OF AN HOLY WAR. 125 



than simply the worshipping of the creature. And 

 some of the prophets, as I take it, do the like, in 

 the metaphor of more ugly and bestial fornication. 

 The Peruvians also, under the Incas, had magnificent 

 temples of their superstition ; they had strict and 

 regular justice ; they bare great faith and obedience 

 to their kings ; they proceeded in a kind of martial 

 justice with their enemies, offering them their law, 

 as better for their own good, before they drew their 

 sword. And much like was the state of Mexico^ 

 being an elective monarchy. As for those people 

 of the east, Goa, Calacute, Malacca, they were a fine 

 and dainty people ; frugal and yet elegant, though 

 not military. So that, if things be rightly weighed, 

 the empire of the Turks may be truly affirmed to 

 be more barbarous than any of these. A cruel ty 

 ranny, bathed in the blood of their emperors upon 

 every succession ; a heap of vassals and slaves ; no 

 nobles ; no gentlemen ; no freemen ; no inheritance 

 of land ; no stirp or ancient families ; a people that 

 is without natural affection ; and, as the Scripture 

 saith, that &quot;regardeth not the desires r of women :&quot; and 

 without piety, or care towards their children : a na 

 tion without morality, without letters, arts, or 

 sciences ; that can scarce measure an acre of land, 

 or an hour of the day : base and sluttish in buildings, 

 diets and the like ; and in a word, a very reproach 

 of human society : and yet this nation hath made 

 the garden of the world a wilderness ; for that, as 

 it is truly said concerning the Turks, where Otto- 



