Of such as remain for tithe, if they be aged, (of whom very few be kept alive, because little profit comes of them) they be sold to the use of husbandry, and keeping of beasts. If they be young men or women, they be sent to certain places there to be instructed in their languages, and arts, as shall be most profitable for their advantage, and such are called in their tongue Saris. 1And the first care of the Turks is this, to make them deny Christ, and to be circumcised: and after that they are set, and appointed, every man as he seemeth most apt, either to the learning of their laws, or the feats of war. Some are brought up to be placed in the number of the Janissaries,2 who are the Turks Champions. And if any of the young men, or children, shall appear to excel in beauty, him they so cut, that no part of that which Nature giveth, or man, remaineth to be seen in all his body, whereby (during the freshness of his age) he is compelled to serve their abomination: and when age cometh, then they serve in stead of Eunuchs to wait upon Matrons, or to keep horses and mules, or else to be scullians and drudges in their kitchens.
Such as be young maidens, and beautiful, are deputed for ⟨p. 400⟩concubines: they which be of mean beauty, serve for to do their drudgery work in their houses, and chambers: or else to spin, or such other labours: but so as it is not lawful for them either to profess Christians religion, or ever to have any liberty: and thus are they used which fall to the Turk by tithe.
The other which are bought and sold among private subjects, first are allured with fair words, & promises, to take circumcision: which if they will do, they are more favourably entreated, but all hope is taken away from them, of returning into their country: which if they but attempt, the pain thereof is burning. And if such come at length to liberty, & will marry, they may: but then their children remain bond to the Lord, for him to sell at his pleasure: & therefore few marry, of such as are wise, among them. They ye refuse to be circumcised, are miserably handled among them. Such captives as be expert in any manual art, or occupation, can better shift for themselves: but they which have no handicraft to live upon, are in worse case:
Of such as remaine for tithe, if they bee aged, (of whom very few be kept aliue, because little profit comes of them) they be solde to the vse of husbandry, and kéeping of beastes. If they be young men or women, they be sent to certayne places there to be instructed in their languages, and artes, as shalbe most profitable for their aduantage, and such are called in their tongue Saris. 1And the first care of the Turks is this, to make them deny Christ, and to bee circumcised: and after that they are set, and appointed, euery man as he séemeth most apt, either to the learning of their lawes, or the feates of warre. Some are brought vp to be placed in the number of the Ianizaries,2 who are the Turkes Champions. And if any of the young men, or children, shall appeare to excell in beautie, him they so cutte, that no parte of that which Nature geueth, or man, remayneth to be séene in all his bodie, whereby (during the freshnes of his age) he is compelled to serue their abhomination: and when age cō meth, then they serue in stead of Eunuches to wayte vpon Matrones, or to kéepe horses and mules, or els to be sculliās and drudges in their kitchens.
Such as be young maydens, and beutifull, are deputed for ⟨p. 400⟩concubines: they whiche bée of meane beautie, serue for to doo their drudgery worke in their houses, and chambers: or els to spinne, or such other labours: but so as it is not lawfull for them either to professe Christians religion, or euer to haue any libertie: and thus are they vsed which fall to the Turke by tithe.
The other which are bought and sold among priuate subiects, first are allured with faire wordes, & promises, to take circumcision: which if they will doo, they are more fauourably intreated, but all hope is taken away from them, of returning into their country: which if they but attempt, the paine thereof is burning. And if such come at length to libertie, & will marrie, they may: but then their children remaine bond to the Lord, for him to sel at his pleasure: & therfore few marry, of such as are wise, among them. They ye refuse to be circumcised, are miserably handled amont them. Such captiues as be expert in any manuall art, or occupation, can better shift for themselues: but they which haue no handicraft to liue vpon, are in worse case:
- 1Saris.
- 2Janissaries.Ianizaries.
