Of all the people in the world, the Orientals seem to be those who have the most constantly worn long beards: several nations shaved when in mourning, such as the Syrians and Persians. Beards were, and still are at this day, under the controul of religious usages. Zingzon affirms, that the manner of wearing the beard is an essential point in the religion of the Tartars; that they call the Persians schismatics, because they have abated their rigour to such a degree as to arrange their beards in a manner directly contrary to the rite of the Tartars; he adds, that this dangerous heresy was the cause of a bloody war between these two nations. All the world knows that the most dreadful oath among the Mahometans is to swear by the beard of their prophet. It is said in baron Tott’s memoirs, that the first care of an Ottoman monarch, on his ascending the throne, is to let his beard grow out: the Tartarian princes follow the same custom. The same writer observes, that sultan Mustapha III. was not satisfied with letting his grow out, but that he stained it black, in order that it might be more conspicuous the first day of his going out. The princes, kept prisoners in the seraglio, wear only whiskers, as likewise all the young people, who don’t think themselves fit to wear a whole beard ’till the age of maturity, and this is what they commonly call _becoming prudent_. Several great men have honoured themselves with the surname of _Bearded_. The emperor Constantine is distinguished by the epithet of _Pogonate_, which signifies _the Bearded_. In the time of the crusades, we find there was a _Geffrey the Bearded_: Baldwin IV. earl of Flanders, was surnamed _Handsome-beard_;[12] and, in the illustrious house of Montmorenci, there was a famous _Bouchard_, who took a pride in the surname of Bearded: he was always the declared enemy of the monks, without doubt because of their being shaved.[13] Footnote 12: This Baldwin, in a charter of Robert king of France, in the year 1023, is called _Honesta Barba_. Footnote 13: The singular quarrel which he had with the monks of St. Denis is given at length in my _Description des environs de Paris_, under the article _Isle St. Denis_. This quarrel was the occasion of this family’s changing their name from _Bouchard_ to _Montmorenci_. In the tenth century, we find, that king Robert (of France) the rival of Charles the Simple, was as famous for his exploits as for his long white beard. In order that it might be more conspicuous to the soldiers, when he was in the field, he used to let it hang down outside his cuirass: this venerable sight encouraged the troops in battle, and served to rally them when they were defeated. William of Tyre relates an adventure, which proves how much a long beard was valued, and how disgraceful it was for a man of honour to be without one.