A Description of the Turks Prayers and Fasts, before they go to War with the CHRISTIANS
THE Grand Signiour having Grounds to fear the GOD may have a Design to make use of the Rod of His Indignation, for the Chastisement of the Ottoman Empire, and the Sultan to prevents his falling together with his Subjects into the Hands of the Christians his Enemys, Ardently wishes that the Anger of GOD may be appaced by the means of the Procession of the great Machomet for which Reason, he strictly Commands, that all and every one of his Subjects Fast twice a week, Viz. On Monday and Friday in the most Rigorous manner, abstaining from all kind of Food and Drink till the Eevening; And on the said Days, the High Priest, with his Ecclesiastical Assistants are Commanded, immediatly to appear Covered with Ashes, and to go in Procession through the Streets with Digected countenances, and cry alloud in the Ears of the Inhabitants of Mecca the following words, O GOD assist thy People.
THE Sultan furthermore Commands, that Machomets Coffin be carryed into a publick place, and laid upon Four Golden Columns, Sarrounded with Twelve other Coffins full of their Saints Bones, that by their means the great Machomet may not faill on his part to pacify the Anger of GOD. The great Sultan Commands likewise, that all the Strangers [...]hat shall be in Mecca, together with the Inhabitants of that Town shall Seven times walk in Procession round that Tomb in the open Country, [...]rying, Houling and Groaning, and the Turkish Priests are on this Occasion, to Speak to the People, and Represent to them the great misfortunes the Ottoman Port has suffered for some Years past, and that, if they do not Repent, they will Experience, by their Ruin, the Wrath of GOD.
UPON these Days of Penitence and Procession all Sorts of Musick, &c. Are forbidden amongst the Turks.
The Order of Procession.
1st. 600 Men barefooted covered with Sackcloath and Ashes, carrying in their Hands Weapons, made use of in the last War, some broken and some wh [...]le, &c.
2dly. Next to them 300 Mustimans, who are a sort of Monks, having sharp cutting Knives, with which they are to make Incisions in their Bodies, crying out, Sighing and cutting their Breasts.
3ly, Then 6000 Men with Whips or Scourges, lashing themselves over their shoulders.
4thly. The Tomb or C [...]ffin of Mahomet, carryed by 30 Ispohia, or Turkish Priests, [...]aving their Beards shav'd and bare-headed. That Tomb is to be surrounded and guarded by 300 Bashaws [...]heir Shimiters drawn who have orders to kill on the spot, such who shall presume out of curi [...]si [...]y to look upon that Tomb, and the Bodies of such who shall be killed on that account are to be thrown to the Dogs.
5thly, Fifty Turkish Princes without any Ornament of Purple, bare headed, and besmeared, with Christian Blood, their left Hand tyed, and dragging with their right a Horses Tail.
6thly, 3000 Janissaries, who instead of their Arms, are to drag after them their Bucklers, crying ou [...] in a lamentable Tone, Halla; Halla, Hu.
7thly, One of the chief Viziers is to close the Pr [...]cession, riding upon an Ass bare headed in token of Humiliariôs, holding in his left Hand a Turkish Cap dipped in Christian Blood, and in the right a Cane, wherewith he is to Strike his Nead, and is to deprecate the future Calamity in these Words. O great Prophet, assist us for obtaining the Grace of our God, that the Christians may remain confounded.
8thly, After this they are to carry a Chest full of Aspers or Silver Piecess of Money, to be thrown among the People by a Turk appointed for that purpose, but none is to be so audacious as to rise f [...]om the Grownd, till the Procession is gone by, on pain of loseing his Head.
9thly, Last of all c [...]mes [...]e an incredible Multitude of Turks, amongst whom are the Pomites, who are to Scratch and tear their Faces, and at every hunder Paces they are to lift up their Eyes to Heaven, and [...]y out, Ha [...]ay Baccha, O God, assist us that we may not [...]