(A) Magnesia a City in Asia the Less, Capital of Caria, by some Authors called Mangresia situated near the celebrated River MÆander, from whence it was called Magnesia ad MÆandrum to distinguish it from other Cities of the same name. It is situate about a Degree (or twenty Leagues) north-east from Symirna and half a Degree from the ancient City of Ephesus, famous for the Temple of Diana, The great General Themistocles was banish’d to Magnesia and died there in his Banishment.

(B) Scutari, a Town in the Lesser Asia, over-agaist Constantinople, as Southwark is to London, only the Bosphorus is thrice at broad between Scutary and Constantinople; by some Authors supposed to be built out of the Ruins of the ancient Chalcedon.

(C) Aga of the Janizaries, that is General of the first warlike Body of the Empire. In former times, they were composed of the Sons of Christian Slaves, but now they are augmented in a great Body, upwards of an hundred thousand Men, that have by their number the disposal of the Turkish Empire, and are very willing for a new Change; for generally the Successor of the Empire, at his ascending the throne, gives this body of Troops a Largess or Present, that as soon as receiv’d makes them willing to with another Emperor.

(D) Constantinople, by the Turks called Stamboul, (formerly Byzantium) took its name from Constantine the Great, who himself gave it the name of New Rome; where he establish’d a Senate, with every other Constitution, according to ancient Rome.

(E) Belgrade (the ancient Alba GrÆca) built on the River Save, near its Fall into the Danube, is the Capital of Rascia, a Province of Hungary; it has often chang’d its Masters, though for many ages the Bulwark of the Christians against the Othomans. Amurath II. lost the best part of his Army before it. His Son Mahomet was forced to raise the Siege with infinite loss, by a Stratagem of the heroick John Huniades. He suffer’d a large Body of the Enemy to enter the Town, who immediately fell to plundering; in the mean time, he made a Tally upon the remaining Troops without, and put them to flight; then turning their own Cannon on the Plunderers, forced them to abandon the City, leaving their Tents, Baggage, Provision, and Ammunition behind them. In the Year 1521, it was taken by this Solyman, after a furious Siege of two Months. It remain’d in the hands of the Othomans, till the Year 1688, when the Imperialists took it by storm; fix hundred Christian Slaves were chain’d together, and by the Turks placed in a rank before them, who by that means secured themselves, as well as Christians from the furious Attacks of the Germans. It was retaken by the Turks two Years after, by an accidental Bomb falling into their Magazine of Powder, that near half the Garrison were destroy’d, with the Fortifications of the City. Pope Leo X. made it a Bishoprick.

(F) Rhodes (Rhodus) is an Island in the Mediterranean Sea, near fifty Leagues in compass; the Capital City, that Solyman besieg’d, takes its name from the Island. Rhodes was once famous for a mighty Colossus dedicated to the Sun, of such a monstrous size that Vessels sail’d in the Harbour between its Legs: it was seventy Cubits high. The Brass of this Statue, (after it was thrown down by an Earthquake) loaded seventy-two Camels, and was transported to Alexandria in Egypt, when it was taken by Muhavia the Sultan. Rhodes is seated seven Leagues from the nearest Coast of Asia to the South, forty-seven from Candi (another Island in the Mediterranean, made famous by the Poets by the name of Crete) to the North-East, and a hundred and sixty Leagues from Constantinople to the South. It was first peopled by Javan, the Grandson of Japhet, before any part of Greece was inhabited: in a few ages after, the Phoenicians (famous for spreading Traffic over the World that was then known) possess’d it. It was made a Roman Province by Vespasian. In 654 it was taken by the Saracens: in 1124 it was conquer’d by Venetians it was taken in the Year 1227 by John Ducas, Admiral of the Greeks: in 1283, it fell with all lesser Asia into the hands of the Othomans: in 1310, it was taken (after a four Years Siege) by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, under Fulk Villers, an Englishman, afterwards Grand Master of the Order. It was vainly attempted twice by Mahomet II; till taken by Treachery by Solyman the Magnificent. The Knights of Rhodes retir’d to Sicily; till the Year 1530, Charles V. gave them the Grant of the Island of Malta, where they have flourish’d ever since, often checking the Insults of the Turkish maritime Power.

(G) Sophia, the Capital City of Bulgaria, a Province of Hungary, now in the hands of the Othomans. (The Turks are called Othomans, from Othoman, the first Founder of their Empire.) ’Tis seated on the River Ciabrum. It is famous for a General Council that met in the Year 347, which condemn’d the Proceedings of the Council of Nice, a City of Bythinia, that met in the year 325. There it another City of that name in Provence.

(H) Mohatz, a strong Town in Lower Hungary upon the Danube.

(I) Buda is the Capital of the Kingdom of Hungary formerly a rich and strong City, before it fell into the hands of the Othomans, who deftroy’d most of the stately Edifices: it lies on the west of the River Danube over-against the Town of Peste and join’d to it by a Bridge of Boats, the Stream being too rapid, and wide to admit of any other. In the year 1179 Pope Nicholas III, and Ladislaus King of Hungary held a Council here. It is divided in two Parts, the Upper and the Lower; in the Lower Town there are now many Baths, both cold and hot, very finely adorn’d by the Turks to perform their Abdest or Washing, before they enter their Mosques or Places of Devotion. It was taken by this Solyman 1526, and retaken by Ferdinand Archduke Of Austria 1527; Solyman retook it again 1529, after the Garrison had bravely defended it in eleven vigorous Assaults. Ferdinand in 1541 attack’d it, when the Siege was raised by our Solyman. It was twice besieg’d by the Christians without success in 1598, and in 1601: in 1680 the Duke of Lorrain besieg’d it without success; but in 1686 took it by storm, after a noble Defence, tho’ an Army of fifty thousand Turks look’d on. The Duke found there the famous Library of the Hungarian Kings, inlarg’d by Matthias Corvinus, entire, which he transported to Vienna; four hundred pieces of Cannon and Mortars, three hundred thousand gold Ducats, besides many rich Vessels of Gold and Silver, magnificent Furniture, and other valuable things.

(K) Vienna, the Capital of Germany, seated on the Danube, circled by that River, as Shrewsbury is by the Severn, it is one of the largest Cities in Germany, as well as the strongest, and the Residence of the Emperor.

(L) Lintz, a Capital City of the Upper Austria, built upon the Danube, with a handsome Bridge over that river; ’tis a well-fortified, strong, and populous place. The Emperor has a castle for Pleasure, where he often retires from Business. It stands about thirty Miles from Vienna.

(M) Circumcision is not one of the five Points which makes a true Mohametan, but by Tradition brought from the Arabians. The Othomans never perform this Ceremony, till the male Child is upwards of seven Years old. The Operator is a Surgeon. When the Child is recover’d of his Wound, he is placed on horseback, and led through the chief Streets of the Town, attended by the Iman (or Priest) with Children of its own Age. Till the Child is perfectly cured, the Parents make a great Feast, inviting their Relations and Acquaintance to partake of their Mirth. Grown People, or those that turn from the Christian Religion (called Renegadoes) ride in triumph, with a Dart in their left Hand, the Point directed to their left Breast, to signify they would sooner have it thrust thro’ their Heart, than renounce that Faiths being in the nature of Baptism with the Christians.