Chap.XI V. of Monfieur Taver^ier. 175 



the end he might defraud his Father and his Brethren of their Eftatc, according to 

 Holy's 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 

 Hv'd , to be abiblv'd from his Fault •, but the Patriarch telling him hemuft go to the 

 Bifhop of Smyrna , he went accordingly , and in lbme few days after he had under- 

 gone the Penance enjoyn'd him , he went to the Cadi , and with a great Reiblution, 

 Sir , fa id he, you know that feme years fmce I turned Mahometan j now J come to 

 declare before ye that J have repented , and do repent of the foul Crime J committed, 

 whett I deny'd the Saviour of the World, and embraced your wicked Law. The Cadi, who 

 thought it had been at firft only ibme evaporation of Extravagance , endeavour'd 

 to reclaim him by, fair words and promifesj but when he heard him perfift in his 

 reiblution , when he heard him curfe and blafpheme Mahomet , he caus'd him to be 

 carry'd to the Piaz.z,a, where he was cut to pieces immediately. For no perlbns po 

 with more courage and joy to fuffcr for their Faith, then the Armenians. 



In the year 165 1 there happen'd to be a Wedding between a young T/r^and 

 a Virgin of the fame Nation. To this Wedding was invited an Armenian Lady, 



to be in company with the Turk$t Women or Maids. But the Boy ftill prefling his 

 Mother , and being feconded by an Aunt, who to pleafe her Nephew, told her flic 

 might let him go in Girls Apparel •, at laft the indulgent Mother , over-rul'd by 

 the importunity of the Child, took him along with her in a female drefs. Three days 

 the folemnity of the Turkifh Weddings laft : but the very firft day, an old Gipfy- 

 Tw-^cafting her Eye upon the young Armenian, and finding him too fparkim and 

 too nimble for a Girl, iufpe&cd his Sex •, and calling his Mother afide, told her, that 

 by all the geftures and actions of the Child , .fhe could be no Girl, but a Boy in dif- 

 guifc. The Mother not only deny'd the matter , but alio feem'd highly offended 

 at the old Womans fufpition •, wno 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 \ and finding her felf in the right, fpred it prefently about the houie. Im- 

 mediately the people cry'd that the Chambers were defil'd , that the Armenian Lady 

 had done it in clerifion of their Law •, and feizing Mother, Aunt, and Youth , carry'd 

 them all before the Bafia , demanding Juftice. The Bajha diimifs'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 Baflia was fore'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 } and firft they flea'd 

 him from his Neck behind down to the Waft , and fo left him with a Guard upon 

 him aH night. The Cadi and Modioli's exhorted the Child to turn Mahometan, and 

 they would prefcrvc him from further mifchief. His Mother beg'd him to have pity 

 upon her and himfclf 5 and to turn Mahometan to lave his life. But neither tears, 

 nor all the tender words that grief and affection could infpire , could fhake the con- 

 ftanty of the Infant, who with a refolute utterance anfwer'd , that he had hitherto 

 fuffcr'd, and ftill would fuffcr patiently *, and that nothing griev'd him, but that his 

 Mother {hould exhort him to deny his Saviour. Next day the pitileis Turks came 

 and flea'd all his Breaft and his Stomach , and io left him all night under a Guard, 

 intending to have flea'd him part by part every day. But the Bafoa abhorring 

 their Cruelty , came the next day with his Guards , and caus'd his Head to be 

 cut off. 



Van is a City pcopl'd as well with ^Armenians as Turks ; fo that it is a ufua! 

 thing for the Armenian ^nd Turkijh 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 Turl^ full upon the Temple's, and ftrook him 

 dead. Prefently the other Turkifh Boys and the Rabble feiz'd him, and carry'd him 

 to the Bajha ; the Father and Mother of the CJiild flain follow'd with hideous out- 

 crys , bawling for juftice , or that the Boy {hould turn Mahometan to expiate his 

 fault. The Armenian Parents ofTcr'd a large fum of Money to redeem their Child ; 

 but the advcrle party obftinate againft all accommodationvthe Bafra was conftrain'd to 



deliver 



