176 The Persian Travels Book IV. 



deliver the Child, giving fentence that the young Armenian fhould endure the fa me 

 death the TwH^had fuffcr'd, and no other. Immediately the Turks hurry'd'the 

 poor Child to the place where he had unfortunately Gain his play-fellow:, and after the 

 Parents of the young Turk, had had the two firft hits , he was prefently brain'd bv a 

 fhow'r of Stones from the Rabble. Yet as near death as he knew himiclf to be 

 without any difturbance at all , he exhorted his weeping play-fellows to (land firm 

 to the Faith of Jeibs Chrift , for which he was going to dye. 



Another time an Armenian Merchant coming from the Indies to Grand Cairo ' 

 went to the CofTcc-houfc according to cuftom , being a rendefvous of all the Me r ! 

 chants in the Town. There falling into difcourfc , by reafon of the heat of the 

 weather , he took off his Bonnet made after the Armenian fafhion of divers Colours 

 and laid it behind him, keeping his black Cap only upon his head. When the Modal 

 came about to hailen the people to go away according to the cuftom, which I have 

 already declar'd , the Armenian haftily rifing up, a T//rJ^, concealing the Merchant's 

 Bonnet , clap'd his ownBonnct upon his head. Upon that all the Turkijh Merchants 

 that were there came and congratulated the Armenian Merchant , telling him, how 

 glad they were to fee that he had embrae'd the good Law. At which words the 

 Armenian farpr'rfd , takes off the Turbant, throws it to the Ground before all the 

 Company, and ftamp'd it under foot. This action of contempt lb enrag'd the Tmh 

 that they carry'd him before the Bajba , before whom it was in vain to juftifie himfelf' 

 or to affirm that the Turbant was malitioufly put Upon his head*, for the Turks fwore 

 the contrary, and that he took it of his own accord, and therefore he muft either 

 turn Turgor dye for it. Upon his refufal they put him in Pnfon , and in a few days 

 the fentence was brought him from the Mufti and Cadi, that he muft either turn or 

 be burnt alive. The feverity of the fentence overpower'd him at firft to embrace the 

 Mahometan Law. But four or five years after returning from the Indies to Cairo , he 

 came where the Bajha was fitting in Council with the Grandees of the Country, and 

 getting as near the Mufti as he could , and throwing his Turbant in his face •, There 

 "Bog , find he , Thou wert the caufethat I have worn it fo long , of which I have rem- 

 ted, and do repent from the bottom of my heart 5 for I know that neither thou nor thy 

 Law are worth a Straw. At the fame time the croud laid hold of him,and drag'd him to 

 the Ptaz.z.a, where he dy'd in the midft of the flames with an admirable con- 

 ftancy. 



A rich Merchant of Zulpha, call'd Cotgia Soultenon, was fo well belov'd by Sk 

 Sefi , that he often went to Dine at his houfe, But one day it fell out that the King 

 having eat and drank to excefs , upon his return home fell crop-fick , upon which the 

 report ran that the Armenian had poyfon'd him. Which report coming to his ears, 

 fearing lea ft the King fhould dye, and himfelf be put to cruel Torments , hetooka 

 dof e of Poyfon and dy'd. Which when the King , who was well again the next day, 

 underftood , he was very much troubl'd for his death. 



The hmeCotgia Soultenon had a Cafer fent him from MelineU for a Slave } who'being 

 young and very apprehenfive foon learnt the Verfian and Tmh$> Languages , and was 

 inftruaed in the Chriftian Religion , and Chriftcn'd by thename of Huz.od or Jcfnb. 

 After his Matter's death he turn'd Mahumetan , and fo continu'd twenty years. 

 At the end whereof returning to Zulpha, he beg'd pardon of the Church; 

 and all the reft of his days fo crucifyM himfelf with Fafting, that every onepitty'd 

 him :, and when the Armenian Bifhops told him he had done well , he made no other 

 anlwer , but that he was not worthy to live upon the Earth who had deny'd his 

 Saviour, only he hop'd that he would have mercy upon him-, and fo continu'd his 

 auftere penance 'till he dy'd. 



CHAP. 



