of dignitie but such also as wolde followe neyther parte when any tumulte or sedition were in the Cittie thinking it to be the part of an yl Cittizen when hee had prouided well for his owne safetye to haue care or respecte of common affayres This also was a straunge decree of his making that such women as had husâ—andes nothing meeâ—e for vene reâ—use acts should take one whoÌ„ they would chose of their husbands kinsâ—olâ—es without dâ—ungeâ—â—â—ee forbad lamentacion mourning in another mans funerâ—llâ— and that the sonne shoulde not geue any help or refreshing to his father if so be y he causedâ— him not to be brought 〈◊〉 in some arte necessary for the vse of life and that there should be no care betwixâ— the parentes and therm that were borne bastardes and in vnlawfull matrimonys For he that doth not kepe himselfe chaste from the company of harlots doth plainlye declare that he hath no care of the procreacioÌ„ of children but of libidiouse pleasures and dooth depriue him selfe of his iust rewarde He would haue a common adulterer taken in adulterye to be slayne scot free and without any daunger Who soeuer did violently misuse any maydes or virgins he would haue them mulâ—ted or amerâ—ed with ten grotes the whyche was a great somme of mony of his coyne Who soeuer had brought a wolfe by him oâ—ercome should haue fiue grotes to beâ— gathered of the comminalty if it werâ— a she wolfe he shuld haue but one grote It was a custome amongest the Athenians to persecute that beast which was as wel hurtefull to their cattell as to their fieldes He commaunded that the childreÌ„ of those which perished in waâ—re shoulde be brought vp and taught of the common charge wherewith many being incouraged did stoutly and manfully fight in battayle He would also that whosoeuer lost his eyes in battayle should be broughte vp and kept of commoÌ„ charges He made a Lawe also that hee should not haue the wardeship of the childe to whome the inheritaunce mighte come after the deathe of the childe And that whosoeuer thrust out another mans eye that he should lose both his owne for it Another law of his was that no man should take away that which he layde not there and if any did the contrary it should be iudged a capital offence If the Prince were taken or found drunken that hee shoulde dye for it Hee permitted hony and waxe to be caryed in to other countries Hee thoughte no man meete to be free of a cittie but the crafts man which came with his wholl familye to Athens or els was banished from his owne countrye Of the warrs and maners of the Turkes THe Turkes haue a meruaylous celeritie in doinge a constancye in daungers and obseruation of the empyre They wil swym ouer very depe and daungerouse waters they passe ouer straunge hilles and being commaunded they go through thicke and thin headloÌ„g hauing no regard of their liues but of the empyre Moste apte and readye to suffer fasting and watching There is no sedition amongest them no tumult They vse horrible sounds and not outcries in war in their tentes in the night tyme there is such diligent silence that they had rather suffer their prisonners to escape then to moue any tumulâ—e The Turkes of all kinde of people are said at these dayes to vse most lawfull fighting so that it is no meruayle why their common wealth coÌ„tinueth so long and encreaseth so muche that their nacion is almost inuincible except they be destroyed by some plague or pestilence or ciuil discord The souldiers haue an honest kinde of apparel In their saddles and bridels there is no curiouse superfluitie No man goeth armed but in the tyme of warre Their weapons are brought after them in burdens they vse no banners nor standerds but in the tops of their Iauelins they haue certayn threades of diuers colours hanging wherby one captayne is knowen from an other They vse the drumme the fluite to call and moue them to fight They praye for their souldiers in euerye congregation solempne meeting but rather for such as haue dyed for their country calling them happye and blessed that they dyed not at home in the lamentacion of their wiues and children but abroade amongest their enimies weapons and terrible noyses They wrighte and describe the victories of their auncestours they sing and extoll them being written for they thinke their souldiers myndes to be muche encouraged by these meanes They do so abhorre pictures and engraued images that vpoÌ„ such causes they call the christians idolaters They haue no bells nor yet do suffer the christians abiding amongest them to haue bells They neuer play for mony or any other thing but such as be founde playing be greuously staundred in euerye mans mouâ—h No man of what state or degre soeuer hee bee desyrethe to sit on a benche but they lye downe and sit on the earthe lyke children with a very comlye folding of their garments vnder them The table wheron they feede for the most part is prepared of an oxe hide or an hartes skinne vndressed and rough with heare still hauing the roundnes of foure or fyue hand bredthes No man entreth in to any house church or other place wher in they muste sit vnlesse his shoes be of because it is accounted an vnhoneste and vndecent pointe for anye man to sit withe his shoes on his feete and therefore they vse a kinde of shoes that may easly be put on and of The place wher they sit eyther at home or in the Churches is strewed couered either with tapestrye clothes or broade clothe or rushes and sometymes for the moysture and vncleanes of the place they haue bourdes and tables The garments bothe of men and women are large and longe ynoughe open in the former parte They haue greate care in emptying the belly and making vryne that they tourne not their faces towardes the South which way they are always woÌ„t to loke prayinge They take also greate hede least any man should see their â—ilthynes in discharging nature They absteyâ— from wine as their lawes doth coÌ„maund them because it is a prouoker of al vncleannesse vyce and yet maye they lawfullye eate grapes Thep absteyne also from swynes bloud and flesh and from al flesh that dyeth of the murrayne All other meates they do eate Howe the Turkes do beleeue and howâ— they worship God. THe Turkes confesse one God whiche hath none lyke or equall to him whose faithfull Prophete they accompte Mahumet Fyue tymes a daye they pray with their faces tourned into the South and before they do this they prouide that they haue a most perfect cleanes of body in euerye parte handes armes mouth eares nosethrils eyes heares washing their feete most decentlye especially after carnall copulation and natural euacuatioÌ„ except they haue bene sick or trauayling abroade If they want water to do this which is seldome seene because in euery cittie they haue bathes coÌ„tinually flowing then
Matrimony is permitted vnto theÌ„ but their children are taken from theym at the Lordes will the which causeth the wiser sort to abhorre froÌ„ mariages they vse other extremely that refuse circumcision They haue a very hard life that haue not learned any art or craft for such are in great estimation as are cunning craftes men Wherfore the noble men the priestes and the learned sort which passe ouer their liues in quietnes and idlenes whensoeuer they chaunce into their handes they are thought moste miserable oâ— all for the marchaunt seller of them can not abyde when he seeth no profit to comâ— of them nor any good sale to be made These go with their feete and head vncouered and for the most parte with naked bodies through the snowe and vpon the stones both winter and sommer they are enforced to trauayle and there is no end of these miseries before that eyther they dye or ells they fynde a foolishe Lorde in the byinge of yll marchandize No man is so happy of what condicion so euer hee be or of what age beautie or arte he bee that they wil lay him being sicke in his iorney at anye Inne or lodginge house for first hee is coÌ„pelled to go with stripes if he caÌ„not so do he is set vpoÌ„ som yong beast there if he cannot syt he is bouÌ„de with his bodye flat euen lyke vnto a packe or a burden if he dyeth they take awaye hys clothes and cast him into the next ditch or valley for dogs and rauens They keepe their captiues not onely in chaynes but also withe gyues vppon their handes as they leade them the distance betwene theÌ„ is about a yearde least they shoulde one spurne and hurte an other and this doe they for feare their bondmen hurle stones at them For where as euerye one that is a coÌ„mon marchant and seller of men leadeth a great number of bondmen so that ten of them oftentimes haue fiue hundred in chaynes they feare the force of suche a great multitude if their handes shoulde be at libertie to throwe or cast any thing In the nighte tyme they make their feete sure with chaynes and irons and lay theÌ„ vpon their backes open to the iniurie of the the ayre the women are vsed with moore humanitie they that are able do go vpon their feet and they that are lesse able be caryed vpon yonge cattell and those that are so weake that they may not suffer the shaking of the horses or asses or such like are caryed in hampers and paniers lyke vnto geese and swannes The nighte is more heauie vnto theym for then eyther they are shit vp in strong holds or els are compelled to suffer the filthy lust of those that haue bought them and great lameÌ„tacion is hard in the night time bothe of yong men yong women suffring much violence so that they spare not theym of sixe or seuen yeres of age in this miserie such is the cruelnes of that filthy nacion against nature in the rage of voluptuousnes When the daye commethe they are brought forth into the market as shepe goates to be solde when they that would bye them come the price is made if the captiue pleaseth him all his apparell is cast of that he might be seene of his maister that shal be all his partes and members are vewed touched serched and tried if there be anie faulte in his ioyntes or not if he pleaseth not the byer he is reiected againe to the seller and this is as often done as any doth cheapen or go about to bye if the byer liketh the bondman he is caryed away to a moste greuous seruiuitude as to be eyther plowman or shepe hearde that he might not remember the more greuous sciences If anye be taken with his wife and childreÌ„ noble men wil bye him gladlye and make him ruler of his vilages and geeue him charge of his groundes vineyardes and pastures but his children must be bondmen if they perseuer and continue in christian faith they haue a determinate tyme to serue that whiche being paste they are made free yet their childreÌ„ except thei be redemed coÌ„tinue in seruitude and boÌ„dage at the wil pleasure of the Lorde VVith what burden and exactions the christian Princes are charged and oppressed being ouercome of the Turkes VUhen the Turke hath taken anye christian prince he taketh all theyr goods as wel moueable as vnmoue able as a pray and bootye hee putteth awaye nobilitie cleane especiallye of the kinges stocke the clerkes and clergye he killeth not he spoyleth them of all welth and dignitie and maketh them very mockinge stockes in beggerie The Turkes take also out of the christian churches all bells organes and other instruments of musicke and after they haue prophaned the churches they consecrate theÌ„ to Mahumet They leaue pore and small chapples to the christians where they may do their holye seruice not openlye but in silence the which if they fall by any earthquake or be ruinouse by any sodeyn fyer it is not lawfull to repaire them againe but through great sommes of money geuen They are forbidden to preach or teache the Gospell and it is not lawefull for any christian man to beare anye rule in the common wealthe nor to beare weapons or vse like vesture with the Turkes If anye contumelious wordes be spoken of the christian or of Christe he must suffer it â—olde his peace but if the Christian speaketh any thing vnreuerently of their religion he shal be circumcised againste his wil but if any whisper any thing against Mahumet he shal be burnt The christians geeue the fowerth parte of all their fruite and commoditie both of the proâ—it of their fieldes and cattell and also of the gaynes of their artes and craftes there is another charge also where they pay for â—uery one in their familye a ducate and if the parentes be notable to pay thei are compelled to sell their children to seruile offices other bound in chaynes do begge from dore to dore to get their fees to dyscharge the exaction and if they cannot by these meanes pay it they must be content to suffer perpetuall enprisonment Those captiues that goe aboute to flye away yf they go into Europe they haue the easier flighte seinge that nothinge is to hinder their passage but certaine waters which are passed ouer easlye and this doo they most attempte in harueste tyme because then they may hide them in the corne and liue therby in the nighte tyme they take their flight and in the day time they hide them selues in woodes and puddles or in the corne and had rather be deuoured of wolues and other beastes then to be sent againe to their olde maisters But they which into Asia take their flight go first to Hellesspont betwixt Callipolis and the two towers which were of olde called Seston and Abydon but now they are named Bogazassar the castells of the Sea mouth and with them they cary both an axe
the water entringe in at the holes gnawen by the Myce did threaten â—ignifye daunger of drowning and therfore the shipmen fearinge suffocation in the water and drowninge brought the ship to the bancke on the land where aâ—other greate armye of myce meeting wiâ—h the other did moore vehemently veâ—e him than the first these thinges being openly seene and knowen they that afore was defenders of him and his children perceiuing this to be Gods punishment and reuenging fled away Now Pompilius being withoutal suche as might comfort and helpe him went into an highe tower in Crusnicza where the Myce â—liming vp with mose swifte course did consume and deuoure his two sonnes his wife and the flagitiouse bodye of Pompilius Beholde and marke ther is no counsell or power can take place against God the Lorde of all little small vermine weake and timerous myce did miserablye destroy Pompilius as Lyce being a very litle and small vermin and of lesser force then Myce did bring to ruyne and deâ—â—ruction Arnolphus the Emperour eating and wasting his flesh hys mary and guttes so that the phisicians coulde doo no good at all the whole substance of the body being so eaten that there was nothing but griâ—tles and onely bones left A Beare seking for hony was the cause of deliuering a man out of an hollow tree IN Moscouia there is founde greate store of honye in holow trees and that which is olde honye is lefte and forsaken of t he Bees so that in the stockes of merueylous great trees the diligent serchers maye fynde wonderfull plentie of hony combes Demetrius sent as Embassadoure to Rome declared there before a company of learned men that a yeare or two before he came out of his couÌ„trye to Rome a pore countryman beinge a Fermar in the next village by him serched the woods and trees for the gayne and profite of honnye and espyinge at the length a very great hollowe tree clymed vp into the top of it and lept downe into the hollownes so that he suncke and dyd sticke fast in a great heape of honye euen to the breast and throat almost and so remayned faste in that sweete poyson that all hope af an ye deliueraunce was cleane gone when he had continued two dayes and fed and maintayned his lyfe onely by â—onye consideringe that with himselfe that he was now so restraynt from the libertie and healpe of his handes and feete that with them he could make no shifte to get out and if he should crye oute with open mouth and full voyce that this could nothing preuaile in such a solitude and vast place of wood and Trees because it was not possible that the sound of his voyce crye could go far out of that holow tree so that it might come to the eares of traueilers and passers by all these thinges when hee had deliberated in his mynde now destitute of al helpe and consolacioÌ„ he began vtterly to dispayre and yet by a merueylous and incredible chaunce hee escaped being deliuered and drawen out by the benefite of a great Beare when that by chaunce this Beare verye desyrous searching for hony most hastely scaled the â—re let her selfe down into the holownes therof with her hinder feete first downward after mans fashioÌ„ about the reyns loynes of the which beast the man claspinge and taking fast hold moued and stirred the said Beare to leape out and violently to enforce hir selfe out of the tree beinge driuen so to do for verye sodeyne feare and for the straunge handling and holding about her and also throughe the great outcries and noyses that he made And thus the beare by violence deliuered herselfe and the man also from the hollow tree and from great feare Of Beares IN the countrye of Muscouia there isâ— great plentie of beares seking prayinge euery where for hony and Bees not altogether for the filling of their bellies but also for the helping of their eye sight for their eyeâ— waxe â—im and yll often times for the which cause they do especially desyre the hony combes and that their mouthes stunge and wounded of bees might ease the heauines of their hedes in bleding The heade in Beares is very weake the whiche in Lyons contrarye wise is moste strong And therefore when necessitie vrgethe that they muâ—te nedes tumble from some high rocke they tumble and rolle downe with their head couered betwene their clawes and often tymes by dustes and knockes in grauell and sand they are almost exanimate and without lyfe They scale trees backward They molest and vexe Bulles with their clawes hanging aboute their mouthes hornes A Beare bringeth for the yonge accordinge to Pliny after thirtie dayes past and that commonly fyue The yong Beare at the first comming foorthe as yâ— were a whyte piece of fleshe withe oute fourme or shape some what bigger theâ— a mouse it is without eyes or heare only nayles and clawes do appeare outward But the shee Beare neuer leaueth lyckyng this rude and difformed yong fleshe untill by litle and litle she bringâ—th it to some forme and shape when shee goâ—the to the denne that she hath chosen for her she commeth creping with her helly vp warde leaste the place mighte bee espied through her steps and there she being with yong remayneth fourtene days without any mocion as Aristotle saythe But without meat she continueth .40 dayes onelye being sustayned withe the lickinge of her left foote then after this when shee chaunceth vpon any meat or foode shee is fylled beyonde measure and this satietie is helped by vomittinge with eatinge of antes the yong for fourtene dayes space is oppressed with such heauines or sleepe that thâ—y cannot be awaked or stirred vp from their drowsy heauines neither with pricking nor with wounding and in this meane space of sleepinge they waxe fatte meruaylously after fourtene dayes space they awake from sleepe and begin to lick their former pawes and so liue they for a tyme and it is not manifeste with what kynde of meate they should liue vntill the spring tyme but then they begin to run abroade and feede of the yong springes trees and softe tender herbes meete for their mouthes In this countrie of Moscouia ther is great store of the best furs and skinnes and that is their chief marchaundize in that countree Licurgus LIcurgus was a notable philosopher of Sparta in Greece who erected a ciuill estate of the â—ittie with his noble institutes and lawes whereas before times of al the Grecians the Lacedemonians were worst nurtered Licurgus taking the matter boldly in hand did abrogate al their lawes institutes and old ryâ—es of liuyng and did erect a greate deale more ciuill ordinaunces and more coÌ„mendable Firste there was xxviii segniors elected which should prouide that the poâ—uler estate shuld not grow out of frame altogether and also that they which had the rule should not go about any tyrany He tooke away vtterly all vse of golde â—iluer and brought in
they wype and rub them otherwise Euery yeare they faâ—â—e a whol moneth and a weke most straight lye in the daye tyme neyther eatinge nor drinking any thing nor yet hauinge anye coniunction withe women but after the Sonne set vntill the Sonne rising the next day they fyll them selues with meate drinke and venereouse pleasures in the ende of this solemne feast they celebrate the feast called the Pasch in remeÌ„brance of Abrahams Ramme whiche appeared in steede of his Sonne at the sacrifice of a certayne night wherein they suppose the Alcorane was geuen from heauen Their priestes do not much differ from the laytie nor their churches from common houses It is sufficient to knowe the booke which is called Alcorane and such thinges as appertayne to prayer obseruaÌ„ce of the Lawe They lacke not their readinges and studies of artes and sciences They haue no care of churches nor soules departed They haue no sacraments nor obseruation of reliques holy vessells nor alters but they are attente and diligent in loking to their children their wiues familye to tillage of the ground to marchandize to hunting and like exercises wherwith lyfe is mainteyned They bee free from seruitute and exactions these priestes be honored of euery body as men that knowes the ceremonies of the lawes haue the gouernment of churches can instruct others They haue many scholes and places of exercise wherin such polyticke Lawes are taughte as haue beene made by their princes for the administracion of the common wealthe and defence of the countrye wherin they that proâ—ite some of them are made rulers in eccleâ—iasticall matters and some be seculier magistrates there be also in that sect many and diuers religious sorts wherof some liuing in woods and solitude vtterly refuse the company of men some keepinge hospitalitie in citties do releeue the pore straungers with hospitalitie if they haue not to refreshe them selues with all for they themselues also liues of begginge almes many of them wandringe aboute citties cary good and alwayes freshe water in certayne bottles of the which they geue to euerye one demaundinge for the same frely and gladly for the which duetifull good will and worke of mercie if any thing be geuen they take it they coueâ— nothing but they make so great a shewe and ostentacion of religion both in their deedes and sayings and also in their maners and gesture that they rather seeme aungels then men such is the disceite in mens eyes The Turkes ceasse from all labour on the Fryday and keepe it withe as much religion and deuocion as we do the Sonday But the Iewes do meruaylously obserue the Saturday In euerye Cittie there is one principall Churche wherin they meete together after noone euery body after their prayers solemplye done they haue a sermon They haue large and sumptuouse temples whyche are called in their tongue Meschit wher in they haue no Images at all but it is found written euery where There is no God but one and Mahumet his prophet one creator and the prophets equall And also There is none so strong as God. There be in their churches a great number of burning lampes with oyle All the churche is white the pauement is layde with mats and other thinges and aboue many clothes of tapestrye and Arras be hanged There is a great turret about the churche on the top wherof their minister when seruice tyme is standethe and puttinge his fingers in his Eares withe an highe voyce in his owne tongue he repeteth these wordes thrise One true God. when this crie is harde the nobles and the meaner forte commeth to the temple only intent to deuocion the minister prayeth with them and that he oughte to doe fower tymes betwene daye and nighte by his office they which come to the prayers ought to wash their handes and fete and secret parts They must put of their shoes and leaue them before the churche gate and thus some enter barefote into the churche and some withe very cleane and fayre shoes The women fit together in a secrete place from the men so that the men may neyther see theym nor heare theym albeit they come not so often to the church In their prayers they cruciate and afflict their bodies merueyâ—ously with continual agitation and vociferacions so that often times they sowne and faynt in minde and strength They thinke it an horrible â—hinge and moste wicked that a christian man shuld be present at their ceremonies and Sacrifices hauinge this Opinion that their Temples are contuminate and defyled of vncleane and vnwashed men their minister getteth him into the pulpit and there about two howers hee preacheth when his sermon is don ii children ascend thither which singe their prayers sweetlye after this the minister beginneth with all the people to sing in a low voyce bendinge his bodye on euerye side but his words are nothing but these There is but one God. They kepe thursday also as a festiuall day albeit the Friday is most deuoutly and most religiously â—alowed of them because they haue an opinion amongeste theym that Mahumet was borne vpon the Fryday The opinion of the Turkes vppon the worlde to come THe Turkes attribute so muche to Mahumet and his lawes that thei assuredly promise euerlasting happines to such as kepe their lawes that is 〈◊〉 say a paradise of pleasures a gardeyne hauing most pleasaunt and swete waters set in a pure and temperate ayre wherein they should haue whatsoeuer they wold as all kinde of deintye dishes for satietie silke and purple apparell yong and beautifull maydes at their owne wil and plesure with golden and siluer plate Angels seruing and ministring vnto theym like Butlers bringinge milke in golden plates and red wine abundantly in siluer cups Contrarye wise to those that breake these lawes they threaten the daunger of hell and euerlasting destruction This also they beleue that how great offences soeuer a man hath committed if he wyll beleue onely in God and Mahumet wheÌ„ he dyeth he shall be â—afe and happye Some of their religion haue this opinioÌ„ that the lawe profiteth nothinge but the grace of God wherby a man muste be saued which without merit or law is sufficient to get saluacion There be some as it were â—uccessors of the prophets and fathers aleâ—ging and affirming the tradicions of the elders which teach that men by merit may be saued without the lawe and Gods grace so that they be earneste in prayers in watching and meditacions There be others agayn that affirme euery man to be saued in the law that is geuen of God because those Lawes are equally good to those that keepe them and one ought not to be preferred before another So you may se where Christ is not how inconstant myndes wauer in diuers â—rroes the which thing also may appear amongest some christians as such as seke for saluation of any other then of the Sauiâ—ure oâ—elye Of the Fastinge and Meates of the Turkes THe
Turkes are wonte to faste one moneth and one weeke euery yere buâ— they do not alwayes keepe one prefixeâ— tyme for if this yeare they faste in â—â—mmary the next yeare they will doo it iâ— Feâ—ruaryeâ— the third in Marche and so orderly of the rest and when they doe faâ—â—â— they taste and eate nothinge all the whole day not so much as bread or water 〈◊〉 when â—â—errs appeare it is lawfull for them to eate al thinges sauinge thinges which are suffocate and swynes fleshe They haue vineyardes the fruite and coÌ„moditie wherof they vse diuerslye The Christians make wine and the Turkes do so prepare honye raysons that they appeare alwayes freshe both in tasâ—e and sight they haue three maner of drinkes the first of Sugar or hony mixte with water The seconde of raysons sod in water the stones castaway and then rose water is added vnto them and a little of the best â—ony The third is made of wine wel sodden and representeth a kynde of honnye both in tast and sighte this is tempered withe water and geeuen to seruaunts to drinke When they should eat any thing they strewe their floores and groundes with matts and other thinges then they lay carpets and tapestrye worke or rushines aâ—d some sit downe vpon the naked earth their table is of some skinne as I sâ—ide beforeâ— it is draweÌ„ at large and shit â—â—gâ—ther agayn as a purse they sitte not downe after oure manner nor yet as the people of olde were wonte to do leaninge on their elbowes but with their feet foldeâ— together in the formes of this letter X. lyke vnto the maner of boâ—â—hers and before they take take any meat they hauâ— their prayers or thankes geuinge Theâ—â—â—te gredelye and hastelye with greate silence but al their wiues â—epeth the in â—elues in secret Those whiche are captiue 〈◊〉 neuer go abrode nor can get lycence but with other Turkishe women when they go to washe them in bathes â—r in any other place ouâ— of the cittie for recreation sake into gardens or vineyarâ—â—â— â—â—t alwayes keepe hoome at their worke and it is not lawfull for other women 〈…〉 sant witâ— their captiues Of th◠〈◊〉 of the Turkes THe 〈…〉 not in 〈…〉 the manner 〈…〉 as the 〈…〉 eyght yeares and can speake the 〈◊〉 â—ell the whiche 〈…〉 them for y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 whiche are 〈◊〉 before 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 for thys 〈…〉 in to the â—â—â—ple but is circumcised at home in his parents house There be assembled at this notable feast al their frendes and commonly amongst the richer sort they kil an Oxe and therin they include and put in a Sheepe exenterate and readye dressed in the whiche Sheepe there is a Hen in the which hen there is an Egge which are all rosted together for the solempnitie of that daye then at supper time in their banquet the child which must be circuÌ„cised is brought in whose yearde and priuie member the phisician openeth and apprehendethe the folded skinn with a fine payre of pinsons then to take al feare from the childe hee â—aith that he will make the circumcision the next day and whileste hee vseth those wordes he sodeynâ—ye cutteth the prepuce whiche is the skin that couereth the head of the yearde layinge a little salt on the wound They do not geue names to their children in the day of circumcision but in the day of their natiuitie after thre days space he that is circumcised is led withe great pompe vnto the hath when he commeth home agayne he is led throughout all the gestes whiche offer vnto him their prepared gifts some geue silke garmeÌ„ts some siluer cups others present him monye or horses If any christian man of his owne accorde confessing Mahumet wyll suffer himselfe to be circumcised whyche thing chaunceth often times for the greuouse exaction and burden of the tribute such one is â—eâ— throughout all the stretes and lanes of the cittie with greate honor and triumphe of the people for ioye playinge on the drummes and to him manye giftes are presented and afterward he is made fre from their payment and tribute Yet the Turkes compel no man to the denial of his religion although they be coÌ„maunded in the booke of Alcoran to expulse the aduersaries and gainsayers wherof it commeth to passe that so many and diuerse sectes of people are found amongest the Turkes al whiche do reuerrence and honour God after their peculier rites and customes Their priestes do little differ from the laitie and ther is no great learning to be required in them it is ynoughe if they can reade the booke of Alcoran but those which can interprete the booke according to the texte are estemed as most cunning because Mahumet gaue his precepts not in the vulgar turkishe tonge but in the Arabicall tonge they thinke it a wicked vnlawful thing to haue them interpreted or set forthe in the vulgar tongue these ministers haue their stipende and rewarde of the prince for their paynes they haue wiues and apparell euen as secular men if the stipend be not sufficient for the multitude number of their children then may they practise and vse al maner of artes crafts and trades that other men doe but yet they are free from exactions and other imposicions and are greatly estemed of the coÌ„mon sorte They haue diuers liuing solitarye like vnto monkes which vnder the colour of religion inhabite the woodes desert places vtterly renounsinge mens company and som of them haue nothing of their owne but they go almoste naked sauing that their priuy partes be couered with Sheepe skinnes they traueyle and wander through oute countries askinge almes as well of the Christians as of the Turkes Some of theym goe seldome abroade but continue in temples hauinge in the corners of churches litle cottages their heades vncouered their feete without shoes their bodies without garmeÌ„ts bearing nothing about theÌ„ but one shirt they fast many dayes and praye that God would reueale vnto them things to com and the prince of the Turkes is wonte to aske counsell of them when soeuer he goeth about any warres VVhat execution of Iustice the Turkâ— haue what kinde of mariages what maner of apparell and liuinge THe Turkes do execute iustice moâ—â— exquisitely for hee that is giltie of slaughter or bloudshed is alwayes punished with like vexacion and torment He that is taken withe a woman in adultrye is stoned to death without mercy or â—arying There is also a punishmente appointed for those whiche are taken in fornication for who so euer is apprehended for it he must suffer eight hundred lashes with a whip a thiefe for the firste and second tyme is so manye times scourged also but if he be taken the third tyme he loseth his hand at the fowerth tyme hys foote Hee that doth any damage to anye bodye â—s compelled to make satisfaction according to the estimate of the losse They admit no witnesses but very mete and allowable persons and such as may be
beleued withoute anye othe It is not lawfull for anye man that is of ful age to liue out of matrimonye they may be maryed to fâ—ure lawfull wiues those whosoeuer they wil chose except their mother and sistâ—rs hauing no respect at all to the propinquitie of bloud they maye haue as many illegitimate and vnlawfull wiues as they please and bee able to keepe the children both of lawefull and vnlawefull wiues are equally heyres in their fathers goodes so that they obserue this order that two daughters shall but matche and bee equall with one sonne They kepe not .ii. or moore wiues in one house or in one cittie for feare of often contention and vnquietinge but in euery citie they keepe one the husbandes haue this libertie to putte them away thre times and to take theim agayne thrise those wiues which are put â—way may if it please them continue and abyde â—ith such men as receiueth them The women are very descent and honeste in their apparell they vse on their heads a kinde of linnen like vnto youg damsels and they haue veyles ouer the same the folding wherof is decent that the topp of it hangeth ouer the left or righte side wherwith if they goe from home or come into their hâ—â—baÌ„ds sight they may quicklye couer all their face â—auing the eyes the woman may neuer be sene in the company of men nor to go to market nor to bye or sell anye thinge in the churches they haue their places seperate from the men so closely that no man may peepe into theÌ„ nor by any meanes enter into theim and yet it is not lawfull for euerye woman to enter in thither but for noble meÌ„s wiues and neuer els but on Friday at xii of the clocke onely they vse their prayers the which is a solempne time with them the talkinge of man and woman together openly is so rare and against common cuâ—tome that if you should tary a whole yeâ—re with theÌ„ you could scantly se it once It is thought a monstrous thinge that a man should openly talke with a woman or ryde in the company of any They that are maried together do neuer vse any waÌ„â—on toys in the sight of others they neuer brawle nor chide because the men do neuer omit their grauitie towards women nor wiues their reuerence towards their husbands great Lordes that cannot alwayes be with their wiues haue Eunuches deputed to the custody of them which do so diligently obserue marke and watche them that it is vnpossible for anye other then their husbandes to speake with theÌ„ or for theym to do a misse and otherwyse then wel They contract mariage without any othe they take no sommes of monye with their wiues but are almoste enforced to bye theim contrarye to the Romaines fashion where the sonne in Lawe was wont to be bought and not the sonns wife The wife hathe no ornamente nor decking vpon her body but that she is driuen to gette of her father A cause of deuorce with them is eyther barrennes or intollerable manners their iudge is pryuie to these things The women vse most simple apparell shewinge no kinde of excesse in the worlde they neuer come with open face into the sight of their husbands or other men The Turkes deteste oure hose and great breches with their Cod-pieces because they do to liuely expresse and shewe the priuie partes Their heads be couered with linnen hauing a top like vnto a turret and commeth neare vnto a pyramidate forme They vse bread not of the worst sort both blacke white bread sauing they cast a certayne kynde of seede vpon newe bread which bringeth a great plesaÌ„tnes iâ— eating They haue diuers artificious wais in preparing meates varietie of sauces a solempne kinde of meat with them is a kinde of pottage made with â—yce so thicke that it can hardelye be deuided with handes froÌ„ fishe they absteyn merueilously they vse all kinde of fleshe sauing swines fleshe There be no coÌ„mon tauerns nor Innes for gestes and straungers nor common vitaling houses but in the stretes diuers kindes of meats are to be solde and other thynges necessarie for lyfeâ— The townesmen cause theyr fieldes to be tylled by theyr seruaunts and they paye tythe to theyr Emperour and ruler Crafts men mayntayn them wyth their sciences they that do loue idlenes do perish with famine they exercise marchandise most diligentlye they passe and trauel into Asia the lesse Arabia Egipte and they haue their peregrinations also to the Uenecians If they make water they wash their yard after it if they emptye their bellies the make al cleane afterwarde in like manner doo the women whom their seruaunts and bond men do follow bearing vessells ful of water the man seruaunt folowing the maister the mayde the mistres They haue one kinde of Iudge as well Christians as Turkes And this iudge is bouÌ„d to minister equallye right to euery body Of dame Flora. THe Lady which the Poets call dame Flora was a notable and common harlot who when shee had gotten great riches by common ribaudrie made the people of Rome her heire and left a certayne somme of monye with the yearlye vse where of the daye of her natiuitie should be celebrate in the setting forth of goodly playes the which thinge because it seemed detestable to attribute a certain solempne dignitie to a dishoneste thinge they fayned and surmised her to be a goddesse that had the rule and gouernance oâ— flowers and that it was meete she should be reconciled with cerimonies that through her helpe fruites and trees myght florish and prosper Of the Ieate stone IN some parte of Englande and Scotlande there is greate store of the beste kynde of Ieat stone If any body drinketh the powder of this stoone in water if the same partie be contaminate with lybidiouse actes the same body out of hand shal bee enforced to make vrine and shall haue no habilitie to kepe it backe But if a virgin drinketh of it there is no power to make vryne folowe Munster in theâ— 2 booke fol. 45. Of the Burialles of the Turkes and of diuerse obseruacions and customes VVHan any dyeth amongest the Turkes they washe his carcasse and couer it in very fair linnen clothes Afterward they cary the bodye out of the citie into some place for they thinke it an heynouse thing to burye one in the Temple Their monkes go before the herse with candels the priests folowe singing vntil they come vnto his sepulture and graue if it be a poore man that is dead they gather monye in euery stret for the laboures and paines of the religiouse and that they offer vnto him The frendes of the dead commeth often times to the graue weeping and bewaylinge they set the sacrifice of their meates for y dead vpon the monument as bread fleshe these egs milke and the feast is of nyne dayes space after the manner of the Ethnickes and all this is eaten for the soule of the dead
â—e that did neglect to do this was punished with certayne strypes and kepte withoute meate for three dayes If anye father killed his sonneâ— there was no punishment of death appointed but for three dayâ—s and nights conctiâ—ually he was commaunded to be about the dead bodye for they thoughte it no iust thinge to take away lyfe from him that gaue lyfe to his chyldren but ratheâ— that he shoulde be punished with continuall payne and repentance of his fact that others might feare to do the lyke Parricides they â—aused to be burned vppon an heape of thornes and such as vttred any secrets to their enemies thei caused their tongues to be cut out And they that dyd counterfayte or clyp mony had both their handes cut of so that with what parte of the body the offence was made with the same he shoulde tolerate punishment If anye had violated a free woman his naturall partes were cutte of because in one fault hee committed three haynous thynges that is an iniurye corruption and confusion of chyldren He that was takeÌ„ in voluntarye adultrye hadd a thousande â—â—ripes with roddes and the woman was maÌ„gled vpon the nose The prieâ—ts could haue but one wyfe but the laytye as many as they could kepe The bringing vppe of their children was with small coste for it came not vnto the charge of twentie grâ—ates the 〈◊〉 education to their full â—ge and this is not to beâ— mâ—rueyled at because Egipte is a hote countrie and therfore they lyue naked without anye kinde of garmente and they feede vpon rotes the which they eat somtimes rawe and somtymes rosted in imbers The priests did teach their children especiallye Geomatrie and Arythmeticke They did driue away sicknes eyther with fasting or with vomit the whiche they vsed euerye thirde daye Theyr opinion was that all diseases came of superfluitie of meates and therfore that to bee the best cure whyche toke awaye the matter and causes Manye other strauÌ„ge thinges are at large sei forth of this nacion by Munster Of the Ostrydge THE Oystridge found especially in Africa his heade is couered withe smal heares his eyes be grosse and blacke his necke is long his byl is shorte and sharpe his feete hath as it were a bypartite â—oofe Plinie fayth that he exceedeth the â—right of a man on â—orsebacke that his winges helpe him little But with his nayles whiche are like hoofes he taketh stones and throwethe againste those whiche persecute him he doothe digeste whatsoeuer hee deuoureth bee it neuer so harde He is of a meruaylous folishnes for if he hath once hidden his head vnder a bushe he thinketh him selfe safe and not to be seene It is sayd to be a simple and forgetful thinge that as sone as it hath brought forte eggs it forgetteth theym vntil the yong commeth forthe whiche is thoughte to bee easlye done because they leaue the eggs in the warme sandes so that the yonge may sone be hatched the whiche the males do feede and cherishe when they are brought forth When hee seeth that hee cannot auoyde takinge he casteth stones against his followers and manye tymes hurteth them His nest is commonlye found in the â—and wel made with bulwarkes and bankes to kepe awaye rayâ—e from the yong Of the Empire of Cathay THe Empyre of Cathay is ruled by the great Cham. With this nacioÌ„ one man may haue many wiues when the husband dyeth euery wyfe pledeth her owne cause before the iudges sheweth her merits so that which of theÌ„ so euer is adiudged to haue bene the most officiouse and dearest wife to her husbaÌ„d shee in her best apparell and with all her iewels as though she had gotten the victorie of the other goeth willynglye and merelye vnto the heape of wood wher her husband shall be burnt and lyinge down by his carcasse and embracinge it the fier is kindled and so shee is burnte with her husbaÌ„d the other of his wiues after this liue in greate shame and obloquye They matche not together for wealth or nobilitye but for excellencye of beauty and procreacioÌ„ sake The people of Cathay haue this opinion that they thinke no other nacion to see with both eyes but theÌ„ selues they are perswaded also that they excell all other in subtilitye of artes and scyences It is a whyte kynde of people withoute beardes of small eyes and lackinge true pietie and due obeysance to God for some of them worshyp the Sonne some the moone others certayne immages of mettalls and other some an oxe so that they be full of monstruous supersticion The Emperour keepeth his court at his citye called Cambalu whiche is the noblest marte in that part of the world for there is almost neuer a day through out the yeare but that a thousand carte lodes of silke almoste are chaunged and broughte there amongest marchants The Emperour kepeth in his court twelue thowsand horsemen to kepe his bodye Their order of watchinge is thus One captain with three thousand gardeth the king within the Palace for thre dayes and so dothe another other three dayes following thus they keepe their courses When the Emperoure sittethe downe to meate hee hath his principall and greatest quene on his left hand and his children whiche be of royall bloud on his right hand in a lower place No man that sitteth downe in this halle drinketh or is serued in anye other vessell but of Golde the princes and noble men that serue the king at his meate couer their mouthes with most fyne silke clothes least they shoulde breath vpon the kinges meate or drinke and when the Emperour taketh the pot to drincke all the musicians beginne to make great melodye and the others ministers bende their knees More of this nacion you shal fynde in the great boke of Munsters Cosmographye Of the Canniballs THE Canniballs are wylde people feeding vpon mans fleshe which is a very swete kinde of flesh If they get or fynd any chyldreÌ„ within the age of fourtene yeares they feede them craÌ„me them as we do Capons but those whych are beyonde fourtene yeares of age they kill them out of hande deuouringe theyr whot guts immediatly and the other partes of their bodies they salt and lay vp as wee do powdred fleshe they eate no women but kepe them only for the bearinge of children as we do hennes for eggs If any for age is past child bearinge shee doth all drudgery like vnto a bond womaÌ„ they haue no houses but they erect many trees together and so combine them in the top that it serueth for lodginge Their beds be made of silke and haye they haue no yron but they vse bones instede of yroÌ„ they dresse their meates in earthen pots mingling the flesh of Parats geese ducks and mans fleshe together They are now come to moore ciuilitye then they had in tymes paste Of the Lyon. LYons liue in many countries in Africa they haue a cruell and terrible looke and thyn heares Pliny thinketh that his especiall valiencye