Now and then, some Friends visited from _Constantinople_, and from _Pera_; yea, and some _Germans_ also of _Holy_’s own Family; of whom when I asked whether the Plague was abated? Mightily, said they. How many then die in a Day? Scarce Five Hundred, said they. Good God! quoth I, call you that to abate? when then doth it rage? They replied, when about a Thousand or Twelve Hundred die in a Day. The _Turks_ entertain this Opinion concerning the Pestilence, that every Man’s Destiny is written by God in his Forehead; so that ’tis a foolish thing in them, to think to decline or avoid it. This Opinion makes them fearless of the Plague, but not secure from it: So that, as soon as any Man dies of the Pestilence, they will take off their Cloaths, yet sweaty, and Linnen, and rub their Faces with them. If it be the Will of God, say they, that I shall die this way, it will most certainly come to pass; if not, it will not hurt me. Thus a large Field is open for Infection; so that whole Families are sometimes swept away by that Disease. Whilst I abode in these Islands, I got acquaintance with one _Metrophanes_, a _Metropolitan_ who presided over a Monastry in _Chalcis_, one of those Islands. He was a Learned and a Vertuous Man, very desirous of an Agreement between the _Latin_ and the _Greek_ Churches; so that he differed from the Humour of the rest of the _Grecians_, who esteem the _Latins_ as Men of an impure and profane Sect. So much doth every Man abound in his own Sense!
When I had lived about two Months in those Islands, some of the _Bashaws_ began to suspect my long Absence, and told _Haly_, that perhaps I might make my escape, for I had Ships ready at my command, and other Conveniences might easily be procured; and therefore it was more advisable I should return into the City. He answered them, he had that Confidence in my Word, that he believed I designed no such thing: Nevertheless he sent a _Chiaux_ to advertise me thereof. The _Chiaux_ very cunningly pried about, to see if he could discover the least Preparation for an Escape but finding none, after I had made him a Present, he returned to his Master with his Message from me, that he might rest secure, for I never intended to break my Word. Thus I continued three Months in my Retirement, and returned of my own accord into the City without any Compulsion.