'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎175] (216/1024)

Chap- XIV. of Monfieur Tavernier. i 7<-
the end he might defraud his Father and his Brethren of their Eftate, according to
Halys Law, already mention’d. But after he had fpent good part of the Goods
in Debauchery, he return’d to the Three Churches, where the Grand Patriarch
liv’d, to be abfolv’d from his Fault * but the Patriarch telling him he muft go to the
Bilhop of Smyrna, he went accordingly i and in fome few days after he had under
gone the Penance enjoyn’d him, he went to the Cadi, and with a great Refolution,
Sir, faid he, you know that fome years fmce I turnd Mahometan *, now I come to
declare before ye that I have repented, and do repent of the foul Crime I committed,
when I denyd the Saviour of the World, and embrac dyour vpich?d Law* The Cadi, who
thought it had been at firft only fome evaporation of Extravagance, endeavour’d
to reclaim him by fair words and promifes i but when he heard him perlift in his
refolution, when he heard him curfe and blafpheme he caus’d him to be
carry’d to the Tiazza, where he was cut to pieces immediately. For no perfons go
with more courage and joy to fufifer for their Faith, then the Armenians.
In the year 1651 there happen’d to be a Wedding between a young TWi^and
a Virgin of the fame Nation. To this Wedding was invited an Armenian Lady,
who was a great friend of the Bridegroom’s Mother.The Armenian an only Son
of about twelve years of age, that earneftly defir’d to go along with her •, at firft
(he refus’d him, knowing that after the age of five or fix years, no Youth is permitted
to be in company with the Turhjfh Women or Maids. But the Boy ftill preffing his
Mother, and being feconded by an Aunt, who to pleafe her Nephew, told her (he
might let him go in Girls Apparelat laft the indulgent Mother, over*rul’d by
the importunity xf the Child, took him along with her in a female <Jrefs. Three days
thefolemnity of the Turtyh Weddings laft ; but the very firtt day, an old Gipjy-
Lurk cafting her Eye upon the young Armenian, and finding him too fparkifh and
too nimble for a Girl, fufpe&ed his Sex •, and calling his Mother afide, told her, that
by all the geftures and actions of the Child, (he could be no Girl, but a Boy in dif-
guife. The Mother not only deny’d the matter, but alfo feem’d highly offended
at the old Womans fufpition * who as much incens’d to have her judgment que-
ftion’d, decoy’d the Child among the Eunuchs of the Family, and caus’d him to be
fearch’d y and finding herfelf in the right, fpred it prefently about the houfe. Im
mediately the people cry’d that the Chambers were defil’d, that the AmenianL^
had done if in derifion of their Law y and feizing Mother, Aunt, and Youth, carry’d
them ail before the Kafha, demanding Juftice. The Bafha difmifs’d the Mother
and the Aunt, but kept the Youth fix or fev’n days, hoping the rage of the people
would be over. But in vain he ftrove to plead for the Child, though the Father
offer’d them half the weight of him in Gold, for the TSafha was forc’d to deliver him
up into the hands of the marry’d Womans kindred ^ who carry’d the Child to the
Market-place of the City, where they ftript him ftark naked y and firft they flea’d
him from his Neck behind down to the Waft, and fo left him with a Guard upon
him all night. The Cadi and Moullatfs exhorted the Child to turn Mahometan, and
they would preferve him from further mifchief. His Mother beg’d him to have pity
upon her and himfelf, and to turn Mahometan to fave his life. But neither tears,
nor all the tender words that grief and affe&ion could infpire, could (hake the con-
ftancy of the Infant, who with a refolute utterance anfwer’d, that he had hitherto
fuffer’d, and ftill would fuffer patiently y and that nothing griev’d him, but that his
Mother (hould exhort him to deny his Saviour. Next day the pitilefs Turkf came
and flea’d allhisBreaft and his Stomach, and fo left him all night under a Guard,
intending to have flea’d him part by part every day. But the Bafha abhorring
their Cruelty, came the next day with his Guards, and caus’d his Head to be
cut off. • » ) • # s
Van is a City peopl’d as well with Armenians as Turks ; fo that it is a ufual
thing for the Armenian and Turhjfh Boys to play together. One day it unfortu
nately fell out, that the Boys playing one among another, and flinging Stones at each
other, an Armenian Boy hit a young Turh^ full upon the Temples, and ftrook him
dead. Prefently the other Turkjfh Boys and the Rabble feiz’d him, and carry d him
to the Bajha •, the Father and Mother of the Child flain follow’d with hideous out-
crys, bawling for juftice, or that the Boy fhould turn Mahometan to expiate his
fault. The Armenian Parents offer’d a large fum of Money to redeem their Chiid^ y
but the advetfe party obftinate againft all accommodation, the Bafha was conftrain’d