with, they count sacred, and that it fell down from Heaven, as the Romans counted their Shield to do; and, as some Relief to their Misery, they count those Parts wounded with the Rod or Club, to be free from any Purgations, and Expiations after this Life.
When I told you, that the Turk's Camps were free from Broils and Tumults, I must except one, which was made by my own Men: The occasion of it was this. Some of my Servants had a mind to ramble out of the Camp, without any Janizaries to attend them; only taking some Italian Renegadoes that professed the Turk's Religion. Let me tell you, by the way, that these Italians are of good use in that Country, especially in redeeming Captives; for they come to their Masters, and pretend they are either their Kinsmen, or their Countrymen, and therefore, out of Compassion to them, they desire to buy them as their Patrons, for a Price agreed, and so they set them free: But if a Christian should make the same proffer to them, they would either refuse, or hold him to a far higher Rate.
But to return: Some of my People, as I told you, gadding abroad, they happened to meet some Janizaries, who came from Swimming and Washing themselves in the Sea, without the Badges of their Order on their Heads, only some Linnen being very slightly wrapped about them. These Janizaries revil'd my People, knowing them to be Christians; for that's the way of the Turks, to reproach Christians; 'tis a Principle of their Religion, and they think thereby to incline us to exchange our Religion for a better, as they count theirs to be. My Folks being thus provoked, return Jeer for Jeer, from Words they came to
