WILLIAM HAREBORNE'S AMBASSAGE ad 



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were presents to cary in, but these neither kissed his 

 hand nor taried. After this I went to visit the church 

 of Santa Sophia, which was the chiefe church when it Santa SopMa. 

 was the Christians, and now is the chiefe see and 

 church of primacie of this Turke present : before I 

 entred I was willed to put off my shoes, to the end 

 I should not prophane their church, I being a Christian. 

 The pillers on both sides of the church are very costly ^ discriptkn 

 and rich, their Pulpets seemely and handsome, two are ^f^^^^^ church. 

 common to preach in, the third reserved onely for 

 their Paschall. The ground is covered with Mats, and 

 the walles hanged with Tapistry. They have also 

 Lamps in their churches, one in the middle of the 

 church of exceeding greatnesse, and another in another 

 part of the church of cleane golde, or double gilded, 

 full as bigge as a barrel. Round about the church 

 there is a gallery builded upon rich and stately pillers. 

 That day I was in both the chappels, in one of the 

 which lieth the Turkes father, and five of his sonnes 

 in tombes right costly, with their turbents very white 

 and cleane, shifted (as they say) every Friday, they be 

 not on their heads, but stand on mouldes made for 

 that purpose. At the endes, over, and about their 

 tombes are belts, like girdles, beset with jewels. In 

 the other chappell are foure other of his sonnes, and 

 one daughter, in like order. In the first chappell is a 

 thing foure foot high, covered with greene, beset with 

 mother of pearle very richly. This is a relique of 

 Mahomet, and standeth on the left side of the head 

 of the great Turks tombe. These chappels have their 

 floores covered, and their walles hanged with Tapistrie 

 of great price, I could value the covering and hangings 

 of one of the chappels, at no lesse then five hundred 

 poundes, besides their lamps hanging richly gilded. 

 These chappels have their roofes curiously wrought 

 with rich stone, and gilded. And there lie the bookes 

 of their Lawes for every man to reade. The 1 1 day meth tfthc^' 

 of April the shippe came to the Key of the Custome custome house. 



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