would not turn to their Religion, and to the true Worship of God? If I would do so, he promised me great Honour and a large Reward from their Emperor _Solyman_. I told him, I was resolved to continue in that Religion, wherein I was born, and which my Master, _Cæsar_, did profess. Be it so, replied he; but what then will become of your Soul? I subjoined, I hope well for that too; whereupon he, after a little Pause, broke forth into these Words. ’Tis true, indeed, and I am almost of your Mind, that they who live holy and modest Lives in this present World, shall obtain eternal Life in the next, be they of what Religion they will. That’s an Heresy, that some of the _Turks_ have taken up, neither is _Rustan_ thought to be a true _Mussulman_ in all Points. The _Turks_ thinks it a Duty, and a work of Piety in them, to persuade a _Christian_ they have any good Opinion of, to their Religion; for then they think, they shall save a Soul from Destruction, and that they count a great Honour to themselves, and the greatest Charity they can do another Man, to make him a Convert to their Religion.

I shall now acquaint you with the Effects of another Conference I had with _Rustan_, whereby you may see what daily Feuds are between the _Turks_ and _Persians_, upon the account of Religion. He ask’d me, one time, whether the War did continue between _Spain_ and _France_? I told him, it did. ’Tis strange, says he, that they should fall out that are of one and the same Religion: I replied, ’tis no otherwise between those two Princes, than ’tis betwixt _you_ and the _Persians_. The Dispute is not about Religion, but about civil Right; Provinces, Cities and Kingdoms, which both lay claim to. You are quite mistaken, says _Rustan_, we are not of the same Religion with the _Persians_, but do count them a more Profane and _Heathenish_ sort of People than you _Christians_ are. But to return to the Affairs of _Hungary_.

Since my last Return to _Constantinople_, Matters in _Hungary_ have received a very great Alteration, it would be too tedious to describe them particularly; and, besides, it were not conducive to my Design. _Isabella_, Wife to King _John_, is returned into _Transilvania_, together with her Son, having refused the Transactions and broken the League made with the Emperor _Ferdinand_; and the _Transilvanians_, terrified by the _Turkish_ Arms, have again submitted their Necks to the old _Ottoman_ Yoke. Matters succeeding thus prosperously with the _Turks_, they are not therewith contented, but grasp at all _Hungary_ too; and, besides other Places, they resolved to besiege _Sigeth_, which signifies in the _Hungarian_ Language, an _Island_, or Place naturally very strongly situated. And for this purpose they chose a General, who, upon the account of the Prosperity of his Arms in former times, created great Confidence in his own Men, and struck as much Terror into his Enemy: His Name was _Haly Bassa_, an _Epirot_, who had had good Success in _Hungary_ before, and especially in the Battel, wherein he overthrew _Sforza Palavicino_, and the Bishop of Five Churches. He was sent for from the utmost Bounds of the _Turkish_ Empire towards _Persia_, and came with great Expectation to _Constantinople_: My Collegues were yet here with me, pressing for a Dismission. ’Twas the pleasure of the _Bashaws_ that we should see him, in regard we counted him, as they thought, the very Thunder-bolt of War.

When we came to him, he received us courteously, and made a great Harangue to this purpose: That, “we should study Peace, and rather than suffer _Hungary_ to be wasted with Fire and Sword, we should accept those Conditions, which the _Grand Seignior_ had offered us.” We answered him, that “we desired nothing more than Peace; provided it might be had upon tolerable Conditions; but those which they offered, were against the Honour and Dignity of our Master.” Thus we took our leaves, after he had treated us with a Cup of Water diluted with Sugar. This _Haly_ was an Eunuch, but the Constitution of his Body did seem to add to the vigour of his Mind: He was low of Stature, bloted in his Body, of a Bay-coloured Countenance, a sour Look, frowning Eyes, broad Shoulders and sticking up, between which stood his Head, as in a Valley. Two Teeth were prominent in his Mouth, like Boar’s Tusks, his Voice hoarse; in a Word, he was the Fourth Fury.

The Day after he makes great Preparation for his Expedition into _Hungary_; where having spent some Time to provide Materials, he at last marches against _Sigeth_, and beats off those which were repairing _Babock_, a Castle of _Cæsar_’s; but _Cæsar_, being acquainted long before with his Design, lends _Ferdinand_, one of his three Sons, a young Man, yet comparable, for greatness of Mind, to any of the old Generals, to oppose the Torrent of _Haly Bassa_’s Force, and by his Valour to retrieve Affairs in _Hungary_: He had no great Forces with him, but with a select Body of Horse he faces _Haly_’s Army; the _Turks_ that were present, related to me, that ’twas a goodly Sight to behold the Splendor, Order and Boldness of those Forces. _Haly_, being naturally of a fierce Disposition, and having a far greater Army, was even mad to think that a handful of _Christians_ should dare to look him in the Face.

There was a moorish Piece of Ground between both Armies, which could not be passed without great Danger; _Ferdinand_ had no need to pass it, for his Design was only to relieve _Sigeth_, and to raise the Siege: But _Haly Bassa_, was not in the same Circumstances; for, unless he would make a base and unhandsome Retreat (as the Event afterwards shewed) ’twas altogether necessary for him to do it; So that he, seeing to what Straits he was brought, resolved to put all upon hazard, and accordingly he bent his Bridle, to turn his Horse towards that inconvenient Place; when, behold! one of the _Sanziacks_, that was near him, whose Name I remember not, taking Notice of the extream Danger he was running into, leap’d from his Horse, and taking the _Bashaw_’s Horse by the Bridle, _Sultan_, says he (for so the _Turks_ call the great Dignitaries among them) _Here you see into what a Jeopardy you were like to cast both yourself and your whole Army; you don’t consider what an incommodious Place this Marish is: The ~Christians~ are ready on the other side with Arms in Hand and Courage in their Hearts, to receive us, when we are half drowned and half covered with Mud; and thus they in good Order will assault us, being disordered and out of our Ranks, and will make use of all our Imprudence, to obtain a most assured Victory over us: Nay, rather moderate your Anger, and return to yourself and reserve so many brave Men, with yourself for the Service of your Prince, and for better Times._ Upon this Speech, _Haly_, as if he had recollected himself, drew back; and there was not any _Turk_ amongst them, but was forced to confess, that the whole Army was sav’d by the Advice of that _Sanziack_.

When this matter was carried to _Constantinople_, though the _Vizier_ and the Chief _Bashaws_ could not deny the Thing, yet they thought it dangerous to suffer the Example of so audacious a Fact in the _Sanziack_ to pass unpunished: ’Tis true, they did mutteringly commend both his Fidelity and his Prudence; yet to suffer Disobedience to a superior Officer to pass without due Punishment, they thought it a dangerous Case in Military Discipline, so that he was called back to _Constantinople_, and there was cashiered for a Time; and when this Offence was sufficiently punished, as they thought, they bestowed upon him as good a Command; so that every Body saw his Punishment was inflicted rather for the preservation of the Discipline of War, than for any dire Merit of his Offence.

_Haly_, a while after, having lost a great Part of his Army, by the Charges and Ambuscades of the _Hungarians_, made an ignoble and shameful Retreat to _Buda_, where for very Grief he breathed out his hateful Soul.

But Arch-duke _Ferdinand_, on the other side, returned to _Ferdinand_ his Father, with the deserved Laurel of Victory, having performed an Exploit, not only of great Advantage for the present, but of much greater Benefit to future Ages, by the Example it gave; for hereby he made the _Turks_ to know that if they proceeded on to press upon _Cæsar_, he wanted neither able Soldiers, nor expert Commanders to chastise their Insolency.

Yet the _Turks_ of those Borders did not carry it with any great Modesty; for, while _Haly_ was yet encamped at _Sigeth_, our Men had scaled the Walls of _Gran_, and taken the City, having a Castle near it of the same Name, where they got a great deal of Booty, and carried away the Inhabitants, being mostly Women and Children.

A Messenger was sent immediately to _Haly_, to acquaint him of the Loss; who coming into his Presence, by the very Consternation of his Countenance portended some great Mischief to have happened to them. The _Bassa_ presently asked him, how Things went? and what was the Cause of his great Fear? _Sir_, says he, _the Enemy hath taken and plundered ~Gran~; which great Blow occasions my Grief_. _A Blow, Fool_, says the _Bassa_! _tell me of a Blow when I have lost my Genitals_ (to which he pointed with his Hand) _that shew me to be a Man_. Thus did he scoff at the Consternation of the Messenger, not without the Laughter of the By-standers, and undervalued the Loss of _Gran_, which was easily recoverable.

Moreover, in _Croatia_ and the adjoyning Countries, several Inroads were made by both Parties, and each side did alternately suffer for their over-boldness and supine Security. Let me give you an Instance, which, as it gave me joy, will not, I dare say, be unpleasant, to you to hear of. It happened, indeed, some what before the Passage at _Sigeth_ lately mentioned; but in Writing an Epistle, I do not strictly observe the Order of Time.

News was brought to _Rustan_, from those Parts, that a certain Confident of his, whom he highly esteemed, and called Cousin, had fallen upon a Party of _Christians_, as they were celebrating a Wedding, and being at a sufficient Distance, as they thought, from the _Turks_, counted themselves secure; when behold this bold and unwelcome Guest, with Armed Forces, came in upon them, spoiled their Mirth, slew some, and took some Prisoners, among whom was the unfortunate Bridegroom, with his un-bedded Spouse: _Rustan_ did much rejoyce at this Exploit, and in all Companies highly commended the Stratagem of his Kinsman, for performing it.

A pitiful Case, you will say, rather to be lamented than related: But these are the Tragical Sports of insolent Fortune; yet Revenge followed him at the Heels, _Rustan_’s Laughter was soon turned to Sadness: For a little while after one of the _Deli’s_, or mad Sparks, a sort of furious Horsemen among the _Turks_, so called by their outragious Boldness, came post to him out of _Dalmatia_, and told him, that a parcel of _Turks_ had made an Excursion into the Enemies Country, and had got great Booty, but seting no bounds to their Avarice, they, at last were encountered with a Party of _Christians_, _Dragoons_ or _Musketeers_, who totally routed them, slew many _Sanziacks_, and among them his _Achillean_ Cousin, lately so much extolled by him. This sad News made _Rustan_ burst out into Tears, so that his fit of Laughter was justly requited. But hearken to the close of the Story, which is not unpleasant: When this _Dalmatian_ Trooper, who brought the News, was asked by the _Bassa_, in the _Divan_, How many were there of you? He answered, above two thousand five hundred: And how many of the _Christians_? I think, says he, they were not above five hundred, unless there were more of them in ambush, as we suspected. Fie for Shame, said the fretting _Bassas_! what! a regular Army of _Mussulmans_ (so they call the Men of their own Religion) to be beaten by so small a handful of _Christians_! You are goodly Warriors indeed! fit to eat the _Sultan_’s Bread, are, you not? The blunt Fellow, nothing dismay’d, replied, you are quit beside the Cushion; did I not tell you that we were beaten by Musketeers? ’Twas the Fire defeated us, not the Valour of our Enemies. We had come off Conquerors, if we had contested by Valour only; but who can fight against Fire, the fiercest of Elements? and what Mortal can stand, if the very Elements fight against him? This bold Answer of his, being as saucily pronounced, made the By-standers ready to burst out into a Laughter, though on this sad occasion to them.

This Matter did very much raise my Spirits, which were quite sunk at the Remembrance of the former Mis-hap of the Marriage-Feast. This Story informs us, that our Pistols and Carbines, which are used on Horseback, are a great Terror to the _Turks_, as I hear they are to the _Persians_ also; for once, there was a Fellow that persuaded _Rustan_, when he accompanied his Prince in a War against _Persia_, to arm two hundred Horse of his Domesticks with Pistols: For those, said he, will be terrible to our Enemy, and will also do great execution upon them. _Rustan_ hearkned to his Counsel, and furnished out a Party, as advised; but, before they had marched half way, their Carbines or Pistols were ever now and then out of Order; one thing or other was broke or lost, and scarce any Body could mend them: Hereupon this Party was useless. The _Turks_ were also against this Armature, because it was slovenly (the _Turks_, you must know, are much for cleanliness in War); for the Troopers Hands were black and sooty, their Cloaths full of Spots, and their Case-boxes that hung by their Sides made them ridiculous to their Fellow-Soldiers, who therefore jeered them, with the Title _Medicamentarii_, or _Mountebank Soldiers_; hereupon they apply themselves to _Rustan_, complaining of this broken, useless Armour, which could do no Service against an Enemy, and entreating to have their usual Weapons again, their Bows and Arrows; which, are readily granted them.

The mention I made a while ago of things acted in the Confines of _Hungary_, gives me occasion to tell you, what the _Turks_ think of Duels, which amongst _Christians_ is accounted a singular Proof of personal Valour. There was one _Arslambeg_, a _Sanziack_, that lived in the Frontiers of _Hungary_, who was very much famed for a robust Person; he was very expert at the Bow; no Man brandished his Sword with more Strength, or was more terrible to his Enemy. Not far from him there dwelt one _Uliber_, a _Sanziack_ also, who was emulous of the same Praise; and this Emulation (heighten’d, perhaps, by other Motives) at length occasioned Hatred and many bloody Combats between them. It happened thus, _Uliber_ was sent for to _Constantinople_; upon what occasion I know not. When he came thither, and the _Bashaws_ had asked many Questions of him, in the _Divan_, concerning other Matters, at last they demanded how he and _Arslambeg_ (_Arsla_ signifies a Lion in _Turkey_) came to fall out? Hereupon he makes a long Narration of the Grudges between them, with their Causes and Progress; and to put a fairer Gloss on his own Cause, he added, that once _Arslambeg_ had laid an Ambush, and wounded him treacherously: And that, said he, he needed not have done, if he would have shewed himself worthy the Name he bears; for I have often challenged him to fight Hand to Hand, and never shun’d to meet him in the Field. The _Bashaws_, much offended, thus replied, _How durst thou challenge thy Fellow-Soldier to a Duel? What, was there never a ~Christian~ to fight with? Do not both of you eat your Emperor’s Bread? And yet, forsooth, you must go about to take away one another’s Lives! What Precedent had you for this? Don’t you know, that whoever of the two had died, the Emperor had lost a Subject?_ Whereupon, by their Command, he was haled to Prison, where he lay pining many Months, and was, at last, with Difficulty, released; yet with the loss of his Reputation.

Among us _Christians_, many who have never come in sight of a public Enemy, draw their Swords upon one another, and think it a brave and honourable Thing. What shall a Man do in such a Case, when Vice usurps the seat of Virtue, and that which deserves Punishment, is counted noble and glorious? But to return, I know you are inquisitive, and therefore give me leave to acquaint you with the public Entrance, which the King of _Cholchos_ made into this City. His Kingdom is by the River _Phasis_, in a Creek or Bay of the _Euxine_ Sea, not far from Mount _Caucasus_. His Name is _Dadianus_, a Man of a tall Stature and grateful Countenance, but of a rough-hew’n Disposition, as some say. He came with a great Train, but in a very Thread-bare, and old-fashion’d Garb. The _Italians_, at this Day, call the _Colchians Mingrelians_: They are some of that People, inhabiting between the _Caspian Gates_, (called by the _Turks_, _Demit capi_, i. e. _Iron Gates_,) and the _Potic_ and _Hyrcanian_-Seas: They are at this Day called _Georgians_; whether from that sort of Christian Religion, which they profess, or whether that be their ancient Name (which seems most probable,) is not fully determined. The _Albanians_ and _Iberians_ are reckoned a Part of them. The Cause of his coming is uncertain: Some say, he was sent for by the _Turk_; for, when he makes Wars upon the _Persian_, if the _Colchians_ and the People of that Tract join with him, they may give him notable Assistance. But the vulgar and more credible Opinion was, that he came to desire the Assistance of some Gallies against his Neighbour, the _Iberian_, who had slain his Father; which if he could obtain, then he would become Tributary to the _Sultan_. For, you must know, that there is an old and inveterate Hatred between the _Colchians_ and the _Iberians_. Once there were some Overtures of Accommodation between them, and a Conference was had thereupon, between great Numbers of both Nations. At this Meeting, they began, first, to try who should be the greatest Drinkers; in which Contest, the _Colchians_, fell fast asleep. The treacherous _Iberians_ made use of this Opportunity, and hurried away honest _Dadianus_ as yet snoring, into a Chariot, and shut him up Prisoner in a high Tower, as if he had been lawful Prize taken in War. To revenge this Injury, and to recover their King, the _Colchians_ levied an Army of 30,000 Men, who were commanded by the Wife of the captive King, a Woman of great Spirit, and not unskill’d in Horsemanship, or handling of Arms. The Commanders, in this Army, wore huge and unwieldy Coats of Mail, and were also armed with Swords and Spears pointed with Iron. They had also amongst them, a party of Musketeers, a strange sight in that Country. As for the common Soldiers, they had no Arms, but Arrows, or Stakes burnt at one end, or great wooden Clubs. Thus they rode on Horseback, without Saddle or other Furnture.

This rude and discomposed Multitude, drew near to the Place where their King was in Custody, but were soon terrified with the Discharge of a few Guns from the Castle, and ran back a full Mile; but then taking Heart, on they came again, but were repulsed with the like Noise as before. _Dadianus_, perceiving help so near, cut his Bedcloaths into a kind of Ropes, and so let himself down by Night, through his Window, and fled to his own People. This Stratagem of their King, and the successful Issue of it, is highly praised by that People, even to this very day.

The Country of _Colchis_ abounds with all sorts of Fruits, growing almost naturally, except Bread-Corn, Wheat and Barley; and these Grains would grow there also, if due Tillage were used about them: But the People are very idle, they only sow Millet at randum, which yields such an Encrease, that one Crop serves them for two Years; their chief Subsistence is thereon, neither desire they any other Corn. Their Vines grow at the foot of high Trees, and mounting up to their Boughs, yield them much Wine, and pretty good. These Vines last for many Years. Their Bees, like themselves, live in the Woods, and supply them with Wax and Honey; all the Pains they take, is, to find them out. The same Woods yield them plenty of Venison; as for Pheasants and Partridges, they abound all over the Country. A great proof of the Fertility of their Land, are their Melons, which, besides their extraordinary Sweetness, do oft grow three Foot long.

As for coin’d Silver, they have little or none, and of Gold less; few of them know what it is: So that they may seem a very happy People, who are without so great a Temptation to Mischief. And yet I think few of us do envy them this Happiness, because none can grow rich among them; yet they have that value for Silver, that when they receive any in Traffick with Foreigners, as some of them must needs do, they transfer it all to he use of their Temples, for making Crucifixes, Chalices and such like Ornaments, which sometimes their King, on pretence of Public Necessity, doth seize upon, and amass it all to his own use.

Their only way of Commerce among themselves is by exchange of Wares. If one have overmuch of a Commodity, he brings it to Market, and receives what he wants in Exchange; so that there is no need of Money, their Commerce is by bartering of Commodities.

They pay also their Tribute to their King in the Products of the Earth; they supply him with all Necessaries largely, both for Meat, Drink, and Apparel, for maintaining of his Houshold, and is reward the Deserving. And, indeed, he hath an unexhausted Revenue, not only from Tenths, and settled Customs, but from those Gifts which are daily bellowed upon him; and yet he is as liberal in bellowing them, as he is ready to receive them.

His Palace is, as a public Granary, stored with all manner of Provisions, which are disposed to all that need, out of his royal Bounty; especially if that Year’s Harvest hath disappointed the Husbandman. The Custom is, that if any Merchant come with his Ship thither, he makes a Present to the King, either small or great, nothing is refused, and the King bestows a Banquet on them ashore. The manner is thus.

There is a large Building, on both sides of which are the King’s Stables, where a long Table is plac’d for the King; he himself fits at the upper end, and, at a moderate Distance, fit the rest. The Table is well furnished, especially with Venison, and with Wine enough; the largest Drinkers are the welcomest Guests. The Queen, with her female Attendants, hath a Table in the same Room, but apart by themselves; and then they junket freely without much regard to Modesty; they carry themselves like Anticks, fleering, nodding, tipping the Wink, like so many _Medea’s_, if there were _Jasons_ ready for them.

After Dinner, the King, with his Guests, goes a Hunting; and, in Woods, under the Shadow of large Trees, the common People divert themselves, and keep Holy-day in Drinking, Dancing and Singing. They hang their Fiddles on long Poles or Boards, and then striking them with a Stick, make Musick, and sing to it the Praise of their Mistresses, or of their valiant Men. Among their Heroes (unless I am misinformed) they often mention one _Rowland_; how he came into that Country I know not, unless he passed thither with _Godfrey_ of _Bullogne_. They tell many prodigious Stories of this _Rowland_, as ridiculous and improbable as any Romance among us.

Whilst they are thus given to Idleness and Luxury, Dissoluteness must needs follow; and, to speak Truth, Chastity is a Virtue rarely found among them. The Husband will offer his own Wife or his Sister, to the Pleasure of a Stranger; and, if they can but thus please their Wives, they care for little else. Neither are their Daughters kept under any stricter Discipline. ’Tis hard to find a Damsel unvitiated among them; nay, some have born Children at ten Years old; and, if you scruple to believe it, because of the smallness of their Bodies, at your Request they will produce you an Infant, not much bigger than a large Frog. Whereas, otherwise, they are a tall and comely bodied People. But they are so void of all Civility and courteous Behaviour, that they think they pay you a great Compliment, if among other Barbarities, when they meet you, they make a certain Sound from their Throats like Belching.

In one thing they shew a great Dexterity of Wit, and that is in Stealing. He that pilfers most neatly, is counted a brave Fellow; but he that does it bungingly, is esteemed a Dunce and a Blockhead, not worthy to live; and even his own Father or his Son, will sell or exchange him for a small Matter to Merchant-strangers, to be carried away they care not whither.

An _Italian_ Merchant who had been in these Parts, told me, that a certain Priest of theirs, stole his Knife as he was in their Temple. He perceived the Theft, but dissembling it, gave him the Sheath also, that he might put up his stol’n Ware.

When they go into their Temples, they have some esteem for the Images of the Virgin _Mary_, of _Peter_ and _Paul_, and other Saints; but their greatest Veneration is for the Image of St. _George_ on Horseback. They fall down prostrate before it, kissing every part of it; even his Horse’s Shoes. They say, he was a valiant Man, a great Warrior, that in a single Combat did openly fight Hand to Hand with the _Devil_, and either conquer’d, or, at least, foil’d him.

I’ll acquaint you with one Passage more, which you cannot but stand amazed at. ’Tis this.

The Princes of the East are always presented with Gifts at any Audience. _Dadianus_, in compliance with this Custom, brought _Solyman_ a Cup or Dish of Carbuncle, so bright and shining, that in a dark Night a Man might travel by the Light of it, as well as at Noon-day. I cannot believe it, you’ll say: Nor do I: Neither can I be angry with you for suspending your Belief; but, whatever you and I do, let me tell you, there are enough that do believe it. The more judicious think it to be a small Goblet of _Carbuncle_, or _Granate_, which was lost in Shipwrack, when a certain Prince of _Persia_ was flying from his Father to _Constantinople_, and driven, by a Tempest, to the _Colchian_ Shore, where it was taken up. He brought also 20 white _Hawks_, called _Falcons_, there being Plenty of them in that Country of _Colchis_.

This is all I can inform you of, concerning the _Colchians_ and their Manners; let me now proceed to answer your Demands concerning my self, and my own way of Living. I seldom go abroad, unless I receive Letters from my Master to be delivered at the Court; or, unless I am commanded to expostulate with the _Bashaws_ concerning the Rapines and Cruelties of the _Turkish_ Garrisons, which is ordinarily twice or thrice a Year. Perhaps, if I would desire leave to ride about the City with my Keeper, it would not be denied me: But I have no mind to be so much beholding to them; for I would have them think that the strictness of my Confinement or Imprisonment is not valued at all by me; and, to speak Truth, what Comfort can I have to ride up and down among a parcel of _Turks_, who will either slight, or else jeer and reproach me? No, I like the Country and the Champaign better than the City; especially that City which is so full of Ruins, and which retains nothing of its ancient Glory, besides its Situation. ’Tis true, it was once a Rival to _Rome_ it self; but now, alas! it is shamefully inslaved; who can without Pity behold it? Who so hard-hearted, as not to be affected with the mutability of human Affairs? And who knows how near we are to the same Fate? I keep my self within my own Doors, conversing with my old Friends, I mean, my Books, in which is all my Delight. ’Tis true, for my Health’s Sake, I have made a Bowling-Green, where, before Dinner, I use to play; and, after Dinner, I practise the _Turkish_ Bow.

The _Turks_ are wondrous expert at shooting with the Bow; they accustom themselves to that Exercise from 7 or 8, to 18 or 20 Years of Age, and hereby their Arms grow stronger, and their Skill so great, that they will hit the smallest Mark with their Arrows. Their Bows are not much stronger, but for their shortness much handier than ours; they are not made of plain Wood, but of a String and Ox’s Horn, fastened with much Glew and Flax. These sort of Bows, though never so strong, the _Turks_, who are used to the Sport, can easily draw even to their very Ear; and yet one that is not accustom’d thereto, though never so strong a Man, cannot draw to that height, so as to strike a piece of Money, set upright between the Bow and the String, in the Angle where it is put into the Notch.

They aim their Arrows so sure, that in a Fight they will hit a Man’s very Eye, or any other Part they design to strike. In the place where they exercise, you may see them direct by their stroke so artificially, that 5 or 6 of their Arrows will stick round about the White in the Butt, (which is usually less than a Dollar) and yet not hurt or touch it. They stand not above 30 Foot from the Butt: In the Thumb of their Right Hand, they use Rings of Bone, on which the String lies, when they draw it; and with the Thumb of their Left Hand, they draw the Arrow by a knot bearing outwards; far otherwise than they do with us. Their Butt is made of a Bank of sandy, gravelly Earth, raised about four Foot high from the Ground, and strongly surrounded with Boards. But the _Bashaws_, and those that have great Families, train up their Servants in this Exercise, at their own Houses, where the more skilful teach the unexperienced. Some of these in their solemn _Bayram_, (for they also have their _Easter_) assemble themselves together in a great Plain about _Pera_, where sitting over-against one another cross-legg’d, as Taylors do with us, (for that is the manner of their sitting) they begin with Prayer (so the _Turks_ begin all their Enterprizes) and then they strive, who shall shoot an Arrow farthest. The whole Contest is managed with a great deal of Decency and Silence, though the number of Spectators be very great. Their Bows are very short for this Exercise, and the shorter the better, so that they are hardly bendable, but by well-practised Persons: Their Arrows also are of a peculiar kind. He that conquers hath a Linnen-Handkerchief, such as we use to wipe off our Sweat, wrought with embroidered Needle-work, for his Reward; but his greatest Encouragement, is the Commendation and Renown he gets. ’Tis almost incredible how far they will shoot an Arrow; they mark the place, with a Stone, where the farthest Arrow, for that Year, was lodg’d. There are many such Stones in the Field, placed there Time out of Mind, which are farther than they are able to shoot now a-days, they say. These were the Marks of their Ancestor’s Archery, whose Skill and Strength in Shooting, they acknowledge, they cannot reach to. In divers Streets and Cross-ways of the City of _Constantinople_, there are also such Sports, wherein not only Children and young Men, but even the graver sort do exercise themselves. There is one that takes care of the Butt, who waters it every Day, otherwise it would be so dry, that an Arrow (the _Turkish_ Arrows being always blunt) would not stick therein. And he that thus oversees the Mark is very diligent to draw out and to cleanse the Arrows, and throw them back to the Archers, and he hath a Stipend from them sufficient to maintain him. The Front of the Butt is like a little Door, whence, perhaps, came the _Greek_ Proverb; that, when a Man miss’d the Mark, he is said to shoot _extra januam_, besides the Door; for, I suppose, the _Greeks_ used this way of Butting, and that the _Turks_ borrowed it from them. I grant the use of the Bow is very ancient among the _Turks_; but that hinders not, but, when they conquered the _Grecian_ Cities, they might still retain their way of butting and bounding their Arrows. For no Nation scruples to transfer the profitable Inventions of other Nations to themselves, as I might instance in _Great Ordnance_, and in _Muskets_, and other things, which, though not our Inventions, yet the _Turks_ borrow their use of from us.

’Tis true, they could never yet be brought to the Printing of Books, nor to the setting up public Clocks. The Reasons are, that their Scripture (_i. e._) _Alchoran_, would no longer be called Scripture, or Writing, if it were Printed, (that’s their Fancy); and for Clocks, they suppose, that the Authority of their _Emraim_, and of their ancient Rites would be diminished, if they should permit the Use of them. In other Cases, they ascribe much to the ancient Institutions of other Nations, even almost to the prejudice of their own Religion. I speak of their Commonalty.

All Men know how averse they are from the approving of _Christian_ Rites and Ceremonies; and, yet, let me tell you, that, whereas the _Greek_ Priests do use, at Spring-time, a certain way of Consecration to open the Sea for Sailors (before which time, they will hardly commit their Vessels to the Waters) the _Turks_ also observe the same Ceremony: For, when their Vessels are ready to sail, they repair to the _Grecians_, and ask them, whether they have consecrated the Sea? If they say _No_, they desist; if _Yea_, then they set sail and away. ’Twas also a Custom of the _Greeks_ not to open the Pits, in the Isle of _Lemnos_, for the digging out of the Earth, called, _Agosphragod_, before the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, _viz._ _August_ 6. The _Turks_ also observe the same Custom; and, whereas the _Grecian_ Priests did anciently celebrate the Liturgy at that time, the _Turks_ will have them do so still; and they themselves stand at a distance, as Spectators only: And, if you ask them, why they do this? Their Answer is, that there are useful Customs practised of old, the Causes whereof are not known. The Ancients, they say, saw and knew more than we; and, therefore, we will not violate their Customs, lest we do it to our loss. This Opinion hath so far prevailed against many of them, that I know some, who in private will baptize their Children, alledging, there is some good in that Rite, and that it was not instituted, at first, without just Cause.

Having acquainted you thus far with the _Turkish_ Exercises, let me add one more. They have a Custom derived from the _Parthians_, that they counterfeit flying away on Horseback, and presently turn back and kill their unwary Pursuers. The way they learn to do it, is this: They erect a high Pole, almost in plain Ground, with a brass Globe on the top of it; about this they spur their Horses, and having got a little beyond, the Horse still galloping, they presently turn about, and flying along, shoot an Arrow into that Globe. The frequent Use hereof makes them expect, that their Bow being turn’d in their Flight, their unwary Enemy is shot through.

’Tis time now, you’ll say, that I return to my Lodging, lest my Keeper should be angry with me. Well, then; what time is left me from beholding these Exercises, I bestow entirely on my Books, or in Conferences with my Friends the Citizens of _Pera_, originally _Genoese_, or others; yet not without the leave of my _Chiauxes_. These Fellows are not always in the same Humour; they have their lucid Intervals, in which they are more tractable than at other times. When ’tis fair Weather with them, the _Ragustæans_, the _Florentines_, the _Venetians_, and sometimes the _Greeks_, with other Nations, come to visit me, on one Account or another; sometimes, also, I converse with Men of more remote Countries, that come hither, whose Conversation much delights me.

A few Months ago, there came hither a Merchant from _Dantzick_, who had the sole vending of Amber. He wondred to what Use the _Turks_ could put so great a Quantity of it, as they bought; or, whither they sent it: At last he was told, that they sent it into _Persia_, where that kind of Juice, or Bitumen, is highly esteemed; for they adorn Parlors, Studies, and Temples with it. He bestowed upon me, a wooden Vessel full of that Liquor, they call _Juppenbier_. It was most excellent Stuff: But I laughed heartily at my Guests, both _Greeks_ and _Italians_, who, not being accustomed to this Liquor, could not tell what to call it. At length, because I told them ’twas good to preserve Health, they thought it was some medicinal Drug, and called it a _Syrup_; but they sipp’d and syrupp’d it about so long, that, at one Dinner, they emptied my Barrel.

This Liberty my _Chiauxes_ (who now and then are changed) do sometimes give me. They are not only willing I should go abroad, but often invite me so to do: But I, as I told you before, always refuse them, that so they may not think they can do me either good or hurt; and the Pretence I make use of is this, that I have tarried so long at Home, that now I am grown to the Walls of the House, so that if I go forth, it would fall. I will not, therefore, stir abroad, say I, till I go for good and all into my own Country.

As for my Family, I am glad that they go abroad sometimes, for thereby they learn to bear the long Absence from their own Country, the better.

But yet when they make use of this Liberty, the drunken _Turks_ often meet and quarrel with them in the Streets, especially, if no _Janizaries_ be with them; and, though there be, yet sometimes Blows happen on both sides: And, therefore, it is troublesome to me, to excuse my Domesticks, when they are clamour’d against; yet, I confess, the surliness and vigilance of my _Chiauxes_, in keeping fast my Doors, do in a great Measure ease me of that troublesome Office. Let me give you a late Instance of this kind.