Part 2

[C] _Aga_ of the _Janizaries_, that is _General_ of the _first_ warlike _Body_ of the _Empire_. In former times, they were composed of the _Sons_ of _Christian Slaves_, but now they are augmented in a great Body, upwards of an hundred thousand Men, that have by their number the disposal of the _Turkish Empire_, and are very willing for a _new_ Change; for generally the Successor of the Empire, at his ascending the throne, gives this body of Troops a Largess or Present, that as soon as receiv’d makes them willing to with another Emperor.

[D] _Constantinople_, by the _Turks_ called _Stamboul_, (formerly _Byzantium_) took its name from _Constantine_ the _Great_, who himself gave it the name of _New Rome_; where he _establish’d a Senate_, with every other _Constitution_, according to _ancient Rome_.

[E] _Belgrade_ (the ancient _Alba Græca_) built on the River Save, near its Fall into the Danube, is the Capital of _Rascia_, a Province of Hungary; it has often chang’d its Masters, though for many ages the _Bulwark_ of the _Christians_ against the Othomans. _Amurath_ II. lost the best part of his Army before it. His Son _Mahomet_ was forced to raise the Siege with infinite loss, by a _Stratagem_ of the heroick _John Huniades_. He suffer’d a large Body of the Enemy to enter the Town, who immediately fell to plundering; in the mean time, he made a Tally upon the remaining Troops without, and put them to flight; then turning their own Cannon on the Plunderers, forced them to abandon the City, leaving their Tents, Baggage, Provision, and Ammunition behind them. In the Year 1521, it was taken by this _Solyman_, after a furious Siege of two Months. It remain’d in the hands of the _Othomans_, till the Year 1688, when the Imperialists took it by storm; fix hundred Christian Slaves were chain’d together, and by the _Turks_ placed in a rank before them, who by that means secured themselves, as well as Christians from the furious Attacks of the _Germans_. It was retaken by the _Turks_ two Years after, by an accidental _Bomb_ falling into their _Magazine_ of Powder, that near half the Garrison were destroy’d, with the Fortifications of the City. Pope _Leo_ X. made it a Bishoprick.

[F] _Rhodes_ (Rhodus) is an _Island_ in the _Mediterranean_ Sea, near fifty Leagues in compass; the _Capital_ City, that _Solyman_ besieg’d, takes its name from the _Island_. _Rhodes_ was once famous for a mighty _Colossus_ dedicated to the Sun, of such a monstrous size that Vessels _sail’d_ in _the Harbour_ between its Legs: it was seventy Cubits high. The Brass of this Statue, (after it was thrown down by an Earthquake) loaded seventy-two Camels, and was transported to _Alexandria_ in _Egypt_, when it was taken by _Muhavia_ the Sultan. _Rhodes_ is seated seven Leagues from the nearest Coast of _Asia_ to the South, forty-seven from _Candi_ (another Island in the _Mediterranean_, made famous by the Poets by the name of _Crete_) to the North-East, and a hundred and sixty Leagues from _Constantinople_ to the South. It was first peopled by _Javan_, the Grandson of _Japhet_, before any part of _Greece_ was inhabited: in a few ages after, the _Phœnicians_ (famous for spreading Traffic over the World that was then known) possess’d it. It was made a _Roman Province_ by _Vespasian_. In 654 it was taken by the _Saracens_: in 1124 it was conquer’d by _Venetians_ it was taken in the Year 1227 by _John Ducas_, _Admiral_ of the _Greeks_: in 1283, it fell with all lesser _Asia_ into the hands of the _Othomans_: in 1310, it was taken (after a four Years Siege) by the Knights of St. _John_ of _Jerusalem_, under _Fulk Villers_, an _Englishman_, afterwards _Grand Master_ of the _Order_. It was vainly attempted twice by _Mahomet_ II; till taken by Treachery by _Solyman_ the Magnificent. The _Knights_ of _Rhodes_ retir’d to _Sicily_; till the Year 1530, _Charles_ V. gave them the Grant of the _Island_ of _Malta_, where they have flourish’d ever since, often checking the Insults of the _Turkish_ maritime Power.

[G] _Sophia_, the _Capital_ City of _Bulgaria_, a _Province_ of _Hungary_, now in the hands of the _Othomans_. (The Turks are called _Othomans_, from _Othoman_, the _first_ Founder of their _Empire_.) ’Tis seated on the River _Ciabrum_. It is famous for a General Council that met in the Year 347, which condemn’d the Proceedings of the Council of _Nice_, a City of _Bythinia_, that met in the year 325. There it another City of that name in _Provence_.

[H] _Mohatz_, a strong Town in Lower _Hungary_ upon the _Danube_.

[I] _Buda_ is the Capital of the Kingdom of _Hungary_ formerly a rich and strong City, before it fell into the hands of the _Othomans_, who deftroy’d most of the stately Edifices: it lies on the west of the River Danube over-against the Town of _Peste_ and join’d to it by a Bridge of Boats, the Stream being too rapid, and wide to admit of any other. In the year 1179 Pope _Nicholas_ III, and _Ladislaus_ King of _Hungary_ held a _Council_ here. It is divided in two _Parts_, the _Upper_ and the _Lower_; in the Lower Town there are now many _Baths_, both _cold_ and _hot_, very finely adorn’d by the _Turks_ to perform their _Abdest_ or _Washing_, before they enter their _Mosques_ or Places of Devotion. It was taken by this _Solyman_ 1526, and retaken by _Ferdinand_ Archduke Of _Austria_ 1527; _Solyman_ retook it again 1529, after the Garrison had bravely defended it in _eleven_ vigorous Assaults. Ferdinand in 1541 attack’d it, when the Siege was raised by our _Solyman_. It was twice besieg’d by the Christians without success in 1598, and in 1601: in 1680 the Duke of _Lorrain_ besieg’d it without success; but in 1686 took it by storm, after a noble Defence, tho’ an Army of fifty thousand _Turks_ look’d on. The Duke found there the famous Library of the _Hungarian Kings_, inlarg’d by_ Matthias Corvinus_, entire, which he transported to _Vienna_; four hundred pieces of Cannon and Mortars, three hundred thousand gold Ducats, besides many rich Vessels of Gold and Silver, magnificent Furniture, and other valuable things.

[K] _Vienna_, the Capital of Germany, seated on the Danube, circled by that River, as _Shrewsbury_ is by the _Severn_, it is one of the largest Cities in _Germany_, as well as the strongest, and the Residence of the Emperor.

[L] _Lintz_, a _Capital City_ of the Upper _Austria_, built upon the _Danube_, with a handsome _Bridge_ over _that river_; ’tis a well-fortified, strong, and populous place. The _Emperor_ has a _castle_ for Pleasure, where he often retires from Business. It stands about thirty Miles from _Vienna_.

[M] _Circumcision_ is not one of the _five Points_ which makes a true _Mohametan_, but by Tradition brought from the _Arabians_. The _Othomans_ never perform this Ceremony, till the male Child is upwards of seven Years old. The Operator is a Surgeon. When the Child is recover’d of his Wound, he is placed on horseback, and led through the chief Streets of the Town, attended by the _Iman_ (or _Priest_) with Children of its own Age. Till the Child is perfectly cured, the Parents make a great Feast, inviting their Relations and Acquaintance to partake of their Mirth. Grown People, or those that turn from the Christian Religion (called Renegadoes) ride in triumph, with a Dart in their left Hand, the Point directed to their left _Breast_, to signify they would sooner have it thrust thro’ their Heart, than renounce that Faiths being in the nature of Baptism with the Christians.

[N] _Circassia_ is a Province that extends from the _Bosphorus_ to the _Eastern_ Shore of the _Euxine Sea_, famous for its beautiful Women; and the _Seraglio_ is generally filled with them for the service of the Emperor.

[O] The _Seraglio_ is the _Emperor’s Palace_, with large Gardens bordering on the _Bosphorus_, the Sea that parts _Constantinople_ in _Europe_, and _Scutari_ in _Asia_. There the Emperor’s Women are kept, each in favour having their particular Apartments, being generally attended by _black Eunuchs_, and those of the most deformed sort. The young Slaves are also brought up here in a large Apartment, near the Gate of the _Seraglio_ and though the Sons of Slaves often rise to the highest Posts in the Empire; for in _Turkey_ Birth is seldom regarded, but the greatest Merit rises to the highest Post, contrary to the Rules of other Nations, where _Bribes_ and _Favour_ promote the Worthless. At the age of twelve they are taken from the _Seraglio_, and employ’d in Business according to their Capacity.

[P] _Guntz_, a small Town, situate upon a River of the same name in _Lower Hungary_.

[Q] _Gratz_, the Capital City of _Stiria_; it stands upon the River _Mure_, twenty Miles from _Vienna_ to the South.

[R] _Tunis_, the _Capital_ of a Country of the same name, is a large City, five Miles in circumference. It a noble Port on the Coast of _Barbary_, upon the _Mediterranean_, about eight Leagues from old _Carthage_, the Birth-place of the famous _Hannibal_. This City has had more Revolutions and Masters than any City in the Universe: but since 1570 it has remain’d in the possession of Kings of their own, till the Line was extinct; and is now govern’d by a Bey as a Commonwealth, under the Protection of the _Turk_.

[S] _Nice_, the Capital of _Bythinia_, (the old _Antigonia_.) This City is remarkable for that famous _Council_ held against _Arianism_, relating to the time of celebrating _Easter_ among the Christians, with some Points of Church-Discipline, in the Imperial Palace of _Constantine_ the _Great_, in the Year 325 of Christianity. There was another design’d in the Year 359, but prevented by a sudden Earthquake, which destroy’d a great part of the City. There was another Council assembled in the Year 787, made up of three hundred and fifty Bishops. _Nice_ was taken by _Godfrey_ of _Boloigne_ in his way to _Jerusalem_ in order to commence the Holy War, that cost so many thousand Lives, and drain’d the Purses of almost all _Europe_.

[T] _Tauris_ (the old _Ecbatana_) the second City in the _Kingdom_ of _Persia_, situated about thirty Miles from the _Caspian Sea_. In 849 it was deftroy’d by an Earthquake, very frequent in those mountainous Countries. It underwent several Revolutions between the _Turks_ and _Persians_, but now it remains in the hands of the famous _Kouli Kan_.

[U] _Babylon_ (or _Bagdat_ by the _Turks_ and _Persians_) is a City celebrated in _sacred_ and _profane History_. It is built upon the Banks of the famous River _Euphrates_, that had its spring from _Paradise_ itself. It is said the Builder was _Nimrod_, the Grandchild of _Noah_. The Walls were formerly forty-eight Miles in compass, and so broad that two Chariots might pass each other. _Alexander_ in one of his Victories made this Conquest, and in this City, Death put a slop to all his Glories, and from seeking to be Master of the World, he only found a Grave. _Grand Cairo_ in Egypt is founded on another _Babylon_; from whence St. _Peter_ wrote his first _Epistle_. This City is built upon the Banks of the famous River _Nile_, whose overflowings inriches the Earth without Tillage.

[W] _Sultana Queen_. The _Turkish Emperors_ have avoided Marriage, fearing any Change of Government might bring their _Queens_ to Infamy and Disgrace; ever since _Tamerlane_ took _Bajazet_’s Wife _Arpasia_ Prisoner, and the more to insult _Bajazet_, forced _Arpasia_ to wait naked at his Table.

[X] _Caramania_, a Province in _Lesser Asia_, over-against the _Island_ of _Cyprus_. It formerly had _Princes_ of its own, but it has been many Ages subject to the _Turks_. It includes the ancient Provinces of _Cilicia_, _Pamphylia_, and part of _Caria_.

[Y] _Aleppo_, a _City_ of _Syria_, built upon the River _Marsya_, which falls into the _Euphrates_, is a very large Town, six miles in compass, the greatest Place for Trade in all _Asia_. The _English_, _French_, _Dutch_, and _Venetians_, have consuls always residing there.

_FINIS._