HISTORY ETHNOGRAPHY NATURE WINE-MAKING SITE MAP
Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
uses Google technology and indexes only and selectively internet - libraries having books with free public access
 
  Previous Next  

CLAUDE DELAVAL COBHAM
Exerpta Cypria
page 462

View PDF version of this page

MM. Ai-conti, Solomidi, Iconoinidi, AntonopuIIo, Pierachi, Zougrnfa, Cartellari &c. He commanded also that all the chief abbots of the monasteries should, be hanged, and confiscated their goods, especially those of the famous monastery of Cicco, after lie had beheaded the Archimandrite, who had been robbed of his property, plate, and even of the sacred vessels. To the like confiscation he subjected various Greeks who were employed iu the prominent offices of the Serai and the Mcechemi (the residence of the Mufti) and then by brute force compelled them to become Turks, to which lot were subjected also the sons of the persons executed, and others. On the 25th of the same month of July was issued the fatal sentence that the heads of the Court officials, the two nephews of the Archbishop, and three other persons shonld fall. A like fate nwnited the Greek merchants of Nicosia, Lamica, Leimassol &c. Sec, the Protopapa*, and the other Greek dignitaries. What more ! the same was done on the 24th to the chief priest of Leimassol, and three other inhabitants of that town, and to many ecclesiastics and laymen. Daily the Governor has no other care than to bring from all parts of tlie island innocent and unhappy persons, that even more blood of Christians, monks and priests may be shed, making diligent enquiry abont them, and keeping by him an exact note, so as to have them at his bidding. Going further still, he has reached the unparalleled cruelty of uinrdering, between priests and laymeu, ten, fiftoeu and even twenty a day. If he allows one day to pass without any such victims, on the next he doubles the number, to make things even. On this fiendish plan he has already destroyed the primates, the abbots, the arehpriests; and to escape death some have disguised themselves as Pranks, and embarked for Genoa, for Marseille or Leghorn. Among these were lneky iudeed the bishop of Temetunda, the Archimandrite, and the Exarch of the late Archbishop Cipriano, who had their hair and beards cut, and embarked for Europe. Two others were less fortunate, who were recognised as they fled, arrested, and then Iwheaded, and this Btirred still greater fear in the minds of those who hoped to save themselves by flight. However, as every danger is boldly faced to avoid the last of ills, so many families are prepared even undisguised to fly from the place. In short no one will remain any lunger in the island; even the Franks assist people to escape, and many have fled, and others are preparing for flight, so that the island will soon be a desert. Among the Governor's many barbarities is remarkable that of destroying all the palaces of the Greek and Armenian notables, reducing them to one stoiy, so that the snrvivors may dwell no longer in lofty apartments and grand houses, bnt in places which now present the appearance of mean huts. Tlie Consuls and Frank merchants, in pity for the lamentable state of these many citizens, especially boys and girls, helped to hide them in their houses. Nevertheless the Governor did not cease to search for them, to try to seduce them to become Turks; to insist, now with prayers, now with threats, that the Consuls shonld give them up to him, declaring that if not he wonld go himself to surprise them in their honses. Seeing at last that the Consuls, to preserve from certain death so many unhappy creatures, would not give in to his designs, he wrote, it was said, to Constantinople, for permission to force himself for this purpose into the said consular honses. It happened too that many pregnant women, at the sad news of their husbands' cruel death, gave to the day their untimely offspring, and lay overpowered with grief. Everywhere are heard sighs, everywhere terror and alarm prevails, for the very peasants too are cither burdened with taxes beyond their means, or if they cannot pay are tortured in prison with hard bonds and hnnger. In whom would it not stir pity to see the island dispeopled of the inhabitants of Greek origin, who either have been massacred, or driven to flight, or compelled to embrace tho 4Ü2 EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

View PDF version of this page


  Previous First Next