The history of the imperiall estate of the grand seigneurs their habitations, liues, titles ... gouernment and tyranny. Translated out of French by E.G. S.A. — Histoire generalle du serrail, et de la cour du Grand Seigneur, Empereur des Turcs. English

The history of the imperiall estate of the grand seigneurs their habitations, liues, titles ... gouernment and tyranny. Translated out of French by E.G. S.A. — Histoire generalle du serrail, et de la cour du Grand Seigneur, Empereur des Turcs. English

Table of contents

Title page

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL HIS WORTHY Kinsman, S. Harbottell Grimeston Knight and Baronet.

The first BOOKE.

CHAP. I. Of the Citie of Constantinople.

CHAP. II. Of the Grand Seigneurs Serrail.

CHAP. III. Of the Coronation of the Turkish Emperour.

CHAP. IV. Of the Titles and Qualities 〈…〉

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CHAP. VI. Of the Grand Seig•rs Table of his •te, and of his sleepe.

CHAP. VII. Of the grauitie of the Grand Seigneur and of the •be discourses which are made in the Serrail.

CHAP. VIII. How the Grand SEIGNEVR receiues the Embassadours of Forreine Princes, and the forme of his Oath in an Alliance.

CHAP. IX. Of some Manuall Workes of the Turkish Emperours, and of the Religious custome which they obserue, to liue of the labour of their hands.

CHAP. X. Of the Grand Seigneurs Loues.

CHAP. XI. Of the Grand Seigneurs Women, of their Lodging, their Liues, their Gouernment, and their Fortune.

Chap. XII. Of the Grand Seigneurs Sisters, and his other Kinswomen, and of the Marriages of his Daughters.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Grand Seigneurs Male Children, of their Education, and of the solemne Pompe at their Circumcision.

CHAP. XIV. Of the Presents they make unto the Grand Seigneur, and of that which hee himself giues.

CHAP. XV. Of the Treasures of the Serrail.

CHAP. XVI. Of the Reuenewes of the Turkish Emperour in generall and in particular, and of the extent thereof▪

CHAP. XVII. Of the Grand Seigneurs going forth of Constantinople by Land, and his returne i• Pompe where •e displayes to the view of strangers, the greatnesse of his 〈◊〉.

CHAP. XVIII. The Grand Seigneurs going to Sea, to 〈◊〉 himselfe.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Grand SEIGNEVRS Physicians, Chyrurgians and Apothecaries.

THE GENERALL HISTORY OF THE Serrail, and of the Grand SEIGNEVRS Court. The second BOOKE.

CHAP. I. Of the publique Diuan in the Serrail, where they dispatch and iudge all Affaires.

CHAP. II. Of the Azamoglans, or Children of the Tribute of base condition which serue in the Serrail, and elsewhere.

CHAP. III. Of the Azamoglans, of better breeding and condition, who in time attaine vnto the Lignities of the Turkish Empire.

CHAP. IV. Of the foure White Eunuches, the chiefe Men of the Serrail, and of some other Eunuches.

CHAP. V. Of many other Officers seruing in the Serrail, and the Sultans Person, and of the number of Men which serue in this Palace.

CHAP. VI. Of the ordinary Victualls of the Serrail, and of the Prouisions thereof for the nourishment of the Prince, and of those which serue there.

CHAP. VII. Of the sicke Men, and of such as die in the Serrail.

Chap. VIII. Of the Grand SEIGNEVRS hunting.

CHAP. IX. Of the traine which followes the Grand Seigneurs Court.

CHAP. X. Of the greatnesse of the Turkish Bassa's.

CHAP. XI. Of the affronts which the Turkish Bassa's are forced to pocket vp in Court, and the disgracefull Chastisements which they suffer.

CHAP. XII. In what •i•e the Grand SEIGNEVE 〈◊〉 vnto his Bassa's.

CHAP. XIII. Of the malicious in•ent 〈◊〉 and poys•nings which the Turkes vse the against another, and •sse• tally great Men.

CHAP. XIV. Of the filthy and vnnaturall lust of the Bassa's and of the great Men of the Court.

CHAP. XV. Of the Loues of the great Ladies of the Turkes Court, and of their violent affections among themselues.

CHAP. XVI. Of the foure principall Bassa's of the Port.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Tymar, Tymarriots and Pensioners of the Port.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Grand SEIGNEVRS Favourites aduanced to the greatnesse of the Empire, and of their fall.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Grand Seigneurs Armes and Seales.

CHAP. XX. Of the Death, Mourning, Funerall, and Burying, of the Grand SEIGNEVAS, Emperours of Turkey.

[Page] [Page] THE GENERALL HISTORY OF THE SERRAIL, and of the Court of the Grand SEIGNEVR, Emperour of the TVRKES.

FINIS.

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THE HISTORY OF THE SERRAIL, AND OF THE COVRT of the Grand Seigneur, Emperour of the Turkes. WHEREIN IS SEENE the Image of the Othoman Greatnesse, A Table of humane passions, and the Examples of the inconstant prosperities of the Court.

Translated out of French by Edward Grimeston Serjant at Armes.

LONDON, Printed by William Stansby.

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL HIS WORTHY Kinsman, S. Harbottell Grimeston Knight and Baronet.

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SIR,

IT is the vsuall manner of Men, whom GOD hath blest with the goods of Fortune, when Death summons them to leaue the world, with all their wealth, they are then [...]ous and carefull how to dispose of that [Page] which they cannot carrie with them. Then they call for Cou [...] to aduise them in the drawing of their last Wills and Testaments, bequeathing large [...] or to their Children, Kinsfolke and best respected Friends, to remayne as a future testimonie of their bounties: But if fareth not so with mee; I must say with poore Bias, O [...]nid [...] m [...]cum p [...]rto I am now creeping into my Graue, and am freed from that care, how to dispose of my worldly estate. But I feare that my disabilitie will leaue some staine of Ingratitude vpon mee, when I dead; that I haue left no testimonie of my thankfulnesse to so worthy a friend as your selfe, from whom I haue receiued so many fauours. To make any reall satisfaction, I cannot, neither doe you need it. Yet to free my selfe (in some sort) of this imputation of ingratitude, I haue be [...] you [...] [...] Legacie, the last of [...]y [...]aid [...]s. I hope you will giue it acceptance and countenance it for your owne, who [...]e you may at your best leisure (without any labour, trauell, or expences) enter into the great Turk's S [...] raglio or Court, and there ta [...] suruay of the life, lusts, reuenewes, power, gou [...], and tyranny of that great Ottoman. I bequeath it [Page] you as a testimonie of my thankfulnes when I am gone. If you make it your recreation after more serious affaires, I hope you will receiue some content, to reade the State of the proudest and most powerfull Monarch of the World. If it please you, I shall thinke my selfe very happy, hauing performed this last dutie. And will euer rest,

Your truly affected poore Vnckle, Edward Grimeston.

The first BOOKE.

THe wisest among Men aduise vs to goe vnto Kings as vnto the fire, neither [...]o neere nor too farre off: It burnes when wee approach indifferently, and doth not warme hi [...] that stands farre off: The glorious lustre of Royall Maiestie, cons [...] their re [...] presumption of those which approach too neere, and the bea [...] of their bounty doe neuer warme those sauage [...] which rec [...]e in flying from them. The true examples which Histories supply, haue confirmed the excellency of this counsell: yet a desire of the publique good hath enforced me to violate this respect, and my vowes to serue it carries [...] into the danger there is in ga [...]ing too neere vpon Kings. I approach vnto the proudest of all other Princes, and the most seuere of Men, yea so neere as Id [...]e into his secrets, visit his person, discouer his most hidden affections, and relate his most particular loues. If I loose myselfe, yet [Page] I shall giue proofes of this veritie, that in the age wherein wee liue, whosoeuer imployes himselfe wholy for the publique, in the end ruines himselfe: But Man is not borne only for himselfe, and the barbarous ingratitude of the times cannot serue for a pretext but vnto idlenesse. He that will labour, must passe ouer these obstacles; for he is not worthy of life, which doth not imploy it well; and to consume himselfe for the publique good, it to reuiue againe gloriously out of his ashes, like vnto a new Phoenix. I haue conceiued, that hauing giuen you the History of the Turkish Empire, from its beginning vnto our times, it would not be vnprofitable to let you see what their manners are, their kind of liuing, their conuersation, and the order of their gouernement, which so powerfull and redoubted a Conquerour doth obserue. To doest safely woe must enter into the Serrail, where the secret of all these things is carefully shut vp. But for that in going thither we must crosse thorough the Citie of Constantinople, let vs speake something of the situation, antiquitie, and beautie, of this pompous Citie, the fatall abode of the most powerfull Emperours of the Earth.

CHAP. I. Of the Citie of Constantinople.

THe Grecians consulting with the Oracle of Apollo l'ytheus, what place they should choose to build a City in Thrace, had for answere that they should lay the foundations right against the Territory of blind Men; so terming the Calcidonians, who comming first into that country, could not make choice of the fertility of a good soyle, and were seated vpon the other side of the Sea vpon the borders of Asia, in a place which was vnpleasing and vnfruitfull, in old time called the Towne of Calcedonia, but now the Borough Scutar [...]. Pausanius Captaine of the Spartians had the charge to build it, and Byze Generall of [Page] the Megarian Floet, gaue it his name, and called it Byzance: It hath carried it for many ages with the glory to be esteemed among the Grecians, the most fertile of their Townes, the Port of Europe, and the Bridge to passe thither from Asia; vntill that Great Constantine leauing Italy retired into the East, and carried with him the most powerfull Lords which might trouple that estate: He built after the Modell of Rome, a stately Citie vpon the Antiquities of Byzance where he erected the Eternitie of his Name, and called it Constantinople, or new Rome. The greatnesse of the Wals, the safety of the Forts, the beautie of the Houses, the riches of Columnes, which seemed to haue drawne into that place all the Marble, I asper, and Porphyry of the Earth, were the rare wonders of the Architecture, but aboue all these things appeared a magnificent Temple, which the pietie of this Prince had consecrated to the Diuine Wisdome, vnder the name of Saincta Sophia, whose building the riches seemed in some sort to enuie the glory of King Salomon, in the like designe; at the least according to the time, and the power of Constantine. Seuen rich Lampes ministred occasion to curious spirits to obserue their rare art, they all receiued at one instant the substance which did nourish their flames, and one being extinct all the rest were quencht. This was in the yeare of Grace, three hundred and thirty. Since two tumultuous factions grew in the Citie, who after they had cast the fire of an vnfortunate Sedition into the spirits of Men, brought the flames into this goodly Temple and burnt it. For this cause Instinian the Emperour employed in the restoring thereof, a part of the Treasures which he had greedily gathered together: He caused it to be re-edified with more state then it had beene, and in seuenteene yeares he imployed thirty foure Millions of gold, which was the Reuenew of Egypt for that time: He laid a foundation of eight hundred thousand Duckers of yearely rent, and caused this holy and reuerend place to be serued by nine hundred Priests, Men who had the merit of their beginning from Learning and Pietie. The Citie being the Queene of the World, within few yeares after, saw her restorer triumphing ouer the [Page] King of Persia, and had the grace to keepe in her bosome, the precious treasure of Christianity, a part of the Crosse of the Redeemer of the World, found by the carefull pietie of the Emperours Mother: her joy, pompe, and lustre, were growne to that height, as it seemed there could be nothing more added: it is by succession of time the seate of the greatest Monarches of the Earth: Senerus and Anthonin his sonne did enuy it, and rauished from its restorer, the glory to haue named it, calling it Anthonia, by one of their names. But whatsoeuer hath a beginning in this World must haue an end: and the goodliest things paie tribute to change. In the yeere 1453. on Tuesday the seuen and twentieth of May, it was after a long siege made a prey to the victorious Turke: Mahomet the Second of that name, and the eleuenth Emperour of the Turks entred it by force, spoyled it, and sackt it; The Emperour Constantine Paliologo lost his life, with a great number of men of quality, and all the Christian men were subiect to the Sword, or to the rigour of bondage: the women were a sport to the lubricity of the Turkes, and their goods subiect to their spoyle, in reuenge (some say) of the sacke and burning which the Grecians made of Troy, from whom they will haue the Turkes to be descended: but rather for a punishment of the impiety of the Grecians, who blaspheming against Heauen, deny that the Holy Ghost proceeds from Iesus Christ the second Person in the ineffable Trinity. Mahomet the Second of that name, was the first that setled the Othoman. Throne there, They changed the name among them, and called it Stamboll, that is to say, the great, the Royall, and the abundant. Her goodly places suffer the like inconstancie, and are called Baestans, the stately Hippodrome, is called the place of Horses. Atmaydan, and the wonderfull Temple of Sainta Sophia, is become the chiefe Mosquee of Mahomets superstition.

The scitu [...]tion of Constantinople, and its forme.This Citie is situated vpon a point of firme Land aduanced into the channell which comes from Pontus Enxinus, or the blacke Sea, which Geographers call the Bosphorus of Thrace. It is watred of three parts by the Sea: towards the North by a Gulfe or Arme of the Sea, called the Horne, which the [Page] Bosphorus thrusts into Europe, and make the Hauen of Constantinople the goodliest, the deepest, and the most commodious in Europe: Towards the East it is watred by the extremitie of the channell or Bosphorus; on the South by the waues of the Propontique Sea; and vpon the South it hath the firme Land of Thrace. The forme is Triangular, whereof the largest side is that towards the Serrail, which lookes to the Sea towards the seuen Towers, and its vast circuit containes about fiue leagues: The wals are of an extraordinary height, with two false Brayes towards the Land, and inclose seuen Hils within it. The first serues as a Theatre to the Imperiall Palace of the Prince, where it is commodiously and proudly feated: The last lookes vpon the extremity of the farthest parts of the Towne opposite to this, and vpon the way which leads to Andrinopolis by Land. But betwixt the third and the fourth, where a Valley doth extend it selfe called the great, is an Aqucduct of rare structure, which Constantine caused to be drawne seuen leagues from the City, and Solyman the Second aduanced it two Leagues beyond, and increased the current of water in so great abundance, as they doe serue seuen hundred and forty Fountaines for the publique, not reckoning those which are drawne into diuers parts to furnish the great number of Bathes which serue for delights, and the Turkes superstition.

Vpon the last of the seuen Hils are yet to be seene the ancient buildings of a Fort strengthened with seuen Towres in the midst of the situation; the Turkes call it Giedicula, that is to say, the Fort of the seuen Towres, in the which the wonders of Art was so great in old time, as what was spoken in the one was heard in all the rest, not all at one instant, but successiuely and in order. Two hundred and fifty Souldiers are in guard, commanded by a Captaine who hath the charge, who may not goe forth without the leaue of the Grand Ʋo [...]ir, except it be on two dayes in the yeare, when they celebrate their Feasts of Bayrans, or Easter. The first Turkish Emperour which possest Constantinople lodged their treasure in these Towres: The one was full of Ingots, and coyned gold; two of them [Page] contained the siluer that was coyned and in Ingots: another had diuers armes and ornaments for Souldiers, and the Caparisons for Horses, enricht with gold, siluer and precious stones: the fift serued for ancient Armes, Medales, and other precious remaynders of Antiquity: the sixt contained the Engines for Warre: and the seuenth, the Rols and Records of the Empire; accompanied with a goodly gallery, in the which were placed the rich spoyles which Selym the first brought from Tauris, when he triumphed ouer Persia. All these treasures were carefully kept vntill the Reigne of Selym the Second. But it is in estates as with priuate Families. In these some gather together with much toyle that which their heires waste prodigally; and some Kings heape vp treasure which serue as a subiect of prodigality to their Successors. For this Prince base and effeminate, who it seemes, was not borne but for the ruine of his Empire (if Christians could haue imbraced the occasions) wasted in the expences of the Nauall Army, which the battaile of Lepantho made subject to the Christians, and before in the warre of Cyprus, the best part of the immense treasure which his Father had heaped vp in these Towres: the rest serued for his lasciuious and disordered passions with his Concubines. Since Amurath his Sonne changed the place of the treasures of the Empire, and from the Towres transferred them into his Serrail: so they draw vnto him that which he loues, and seeing that money doth possesse the hearts of Men, it is reason they should haue a lodging in their Palace. This alteration hath since appointed these places of the treasure, to be Prisons for the great Men of the Port or Court, whom the Sultans will not put to death: For the Fortresse being of a great extent, such Captiues haue the more libertie. They shut vp in the Towres of the blacke Sea, which is a Castle vpon Europe side ioyning to the Sea, Christian Prisoners of qualitie, where in the yeare 1617. Duke Koreski a Prince of Moldania was lodged.

Constantinople hath within the inclosure of the wals aboue two thousand Mosquees, or Turkish Temples built by their Emperors: for we will make no further relation of the rarities [Page] of that Imperiall City, but such as are at this day. Wee may read the wonders of that ancient City in other Authours; and particularly in the Bookes which P. Gillius hath written. The chiefe of all these Mosquees is that which hath been erected in the ancient Temple of Sancta Sophia, called by the Turkes Ayasophia; it hath sixe goodly and sumptuous Forefronts, the walls are of bricke, couered in old time both within and without with white Marble, Porphyry, and other rich stones; they are now of Lead. The open Porches about it haue six doores which augment the beauty; foure doores of the Church open at the entry; the height of the Vault couered with Lead, shewes the magnificence of the worke: sixteene great Pillars support it, foure are Iasper of the Ile of Cyprus, foure are of white Marble, foure of Porphyry, and foure of another stone as rich: forty eight other Pillars of lesse bignesse, but of the same matter serues to support this great Fabrique, and a lesser and lower Vault is supported by foure and twenty Columnes of the same Marble and Porphyry. The rare Statues and rich Images wherewith Constantine had adorned it, are no more to be seene: Mahomet the Second had vowed them to the sack of the City when he tooke it: only an Image of the Virgin who bare the Sonne of God, remaynes whole and vntoucht in the midst of the Vault, not without a particular prouidence of Heauen: Yet the Turkes draw a vaile crosse to prohibit the sight; but this doth not hinder the Christians by creeping vp by ladders to satisfie their deuotion, when as at lawfull houres they may enter into the Mosquee: Now the Turkes haue white-cast the Vault in diuers parts, to write the Name of God in the Arabique tongue. The breadth and length of this Church may be well comprehended by the height, the which is limited by the shot of a Harquebusse: vnder it is a Vault full of Altars and Sepulchres, in respect whereof the Turkes haue caused the doores to be walled vp. In a place neere vnto it are found ten great Piles full of Oyle since the time of Constantine, which haue continued vnto this day free (by reason of the low vault) from the fire which consumed the first beauties of this Temple, the long continuance [Page] at yeares hath made this Oyle white like Milke: It now serues for Physique which the Apothecaries vse for the Grand Seigneur.

By these vaulted places they descended into two hollow Caues which goe vnder the streets of the City, the one leads to the Grand Serraill, and the other goes farre vnder Constantinople, vnprofitable at this day, except the one which hath receiued light by some breaches which time hath made, serues only to winde silke, and brings vnto the Coffers of the Shasna, or Exchequer, three or foure hundred Zequins of yearely rent. But the goodly and ancient buildings which did adorne this admirable Temple, haue beene ruined by the Turkish Emperours, except those which serue for a dwelling to some Congregations of the Priests of the Alcoran.

Besides this great and admirable Mosquee, there are foure others of note, the durable markes of the magnificence of the Turkish Emperours. The first was built by Mahomet the Second, after that hee had triumphed ouer Constantinople: He caused it to be erected after the Modell of Sancta Sophia, but much lesse; he enricht it with threescore thousand Duckets of Reuenue; hee caused two hundred faire Chambers to be built about it couered with Lead, as well to lodge the Priests which did serue, as to receiue all strange Pilgrimes of what Nation or Religion soeuer they were, where they are entertained for three dayes: without the Cloyster are also built fiftie other Chambers for poore men. The second Mosque was made by Baiazet the second soone to the said Mahomet. The third by Selym the first sonne to this man: and the fourth by Solyman second sonne to Selym. These three last Princes are euery one buried within the walls of this Mosquee in stately Tombes, vpon the which there are continually a great number of Lampes burning, and Turkish Priests mumbling of the Alcoran, who pray after their manner for the soules of these Monarches. The most stately of these foure Mosquees is that of Solyman the Second, it exceeds in Marble and other rich stones the pompe of Sancta Sophia, but it yeelds to the wonders of the Architecture, whereunto few could yet attaine. [Page] Selym the Second built his Mosquee in the City of Andrinopolis: Achmat the last employed excessiue summes of money in the Fabrique of that which he built of late yeares in Constantinople: the magnificency of the structure exceeds those which we haue mentioned, the Turks call it the new Mosquee, and their Priests the Incredulous: for that Achmat caused it to be built against the aduice which they gaue him, that such a worke would not profit his soules health, seeing that hee had made no conquests to enlarge the Empire of their Predecessors. For the Law of the state conformable to that Religion, forbids Turkish Princes to build any Temples, if they haue not extended the limits of their Empire in the Territories of Christians, where they may cause their Alcoran to be preached: for such workes of piety cannot be vsefull to the health of their soules (the Mufties say) who are opposite to such designes, if their Emperours would vndertake it.

The Grecians which are Christians, haue within Constantinople forty Churches for their diuine Seruice; the Armenians haue foure, and the Latines (lesse fauoured than these) haue but two: It is true that most of them are lodged at Galats, now called Pera, which is on the other side of the channell, where they haue nine Churches for their Deuotions and holy Mysteries. The Iewes haue the credit to be within the City in nine seuerall quarters, and haue eight and thirty Synagogues. They haue gotten more libertie and power then they haue in Christendome, for that they obserue the formers of the Grand Siguior, and moreouer they haue the managing of the Domestique Affaires of great Men and Officers of the Port, where they are the common giuers of aduice. The walls of this Imperiall City are yet firme and entire. They are double vpon the firme Land, except it be towards the Gate of Ayachapeza, that is to say, the holy Gate, by reason of the great number of Religious bodies which were in a Church neere vnto that Gate. Mahomet the Second entred thereby to defile the holinesse of the place: there are nineteene Gates aswell [Page] vpon the firme Land as towards the Sea, which serue for an entrance into this City. Many great places are extended for the commodity of the Publike, some haue preserued the ancient Pyramides, and the workes of Brasse erected by Christian Emperours, amongst others that which they call Petrome, where there are to be seeene whole Obelisques; and three great Serpents of Marble creeping vpward wreathed one within the other: One of the which hath a breach in the throat, for Mahomet the Second entring into the City, had a conceit that they were the worke of some enchanting Sorcerer, and spurring on his Horse to be satisfied, hee made this breach with his Launce. There is euery day a publique Market in some one of these places. One Friday it is in three, and the most famous are of Wednesday, Thrusday, and Friday, They call them Schibazars, that is to say, Markets of things necessary for vse. About these places are erected aboue two thousand shops for Breakers, who sell any thing wherewith to furnish the necessity of those which desire to repaire their want: The sole of this old trash is not so little but it yeilds yearely vnto the Princes Coffers six Charges of Mony, which is in value eleuen thousand Sequins, or foure thousand, foure hundred pounds sterling for the Turkish exaction makes profit of euery thing. The shops for Merchants exceed the number of forty eight thousand, they are diuided according to the diuersity of trades or Merchandizes into diuers places; but euery trade thath his quarter, and in diuers parts for the commoditie of the Publique. Only Goldsmiths, Iewellers, and Merchants of cloth of gold are in one place called Bayst [...], that into say Market, the others [...]zars: This [...] place is in [...] with wa [...] fiue foot thicke; there are foure double Gates our before the other, like vnto a little Towne, vaulted round aboue. This rich [...] place [...] foure and twenty Pillars which suppo [...] the [...], vnder the which there are many little shops like vnto bo [...] in the wall, or in the Pillars, euery one is fine foote broad, and foure long▪ There they shew sorth their rich Merchandizes vpon little Tables which are before them. Without doubt the gaine must be exceeding [Page] great, and the sale ordinary, seeing they paid vnto the Prince yearly fiue hundred Sequins, or two hundred pounds sterling, to haue leaue to sell there. These are only Iewellers and Merchants of cloth of gold: The Goldsmithes are without about the wals of this place, and euery one payes yearely a hundred Sequins, or forty pounds sterling to the same end.

Besides the Bayston, there is another lesse inuironed with a wall, and supported by sixteene small Pillars; in the inclosure whereof they sell linnen cloth and silkes, but without it is the detestable Market where they sell men and women; on the one side they buy slaues which are already instructed to serue, or to practise some trade, and on the other those which know not any thing. These places represent better then the former, the fearefull Image of the Turkish tyranny: It binds them to slauery which the God of the World hath crated free: the Merchants visit such Merchandizes, and such as haue an intent to buy, doe first see the persons of either sexe naked: they handle the parts of their bodies, to obserue if they be sound, and they vncouer that which Nature herselfe hath laboured to hide. The women if they be faire are bought at a deare rate to serue the [...] passions of some [...]ous and fearefull Moo [...]e: they to whom Nature hath denied such graces, are taken to empty the close-stooles of great Turkish Ladies, and to wash with water the parts of their body, which serue to discharge their bellies, as often as they haue [...]. We will relate the rest of the miseries of this seruitude in another place, diuiding them of purpose to make them the more supportable. For in truth they are in this worke the most tedious subject of this History. Who could without sighing see an infinite number of Christians laden with the fetters of a violent slauery by the barbarisme of the Turks? And in a place neare vnto this the Infidels keepe another Market where they only sell Nurses: and from this vniust traffique the Princes vndertakers draw sixteene thousand Sequins for the toll, of sixe thousand foure hundred pounds sterling.

Many other places of this starely Citie yeild vnto the treasury the Reuenues of many good summes of money. The Tauernes [Page] which sell wine publiquely to Christians, and to Iewes; but in secret to Turkes (being aboue fifteene hundred in number) pay thirtie sixe charges of monie, and euerie charge is valued at sixteene hundred thirtie three Sequins. The Sea shoare towards Pera, payes for the toll of fish which it sold there, eighteene hundred charges of siluer yearely. The Market whereas Corne, Meal [...] and Pulse is sold, yeelds yearely foureteene charges of monie. That where the Merchandizes which comes from Caira is [...]ted, is worth yearely to the Chasua or the Imperiall treasure, twentie foure charges of siluer. The great custome which is leuied from the Castle of Gallipoli vnto that of the blacke Sea, vpon Spices and other Merchandizes which comes by shipping is worth a hundred and fourescore charges of siluer. The great Shambles of [...] and Muttons; which are without the Citie, and furnish it with necessarie meate, yeeld two and thirtie charges of monie: they are called Chaanara, two hundred Capsapl [...]rs, or Butchers, serue them: A Superiour called Capsa [...]assa commands them, who had a charge they shall furnish f [...] [...] kill an Oxe or a Sheepe without his permission, [...] it be for the Sacrifices of the Turkes. The [...] from him to furnish their [...] should through co [...]etousnesse raise the price of [...] aboue the ordinarie taxe which is set downe, and that his corruption shall come to the knowledge of the Gr [...] Seign [...]ur; there is nothing could free him from the rigour of cruell death: Hee is to [...] in [...]ces, and cut into foure q [...], which they send vnto the Shambles to be an example to other: So as f [...]re keeping him in awe, [...] before this [...] which [...] September and October, vpon the [...] which [...] from [...] great to be easily [...] people only and not the [...], you shall [...] of five and twentie thousand Oxen, and [...] thousand [...] also [...] by the side of Horses, Ships, Vessels, and [...] [Page] hundred of all sorts of Merchandizes by Sea, amounts to great and inestimable summes. The taxe of those which imbarque themselues to trauaile, which is an Aspre for euery head if they be Turkes, and two if they be Christians or Iewes, is of no small importance. The Tribute called is Turkie Charay, which is leuied vpon the Iewes in Constantinople, after the rate of a Sequin for euerie male Childe, is worth eleuen Millions, three hundred Sequins yearely, although there be many of that Nation which are free from this Tribute. They doe also giue a present of three thousand Sequins euerie yeare, for the confirmation of their Priuiledges, and to haue a Rabbin to command their Synagogues, and twelue hundred Sequins to haue leaue to burie their Dead. The Christians, Grecians, within three miles or a league of Constantinople, pay for euery Male a Sequin; which amounts to the summe of aboue thirtie eight thousand Sequins: They doe also giue fiue and twentie thousand yearely for their priuiledge to haue a Patriarch, and to preserue the number of their Churches. The priuiledge of their Burials cost them aboue three thousand Sequins. The imposition called of Virgins, helpes to fill the Grand Seigneurs Cofers, or his Tr [...] [...] vpon Maids which marrie (whereof they keepe a Register) if they be Turks, they giue two third parts of a Sequin, the Iewes pay a whole one, and the Christians a Sequin and a halfe. The Christians, Latines are for the most part freed from the violence and oppression of these vniust taxes, for they get their dependance from some Kings Embassadour, or from an inferiour Prince. The Albanois, they of Raguse, and the Geneuois, pay not any thing.

For the payment of so many Tributes wherewith the people is opprest by the Tyrant of the Easterne Regions, it is necessarie there should be many sorts of Coine mi [...]. In Constantinople the great Imperiall Mint workes continually in Gold and Siluer, but no man can bee admitted be a Farmer to these precious [...] if hee be not a Grecian borne, by a speciall priuiledge of the Grand Seig [...]eur, who hath conferred this grace vpon the Gretian, in consideration that the [Page] Mines of Gold and Siluer, are within the [...] of Greece, wherefoure hundred men labour daily. And the Master of this rich Mine, is to furnish into the Serraile, the first day of euery moneth in the yeare, ten thousand Sequins of Gold, and twentie thousand of Siluer [...] coined, the Grand Seigneur hauing so appointed, that the monie which is employed in the Serrail shall bee new. The said Farmer hath power to make Proclamation, that whosoeuer hath any forraigne Coine, hee should bring it in within three dayes and receiue the iust price, vpon paine of Confiscation. He hath likewise power to take the Ingots from the Mines, so many as shall bee needfull for his worke.

The Mines which furnish most of the Gold and Siluer, which is mi [...]ed in the Turkish Empire in Europe, are fiue in number. The one is digged in Macedonia vnder the Roots of a Hill called M [...] [...], and this ye [...]lds Gold: The other which is of the same substance is opened in Bulgaria, vpon the Confines of Macedonia ▪ The three of Siluer are in Greece, rich and very plentiful. Out of all which they draw that which Nature had wisely hidden, to be conuersant among men: the which doth breed [...] ▪ dissolues Friendship, corrupts [...] Chastitie, troubles Estates, obscures M [...] wits, rauishes li [...]e, vnthrones reason from her seate, and robe [...] of himselfe▪

But to returne to this great Citie of Constantinople, the Magnificences of the Princes which possesse it at this day, and the riches of some [...], or great Men of the Court, haue caused aboue three hundred C [...]vana serrails to bee built: these are great and vast places to lodge Strangers. The number of this Hospitals for the poore and [...] to the number of fourescore: [...], the Turkish Emperours which haue built these pound M [...]squees, haue added them vnto their R [...]bric [...]s, where they are eternall markes of their Pl [...] ▪ Moreouer, there are [...] Colledges for the instruction of young [...] ▪ and the [...] of the Scho [...]lers, which they call in their [...], that is to say wise Students, although they be nothing lesse. [...] of them hath a [Page] Chamber for his Lodging, a Carpet for his Table, foure loaues by the day, a proportion of Pottage and a Candle: They giue them two suites of clothes yearely and they are paid out of Reuenewes of the Colledge, by the Masters and Pr [...]ceptors which teach them, who are called Soscha [...]i; that is for the first yeare when they enter into the Colledge: for to the second they adde to their entertainment an Aspre by the day, which is a fift part more then a pennie; afterwards they giue two, three, or foure Aspres by the day, according to the number of yeares they haue continued. With this poore pi [...]ance these Turks can keep no great ordinarie, vnlesse they receiue it from other places: But the gaine they make in writing of Bookes, (for the Turkes vse no printing) is not little but doth furnish their necessitie abundantly, yea, their Riots: they goe also to houses to teach the children of men of qualitie. But there is not in all Turkie more dissolute youthes then these Turkie Schollers: there is no kind of villanie but they commit with all impunitie. The priuiledges wherewith the Turkish Emperours haue honoured them, or rather the abuse of them hath drawne them into all sorts of impudencie: no man can apprehend them for any crime, vnlesse their Generall be present, to whom only this power is giuen. It is true that the Princes presence in Constantin [...]ple doth restrain the insolencie of their riots: But the Townes of Carama [...] and Na [...]ol [...] are wonderfully pesteted. Amurath the third desirous (by reason of some troubles which happened) to know the number of such Gallants; they were found to bee aboue nine thousand, aswell in Greece as Natolia, not reckoning those which studied in Suria, Caire, Arabia and else-where.

Another great place inuironed with wall, and shut vp with good Gates, doth likewise beautifie the Citie of Constantinople, the Turkes call it Seracy [...]a, that is to say, the Sellerie, or the place where they make Saddles, and rich Caparisons for Horses of Seruice and Pompe. It is an vnspeakable pleasure for those that loue Horsemanship, to see foure thousand workmen in this place, labouring in their shops, artificially vpon diuers Capari [...]ons for Horses. Some [...] great round Pearles [Page] vpon the Saddle of an Arabian Horse out of the Grand Vizirs stable: Others fasten a Bitt of Gold to Reines of rich red Leather of Russia; some doe fit stirrop Leathers to stirrops of Gold, enricht with a great number of Turkishes of the olde Rocke: Others fasten vpon a large Crouper a great number of precious stones: In another place you shall see a rich Saddle cast forth a thousand flames, the number of the Diamonds wherewith it is enricht make it inestimable: The Bitt and stirropes of Gold couered with Diamonds, the Tassels of Pearles which are at the Reines, and at the Trappers of the Crouper, and the other beauties of this royall Harnesse, rauish the eyes of such as looke of it with admiration of their wonders, and some silently perswade themselues that Fortune adorned with these precious things which depend on her, meanes to goe in triumph through Constantinople, to let the Turkes see that she dwels amongst them. In the midst of this place there is a Mosquee built for the deuotion of these workmen, and a goodly Fountaine in the same place which powres forth abundance of fresh water for their vse.

Two other great places likewise walled about, serue for the Lodgings of the Ianizaries, which are the best Footmen of the Turkish Armies: the one of these places is called Eschiodolar, that is to say the old habitations. It is of a square forme, and diuided into many small Lodgings, in the which the Corporals remaine, called Ayabass [...], which signifies the chiefe of glorie: there are about a hundred and fiftie of this qualitie, and either of them commands two hundred Ianizaries, who dare not goe out of the place without leaue: the Gates are shut by night, and the keyes are kept by the Captaine.

The Arsenall is one of the goodliest and rarest things in Constantinople, it is vpon the Sea shoare, and containes a hundred and fourescore Arches, vnder either of which enters a great Galley, yea, three may be safely lodged. The Officers which serue in this Arsenall, and receiue pay, are commonly fortie six thousand men: But its greatest force is the good order that is obserued by the which there are certaine Merchants which haue contracted to entertaine fourescore Gallies alwayes furnished [Page] with all things necessary, and readie to put to Sea: the Munition of Powder is kept in diuers Towres in the walls of the Citie which looke towards Pera: they bring it from Grand Caire, where the Sultans cause it to be made.

The Garners in the which they keepe their prouision of Corne and other graine are built in a corner of the Citie towards Pera, the walls are very strong and the Gates of Iron: there is sufficient to serue for many yeares, but euery third yeare they renew it: In the time of Amurath the third, there was found a great quantitie of Millet, the which had beene preserued sweet and vncorrupted for the space of foure score yeares.

But this great Imperiall Citie cannot bee happily gouerned without the execution of Iustice, which is the soule of the World, and the order of Reason; A Soueraigne Iudge is the chiefe, the Turkes call him Stambolcadisi, that is to say, the Iudge of Constantinople. He takes notice indifferently both of Ciuill and Criminall Causes, and no man is put to death in that place, if hee hath not condemned him. There are foure Lieutenants generall, distinguished into the foure principall Quarters of the Citie, and execute vnder him the same Iustice, but from their Sentences they appeale vnto the Iudge. Besides these there is a great Captaine of Iustice called Sonbasi, who doth execute the greatest Function of his charge in Prisons, to heare the Causes, and to make report vnto the Grand Vizir: There are also foure Lieutenants vnder him, separated into the Quarters of the Citie, by the order of the Policies ther [...] and a great number of inferiour Officers, as Sergeants, a [...] [...]ther base persons which serue him. The Prisons of Constantinople are diuided into two, either of them is beautified (if there be any beautifull Prisons) with a great Medow in the midst and a pleasing Fountaine: It hath two stories, in that below are lodged criminall Offenders, in that aboue are such as are committed for ciuill causes. Heere the Iewes are separated from the Turkes, and the Turkes from the Christians, but in the lowest they are altogether, as Persons whom their Offences haue made common. The Almes deeds & good [Page] workes which are exercised there by the Turkes, surpasse in few dayes those which are done in our Countries in many yeeres: The Turkish Charitie towardes his Neighbour surmounts ours, and it seemes, that for such good deeds, Hea [...]en suffers them in the Empire of the World; for his equitie doth recompence the good, in any subiect whatsoeuer, aswell as it doth punish the euill. The Turkish Emperours themselues shew great compassion, they many times deliuer a great number of ciuill Prisoners, paying their debts for them. The other particularities which concerne the Turkes Iustice, shall bee handled in another Tract. In the meane time seeing wee are come neere vnto the Imperiall Pallace, which is the Serrail, let vs striue to enter, although the Gates bee carefully garded, and let vs see the rare beauties of this famous place.

CHAP. II. Of the Grand Seigneurs Serrail.

Description of the Serrail in generall.THree Serrails doe augment the glorie of Constantinople, the one is called Eschy Saray, that is to say, the old Serrail, which was the first Royall House built within the Citie, after that the Turkes became Masters: It is scituated almost in the midst of it; the forme is square, and the Circle containes an Italian mile and a halfe, or halfe a French League, such as are in Languedoc, or Prouence. The women which haue serued the deceased Emperours, their Sisters if they bee not married, & their Childrens Nurses, haue it for their L [...]ing from whence they may not depart vnlesse they ma [...] A Dame whose age and discretion hath purchased merit, hath the care and conduct of the rest as Superiour; they call her Cheira Cad [...]n, that is to say, Great Dame. The Grand Seigneur in his most solitarie humours retires himselfe sometimes into this place to seeke the consolation which he cannot find elsewhere▪ The other Serrail is of a lesse extent, it is scituated at the Hippodrome, and serues at this day for the solemnizing of Playes, Pompes, and Sports for the Turkish Princes: and for an Academie [Page] to foure hundred of the Grand Seigneurs Pages, which are there instructed in the Turkish tongue, to manage Armes, and other Exercises fit for them, and they goe not forth vntill they be made Espayn, that is to say, Men at Armes: they are bred vp and taught at their Masters charge: this place is called Ebrayn Bassa Saray, that is to say, the Serrail of H [...] Bassa, who was sonne in Law to Sultan Solyman the Second, and his Fauourite for a time. Hee caused it to bee built at his owne charge. The third is called Boyu [...]h Saray, that is, the great Serrail, now the ordinary abode of the Turkish Emperours: It is of this which we meane to speake.

This great Serrail the Mansion of Turkish Emperours and of their Family, is pleasantly scituated in the same place, where as Byzance was in old time, built vpon a pleasant point of firme Land which lookes towards the mouth of the blacke Sea: Its forme is triangular, two sides thereof are warred by the waues of the Egaean Sea: the third is supported by the Citie, it is [...]nuironed with high walls, and fortified with many Towres which doth better the defence. It hath three miles in circuse, Many Gates serue for the entrie; aswell towardes the Sea as Land: one principall neere to Sancta Sophia, is vsually open, the others are not; but when it pleaseth the Grand Seignour. This Gate is guarded day and night by Companies of Capigis who are Porters; which relieue one another, and in the night some I am i [...] [...]ies which are without the Gate in little Cabins of wood mounted vpon wheeles are in Sentinell, and when need requires aduertise the Corps de Gard of Capigis. In the Towres which are vpon the Serrail, certaine A [...]amoglaus, that is to say, Children without experience, or Rusticks, of those of the Tribute▪ to see if any one doth approach by Land, or any Vessels by Sea neere to this Imperiall House: And in that case they discharge certaine Peeces of Artillerie, which are ready charged to that effect, vpon a little platforme of fiue [...]athomebroad, which is betwixt the wall of the Serrail and the Sea.

The Chambers and Royall Hals of the Sultans Lodging are disposed according to the diuers seasons of the yeare: Those [Page] whither hee retires in Winter are built vpon plaine and eeuen ground: The others where hee seekes after the coole and fresh aire during the importune heats of the Summer, are scituated vpon diuers naturall Hils: Some of them view the agitations of the Sea; and these are termed Ch [...]schi, that is to say, Cages, and places of goodly prospect. The Sultan goes sometimes to these places to take his pleasure alone in this goodly view, and sometimes he cals his wo [...]nto mingle with this recreation the soft deliges of their lasciuious conuersation. Neere vnto this goodly place, is that where the Turkish Emperour giues Audience to Embassadours; receiues or dismisses those whom hee sends to gouernment of remoted Prouinces. It is scituated in the plaine of a Court vpon a little Island, enameled with many goodly flowres, and watred by some pleasing Fountaines, richly imbelished according to their custome. Within it, is s [...]s a Sophia, that is to say; a Throne, couered with somerich cloth of Gold, where is also to bee seene one of Crimson Veluet, embroydered with great round Pearles: this Throne is called the Throne without, to distinguish it from that within the Grand Seigneurs Chamber; and in this, Os [...] the Second, did sit, when hee could not [...]y the other which was within, where his Vncle M [...]stap [...] was shut vp in the yeare 1617. There the Turkish Emperours are set in such actions. The walls of his Chamber are lined with certaine white stones which are cast and burnt, and painted in diuers colours, which yeeld a pleasant sight. The Chamber which is ioyning to it hath the walles couered with Plates of Siluer, pourfiled with Gold, and the Plancher is couered with rich Topestrie, after the Persian manner with Gold and Silke. The Q [...]ter whereas the Women and Virgins are lodged, which are des [...]ted for the Emperours pleasure, is like vnto a great Monasterie of Religious Wom [...] ▪ But they doe not obserue the Vow of Chasti [...]ie: There are [...], or [...]ping places, Refectuaries, [...]ths, Galleries, pleasing G [...], and goodly Fountaines, in so great a number, as they abound in all the Allies, and of all sides powre [...] the s [...]t noyse of their charming murmurs. The other Lodgings for the D [...]stiques [Page] of the Serrail, haue with the beautie of their structures, the commodities of their scituation. Two great places are ioyned to these buildings, whereof the one serues for the Chasna without (for they haue another within more retired from the houshold) the Mosquees, Bathes, Schooles, Kitchins, places to run Horses, to wrastle, shoote, and to represent any action, augment the wonders of this Imperiall Pallace whereof we haue spoken in generall: Now let vs descend to the particular description of the places thereof, at the least to those which wee could yet see; for no man that liues abroad may enter into the Serrail vnlesse the Emperour bee absent; and yet hee must bee highly fauoured by some person of credit and authoritie in that place: For the Turkes would imagine they should offend the Maiestie of their Prince, to giue entrance into his Quarter of the Serrail, to any one be he stranger or other.

The first wall of the Serrail is neere vnto the first Mosquee of Sancta Sophia, with the great and chiefe Gate of that stately Pallace, adorned with a great Portall painted with letters of Gold, in branches and compartiments after the manner of Iaua; fiftie Capigi [...] with their Armes (which are Harquebusses, Bowes, Arrowes, and Semiters) keepe the Guard: By it they enter into a great place or Court about threescore paces long, and a hundred paces broad, in the which vpon the right hand is the place for the sicke persons of the Serrail, kept by an Eunuch, who hath vnder him a great number of men employed in the seruice of sicke persons; on the otherside on the left hand there are seene a great number of Waggons, with a great quantitie of wood for the vse of the House: aboue it, is built a long Gallerie, in the which they keepe ancient Armes, as Mortions, G [...]untlets, Coats of Maile, Pikes, and Harquebusses; wherewith they arme the Officers of the Arsenall, and some other troupes to goe out of Constantinople in pompe, when as the Sultan or some other powerfull Bashaw makes his entre. Into this Court the Bashawes and great men of the Port may entrie on horsebacke; but they must leaue their Horses and got on foot into another great Court, which hath neere three hundred foot in square, made in fashion of a Cloyster, with a [Page] low Gallerie round about it, supported by Pillars of Marble; it is more richly adorned then the other; the Gate is likewise guarded by Capigis, armed as the first. They passe on to a third Gate into a lesser Court, but more delicious; Many goodly Fountaines powring forth abundance of water, and some Alleyes drawne by a line, and shadowed with a great number of Cyprus Trees planted vpon the sides which beautifie the place: And there are many squares of Medow diapred with diuers sorts of flowres which augment the pleasures of the sight: No man passeth thorough this Court on horsebacke, but the Turkish Emperour, who descends at the third gate: On either side are many goodly Portals supported by rich Pillars of Marble: without these Portals are ranged in Battaile the Companies of Ianizaries, well apparelled and better armed, when as they are commanded to shew themselues at the entrie of the Serrail, when as some strange Embassadour goes to kisse his Robe.

The Kitchins,In this Court are the Kitchins of the Serrail, the which are nine in number, separated in their buildings one from another, with their dependances, and serued by particular Officers: The first is that of the Emperour; The second, that of the Sultana, which is most esteemed for her graces or for her fruitfulnesse: The third, that of the other Sultana's: The fourth, that of the Capiaga, who is great Master of the Serrail: The fift, that of the Diuan, which is the Councell, whereas the Prince doth administer Iustice by the mouth of his Officers, of the which we will speake hereafter: The sixt, that of the Aga [...]ris, which are the Sultans Familiars, many are Eunuches, the rest are vntoucht: The seuenth, is that of the lesser Officers of the Serrail: The eighth, is for the women which serue the Sultanas: The ninth, is for the Officers which attend the Diuan, as Guards, Porters, Vshers, and such like.

On the left hand in the same place, are the Sultans stables, to containe only fiue and twentie or thirtie goodly Horses, which are appointed for his Exercises with his greatest Familiars in the Serrail: Aboue these stables are many Chambers, in the which they keepe the Saddles, Bridles, and other Furniture [Page] for these Horses of pleasure: But all so rich and so glistering with Pearle and stone, as the price is inestimable: There are some which the very Reines and Crouper, exceed the value of a hundred thousand pounds sterling: What must the Saddle and the rest of the Furniture amount vnto? Along the bankes of that Channell which doth water the walls of the Serrail, there are built seuenteene great stables, whereas the Grand Seigneur hath a great number of Horses of rare esteeme, whereon he mounts when hee goes to the Warre; or when to dazle the eyes of some forreine Embassadour, with the lustre of his greatnesse, hee makes a solemne and stately entrie into Constantinople.

A little beyond in the same Court is the Quarter for the publique Diuan, Diuan. where as the Grand Vizir Lieutenant Generall of the Turkish Empire with a good number of Officers keepes the Audiences foure dayes in the Weeke: Neere vnto it is the Chamber of the Chasna, or Treasure without, where they lay vp the Rents and Reuenewes of diuers Prouinces, wherewith they pay the Officers: They likewise furnish the Chamber of Accompts, the rest is carried into the Chasna, Chasna. or secret Treasure within, whereof the Grand Seigneur keeps the Keyes: The first is vsually sealed by the Grand Vizir. In the same Court on the left hand is the great Gate which enters into the Sultana's lodging; It is carefully kept by a troupe of blacke and hideous Eunuches, to whom the Sultan hath intrusted the Guard. And as hee hath lodged therein (by the number of goodly Women which are brought vnto him from all parts) the liuely Images of Loue and the Graces; so he hath set at the Gates those of Hatred and Terrour: He himselfe goes vnto them by another passage neere vnto his Chamber. The last part of this goodly Court makes the entrie to the Emperours Lodgings, the which is forbidden to any whatsoeuer, except the slaues that serue him: If any great Basha pressed with some important businesse desires to enter, hee must first haue leaue from the Princes mouth.

The entrie of this Gate leads towards the Hall, whereas the Sultan sits, when hee will giue Audience, and suffer any forreine [Page] Princes Embassadour to kisse his Robe. At their entrance they discouer the new beauties of this place more particularly: A goodly Court paued with fine Marble in Mosaike worke, serues for a passage for those which are entred, and the goodly Fountaines which beautifie it, will not suffer them to goe farre, without fixing their eyes vpon their pleasing structure: The Pauillions and stately Chambers which are within it, seeme to haue beene built and embellished by the hands of delight and pleasure: For in them the Grand Seigneur eats most commonly, and takes his Recreations. The Bathes, Hals, and Galleries of this place, surpasse in their Magnificence the force of imagination: Wee may only say of them, that they are the buildings of the most powerfull and rich Monarchs of the Earth.

The Sultans lodging in Summer.In another part of the Serrail, vpon a little pleasing Hill is built a lodging for Summer, whither the Sultan retires himselfe during the Canicular dayes, to enioy the fresh aire which is found there, and the pleasures of his Gardens, vpon the which he hath one prospect, and the other lookes towards the Sea: The place is exceeding beautifull, but amidst this great diuersitie there is a Hall which opens towards the East, supported by rich Pillars of Marble like vnto the ordinarie Mansion of pleasure: It is enricht with the goodliest workes the Tenant can affoord, and furnished after a royall manner: The windowes haue their prospect vpon a little Lake of a square forme, made with admirable art: Thirtie Fountaines diuided vpon a Platforme of fine Marble which doth enuiron it, furnish water to fill it, and pleasingly trouble the silence of the place by their continuall murmurre. The Sultan goes often vpon this Lake in a Brigantine, being followed by some Ieasters, and Mutes, who minister occasion of delight, some by their pleasant encounters, the other by their ridiculous faces and gestures, and sometimes tumbling them into the water they giue him occasion of laughter: Hee himselfe is pleased to lay ambushe, for them, to make them fall by the Platforme into the Lake.The Grand Seigneurs Chamber.

From this Hall they passe into the Grand Seigneurs Chamber, [Page] it is proportionable in greatnesse to those of the Royall Pallace: The wals are after their accustomed manner couered with fine stone, in which are grauen many flowres: the Portals are of cloth of Gold, some are of Crimson Veluet embroidered with Gold and rich Pearle. The Bed is not inferiour in riches, the posts are of massie Siluer, vpon which are set Lions of Chrystall of the Rocke: The Curtaines are of greene Cloth of Gold, the richest that are made at Bursia in Asia, without any fringes, but in their place there hangs certaine Bels made of great Orientall Pearle: The worke is excellent and the price inestimable. The Couering hanging to the ground, is also of rich Cloth of Gold, the Cushions and Pillowes are of the same stuffe. This Bed is rather a piece of the Turkish pompe then for any necessarie vse: For the Turkes doe not vse these kind of Beds, but sleepe on the ground vpon Mattresse: whereof we will speake in the sixt Chapter. The floore of this royall Chamber is couered with Persian Carpets of Gold and Silke: The Sopha, that is to say, the places where the Sultan sits, are about a foot and a halfe from the ground, and couered with the like Tapestrie, vpon the which are Cushions of Cloth of Gold. Ouer this seate is a Cloth of Estate of Wood couered with plates of Gold, enricht with stones, and supported by foure Pillars adorned in the same manner. In the midst of the floore of this Chamber hangs a rich Candlesticke of a meane greatnesse, and of a round forme, the midst whereof is of exexcellent Chrystall; the other parts are of Siluer gilt, set with Turkeyes, Rubies, Emeralds, and Diamonds, whose diuersitie giue a pleasing lustre: In a corner of the said Chamber, vpon a Table of massie Siluer, is a little Bason to wash his hands, It is of pure Gold enricht with many Turkesses and Rubies, with Ewre of the same. Against the walls are set two Cupboards, whose doores are of Chrystall, which through their transparent light, shew about two doozen of Bookes richly couered, in the which the Sultan sometimes spends his time, and passeth away his cares in reading. Sometimes one of their Histories, and sometimes the true examples which are mentioned in the Old Testament. Aboue these Cupboards there is one lesse, into [Page] the which the Treasurer of the Serrail doth euery Wednesday, put three purses filled: whereof the one is with Gold, and the other two are of Siluer, which the Sultan employes in his almesdeeds,Great Monarchs should haue able men about them, & not Groomes whom they aduance, and are entertained by Fooles and Ignorants. and the gratifications which hee giues to the slaues that serue him, and which are his ordinarie Companie Doubtlesse this kinde of people doe much imbase the glory of so powerfull a Monarch, and the shame to haue none about him but base persons, causeth him to be disesteemed. Soueraigne Princes should admit none but the ablest men of their Estates about their Persons. For as God hath in Heauen the Ministerie of the Angels, and other intellectuall creatures: So Kings, who are his liuely Images, should haue about them Men whose vertue and rare qualities of the mind haue raised aboue others. What entertainment can a great Prince find, in such abiect persons and so ill bred; and what seruice can hee receiue from a man drawne from the Stable, and from the profession of a Horse-keeper, or a Coachman, from a Huntsman, and the bawling of Hounds? What contentment from a brutish Faulkoner, whilest that Men of merit are in contempt? This disorder is sometimes seene in the World,Libraries. yea, in the Courts of great Princes to their shame, and to the great preiudice of the publique. Neere vnto this Chamber is a goodly Librarie, where are many Bookes, rich for their stately couerings, and precious for their workes, the immortall markes of the glorie of their Authours: This is called the secret Library; it is the most renowned of all the Serrail. There is another towards their Quarter which serue the Chamber, and the Grand Seigneurs Pages, filled with a great number of Bookes in all Languages, among the which there are to bee seene at this day sixe score Volumes of the ancient Librarie of Great Constantine of an extraordinary bignesse: They are aboue a fathome broad and two in length: Their leaues are of such thinne Parchment, as they seeme rather to be of Silke then Skinnes; most part written in letters of Gold, especially those which containe the Old and New Testament; their couerings are of Siluer gilt after the antique manner, set with a great number of precious stones. The price (without doubt) hath preserued them from [Page] spoile and ruine, where as the rest haue perished by the barbarousnesse of the Turkes, who sackt Constantinople in the time of Mahomet the Second: The Sultan holds them so precious as he will not allow any one to handle them.

The number of Gardens in the Serrail are not fewer in number, then are delightfull to looke on: The Prince hath his the Sultana's theirs, and without this Imperiall House, there are eighteene planted towardes the Sea, whereof the fruites and reuenewes are by the Law of State employed for the entertainment of the Princes Table; whereof we will speake elsewhere. He which hath the chiefe charge is called Bostangibassi, that is to say, great Gardiner, and is one of the most eminent Dignities of the Empire, he is many times much affected by his Master, and feared by the other Bashaes, to whom hee may doe good and bad Offices with the Prince, when hee gouernes him alone in his walkes, and entertaines him in affaires of Estate.

Two Mosquees serue in the Serraile, for their Deuotion: The one is towardes that Quarter where the Prince and his Officers lodge; and the other is neere the Lodging of the women and their slaues. And although the Turkes will not admit of the vse of Bells; yet there are a great number of little Clockes in the Serrail, which strike the houres both by day and night. The Grand Seigneurs Pages are instructed to keepe them: and most part of the men of qualitie in the Serrail, and likewise the women haue little Watches, whereof they make vse. This is all that can be written of the Grand Seigneurs Serrail, at the least that can come vnto the knowledge of Christians, to whom the entrie (vnlesse it be vpon the dayes of Diuan) is expresly forbidden, and the inward parts of this Imperiall House, whereof wee haue spoken, may not be seene by them, vnlesse the Prince be absent; and yet hee must haue some particular friendship with the Officers of the Serrail, and monie in his hand, the which doth not only open them the closest Gates in Turkie, but doth facilitate the most difficult affaires, through the auarice of the Turkes, to the which all their other passions seeme to yeeld. Let vs come now to the Grand Seigneurs [Page] Exercises, to his manner of liuing, to the number of his Officers, and other particularities of his Crowne: But let vs begin by his Coronation.

CHAP. III. Of the Coronation of the Turkish Emperour.

AFter that death (who strikes with an equall hand, aswell the stately Pallaces of Kings, as poore Cottages couered with straw) hath taken out of this World some Turkish Emperour, he of his Children which is destinated to the succession of his Scepter, parts from the gouernment whither his Father had sent him (the which most commonly is Magnesia a Prouince in Asia) and comes secretly to Constantinople, and into the Serrail by that Port which lookes towards the Sea; for the passage whereof the Bostangibassi, which is the great Gardiner, goes to receiue him in the Imperiall Galley vpon the side of Asia, passeth the straight, conducts him into the Serrail, and leads him into his Fathers Throne, whither the great men of the Port, that is to say, of the Court (for so they call it) come to adore him, and to acknowledge him for their Prince. Presently the Basha which is Gouernour of Constantinople causeth Proclamation to be made in the Citie, & then throughout all the Empire: That the Soule of the inuincible Emperour Sultan N. enioyes an immortall Glorie, and an eternall Peace; and that the Empire of Sultan N. may flourish and prosper in all felicitie for many yeares. The third day after they hold the great Diuan, which is the generall Councell, where as all the great Men of the Court and Officers of the Crowne assist, and resolue concerning the affaires of the Estate: The Emperour doth not assist; yet he is in a Chamber neere, and sees but is not se [...]ne, and heares through a Lattice window what they treat of, and what they say. At the end of the Diuan all these Officers, goe by foure and foure, or by sixe and sixe into the Chamber where the Sultan is, and there without speaking any [Page] thing make a low reuerence, and so passe on, going forth to another doore: They returne to the Diuan, where as Dinner attends them. The Sultan dines at the same time; and after halfe an houre, (which is all the time he spends at the Table) he mounts vpon a stately Horse, being followed by the chiefe Commanders of the Warre, hee shewes himselfe to his people of Constantinople, and receiues from them their cryes and acclamations of Ioy: which are, Liue, and long may Sultan N. Raigne. Hee goes to some Mosquee where his Predecessours haue beene buried; Hee makes his prayers, which being ended one of the twentie Preachers of his Court goes into the Pulpit, and by a short discourse giues him to vnderstand after the Turkish manner the greatnesse of the charge whereunto God hath called him, exhorts him to haue a care of his Estate, and especially to the maintenance and increase of Mahomets Law. The Sermon being ended, the same Priest doth blesse him seuen times, and at euery time the people answere Amen. At the same time the Moufti, or high Priest of the Law who is present, makes him to take the Oath vpon the Alcoran; Girds him with the Sword which in old time Ottoman did weare; and blessing him sayes these wordes, God send you Ottomans Bountie: They doe so much honour the vertues of this Prince, who raigned about three hundred and twentie two yeares since, as they wish them to his Successors. I haue heard a Prince of the Turkish Emperours house say, That the Learned in their Historie report, that Ottoman going thorough the Towne of Prussia, beeng the chiefe of his Empire, hee said aloud vnto the people, that whosoeuer were an hungrie, thirstie, or naked, let them come vnto his house, he had wherewithall to feed and clothe the poore. After the Mufti the people blesse him with their loude cryes: Thus charged with all these blessings hee goes to horsebacke, and carries them backe to the Serrail; where he busies himselfe to cause his brethren to be strangled in his presence, whom hee had caused to come from the places where they were resident: For it is written in their custome, One God in Heauen, one Emperour vpon Earth: They beleeue this is the only meanes [Page] to settle the Estate, and to diuert the Ciuill Warre which the pluralitie of Princes might breed: They haue often this Prouerbe in their mouthes,Nec Regna socium ferre nec taedae sciunt, Senec. That a Kingdome and Lo [...]le, admit no Companion: Their Errour makes them beleeue that the Princes of their bloud are such. This bloudie custome hath been rigorously obserued for three hundred yeares and more, vntill the Raigne of Achmat, who died in the yeare 1617. who gaue life vnto his brother Mustapha, and at his death left him his Scepter: But the Officers of his Crowne tooke it from him with his libertie, and kept him prisoner in the Serrail, to make Osman his Nephew Raigne in his place, who was afterward miserably massacred by the people, and the same Mustapha restored to the Throne, where the inconstancie of his Fortune suffered him but few dayes, after which the Bashae's shut him vp in his first Prison, and seated in his Throne Amurath the Fourth a young Prince brother to the vnfortunate Osman.

The Sultans bountie at his Coronation.The Largesse which the Sultan makes at his comming to the Crowne, is distributed after this manner. Hee must giue vnto the great Mufti two thousand fiue hundred Sequins, as much to the Grand Vizir; the other of the Vizir or Bashae's haue either of them two thousand, the Cadilesquers euery one two hundred and fiftie Sequins, the Tefterdars euery one of them as much; the Capigibassi euery one a hundred; the Aga of the Ianizaries two hundred and fiftie, the Iman Royall hath but fiue and twentie: the most famous Doctours of the Law receiue threescore, the other which are inferiour haue euery one thirtie two Sequins. They giue fortie to the Basrousnamegi, that is to say Iournalists, fortie to the Carasmaesabegi, or Comptrouler of the Royall Tribute; twentie to the Mucatagis ▪ which keepes the Bookes of the Diuan; sixteene to euerie Mutaferagas, which are men at Armes; eight to euerie Spahi, or light Horseman, and moreouer fiue Aspres by the day in augmentation of their pay. Euery Deputie of the Teftardar, hath fiue and twentie Sequins: The chiefe of the Pauillions of the field, called by the Turkes Almiectar Bassi, are set downe in the Roll of this Royall distribution euery [Page] one for fiue and twentie Sequins: They that lead the Horses before the King, called Sarrassis, haue either of them eight: The Serchais haue as much; The Meirery, which beate the Drums before the Prince the like summe; the Sardigis, foure; the Capigis, eight; the Casnadaris, eight; and the Snalaris, who carrie water to the Grand Seigneur, the like summe. The Emirs haue a better portion, either of them hath a hundred. The Ianizaries by their violence haue broken the bounds of the Monarchs liberalitie to them, they giue them more or lesse according to the time and necessitie they haue of them; their pay is alwayes increased at the least an Aspre by the day. The Groomes of the Stable and Cookes haue equally eight Sequins a piece; and they which pray vnto God after the Turkish manner, in the Chappels where the Sultans are buried, haue no more. This largesse and distribution of Sultanins, or Turkish Sequins, amounts (by reason of the great number of those which receiue the Portions) to great and immense summes of monie.

The fourth day following, he takes his Gallion, and goes by Sea to a Garden inuironed with a Parke neere vnto the Arsenall; the Turkes call it Ase [...]i, that is to say, the house of Pleasure; and there he hunts some houres, and courseth what Beast he pleaseth; If he take any thing, the Turkish Superstition teacheth him to hold it for a good signe. From his sport he goes to affaires, he visits his Arsenall; and hauing neere him the Generall of the Sea, called Captaine Bassa, hee makes him to giue an account of the affaires of the Sea, what number of Vessels there are fit for the warre, what Men, what Armes, and what Munition is in them: being thus informed of his Sea forces, he returnes to his Serrail. The next day which is the fift after his Coronation, the Grand Vizir, or according to the Turkes, Vizirhazem, that is to say, the Supreame Vizir, goes vnto him, and in few words yeelds him an account of the generall affaires of his Empire. And as the Turkes haue Almes in singular recommendation, these first dayes of Coronation, after the Prince hath giuen a Largesse vnto the people, in casting of money in the streets where hee passeth, hee [Page] vseth great Charitie to Hospitals and Prisons, in such sort as the charges of the pious Actions, were found to amount during the Raigne of Am [...]rath, Father to Mahomet the third, who liued when as Henrie the Great made France happie by the felicities of his Raigne; to the summe of one hundred and threescore thousand pounds sterling, which is in their money foure hundred thousand Sequins. Doubtlesse, the presages of their Raigne cannot bee but fortunate, when as they are accompanied with good Works, and Charitie is a powerfull support to a Crowne.Gaspard Ze [...] lick, Chancellour to three Emperours, Optarese dicebat omnes Reges aliquando priuat [...]s pauperesque suisse. Neque enim satis miseretur qui nunquam suit miser. Aeneas Syluius lib. 1. Comment. de reb gest. Alph. It were to bee desired (said a great Man) that Soueraignes had tried the condition of a priuate Man opprest with misery; to learne compassion, for no Man is sensibly toucht with the estate of a miserable Man, but he that [...]th beene so.

After the fift day, the Ladies of his bloud, be they Virgins or married to some Basha, goe to visit him: He receiues them very graciously, honours them with many rich Presents of precious stones, and grants them what fauours they demand, be it for th [...] [...] of their Husbands, or for his bountie [...] some other persons. But this [...] Sultan is no sooner sealed in the Imperiall Throne of the Turkes, but hee doth presently imitate the proud arrogancie of his Predecessours, and takes with the Scepter the vanitie of the proud Title, wherewith they are p [...] vp the following Chapter will shew it.

CHAP. IV. Of the Titles and Qualities [...]

[...]ecunda res a [...] [...] animos explor [...]t; quis miserie toleratur, f [...] [...] said it to Plato in Taci [...], lib 1. [...]ist.THe prosperities of the World are a triall of the force of the minde, [...]ther t [...] [...] These are more easie to beare: those doe [...] men vnto a [...] insolencie. But where are g [...] [...] with Princes? [...] they vse them soberly, their m [...] [...] H [...] uen to the preseruation of their Estates, and would force [...] [Page] to cherish their memorie. The Turkish Emperours are neuer crowned with this me [...]it; their breeding to the excesse of vices rather than to the continencie of vertue, doth not make them capable to know themselues, and the excesse of the prosperities of their Empire transports them to pride. So as if Heauen suffers them to continue in the Monarchie of the East, it is to punish our disorders. Their actions doe not only shew their Pride, but their Titles speake it more plainly: S [...]lym the First of that Name stiled himselfe Master of all [...] [...]raignes of the World. Behold the Qualities which he did assume. Sultan Solym, Othoman, King of Kings, Lord of all Lords, Prince of all Princes, Sonne and Nephew of God. Hee caused it to be written vnder his Portraite, the which Solyman the Second his Sonne did [...] keepe by his bed side. This man was no modester then his Father, for if he [...]th not set downe in his Titles that hee would be the only Prince of the World, hee hath often deliuered it in his words; By the Soule of my Father (said he being in Hungarie at the siege of [...]) seeing there is but [...] God G [...] [...] reasonable there should be but one [...] the inferiour Worlde The rest which haue followed [...] [...]uccession of the Othoman Estate haue vsed the same vnto our dayes. Achmat the First, who died in the yeare 1617, treating with the inui [...]ible Monarch Henry the Great, by the meanes of the Seigniour of [...] his Embassadour at Constantinople, causeth to be set downe in the beginning of the Articles which were sent into France, the Titles which follow: In the name of God, a marke of the high Family of the Othoman Monarches, with the beautie, greatnesse, and splendour thereof, so many Countries are conquered and gouerned. I, who am by the infinite graces of the Iust, great, and all powerfull Creatour and by the abundance of Miracles of the chiefe of his Prophets, Emperour of [...], Disposer of Crownes to the greatest Pri [...] [...] of two most sacred Townes, Mequa and Medi [...], Protector and Gouernour of the holy [...], and Africa; [...]ly [...] by our [...] [Page] [...]

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them somewhat longer, and his shooes are without buckles, and cut in leaues: But when hee adornes himselfe to honour with his presence the solemnitie of some great day, at the Circumcision of the Princes his Children, or to make his entrie into Constantinople: his Robes of Cloth of Gold, forwith Pearles and great Diamonds giue the Maiestie of his person a glorious lustre: This is the glory of such Princes. Maiestie consists in Vertue, and not in the pompe of Habits. A King should rather shew himselfe a King by his [...] carriage and his authoritie, than by his Robes.

The Sultana's differ not much in their Habits from their Soueraigne Prince: They weare breeches like vnto his, and vnder them linings of fine Linnen; Their Robes are of the same stuffe, and their shooes in like manner: They steepe like vnto him in their Linnen lynings, and little Cassocks of Silke pinckt, which goes little beneath the waste.

The Prince riseth with the Day, and the Morning sees him begin his Prayers after the Turkish manner, wherein hee spends halfe an houre: After this hee writes asmuch, during the which they bring him some cordiall thing, which hee takes presently: Then reading followes for a whole houre, but it is many times without fruit; for that hee entertaines the time with fabulous Bookes: It is true that some Sultans haue taken delight to read the life of Great Alexander, and some others haue caused Aristotle to be expounded vnto them. An ignorant Prince is a Pilot without Card or Compasse. Alphonso King of Arragon, called such Princes by a Name which I forbeare to mention, for the re [...]nce I owe to Kings. Hauing read, if it be a day of D [...] or of Counsell, he giues Audience to the Grand Ʋiz [...]r, who come to make report of that which hath beene done, and he receiues the veneration of other Officers. From thence he descends into his Gardens or walkes, contents his eyes with the [...] F [...]es, and pleasing Alle [...]e [...] and [...] his eares with the [...] and [...]r [...]lities of his [...]e [...]tres [...] and [...] which follow him. At his returne hee fals [...] haue any [...] in it, or to some other [...] [Page] for Dinner, the which is speedily serued: Hee neuer spends aboue halfe an houre at the Table, from the which hee goes to his Prayers at noone, where after his manner hee entertaines the Diuinitie. But how variable is humane inconst [...]ncie: from this [...] to the embracings of humanitie, and [...] with his Women for soo [...] houres; vntill the time of Prayer at Night doth force him to leaue them: When [...] another walke into his Garden, [...] by his [...] and Dwarffs, he entertaines himselfe with [...]. The last Office calls him to his Chamber, it is that which the Turkes say, when as the day is spent and in the obscuritie of the night, where hee imployes himselfe vntill Supper time. These are his imployment i [...] generall: Let vs now speake of them in particular.

CHAP. VI. Of the Grand Seig [...]rs Table of his [...]te, and of his sleepe.

THe Grand Seign [...]r eates three or foure times a day in Summer, but lesse in Winter: He sit [...]es crosse legged after the Turkish manner: Most commonly his Table is low, made of [...] Siluer, with a little bo [...]der about it two fingers high, like vnto a Table of Accompani [...] which [...]ll money. There is [...] of pure Gold enricht with diuers precious [...] in the years: He [...] and another vpon his [...] many leaues made of three [...] whereof the Graine is gathered [...] for his [...]. They [...] thereof they feed a great troupe [...] of the Serrail. His Coo [...]es are at worke [...] ▪ they [...] call [...]: The [Page] Essay is taken at the Kitchin in the presence of the Capiaga, or Master of the Houshold, and they serue it vp in dishes of gold couered: His Agalaris, or Familiars goe and receiue it at the hands of the Capiaga without: For there is another of the same Office within, who goes not into the Kitchin, hee carries them to him that serues at the Table, who is vpon his knee: They serue out thirtie Dishes, in the which are thirtie forts of meates; the Table is round, and stands vpon a Vise which turnes as it pleases the Prince, for no man carues him, neither doth he himselfe vse any Knife; his bread is so tender as it will not endure any, he breakes it with his fingers without any trouble; so doth he his meate prepared with the like delicacie: They serue no Salt vnto him, and whatsoeuer hee eats is not seasoned with Spices, his Physicians forbidding it in the Kitchin. The daintiest meat for his royall mouth are roasted Pigeons, whereof they serue a dozen in a Capson or Platter: Pullets, Lambe, or Mutton, rosted & boyled are after the Pigeons, which hee loues best: Hee makes a signe (for at his Table no man speakes any thing) that they should carrie of this meat what he pleases to the Sultana's whom he affects most: Sometimes the dumbe men and the Iesters haue a part: His Agallaries or Familiars are highly gratified, when hee casts them one of his L [...]aues, they kisse it, and giue it vnto others for a testimonie of a singular fauour. In the silence which is strictly obserued at his Table, as well by himselfe as those which doe assist, there is an ordinary entertainment in a dumbe fashion by signes and the gestures of the Mutes, and the Iesters which are instructed therein, practize the abilities of their wits. He doth vsually drinke a liquour made of many sorts of fruits mingled with the juice of Citrons and Sugar: He swallowes it in a spoone of wood, although they serue him with little Cups of Porcelaine and others of Indian Nuts, set vpon a foot of gold enricht with stones. They do not serue any fruit before Dinner, his last coorse is a Tar [...], and if he eats any fruit, it is at his after-meales, and likewise Parmisant, whereof they make great esteeme in Turkey.

In the time of Ramadan, which is the Turkes Lent, they [Page] doe not serue him in vessels of Gold, but in yellow Porcelaine which is most precious and hard to be recouered. Hee fasts from the Sun-rising vntill night, when it is lawfull for him to leaue his fast, and to eat what meate hee pleaseth: Fish comes seldome into the Servant, but when the desire of the Sultans, or the Appetite of the Agalaries causeth it to be brought from the Sea.

The Grand Seigneurs Bed is not made while it is day in the Chamber where hee lodgeth, they make it only when he goes to his rest: that whereof we haue spoken is only a Bed of State The Groomes of his Chamber lay vpon the floore a Mat, and vpon it a fine Turkey Carpet, whereupon they lay a Matteresse and a Bed of Feathers. The sheets are of fine Linnen, and the couering of goodly Carpets: In Winter they vse Couerings of white Wolues or of Sables, which keepe the Prince from cold. After his Bed is thus made, they straine ouer it many strings of Silke, vpon the which they lay Cloth of Gold, or rich Tapestrie to make the Tester and Curtaines: This Couch being made, the same Gabo [...]pes of the Chamber goe and fetch the Emperour, and being him to his rest with a little Turbane on his he [...]d in stead of a Night cap: Whilest hee steepes they watch; one stands at the doore of the Chamber, another at his Beds side, to raise vp the Clothes and to couer him if it be needfull: Two others are at the Beds feete with two Torches, which they neuer put out vntill the Sultan bee risen. Their Guard continues three houres, after which they are relieued by their Companions. Thus hee rests which troubles all Europe, disquiets Asia, and afflicts Afrrica, and the shoare of the M [...] Sea with his Fleet.

CHAP. VII. Of the grauitie of the Grand Seigneur and of the [...]be discourses which are made in the Serrail.

THat Prince of the Iewes which made choice rather of the scourge of Pestilence them the rigour of Warre, had [Page] reason to say that hee had rather fall into the hands of God, than to those of Man, for the one is a plentifull and in exhaustible Fountaine of all Mercie: The others are vnpittifull, although they be created after his Image. It is lawfull, yea, it is commanded to speake vnto God, and to begge those things which are necessary; and in the World it is a crime to presume to speake vnto Men. The true Table of this humane Pride made be drawne from the Serrail, at this day the principall seat of the Arrogancie of Princes: for there it is not only forbidden to speake vnto the Grand Seigneur, but he that dares to lift vp his eyes to looke him in the face, is guiltie of a great crime: so as all the Bashaes of his Court, except the Vizar, the Mufts, and the Physician, going towards him to reuerence him, or rather to adore him, haue their hands ioyned and their eyes cast downe, and in this posture inclining themselues to the ground, they salute him without seeing him, although they be before him. When he goes into the Citie, they which present any Petitions vnto him, to haue Iustice from him, when they cannot obtaine it from his Officers, lift them vp vpon the end of a [...]ed, and themselues lie prostrate on the groundily humiliation, another men which are of his Family, speake not vnto him but by signes, and this dumbe language is practised, and vnderstood as readily in the Serrail, as a distinct and articulate voice among [...]s. For which cause they vse the seruice of as many dumbe men as they can find; who hauing accustomed others to their signes and gestures make them to learne their Language. The Sultana's doe the like. The grauitie of his person, and the custome of the Empire forbids him to speake to any. The Sultana's his women practise it, they haue many dumbe slaues at their Serrail. Sultan Mustapha Vncle to Os [...], who in the end of the yeare 1617 held the Scepter of the Turkish Empire, for that he could not accustome himselfe to this silent grauitie, gaue occasion to the Counsell of end to ch [...]plaine of him; and to say that to [...] did, [...] more fit for [...] Turkish Merchant, then for the Emperour. They [...] him, held his freedome and similiaritie [Page] vnworthy of the Empire. To play the Sultan its state, h [...]e must out speake, but by an extraordinary grauitie make men to tremble with the twinkling of his eye: For the frowning arrogancie of the Turkish Princes is growne to that insolencie, [...] liues amongst his Subiects as some diuine thing, adored by the dumbe admiration of his slaues. The Emperour of the Abyss [...], In the description of Aethiopia by Don Francisco Aluarez, printed 1558. whom they doe vulgarly call Prete-Iean, is also blamed for pride, although it differs from the Turke: He speakes but he suffers none to see him; saying, that being the Image of God in the Soueraigntie of his Empire, he must imitate him in his answeres, wherein God speaks and is not s [...]ene. When as the Master of the Ceremonies brings any forreigne Embassadours vnto him, it is most commonly by night: His H [...]lls and Chamber are full of Torches burning; and he himselfe i [...] hidden in his Musta [...]a, or Royall Bed, before the which there are fiue Curtaines drawn, whereof that in the midst is of Cloth of Gold, the rest are of Silke. The Master of the Ceremonies speaks with a loud voice Hunca, Hialchuchia [...]: that is to say, I bring those vnto thee whom thou hath commanded me: Hee repeate it often, vntill he heare a voice from within which saith, Cafaci [...]ali, which signifies enter in: At this voice all they which heare is h [...] downe and make a low [...] Then they aduance a little making [...] euery sin steps, repeating the same worde, and being come [...] vnto the C [...] they heare the same voice Ca [...]ingles: Then they aduances little farther, to heare the words of Prete-Iean who speake and is not se [...] and answers the demands which they make vnto him. [...] pe [...] tie Kings of the Indies, Andrew Corsall [...] Florentine [...]ices it to Ju [...] de Me [...]hein, in a Let [...]er from Co [...]hin a Towne of the Indies. [...], which they will [...] of [...]fti [...] [...], who deliver it [...] it comes vnto him. The grauitie of a Prince [...] appeare in his manners then in his [...] and his wisdome: should wherein more [...]rable than all [...] fashion speaking and commanding. If the Prince will [...] liuing Image, let him know that there [...] in the diuine [Page] Maiestie, Power, Wisdome, and Bountie. Let them adde vnto their Soueraigne power of Command, the effects of wisdome, and those of a Royall bountie. By these they shall raigne securely in their Estates, and shall be more cherished and honoured, then by the vaine gestures and signes of their puftvp grauitie.

CHAP. VIII. How the Grand SEIGNEVR receiues the Embassadours of Forreine Princes, and the forme of his Oath in an Alliance.

THere are two sorts of Embassadours which come to the Turkish Court; those of Kings, and others of inferiour Princes: The first who without contradiction haue the precedence, must likewise haue it in this Historie. We will speake of their Reception, and will take for a President that of the Embassadour of France, Being arriued at Per [...], hee passeth within few dayes after to, Constantinople, sees the M [...], visits the Grana Vizir, salutes the B [...]stang [...]bas [...]i, or great Gardiner, vseth some complements to the Teftardar, or high Treasurer, and performes some testimonies of honour and courtesie to the other great men of the Part, to make them fauourable vnto him vpon occasions. After this they aduertise him of the day, when he shall be receiued to kisse his hand; It is vsually vpon a day of Dinan, when as the Sultan giues audience to his principall Officers: The Grand Vizir cals the Dinan or assembly of the Councell hee sends for all the Chaoux the M [...]feragat which are those of the light Horse, [...] Spa [...] who are al [...]o of the Canallerie, the Ianizaries which are Footmen: All which with their Leaders haue commandement to arme and attire themsel [...]es with as much state as may be, to be the Embassadour see with the curiositie of their A [...], [...] his great Court. They come [...] [Page] (whereof we haue formerly spoken) where all together make a bodie of stately troupes. The Embassadour aduertised of the houre appointed, parts from his lodging at Pera attired vpon his own Clothes with a Robe after the Turkish manner of Cloth of Gold curled, and furred if the season require it with Sables: His Gentlemen and Secretaries are attired in the like Robes, but the stuffe is not so rich, wearing on their heads caps of blacke Veluet like vnto the Masters of the Accompts in France: He hath twenty seruants attired in Robes of Scarlet, which the Turkes call Ferrages: and vpon them other long Robes of the same stuffe, and on their heads caps of blacke Ta [...]fatae: The foure Dragomans, or the Kings Interpreters are of the number, the Captaines, Masters of Ships, and other Frenchmen doe accompany him. Being thus followed, hee passeth the Channell of the Sea, which separates F [...]ra from Constantinople, being twice as broad, as the Riuer of Seine is at Paris before the Louver: Being come vnto the other shoare, hee findes many goodly horses for him and his followers, which the Turkes that are friends to France, send him to carry him to the Citie. At the entry whereof hee finds many Chambrand Ianizaries which attend him to conduct him to the Serrail: [...]wo Choux Basti one of either side of him, the other Turkes goe before: In this order hee comes to the Imperial Pallace, at the Gate whereof he finds two Capig [...] [...]asi [...] who [...] him, and had him to the Grand Vi [...]r in the Hill of the [...], (the day they dispatch little [...] against the Grand Vizir vpon a forme without [...] with Cloth of Gold. Therefor a [...] or Dra [...], they [...], vntill that the [...] has brought: The S [...] of the [...], where some other [...] and [...] the Cha [...] of Ac [...] [...]. There is a Dragoman which [...] [...] [Page] in a low Gallerie, where a Table is prepared in this manner: A great Tapestrie is laid vpon the ground, and somedishes are set very thinne and sparingly: Their Meates are Panado made with Sugar, and some broths with Pullets, two men carrying as in a Scarfe a certain vessell of boiled Leather, like vnto a Bagipe, in the which they carrie Cerbet, (the which is a Drinke made of the juice of Citrons, water, and Sugar) They giue to euery one drinke in his turne, in a Cup of Copper tinned, and they goe betwixt the Dishes to serue them more commodiously. The Embassadour and his people hauing dined in this manner, hee retires to a certaine place neere vnto the Gate of the Sultans Quarter, where they attend vntill the Officers of the Di [...]an haue had Audience of their Master; after which they all retire, except such Bashaes as remaine about his person: Then the Master of the Ceremonies goes for the Embassadour, and brings him to the Emperours lodging; The Capiaga assisted by many Eunuches receiues them at the Gate, and conducts them into the Imperiall Chamber, whose walls are within couered with great plates of Gold and Siluer, enricht with stones and Pearle: At the entry thereofewer [...] or Porters take him vnder the Armes, not to kisse the Emperours hand, but his Robe. This vnworthy custome to lead the Embassadors of forreine Princes by the Armes, growes from the treacherie of the Turkes themselues. Baiazei the Second, sonne to him that tooke Constantinople going one day to a Monasterie, hee found in his way a Religious man of his Law of the order of the Deruis: This Monke of the Alcoran seeing the Emperour, ran towards him to execute his detestable designe: comming neere vnto him he demands an Almes: and in saying his A [...]labithi, that is to say in the Name of God, hee drew a Semiter from vnder his [...]obe of Felt, with the which Baiazet had beene murthered, if his Horse in bounding had not receiued the greatest violence of the blow; yet hee was hurt, and this wretched Parricide had alreadie lifted vp his arme to double the blow, if Bassa Scheuder had not suddenly beaten him downe with his Bus [...]gutu, or Poll [...]. After which it was [Page] ordained, that whosoeuer should come to salute the Grand Seigneur, should be led vnder the Armes by Capigis; And this custome hath hee carefully obserued. Wee doe not read that there was euer any stranger but suffered this Rigour, except an Embassadour of France, named Monsieur Nouailles Bishop of Aix, who was sent to Selim the Second, by King Charles the Ninth, to mediate some accommodation for the Venetians affaires: comming into the Chamber, when as the Capigis had laid hold of his Arme he scattered them with his Elbowes, and spake aloud, that the libertie of a Frenchman, and the dignitie of a Bishop could not endure to be led like a slaue: And so leauing the Sultan and those that were in the Chamber amazed, he went freely to his Reuerence, and would not cast himselfe at his feet, as others doe, but inclined a little to kisse his Robe.

When the Embassadour had kist the Sultans Robe, who sits vpon Cushions of Cloth of Gold curled, he retires backward with his face alwayes towards the Prince, and plants himselfe against the wall of the Chamber, to giue way to the Gentlemen of his Traine, who goe likewise to kisse his Robe: And then he presents the Letter which the King sends written in the Turkish Tongue. The Grand Seigneur answeres nothing for the present; his Grand Vizir doth only speake some wordes to dismisse the Embassadour, who goes out of the Chamber hauing made a Reuerence in bending downe his head, but doth not vncouer it. But you must obserue that no man comes to kisse his Robe, vnlesse hee be attired in Robes after the Turkish manner, giuen him by the Sultan, the which is the Present of a Soueraigne to a subiect or slaue: For this cause the Grand Vizir forgets not to send vnto the Embassadour such Robes as are set downe by the Ordinance of the Custome of the Empire, that is to say, two that are rich for the Embassadours person, and one for either of his followers. Moreouer euery Embassadour must haue a Present for the Grand Seigneur, the which he sees first before him thorow a Lattice window, whither he is carried by Capigis: There he busies himselfe to looke on it, whilest the Embassadour and [Page] his Gentlemen doe their Reuerence; so as they can see but halfe his face. To this purpose a generous action performed by the said Monsieur Nouailles Embassadour to Charles the Ninth is worthy to bee related. Mahomet Grand Vizir to Selim the Second prest him much not to forget a stately Present for his Sultan, and sent him word that if he had none readie hee would furnish him. This Embassadour went, of purpose, to kisse his Robe without any Present. The Basha reproacht him, and imputed it to contempt that hee had not giuen any. The Seigneur of Nouailles made answere that the King his Master, who was the first and greatest Monarch of Christendome, hearing that Selim demanded it as a Tribute, had forbidden him to present any. Thus in giuing none, he serued his Master profitably and honourably; leauing among the Turkes a great admiration of his generous dxteritie, and carried backe into France the glorie which those Embassadours deserue, whom vertue and not fauour haue aduanced to such Charges.

Other Embassadours of inferiour Qualitie to a Royaltie, receiue Robes in like manner to goe and salute him: But they enter not into the Serrail with so much Pompe, neither are they feasted, nor haue so much familiaritie with the Grand Vizir, yea, there are some which sit not in his presence. Thus the Turks can measure the honour which they doe vnto men, according to the Qualitie of the Princes which send them, whose persons the Embassadours represent. They haue long hands and portatiue eyes, to see into the Realmes that are most remote to their Estates:

The forme which the Turkish Monarches vse to sweare a League or Alliance with any Forreigne Prince, is no lesse specious than fraudulent; for most commonly they hold nothing that they promise, and their Oaths are as false as those of Louers; thus they Court all the Estates of Europe. When as Marin Cabalus a Man doubly famous aswell for the lustre of his Birth as for knowledge, was at Constantinople Embassadour for the Venetian to renew the League with the Turke, Selim sware it in this manner: I sweare and promise by the [Page]great God which hath created Heauen and Earth, by the soules of seuentie Prophets, by mine owne, and by that of my Ancestors, to obserue with the Seigneurie of Venice, all the points and rights of the League and Friendship which hath beene entertained to this day, and to hold them for sacred and inuiolable, as they are declared by my Signature But he brake it suddainly; for Iean Mique a Spanish Iew, chased out of Spaine by King Ferdinand, as a dangerous Spie, to Europe, who had runne thorow all the Prouinces, hauing related vnto him that the Arsenall of Venice had beene burnt, and that there was want of victuals in that State and Seigneurie, he perswaded him to the warre of Cyprus, which he said did belong vnto him as Sultan of Egypt, and King of Palestina, whereon Cyprus aswell as Rhodes depended, as Homagers. Selim vndertooke it without any other subiect, and made himselfe Master thereof in short time, taking this Realme from the Venetians, who had kept it long: So to be a Turke and to keep his faith, are incompatible things.

CHAP. IX. Of some Manuall Workes of the Turkish Emperours, and of the Religious custome which they obserue, to liue of the labour of their hands.

THe Authour of the Alcoran, hath deckt the deformities of his Law, and couered the falshoods thereof with some lustre of truth, to make them passe the better amongst his followers: Among the many Rules which hee prescribes them, he enioynes them to labour and doth assure them that hee is not worthy to liue, that doth not labour with his hands▪ The people doe not only obserue it, but the respect of this precept is crept into the Imperiall Throne of the Turkes; The Sultans embrace it, and of twentie Emperours which haue [Page] swayed the Othoman Scepter, yee shall hardly find one which hath not laboured for his liuing. Mahomet the Second manured his Gardens, and of the reuenew of the Fruites which were sold, he caused meate to be bought for his mouth. But as the actions of such men, how religious soeuer they be, haue not true Charitie for their Guide, they doe easily incline to vice. This Prince added to his Manuall labour so horrible a crueltie, as it was to be wished his hands had beene idle. We haue written in the Historie of his Empire, that visiting one day, (being followed by his Pages) the Squares of hi. Gardens which he did manure himselfe; one of the young Boyes seeing hastie Cowcumbers, gathered one and eate it: Mahomet returning that way found it wanting, his choler enflamed him to crueltie, hee saw by the stalke that it was newly gathered, and hee knew that hee had no company but his Pages, and therefore some one of them had done the deed, the which he would know at what price soeuer: Hee calleth the Bastangies or Gardiners, puts sharpe Kniues into their hands, and commands them to open the stomacks of his Pages: They take them one by one and open fourteene, finding the Cowcumber not yet disgested in the stomacke of the fourteenth: Such was the rigour of this Prince, who for a light offence, caused fourteene of the goodliest young Boyes (the flowre and choice of all the youth of his Serrail) to be murthered. Solyman the Second, hee which tooke Rhodes, spent his idle houres in making of Shooes, the which he sent to the Bazar or Market to sell, and with the money he caused victuals to be bought for his Table. Selim the Second who lost the battaile of Lepantho, made little Crescents or halfe Moones, which the Turkish Pilgrimes carrie vpon their staues, when they goethe Voyage to Meque. Amurath his Sonne made Arrowes, and others made little Kniues, all which is sold at a deare rate, in regard of the grossenesse of the worke: Hee thinkes himselfe happie that can recouer any for monie. They ground this Custome of labouring for their liuing, not only vpon the rules of their Alcoran, but also vpon that passage of [Page] Genesis: In sudore vultus tui voscéris panem donec revertaris in terram de qua sumptu [...]es, quia puluises, & in pulu [...]em reuert [...]s, Gen. 3.19 Their Schoolmasters make them learne it by heart: In the sweat of thy browes thou shalt eat thy bread, vntill thou returne to earth, whereon thou wert made. It is only in the time of peace; for in the time of warre the Prince must liue vpon the charges of the people, for whose defence and increase hee takes Armes. But in another season if the Sultan should employ the Money which he leuies of his people in his delights, the Law and the custome of the Empire would hold it a crime. They call their Taxe and Subsidie, Aaram Agemini Cani, that is to say, The prohibited bloud of the people: And for that the labour of their hands cannot furnish the expences of their diet to keepe a Table worthy of their Qualitie, they adde vnto it the reuenewes of their Gardens, which in truth is great, and almost incredible. I haue learned from some Turkes, that they yeeld two hundred thousand Crownes a yeare rent: some others say a hundred thousand pounds sterling. Besides those which he hath in the Serrail, hee hath along the Sea side, and towards the Arsenall, great Gardens which are very fruitfull. Foure Leagues from Constantinople, and further at Andrinopolis, and vpon the side of Asia, at Scutary (where the Citie of Chalcedonia did sometimes stand) there are the goodliest Gardens in the East. The fruits which are gathered are sold at Constantinople, and elsewhere in so great abundance, as they furnish all the Countrie. The Bostangihassi or great Gardiner, who is an Officer of the Crown: hath a care of this Reuenew, causeth it to bee brought to the Serrail, and the Sultans hold it for their true Patrimonie and Demesnes, wherewith they may feed themselues without any oppression.

To these Manuall workes of the Turkish Emperours, wee must adde their Religious custome to plough the Land, when as they come from their Gouernment to Constantinople to take possession of the Empire, they are bound to hold the Plough and to make some furrowes. Amurath the Third Grandfather to Achmat obserued it, after the decease of Se [...] his Father, when as comming from Magnesia (where he [Page] was Gouernour) to goe and take possession of his Scepter, he met with an Husband man in the fields, where lighting from his horse he laid hold on the Plough, and made three or foure furrowes: After which he drew a handfull of Gold out of his pocket, and gaue it in charitie to this Labourer: and withall he put off his Robe, which was of rich Cloth of Gold, furred with Sables, and gaue it him. The Law which makes him to obserue this Ceremony is mentioned in the Glosses of the Alcoran, in these termes: That the Emperour comming to the Empire and going to the Imperiall Citie to take possession, hee must manure the Land to banish sterrilitie from his Countrie, and to make it fruitfull. It is nothing the more for all this: For the Prince employing so great a number of his Subiects in his warres, much good Land lies waste, for want of men to till it. Thus doe the Turkish Sultans employ themselues, and yet they doe not flie idlenesse, to the which they many times abandon themselues: Wee shall see something in the following Chapter.

CHAP. X. Of the Grand Seigneurs Loues.

AMong all the passions which rule the affections of Princes, Loue (as the most powerfull) triumphes more ouer great men, then all the rest together, for they obtaine no victories, but to encrease its glory: Couetousnesse heaps vp to furnish the charges, Ambition aspires to make it great. So we see the most powerfull Princes after they had subdued all other passions, were vanquished by Loue. Alexander laid the honour of so many victories in Persia at the feet of his Captiue Roxana. Coesar being in Alexandria, submitted all his triumphs to the beautie of Cleopatra, who afterward was friend to Anthonie. And the Turkish Monarches make subiect vnto the allurements of their Sultana's, the glory and lustre of that Soueraigne power, whereby they are Masters [Page] of the best parts of the World. But behold how these singular beauties enter into their Serrail, and the bonds where with Loue doth captiuate their wils.

After that the Rights of birth haue brought a Turkish Prince to the Imperiall Throne of his Ancestors, the women which his Predecessor did honour in the Serrail, are put forth, and conducted to a place called in their Language Eschy Saray, that is to say the old Serrail, as a man would say the old place: for Saray in the Persian Tongue, signifies a place or Hostell: There they are shut vp, vntill they be married to some great Men of the Port. In the meane time others must supply their roome, to bee new subiects of Loue to the new Emperour. Then the Bashaes which are at the Port, and others which represent the Soueraigntie of their Master in remote Prouinces, imploy all their care to find out Virgins in the Leuant or else-where, the rarest in beautie, and of the sweetest perfections of their sex; whether that the greatnesse [...]f their treasurs force the necessitie of miserable Mothers to deliuer them for money, or that the chance of warre hath made them Captiues at the taking of some Towne, and so fall into their hands: They cause them to bee instructed after the Turkish manner in all gentile Qualities fit for their sex (if they be not alreadie:) they learne to sing, to play of the Lute, and the Gittern, and to dance, & hauing had a speciall care for the keeping of their Virginity, they bring them to the Sultan, and present them vnto him: The Princes Mother, & his Sisters which are married labour in the same designe, and make him the like presents: for the law of Poligamy or pluralitie of women, allowed by the Alcoran and receiued in Turkey, giues them leaue to keepe as many as they will, so as they bee able to feed them. The Sultan doth recompence their care that bring them such gifts, with some rich present to buy (saith he) these Virgins which they bring, that they may bee his slaues: But hee will be soone fettered in their beautie. The Serrail of women being thus furnished, hee passeth thither when he pleaseth, and is not seene by any man, by a doore right against his Chamber, whereof he hath one Key, and [Page] the Chissar Aga or great Eunuch of the Sultana's another: He doth aduertise the Cheyachadun, which is an ancient woman their Gouernesse, to ranke them in a Gallerie, in the which he passeth and repasseth often, beholding their allurements or else he causeth them to dance in a round, in a goodly Hall, where he doth assist and place himselfe in the midst, like vnto a Butterflie in the midst of many glistering fires, where heloseth himselfe: For feeling his heart suddenly enflamed by the eyes of some one of them, which pleaseth him best he casts her his handkercher, for a signe that he is vanquished: she receiues it with great demonstrations of humilitie, kisses it and layes it on her head; presently the Cheyachadun or Mother of the Maids, takes this faire slaue, which comes to triumph ouer her Masters libertie, she leads her into a Chamber appointed for the sports of loue, decks her with the goodliest Ornaments she can deuise, perfumes her, and addes to her naturall beautie the cunning of her Art: This is while the Sun shines; for imitating his course as well as his lustre, this faire Creature lies downe as soone as this Planet sets: The Chadun conducts her into the same Chamber where the Sultan is lodged, layes her in the same Bed, where shee enters by the feet for the greater reuerence, and during the night season many old Moorish women watch and stand sentinell, one at the Beds feet, another in the midst of the Chamber, and a third at the doore: They are reliued euery third houre by others of the same hue, vntill it bee day: There is one stands at the Beds head, with two Torches burning, and doth carefully obserue on what side the Prince doth turne least the light should offend his eyes. I haue learned from a Iew, a learned Physician which had serued the Grand Seigneur, that the Chadun watcheth at the Beds feet, and doth sometimes speake some words to encourage they young Maide, giuing her to vnderstand that night would be the cause of her good fortune, and that she would attaine to the dignitie of a Princesse. It is the custome in Turkey that on the Marriage night, an olde woman doth assist in the Chamber of the married couple, and imployes the experience of her time past, to encourage the [Page] [...] [Page] and her Pension is [...] sixteene Charges of Money.

The rest of the Serrail which are yet Virgins, or haue had the Princes company but once, imploy all their allurements to please him, and finding their cunning deuices too feeble, they adde the help of Charmes and Sorcerie, which they purchase at any [...] whatsoeuer. But if any one of these women be deliuered first of a Sonne, which is to succeed in the Empire, shee is called Queene, the Grand Seigneur honours her with a Crowne of pretious stones; hee causeth a cloth of Estate to be carried into her Chamber of Presence, inlargeth her Lodging, and giues her a Family sin for a Queene, on Empresse of Turkey: Shee hath a sufficient Reuenew to supply her necessities and her bounties. If shee be deliuered of a Daughter, they send her a Nurse, three thousand Sequins and Slaues to serue her, the honour is the lesse; but the joy which shee concerneth (if there be Male Children formerly borne) is incomparable, for shee is assured that the young Princesse shall be bred vp with her, and that shee shall be one day married to a Grand Ʋizir, or to some other Basha of the most powerfull in the Empire, who will [...], and fill her old age [...] if shee had beene deliuered of a younger Sonne, he should be taken from her at the age of twelue yeares or thereabouts, and put into the hands of Schoolemasters to instruct him, where shee might not se [...] [...] foure times in the year [...], and in the end hee should bee [...] [...]o the saf [...] of [...] elder Brothers Raigne, and soone strangled by M [...]. This is that which makes them desireth haue Daughters, w [...] is alreadie a Sonne [...].

All these woman although they [...] the true Successours of the [...], yet they are but the Emperour [...] Concubities; he [...] marries any, vnlesse be wonderfully surprised with [...], which hath first brought him a [...], then be followes the blind motions of his passion. And doubelesse when as loue makes him to feele in this sort the r [...]our of his [...] Tyr [...]t should [...] for if the one doth captiues that [...], the other torments [Page] [...] [Page] one to the succession of the Empire, brings him to ruine, and makes him to end his dayes miserably by the Sword. Solyman hath beene the only Prince since [...] the First vnto this day, whereof there hath beene fifteene Emperours, & twenty in all, by a direct succession from Father to Sonne, which hath married a Wife, Amurath the Third his Grandchild being charmed with the beauty of Asachi, being enformed of the practices of Rouilana in the Serrail by the power of her infranchisement, and the authoritie of the Princes Wife, refused the Letters of Sabyn although he had had fourteene children by her, and loued her aboue all his Women. Yet they say that Osman which died last, had married the Daughter of the Muftie of Constantinople.

But the History of the extraordinary Marriage of the Turkish Prince, hath made vs abandon the relation of his loues with his Concubines: But let vs returne and follow him into his Garden, where hee is in the midst of his [...] loue imbracements. It is dangerous to see him: but no fear of danger should deterre vs from seruing of the publique. He goes [...] out of his [...] goe and daily with his women in [...] Eunuches which [...] the Women, are the only [...] which accompany him, all the [...] they ca [...]. The [...] to worth the Sea, [...] Master. For if there should [...] Serrail, that should [...] when they walke with the [...] Thus the [...]. Thus the [...] that they [...] is [...] [Page] which he obserues against those which would see him, forbids to reueale the secret: Only wee know that in the effeminate delights wherewith the women charme him, hee is pleased with the ridiculous encounters of his Iesters and Dwarffes, and shewes that Loue is an entertainment of Men that are Birds.Diogenes speaks it in Laertius, lib. 6.

A curious person which hath had authority in the Leuant, enformed me that in these places there many times happens light riots of Loue betwixt the Sultan and his Women: Hee vnderstood it from a blacke Eunuch of the womens Serrail: and he told him that if the jealousie of these faire creatures did raise them, they were supprest by the discretion of the Chadun,

Amantiumirae amor [...] redi [...]tegratio est, Terent.

Que modo pugnarunt iungunt suar [...]stra culumbae; Quarum blandittas, verba (que), murmur habes, Ouid. 2. de Art.

which is their old Gouernesse, and by her humilitie which is interessed in the Quarrell. Thus the giddie Quarrels of Louers, are the winds which kindle and enflame their foolish passion. And the Pigeons bils, which were the armes of their choller, are the sweet instruments of their loue.

That which we haue formerly written of the entertainment of the Turkish Prince with his women, is not the most blameable of his affections. The greatnesse of his power, which makes all mens wils obey him, and the contagious example of his Courtiers, carries him to the detestable excesse of an vnnaturall passion. Hee burnes many times for the loue of men, and the youngest Boyes which are in the Leuant, the flowre of beautie and the allurement of graces, are destinated to the filthinesse of his abominable pleasures. The Bashaes bring them from remote Prouinces, and present them vnto him. This disorder is so inueterate in the Serrail, as of twenty Emperours which haue carried the Turkish Scepter, you shall hardly find two that were free from this vice. Achmat the last which died, abandoned it a little before his death, by the wise aduice of the M [...]f [...], and his Sonne Amurath the Fourth who raignes at this present 1626. is yet so young, as bee may be easily diuerted from this excesse, and framed to vertue, eschewing the Rockes, where his Predecessours haue suffered shipwracke. What doth it auaile such great and redoubted [Page] Monarchs to be the glorious vanquishers of so many Nations if they themselues be captiues to vices?

Terrena potest [...] vult esse victrix gentium, cum sit captiua vitiorum, D. Aug. lib. 15. de ciuit. Dei, c. 8.

Sidelect amini in sedibus & sceptris, [...] Rege [...] populi, diligite sapientiam, Salom. sap. 6.

The Prince is the Physicion of the State; but how can hee cure it if hee himselfe bee sicke? Hee is the heart; but what meanes is there to giue it life, if it hath weaknesse and faintings: Hee is the eye, and how can he see and lead others, if it be troubled and darkened with passions? Euery Prince that loues his Throne, his Scepter, and his Estate, must flie vice and cherish wisdome: For a wise Prince is the assurance of those, and the support of his people.

CHAP. XI. Of the Grand Seigneurs Women, of their Lodging, their Liues, their Gouernment, and their Fortune.

THe precedent Chapter hath related the fire of the Grand Seigneurs Loues, this will shew you in particular the manners and life of all those which cause it. Faire women are to vnstaid spirits, flames which burne a farre off. Those of the Serrail which make the greatest shew by the lustee of their graces are most commonly strangers taken in the warre, or rauished by force: But bred vp with an incredible care, to make them learne Ciuilitie, to play of some Instruments of Musique, to Sing, and to worke with their Needles, most decent for Maids of Qualitie: These good parts added to their naturall perfection, make them the more commendable: They are for the most part Christians; but their disaster causing the beauty of their bodies to serue the dishonest pleasures of Turkes, prostitute their soules to the false worship of their Law. They are no sooner come into the Serrail, whither some Basha sends them as a Present to the Sultan, and sometimes the great Cham of Tartaria, but they cause them to make profession of the Turkish Faith, by lifting vp the second finger [Page] of the hand, in signe that they beleeue but one God only in one only Person, and they speake this word Mehemet: There are old women which haue the charge to instruct them in the rest of the Turkish beliefe: And thus the Princes Serrail is furnished with women.

They are of two sorts, the one haue had his company and are women, and the others are yet Virgins. The women lodge a part and more a [...] large, they are better serued, and haue greater libertie in the royall Pallace. The Virgins eate by troupes in the common resectory, they retire by day into Chambers, vnder the guard and gouernment of old women, who gouerne them by tens, to labour in some workes; and in the night they lie like religious women (but not very chast) in long Dorters, where their Beds are made of soft Mattresses and Couerings (for the Women in Turkey as wel as the Men lie clothed) and are ranckt of either side; there is a passage in the midst and many Lamps burning in the night time: And euery ten Maids haue one of the Gouernesses lie by them. They which know not the Turkish Tongue, goe to learne it in Schooles appointed to that end in the same Serrail. These see not the Prince but when they first arriue, and conuerse not with him, but when he will make vse of them. They are furnished with all things necessary for their Entertainment with that abundance which is found continually in the Sultans Serrail.

The Eunuches which bring them their meate obserue the same order which wee haue described in the Sultans seruice. But the Queene (who is Mother to the Prince, Successour to the Empire, is serued in her Quarter (where she is stately lodged) by her owne Officers: Her vessell is not of Gold like the Emperours, but of excellent porcelane artificially wrought: In her Lodging are the most sumptous Feasts of the Womens Serrail, where as many Sultana's meet, to shew themselues [...] the Emperour, who is of the Party, to giu [...] the disordered appetites of all his senses in their company. There he [...] makes a dangerous triall, that Beauty wounds deeper then a Dare, and the respect which all these women yeeld him, carrying [Page] themselues towards him with a singular Modesty,Secundus Philosophus interrogatus, Quid esset mulier malae, respondit, viri naufragium, demus tempestas, quietis impedimentum, vitae captiuitas, quetidianum malum, voluntaria pugna, sumptuosum bellum, bellua conuiua leana complectens, exornata scylla, animal malitiesum, malum necessarium, Max. Seuerus. and a sweet pleasing, exempts him from making that troublesome experience: that a bad Wife is the shipwracke of her Husband, the tempest of the House, a trouble-rest, a slauery of Life, a Quotidian Euill, a voluntary Combat, a Chargeable warre, a Sauage Beast which we nourish, a Lionesse wee imbrace, a Rocke adorned, a malicious Beast, and finally necessary Euill.

The Ladies, the Subiects of the Sultans delights, liue deliciously neare vnto him: Their Serrail containes so great a space, as there are within it foure and twenty great Courts, most of them paued with polished Marble, beautified with their Fountaines, inuironed with stones and baths, very commodiously, where these Nymphes wash themselues, and plunge their fires, but doe not quench them. A stately Mosquee serues in the same place for the exercise of their deuotion. The number of the Chambers and goodly Halls are fourescore, adorned with precious moueables, the Planchers are gilt, the walls are painted in flowres of rare Art: The floore is couered with rich Persian Carpets of Gold and Silke, with a great number of Cushions of Tinsell, the Bedsteeds are of Iuory, or of Aloes wood, and of great pieces of Corall, whereof one of them cost in the time of Amurath the Second nintie thousand Sultanins, 36. thousand pounds sterling. or three hundred and sixtie thousand Liuers; They are garnished with rich stuffes of Cloth of Gold. The Gardens in great number are the places where as Nature assisted by Art, sets forth the beauties of the Spring: The Bird-cages and Fountaines adorne them, and the Alleys by their shadows defends the beauties of the Sultana's from the heat of the Sunne. Seeing that in this stately Pallace the most powerfull Monarches of the Earth serue the beauties of these Sultana's, it is fitting that others should serue their persons: So they haue many women that doe that office: Some are Moores, others are white. But the Men that serue them are blacke Eunuches, from whom they haue taken all: They were only mutilated of the inferiour parts which serue for generation. But Solyman the Second, who ended his [Page] Raigne, when as Charles the Ninth gouerned France, seeing a Gelding leape vpon a Mare, he iudged thereby that the Eunuches which kept his women might busie their lasciuious passions, and then he caused all to be cut off; the which hath continued euer since. These Eunuches are all blacke, to distinguish them from those of the Sultans Serrail: and their perfection consists in their deformitie, for the most hideous are the fairest: For being neare vnto those beauties so perfectly accomplished, they serue for a lustre. They bring them from the Grand Cairo, the chiefe Citie of Egypt, instructed to serue in this Court, by the care of the Basha who is Viceroy there: If they be not, there are Men in the Serrail appointed to teach them what they should know: From this Schoole they passe vnto the Ladies, they giue them names fitter for their handsomenesse than for their Moorish deformity. For to some Boyes which haue flat Noses, wide Mouthes, thicke Lips, Eyes almost out of their heads, great Eares, their Haire curled like Wooll, and their Face fearefully blacke, so as there is no white to be seene but their Eyes, and Teeth: They call them Hycinthe, Narcissus, Rose and Gilliflowre. Doubtlesse such flowres are soone withered and vnable to fructifie. They assigne them a hundred Aspres by the day (an Aspre is about a penny of our sterling Money) two Robes of Silke, a piece of linnen cloth, and some other thing for their meaner necessities: They are vnder the obedience of an old wretched Eunuch, blacke like themselues, who is their Commander, called Chissar Agassi, that is to say, the chiefe of the Virgins: Hee is, as it were, the Chiefe and Superintendent of this Pallace of Women, speakes when hee pleaseth to the Emperours, and hath most commonly a share in the fauours of the Court: For the Prince being inclined to Women, he is the Mercurie of his affections: the other inferiour blacke Eunuches passe many times to the Grand Seignours Serrail, to carrie the secrets of the Sultana's in some note to the Capiaga, who presents it to the Emperour: Their Office honours them with this priuiledge, aboue the white Eunuches which serue the Prince, who neuer enter into the Womans lodging, neither [Page] doe they see them. The blacke goe not out of the Serrail, without the leaue of the Sultana Queene, Mother to the eldest of the Sultans Children In other places they would make some difficultie to giue vnto Queenes, yea, to women of an inferior condition, Moores to serue them, for feare that comming to conceiue, their imagination should make an impression in their Children, of the complexion and forme of such Groomes: But the Turkes doe not insist vpon that. And I haue neuer heard that any Sultana hath beene deliuered of a Moore, although I know this may be done: Histories furnish vs with examples of such accidents, women haue borne children like vnto the pictures which were in their chambers. There are fiue hundred of these blacke Men, from the age of twelue yeares to fiue and twenty, and at the most thirty, The women are vsually three hundred or thereabouts, aswell of the Sultana's as of those that serue them: To tell the number of the Sultana's directly, it is difficult: For they daily present Maidens vnto the Grand Seigneur, who seeing his Pallace sufficiently furnished, sends them to the old Serrail. The women slaues which serue them haue fiue or six Aspres by day, two Robes of Searge, and one of Silke yearely, a piece of fine Cloth of twenty Ells or more, and many gifts from the Sultana's their Mistresses, who reward their fidelitie and diligence with many Presents of Money and other things: For they abound in all sorts of Presents, as Bedkins se [...] with precious Stones, Earings, Iewels, Plumes of Feathers, Cloth of Gold, rich Furtes, and other Moueables which the King sends the more willingly for that they cost him nothing. The Bashaes at the returne from their gouernments present him. The Embassadours of the Prince of Tartary, & other Soueraignes in Asia, bring vnto him and fill his Wardrobe with rich diuersitie of Presents. But aboue all things these Ladies loue to make prouision of Money; for their beautie doth not hinder them to participants with the defects of their Sex,Mulierum genus est auarum, Cic. Rhet. li. 1. which is subect to Auarice.

This is the cause why they draw into their Serrail, some cunning female Iew, with the Emperours permission, whom [Page] they giue to vnderstand that it is to teach them new workes with the Needle, or to make triall of some excellent Receipts in Physicke for the cure of their infirmities, or the preseruation of their healths: Thus the Iew being entred into the Serrail, she gaines affection of the Eunuch which commands at the Gate, in giuing him Money and other rich Commodities, and in a short time she goes the loue of the Sultana's; yea, she hath a transcendent power ouer their wils, bringing vnto them from abroad whatsoeuer they desire to buy, and receiuing from them what they are willing to sell. This trade is kept secret; for the Sultan would not take it well that they should sell that which he giues them. But these women desirous to make prouision of Money, which hath alwayes been the most precious of their Moueables, to the end that if their Soueraigne dye [...], being conducted to the old Serrail, they may get forth in being married to some great men of the Port: The which is easie to effect in gaining the friendship of the Chadun their Gouernesse by great gifts: They giue vnto this Iew rich Diamonds, great round Pearles, great Turquoises, and most precious Iewels for a base price: For they which haue no conuersation out of the Serrail, know not the worth of things, and part with them as it pleaseth the Iew: shee sels them to strangers, and buyes such things as shee brings vnto the Ladies at a deare rate: So as the great wealth which they enioy in a short time,Mase parta, mase dilabuntur, vetus poeta. doth shew that they frequent the Serrail of women: But goods euill gotten are many times wasted in the same manner. The Iew is sometimes stript, and for a punishment of her frauds, leaues her life comming out of the Serrail. The Bashaes aduertised of this deceitfull trade, caused it to cease, and the Tefterdars or Treasurers, when their Cofers are emptie, seeke to fill them with the gaine of these Brokers.

If the Emperour be a child, and that his Mother hath any part in the administration of affaires, the traffique of these Iewish women mounts higher, and from precious Stones they passe to the Offices of State: They which affect them rather by the power of their purse, then by the merit of their vertue [Page] addresse themselues vnto them, and their affections being bought they doe easily purchase the fauour of the Sultana Mother: we haue obserued a famous example in the seuenteenth Booke of our Turkish History which will not be vnfitting to make a briefe description, for the commodity of such as haue not that first Volume.

Cheira Chaduna Iewish woman being crept into the Serrail of women, by the meanes which we haue mentioned, enioyed the friendship of the Sultana Queene by the cunning of her indusirious trade, and the sweetnesse of her pleasing humour: Soone after Mahomet the Third left his life in his Serrail, and his Scepter to Achmat his eldest Sonne, being about fourteen or firteene yeares old: The Sultana Vulida or the Sultan Mother, if called by her Sonne to assist in the Gouernment of the State. Cheira was in fauor with this Princess, who in short time purchased him that of the Emperour: For this Prince falling sick of the small Poxs, the Iew did visit him with his Mother, attended him in his Bed, is she was cunning and indued with a good wit, she did ease the importunities of his Feuer by telling of pleasant tales, and sometimes repaired his forces with a little wine, which shoe brought out of the Citie, and made him to drinke contrary to the prohibition of his Law: The Sultan recouered his health; he remembers the Iewes good seruices, and giues her no lesse share in his affection, than she had in his Mothers: Thus she growes doubly powerfull, and she deales no more in selling the goodly trash of the womens Serrail: The most eminent dignities of the Empire are her Traffique. The great Vizar buyes the Scales at her hands, and the Dignitie of Lieutenant Generall of the Turkish Empire. The Mufti mounts to that supreame Ecclesiasticall Dignitie by her meanes; and the other great Men of Port follow in the current of their Portunes the winde of her desires: Money and the Iew do call things in Constantinople: And he which before durst not thinke of Offers in [...] to admire them, doth now enioy them by these two meanes: Auarice calls all disorders into the State, and leaues valour, and the rare vertues of Men of merit to contempt, if they were [Page] not furnished with Money: And the Prince did not only suffer them, but commanded it. for that the Iew said it must bee so. This must not continue long, and the Qualities of Cheira being of the Nature of those of the Court are found passable and perishable. The Ianizaries who are the force of Constantinople, and many times the violent reformers of the Turkish State, deale in it, and to this insupportable mischief they bring the rigour of their remidie: They goe to the Serrail in armes, demand the Iew, and they refuse her, they threaten to breake the Gates, and to dragge her, with many others, into the midst of the place, to reuenge vpon them the disorders of the State: They were ready to execute their words by effect, when as of many Mischiefes they made choice of the least, and thrust the Iew out of the Serrail, to the mercy of their rage: There were none grieued in the Serrail, Nouelties are pleasing, when they happen they loue them, and Enuie swimmes in ioy and pleasure when as they see any Fauourite fall. And what could they doe in this case? What meines were there to calme the spirits of Men that are armed, and the force of the Empire, who at that time did not acknowledge any other Master but their passion? Moreouer, the people followed their motion, and demanded Iustice of this Horseleeth who suckt all, swallowed all, and ledt other to suffer: Thus they abandoned her to force and to the rigour of the Sword. An example which tels vs that the fauour of the Court which doth not aduance any to dignity but such as are incapable, which contemnes vertuous Men, and builds the continuance of his fortune in the heaping vp of perishing wealth, runs headlong to his owne ruine, and makes himselfe fat to bee an oblation which they will offer vp vpon the first sedition. The Ianizaries take Chiera, they strip her, whip her, and put a burning Candle into her priuie [...], and so drag, her laid all along thorew the Citie of Constantinople, to serue for a spectable vnto the people: In the end they teare her in pieces, and naile the principall parts of her body, to the Gates of the greatest Officers of the Empire: That of the Mustice High Priest of their Law, had the head with this writing. Behold the [Page]hand which hath sold thee thy Office, & the fauours of the Port: The Head was set vpon the Grand Vizirs Gate, & these words vnderneath it. This is the head which hath giuen thee counsell to the preiudice of the State. They did hand her Tongue at the House of the Cadi or chiefe Iudge of Constantinople, with this reproch in writing: Receiue the tongue which hath taught thee iniustice. Thus in the year 1604. ended the Iew which practised in the Serrail of women: & the rest haue as bad an end: if not so exemplary, which is for that they attain not to the like fauour.

This is the successe of the Iewes couetousnesse which frequent the Sultanes Serrail: But none of them enter,The exact guard of the women. before the Eunuch of the Gate vnuailes her, and sees what shee is; lest that some man vnder the habit and trade of such Brokers, should enter into this Pallace, to make traffique of his amorous passion. The order which they obserue in guarding these faire creatures is exact: They doe not only search the women which enter, and the Eunuches at their returne from the Citie: But moreouer they haue a care of beasts: They will not allow the Sultanaes to keepe any Apes, nor Dogges of any stature. Fruits are sent vnto them with Circumspection: If their Appetites demand any Pompeons which are somewhat long, or Cowcumbers, and such other fruits they cut them at the Gate in slices, not suffering to passe among them any slight occasion of doing euill. so bad an opinion they haue of their continencie. It is (without doubt) a signe of the Turks violent jealousie: for who can in the like case hinder a vicious woman from doing euill? She is too industrious in her Designes; and hee which had his body couered with eyes alwayes watching was deceiued. In the meanetime if any woman in the Serrail be discouered in the effects of her lasciuiousnesse, the Law long since established for them by the Sultan, condemnes her to die,Their punishment. the wh [...] executed without remission: she is put into a Sack, and in the night cast into the Sea, where she doth quench her flames with her life. This seuere punishment doth follow the enormitie of their Crimes: for lesse faults they suffer lighter correction: Their Superiours beat them, and if they continue obstinate, the Sultan causeth them to be put out of his Pallace, and sends them to [Page] the old Serrail. At their departure the Cheira Chadun strips them of their goodliest commodities, and addes to their misfortune the losse of their most pretious things, and most necessary for the comfort of their liues in that sad and troublesome abode.

The others which enioy a better fortune in the Royall Pallace,Their diseases. Forma bonum fragile est, quantum (que) acce [...]t ad annos, Fit minor & spacie carpitur illa suo, Ouid. de Art. lib. 2. doe sometimes try that beauty is a fraile good; The violence of an infirmitie, and the burning of a Feauer makes the Roses which adorne their Cheekes to vade, and the Lillies of their countenances to wither. When there is question to seeke for remedie for their diseases, they labour after an extraordinary manner. If the sicke person be none of the Sultana's, whom the Emperour doth most affect, the old women which gouerne them, goe downe vnto the Apothecaries shop without the inner Gate of the Serrail, and shewing the Physician her Vrine, she relates the estate of the sicke person. He prescribes without seeing her, vpon the report that is made, so as many die for want of helpe. But if the Queene who hath giuen a Successor to the Empire, or some other whom the Sultan loues with passion, falls sicke, they aduertise the Lachin Bassi, which is the chiefe Physician, who hauing obtained leaue from the Prince to goe and visit her, hee enters into the womens Serrail, where the Eunuches receiue him, for all the women retire at his comming. They lead him into the Chamber of the sicke party, who hath her face couered with her couerings, for they vse no Linnen, to the end the Physician should not see her; shee hath her arme only out of the Bed, couered with fine Cypresse, vpon the which hee feeles her pulse, and knowes the Qualitie of the Feuer, but it is not lawfull for him to speake, whilest hee is before the sicke person. After this he retires [...]ard for that hee may not turne his backe towards her: [...]medies which hee doth prescribe are most commonly so [...]us potions, all other Physique is in a manner neglected in that Court: For the Turkes beleeue that from the day of their birth, the time and continuance of their liues is written vpon their foreheads, by an ineuitable destinie, which no kind of Physicke can change.

[Page]If it were neccessary for the sicke person to change the aire,Theit going out of the Serrail. this remedie would be very difficult. For the women neuer go out of the Serrail, but in the Sultans company, and they goe to no other places but to the old Serrail, and to his houses of pleasure, and are not seene by any Man: The black Eunuches which guard them, helpe them into their Coaches, which they shut vp close before they goe out of the Serrail: The streets of Constantinople by the which they are to passe, are made cleane and hanged with cloth, to the end that no man should violate by his lookes the absolute content which the Prince hath of these goodly creatures: who seeme to be only borne for him: Hee alone doth see them, hee alone doth conuerse with them, and he only doth enioy them. But seeing the relation of the life of the women of this great Serrail, hath brought vs to the Gates of the old Serrail, let vs enter into it, and finish the History of their Fortune.

This Imperiall Pallace was sometimes the stately designe of Sultan Mahomet the Second,The old Serrail whom the Turkes call Conquerour, who after he had taken Constantinople, caused it to be built for his Mansion, in that part of the Citie, which his Architects did hold to be the most beautifull and the most commodious. It is spacious enough to lodge a great Prince, with all the Officers of his House. Its circuit containes aboue halfe a French League or a good English mile, the walles are high and strong, there is but one Gate guarded by a Company of white Eunuches, by the which no man enters but the Emperour: If the necessitie of his house drawes him thither, they cause the women to retire into a priuate place vntill that he be gone. It hath aswell as other Royall houses beautifyings and commodities; delightfull Gardens, pleasing Fountaines, commodious Bathes, and a Moschee for their deuotions. The three strange Harbingers, but all three allied, haue lodged many faire women in it, that it to say, Death, Inconstancy, and Contempt: Death hath sent a great number thither, when shee hath taken away the Prince, which cherish their beauties; and amongst those are the Sultana's. Mothers to the Princes Children, his Daughters and his Sisters, and the [Page] Monarches Aunts which is newly seated in the Throne of his Predecessour. Inconstancie; when as the Sultan wearied with the lasciuious imbracements of the women which haue beene the Idoll of his affections suffered himselfe to be perswaded to a new Loue, that they haue abused his fauours, and that they haue made themselues vnworthy to continue in his Pallace. Contempt, when as some of these Virgins which are presented vnto him, haue not in his judgement, allurements sufficient to captiuate him: Or when as yeares (an Enemy to beauty) doth blemish them with wrinckles, and doth rauish the honour of their delicate complexions, and the glory of their countenances. These vnfortunate Ladies which haue beene that which they are no more, haue no other consolation, in this kind of exile but the hope to be married to some Basha, or some other great Man of the Port, at the least such as had no children by the Sultan: For the condition of others which are Mothers binds them to a perpetuall widdowhood, yet they may easily attaine vnto it if the Sultan giues way, if the Chadun or Gouernesse be pleased, and if they haue mony: Of this last the other two depends, by it they gaine the Chadun, and she perswades the Prince that they are worthy: Thus Gold may doe any thing in all places, and the dares which loue imployes in such places, haue golden heads. This is the reason why they gather together all the Money they can, partly by the sparing of their Pensions, and partly by the sale of their most rich Commodities brought from the other Serrail in secret, and without the priuitie of the Gouernesse, who strips them at their going forth (but vnjustly) of the pearles, pretious stones and other rich gifts, which their graces haue in their season deserued from the Princes bountie: This feuere old woman restores them to the Sultan, but most commonly she keeps a share to herselfe. A strange alteration of humane things, they which formerly had possest the Empire in Mastering its Monarches, suffer the disgrace to be shut out of his Pallace, and to lose their moueables: They which are more politique, which haue foreseene their putting out, and haue secretly conueyed their richest stuffe, they haue the aduantage [Page] to be rich: They winne the Lady which commands them, and by Eunuches let the Bashaes, vnderstand the number of their Sultanins & wealth: These without any further bruit demand them in Marriage, and promise the Prince to make them a rich Dowrie. Others which by their fruitfulnesse are depriued of this search, liue in stately Lodgings in this Pallace, with abundance of all sorts of commoditie for life, with the which they enjoy the Qualities of Sultanaes and Queenes: But those which haue had Fortune aduerse vnto them, wh [...]ch hath depriued them both of the fauour of the Court & of their goods, liue in care with a small allowance in this Serrail, and if they can make any delicate Workes, they haue the gaine by the Traffique of the Iewes which visit them, and therewith they doe in some sort case their discommodities.

In this old Serrail there is a quarter where as no body lodgeth, royally furnished, and reserued for the Prince when he goes to visit his Kinswomen, or practizeth the commerce of his Loues. Carrying with him close Coaches full of his faire Sultana's, as we haue said else-where, with whom he spends the best of his dayes, and abandons all noble exercises, more worthy of a Prince, to enjoy their charming company. Thus these women detaine him, possesse him, and diuert him from vertue. In this sense an Ancient had reason to say,Cato Vticens [...]s in Plutarch. That if the World were without Women, Men should conuerse with the Gods. This must be vnderstood of vitious women, and not of those that loue vertue, the which is to be esteemed and embraced in what subiect soeuer it be found.

Chap. XII. Of the Grand Seigneurs Sisters, and his other Kinswomen, and of the Marriages of his Daughters.

THe Turkish Emperours Sisters lodge and liue in the old Serrail; their Quarters are distinct from the other women, [Page] furnished according to their Qualities: Pleasures and continuall delights, are their ordinary entertainment: In the which they attend vntill the Sultan giues them in Marriage to some of his great Bashaes. When that happens they goe out of that place with their rich Stuffe, their Coffers full of Iewels, and their slaues to serue them, to the number of fiftie or threescore, besides those which their Husbands adde vnto them, who are bound to furnish them with a traine fit for their Qualities,Two hundred thousand pounds sterling. and to make them a rich Dowrie (according to the custome of the Turkes where the Men endow their Wiues) at the least with fiue hundred thousand Sultanins, which are two Millions of Liuers, with the great expences hee makes in presents of precious stones. The Prince their Brother continues the same pensions they formerly had, and augments them thirtie six charges of money yeerely, to buy them Pattins (saith the custome of the Empire) the Husbands which marrie such wiues, verifie this truth to their losse, that a great inequalitie in Marriage doth many times breed a contempt; the authoritie of the House fals then vnto the Distaffe; they command them, they call them their slaues, they doe them good or harme, according to the satisfaction they receiued from them, and when the [...] giues way, they repudiate them to take others better to their liking, and many times make them to lose their liues: So for a signe of the insolencie of their power ouer their Husbands, they weare at their sides a Cartar, which is a little Poniard inricht with precious stones. If the Marriage continue equally to the death of the one or the other; the husband must arme his spirit with an extraordinary patience, to indure the imperfections of a wife, who knowes that all things are lawfull for her, and who is not restrained by the loue of any vertue, within the bounds of a commandable Modestie. The Bashaes auoid as much as they can the vexations of this Royall Alliance, which is bought by their seruitude, entertained with great charges, and many times ends with their bloud: They seldome imbrace it if the Princes commandement doe not force them. Such women haue libertie by the fauour of the Sultan their [Page] brother, to go when they please vnto the Serrail of Sultanan's, and to visit him in like manner.

The Grand Seigneurs Aunts and his other Kinswomen liue also in the old Serrail, with a traine fit for their conditions: The Princes Mother is in like manner lodged there, she is often visited by her Sonne, hee honours her, and supplies her with all the things she can desire: she hath leaue to goe to the Imperiall Serrail to see him when she pleases; and if hee fals sicke, she parts not from his Beds side, where as naturall loue makes her imploy all her care for the recouery of his health. The Princesses, Daughters to the Sultan are bred vp neere their Mothers, vntill they bee married to such great Men of his Court as shall please him, so as he be a Renegado, or taken out of the Children of the Tribute which they leuy vpon the Christians, or some other which hath abandoned the Law of Iesus Christ to follow that of Mahomet. These Marriages are made when as these Royall Daughters haue attained the age of eighteene yeares, with a magnificence and pompe worthy of the Orthoman House. The thirtieth of Iune 1612, was famous for the like Solemnitie, when as the Emperour Achmat gaue his eldest Daughter to Mahomet Bassa Captaine of the Sea: It is here briefly described according vnto the order which was then in Constantinople.

The day before the Consummation of this Marriage, the Moueables and Iewels of the Spouse (which we call the trusse or bundle) were carried from the Serrail to the Bridegroomes Lodging: Before it, marcht fiue hundred Ianizaries on foot, of the Gallantest Men in all their Regiment. The high Prouost of Constantinople, and the Grand Vizir follow on horsebace, in rich Robes of Cloth of Gold. The Aga or Colonell of the Ianizaries came alone after them vpon a Turkish Horse of great price: Two hundred Men of Qualitie mounted and stately attired, followed with a gentle pace; the Talismans, Alfaquis, Santons, Emirs, Seriphes, and other men of Mahomets Clergie marcht after with the puft vp grauitie of their condition. About fiue and twentie paces off, came Ameth Bassa Taftardar, or high Treasurer, chosen by the [Page] Emperour to be Sag [...], or Father to the Bride, in rich Robes mounted vpon a Horse with a royall Caparison, hauing about him twelue Foot men, he conducted these precious Moueables, or this Royall bundle, which had in the head of it Musique on horsebacke of Hobbies and Drummes after the Turkish manner: It was distinguished into seuen and twenty Presents, diuersly carried by seuen and twenty Men.

The first was a little Hatte of Massiue Gold couered with rich stones. The second was a paire of Pattins after the Turkish manner also of pure Gold, enricht with Turquoises and Rubies. The third a Booke of Mahomets Law, the couering whereof was of massiue Gold set with Diamonds. The fourth vnto the sixt was three paire of Bracelets of Gold and precious stones. The seuenth and eighth two great Bodkins of Diamonds. The ninth a little Cofer of Chrystall of the Rocke, with the corners of Gold halfe a yard high, and halfe as broad,Fourescore thousand pounds sterling. in the which were seene great Diamonds, and huge Pearles of the value of eight hundred thousand Liuers. The tenth vnto the fifteenth, were six Smocks imbroydered with Gold and stones. The sixteenth to the one and twentieth, were six head-bands for her forehead of the same stuffe and as rich The two and twentieth vnto the seuen and twentieth, were sixe stately Robes of Cloth of Gold, richly set with Pearles and Diamonds.

After these Presents followed eleuen Chariots full of young Virgins slaues to serue the Bride; they were couered and close, and either of them accompanied or rather guarded by two blacke Eunuches: Twentie other Virgins slaues followed on horsebacke, and so many blacke Eunuches richly attired and mounted in like manner accompanied them. After all this marched a hundred and forty Moyles laden with Tapestrie hangings of Cloth of Gold, of Sattin, of Veluet, with the ground of Gold, and a great number of Cushions of Veluet and of Cloth of Gold, which are the Chaires of the Turkish Ladies, with great store of other rich and sumptuous Moueables. All these things made the Spouses Bundle, giuen by the Emperour her Father: Not comprehending [Page] the Presents and Moueables which the Bridegroome gaue her.

The next day which was the day of the marriage, this Princesse was conducted to her husbands lodging, with no lesse pompe and state then her moueables. The Iannizaries made the front of this royall Conuoie: The great Preuost and the great Surueyor followed as before. The Emirs or Cerafes, which are the cursed remainders of the race of Mahomet the Impostor, and only carry among the Turkes a [...] Turbant (the marke of their sottishnesse, and of the [...] of their predecessor) came after with a graue march of their vaine holinesse; The Priests, Santons, Talismans, and about two hundred schollers in the Alcoran diuinitie, came after. The Vizirs or chiefe Iudges of Turkey, shewed themselues in this pompe, and before the Grand Vizir who came in his rank, hauing on his left hand (which is the most honour a [...] Turkey) the Mufti, or high Priests of the Law, thirty men on horsebacke with Drums and hobois made the musique after the Turkish manner; seuen or eight Egyptians shewing of a pish tricks following them, made it knowne that foolery had a ranke in the greatnesse of the World: forty Musitians marcht two and two playing on Lutes, Harpes, and Gitterns; A foole mufled with a Cap and a Cloake couered with sheepes bones, and held for a Saint by the Turkes (for folly is esteemed in the Court and is reuerenced for holy) danced alone, and shewed tricks. Fiftie of the principall Officer of the Arsenall well attired did honour this Solemnitie, or rather were honoured. Thirtie men followed them with Hammers and other instruments to breake downe the houses which aduanced too farre vpon the streete and might hinder the passage of two great trees of a wonderfull height, laden with diuers sorts of fruits, wherein Art did imitate nature; They were carried by many men, and supported in the midst by many Ropes; vnder the shaddow of these trees marcht twenty Officers of the Testarder or Treasurer A [...] Bassa Sagon of Father to the Bride; Hee himselfe came after richly attired and royally mourned. Two great touches light carried by many slauen followed [Page] him A [...]her Torch of a wonderfull great proportion, burning likewise was carried a part; It was couered with places of Gould. A man would say in seeing it, that this precious Metal had beene moulded into a Torch, and kindled by a new stone, to giue light in this Celebritis as well to the eyes of the body, as it did deele, yea, blind those of the minde. Moreouer, this Torch was more glistering with precious stones, then with the flame which burne it. The Raisser Ag [...] with [...]tie of the Princesses Officers followed these stately Light [...]. After these, there was carried a great Canopie of Cri [...]n Velvet, where no man was, couered. Another came after richer than the first, all couered with plates of pure gold, with great Curtaines like vnto a bad hanging downe to the ground, and close of all sides: Vnder it the young Princesse was on her backe, being the only subiect of this joy: Some of her blacke Eunuches were about her: her Coach couered with Cloth of Gold, drawne by foure goodly white horses followed [...]: Eight other Caroaches came after this, in [...]he which were set among the blacke Eunuches many faire Virgins belonging to the Bride, as glistering starres amidst darke and blacke Clouds: In the number of these Gentlewomen slaues they had made choist of fiue and twenty of those whose bountie seemed most accomplished: They were on horseback richly at [...]ed, their haire confusedly dispersed waued with the motion of the Westerne winde, like waues of Gold in a Sea of Love vpon their delicate shoulders: They made the pleasing end o [...] this pompous shew, it may be artificially, but it was cunningly enough for Turkes, to the end the spectorom of this Royal [...], should for the last obiects of their eyes for [...]he [...] of b [...]ut [...]e, which might [...] in their imagination [...] Marks of pleasure, and of the greatnesse of this po [...]pe.

Yet it doth not [...] the Children that shall be borne of this Marriage, a fortune equall to the Qualitie of the Emperours Grandchildren: the fundamentall Lawes of the Turkes Estate, (which supports it by all the meanes they can, and sometimes [...] it with bloud [...] them euer to [Page] haue any charge, or gouernment which may make them eminent in the Court: The highest degree they can attain vnto, is to be a Saniac; which is the Gouernour of a Borough or little Town; or to haue the charge of Capigibassi, which is the chief of the Porters of the Serrail, as in France the Captaine of the Port at the Louver. Thus they keep them vnder to the end they may neuer trouble the Estate by their authority, and Birth, which makes them Kinsmen to the Crowne. Contrariwise, if the Bassa their Father hath children borne of his slaues before the Marriage, these shall precede them, and without contradiction may attaine, if they deserue it, or be fauoured, to the greatest Offices of the Empire.

The Sultans Vncles by his Wiues and his other Kinsmen, haue not in regard of this proximitie of bloud, any [...]re [...]t accesse into his Pallace, and neere vnto his person, then that which their places giue them. They carry themselues towards him with the same basenesse and submission as others do [...], with the which they are equally his slaues. The reason hereof is, that the Turkes make no great esteeme of women, and they doe not beleeue that they giuing them to base slaues▪ or to great Bas [...]s do dishonour or honour their Family: The Alliance which comes by their meanes is little regarded: Moreover the preseruation of Maiestie is so recommended vnto them, as fort his reason they keepe in subiection all the men of their Empire, and in like manner those which might aduance themselues by the rights of their birth, the which makes them allied to the Prince▪

CHAP. XIII. Of the Grand Seigneurs Male Children, of their Education, and of the solemne Pompe at their Circumcision.

THe Sultans Male Children are after their birth, lodged and bred vp together in the Serrail, if they be borne of [Page] one woman, but if they haue diuers Mothers they are separated hav [...] [...] lodgings. Their Mothers see them bred vp to the [...] yeares, with the iealousie and enuie which [...] proudly among the women of diuers beds. After this time [...]he [...] causeth the Nurses to bee recompenced, and sends them to the old Serrail, if they be not married nor haue any houses in Constantinople. These young Princes from the age of fiue yeares vnto eleuen or thirteene which they are with the wom [...]n, [...]e their Schoolemasters called Cozas, whom the Father giues them: Th [...]se enter daily into the Serrail of wom [...]n, and are led by blacke Eunuches without seeing any of the Ladies, into a Chamber where these young Princes remaine: They instruct them in the presence of two old [...] as it i [...] allowed them to continue, after which they returne with the same guides, who bring them to the Gate of the Serrail. This exercise is continued vntill the Prince comes to the age of thirteene yeares, which is the ordinary [...]earme of the Turkes Circumcision, after the imitation of Ismael, from whom they glory to be descended, who was circumcised at the same age. Sometimes the Father seeing him grow great and neare him, stayes not so long. He causeth him to be out at eleuen yeares, to send him out of the Serrail, and to re [...] him from him into some Gouernment of Asia. The Ceremony of the Circumcision is in Turkey the most famous of their Pompe, they call it Marriage, but a Marriage of the Soule: And for that the Soule is more excellent then the Bodie, so the solemnitie of these Marriages doe farre exceed those of Corporall Marriage. We will succinctly describe the particularities, and will take for a Table of this royall Magnificence, the Prefines, Playes, Feasts, and gallant Showes, which were made at the Circumcision of Maho [...] the Third. Grandfather to him that now raignes: Some dayes before [...]: For the Circumcision followes the Feast; which was [...] vpon his occasion.

The place of pompes and sh [...]e.The Hippodrome is a great place in Constantinople, about fourescore fanthome long and sortie broud, artificially built vpon a great number of Pillars and Bashaes which suppose it [Page] strongly, and keepe it from drowning by the waters of the Sea, which run vnder it, by certaine Channels which giue it entry: It was the ancient mannage and course for Horses as the word doth signifie, where the Greeke Emperours caused their Horses to be ridden, and gaue vnto the eyes of the people which beheld them from a goodly Theater built at the end, the pleasure of their stately courses. The Theater is now ruined, and the goodly stones wherewith it was built haue serued for the proud Pallaces of Bashaes, which they haue raised thereabouts: This place is called at this day Atmeiden, that is to say Mannage; There the Magnificences of the Circumcision of the Turkish Princes are performed.

The day being come when they are to begin the Feast,In what Equipage the Turkish Princes goe to the Hippodrome. the Emperour goes on horsebacke from the Serrail, to come to the Hippodrome; the young Prince his Sonne is on the right hand, (which is the lesse honourable among them) attired in a rich Robe of Cloth of Gold, couered with an infinite number of Diamonds, and great round Pearles of inestimable value: The point of his Turbant glistered with precious stones: He was mounted vpon a goodly Horse, with the richest Caparison that could be found in the Sultans Serrail: The Bitt was of massiue Gold set with many Diamonds, the Stirrops of the same mettall couered with Turquoises, the Buckles were also of Gold enricht with Rubies, and the rest of the stately Furniture accordingly: The Grand Ʋizir, the Begtierbeys of Asia, and Europe, with other Basha's of the Port follow their Lords, the Ianizaries, Solaquis, Spahis, Capigis, and the other Guards and Officers of the Court accompany them, all of them attired with so great lustre and pompe, as it seemed that all the wealth not only of the East, but of the whole World had beene transported to Constantinople, to adorne the Men which shewed themselues in this Solemnitie. Being come to the Hippodrome, they were receiued with a double harmony: The first consisted of Hob [...]yes, Fifes, Drums, and Trumpets, with such a noyse as the Ayre and Earth ecchoed againe: The second, the acclamations of the the people, who cried with a loud voice, Liue Sultan Amurath, [Page] and liue Sultan Mahomet his Sonne. Hee to let the people know, how much he did cherish their affection, gaue them a Largesse, and cast many great handfuls of Gold and Siluer amongst them. Whilst the Princes crosse the place, they caused to march before them fiue great Tapers of waxe kindled and enricht with Chugnant, and beautified with all sorts of flowres: They we [...] for their proportion of bignesse and height rather like vnto great Oakes than Torches: They carried fortie foot in height.

The places for the Sultans.The Sultans hauing crost the place entred the Pallace of Hibraim Bassa, where the pauement of the Court was all couered with Cloth of Gold, whereon they marched, and went to take their Places, to be the Subiects and Spectators of this Royall Pompe. The Father entred into a Pauillion which was prepared for him, hauing a Portall adjoyned beautified with rich pictures of Arabia, which looked towards the place: The Sonne went into a Chamber vpon the left hand, where his seate was prepared.The place of the Sultana's. The Sultan [...]es place was ioyning to the Pauillion; In the which were only the Mother of the young Prince and Wife to the Emperour, his Sister the young Princesse, and the woman of their Ta [...]ine: Their Robes and glorious lustre of pearles and precious stones which they carried were worthy of the wife & Daughter of the most powerfull and rich Monarch of the Earth. All the Agaes and Captaines of the Port were in a Gallery neere vnto them: At the end of the same lodging were other Galleries erected of three stories: They had diuided them into little Lodgings like vnto Cabinets;Those of the [...]haes. In the first and highest was the Grand Vizir, and the other Vizirs, with the Begliar [...]ey [...] of Asia and Europe were placed next, and the Bassa Oachiali Captaine of the Sea, or Generall of the Galley, and of all the Fleets of the Empire, whom Fortune had d [...] from the Trade of a base Fisherman of Calabria, and aduanced to that degree. In the second story were many Lords & Courtiers of the Port. In the third and lowest they had made places for the Embassadours of Kings and Christian Princes:Those of the Christian Embassadour. That of the French Embassadour was in the first Ranke, the Emperours had the second, [Page] the Polonians the third, the B [...]iliffe of Venice the fourth, and he of Raguse the fi [...]st: They were all in Cloth of Gold, and their Gentlemen in like manner. He of France did not assist, holding it vnseemely for the Embassadour of a most Christian King and eldest Sonne of the Church to be spectator of a superstition, contrary to the Law of his Religion, yet his lodgings were kept void, aboue those of the Imperiall Embassadour, and no man held it during the Feast.

On the other side of the place there were Theaters and Lodgings erected for the Embassadours of Mahometan Princes,Those of the Mahometan Embassadours. who would not haue their places neere vnto the Christians. The first place was giuen to him of Persia; who was stately attired in those goodly Robes of Cloth of Gold after the Persian manner, buttoned about him band [...] it [...]wise; The Gentlemen of his Traine did equall in pompe and gallantnesse any other of their condition whatsoeutoer. The top of their Turbants couered with goodly Turquoises, whereof their Country abounds, made a goodly shew: They had brought their wines with them, who were wonderful faire, and attired with great aduantage to [...]: They couer their heads with many [...] Gold wretched with their haire which they suffer to hang downe vnto their girdles and they artificially make two little hornes of ha [...]re enricht with Pearle and precious stones, the which fall vpon their faire fore-heade: They made the B [...]itana's to enuy them, who beheld them and admired their grace thorow their [...]a [...]tice windowes. Persia hath alwayes had the glorie to haue had the fairest women in the World. The Daughters of Cyrus, and the Wife of King Darius, had so many [...]r [...]ment [...] in their beautifull countenances as Alexander durst not looke on them, fearing to be vanquished, and Roxan [...] although of [...]ase condition, was found so beautifull, as she deserued the honour to be wise vnto the great Prince. The Turkish women enter not into comparison with the Persians for beautie, to whom they yeeld it; and they say that their Prophet Mahomet would neuer got into Persia; and when they demanded the reason, his answers was that the women [...] so beautifull [Page] [...] [Page] courtesie and friendship, that which the others brought for tribute: Hee gaue hi [...] [...] f [...]ly Clocke of [...] which strooke the houres melodiously in Musique, by length and twentie Bels of siluer; and with it thirtie p [...]ks of Sca [...]her. The Bailiffe of Venice prose [...]d [...] Cupboard of siluer pla [...]e, the one h [...] fragile, and the other white, sixe great Bay [...]es of siluer to draw water, ten peeces of Cloth of Gold; ten of Silke, Sattin, and Veluet, and twentie of Scarlet. The Polonian brought [...] [...]ter, whose [...] and scabba [...] was all couered with precious flower. He of Ragusa geue fifte [...]ne goodly Cups of siluer, many Tapet [...] of white Wa [...], which the Turkes esteeme, and some peece of Scarlet. The Persian presented two [...]o [...]an [...], and some other Bookes of Muham [...]a Larv [...], couered without [...] Gold, many Persian [...] silk [...], and a good i [...] [...]her of gr [...]t [...]: Th [...] Embassadour of T [...]rt [...] gaue many skins of Sa [...]es and other exquisite P [...] of great price. All the rest t [...]e their Presents according to the order and rancke of the Princes [...] M [...]th [...].

They [...] that [...] of [...] loue,Feasts of the Sultanaes that were shut vp. and the rigours of [...] [...] dered this [...], yet they did celebrate the First, in those goodly places [...] they are [...]: For the [...] the Grand [...]g [...]s C [...]bl [...]c [...] made Pi [...]y to [...] Serrail, where the [...] rich Presents, and ga [...] another time vnto the S [...] As [...]hi, that is to say crowned, whom we haue lodged [...] him in the P [...]l [...] of [...] Bassa, a Crowne of [...] of the [...] of [...] brought [...] all made of Sugar presented to the life, of the [...] proportion they ought to be of, as Camels, Lions, Elephants, Tygers, and many [...]. The Embassadours had their p [...] [...] were [...] of [...]. This was [...] [...].

[Page] Mahomets Clergie.The Mufti who is the high Priest of the Turkish Law, opened the beginning; he appeared first in the place, being Maiestically set in a Tabernacle carried vpon a Camels backe: He had a Booke in his hands which hee turned alwayes ouer: About him were on foot a great number of Priests, and religious Mahometans, who held Bookes in like manner. But their fantasticke attire did shew plainely the humours of their brutish spirits: Some had their heads couered with hoods, others with Mitres, some with Crownes, Many had Robes of beasts skinnes. They were no sooner come vnto the place, but they made shew of their Religious modestie, in whistling, howling, beating vpon Pans and Basons, ringing of little bels which they carried in their hands, as a man would say that these testimonies of their zealous deuotion, were an insolent jangling, at the sound whereof they did leape & friske without ceasing. In this posture they made three turnes about the place, after which they stayed before the Grand Seigneurs window, who looked vpon their fooleries. There they made their prayers, during the which some religious Men of the troupe drew out great Kniues, and cut their flesh in diuers parts of their bodies, for the leue of the Prophet, and of their Sultan. The Mufti descended from his Tabernacle, entred into the Pallace, and made his Presents, which consisted in some Bookes of the Law. After which he retired with the brutish company of this monstrous Clergie.

The Patriarchs of the Christians.And for that this first troupe was ridiculous, that which followed was lamentable: They were the two Christian Patriarches, the one of the Grecians, the other of the Armenians, attired in long blacke Copes, which are their Patriarchall Robes, the true colours of their seruitude and heauinesse: They were followed by some Christian Priests: Their Gate was pittifull, hauing their heads hanging downe, in such sort, as the Christians that were come thither to laugh, found a worthy subiect of weeping, seeing the Church captivated to the cruelty of Turkes, and the Reuerend Pastors thereof forced to goe and humble themselues at the feet of their Tyrant, and [Page] Enemy of their Law, in a superstitious Ceremony, and contrary to their Religion: to life their sacred hands vpon him, and prostitute vpon his person the grace of their blessings: This is the estate whereunto the Diuision of Christians hath reduced them. When they came before the Sultan, they prayed vnto God with a loud voice to blesse him, they presented him with a great Bason of siluer full of peeces of Gold, and so returned poorer than they came.

The Merchants followed,The Merchants. to vent without profit the most precious of their Merchandize: They were a thousand in a troupe, Turkes, Christians, or Iewes, all attired in Robes of Gold, and followed by a pleasing band of young men attired like maidens, hauing Bowes in their hands, and Quiuers at their backes full of golden Arrowes. A childish troope of daintie young Boyes like so many Cupids crowned with flowers, and holding Darts in their hands, drew without any difficultie a Chariot which followed them, whereon was set and opened a shop full of Cloth or Gold and Silke, with Tapestries of all sorts, which they presented to the Sultan, and cryed; Liue Sultan Amurath.

The Goldsmiths followed after;The Goldsmiths. their decking did shew that they traded in precious Wares: They were all couered with precious stones: Some of their number drew a rich shop full of Vessels of Gold and Siluer which they gaue vnto the Grand Seigneur. A small troupe of other Goldsmiths made a band a part: They were those of Baiestan, whereof we haue spoken before, stately attired: The stones and pearles which were vpon their Garments, were valued at a Million of gold: The Presents which they made were great and rich.

All the other Tradsmen came in their order,Tradesmen of diuers sorts. and all laboured in their profession. The makers of cloth of gold and silke, to the number of fiue hundred men well attired, caused two Loomes to march with them, whereon they made a peece of cloth of gold, and another of silke before they had gone thrice about the place. The Lace-makers did the like in their kind: They were in the midst of many sorts of beasts made of silke, [Page] which marched with them by Art: The Linnen Weauers, Tapestric men, and Cotton makers, laboured also in their Vocation. The Feather-makers fed the curiositie of the spectators with Feathers and winde: They made many artificiall Birds, which did flie in the Aire, as if they had beene naturall. Tailors made Garments in passing vpon the place; Smiths did worke in Iron, Potters made Pots, Cutlers made Kniues, and Sadlers Saddles, Masons did build, and Glasse-makers did blow their Glasses, Bakers did bake; and that which was not pleasing, the sluttish Butchers did kill and slay Beasts, and gaue the flesh to the people. The Gardiners were there laden with Flowres, the Ploughmen with their Ploughes tilled the Sand: The Shepheards with their fat troups made their three turnes: The Keepers of Moiles, Asses, and Carters, brought their Moiles, their Horses, and their Asses: Their grosse speeches did not greatly tickle the Sultans cares: Nor their Presents did not draw his eyes to the contemplation of their beautie: He had nothing but Wood, Stone, and Water: and that which he did, as I conceiue, suffering their foolery to entertaine his leisure, was only to represent vnto his ambition the fabricke of the World, to the gouernment whereof he aspires, in receiuing such homages as th [...]se men could yield. The Iewes were the last which gaue Presents: They were three hundred young men separated into three bands, disguised in diuers Nations: The one was attired and armed like French, the other represented Spaniards, and the third seemed to bee Swissers with their great Cod-peeces; They had for their traine an infinite number of Dragons, Sirens, and Tortoyses of the Sea, which marched artificially: And with this, pleasant Antiques, as women which had resigned their Distasses vnto their husbands, and made them to spin: They were gotten vpon their shoulders to shew their Empire, and to let them see the miseries of these Coxcombes, charged with such importune burthens.

Artificiall Combats.These Homages and Presents being thus ended, the Combats of warre, did shew the force of their art, and the sports [Page] the pleasure of their brauerie: The Grand Vizir would haue the honour to expose vnto his Masters eyes, the representation of his victories against the Christians. He caused to be drawne into the place two great Castles of Wood, diuersly painted, mounted vpon Wheeles, garnished with Towres, fortified with Rampiers, and furnished with Artillerie: The one was kept by Turkes, who had planted vpon their Tower, many Red, White, and Greene Ensignes: The other was defended by Men, attired and armed after the French manner, who seemed Christians: Their Ensignes carried white Crosses; without doubt they had beene taken in some encounter, or at the sacke of some Towne of the Christians: either of these Castles had thirtie Horse, which made diuers sollies: The Turkes forced the others to make their last retreate into their Fort, where they shut them vp, besieged them, battered their walls, made a breach, sent to discouer it, and marched to the assault with their vsuall cries and howlings: The little resistance they found made them soone Masters and vanquishe is, although they were themselues vanquished, for they fought against themselues: If they had had to deale with Christians, they had not preuailed so easily. As soone as they were entred, they abandoned the place to their cruelty, put all to the sword, cutting off the heads of the principall, and lifting counterfeit heads aboue the walls. The contempt which they make of vs ended the triumh; They let slip into the place about thirty Hogs which they had shut into a Fort, and ranne after them crying and howling in mockerie: Thus the Turkes doe not sport but in contemning the Christians, nor labour seriously but in ruining them: And they by a fatall diuision prepare their victories, and dispose the triumphs which they obtaine of them with great facilitie.

Occhiali Bassa great Admirall of the Sea,A representation of the taking of Cypres. exceeded by his industrie, the Vizirs inuention. Hee caused to come rowling into the place, a great Island, admirably well made of boords and pastboord, which represented Cypres: Two powerfull Armies held it besieged, the one by Sea and the other by. [Page] Land: There was artificially seene their descent into the Island, the siege of Famagouste, the sallies, skirmishes, batteries, counter-batteries, mines, counter-mines, breaches, assaults vpon assault, fire-workes , and whatsoeuer the furie of Warre could inuent. Sometimes the Turkes were Masters of the Wals, and suddainly the generositie of the Cypriots repulsed them: But time, force, and the want of succours made them receiue the composition which they offered them; yet the disloyaltie of the Turks did not obserue it, for some they made slaues, and the rest they put to the Sword: All this was seene in the place: When as the sound of Trumpets, the noise of Drums, the howling of Turkes and the thundering of the Canons seemed to be at the taking of another Island at Cypres. The wonder of this artificiall representation did much please the Sultan, reioyced the people, and reuiued in the Christians minds the griefe of their losse: Heauen would haue it so to punish their great curiositie, for assisting with these infamous Mathometans, and to be spectators with them at the Pompes of their Superstition. But he did not suffer their insolencie to be vnpunished; Hee made it knowne that if his Iustice suffers them to bee ascourge to the Christians, yet hee doth not alwayes suffer them, to haue them in derision: The Cannonadoes, where there was nothing but Powder, slue many of these takers of the Island in Picture vpon the place, & wounded a great number.

Artificial Castles.Some other artificiall Castles appeared after, shewing the like thing to that of the Grand Vizir: One among the rest, the least of all, carried two Towers, in the which there were two men armed, which fought on against the other with their Semiters, they did mannage greene Ensignes, and Battleaxes of glasse without breaking them. The Romeliens and Albanois, whom the Turkes hold for the best men at Armes, came after with their Launces and their Targets vpon the left arme,That is to say, Italians, French Spanish, &c. they haue no Rest to beare it, like vnto the Franques, it is only tied to their Saddles by a leather thong, for they carrie no Cuyrasses: Many of their Horses were slaine there in [Page] combating. After the Encounter, they did runne at the Ring after their manner, which is to set a little rod of Iron on the ground, on the end whereof they put a Ring somewhat bigger than those which they vse in France. They which tooke it, carrying the Ring on the end of their Launce being on foot, went to present it vnto the Sultan before his window, who threw him out a Ring of Gold in recompence; the manner of receiuing it was not without a Mysterie: In raising it from the ground, the Cauallier kist it, laid it vpon his head, and bending downe very low made a Reuerence and so retired. When these men had voided the place, they brought in thirtie Christian Souldiers, lately taken in the Wars of Hungarie: They followed with their Irons the triumph of certaine Turkish Captaines which had taken them; some Ensignes and Drums of their Companies made vp the Trophie of these Barbarians.

A goodly troupe of Archers on horsebacke arriued soone after with a more generall joy;Archers on horseback and their dexteritie. They Actiuities which they shewed are admirable. After they had finished their courses, with a Target in the left hand, and a long Dart or halfe Pike in the right, sometimes ranged in battaile, sometimes disbanded, casting them one at another, and taking them vp from the ground in running: They ranne their Horses with their full speed, and in the swiftnesse of their course, drew their Semiters thrice out of their Scabbords, and put them vp as often without any stay: In like manner they shot thrice with their Bowes, with the first they hit an Iron on the hinder part of the horse; with the second they strooke an Apple of Gold, which was vpon the top of a great Mast of a Ship set vp in the midst of the place: with the last they hit the Ring at which the Albanois had runne: Then standing vpright in their Saddles, they did run their Horses with full speed, and did mannage their Armes as before. Some of their Troupe did things which were admirable: There was one who tooke the Saddle from his horsebacke, laid it vpon his necke, and set it in its place againe all with running. The same m [...]n [Page] set an Orange vpon the Turbant of his slaue, and in running pierced it diuers times with his Arrowes, and neuer hurt his slaue; Hee pierced a great brazen Morter with an Arrow; Moreouer, hee tied two Horses together, set a foot vpon either of them, and standing vpright, supported a young Boy who shot with his Bow as the Horses galloped. Another of the same Archers ran with all speed his head in the Saddle, and his feet vpwards betwixt foure Semiters, which had their points set against him: Two men of their troupe put themselues into one Saddle, and vaulted before and behinde while the horse did run, lighting and remounting againe without stay. An Arabian which was amongst them added the force of his jawes to their dexteritie: He did set a packe Saddle on a horse with his teeth, hauing his hands bound, hee put on the panniers, and then set on his Boy to load it, hee did also saddle his horse after the same manner, and leapt vpon him; doubtlesse the biting of such a Gallant would be dangerous.

This day (for all these wonders were not one dayes worke) ended by some actions of piety after the Turkish manner, which the Sultan caused to be performed at the Gate, by the which they got to Andrinopolis: Thither he went going from the place with the young Prince Mahomet his Sonne, and all the great Men of his Court, where being ariued he caused foure thousand sheepe to be sacrificed, and a great number of Beeues which he caused to be rosted whole, in either of which they put a whole sheepe, and in the sheepe a heu, and in the hen egges, and caused all to be distributed to the poore. Hee then receiued newes of the defeat of his Army in Persia; for the pleasure of humane Pompe is neuer so absolute, but it is accompanied with some cares and crosses: The feeling of this Rout fell vpon the Embassadour of Persia. The Turke offers violence to his person, and commits him to Prison, and in the open day, and in the view of the people, and of other Embassadours, caused his Lodging to be sackt and spoiled.

But this was no hinderance, but the day following the Feast was continued. A troupe of excellent Tumblers and [Page] Mountebankes (whereof Turkey abounds aboue all the Regions of the Earth) did to the common amazement of all the Spectators these things which follow. The first which shewed himselfe in the place, shut a young Boy naked into a Hogshead, with fiue and twenty or thirty great Serpents, and rowled it about the place, and then drew out the Boy whole and sound: The same Serpents stinging and biting others which came neere them. After this they buried a young Boy deepe in a Ditch, and couered him with Earth as if hee had beene dead, and yet he answered as distinctly and intelligibly to that which they demanded of him, as if hee had beene out of the ground. Another presented himselfe naked without shame, but not without more than humane force, hee layed himselfe flat on his backe vpon the edge of two Semiters; being in this posture, they laid vpon his Belly a great Anuile of Iron, whereon foure men did beate with great Hammers; and moreouer they did riue many great pieces of wood without any offence to him. When this man was retired, a troupe of other naked men exposed themselues to the view of the World all couered with wounds, their bodies being yet larded with the same armes which had made them, some with Arrowes, others with Kniues and Swords; But before these mad men had gone thrice about the place, two of the troupe fell downe dead, which shewed that their wounds were rather markes of their folly than inchantments. Another shewed the force of his jawes, and his hands: he held a horseshooe betwixt his teeth, and puld it in pieces with his hands; He brake a Plough-share, with three blowes with his fist; and hee caused a piece of Iron to be made red hot, the which hee tooke in his hand licked it with his tongue, rubbed it on his face, and yet was not burnt: Afterward hee caused a Goat to dance pleasantly vpon his shoulders, and neuer toucht it, causing it to passe from one shoulder to the other without mouing. A headie-brain'd fellow followed this man, vpon whose head they did breake with Hammers a great stone, which a man could hardly lift from the ground. Hee caused them to couer him with so great a heape of stones as he could [Page] not beseene, and yet for all this hee felt no discommoditie. Another b [...]d came after, whose [...]eet were so hardned, as they went bare vpon a Harrow full of sharpe Pikes and cutting K [...]ines: There was one followed them, who with a cord, tied to his haire without the helpe of his hands, did lift vp a stone of a hundred and fifty pound weight. Many Beasts instructed in this Art of tumbling augmented the pleasure of the Assistants: little Birds, went to fetch a piece of siluer as farre as they diuided them, and brought it to their Masters, Asses danced, Dogges and Apes shewed a thousand pleasant tricke. The Grand Seigneurs Wrestlers, came to shew their force and actiuitie, [...] and greased to auoid the surprize of their Enemies▪ These are the most continent men in Turkey, they keepe their Virginity pure and vntoucht, and say with reason that it doth e [...]it [...]e and preserue the force of their bodies. The Speech [...], which are the Sultans Footmen, would also be of the p [...]ti [...], they came vnto the place with their feets [...]oe, running and leaping with admirable swiftnesse and disposition. These men ha [...]e [...]e [...]kin of their feet so hard as a Smithton hardly make a [...] to enter; they doe harden them see pleasure. The Dancers vpon Ropes shewed strange Form of Actiuity▪ In those places they exceed all others what [...] for their A [...]i [...]i [...]y.

Elephants and Giraffe.Two Elephants, and a Giraffe, were brought into the Hippodrome, to augment the Sultan delight by this nouelty. The Elephants differed in forme: One was grant and the other li [...]e. The great one was thri [...] one high, and bigger than a Buffle, or small Socere, heads that vpon his [...] a little Castle of light wood, in the which might [...] six souldiers without crowling: The [...] in comparison of the rest of the body [...]:Looke Lips [...] Epist. in his Centuries where hee speakes of this Beast. Fro [...] the end of the vpper part of the Muscle, then did [...], whereof this beast on [...] vse as readily as a [...] doth his [...], takes what his [...] [...] him, carries his entire to his [...], vse [...] for a [...] with incomparable force, [...] are small [...] to those of a Bore, his another chap is [...] vnto the [...] Her hath two great [...], about [...] [Page] round and great, lying vpon his backe, hee sometimes raises them vp: his legs are euen like vnto pillars, in the which there appeares no joynts, yet this Beast hath some; he doth but halfe bend them, and therefore hee suffers himselfe to fall vpon his side this feet are round, and haue fiue nailes▪ his skin is black; and hath little haire. The Naturalists obserue, and experience doth confirme, that this beast hath so powerfull an instinct, as it seemes, hee is indowed with judgement: Examples are familiar in Histories: This beast being brought before the Grand Seigneurs window, lifted vp his head to looke on him, then he bowed it downe very low in signe of reuerence. They cast vpon the ground a handfull of Aspres, which is a little Coine like vnto the French Carolus; the which hee gathered vp with his heauy trumpe [...]s handsomely as any man could haue done with his hands▪ Eight strong Turkes held a long Pole in their hands, and gaue him the end; as soone as he had seized on it with his trumpe, hee made them to turne about as easily as if they had beene feathers: Afterwards hee lifted vp the Pole, and strooke it so hard against the ground, as those men were fore [...] abandon it: [...]ing Master of it, hee did flourish with it like at two hand [...] sword with admirable dexteritie. Wherefore the Indians haue reason in their warres to make vse of the force and addresse of these beasts: They carrie many men, and when they tie a Semiter to the trumpe, one of them kils more than a company of Foot could doe?

The Giraffe.The Giraffe, whereof the portraite is here represent to was at the same time brought into the Hippodrome. This beast for that it is little knowne in Europe was much admired. It is not only beautifull of it selfe, but it is also gentle and very tractable: It hath a head like a Stagge, armed with two little harmes halfe a foot long, couered with [...]; the eares; the feet and the talle are like [...] a Cow: It hath a neck [...] into a Camell, it hath hard knees vpon the ha [...]s, and brest; The [...] speckled like vnto a Leopard, and some beleeue that it [Page] is that Ca [...]par [...] of the [...]dear; his [...] before are foure or fiue times longer then those behind, so as his naturall posture represents a Goat standing vpright against a Tree to b [...]ou [...]e the buds: The which makes him to feed with discom [...]ic: for in this action but is forced as open his legges to make passage for his hand. If we had not vndoubted proofes of the wisdome of Nature in the wonders of her workes, wee might say that this beast alwayes standing vpright is one of her fantasticke Creatures. Being led aboue the place, they were carried backe, passing thorough the Citie, the Giraffe had such aduantage in the foreport, as his head looked into the windowes of their houses.

Such were the pompe of the day, the night wanted not here, if there were any eight during the solemnity of this royall Circumcision: For at such time as the Sunne did not shine in their Hemispheare, they had raised a ship Must in the Hippodrome, whereon there was a great Circle like a Crowne furnished with burning Lamps: and neere vnto the Obelisque which is the ancient ornament of this place, there was a longe wheele set vp, the which did time continually, and made twelue other smaller to moue, all which were inuolued with lights, which remayning some, [...] notwithstanding to follow the motion of the wheeles, not without a wonderfull content to the eyes of those which beheld them: Besides this there were many ship Masts with their [...] and ta [...]lings, all couered with lamps, which gaue so cleer a light, as in the dark night they made an artificiall day; by the fauour of which light, most of those goodly things which had appeared in the day, come after Supper to giue [...] to the company by their [...]. After this, [...] Fire-workes, some drowe by [...], [...]hers by [...] which did vo [...]ie for all [...]ames, filled the aire [...] agreeable [...], and pleasant thunderings, and the [...] of the spectatours with [...] ment: But their [...], their thundering [...] and their [...] to those which did behold [...] those [...] and smoake of powers, [...] [...]heth (If they [...] comprehend it) that humans [...], and the shewe [...] of [...] [Page] greatnesse of the World, dissolue in the end into winde and smoake. The most stately of these nocturnall sports was the representation of a nauall fight so artificially exprest, as it made the Christians that were present see, that the recompence of labour, and the reward of merit, hauing drawne into Turkey the goodliest inuentions of men, haue made them to lose the name of barbarous to send it vnto vs, where as vertue is not acknowledged. There they saw many Shippes and Gallies vnder saile, furnished with Artillerie, adorned with their flags, the Trumpets sounding, fight, inuest, leape from one beak-head to another, kill, cast into the Sea, burne, and sinke the Enemies Vessels, with admirable dexteritie. The battailes at Land, Sieges, and taking of Townes, were represented with no lesse art.

But if the description of this Royall Feast hath beene a pleasing diuersion vnto vs in the toile of this Historie, let vs end it according to the naturall course of pleasure, by the griefe which followes. Doubtlesse it will be great enough to impart it to those which shall read the issue of this Chapter, where we obserue than during the spectacles of this solemnity, the wretched Grecian [...]y [...]roupes in this place to make themselues Mahom [...]tans: Some abandoned Christianitie to auoid the oppression of the Turkes, others for the hope of priuate profit: The youngest and most beautifull were sent into the Serrail, with the Ichi [...]glans, and the rest among the Azamoglans: This hope of better fortune drew the Idlenesse of many young men, so as they could hardly find Masters enough to cut them: This detestable troupe of Rascals, went to shew themselues before the Grand Seigneur, their Bonnets vnder their feet, in signe that they did tread their law and honour vnder foot: There a Turkish Priest did cause them to lift vp the demonstratiue finger of the right hand, in signe that they did not beleeue but one God in one person, & to say with a loud voice, Laila ey lala alla Mehemer [...]asoul alla; Then they led them into c [...]taine Pauillions, which were erected expresly at the end of the place where they were circumcised: hee [Page] The number of these cast awayes was found to bee aboue foure thousand soul [...].

These sports and triumphs being thus miserably ended, the young Prince for whom they had beene made, was brought into his Fathers Chamber, where hee was circumcised by one of the great Men of the [...] the p [...]s [...]re of all the Basha's. His wound being cured within few dayes, hee goes to take his lost leaue of the Sultans his Mother, whom she shall see no more vntill hee comes to take possession of the Empire, after the death of his Father, if hee be the oldest, or to end his life with a halter if hee be a younger brother, when his [...]der shall Raigne. She giues him presents: and the other Sultana's doe the like: All the Basha's present him, and the Emperour his Father appoints his Family, giues him a Pra [...]r, an Eunuch for Gouernour, with many other men to serue him, and sends him into As [...]a, Sa [...]qua only of the Citie of the Magnesia, the chiefe of Alysia, as Lieutenant in that Region vnder the authoritie of a Basha who is Gouernour whilest he carries the Title, hee must gouerne his Actions with prudence and modestie; for if he should haue any designes of innouation by the Counsailes of some dis [...]ed seditious persons, he should worke his owne mi [...] by his owne hanes. The Eunuch which is the most [...]pp [...] about him, hee is bound to aduertise the Sultan his Father, and the principall Basha'es, of all his carriage.

CHAP. XIV. Of the Presents they make unto the Grand Seigneur, and of that which hee himself giues.

THe custome to giue Present vnto the Prince [...] beene so practiced in the Turkish M [...]thio, [...] Law of State, so as it is written in the [...] [Page] Empire, that all the Basha's and great men of the Port shall at certaine seasons of the yeare, and at the Circumcision of the Emperours Children, giue him Presents, and likewise when they returne from the Gouernment of Prouinces, where they haue continued some yeares in the administration of their Charges of Viceroy. The Generals of Armies at the returne from their victories, are bound to present gifts to the Sultan: They doe it vsually in a great quantity of Vessels of gold and siluer, Swords and Daggers enricht with precious stones, and bowes of the like manner, Plumes of Feathers with precious Iewels, rich Girdles, exquisite Furres, and sometimes pieces of cloth of gold, with Tapestries of silke and gold: whereof the Princes Wardrobe is commonly well stored, to supply his bounty to his Sultana's & slaues, and to send to forreine Princes: All these men being slaues to their Master, and as it were forced to these liberalities, cannot when they please follow their good aduice which say,Et vna noble necedad dar à los Regez, perque creen hazer merced. quando reciben, Antha Perez en las cartas segund [...]. that It is a noble folly to giue vnto great Men, for they beleeue they oblige a man much when they receiue that which he presents. The Basha's which returne from the gouernment of Egypt, parting from Cair [...], dispose the value of the Presents into ready money, and ariuing at the Serrail, they sometimes present vnto the Sultan foure or fiue Millions of Liuers, which is foure or fiue hundred thousand Pounds sterling. The Generals of Armies doe many times practise the same liberality, they are the better receiued by their Master, and the glory of their magnificence flyes into the mouth of the people, and they find by their great gifts, that the offering of Presents, pacifie both Men and Gods,Munera cre [...] mihi pla [...]ant homines (que) Deisque, Placatur d [...]nis Iupiter ipse datis, Ouid [...] de Arte. (as they said in old time) These notable summes ouer [...] the inward Chasna, which is the Princes secret treasure. The Christian Patriarch giues vnto the Sultan newly crowned an honourable present, which the Greekes call Pesquesian, or when the Patriarch co [...]ers into his charge, by the death or deposition of another. Besides this the Turkes giue vnto the Eunuches which are familiar to the Prince many rich Presents, to make them speake from them vpon all necessary occasions: for the ballance doth alwayes decline on that side which is [Page] heauiest, and the only meanes to gaine the affection of these gelded men, is to glut their auarice, which is no small labour. Nassuf Bassa, who ended his fortune and his life in the yeere 1614, did often say that the Eunuches of the Serrail were insatiable: They doe also hold, and they practize this Maxime in the Turkish Court, the which is generally receiued by all men,Omnium est dulcissimum etcipere, Senec. that The sweetest action of men is, To take, although in truth it be more generous to giue, for him that is able.

As pleasure and griefe are naturally ioyned together, haue one Temple, and their Offerings are vpon the same Altar: The Othoman Monarch who takes a great delight to see himselfe glutted with Presents; not only by his owne subiects, but also by strangers, yet he sometimes finds a distaste in it: As it happened to Sely [...]n the First, whose example shall suffice in this Chapter, that by its breuity wee may ease the long descriptions of the former. This Prince hauing taken the Othoman Scepter, his hands being yet bloudy by the death of his Brethren and Nephewes, and the chiefe of his Basha [...]s; thinking to be honoured according to the ordinary custome of his Predecessors, with Presents which forreine Princes make, hee saw his cruelty taxed, by that which the Persian Embassadour presented vnto him, who gaue him in his Masters name, a great furious Lyon, inaccessible, alwayes fo [...]ing for rage, and neuer made tame by any Man. This present being brought, Sely [...]n fell into a rage, stamps with his foote, complained that hee was wronged, and sware that hee would be reuenged, and demanded satisfaction from the Embassadour; who being aduised and cunning, couered the part which hee had played with many goodly worde▪ Herald, Sely [...]n that this Lion did rather represent the [...] of his courage, and that of his generosity rather than any other thing; but this did not pacifie him, he ch [...]sed him out of his Territories, and gaue him to present vnto his Master many great Dogges with bloudie mussels, as if hee would say, they had [...] his Lion in pieces, and that in the assaults of Warre hee would intreat him in like manner.

Seeing then the Turkish Prince doth continually receiue [Page] Presents from others, it is string he should likewise giue: For it is more seemly for a King to giue then to take, so his Wardrobe is vsually open to giue. The Sultana's are enricht by his Presents; The Mufti and his Praceptor are honoured, and the Bashaes receiue: and all this consists in precious stones, Purses full of gold coyned, Robes of cloth of Gold, Plumes of Feathers, Iewels, rich Armes, and other things of value. The Chasnadar Bassi, who is the high Treasurer, hath the charge to buy what is needfull for Presents, hee imployes yearely in cloth of gold, for Robes which they giue,Foure hundred thousand pounds sterling. the which is made at Bursia in Asia, foure Millions of Liuers, besides that which comes into the royall Wardrobe, by the Presents of Basha's and other great Men: but as all Riuers come from the Sea and returne vnto it, so all the Grand Seigneurs Presents returne backe in the end to his owne Cosets: The Sultana's die, and their goodly stuffe comes to him; The Bashaes end their liues, he takes all as the Master doth of his slaues: Sometimes hee leaues a part for the execution of the Will which he hath made. So as he doth not giue but lends for a time, seeing that the fundamentall Law of his Estate, which makes all men his slaues, restores that vnto him which he had giuen, and moreouer, all the wealth of his Subjects.

But all the Presents of the Turkish Emperour are not pleasing to them which receiue them, they are sometimes fatall fore tellings of death to him to whom hee giues them; For when hee sends for any great Men of the Port into the Serrail, to feast him, or to speake with him, after the Feast or at the end of his discourse, meaning to take away his life in his presence, he giues him a blacke Robe wrought with gold and silke: as Basa [...]et the Second did to Bassa Achomat, who had supt in the Serrail with the other Bashaes at his Masters Table, amidst the delights and pleasures of a royall Feast, whereas Wine forbidden by the Law of their Religion, was poured forth as plentifully, as in any part of the World, Supper being ended and the Table taken away, the Bashaes humble themselues before their Prince, some kisse the ground in his presence to obtaine pardon for that they had drunke Wine, [Page] and so returned to their houses. The Sultan stayed Achomat, with their sweete Words, Milalah (that is to say my Protectour) tarrit here with mee. When the others were gone, hee caused a rich Robe of blacke silke wrought with Gold to be brought vnto him, [...]t the fight hereof Acha [...]at entred into fur [...]e, hee knew well what it meant, and assured himselfe of his ruine, hee accuseth Baiazeth of injustice and crueltie, and tells him in his rage. Why didst thou Sonne of a Whore suffer mee to drinke wine against the holy constitutions of any Law, if their wilt presently put mee to death? Hee ended his rage with the rest of the discourse which his passion had dictated. But his life was freed from the present danger: his Sonne seeing him not returne with the other Bash [...]s, informed himselfe from them what was become of his Father. They tell him in what a pittifull estate hee was, whereupon hee flyes to the Serail, moues the Ianizaries to compassion, who loued Achomat for his valour, as he whom they had followed in the Warres, in Battailes, and assaults of Townes, they filled the Serrail with the honour of their cryes, Br'e, Br'e, that is to say str [...] [...]. They beate at the Gate of the Emperours lodging, threaten him, ra [...]e on him, called him drunkard, and force him to restore Achomat who was pale and warne ha [...]ling the [...]alter about his necke, with the which the Princes made [...]sed were ready to strangle him. In this manner force hindred the effect of this fatall Present of a blacke G [...]ne wrought with Gold. But besides these accidents hee that receiue it must aspect his infallible Ruine. This Present is the [...] by the Othoman Monarch to any but to [...], but hee sometimes sends others, which show the contempt which hee makes of forreigne Princes, as when hee sends a Robe how r [...]h soeue [...] vnto a soueraigne p [...], for a Robe is the Present of a superiour to his inf [...]. So [...] the first [...] The [...]r, or T [...]mberlan, Emperour of the [...], when hee sent him a Robe in disgrace to contemne him. Th [...] was much offended, and answered those which brought the Present from the Turke, that he should not [...] those of his s [...]t [...] [Page] that manner: but hee soone had his reuenge. Hee entred Baiazets Countrey in Asia, (Constantinople was then held by the Christians) and with eight hundred thousand fighting men, tooke Sebaste the S [...]ate of his Empire, slue his Sonne Orthogules, defeated his Armie in Battaile, tooke himselfe Prisoner, reuenged this contempt by many others, and afflicted him so in following him, as hee died of griefe, sorrow, and paine: to be an example to Princes, not to contemne those which are Soueraignes like themselues, and therein Images of the Soueraigne God. But thus they giue Presents of Death and contempt in Turkey,Hostium [...]era non [...], Hom. the one is of crueltie, and the other of offences and not Presents, for the Presents of Enemies are no Presents.

The Sultana Queene that is crowned, and Mother to the young Prince Successour of the Empire, giues many Presents a Shee receiues daily from the Great Men of the Port which send vnto her, and therefore shee is bound to giue; to this end the Emperour doth furnish her with much goodly stuffe, and peeces of price which are giuen vnto him, and with great summes of money to buy others. The Grand Vizir doth also giue many Presents both within Constantinople and without: Hee sends many Roabes of Cloth of Gold and Silke, to Embassadours which arriue at the Port: and when hee is in the Armie, performing the the Change of Lieutenant Generall to the Sultan, hee giues to draw strangers vnto him that may be vsefull, or to recompence the generositie of some valiant Captaine. And for that all these Presents are giuen in the Sultans name, he doth furnish those things which he giues. And to this end the Teftardar deliuers him Money, pieces of Cloth of Gold, of Silke and many other Stuffes. This is all that can be spoken of the Sultans Presents.

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CHAP. XV. Of the Treasures of the Serrail.

Iulius Caesar pote [...]iam diua [...] rebus, pecunia scilicet, & mi [...]ibus p [...] ri, conseruari augeri di [...]e sa [...]bat, Ciphili [...]us in CaesarioTHe Och [...]mas Monarch hath his Treasures: what Soueraigne Prince can preserue and [...]ine his power and estate without their force: It is gotten by Armes and Money, preserued and underlined by the same meanes. Hee doth lodge it in his Serrail, one part in the Co [...]he which is without his Quarter: and the other within it: In the Treasurie without it layed the money for the ordinary and extraordinary expences, which is buried vpon all the Reuenewes of the Empire. The Grand Vizir and the great Teftardar, or Superintendent of the Treasure keepe the Keyes, But it is sealed only by the Grand Vizir. The other place for the Treasure is more important: it is within the Quarter of the Sultans lodging, or most commonly vnder the Chamber where he sleepe, taking his rest vpon the subject of his disquiet. This is vnder the cha [...]ge and care of the [...], who is a white Eunuch, and a Fauourite as the Prince; hee hath one key and the Emperour another: The Treasure which is said to yearely there, is that which hee sp [...] out of the Reuenewes of Egypt: When they haue paid the [...] of Ca [...]re, their Commanders, and others which are the force and defence of that rich Kingdome there [...] vsually [...] thousand Sultanians, Two hundred and forty thousand pounds sterling. which makes two [...] foure hundred thousand Liuers of French money. Besides this Treasure the jealousie of Turkish Emperoure [...] [...]other in the Serrail of the Sultana's, in [...] where as the Sultanas Queene doth lodge, [...] of his Serrail should enter into it: The doores are [...] Iron, and they will is vp as often as they put any Treasure into it, and they which carry it are Mutes, to whose silence the Sultanas [...]sides the [...] cret: They carrie it in great s [...]he of Leather like vnto Purses, and let it downe into [...]mes, which are made of purpose to keepe it: Thus the Money which [...] with gaine, is kept [Page] with feare, and if it be lost it is with griefe. The Prince which doth waste it by his prodigalities, weakens his Estate, and exposeth himselfe to the dangers of many violent necessities. That Turkish Monarch which first made the place for the secret Treasure in the Sultanaes Serrail, was Selym the First, who hauing drawne together all the coyned Gold which hee receiued of the Reuenewes of Caire and other places, hee caused it to be moulten, and made a great Ball, which his dumbe Men did roll to put into the Cisternes of this Treasurie. Doubtlesse, it must needs be very painfull to roll it, seeing the weight of this precious metall is so cumbersome, as it [...]rawes all the World after it. Hee himselfe had the Key of this secret place, making vse of his dumbe Men, to the end they should not reueale the rich treasure which he had drawn together. Amurath the Third did afterwards seeke a more secret place, vnder the Chamber of the Sultana Asachi, (that is to say the crowned) where he caused Cisternes to be digged to that end: He entred into it foure times in the yeere, and at euery time he put into it aboue two Millions of Gold: This Prince drew together more Treasure than any of the rest, hauing in few yeares filled those Cisternes with coyned Gold. Wherefore we must not wonder if the Turkes Armies be so strong, seeing they furnish them with so many sinewes; if they vanquish and triumph, seeing they haue both Men and Money in abundance: But rather wee haue cause to wonder that they doe not get all the rest of the World:Iugurtha Roma egressus, cam saepe tacitus respicicus, postrem [...]grave; [...]risse sertur; vrbem [...] nal [...], & maturè perituram, s [...]emptorem inueneris, S [...] hist. de bello Iugurth. For what is there in it that is not to be sold for Money? The King of the Numidians had reason to say in beholding that Citie which was the seat of the most powerfull Monarchie of the Earth: A Citie that is to be sold, is nere its ruine, if it find a buyer. Men haue giuen the Turkish Emperours that fearefull greatnesse which they enjoy, but Money hath bought the men.

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CHAP. XVI. Of the Reuenewes of the Turkish Emperour in generall and in particular, and of the extent thereof▪

THe greatnesse of Monarchies consists chiefly in three things, in the number of men, in the extent of Countries, and in the abundance of his annuall Reuenewes. Which three things are found in Eminencie, aboue all other Estates of the World, in the Turkes Empire: His Armies are many times 400000. fighting men or more; the Townes and Champion Countrey are inhabited and abundantly peopled, by the Law of their Religion and State, which forceth Men to marrie being fiue and twenty yeares olde, and they haue libertie to keepe as many Concubines as they are able to feed. The yearely Reuenew is proportionable in this abundance: Wee may comprehend it in two sorts▪ In the ordinary Reuenew which is alwayes equall, and doth not alter; and in the extraordinary and casuall. The ordinary amounts yearely to twenty Millions of Gold; the extraordinary is not lesse, but more vncertaine, for it is not raised but vpon Escheates and casuall things; as when the Turkes die without Heires, all their goods come vnto the Prince; If they leaue any Children, he takes only ten in the hundred▪ most of the rich Bashaes, and wealthy men of the Court, leaue the best of their Estates to their Prince, although they haue Children: For being all slaues by the fundamentall Law of the S [...]e, the Sultan seizes vpon their Pallaces of their most precious moueables, and doth not suffer that the great summers of Money which they leaue should be otherwise imployed, but to fill the Cofers of his Chasna, or Treasury. Besides all this hee is the first and chiefe principall Steward of the Benefices of his Empire: For if any pious person according to his Religion, leaues any great Legacies to the Priests of his Law, to read the Alc [...] r [...], [Page] or to performe some other deuotion after their manner, hee lookes what is necessary for the nourishment and entertainment of a number of Priests, which are appointed, not according to the Lawes of Excesse, but in termes of modesty and Ecclesiasticall Sobrietie: He causeth it be deliuered vnto them, and puts the rest into his Cofers. So as he that could justly calculate the Revenewes of the Turkish Empire, without doubt he should find it to exceed forty Millions yearely, aswell the Ordinary as the Casuall: whereunto no Monarch of the Earth doth come neere.

They which haue seene the Turkes Court, dwelt in Constantinople, and conuerst with the naturall Citizens thereof, vnderstand the greatnesse of the Annuall Reuenewes of this spacious Empire. And others who haue not trauelled so farre, to attaine vnto this particular knowledge, will not call this truth in question, if they consider the vast extent of the Othuman Empire; for the Soueraigne Princes thereof are Lords of Africke; they possesse a part of Barbary, they rule beyond Thu [...] and Argier; they draw Tributes from the Crownes of Fesse and Morocco. They are Kings of high and low Egypt: they force obedience in Asia: The three Arabiaes, that is to say, the Stony, the Desart, and the Happy, acknowledge no other Lord: The Holy Land suffers the rigour of their command, which is absolute in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Chaldaea, a part of Persia doth acknowledge them: Media and Assiria are theirs: Armenia the lesse bowes vnder their Lawes, and a part of the greater, with the Countrey of Mongrelia: All Asia the lesser obey them, and in it the Prouinces of Caramania, Calicia, Cappad [...]cia, Pamphylia, Paphlagonia, Gallacia, Phrygia, Bichynia, Lydia, Caria, and Magnesia: The Emperour of Trebisonde acknowledgeth them for Masters: Their power is not lesse in Europe, which is the goodliest, the most flourishing and the ciuillest part in the World: All Greece, as Thr [...]; Macedonia, Bulgaria, Polopos [...] now called Mor [...]a, B [...]sina, and Ser [...]ia, doe what they command: Sla [...]ia is subject vnto them: A part of Sa [...], Dasia, Hungaria, and Valachia are peopled by [Page] them: The Prouinces which lie vpon the blacke Sea and the Archipelagus, belong wholy vnto the Turkes [...] and the Ilands of the Mediterran [...]an Sea, which make the greatest number yeeld vnto their [...]. They haue [...] from the Venetians the Crowns of G [...] and Ierusalem that goodly Island of Rhodas, leauing [...] in that Sea vnder the obedience of the Christians, but Candoe, Sicely, Corfon and Malta. Thus the [...] of the great and redoubted Turkish Empire, [...] North at the Riuer Tanais, the most famous bounds [...] E [...] rope: Towards the South it joynes with the Countries of Preste-Iean, or the greater Neg [...] of [...]thi [...]pia Towards the East it extends its limits to the Persian Gulfe, yea, it passeth beyond [...]als [...]t [...] ▪ and in the wa [...] they are [...] Neighbours to Ragousa a [...]. And if God did not restraine the course of their great prosperities, they would adde vnto their Monarchy many other Prouinces of Christendome, which the dis [...] of Christian Prin [...]ces, and the carelesse neglect of their subjects seene to expose to their Ambition: For if the Sult [...] doe what they can to inlarge their Estates, these furnish them occasion by their diuisions.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Grand Seigneurs going forth of Constantinople by Land, and his returne i [...] Pompe where [...]e displayes to the view of strangers, the greatnesse of his [...].

THe Otheman Emperour [...], moneth at the [...] vnto his Subjects, [...] which they might conceiue of him, and [...] dangerous effects of any [...] the Friday (which is with the Turkes [...] [Page] to goe vnto the Mosquee to performe his deuotion, and to sheare himselfe in publique. When he goes forth in this manner it is vsually by the great Gate of his Serrail: Hee is alwayes on Horsebacke, simply attired, and in the same manner as he is in his Pallace. His head is couered with a little Turbant, to be more at his ease: Few Ba [...]u's accompany him, the most part of his traine are the men of his Family. The Sonbasse, who is Captaine of the Iustice, or as the Knight of the Wa [...]ch at ps, goes a little before with fiftie Souldiers of his [...], to free the streets from all incumbrances, which might hinder the Princes passage, and to keepe euery man in awe while hee passeth. His most familiars accompany him, the Eunuches of his Chamber; his Pages and therest which attend his person follow him: The Captaine of the Pages, hee of the Capigis, and the foure Captaines of the [...] of his guard goe before him well mounted, and at his horse head there march foure Capigis on foot, and foure Solarbis at his sti [...]ope; These men most commonly are very tall, [...] being on foot, and the Prince on horse backe, their hands must bee equall with his [...] ▪ They haue [...] instructious and petitions, which are preserued on the [...] the which containe complaints of the insolencies of Basha's, the injustices of Cadis or Iudges; the theft of T [...]ftardar [...] or Treasurers, and the other bad behauiour of his Officers. The Sultan hath in speciall care to haue these papers collected, which many times poore miserable men, lying flat on their bellies in signe of humilitie, and lifting vp their hands offer vnto him, the which they present vpon the [...] of a Reede: Being returned vnto his Serrail, hee [...] them to [...]etread, and finds that which flattery had concealed from him, and learnes these thinges which [...] of the most sincere men durst not [...] Presently has giues order, and loseth no time in the search of [...] the wicked to [...] and slip away [...] the power of their [...] [...] Presently they [...] [...] Royall [...] Many Officers are [...]wovel. [Page] from their places, which they [...] to [...] Mans [...]d [...], and some others are put to death: Such is the vertue of these flying Notes and Peti [...]ions; yet they vse prudence and discretion, and cause the crime to be well [...]rred before they punish: For this cause the Basha's and other great [...] of the Port, who are i [...]ssed in th [...]se [...], are not well pleased when they see their Prince goe forth in publique; seeming that the newes of their vnjust actions should come vnto his eares. In these issues the people blesse him with their accla [...]ai [...]n [...], and he sal [...]es [...] by nodding of his [...] [...]times, to binde their affections more vnto him, [...] forth handfuls of gold and siluer and casts it amongst them. Two of those [...] which are of either [...] of him, carry in two purses of V [...]l [...], two little fla [...] of gold enrich [...] with precious stones, which are full of boiled water, C [...]diall and delightfull to drinke. The Sultan makes vse of it, when he is dry. The rest of his t [...]i [...]e come after: The Dwarffes and Iesters make a part, as the Apes of the Court, which neuer goes without them, to pre [...] [...] haue alwayes something ridiculous [...] all [...] of about [...] hundred.

The Sultans carry in pompe.These are his issues when he goes from his Serrail [...]to Constantinople. But when he goes out of the [...] the fields to make a glorious returne in [...] followed, and adorned in [...] some forreigne Embassadour, and [...] to him of [...]rsia the magnifi [...] [...] report to his Master [...] [...]ee that hath [...] yea looked vpon [...] Envy. Hee take occasion to [...] of [...], [...] [...]sed it [...] built two [...]. The [...] doth aduertise hi [...] [...] to the Citie, and to [...] [...] for the way and [...] send from his Country [...] his great men of the Port, and all his [...] [Page] as is fitting at so Royall an entrie. Achmat the First in the yeare 1612. giues vs a president.

A troupe of aboue two thousand men at armes [...] first they were armed and mou [...]d as was fitting for [...]. A sharely Regiment of Turkish foot, exceeding [...] followed them: After these came the Cadis or Iudges of Constantinople, with all the Body of Iustice, which were many in number: The Talismans and other Doctoral and Priests of the Al [...]an in the order of their puft-up grauity, ma [...]ched after these Iudges, which is the only way of the Iustice which they hold in their life. The Grand Vizir, accompanied with all the other Vizirs, and the Bashaes and Beglierbyes of the Empire, made so sta [...]y a Body, as in seeing them, a man might say they were so [...] things, who [...] by an extraordinary miracle drawne themselues together, much lesse to haue taken them for the slaues of the Othoman [...]: When these were past; there followed the [...]en of the Serrail, or the officers of the [...] with the to [...] of their [...] The first [...] then on foot, who fed ten goodly [...] other Turkes, with royall [...], whereof the [...] the Dirt and [...]word of [...] Gold, [...] with precious stones: the Saddle was [...] and glistering with Diamonds: The S [...] [...]s [...] with strings of gold, at the [...] did [...] ground two great men of rich Orientall Persian vpon the Saddle they had cast a long Horse cloth, of rich Cloth of Gold, [...] ordered so thicke with [...] ▪ as they [...] [...] follower so like order, [...] [...] either of the [...] [...] [...] presented by the French [...] negligent care of th [...] [...] from hunting. The [...] well [...] [Page] [...] [Page] goodly entry, with a band of young men simply attired, entertained for their Seruices, with all the other Pages of the Serrail. The Embassadour of Persia, the chiefe subiect of this magnificence, caused to be cast before his Lodging when the Sultan past, a hundred clothes of Silke: the Archers of his Guard tooke them vp and kept them for themselues.

This Pompe is made when as the Turke is in good termes with the Persian: But when as they differ, and that matters are disposed to warre, the estate of things change. The Turke [...] shew in his entrie before the Embassadour of Persia, of such Souldiers which he hath in Constantinople and thereabouts: and entring into the City, from his Countrey Pallace of Da [...] Basha, hee marcheth about the streets with aboue a hundred and fifty thousand fighting men well armed; as Amarath the Third did a li [...] before he sent his Army into Persia, where hee defeared his Enemies, and get in a short time twelue rich Prouinces from the Persian. When as this Prince had made shew of so many war like tro [...]pe to the Embassadour of Persia, who was to [...] wi [...]h admirall of [...] some tribute which had [...] hee sent him [...] by one of his Bashaes then all the [...] and [...] which hee had s [...]ene in Constantinople, were but the [...] which bee kept in [...], and that he should [...] of the great [...]mber which he had in field; the which being led into his Masters Countrey, they would [...] Commanding him in the [...] of Constantinople within three dayes, [...] goe into Persia, there to attend his slaues which would [...] Turkish [...] and [...] place.

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CHAP. XVIII. The Grand Seigneurs going to Sea, to [...] himselfe.

SEeing that the Othoman Monarch domin [...]es ouer the best parts of the Earth, and extends the power of his Empire vpon the waues of the Sea, it is fit and reasonable hee should take his recreation and pleasure vpon either [...]. The precedent Chapter hath [...] going [...] by land: This shall describe him taking his pleasure at Sea, where wee may follow him without danger; for [...] neuer imbarques himselfe but the wind [...] are still, the [...] are calme, and the superficies of the water p [...] and [...]. He goes out of his Serrail by one of the Gates of his goodly Gardens, which haue a prospectes the Sea, whose [...] with many Pillars of P [...]phyry: Her into his [...] called in the Turkish Language [...], hauing aboue [...] [...]anks and [...] to a Banke▪ He [...] his selfe [...] the Po [...]pe, the which is gorgeously [...] with Vel [...]t and such like stuffe, imbroidered with gold. Hee [...] Cushions of Crimson Vel [...] ▪ which serue [...] him for seats [...] the Turkish [...] His [...] Familiars, Eunuches of his Serrail [...] him: Only the B [...]stangi [...]assi, which is his great G [...]rdin▪ and his Pilot in his recreation, may sst in his [...] more commodiously, whereof [...]. A troupe of young [...] with such [...] th [...]rough [...]. They [...] and haue Caps of the same [...] Oare with such care, as they imploy themselues without failing: foure other Caques goe some little space before, to aduertize all other Vessels to passe out of the way, or to stay, & not to pester by their encounter the way of this redoubted Sultan: they do it speedily (what is there in the Lou [...] which [Page] doth not obey him?) & seeing him farre off salute his greatnes and by the acclamations of their joy, wish him all happinesse: Some other Caiques follow his, in the which are those of his family, to whom he would giue leaue, to be partakers of these pleasures. During this, hee hath a wise lesson of the vanity of greatnesse, by the consideration of the inconstancie of the Element which beares him, if he would apply his mind vnto it: But hee passeeh that time in the ordinary trade of Kings, which is to raise vp, and ouerthrow the fortunes of men by the effects of their loue or hatred. For the Bostangi [...]assi, who is at his backe, with the helme in his hand, and who alone hath leaue to speake then vnto him, informes him as hee pleaseth of the affaires of his estate, of the carriage of the Officers of his Crowne, of the designes of his Basha's, and of the insolencie of such as he fauoure aboue the rest. Sometimes he deliuers the truth nakedly and plaine vnto him, and sometimes hee doth disguise and dissemble it as his passion doth aduise him, and doth cunningly practise the ruine of those which thinke themselues assured, and are many times without crime. A president to [...]ch [...] [...] [...]uch it doth imp [...]r [...] them to know the estate of by themselues▪ and not by others, and to learne in seeing the carriage of their subiects, and to doe in their Monarchy, as shepheards doe in their troups, haue a care of them, for the eye is not circumuented so soone as the eare, and truth enters seldome or disguised into their Pallaces, if they themselues [...] di [...]t by the hand. The greatest lyars among men remaine in Court, and there doe easily vent out their fabulous inuentions: Priuate interest is the [...] Diuinitie which they adore to the which they referre the ambition of their thoughts, the flattery of their disco [...]rse [...] and the malice of their actions. The Bostangibassi finding his Mastermind be [...] had from all knowledge of affaires [...] vnto a plaine Table, he paints thereon what he pleaseth, friendship for [...] and hatred for others: Hee makes the guilty innocent and the innocent guilty: He raises and ruines according to his humour▪ Soe at the [...] from this [...] walke, the Bas [...]a's haue sometimes felt the stormes of a [Page] new disaster in the change of their fortunes: Doubtlesse the fauours of the Court are very fraile and inconstant, seeing that a puffe of wind, a word may ouerthrow them: And as wind disperseth smoake, so the great Gardiners discourse doth cause the greatnesse of the Bassa's of the Port to wither and fade. The which should teach the Fauourites of Princes, seeing their fortunes are transitory and fading, to imploy their credit in vertuous actions, which may serue them for a solide support, honour their liues, eternize their memory with posterity, and preserue them from ruine. But to speake these thing▪ to most part of those of that condition, were to sing vnto the deafe, and to shew colours to the blind: for the great prosperities of the Court blind the mind, and dull the judgements.

When as the Sultan hath glutted his desires, with the delights of this Marine walke, and filled his eares with the Bostangibassi's tales, he returnes to the Serrail, where being landed, the Azamoglans draw the Caiques out of the water, and lodge them in Vaults made for the purpose, which are within the walls of this Pallace: The which they doe, and put them to Sea againe commodiously and with great facilitie.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Grand SEIGNEVRS Physicians, Chyrurgians and Apothecaries.

GReat Princes in the midst of their humane felicities are not freed from the crosses and discommodities of life, and much lesse from the infirmities that afflict them, to the end their pride might be humbled, and they should acknowledge themselues to be men. The Sultan Emperour of the Turkes seekes ease for his griefes aswell as other Monarches: He entertaines vsually for he seruice of his person, ten Physicians of the most skilfull of the East: Most part are Iewes, for the men of that Nation study carefully in Physicke, and prosper [Page] well. And seeing that the Turkes neglecting Learning doe not attaine to those Sciences which are necessary to make a good Physician. Amidst this number there is one superiour to the rest, called in their Language Lecchin Bassi, or the first Physician: Their entertainments are great, and the Presents they receiue make them rich: The first of them is reuerenced in the Serrail, they serue him with the same bread they giue vnto the Sultan, which is a dainty kind of bread made of the Graine which is gathered at Bursia in Natolia, reserued for the Princes mouth: He hath what fauour hee can desire in Court, and his Master honours him extraordinarily: Necessitie is a powerfull Daemon, and his vertue makes him also to be honoured. But the merit of Physick hath made it so commendable in the World, and in Court, that many Kings haue crowned it with their owne Diadems:See what Marcilius Ficinus a learned Florentine doth write in the first Booke in the Epistle to Thomas Valerius a Physician. Sabor and Gyges haue practised it in their estates of Media: Sabid married it to his Scepter of Arabia: Methridatus to that of Pontus: and Hermes held it as great a glory to bee a Physician in Egypt as to be a Soueraigne King.

When the Sultan is sick, his Physicians are cald to visit him; if they hold his infirmity to be of continuance, they are presently lodged in the secret Serrail which is the Princes quarter, in Chambers neare vnto him: They giue them two seruants to attend them; and they may not go out of the Pallace, what necessity soeuer doth presse them, vntill the Sultan bee recouered or dead. But when hee is in health, they are only bound to goe three of them euery morning, into the Apothecaries shop in the Serrail, and there to attend vntill noone, if there be any need of their helpe.

The Sultans Chyrurgions and Barbers haue lesse libertie: They may not goe out of the Serrail where they lodge, but on the day of Bairam, which is the Turkes Easter, vnlesse it be by the Princes permission: The youngest of this profession serue him as Pages, some others are Eunuches, which attend the seruice of his Chamber: These shaue him when hee desires, and wash him in his Bathes, when hee goes to temper [Page] the heate which troubles him, or to satisfie the commandement of his Law.

The Apothecaries are also lodged in the Serrail, their number exceeds both the others: So their Seruice is more ordinary. There are eighteene Masters which worke, and three hundred Boyes which serue them, most of which goe once a yeare to search for Simples on the Mountaines and Valleyes for the composing of their Physicke: Foure Masters most expert in their Art are Superiour to all those: They call them the Priors. The shop of these Apothecaries deserues so many men as serues this great Prince, it is aboue fifty fathome long, and halfe in breadth: The great Vessels which doe beautifie it, furnish it abundantly with all sorts of Oiles, Sirrops, Ointments, Waters, and other liquors proper for Physicke: On the side of it are foure goodly Chambers full of diuers sorts of Drugs. Besides these there are two others scituate towards the Gardens, where during the Spring which doth enamile the Earth with flowres, and the Summer which doth crowne it with Fruits, they draw the essences, and distill the Waters which are fit for Physicke. But in all these Vessels, amidst these Drugs and diuers Quintessences, they find not any remedy which can mortifie the amorous Passions of the Prince, wherewith hee is continually afflicted: They deuoure his leisure,Null [...] emor est medica [...]ilu herbis. Quid. Metamor [...]l. 1. fab. 9 interrupt the exercises which are more worthy of his person; and [...]eiect him vnder that which hee is, and make him a slaue to his slaues: for louing them desperately, he liues more in them then in himselfe.

The end of the first Booke.

THE GENERALL HISTORY OF THE Serrail, and of the Grand SEIGNEVRS Court. The second BOOKE.

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CHAP. I. Of the publique Diuan in the Serrail, where they dispatch and iudge all Affaires.

IN the second Court of the Serrail, where as a goodly Fountain, couered with the shadow of many pleasing Cypresse trees which enuiron it, powres forth a cleere streame, as if it were liquid Christ all, is built vpon the left hand, at the end of a long Gallery, a great Hall, where as the Sultan causeth the Diuan to be kept foure dayes in the Weeke; that is to say, on Saturday, Sunday, Munday and Tuesday. This word Diuan signifies a Colledge, whither [Page] many men repaire: whereas they distribute Iustice equally to any that demand it,Let this be spoken without violating the respect, which lowe vnto such persons which relleue the publique by their care in Suits, of whom I haue no intent to speake in this place. for what cause soeuer: And the greatest benefit they find, is that the parties are admitted to deliuer their owne causes, hauing no necessitie to consume their goods and their time, (whereof the losse is irreparable) among wrangling Pettifoggers, who enrich themselues by other mens follies. The Turkes policie giues this case vnto the people, that they will not allow of any: Whosoeuer hath an action against any other, hee brings him to the Diuan by the fist, and the other dares not refuse: there by the Iustification of their Acts, if they leaue any, or by a summary and verball deposition of two Witnesses, the cause is iudged with great facilitie, and the execution is not difficult: Or if the judgement be refered after the audience, and committed to some one of the Iudges, the importune delayes, and the horrour of wrangling which is practised in France, being not admitted among the Turkes, hinder not a speedy dispatch.

The Officers which assist at this Diuan are the Basha or Grand Ʋizir, Lieutenant Generall of the whole Empire, who precides: The other Vizirs or Basha's accompany him, the two Beglierbeys, the one of Nat [...]lia, and the other of Romania, two of the prime Dignities of the Crowne, after the Grand Ʋizir: The two Cadilesquers or great Iudges of Armies Superiour to all the Cadis or Iudges of the Empire: The three Teftardars, or generall Treasurers for the ordinary and extraordinary treasure, who keepe the Sultans Cofers, and receiue that great Reuenew which is leuied in his Estates: The Nassans Bassa or high Chancellor: The Netangi, who is as the Secretary of Estate with vs, which serues mo [...]ethly, who signes the Commandements, and dispatches with the Royall Signature: The Bassa's Secretary with a great number of Iafitschi or Notaries, which are as Regist [...]s: The Cha [...]ux Bassi who is chiefe of all the Cha [...]ux of the [...], which carries the Sultans Commandements both within and without the Estate, they goe in Embassies, although they be but vild and base Messengers, and execute the Decrees of the Basha's; is at the doo [...]e of this Dauan with a great member [Page] of his company, to execute that which the Grand Ʋizir shall command: Hee carries a Staffe of siluer in his hand for the marke of his authoritie. And all these men aswell Basha's as others of inferiour qualitie, come into this Hall of the Diuan by foure of the clocke in the morning, with a commendable diligence, to discharge their duties in the administration of justice, vntill twelue.

The places and rankes are obserued according to the eminencie of their Offices: The Grand Ʋizir sits first in the midst of two long formes fastned to the wals, which looke towards the doore, like vnto the Seats of Audience for justice in France: On his right hand (which is the lesse honourable in Turkey) the Bassa's seate themselues: The two Cadilesquers are on the left; He of Romania or Greece, as the most noble Prouince, precedes him of Natolia: At the entry of the Diuan on the left hand, are set vpon a forme by themselues the three Teftardars: They haue at their backes all the Notaries or Registers, sitting on the ground with paper and pens in hand, to write what shall be commanded. On the otherside of the Hall opposite to the Teftardars, is another forme set apart, where the Netangi hath also a pen in his hand, being enuironed with his Clerkes and Deputies. The parties which demand justice, being many in number, are placed in the midst of the Diuan, with so great a respect and silence as they dare not spit. This publique Councell is like vnto that of the parties in the Louver, with this difference, that in the Diuan euery man is admitted for any cause whatsoeuer, All these Officers being thus placed, the parties plead their owne Causes, & they direct their speech to the Grand Ʋizir, who precides in this Councell: The other Bassa's neuer speake: If he doth judge that the businesse propounded ought to be presently dispatcht, he then decides the controuersies betwixt the parties: If it require a longer inquisition, hee referres the judgement to one of the Cadilesquers, if the matter belong to the Ciuill Law: If it concerne the Treasure or Accompts, a Teftardar is committed: and when there is Question of any falshood, or the verification of a hand or writing, he deputes a Netangi. The [Page] affaires of greater importance, or differences of consequence, which concerne strangers, hee reserues them to his owne judgement.

These imployments detaine them from the breake of day vntill noone: When that comes, one of the Stewards of the Serrail appointed for the Diuan, presents himselfe in the midst of it, to whom the Grand Ʋizar makes a signe to bring Dinner: Then the parties retire, and the Diuan is free for the Rasha's; the seruice is made with that frugality that is fitting for Iudges: For a Table, they bring before the Grand Ʋizir a plaine stoole of wood, where on they set a siluer Bason, and sometimes of Copper blancht, round in forme, and as big as the bottome of a pipe, vpon the brims thereof they set many lo [...]ues, in the midst the meate, which they serue one dish after another; One or two of the Rassa's are called to eate with the chiefe of the Councell; they bring to euery one a Napkin, wherewith they couer their knees: Their meats are Mutton, wild Fowle, Pigeons, & somtimes Pullets; the drink is of Sorbet after their manner, made of water, the juice of Citrons, and of Sugar, for the Grand Vizir alone; the rest quench their thirst with falle water: Their fruit is a Tart or some Cake, wherewith they end their Dinner, which doth not continue aboue halfe an houre: The like is ordained for the Cadilosquers, [...]eftariturs, and all the rest of the Diuan: Their slaues dine at the same time. The Bassa Captaine of the Sea, is also of the number of those which assist in the Diuan, he takes his place in the last ranke of all the other Bassa's if hee be not a Bassa Vizir; in that case hee mounts higher towards the Grand Vizir in the order of his inception.

Dinner being thus ended without pompe, without excesse, and without dissolution, the Grand Vizir disposeth of the most notable resolutions which haue beene taken in the Diuan, and prepares himselfe to god and make report thereof to the Grand Seigneur; On Sunday and Tuesday, which are the dayes of Diuan for publique affaires, and the Councell of Estate. This Prince descends to that effect into a Chamber which is neere vnto it: being arriued, he cals his Officers vnto [Page] to him one after another. The Capigilar Agassi carries this command. He holds in his hand a long staffe of siluer, like vnto a Beadles Mace: First of all they call the Cadilesques, they rise vp, make a low reuerence to the Grand Vizir, and follow this Mace-bearer and the Chaoux Bassi, who is ioyned vnto him with his other staffe of siluer: Vnder their conduct they goe before the Grand Seigneur into his Chamber, they reuerence him and in a manner adore him: For there is not any Soueraigne Prince vpon the earth, whose subiects stand in more feare, nor yeeld him so much reuerence. After this they yeeld him an account of their places, then they retire backwards like men that had consulted with some great Diuinity, and so goe to their houses. The Mace-bearers goe to fetch the Teftardars, these yeeld the like salutation to the Grand Vizir that the others had done; they goe before the Grand Seigneur, they speake vnto him of his treasure and of the affaires of their charge; and hauing satisfied him, they retire like the rest, with their heeles first. This custome alwayes to turne their face in retiring is not only practised with the Prince, but also obserued with the Bassa's, who according to the Lawes of Turkish Ciuility, would hold it a contempt, if in parting from them they should turne the backe. After the Teftardars, the Captain of the Sea if he had been in the Diuan, goes to relate vnto the Grand Seigneur, the estate of his Vessels of Warre, with that of Armes and Munition which are in his Arsenall. The Aga or Colonell Generall of the Ianizaries, which are the Turkish foot▪ enters not into the Diuan, hee remaines in the second gate of the Serrail, being set vnder a Gallery assisted by the Souldiers: He goes first of all to audience to his Master; and returnes to his seate, vntill all the rest be retired; for hee goes last out of the Serrail: The Ʋizirs goe one after one vnto the Sultan, and being come into his presence they frame themselues to an incomparable respect: They ioyne their hands, and bend downe their heads and eyes to the ground, and stand silent: For amongst them only the Grand Vizar may speake vnto the Prince; He comes last with a graue pace, as the party that beares the burthen of all the affaires which [Page] haue beene treated in the Diuan; hee yeelds an accompt vnto his Master, who confirmes the judgements, or disanuls them, as he thinkes good. Moreouer, he leaues him instructions in writing, in a Purse of Crimson rais'd Veluet, the which hee laye [...] before him with vnspeakable reuerence and humilitie; then he retires like the rest, vnlesse the Emperour stayes him longer to informe himselfe of the estate of his most important affaires.

Thus the Turkes doe justice to men, whereof the quicke expedition might repaire the defects which they meete with, and yet in that place particularly they are reasonably exact to yeeld vnto euery man that which is due vnto him: The feare of their owne ruine if they had no vertue, were sufficient to make the ballance eeuen and straight. For the Turkish Princes are accustomed to goe by one of their Chambers vnto a Window, only shut vp with a Lattice, the which lookes into the Diuan directly ouer the head of the Grand Vizir: From thence he heares what is spoken, and treated; with the complaints of parties, and the Decrees of Iudges; if iniquitie doe sway the minds and mouths of those, to deny vnto the weakest the reliefe which justice doth owe them, against the violent oppressions of the Mighty, the punishment which hee takes is very exemplary. Doubtlesse, as the foundations vphold a house, so justice is a strong support vnto an Empire, without the which it cannot long subsist. Kings, whose principall office is to yeeld it vnto men, ought to cherish it aboue all things; It doth aduance them aboue other men, and makes them to raigne happily; and without it violence drawes all disorders in their Estates, troubles them, and ruines them in the end: They themselues without justice, are like vnto those bodies which are troubled with the falling sicknesse, whom weaknesse and paine afflicts: This diuine vertue should not only be the soule of their Decree, but the soule of their soule: In justice they shall possesse all the other vertues, for it containes them all.

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CHAP. II. Of the Azamoglans, or Children of the Tribute of base condition which serue in the Serrail, and elsewhere.

THe Christians labour so profitably to inlarge the Turkes Empire, as they not only furnish them with occasions, by their wretched diuision, but they also breed them vp men, which in time are the most generous of their troupes, the greatest in their Court, and the most triumphant in Townes & Christian Prouinces: But in this last, force and the constraint which these Barbarians vse towards them, makes them more excusable, than when they abandon the reason and the interests of Christianity, to the blind passions of a fatall discord: For they see come into their houses, thoroughout all Greece or Morea, and in the Countrey of Albania, a troupe of the Grand Seigneurs Capigis, deputed to make the exaction of the richest, and the most exquisite Tribute, that can be leuied in a Country, the which is of men, the best proportioned, and enricht with the gifts of Nature. There they choose the soundest, the goodliest, and the most actiue of all their Children, out of euery three one, the which they doe euery third yeere; and hauing drawne together aboue two thousand, they lead them to Constantinople. At their arriuall, they attire them all in Robes of Cloth of diuers colours; they giue vnto euery one a yellow Cap of Felt, like vnto a Sugar-loafe. In this Equipage they are led before the Grand Vizir, who being accompanied with al the other Bassa's and Ministers of the Serrail, he makes choice of those that are most actiue for the war: These young men are set apart, and conducted into the Serrail by the Bostangibassi, or chiefe of the Gardiners, and a part of them distributed where they wanted. Then they circumcise them: being children of Christians they become yong Turks, and for an inconstant fortune of the World and of the Court, they lose the eternall happinesse of Heauen, in the way whereof [Page] their first beliefe had directed them. They cause them to learne the Turkish Tongue, and if their spirits be capable of more, to read and write. But all indifferently are instructed to wrestle, runne, leape, shoot, dart an Azegaye, and in all other Exercises, which are fit for them which will make profession of Armes.

The rest of this goodly choice of the young Children of the Tribute is in the power of the Grand Vizir; Hee doth lodge them, and distribute them diuersly; some are sent into the Sultans Gardens and Houses of Pleasure; others are put into the Gallions and Vessels at Sea, which make Voyages for the Sultana's; The Patrons charge themselues, and are bound to restore them when they are demanded. They place a good number in Artificers shops to learne diuers trades, whereof they may serue for a Squadron when they shall be Ianizaries and especially in the time of Warre. The Basha's and all the great Men of the Court haue their part; They are deliuered vnto them by their Names, Countries, Markes of their face or elsewhere, and by the colour of their haire; they binde themselues in writing, which is contained in a Booke for that purpose, to the end that if the necessitie of the Warre should force the Captaines to fill vp their companies, in the place of those that are dead, they may take these to that effect. But most commonly they giue the rudest and grossest to these Basha's; and they imploy them in their Stables, Kitchins, and other base Offices of their Houses. They which remaine of these Azamoglans, are sent into diuers Seminaries, vnder the conduct of diuers Eunuches which haue the charge, and take the care to breed them vp, to bee one day capable to beare Armes, and to serue in the Warre in qualitie of Ianizaries. These Children thus placed the Grand Vizir represents them in a Booke to the Grand Seigneur. This Prince assignes them an entertainment according to his pleasure, and augments the pay which the great custome doth allow them, which is of foure or fiue A [...]pres by the day besides their nourishment and apparell: Hee assignes the assignation with his owne hand, and sends it by the Vizar to the Testardar, to the end he may [Page] be carefull to pay it according to the order: Hee sees them euery three Moneths, and visits them one after another, calling them by their names, to know the number of those which are dead, and to see how they be fed and gouerned.

But the Azamoglans appointed for the seruice of the Serrail, are imployed about base and vile things as the meanest of all those which are of the Royall Family: They serue for Labourers in their buildings, they imploy them in their Stables, Kitchins, Gardens, to cut wood, and to carry it, to lead Dogges to the field as their Seruants, and to doe whatsoeuer their Superiours command them, whereof some haue charge of tens, others of hundreds, and these are also vnder the authoritie of the Chicaia, or Steward of the Bostangibassi; the toyle they vndergoe, the paines they take, and the miseries which they indure make them the most patient men in the World, and their Masters instruct them to mortification by most rigorous courses: the least fault is rewarded with fiftie blowes with a Cudgell, the which are soundly set on. But their basenesse is not without honour nor recompence: There are charges and eminent Offices among them to the which they succeed by the order of their antiquity, and their patience may make them hope and aspire to the place of a steward, yea of Bostangibassi, to shew that there is nothing so base but long labour and inuincible sufferance, may aduance in time. For to come vnto the dignity of Bostangibassi, is to be familiar with the Prince, to be great in Court, to speake vnto him when hee walkes, to conduct him at Sea, and to gouerne his Brigandine, and to haue an honourable priuiledge to weare a Turbant in the Serrail, which is no lesse than among the great Men of Spaine to speake vnto the King with their heads couered.

The Gates of the Serrail are the limits of their courses, they neuer goe forth vpon any occasion vnlesse the Bostangibassi leads them with him when hee goes out of the Pallace to execute the Princes commandments, and to ruine the fortune of some great Man of the Court, as hee did in the yeare 1614. That of Bassa Nassuf, whom hee caused to be strangled in his [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] Bed, for these secret Commissions are most commonly put into his hands: When hee takes what number of Azamoglans shall be needfull, hee slips in amongst these, the children of naturall Turkes at the entreaty of his friends, yet with the consent of the Sultan, and placeth them where they may be aduanced, their Lodgings & abode are about the wals of the Serrail towards the Sea, where they dwell in Chambers, they haue their Bathes, their Stoues, and their Kitchins, and liue at their owne will; for they haue their allowance apart: when they haue leisure, they imploy it in fishing, they sell what they take, and reserue the gaines to themselues: They neuer see the Sultan but when he comes to walke in his Gardens, or goes a hunting, then they follow him, and Quest in the fields like Spaniels. They doe not supply the companies of foote, when there is any want of Ianizaries, out of this number: If they goe out of the Serrail, it is to be better bred in other Seminaries, whilest they are yong: or when they are of riper age, the Grand Seigneur giues some of them to his Fauourites, whom he sends out of the Serrail, as Bassa's of Caire, Damas, or some other Gouernments of his Empire; they make vse of these Azamoglans for their Stewards, Quirries, Treasurers; and such like Offices in their Family: Moreouer, when the Prince goes a Voyage, or to the Wars, hee leads a great number with him to pitch his Tents, vnlade his stuffe, and to doe other manuall workes.

CHAP. III. Of the Azamoglans, of better breeding and condition, who in time attaine vnto the Lignities of the Turkish Empire.

VErtue hath this proper to her naturall beauty, to make her selfe to be generally esteemed, and acknowledged euen by most barbarous Nations: she doth not only make those [Page] admirable which doe possesse it, but doth also giue the Title of their Nobility to their Posterity, and makes them commendable. The children that are well borne taken for Tribute from the Christians, make triall thereof in Turkey, whereas the Turkes honour their Birth, and separate them from the rest, to bee better bred and instructed in Exercises which make them worthy of the greatest Officers of the Empire: They teach them the Texts of Mahomets Law, the ornament of the Turkish Learning, they instruct them in armes, and in all things which may adde perfection to men, which are to attend continually neere vnto a great Monarch. They are all Christian slaues; but we shall see in the course of their fortune, that their slauery is a way, by the which patience doth lead them to the liberty to command Prouinces, or whole Realmes: and their condition doth teach vs, that it is a happy infelicitie, and an vnfortunate happinesse.

The Capinga or great Chamberlaine of the Serrail, brings some into their number, borne of naturall Turkes, commendable for their good dispositions, yet seldome and with the Princes leaue. For the custome of the Empire in its most ancient Constitutions requires that such Children should be Christians Renegadoes, the noblest and most ciuill that can be found. So when the aduantages of the Warre, giue vnto the Turkish Armies victories against Christians, or the taking of their Townes, and they find therein young children to the age of twelue or thirteene yeares, the Bassa's reserue them for the seruice of the Grand Seigneur. For the Turkes hold an opinion, that the Nobility of bloud makes spirits generous and inclinable to vertue; especially when the care of a good education doth polish and make perfect the gifts of Birth, as they doe in the Serrail with these young men. The Discipline, which they cause to obserue is, so rigorous, as whosoeuer performes it in all points, becomes the most modest, the most patient, and the most mortified man liuing. The Masters which haue charge of their persons, are white Eunuches, seuere, froward, fantastique, and suspicious, as most of your gelded men be. They neuer speake vnto them but in choller, and spare not [Page] their Bastinadoes, whereof they are very charitable; they make them watch and indure all paines; so as many of these young men, when they come to the age of twenty yeeres, they seeke all meanes to flie this seuerity: And although they know that they are in the course of a great fortune; yet they had rather get out of the Serrail, with the simple qualitie of Spain or Mutaferaga, which is like vnto our Men at Armes or light house, than to suffer any longer the rigours of this Discipline. Their number is not certaine, the Serrail receiues as many as they send; but vsually they are about three hundred. The order and method wherewith they breed them vp, doth testifie that the Turkes haue retained nothing of barbarous but the name, and haue sent vs the effect.

1. Oda.They call the formes where they instruct them Oda; this word signifies a Chamber: They ordaine foure, by the which these young men must passe, before they attaine to Offices, whereunto the capacity which they learne doth aduance them. In the first are placed all those of this condition, which enter into the Serrail at a childish age: There they circumcise them if they were not before; being made Turkes, they teach for their first Lesson Silence, and the Countenance they must carry for a marke of their Seruitude, and withall a singular Reuerence towards the Sultan, which is when they are neere him to hold downe their Head and Eyes, and to haue their Hands joyned, or their Armes crost. For most of those which s [...]rue the person of the Oth [...]man Prince, neuer speake vnto him, nor looke him in the face. At their comming into the Serrail the Prince sees them, causeth them to be enrolled in a Register, by their names and Countries, and commands the [...]ardar to be exact in the present payment of the Money which is appointed for their entertainment. A white Eunuch ouer-seer of all the other Eunuches which teach them, as it were the Principall of a Colledge, takes also care to see them well instructed. After the first Precepts they teach them to read and write, and aboue all to pray after the Turkish manner, and the worship of their Religion, with an incredible care, [...] the space of six or seuen yeeres, which is the time they remaine in this Oda.

[Page]After this long terme they passe vnto the second Oda, 2. Oda. where more vnderstanding Masters than the first, teach them the Persian, Arabian, and Tartar Languages, and practise them in reading all sorts of written Bookes (for the Turkes vse no other.) Moreouer to speake Turkish elegantly, the which they may doe by the knowledge of those three Tongues, whereof the Turkish Language seemes to be composed. For to heare them speake they do easily discerne the difference there is betwixt them and those which are not bred vp in like manner. They adde to these exercises of the mind, those of the Body: In this Oda they teach them to handle the Sword or Semiter, to shoot, to cast a Battle-axe, to dart a Ia [...]ehn or Azagaye, and to runne lightly; all this is done in places separated from the Oda, at certaine houres appointed with great attention, where the Eunuches spare not their Cudgels, but beat them soundly for the least fault. They continue six yeares in these Exercises, after which they are Men and sit for all paine and labour.

Then they come vnto the third Oda, 3. Oda. where they doe not forget what they had learned before, but practise it still; and moreouer they learne to be good Horsemen, and to vault with disposition, to be the morefit and actiue for the Warre: Euery one according to his inclination doth likewise learne an occupation, to serue the Princes person; one to make Turbants, another to shaue Haire, to cut his Nailes, to wash him in the Bath, to make cleane and fold his Clothes handsomely; some to lead Dogs to the Wood, others to be skilfull in Hawks and Hawking, to serue for Stewards or Queries, to be imployed in the Chamber, and to other Offices necessary for the seruice of great Princes, wherein they grow to that perfection in the space of fiue yeeres as they are able to instruct others: Whilest they are in this third Oda, they may not see any one abroad but with great difficulty, and in the presence of an Eunuch; all conuersation with others is prohibited, but with those of their Oda: But they must doe it with all modesty and honesty: For if the Eunuch who is their Superiour, shall enter into the least suspition of the contrary, they shall be assured [Page] to be soundly beaten, either vpon the soles of their feet or vpon the backe after the Turkish manner, so as many times they leaue them for dead. They sleepe in long Roomes which may containe fifty little Beds made only of Matteresse: They lie in their clothes, in the night time they haue many lights burning, their Eunuches sleepe among them, betwixt euery ten Beds lies an Eunuch, to keep them in awe: Day and night their Masters examine them, to see if they be firme and constant in the beliefe of the Alcoran: For being ready to passe to the fourth Oda, and from thence to the greatest Offices of the Empire; if they had in their soules any loue of their first beliefe, they might procure some great prejudice to the Turkes estate. Hauing imployed all care, and finding them truly Mahometans, they conduct them to the fourth Oda.

4. Oda.At their entry into it, they enter their names and Countries again into another Booke, for all passe not into this last place of their continuall trauels: But those only which haue finished their time in the other forme, and by their diligence haue made themselues capable to serue the Prince and State profitably: As labour and rest touch one another, so the end of one is the sweet beginning of the other; These men finde it in this Oda, their Pension is augmented; insteed of cloth wherewith they were formerly attired, the Sultan giues them Robes of Silke and Cloth of Gold: They haue liberty to conuerse, with the greatest men of the Serrail and with the Bassa's, who seeing them entring into great places, adore the Sun rising of their Fortunes, make them great Presents, and seeke to winne their friendship by rich gifts. Besides these pleasing signes of a new happinesse, whereas they were before all shauen, they suffer their haire to grow vpon their Temples, to couer their Eares, an assured signe, that they shall be speedily of the Royall Chamber, they follow the Grand Seigneur in all his walkes (where hee is without women) and out of their number he takes the most familiar Officers of his person, and of his Fauourites.

As the Sechletar Aga, who carries his Sword.

The Chioda Aga, which is he that carries the Roiall Robe, called C [...]am [...]e [...].

[Page]The Rechioptar, or Rakduntar, hee which goes at his Stirrop, when he is on horsebacke, or his chiefe Footman.

The Materagi Aga, hee which carries a Vessell of Gold full of water when the Sultan marches.

The Tubenter Aga, hee which doth garnish and carry his Turbant.

The Chiamaci Aga, hee that doth wash his Linnen, or his chiefe Landrer.

The Camedir Bassi, or great Master.

The Chilargi Bassi, or chiefe Butler.

The Dagangi Bassi, or Master Faulconer.

The Sarrigi Bassi, or chiefe Cutler.

The Nunasinugi Bassi, or chiefe Comptroller of the Treasure.

The Turmachi Bassi, or Firnaagi Aga, he that pares his Nailes.

The Berber Bassi, or chiefe Barber.

The Amangi Bassi, he that washes him in the Bath.

The Teskelegi Bassi, the great Secretary, or first Secretary of State.

All which are the most ancient of the fourth Oda, and stand before the Prince when hee comes out of his Chamber, with that respect and reuerence which they learned in their youth in the first Oda; which is to bee silent, to hold their heads downe, and with their eyes fixed vpon the ground, for they neuer speake, nor looke their Master in the face; If he commands them any thing, it is by signes after the manner of dumbe men, and they doe execute it speedily, they carry his meat, which they receiue at the Court gate from the Stewards hands who is without, and they deliuer it from one to another, vntill it comes to the Grand Master, who sets it before the Grand Seigneur. This Prince is much pleased with the mute conuersation of such men, who dare not entertaine him but by signes: hee causeth them to ride, and to practize running and leaping, hee causeth them many times to cast a barre of Iron, and to make such like proofes of their force and actiuity. Hee fauours them with many Presents, as Robes of [Page] Cloth of Gold, Swords enricht with precious stones, Purses full of Sultanins, and many other things of value. Moreouer to the end that his Agalaris may gather the more money, to supply the expences of their Equipage, when they shall goe out of the Serrail with the Titles of Gouernours of Prouinces, hee giues them dispatches for Embassies: These men sell them to the Chaoux, or bargaine with them for a Moietie or more, of the present which they shall receiue from the Prince, to whom they are sent, the which is of no small importance: For the Princes which hold and depend of the Othoman, when he confirmes them in their Dignities, and sends them the markes thereof, by a gilt Staffe, a Throne, or a Crowne, they are bound to giue to him that is sent a Present of that value which is set downe in the great custome of the Empire, the which doth taxe euery one to a certaine summe: And of this number is the Vallachian, the Moldanian, the Transiluanian, the Tartar, and many other Vassalls, and Tributaries of the Othoman Crowne. This Present is diuided betwixt the Chaoux, who receiues it, and the Agalari who gaue him, or rather sold him the Commission: Thus they enrich themselues, and make a stocke to furnish themselues vpon the first occasion, the which presenting it selfe by the death of some Bassa, they are made either Captaine of the Sea, or Bassa of Caire or Damas, or elsewhere. Besides these great and glorious Dignities, the Grand Seigneur doth honour them sometimes with the quality of Musaip, that is to say, hee that may speake vnto the Prince, and goe to him in priuate: The which the Turkes esteeme aboue any thing in the Empire, the which the Othoman Monarches doe for a double intent, both to gratifie those whom they loue, and to haue men among the greatest of the Court, to enforme him of the Bassa's actions, and to discouer their Enterprizes against the good of the Estate and the Princes person. But all the Agalaris are not so bountifully aduanced. Those whom the Sultan will send out of his Serrail, with meaner dignities, he makes them Aga of the Ianizaries, Spacular Agassi who is Captaine of the Spahis, or at the least Cap [...]igi Bassi who is chiefe of the Porters.

[Page]When they goe out of the Royall Pallace, by any great or meane dignity, they carry with them all the wealth they haue gathered together. Many young men whom a desire of libertie, and a curiositie to see the World, rather than any care to aduance themselues, hath made them abandon the exercises of the Oda, and their importunities haue forced the Prince to dismisse them, goe forth with the rest without any qualitie or office, and with little entertainment by the day: But when as he that is aduanced to the quality of a Bassa, and Gouernour of some remote Prouince, is ready to goe out of the Serrail, the Grand Vizir sends to receiue him at the Gate, by his Chicaia, who is a Steward or Ouer-seer of his house, with a troup of Horse to doe him honour, and causeth him to be conducted to his Pallace, receiues him with all curtesie, giues him many Presents, and doth accommodate him with lodgings for three or foure dayes, vntill his owne be prouided in the Citie: After that he hath giuen order, he settles his Family, and giues the chiefe places, to such as came out of the Serrail with him, he stayes sometime in Constantinople, vntill his haire be growne, for he was shauen at his comming forth, and likewise to receiue the Presents which the Sultana's send him, as goodly Linnen and rich Workes: And those which the Bassa's present him, as Tapestries, Horses, Robes of Cloth of Gold, and all sorts of moueables necessary for a man of his condition: He may be at that time about forty yeares old, hauing consumed the best of his dayes, in the expectance of this fortune. They of the other Oda's succeed him by the order of their reception, the which is exactly obserued in the Serrail, and fauour cannot depriue any man, if he hath not cōmitted some notable fault in the royall Pallace: so as they of the third Oda do partly know by the succession what shall become of them, and wish daily, that it would please the Sultan, to send some of his Agalaris to Offices abroad, to the end they may make place for them.

This new Gouernour parts not from the Court to goe vnto his charge, before hee hath giuen thankes to the Capiaga for the care which hee hath contributed to his aduancement, [Page] terming himselfe obligeth vnto him, and that he would depend of him for a perpetuall acknowledgement of his fauours, intreating him to hold him in his protection, neere vnto the Princes person, vpon all accidents that might happen. He makes this Complement in the Serrail, without the Gate of the Sultan's Quarter; for being once forth hee enters no more, vnlesse the Prince calls for him, to treate with him, concerning the affaires of his charge. Such is their fortune, which haue suffered their actions to be gouerned by patience, and haue laboured to make themselues capable to serue. But such in the choice which the Othoman Monarch makes of men, bred and seuerely instructed in their profession about their persons, to be in time the greatest Officers of their Empire, where they neuer aduance to such Dignities vncapable men, who in the whole course of their liues, haue not learned any thing but to play as Tennice, to cast the Dice, to speake brutishly, and to practice all sorts of vices. Wherefore we must not wonder if the Turkes Estate prospers, seeing that amidsts great number of young men, they [...] the choice of the best Wits, to be [...] vp with care vnder good Discipline, which makes them honest men, and [...] to the gifts of a happy birth the perfections of [...] must of necessitie serue for the [...] great Man, Hee that is borne a [...] will [...] them make choice of the best Wits to supply their Religious House [...] they haue alwayes amongst them most Learned and most rare Men, and as long as they shall follow this course, they shall make themselues [...], and admirable: Without a naturall disposition, they may well sowe, but they shall neuer reape, and no man euer made a good Sparrow-hawke of a Buzzard.

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CHAP. IV. Of the foure White Eunuches, the chiefe Men of the Serrail, and of some other Eunuches.

WE haue said elsewhere that the womens Serrail hath no other Guard but blacke Eunuches, which are sent young to the Court by the Basha's of Caire, to be bred vp to that place. The Sultans Serrail receiues none but white, the which are chosen in their infancie, out of that pleasing troupe of children well borne, which are taken for Tribute from the Christians, whose fortune the precedent Chapter doth describe. They are cut or mutilated with their owne consent, and not by force, the which would in danger their liues: The promises of the greatest Offices in Court, and the hope one day to enjoy Dignities whereunto they see such men aduanced, ouer-swayes their will, to suffer themselues to bee cut, the promise are true, for in time they attaine to the greatnesse of Turkey, But the principall of these Eunuches, and the most ancient among them, which are about the Princes person, the first and most powerfull Heads of the Serrail, are the foure which follow.

The first is the Capiaga great Chamberlaine of the Empire, in most authority in the Serrail; as he who may speake vnto the Grand Seigneur, when he thinkes good; he doth alwayes assist neere vnto his person, wheresoeuer he goes, whether he goe out of his Royall Pallace, or enters into that of his women, he followes him vnto the doore, where he leaues men to aduertise him in his Chamber, when the Sultan retires. Embassies, Packets of Importance, Instructions of Estate, and all great Affaires passe thorough his hands▪ to come vnto the [...] which make him necessary to all others, and gets him as many rich Presents, and as much money as he can well desire. This without comparison is more beneficiall vnto him, than the entertainment he hath in the Serrail, the which is regulated [Page] at ten Sultanins by the day, which make foure pounds of our sterling Money, many Robes of Silke and Cloth of Gold, with such moueables as he desires. Moreouer, his Table is furnished at his Masters charge, and at the same time that his is. Hee carries a Turbant in the Serrail, and goes on horsebacke where he pleaseth.

The second is the Chasuadar Bassi, or the Treasurer of the Princes secret treasure; hee hath one key and the Grand Seigneur another, who doth also set his Scale vnto it. He hath care to lay vp the gold and siluer which comes from Egypt, keepes an accompt of it, and enters alone into this Treasure with the Sultan, hee aduiseth him for the gathering together of money, and entertaines him with a subject which was neuer displeasing to Prince: The importance and necessity of his charge, make him to be much esteemed: For gold being the delights of men, whosoeuer hath the ouer-sight, makes himselfe both powerfull and necessary among them: Moreouer, he hath the keeping of all the Iewels of the Crowne, and likewise of those which they present daily vnto the Sultan; hee gluts his eyes with the lustre of the goodliest Pearles, and the richest Diamonds that the East doth produce: Those which his Master giues, and wherewith hee doth adorne himselfe on a day of pompe, passe thorough his hands. Hee liues in the midst of the Treasures of the Serrail, with hope to succeed to the place of Capiaga, if death forceth the other to abandon it.

The third hath the charge of Chilergi Bassi, that is to say, great Dispencer. He is, as with vs, the Master of the Kings Wardrobe; by his place he hath a care of the Sultans Apparell, and of other things which belong vnto his person. Moreouer, the pieces of Cloth of Gold, which they send for Presents, the exquisite Furres, the rich Swords, the Plumes of Feathers, and such like which they giue vnto the Prince, and those which hee himselfe giues, are vnder his custody. Hee keepes a particular [...], to the end they may see the price of that, which enters into this sturdy Wardrobe for Princes, and the value of that which goes forth in the same qualities: This exercise keepes him alwayes in breath; for the custome [Page] of Turkey, (well practised in the Serrail) being to giue and to receiue, doth furnish him with imployment enough to passe the houres of the day farre from idlenesse. He hath vnder him to assist him in this painfull labour a great number of Eunuches. The diligence which he must shew herein, bindes him to remayne in a manner continually within the Serrail, his entertainments are his Table, many Robes of Cloth of Gold, a thousand Aspres by the day, or eight Sultanins, with many rich Presents. But the fauour wherewith his Master doth honour him, makes the greatest article of his Reuenew: he hopes by the meanes hereof to enter into the place of Chas [...]adar Bassi, when it shall be void. He carries (for a marke of the honour which he enjoyes) a Turbant in the Serrail, and rides within it, aswell as the two former, and he that followes; for these foure Eunuches haue this prerogatiue aboue the other Officers of the Othoman Monarch, residing in the Serrail.

The fourth is also an old pale withered Eunuch, aswell by the course of his yeares, as the want of that which they haue cut away, who enjoyes the Office of Sarai Agassi, which in Turkey is like vnto the Captaine of the Castle of the Louver in France, but with more lustre and authority, and so he hath more labour and care: For being to look vnto the whole Serrail, the ordinary Mansion of the Othoman Monarches, hee must performe his charge so exactly, as such Princes will be serued; he doth often visit all the Quarters and Chambers of this stately Pallace, to see in what estate they are, and hath a care to see the meanest Officers doe their duties, (which is more then with vs, to adde vnto the charge of the Royall Pallace the Office of a Master of the Houshold) that the Serrail be furnished with all things that are vsually needfull, hee remaines within it in the Sultans absence, to maintaine order, and to see that this royall Lodging be alwayes in good estate. He hath the same entertainment with the Chil [...]rgi Bassi, and hope if his yeares de [...]iue him not, to succeed in his place: For the order of the Serrail, doth not suffer suffer them to flie vnto great Officer, but it will haue them mount by degrees. [Page] You shall not see men there, grow vp in one night like vnto Mushrums or Toad-stooles; long attendance, and long seruices aduance them to the places which they deserue. Thus the Shasnadar Bassi aspires to that of Capiaga, the Ch [...]lergi Bassi to that of Shasnadar Bassi, and this last to his. These foure Eunuches attend vsually in the Princes presence, only the Capiaga may speake vnto him, and not the rest, vnlesse the Prince doth question them about their Offices. Besides these Honours and Offices of the Serrail, the Prince doth sometimes honour them with the quality of Bassa, and Gouernour of a Realme, as of Egypt, Damas, or else-where: They also attaine vnto the place of Grand Vizir, which is the first of the Empire, and by the authority thereof lead Armies into Prouinces, where they goe to make warre. The which gaue occasion to a generous Gouernour of a place belonging to the Christian in Hungarie, to answere an Eunuch, Generall of an Army, who had summond him to yeeld, that the practice of women was to sewe and spinne, and not to take Townes. The Grand Seigneur aduanceth them in this manner to great places without the Serrail to a double end; the one to acknowledge their long seruices, the other to haue their places, wherwith to aduance other Eunuches, who during their long seruices haue attended, that they should either die or be sent Basha's into some remote Prouinces. For the Serrail doth nourish many Eunuches vnder the sweetnesse of these hopes: They may be about two hundred of all Ages.

Such as cannot be aduanced by order of antiquity to these eminent places in the Royall Pallace, are notwithstanding imployed in things of lesse quality; some keepe in distinct places, as Closets or Cabinets, those exquisite things that are giuen as Presents to the Prince, as great places of Ambergreece which the Bas [...]a of [...] in his Gouernment, and sends to the [...] Gods of Masque, giues Vessels full of excellent [...] of [...] thridate, Balme of Cairo, Terra Sigilat [...], [...] Bezar-stones, Vessels of Agath, Turquoises, [...] Chrystall, and other things of price, which they [...] [Page] and neatly for the Princes person, others haue a care of rare Furres, the vse whereof serues for his health, with a thousand other Rarities which they bring from the Indies. Besides all this there is employment in the Serrail for many other Eunuches, which keepe one place, whither they carry all the rich moueables confiseated, of the great men of the Court, who haue beene executed for the enormity of their crimes, or by the sinister inuentions of Enuie; and likewise of other persons which die rich, for being all slaues their goods belong vnto the Prince. Those Eunuches receiue these goodly moueables, and giue aduice vnto the Sultan who goes to see them; and makes choice of what doth like him: the rest is set to sale in the Serrail, only to the Officers thereof, and if there remaine any thing vnbought, it is sent to the publique Market of the City, and sold to them that will: The Money that is raised is deliuered into the hands of the Chasnadar Bassi, who puts it into the secret Treasure. Some other Eunuches haue for their imployment the charge of other Serrails and Seminaries, where the Prince doth cause the youth to be instructed at his Charge, as in royall Colledges, both at Constantinople, Andrinopolis, Bursia and elsewhere. Thus by the wise Policy of the Serrail they which serue are aduanced, for an example to the younger sort to flie idlenesse, and assurance that their continuall labour, shall be one day crowned with an honourable and profitable recompence.

CHAP. V. Of many other Officers seruing in the Serrail, and the Sultans Person, and of the number of Men which serue in this Palace.

BEsides these Eunuches aduanced to great Offices, and those which are vnder them, there is a certaine number of other men, which do vsually serue the Sultans person: Some are Groomes of his Chamber, others in a more eminent Dignitie: [Page] all ordred by thirties, as thirty for his Shirt, thirty for his Wastcoat, thirty for his little Cassocke, which the Turkes weare vnder their Robes, thirty for his Furres, thirty for his Turbant, thirty for his Girdle, thirty for his Breeches, thirty for his Stockings, thirty for his Shooes, thirty to make his Bed, thirty to dresse vp his Chamber, and thirty to order and dispose of the Moueables, thirty for his Armes, as his Bow, Arrowes, and Semiter, thirty for his Scepter, thirty for his Imperiall Crowne, thirty for his rich Hangings, and as many for his Cushions; not that they serue all at one instant, but by order from time to time.

They which serue for his Mouth, are many in number, gouerned by foure principall Officers subordinate one vnto another: The first is the Argihassi, who hath a care that euery man doe his dutie. The second is the Mimmute Pag [...], who doth furnish the money daily, that is necessary for the expences. His place doth giue him a priuiledge to speake often vnto the Prince, to learne from him what he desires to eat. He hath like vnto the former foure Sultanins by the day, his Table and two Robes yearely, the one of Silke, the other of Cloth of Gold. The third is the Checaya, an Office like vnto the Comptroller Generall of the Kings House in France, he is in a manner equall in authority to the Master of the Houshold, he reconciles the Quarrels, which Enuy or Pride do breed among the Officers. He hath foure Sultanins a day, and yearely two Robes of Silke and Cloth of Gold. The fourth is the Mutpariazigi, which is as a Clarke of the Office; All these men imploy their cares, and the authoritie of their places in the Princes Kitchin. Without there serue many Sahangylers, as Stewards, or rather Gentlemen seruants, which carrie the meate; They are neere fifteene hundred men, which serue at diuers times in diuers troupes.

The number of other inferiour Officers in the Serrail shewes that this stately Pallace is of great expences, and that the Prince which liues there is powerfull and magnificent. The Baltagis which fetch wood for the Bake-house and for other fiting, are aboue two hundred; The Bostangies or Gardiners, [Page] are eight or nine hundred, so vast and of great entertainment, are the Gardens where this great Monarch doth walke. The Purueyours only for wilde Fowle or Poulterie, are fiue hundred, the Groomes of the Stable eight hundred, and the other men of the like condition increase the number of the inferiour Officers of the Turkish Emperours house: So as they doe number within the Serrail, thirteene or fourteene thousand Mouthes, which are daily fed at the Sultans charge, comprehending the Quarter of the Women.

CHAP. VI. Of the ordinary Victualls of the Serrail, and of the Prouisions thereof for the nourishment of the Prince, and of those which serue there.

AN order being so judiciously established in the Serrail, and so exactly obserued, it hath not forgotten the necessarie prouision of victuals: They are brought and preserued with admirable husbandrie, contrarie to the ordinarie confusion of Princes Houses. First, the Corne is gathered for the Sultans mouth, for the Sultana's, the great Bassa's and the Mufti, (for all of them haue their part) in the Territory of Bursia, a Towne in Bithynia, where retaine for the purest and best of all the Easterne parts: They retaine for the Serrail eight or nine thousand Quilots, euery Quilot is two Bushels of Paris measure: The Mils erected to that end in Constantinople grind it, the great Ouens of the Serrail bake it into bread, and this goodly order distributes it by rule, as to the Sultana's twentie Loaues a day, to the Bassa's ten, to the Mufti eight, and to other inferiour persons much lesse, and to some but one. This distribution is contained in a Book, which the chiefe Baker keepes, to cause it to be obserued. The Corne which is appointed for the great number of men, which serue in the Serrail, is gathered in Gracia, and brought to Constantinople, to the quantitie of fortie thousand Quilots, and [Page] distributed with the like order to those for whom it is ordained. For there they feed men with necessarie sobrietie, to make them labour seriously in any businesse whatsoeuer.

The Victuals, be it for the Annuall prouisions, or for the ordinarie of the day, are brought and distributed with the like order: About the end of Autumne, the Grand Vizir appoints certaine dayes to see the Pastromanis made, for the Kitchins of the Sultan, and of the Sultana's; They are made with the flesh of Cowes that are with Calfe, that they may be the more tender, they salt them as they doe Stags or Hogs in Christendome; about that time they kill to the number of foure thousand. The Serrail esteemes this kind of meat, among the delicacies of their Feasts, and the Turkish Families if they haue any conuenient meanes make likewise their prouision; this great store of flesh is for the whole yeere. But the Purueyours doe furnish the Serrail daily with two hundred Sheepe, a hundred Lambes, or a hundred Kids, in their season, fortie Calues, fortie Geese, or Goslings, a hundred couple of Wild-fowle, a hundred couple of Hennes, a hundred paire of Pigeons, with some other small Birds which the Poulterers bring. There comes no fish into the Serrail, but to please the appetite of some of the Agalaris who desire to eate it; then they cause it to bee taken on that side of the Pallace which lookes towards the Sea, the which doth abundantly furnish all sorts of fish.

The excellent Oiles which the Sultans Kitchin doth vse, comes most commonly from Coron and Modon, in Grecia, a plentifull soile for Oliue-trees. Candi [...] only doth furnish that which is imployed for the Princes seruice: for besides the delicate bountie of this liquour, it is without any ill sent, the which growing old in others makes them vnpleasing. They haue great prouision of Butter in the Serrail, the which is brought from M [...]ldouia, and other places thereabouts; It comes downe by the blacke Sea in great quantitie but salted, the Turkes doe not seeke after fresh Butter; either for that they know not the quality, or neglect it: Milke is little in vse among them; that which is brought to Constantinople, is only [Page] bought by the Christians or Iewes; If the Turkes make vse of it, it is after it is sowre, for then they say it doth quench their thirst.

Other prouisions of Victuals are drawne from those Prouinces where they most abound, and are best. The Gallions make two Voyages yearely to Alexandria, to fraught themselues with Pulses, Sugars, and Spices, as much as shall bee needfull for the Serrail, and the chiefe Bassa's of the Port; yet the Turkes vse not much Spices, lest it should prouoke them to drinke wine, so expresly defended by their Law. Egypt doth furnish Dates, and the best Prunes that come into the Serrail. Apples which are the chiefe delights in their Turkish Feasts, and whereof they make a plentifull prouision, are gathered in Vallachia, Transiluania, and M [...]ldauia, and brought vnto the Serrail in great abundance: those which they serue vnto the Sultan, are for their delicate sweetnesse bought in Candy. Italy doth also contribute to the Prouisions of this great Serrail; the Bailiffe of Venice, residing at the Port, causeth a great quantity of Parmasant Cheese to bee brought for the Grand Seigneur, his Sultana's and Basha's: they are pleased in the taste, and the Feast would not be acceptable if this meate were wanting.

All these things concerne the food, for their drinke they make a liquour in the Serrail, called Sorbet, composed of the juice of Citrons, Sugar, and Water, and sometimes they adde Ambergreece, most excellent to drinke; so it is only reserued for the Sultan and his women: The greatest men of this Imperiall Pallace make for themselues, as the foure principall Eunuches, of whom wee haue spoken, and some few others: The Ice refreshing it in Summer makes it more delightfull; They make their prouision of Ice from the Mountaines about Constantinople, they bring such great store, as the charges (before it be put into those places where they keepe it) comes to twenty thousand Sultanins, or eight thousand pounds sterling. The rest of the Royall Family quench their thirst at those goodly Fountaines, which powre forth delicate water abundantly for the whole Serrail: Wine enters not into it without [Page] violating the Law of the Alcoran, which hath so seuerely forbidden it; and whereof the wisest of the Turkes detest the vse; they call it the Spurre of Sensualitie, and the Tombe of Reason.

The Wood which serues for their Kitchin, is supplied with the like abundance; they measure the quantity by the weight, for so they sell it in Constantinople, aswell as in some Prouinces of France, and particularly in Landguedoc: They cut it in the Grand Seigneurs Forrests, and this prouision costs him least of all those that enter into his Pallace. Thirty great Caramonsailes, chosen among an infinite number of his Shins take it in, and sayling by the channell of the blacke Sea, deliuer it into the Serrail; his slaues haue cut it downe, sparing good summer of money to the Chasus or Treasure without, whereunto the charges would amount, both for the cutting and carriage.

But if the victuals of the Serrail be furnished in abundance and excellencie, the Kitchins which imploy them are supplyed with the goodliest Implements, which can be seene in a Soueraigne Princes house. Most part of the greater Vessels are of Brasse, kept so neat and clean, as the very sight of them will giue content and amazement [...] other Implements which are of Copper blanche, are so great in [...] they cannot well be numbred. The losse which happens many times is not small; the foure dayes of Diuan, many strangers eate in the Serrail, and they which haue learned to [...]nish themselues at anothers cost, take occasion to practize their Trade, and to take it where they can find it, and [...] a quantity of Vessels, as the great [...] hath sometimes beene of opinion (to auoid this great losse) [...] of Siluer; and to commit the [...] who might answere for them▪ [...] the great charge and the feare of an [...] might befall [...] hath alwayes diu [...]r [...]ed him.

Such are the victuals and other punishment [...] [...] nish the Pallace of the [...] [...] der finde the relation of the [...] [Page] the subject of these lines, let him consider that without this Chapter, the others which compose this History could not be: For this wanting victuals to supply the Othoman Cou [...]t, the glory and lusts of his great Serrail could not be without them, nor be able to furnish matter for this worke. The members of mans Body (saith the Fable) did one day mutine against the Belly, who they thought slept in perpetuall idlenesse: The rougue speaking for all the rest shewed, that whilst the eye see, the eares heard, the hands laboured, and the feet walked, only the belly was idle and at rest, that it was fitting, that in his turne hee should discharge some one of their Officer: They so resolued, they employed it, but nourishment failing them, for the want of the naturall exercise of the belly, they gr [...]w cold; pale, and without motion. The truth of this take reacheth vs, that by labour we must liue, food maintaines life in its naturall functions, and this Chapter furnishing this stately Court wherewith to subsist, giues this History the subject of his imployment.

CHAP. VII. Of the sicke Men, and of such as die in the Serrail.

THe infirmities of the bodie, doe most commonly follow the dispositions of the mind, and dissolution doth sooner cause them than any other thing; Courtiers feele the inconueniences of their [...]. Where they of the Serrail fall [...], they put them into a clost Waggon, in the which they are drawne by men, and con [...]cted to the Hospitall, whereas the order of this [...] house, and the Turkish Charitie, doe what they [...] them, the one giues care to the ordinary Physicians, [...] the other (which as we haue said is very great) forgets [...] to assist them: They are so exactly guarded, as no stranger may speak vnto them, vntill they haue recouered their health, after which they are restored to their [Page] first Lodgings, and the exercise of their places. But if they die, the Law of the Court enjoynes, that they of the Chamber or Oda, whereof the dead man was, shall be his heires, and share the goods which he hath left, except it be some one of the foure chiefe Eunuches, before mentioned, or the Chistar Aga of the Sultana's, who is blacke; for then the Prince is sole heire of his precious moueables, and of the abundance of money which this wretched man had so greedily gathered together, by the sinister meanes, which followes the ambitions of the Court; hauing liued poore in his seruitude, to die rich in the same, and to restore to the Sultans Cofers, that which his auarice had drawne away. Such Eunuches doe vsually leaue great wealth in Moueables (for the Turkes haue no Lands) and particularly when their long seruices haue aduanced them to the Dignities of Gouernours of Prouinces, then they haue liberty to dispose of a third part of their estates, to make a Will, in the which the Sultan is alwayes Executor, hee giues shares to the Legataries, and many times takes all for himselfe, by the right of his Prerogatiue, and that of Master, not only of the goods, but also of the persons of his Empire: for all men being his slaues, hee is their first and lawfull heire.

Chap. VIII. Of the Grand SEIGNEVRS hunting.

MOst of the Turkish Emperours, in the effeminacie of their Idlenesse, where they wallow wretchedly in the bosomes of their Concubines, haue taken hunting for a pleasing diuersion: But some finding it more pleasing than others, haue loued it with more passion. Baiazet the first of that name, (who raigned in Turkey when as the weaknesse of Charles the sixth, suffered the disorders in France, which had like to haue ruined it) was so transported with this exercise, as he therein spent the best of his dayes: his Court was fuller of [Page] Huntsmen than any other; whosoeuer went to aduance his fortune, must goe with a Hawke on his fist or a lease of Greyhounds in his hand; for the best course to rise in Court, is to follow the inclinations of the Prince, how brutish soeuer they be: Then a Faulconer grew great, and a Rider got an Office, but a vertuous man was rejected and grew poore. What priuate men did, to merit this Monarches fauour, forreine Princes did imitate to winne his loue. Iohn Earle of Neuers sonne to Philip the Hardy, Duke of Burgundie, accompanied by the Lords of Tremoulle, La Marche, Couey, Philip of Artois, Earle of Eu, Constable of France, Vienna, Admirall of France, Boucicault, Marshall of France, the Lords of Breze', Montrell, Helly, and many others, led to succour Sigismond King of Hungary, a generous army of French, against the Turkes which were in N [...]copolie: Bad intelligence and rashnesse ruined them, their troupes were defeated by the succours of Baiazet, the men were put to the sword, the Earle of Neuers taken Prisoner, with the chiefe of the French Nobility: The Turkes Prison is rough, and a Prince how great soeuer must suffer. Philip the Hardy to mollifie the sauage humour of the Turke, and to bind him to better vsage of his Sonne, sent him Presents, and particularly many white Ger-faulcons, whereof he made great accompt: and to testifie the pleasure which hee receiued, he inlarged the Prison of this young Prince, and led him often a hunting. Therein the French obserued the brutish passion of Baiazet: His Faulconers had cast off a Ger-faulcon after a fowle vnsetsonably, he grew into a fury, and would presently haue put two thousand of those men which followed him to death with their Hawkes vpon their fists, if the earnest iutreaty of the Earle of Neuers had not diuerted him: Then hee vented out his choller in words, and told the Busgonian, that hee did more esteeme a good Hawke or a good Dogge than any of his men and (adding this brutish speech) he said he could haue as many men as hee pleased, but for good Hawkes, or good Dogges he could hardly find them.

In his hunting whosoeuer did hurt a Dogge vnaduisedly, he [Page] was guilty of Treason, and was punished in like manner: But Hee, who with his powerfull Hand controules the pride of Princes, measured him in the like manner. Tamberlaine King of the Tartars defeated him soone after in battaile, tooke him with his Wife, and made lesse account of his person than of a Dogge or a Hawke: When hee dined hee caused him to be set vnder his Table in a Cage of Iron, and cast him bones to gnaw: Ministring matter to History, to write this example to Posteritie, to the end that Princes that loue hunting, may not suffer their reason to be surmounted with the fury and brutish impatiencies of this exercise. The hunting traine of this Prince was so great, as for hawking only hee had seuen thousand Faulconers, which were entertained vntill the raigne of Mahomet the Second, who comming to the Empire, looked vpon this fearfull troupe of Faulconers with amazement; and as he had no inclination to hunting he casheer'd them all, and answered the intreaties of great Men, who spake to haue them restored, with these words: God forbid, that I should giue my bread to such vnprofitable persons, ordained for so vaine a pleasure. Hunting is an honest recreation, easeth the minde, exerciseth the body, and he that loues it, shewes the quicknesse of his spirit, and the agilitie and disposition of his person: But the time which hee imployes must be measured, free, and not stolne by violence from more serious imployments, the which ought alwayes to be preferred before this commendable pleasure. Hunting must be generous, and they must take that by force which they pursue, and not by cunning and policie,Plato amongst others in his booke, de le g [...]b. d [...]cl. 7. as to set Nets and Toiles for beasts, then it is base, idle, and forbidden by the wise, who haue laboured to settle flourishing Common-weales vnder the gouernment of good Lawes.

Solyman the Second, he which tooke Rhodes, and erected the Turkish Crescent in the best Townes of Hungarie, did often spend his time in hunting; during his Raigne, hee imployed a whole yeare, which was in the yeare 1531, when as Italy apprehended that the great preparation of a fearefull Nauall Army, had beene made for their ruine, and the Venetians [Page] prest with jelousie, that it should cause some dangerous tempest in their Gulfe, vnder pretext of seeking the Pyrats of Malta, which did annoy the Turkish Merchants. they sent vnto the Kings of Hungarie and Polonia, to the end they would intreate Solyman not to trouble himselfe to send his Army into their Seas, and that they would promise and vndertake, to keepe the Leuant Seas free from all Pyrats: It succeeded according to their desire, Solyman being retired to Andrinopolis, spent the whole yeare (as we haue said) in the pleasure of hunting.

The Turkish Emperours which haue succeeded him loued this exercise. Osman the last dead, entertained a great number of Huntsmen and Faulconers. These Princes hold it a glory to make a shew of them in their stately entries into Constantinople, as wee haue formerly obserued, where among the troupes of Huntsmen, wee see Faulconers with their Hawkes on their fist, haue a Leopard at their Saddle pomell couered with Cloth of Gold; they hunt the Hare or the Stag many times with some content; they pursue the Boare, although the vse of it be forbidden by their Law: If they take any, they giue the flesh to Christians, or cast it away, and reserue the skinne to couer Bookes for the which it is very good, and preserues their Volumes long: Those which haue come into my hands bound at Constantinople, are excellently well couered with Boares skins, although they be not artificially done as with vs at Paris.

But Superstition the Soueraigne Mistris of Turkish Spirits, hath a share in this pleasing exercise, when they hunt vpon the day of their Coronation, or when as they conceiue the designes of an important warre, they hold it for a good presage if they take the first beast that is put vp; but this pleasure of hunting doth not so possesse them, as it makes them forget the care of serious affaires. The Turkish Emperours haue been accustomed in these sports to take the aduice of their Bassa's, of the occurrents which concern the estate; they cal them vnto them in the field, they speake vnto them, and command them to deliuer their opinions: In Court they call this manner of [Page] consulting, The Councell on horsebacke: whereby wee may learne that this Nation is not so barbarous as men conceiue, and that if they raigne so powerfully ouer so many Prouinces and Realmes, it is not accidentally and by chance; their care and judicious Councell giue vnto their Empire a wise Gouerment.

CHAP. IX. Of the traine which followes the Grand Seigneurs Court.

THe number of men lodged and fed in the Serrail, which amounts to fourteen thousand mouths, would make those imagine, which know not the power of the Turkish Emperours, that many Soueraigne Monarchs, lodged together, had drawne all the Officers of their houses into one Pallace. And truly he whom they serue hauing vanquished and ruined many Kings hath made an vnion of their Crownes: His Serrail, when he lodgeth there, containes in him alone the Emperour of Constantinople, him of Trebisonde, the Kings of Ierusalem, Babylon, Damas, Egypt, Cypresse, Thunis, Algier, Fez, and Morocco, with an infinite number of other smaller Soueraignes, whose Empires, Realmes and Principalities hee doth possesse: So as so many Officers as are in his Pallace, seruing his greatnesse, serue many Crownes. But when he goes out of his Serrail, to vndertake a Voyage into some remote Prouince, the traine and followers which increase his Court is wonderfull. Thirty sixe thousand Iamzaries, make the number of his ordinary Guard on foot, fortie foure thousand Spabi, which areas light Horsemen, make the Cauallery; two thousand Capigas or Archers of the Port follow him: These beside their ordinary Guard, execute the Office of the Ministers of Iustice, with men of meaner condition that are vnder them: Two thousand Solachis, which are Guards on foot about the Sultans person, are of his traine: Foure thousand [Page] Chaoux, Men imployed in Embassies, and in the executions of Iustice march after him. There are also fifteen hundred Sahangylers, or Gentlemen Seruants, which carry his meate vnto the chamber doore, where the Pages receiue it and deliuer it to the Capiaga, who sets it vpon his Table. The number of men for baser vses is not lesse, if we consider wherein they are imployed, there are three thousand Groomes of the Stable, and a thousand Riders for hunting; the Balthagis which cut the wood, and bring it to the Kitchin are eight thousand: There are a thousand Thauegys, which are Purueyours, or Victualers: two thousand fiue hundred Therezi, or Tailors to the Court, sixe hundred Bakers. And if the Voyage be made for the warre, the Officers of the Arsenall, which are Commissaries of the Artillery and others, make fortie six thousand men: The Gebegys which make Armes, and repaire and keepe cleane those which are already made, are fourteene thousand: seuen thousand Tufechgys or Gun-makers, follow with their Tooles and ambulatory shops: eight thousand Topeys, which are the Cannoneers, increase the traine of this monstrous Court. I omit a number of pettie Officers, for that I haue not their names.

The beasts of burthen are vsually twentie thousand, that is to say, ten thousand Camels, and ten thousand Moiles, which is the ordinary for the Sultans house, not reckoning the troine of the Bassa's which follow, the which is not so small but in seeing them march apart, you would take it for the traine of a Soueraigne Prince; for the Turkes carrie in their Voyages all sorts of Commodities, to the end they may be accommodated aswell in Field, as in the Townes of their abode. The supputation of the number of men that follow this Court, amounts to a hundred fiue thousand, sixe hundred, when the Sultan trauels in a time of peace; but if hee goe to the warre, his Court is composed of a hundred and fourescore thousand men, beside the Souldiers. So as who is hee, that seeing this fearefull Court to march, would not beleeue that it is a whole Nation, who hauing abandoned their owne houses, goe to conquer new habitations. Certainly, that which History relates [Page] of the Descent of the Northerne Nations, as Cimbrians, Sicambrians, Gothes, Vandals, Burgonians, Normans and others, is plainly seene there by the number of men; but with this difference, that those did but passe, and these remaine still, and adde to the continuance of their tedious Raigne, the Rule and power ouer many other Nations, neere and afarre off, from the principall seat of their Empire.

CHAP. X. Of the greatnesse of the Turkish Bassa's.

THe brightnesse of the Sun doth not only shew it selfe in the body of its Spheare, but it doth also shine in the greatest Starre [...]. And Kings who are in their Estates what the Sun is in Heauen, do not only shew in themselues the lustre of their magnificence, but it doth also shine in the wealth of the great Men of their Court. This is seene more visibly in Turkey than in any other place of the World, where the Turkish Bassa's display in the pompe of their great riches, the proud power of the Emperour, from whom they haue receiued it. Machmut Bassa, Beglierbey of Europe enjoyed so great treasures during the Raigne of Mahomet the Second, as the annuall Reuenewes thereof, would haue defraied a powerfull Turkish Army. This example would put them to silence, which bragge so much of the treasure of old Crass [...]as, the yearely rent whereof, they say was able, to entertaine a Roman Army. The least of the Turkes Armies would containe many of theirs. As this Bassa had beene the most powerfull, and the most sumptuous, that euer the Othoman Court had aduanced to the height of an extraordinary fortune, it shall not be vnfitting to deliuer briefly by what meanes hee came vnto that greatnesse. He was by Nation a Graecian, and in his infancy his Mother who was a Bulgarian, led him one day with her, from the Towne of Nebopride, to that of Sendero [...]a ▪ she met casually with the Turkish horse, some of them [Page] seeing this young childe wonderfull beautifull, tooke him away by force, and carried him as a Present to the Sultan their Master: The Prince loued him, and in a short time made the greatest of his Court know, that beauty is many times a powerfull motiue to a great fortune, hee was placed among the best respected Pages of his Chamber, where hee spent his younger yeeres in the midst of the delights of the Serrail, after which he had the charge of Aga, or Colonell Generall of the Ianizaries; afterwards he was honoured with the qualitie of Bassa, then he became Vizir, & mounting daily higher, Romelia or Europe had him for their Beglierbey: The magnificences which he shewed, during the possession of so much wealth, would be tedious to relate. One only example shall suffice for all. Mahomet the Second, caused the eldest of his children to be Circumcised; the custome of the Court will haue great Men to giue him Presents, as wee haue formerly spoken: all performed it; but that of Machmut, mounted neere to a hundred thousand Sequins, which would make fortie thousand pounds sterling. The Ocean must bee vast and great, which doth breed such great Whales, liuing and walking Mountaines: And the Othoman Court must be stately, seeing the Bassa's encounter with such fortunes.

But it may be that of Machmut will seeme stale, for that it happened an age before ours: to satisfie those which loue new things, and to augment the proofes of this verity, that the Turkish Bassa's are great, we will adde an example which many haue seene of late yeeres. It appeared in the Leuant in the yeere 1614, and in the person of Nassuf Bassa Grand Vizir of the Empire, whose treasures were so great, as they found in his Cofers at the time of his death a Million of Gold in Sequins, and in siluer Coine eight hundred thousand Crownes, three bushels of precious Stones not wrought, a bushell of Diamonds not set in gold, and two bushels of great round Pearles of inestimable value: His other furniture was equall to his treasure; he had a thousand goodly Horses in his stable, whereof the least was valued at a thousand Crownes: Moreouer, he had foure hundred Mares of Arabian, Egypt, [Page] the goodliest that could be found in those Countries, with many thousand of Camels and Moyles. His Armory was full of the richest Swords that could be found in the Leuant, and elsewhere: The least had the hilts of siluer: One was so enricht with Diamonds vpon the hilt, as it was valued at fiue thousand pounds sterling. The rest of his moueables were no lesse precious, his Persian Carpets wrought of Gold and Silke. The great quantity of Cloth of Gold & of Silk of most excellent workes; the rich beds, and all, that excesse of a monstrous fortune can draw into the Pallace of a Fauourite, exceeds the imagination of men, and giues occasion to say, that with the spoile of such men, they might not only enrich many houses, but many Cities.

Such rich and sumptuous Courtiers go with no smal trains: when they march in field, and vndertake a Voyage, be it for their owne particulars, or to receiue the possession of the Gouernment of Prouinces, wherewith the Sultan doth honour them, the baggage which goes before, and the great number of men which follow them, doth equall, yea, exceed the attendants of the Soueraigne Princes of Europe: Such a traine may busie the eyes of those that see them passe, for a whole day, for so much time is necessary for the least entry into a Towne, and yet many times they supply the want of day by Torch-light: It is the care of such Bassa's to shew themselue, great to the eyes of the World: which makes them prodigall in their expences, to be attended by many thousands of houshould seruants, (if they bee not ill serued being a difficult thing, but such a number and troupe should be importune and troublesome) to whom they giue many Enunches to command them. They take a delight to bee well mounted, and withall to haue as many horses, as would serue for diuers Regiments. They will haue their Baggage, to seeme the more stately, to be carried by twelue or fifteene hundred Moiles, and as many Can [...]elis. The number of the Concubins which they entertaine in imitation of the Prince their Maister, imployes the care and watchfull diligence of many black Eunuches, which they appoint to keepe them, and consume their great wealth. [Page] Their Lodgings are stately Serrails, which they haue built with incredible expences; as wee may see in the Hippodrome of Constantinople, by the Serrail of Hibraime Bassa, whereof the Turkish Emperours haue beene heires, the which is capable to lodge a great King. Their Moueables and Ornaments of their Hals, are equall to their greatnesse, wherein they spare no cost, as the only acquisitions which the Law of their seruitude doth allow them: for being all slaues, they can purchase no lands nor possessions, the which doth generally belong to the Sultan their Soueraigne. But if of Caitiue slaues they be so great and so proud in their wealth, what must the Master be who hath made them such?

CHAP. XI. Of the affronts which the Turkish Bassa's are forced to pocket vp in Court, and the disgracefull Chastisements which they suffer.

THe honours and greatnesse of the World haue their counterpoise; shame and contempt followes them at the heeles: All that clime vp may descend, yea fall. Thus the diuine Prouidence hath wisely ordained, to teach man not to build his assurances thereon; and to binde him to seeke them in that which is constant & eternall. The Court is the Theater, wherein the Tragicall Scene of change, shewes it selfe; griefe goes hand in hand with pleasure, and is an inseperable Companion; he cannot belong a Courtier that hath not tried it. That of the Turkes doth many times make it sensible to the greatest Bassa's; in the midst of the glorious dignities of the Empire, they feele the displeasure, to see themselues shamefully intreated by the commandement of their Soueraigne. For when he hath an intent to blemish their Names with eternall infamy, hee causeth the crouper of their Horses to be cut, whilest they are vpon them; an affront held in Turkey, the greatest that a man of their condition can receiue. So was [Page] Mu [...] [...] in the [...] of Sely the first, Father to great S [...]ly [...]. This Prince hauing vanquished the Sophy of [...], at triumphed in Tuaris, the chiefe Citye of that Repl [...], was forced to leade it, when as he saw his souldiers into [...], saying plainly that they had rather lose all, when to spend the W [...]ter in Persia. This [...] was very sensible, the thought to be reuenged on those whom hee should find to be the Motiues: they perswade him that Mu [...]ap [...]a Bassa, who had credit among the [...]ootmen, had induced them to [...] hangeth his [...] vpon him, and seeing him on [...] by a Iester which followed him: The Bassa perceiued it, and the disgrace which he receiued, made him to end his dayes in the midst of the cares and griefe, which a man of his qualitie doth feele, when he thinkes he hath [...] the reputation, which made him to liue gloriously in the World and Court.

The infamy of this affront comes not alone; it hath for a companion, the [...] of a shamefull punishment, which the great men of the [...] [...]ue, when hee holds him guilty of some small crime: When he hath caused the Crouper of some of their [...] be cut, he doth likewise [...]au [...] others to be [...] by his [...] ▪ as it happened in the [...] the [...] Co [...]ell of the [...] who [...] co [...]ed to haue [...] the [...] the Emperour caused him to be taken and [...]. But [...] is not so [...] [...]ble vnto the [...], is the [...] the Crouper,Mimio [...]i ing [...]i [...], natur [...] [...]firma, & m [...] [...]iri [...], ipia [...] i [...]i [...]ria, ins [...]i [...]entia, [...], quo [...] par [...] [...] interp [...]t [...]ti [...], Senec. lib. In sapientem vi [...] [...] cade [...] [...]. as if the Leather of the [...] of [...] horse were mor [...] [...] them [...] ▪ so much [...] which [...] things which [...] [...] [...]d Croupers to be cut, tha [...] [...] whip vpon the body. But [...] which follow the greatnes of the [...] of their Basha's.

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CHAP. XII. In what [...]i [...]e the Grand SEIGNEVE [...] vnto his Bassa's.

The greatest dignities of the World are not the most happy, (said an Ancient) and the condition of [...] Monarches hath secured miserable to some [...] had, little to desire and much [...] feare▪ for being [...] height of humane greatnesse they cannot desire [...], but continuing in the languishing of their spirit, they sometimes conceiue jealousies and imaginary, terrours, and many times such as are true the which troubles, their [...] their liues, and fils them with tedious conceit. So saith the Master of Princes in the holy Writ in these true words deliuered by a Prince, The heart of Kings is inscrutable. Cor Regum inscrutabile, Prou. 25.3. Certainly truth doth teach vs, that if Crownes and Scep [...] be weighty, as charge of [...]re and trouble, the Office of Kings is painfull; for there is nothing so difficult to man, [...] well, whereon depend [...] the knowledge of [...]. The Prince which commands must obserue three things,Experiendo di [...]ticisse quam arduum quam subiectum fortuna, regendi cun [...]ta onus, Tacitus lib. [...]. Annal. that what he desires may be just, for the publique good, and concerne his owne glory. The which is done by word or [...]ing. The Othoman Monarches, as Princes, retired within their Serrail, and not much communicable; command in [...] not daily by writing, and the stile which they vse in writing that which they command, is particular vnto them▪ We shall hardly find in Histories any one example of a Monarchi [...] wealth, in the which the Superiour [...] haue [...] so imperiously, and hath beene obeyed secondly; as with the Turkes; their letters breathe nothing but threats; and they speake no other language but that of cruelties. Behold some examples of those, which the Sultan [...] haue [...] their [...] In the [...] third [...]ring of the [...] in H [...]ria, which the Ch [...]st [...] had recouered, and holding this [...] very great [Page] [...] [Page] must make this Bridge or die, hee labours, hazards all, and loseth many thousand men, yet notwithstanding this ouerflowing of the water, hee finished a Bridge in sixteene dayes ouer the Riuer of Draue, being fiue thousand fiue hundred fathome long, and fourteene broad, supported by Boats tyed one to another with chaines of Iron. Solyman past his Army ouer it, and went to lay his siege to Segher, where he died. Assa [...]b [...]g had good & strong excuses, not to attempt the making of this Bridge, any other Prince but a Turke would haue allowed of them: But hee who was (as the Turkes be) a bad husband of mens liues, would haue it done at what rate soeuer. The threat of those Letters which wee haue related are with some condition. But the Turkish Princes many times write absolutely; as it happened in the yeare 1614, in the person of Nassuf, Bassa, Grand Vizir of the Turkish Empire. The Emperour Achmat the first would haue his life and his treasure: He sends vnto him being in Constantinople, the Bostangibassi, with two Letters written by his own hand, whereof this was the tenour of the first: Faile not presently vpon the receipt hereof, in s [...]nd [...] by the Bostangibassi the Seales of my Empire. Nass [...]f obeyed, and deliuered them into the great Gardiners hands; hauing receiued them, he drew another of the Sul [...]ans Letters out of his pocket to Nassuf, wherof these were the words: After that thou hast sent me my Seales, send mee thy Hand by him that shall giue thee this Note. This command was rough, and the stile of his Letter troublesome, yet hee must obey, not of force, for Nassuf was in his house with a Family of aboue two thousand men, and the Gardiner had [...] staffe, and was only assisted [...] Rascals v [...]med, which were Capigis, or [...] of the Serrail. Nassuf suffered himselfe to bestrangled, and the Bostangibassi carried away his hand in the view of all his g [...]as Family, whereof the least Scullions might haue [...] him with their [...], with his goodly traine. Y [...] [...] [...] the people of the Serrail, and knowing that it was the Princes pleasure, their Armes were their teares and sorrowes. Thus this rough meanes of writing prooues very beneficiall [Page] to the Turkish Princes, and they reape many co [...] [...] thereby. First, they are not forced to [...] money to the Gouernour of a strong place, who is not faithfull or profitable to draw him out of it, and to buy with great summes of money (as they doe in other places), the Townes and Forts of their Estates; the least of their Letters drawes forth a Gouernour, where they place whom they please they compasse great enterprizes, causing that to be done by feare which loue cannot doe; they are lesse betrayed in affaires of importance, and are generally exactly obeyed.

CHAP. XIII. Of the malicious in [...]ent [...] and poys [...]nings which the Turkes vse the against another, and [...]sse [...] tally great Men.

AMbition hath brought other Vices into the Cour [...], where s [...]e imployes there, in her designes: Slander and Treason are the [...] of her [...]estable inuention, and poysoning y [...]rs them in execution. But this last finds more imployment in the Court of Mabo [...]an Princes than in any other part of the World [...] They resec [...] in al [...] mi [...]able meane to reuenge [...], and to content their passions. And after [...]heir [...]xample the great Men and Bassa [...] imploy it: Former ages, and the disorder of that wherein we liue, turnish exampl [...]. In the yeare 137 [...], [...] told King of Gram [...]e, a Ma [...] Poi [...]t [...], [...] where [...] that [...] King thereof, [...] rich [...] [...] things, [...]. Hee [...] [...] [...] [...], and [...] with an infinite number of [...] to Castite; Don Henry [...] [Page] pleased with so rates Present, hee doth publiquely commend the magnificence of the Turkish Prince. But hee doth soone learne to his cost, that poyson is rather among gold and precious stones than among pouerty. Hee puts them on the next day, but presently the poyson where with they were infected, layes him in the bed of death, and depriues him of life: Spaine hath beene alwayes subject to such accidents whilest the Mahometans commanded there, and the Kings thereof had cause to feare a double poyson: For whilest the Turkish Princes did attempt their persons by poyson, the Alphaquis, and Priests of the Alcoran, poysoned the soules of their subjects by the contagious impurities of a false and brutish Doctrine. A little before the death of the King of Castile, he of Leon called Don Sancho, was poysoned by the inuention of a Turke, who taught Gonzales, his Lieutenant at Leon, the detestable meanes to kill his Master in giuing him an Apple,The Spaniards write it, and Mayerne Turquet in the seuenth Booke of the historie of Spaine. the which this wretched Lieutenant performed: This was at the same time when as a Deluge of fire come out of the Ocean, the which carried its flame farre into Spaine, burne a great Countrey, and of many Burro [...]gh [...] and Villages, made heaps of ashes as farre as Z [...]ora.

These examples shew the malice of the Turkes against the the Christians; but they doe no lesse among themselues. A Turkish King of Fe [...], not able to indure the prosperities of him of G [...]anad [...], called Ioseph, a Mahometan like himselfe, he resolued to take away his life: Hee sends to visit him oftnes than he had accustomed, he makes a greater shew of friendship, and after he hath receiued many effects of his, hee sent him for a [...] Cassocke of Cloth of Gold of great [...], King Ioseph receiues it, and puts it on, not hee had not worne it a day, but the poyson wherewith the Prince of Fe [...] had infected i [...], [...] vpon him, and gaue him such cruell convulsions and [...], as his flesh fell away in piece, and the Physician [...] [...] the true cause of his disease, nor could apply [...]hy re [...] that hee of Granado and by the damnable [...], Moorish King. The like villanies which were practiced among the ancient Turkes, are vsed at this day [Page] in the Louant, at the Court of Constantinople, and in other places, whither they send great Men to [...] charges. In our dayes a Turkish Courtier affected by all meanes possible the dignitie of Bassa of Al [...]ppo; the beauty of the place, the lustre of this dignitie, but rather the great gaine which the Vice-royes make, inflamed his desire to the possession of this Gouernment; to attain vnto it he purchased by great gifts the affections of the Agala [...]is, or Fo [...]i [...]s of the S [...]rrail, which are the Eunuches attending the Princes person: These men content his ambition, and obtained the gouernment which he desired from the Sultan; hee receiues the Letters, takes his leaue to goe vnto his charge, hee arriues and is receiued with the applause of the people; but he had scarce begun to enjoy the first honours of this new dignity, but another doth dispossesse him by the same meanes which he had vsed; hee gets the friendship of the Eunuches, and gl [...]ts their a [...]arke with greater gifts obtaining Letters for this place. He was aduertized hereof; the displeasure which he conceiued to see himselfe deceiued by the Courtiers of the S [...]rrail, to whom hee had giuen much more money than hee had gotten in so short a time, that he had [...] Bassa of Al [...]pp [...], made him to draw his dearest friends about him, to resolue with them how hee should gouerne himselfe in this important businesse. Many were of opinion that he should [...] the entry i [...] the Town to this new Bassa who was vpon the way, vntill he informed the Sultan, the M [...]f [...], and the Grand Vizir of the couetous disloyaltie of the Agala [...]ie; and this Counsell was conformable to his apprehension. But one of [...] him aside, told him, Th [...] [...] him, brought a [...], wherein i [...] was dangerous to vse [...] was the safest way in such [...] him a [...] make the [...] than his had beene, that [...] the Bassa which came, and [...] him a [...], and all loue and friendship to him, and [...] him out of the World by the [...] of [...] Persons. They [Page] resolued it, and laboured in their designe. In the meane time the new Bassa arriues, the other receiues him, and yeelds him the place. It is the custome of the great men in Turkey, to giue Presents to the new Gouernor when they enter in charge, some to testifie that they are welcome, and others to gain their affections. This discontented Bassa, who left his charge before the ordinary time, would not be the last to present this new commer. He giues him a poysoned Handkercher, imbroydered with Gold and great round Pearles, the price thereof could not be easily valued: The new Gouernour receiues it with vnspeakable joy; for great men hold nothing so sweet in their places, as to take whencesoeuer it comes; but God doth many times suffer that such greedy Takers, are taken in taking, as it happened to this Bassa of Aleppo: The Handkercher of price, which was the price of his life, contents him: Hee admires the worke, lookes vpon the great Pearles, and his hands doe not abandon it, vntill the poyson forced him, the which exhaling and infecting the Bassa, they grew weake and make him to leaue it; whereupon hee died and left the gouernment which he had not enjoyed: The other Bassa flies speedily to Constantinople, redemands the gouernment, whereof he had beene dispossest, and grounds his reason vpon his speedie obedience, and forceth the iniquity of the Fauourites to consent that hee should enjoy it. Thus couetousnesse had depriued him of a Dignity where it had first placed him, and poysoning restores him: Whereby wee may Iudge what these Gouernours can be that are setled by such meanes. It is certaine that the like offences are committed daily in the Turkes Court by the Bassa's thereof, who imploy their greatest care, to find out the most subtillest poysons, and how to employ them cunningly one against another. The most ordinary which they vse is drawne from Toads: They cause a Toade to sucke the Milke of a woman that hath an extraordinary red haire. When it is full they beate it gently with a little wand, they put it into choler, its poyson mingles with this Milke, and it bursts in its rage; this poyson is so violent and strong, that in rubbing only the stirrop of his horse [Page] whom they meane to poyson, it is an assured death. Thus corruption is absolute in Turkey; for if their Prophet hath poysoned their soules with filthy Doctrine, they poyson their bodies with all sorts of venome.

CHAP. XIV. Of the filthy and vnnaturall lust of the Bassa's and of the great Men of the Court.

THe great fortunes which are found in the Courts of great Monarches, produce great riches: and these furnish Courtiers with delights, in the which they glut their sensuall and brutish appetites. The Bassa's of the Court, great in dignities and abounding in riches, plunge themselues in all sorts of voluptuousnesse, and their spirits mollified in the myre of filthy pleasures, they seeke them by a contrary course, and demand that of nature which she hath not: Being many times tired with the loue of women, they abandon their affections to young Boyes, and desperatly follow the allurements of their beauties: They imbrace them, and vse them in the place of women. This abhominable vice is so ordinary in the Turks Court, as yee shall hardly find one Bassa that is not miserably inclined vnto it: It serues for an ordinary subject of entertainment among the greatest when they are together; they speake not but of the perfections of their Ganimodes: One sayes, they haue brought mee from Hangarie the most beautifull and accomplished Mi [...]i [...]a, that ouer was borne among men: he is the height of my felicitie, and the only object that my thoughts adore. Another saith, I haue lately bought a young Infant of Bassa, who hath not his like in all the East, and I dare assure you his [...] is not humane, but that of an Angell: Some So [...] of the company intreats him earnestly to haue a fight, and that hee may bee satisfied by his eyes. These are the discourses of those lustfull [...]ts. The care they haue to keepe neatly, and to attire richly those poore [...] tures, [Page] destinated to so damnable an vse is not small: the Eunuches which haue them in guard are alwayes neere them, to beautifie them outwardly, they plaite their haire with Gold, and sometimes with Pearles, they perfume them, they attire them in Robes of Cloth of Gold, and adde to their naturall beauty whatsoeuer Arte can inuent: what vertue, what wisdome, what pietie can be found in a Court composed of such men? He that is the Head and commands them, doth furnish this pernicious example; for the Sultans Serrail is full of such Boyes, chosen out of the most beautifull of the East, and vowed to his vnnaturall pleasures: This doth countenance this disorder and corruption in the Othoman Court: Such as the Prince is, such are most commonly the Courtiers which follow him: the principall Maxime which they giue for a precept to their fortune, is to follow the humours and manners of the Prince, whatsoeuer they be, yea, many times they incite the Prince to these disorders. The miseries and diasters which happen daily in Turkey, are too many to be coucht in this Historie. The great Men kill or poyson one another for such subjects, Families are in combustion, Wiues make away their Husbands, and Husbands their Wiues. Mabemet the second Emperour of the Turkes, was [...]abde in the thigh, and if any misfortune seeme monstrous among them, this vice which is so monstrous doth produce it: Men well bred abhorre it, Heauen detests it:Sodomia & idololatria simul inceperantsimul creuerant, D. Tho. 4 sent. dist. 1. q. 2. [...]. t. 1 When it was borne vpon the Earth, Idolatry was her sister Twinne. So being the auersion of Nature and the contempt of the Author thereof, Heauen doth punish it, and casts forth the fire of his wrath vpon those which are polluted therewith; whole Townes haue been consumed, men eternally lost, and the memory of the one and the other in execration vpon the Earth. The Turkes doe not punish it; they alleage, as wee haue obserued in the History of their Religion, that God hath reserued the chastisement to himselfe, and they bring an example of a miserable wretch who had abused a young Boy which stab'd him. This Sodomite being thus slaine, Mahomet their Prophet sent his Kinsmen to open his Tombe, and see how many wounds he had; [Page] they came and saw no body, but found in the place a blacke and smoakie stocke. Hence they say, that seeing the diuine Iustice doth punish those that are culpable of this offence, they must leaue the execu [...] him, and in the meane time suffer this vnnaturall ex [...]. The Turkish Ladies detesting these damnable affections of their husbands, haue also abandoned themselues by their example or for reuenge, to another disorder: the following Chapter will shew it. For the husbands are many times the cause of the losse of their wiues; and the contagious example of their vices, giues them occasion to ill, and to faile in their faith to him, who had first broken it.

CHAP. XV. Of the Loues of the great Ladies of the Turkes Court, and of their violent affections among themselues.

THe prouocations of a hot Climate, the seruitude of women restrained, and the bad example of loose and luxurious husbands, are the principall Motions of the loues, wherunto the Turkish Ladies abandon themselues. Some to haue free exercise, take occasion to see their Louers, when as they are allowed to goe to the Bath, to receiue the Purifications which their Law doth enjoyne them: others better qualified, from whom the commoditie of Waters and Scoues which are in their houses, hath taken away this pretext, make vse of other man. Sometimes they borrow the habit of their slaues, and thus disguised goe to find them they loue: When this course is difficult, by the encounter of some great obstacle, they imploy man and woman (whom they reward) to find them subjects which may please their eyes, and content their passions; but this last meanes is more apparent and better knowne in Constantinople: for such Messengers of [...] discouering themselues to some that refuse them, they di [...] [Page] their secret. They addresse themselues vsually to Christian strangers of the West, and if they can finde Frenchmen, the seruice they doe vnto their Mistresses is the more pleasing: The disposition of their humours, the grace of their bodies (say they) and the ordinary courtesie of their Nation, makes them more desired. But it is dangerous to serue the passions of such Louers, where the recompence and the reward or a painfull loue, is a Dagger or a Glasse of poyson: For these cruell women, when they haue kept some young stranger three or foure dayes hidden in their Chambers, and haue made vse of him vntill he be so tired and weary with their lasciuiousnesse, as hee is no longer profitable, they stab him or poyson him, and cast his bodie into some Priuie: Whether it be that they feare their affections should be discouered, or that their light and inconstant humours, doth alwayes demand new subjects, or that it is the nature of their lasciuious loue, to change into Rage and Fury tragically cruell. They which are aduertised at Constantinople, auoid this danger, and reward their pains which speake vnto them with a flat deniall, but not without danger: For such Messengers aswell as the great ones that imploy them are Witches, and reuenge a deniall vpon the person of him that made it, as it happened of late yeares to a French Gentleman, which was at Constantinople, when as the Baron Sausy did serue the King there as his Embassadour: This Gentleman going to the Diuan, which is the publique Audience of the Serrail, was encountred by a woman, whose age, habit and discourse did shew plainly that shee did pleasures for the Turkish Ladies: Shee came vnto him and vsed these words: Hast thou the courage to see a faire Lady, which is in loue with thee? He who knew well with what Mertils such Ladies are accustomed to crowne their Louers which haue serued them, excuseth himselfe for that time, pretending some important businesse which drew him to the Serrail: But he promiseth at his returne to content her desires, imtearing her to attend at the passage. In the meane time he goes to the Serrail, followes his businesse, and hauing dispatched in, ro [...]es to his Lodging another way, and leauing the woman [Page] in the impatiencie of a deceitfull attendance, she saw herselfe in the end deceiued by this Frenchman: who to reuenge this affront, had recourse to her Witchcrafts, and imployes them against him: They worke their effect, and this Frenchman found himselfe suddainly seized with a kind of Palsey: The sicke man tooke his bed, and was continually afflicted with sensible paines and convulsions. The Physicians were called to his help, but all their lerning could not find out the cause of his infirmitie, nor prescribe a remedie: Some dayes past in these extremities, after which an old Turkish woman offers to cure him; she visits him, and hauing looked vpon him she told him in her gibbridge: I will soon cure you: But tell the truth, haue you not refused some Lady that sought your loue? By her Charmes she expelled those which tormented him, and restored him to health: After which, this man going in Constantinople, hee encountred a woman which told him in his eare; Remember another time not to abuse the courtesie of Women which affect you, and deceiue them no more by your vaine promises.

All the women of Turkey, and especially those of Constantinople, doe not tie their affections to men only, they grow passionately in loue one with another, and giue themselues to false and vnlawfull loue, especially the wiues of men of quality, who liue coopt vp in Serrails, vnder the guard of Eunuches. This vitious appetite doth domincere ouer them so tyrannously, as it smothers in them the desires of a naturall and lawfull loue, and many times causeth them to loathe their husbands. This disorder may grow for that their affection wanting a lawfull prize, they tie it to a strange object: Moreouer, the reuenge of the vnnaturall loue to their husbands, carries them vnto it; for most men of those Easterne parts, and the greatest are giuen to that beastly and brutish lasciuiousnesse. These Ladies loue one another most ardently, and come to the effects of their foolish loues, they imbrace one another, and doe other actions which loue seekes, and modestie forbids to write. They whom this strange loue makes slaues to others, goe to finde them in the B [...]th to see them naked, [Page] and entertayning them vpon the subject whereof they languish, make such like discourses in their Language: They had reason to say that the Sun did plunge it selfe in the waues, seeing that you are in this water, the which by Nature should quench the fire, but it kindles my flames when you are in it. Is it possible that you should receiue to the enioying of so rare a beauty, other persons than those of your owne sexe, which are like your selfe? Fly the imbracings of Men, which contemne vs; and haue no loue but for their like, and enioy with vs the Contentments which they deserue not. When as a foolish womanish Louer, hath made such like discourses, shee goes into the Bath, and burnes with a flame which it is not able to quench, she imbraces her Louer, kisseth her, and attempts to doe that (although in vaine) which I must heere conceale: And these loues of woman to woman are so frequent in the Leuant, as when any Turks are resolued to marrie, the chiefe thing which they inquire of, is whether the party whom they affect be not subject to some woman whom they loue, or is beloued. Thus these people liue farre from the light of true Faith, in the darknesse of Mahometan ignorance, which haue carried them to the excesse of all sorts of vices.

CHAP. XVI. Of the foure principall Bassa's of the Port.

THe foure chiefe Bassa's of the Port, and the foure prime Wheeles, which mooue this vast and powerfull Turkish Empire are the Ʋizir Azem or the Grand Ʋizir, the Captaine of the Sea, the Aga of the Ianizaries, and the Captaine of Constantinople, called the Captaine Bassa: Their places are the chiefe of the Empire, and the glory there of giues them respect with the Prince, to be honoured by great Men, and feared by the people. The Vizir Azem, or Grand Vizir holds the first place next vnto his Master, he is Lieutenant Generall of the Empire, and Armies, high Chancellor and chiefe of [Page] the Diuan, which is the Councell where Iustice is administred; the Captaine of the Sea is high Admirall, and Generall of Nauall Armies. The Aga of the Ianizaries commands all the Turkish foot, as sole Colonell thereof. And the Captaine of Constantinople gouernes the Citie, and takes knowledge of the chiefe affaires which passe. These foure Bassa's differing in Offices and Honours are notwithstanding powerfull in authoritie, the which is of such weight, as they giue and take the Crown from their Soueraigne Prince when they thinke good. We haue seene the experience of late yeares, in the persons of Sultan Mustapha, and Osman: Achmat ended his life and Raigne in the yeare 1617, hee left two young sonnes; Osman and Amurath: He knew by experience that the weight of such a Crowne could not be borne by a Childe, and that the absolute gouernment of the Turkish Monarchie required a man: He called to the succession of his Scepter, his brother Mustapha who had beene fourteene yeares a Prisoner in his Serrail, and made him to taste this sweet change, to come from a Dungeon to a Throne, and from the fetters of a tedious captiuitie, to that power to command the greatest I state vpon the Earth. But the great rigour of his command, and the extrauagances of his inconstant humour, made him odious to the Captaine Bassa; he gained the other three, who drew the Souldiers and some great men vnto their party, they vnthroned him, put him into his Prison, and set vp Osman sonne to his brother Achmat. This example was in our daye [...]: but that which followeth is so fresh, as the newes hereof came when I was labouring about this worke. Osman not well satisfied with the affection of the Ianizaries, (who are the sinewes of his Estate) and disliking some of the foure Bassa's, had an intent to change the Seat of his Empire to Caire, and to abandon Constantinople; he prepares himselfe, gathers together as much Treasure as hee could, and couers his designe, with the pretext of a Pilgrimage to Meque, where he said his intent was to accomplish a vow, and to make as great a gift as euer Prince made vnto a Temple of what Religion soeuer. When as he had mannaged his enterprize vnto the day of his [Page] departure, when as his Galleyes were readie, and the Bassa of Caire come with an Armie to receiue him; the Ianizaries were aduertised, they runne to the Serrail with the consent of the Aga, the people are moued, the Captaine Bassa stirres them vp, they take the Sultan in his Chamber, kill some great Men in his presence, dragge him into a prison, and there make him to suffer a shamefull death by the hands of an Executioner, hauing drawne Mustapha his Vncle out of Prison again, and crowned him the second time Soueraigne Sultan of the Turkish Empire. That which is here set downe for true proofs of the authoritie and power of these foure great Bassa's. They are not alone in greatnesse, although that no man doth equall them in all the Othoman Court; There are two Beglierbeys (that is to say Lord of Lords) the one of Romania or Greece, the other of Natolia or Asia the lesse. The Nissanzi Bassa or ordinary Chancellour, who signes all the Dispatches of the Court; three Teftardars which are the high Treasurers, thorough whose hands the Reuenewes of the Empire doth passe. The Rais Kintap, whose charge is to keepe the Books, Papers and Records of the Empire. Besides these there are many others of lesse consideration. Doubtlesse, as Whales are in the vast and deepe Seas; so great and eminent Dignities are in great Empires, and those of Turkey make those which enjoy them to seeme like so many pettie Kings about the person of a great Monarch.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Tymar, Tymarriots and Pensioners of the Port.

THe Turkes giue two sorts of pay to their Souldiers, the one is called in their Language Vlefe', which is payed daily by the Treasurers of the warre and is the entertainment of ordinary Souldiers: The other is called Tymar, or pension assigned vpon Houses, Lands, or whole Burroughes; this is [Page] not giuen but to men, who by their valour haue done some notable seruice to the Prince, and deserued well of the publique: These Pensions are honourable, the recompence of their vertue, and the marke of their merit. It seemes that the Turkes haue borrowed the name of this recompence from the Gracians, who called it Tymarion, and [...], which signifies Honour. Such Pensioners are called Tymariots, they are most commonly Spahis and Horsemen, who enjoy the honour and profit of such Pensions taken out of the Lands in Turkey which belonging all vnto the Prince, by the right of Soueraigne Master of the persons of all his Subjects, who are his slaues, he giues them to such as haue made themselues worthy by their good Seruice; as they doe with vs the Commanders of Military Order, or the Fees or Lands which the Princes haue instituted in our Countries to honour Gentlemen of merit, and to binde them to serue them vpon all occasions. It is true that the continuance of such fees, doth farre exceed that of the Tymar, for they passe vnto their Successors, and this is temporall, and no man is suffered to enioy it any longer than it shall please the giuer. If the Spahi be not in his Equipage fit for a Souldier, if hee doth not serue with that care and diligence as hee ought, the Iudges which the Sultan appoints to visit the Tymar, depriue him, and recompence another that may serue better, so that Tymariots, or Pensioners of the Turks Court, are not vnprofitable mouthes, as in other places; there the credit of an insolent Fauourite, cannot take them from vertue, to giue them to the idlenesse of some one of those which follow him, and idolatrize the greatnesse of his fortune.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Grand SEIGNEVRS Favourites aduanced to the greatnesse of the Empire, and of their fall.

FEw Kings haue beene without Fauourites; and what reason were it to [...] the most eminent among men from [Page] that which is allowed to the most object, that is to loue one man aboue all others, and to honour him with the effects of their friendship, by honours and greatnesse, whereof they are the Masters and absolute Disposers?Iesus Christ had Saint Iohn the Euangelist for his Fauourite. Doubtlesse the Soueraigne of Kings, who came into the World to teach both Men and Kings perfection, hath not denied them this libertie, when as he himselfe gaue them an example, louing and fauouring aboue the small number of men which were in his Ordinary Court, him whom hee thought most worthy of his fauours. But few Fauourites haue beene without insolencie, whether it be that most Princes are not much carefull to make choice of men, whose vertues haue made them worthy of their friendship; or that the nature of fauour and honour which follow them, be such, as it blinds their vnderstanding, and puffes vp their spirits with pride. This History hauing taken for its principall Subject, the Court of the Othoman Monarches, it shall seeke no farther for examples of this truth.

Hibraim Bassa Fauourite to Solyman the Second,Hibraim fauourite to Solyman had attained to the height of greatnesse which hee enjoyed by such degrees. He was a Christian, borne of a very base extraction; at the age of seuen or eight yeeres, they which exact the tribute of Christians Children, tooke him from his Fathers house, and conducted him with a troupe of other young slaues to Constantinople: At his arriuall he was giuen vnto a Bassa, who caused him to be bred vp carefully, and soone after presented him to Solyman; This Prince to whom Hibraim was equall in age, tooke him into his affection, his seruice was alwayes more pleasing vnto him, than that of the other slaues: He honoured him with the charge of Capiaga, who is Captaine of the Gate of the inner Serrail: From this place hee came to that of Aga or Colonell of the Ianizaries: Then the example of some great Men of the Othoman Court, ruined by the inconstancie of Fortune, gaue vnto his spirit the first apprehensions which the great Dignities of the Court giues vnto Fauourites which enjoy them, and serued as a bridle to restraint his passion: hee besought Solyman not to aduance his fortune so high as he might full with the greater ruine: Hee [Page] shewed him that a meane prosperitie, was more safe than all the greatnesse, wherewith he would honour him: That his seruices should be sufficiently rewarded, if hee gaue him wherewith to spend his dayes in rest, farre from the necessities of life. Solyman commended his modestie, and meaning to aduance him to the chiefe Dignities of his Empire, he sware vnto him neuer to put him to death whilst he liued, what change soeuer should happen in his Court. But the condition of King, which is humane, and subject to change, and that of Fauourites which is proud, and vnthankfull, shall cause Solyman to faile of his promise, and Hibraim of his faith and loyaltie, as wee shall see. In the meane time this Fauourite becomes a Bassa, and soone after Grand Vizir, and Lieuetenant Generall of his Masters Empire; his credit, his traine, his wealth, and the pompe of his greatnesse, teach euery man that hee is the Arbitrator of Turkey. But his fortune is too great to be without Enuie;Vel [...]t arbitrum ragni agebat serebatur [...] digre [...] to, magna profiquentium [...] it u [...], saith Tachtus in the 15. Booke of Annals, speaking of P [...]lta [...] a freed Man to Clo [...]tius and his Fauourite. and it seemes vnreasonable, that the highest trees which are on the tops of the highest Mountaines, should be free from the violence of the windes. The Princesse Mother to Solyman, and Roxillana his wife, the best beloued of his Sultana's, enuie the credit of Hibraim, and his vnlimited authoritie is insupportable vnto them: They practize his ruine, and imploy all their power both within and without the Serrail, to dispossesse him: he finds it, and judging that the affections of a Mother and a Sonne are so naturall, and the loue of a Wife and a Husband so strong, as there is not any fortune nor fauour in Court, which should not feare the encounter, he resolues to draw his Master out of Constantinople, and to remooue him from the imbracings of the one and the conuersation of the other, and from the perswasions of them both. To effect is with the more pretext, he propounds the designe of the Warre of Persia, and being in Counsell with three or foure Bassa's, he perswades Solyman in this manner. Sir, Great Kings must haue great [...] Their principall office is not only to preserue the [...] their Ancestors haue left them, but also to inlarge is [...] [...] tand the limits; the Sword wherewith the M [...]s [...] [...] [Page] your Greatnesse, on the day of your Coronation, is not so much a signe of your Soueraigne power, as that you are bound to maintain and defend the truth of our Alcoran, and to publish its beliefe farre: The Persian hath alwayes beene an Enemy to your Estate and Religion, and their Kings haue not had any stronger passion, then to see the ruines of the one and the other: The Historie of the Warres which our Predecessors haue had against them doth furnish many examples; now you may be reuenged of their insolencie, and lay at your feet these ancient Enemies of Turkey. Tachmas who is their King, is a man without valour and experience, his people are yet in necessitie, being the remainders of the warres past: Your Empire is flourishing you are borne to great matters, and to you alone the destinies haue reserued the glory of an absolute triumph ouer the Persians [...] Heauen doth promise it, Honour binds you, the weaknesse of your Enemy inuites you, your Treasures and a great number of fighting men, which attend your Commandements in Armes, furnish you with meanes. Goe, goe, then great Prince, adde vnto your Crownes that of the Realme of Persia, and to the Bayes which your valour hath gathered in Hungarie and at Rhode [...], the Palme to haue subdued Persia, and to haue tamed the most troublesome of all your Enemies. To these perswasions hee added a tricke of his Trade. In Damus the chiefe C [...]tie of the East, there liued an excellent Magician, called Mule Aral, he drawes him to Constantinople, and makes vse of his Predictions to further his designes; he speakes with him, and hauing caught him what to say, hee brings him to Solyman. This Sorcerer foretold the Sultan, that hee should take the principall Places of Persia, and should be crowned King of that Realme: All this makes him resolue to goe to horsebacke, and the warre was concluded: The teares of the Mother, nor the sweet kisses of the Wife, could not frustrate this designe: These poore Sultan's see the order of the Estate ouerthrowne by a Fauourite, and their persons contemned by Hibraim, who carried him from them, and drew him farre from their just jealousies; but the mine, into the which insolencie dragges it selfe, is in [...]itable [Page] Hibraim by this retiring, deferrs his losse, but doth not auoid it; hee shall returne from the warre of Persia to dye in Constantinople strangled with a Haker: The sequell of the historie will tell vs. In the meane time Solyman departs, with aboue six hundred thousand men, most Souldiers: Hibraim goes before to make the way with a powerfull Armie, he passeth at Aleppe, and fortifies it: From thence he goes to Carahomide a Towne vpon the Frontiers of Mesopotamia or Dierbetch, built vpon a strong situation: Vlama a great Noble-man of Persia commanded therein: his qualitie and valour had bound Solyman to make him gouernour; hee had formerly married the Sister of Scach Tach [...]as, sonne to Ismaell Sophi, and then King of Persia, who discontented for some disgrace in Court left Persia, and came to serue the Turke. Hibraim gaue him thirtie thousand men, and sent him before to discouer the Enemies countrie. Vlama who know the language and the countrie, approached neere vnto Tauris, whereas Sultan Musa a neere kinsman to the King commanded: Being aduertised of the approach of the Turkish Troupes, and finding himselfe too weake to attend them, abandons the Citie: Vlama enters and takes it: Hibraim who followed him neere came speedily, fortifies it, and in a new citadell which he caused to be made, hee placed three hundred and fiftie pecces of Ordinance, and sent to aduertise Solyman of this good successe. Neuer fauorite held himselfe so happie, nor so powerfull ouer the enuie of his Enemies: But he shall finde his misreckoning. Solyman aduanceth, comes to Tauris, and stayes three weekes, to see if Tachmas had any will to come and encounter him. But hee had neither power nor will. Hee was retired into the Mountaines, expecting greater forces than his owne, that [...] say, that [...] and the necessitie of all things, with the [...] of [...], might force his Enemie to retire: They followed [...] after the Northern winds, the Snow, Frost, and went of victualls forced Solyman to take his way to Curd [...]stan, which is Assyria, hauing left thirtie two thousand men in Garrison within Tauris, vnder the command of Ʋlama, of I [...]digiarberg and Serum Ogly. Fa [...] [...] [Page] was watchfull seeing the Turkish Army farre from Tauris, approcheth with ten thousand men: The Garrison go forth to encounter him and charge him; but Iadigiarberg a notable Coward, growing amazed fled, and put all the rest in disorder, and gaue the aduantage to Tachmas, who recouered Tauris, and brought a notable change, causing the three hundred and fifty Cannons which were in the Citadell to be moulten, whereof he made Manguris, which is a Coine of Persia, and so that which was the terrour of his people, became the delights of their affections: Solyman in the meane time conquered Curdistan, and Baggadet; he tooke Babylon, where he was crowned King of Assyria by the Caliphe, but not of Persia, as the Magitian had promised him. Winter was now spent, and the Spring approached: Ʋlama and Hibraim perswaded Solyman to returne to Tauris, to punish the rashnesse of Tachinas: He returnes with his Army, and being within few dayes march, Tachmas abandons the City and retires, burning and razing whatsoeuer he found in the way, to stay his Enemy from following: The Turkes re-enter Tauris and their rage puts all they find to fire and sword, not sparing sencelesse things; the stately Pallaces became the subject of their furie, and the Citie was the pittifull remainder of a sacke and a cruell spoyle. Solyman retires, giuing order that his chiefe forces should be in the Reare, lest the enemy should follow and charge them behinde. Tachmas was wonderfully discontented, to see this fearefull spoile in his Country, and in the Capitall Citie of his Realme, and could haue no reuenge; when as one of his Satrapes, or Gouernours, a Caramanian by Nation and the most resolute man in his Court, sirnamed Delimeus, for his courage, (that is to say Foole) offered himselfe, and promiseth (so as hee would giue him troupes) to follow the Enemie and to ouertake him, and when hee should thinke least of it, to make him pay for the spoile which he had made in Persia. Tachmas grants whiche demands; Delimeus goes his way, he runs or rather flies towards the place where the Enemie was: His Spies being him word, that the Turkes were camped neere vnto Bathlis, [...]yrod [Page] with long marches, and with the toile of a troublesome way; that they slept without Guards, without watch, and without any Sentinels, so as it would be easie for him to surprize them, if he would make his troupes to double their pace: Deliment makes more speed than they requi [...]ed, hee drawes neere vnto the Turkes at the shutting vp of the day, and in the night goes to surprize them, inuirons them, chargeth them, beats them, kils the greatest part, and takes the rest prisoners, few escaping by flight. Solyman vnderstood the next day of the losse of his men, and seeing the small troupes he had remayning, findes foure hundred thousand men wanting, of those which followed him from Constantinople, the which were dead in Persia, either slaine by the Sword, or famished with hunger, or frozen with colde, the which made him returne towardes his Serrail. He comes to Aleppo, and soone after to Constantinople, and detests in his soule, the Counsellour of this Voyage and the Warre of Persia. The Sultana's finde at his returne, a ample subject to ruine Hebraims fortune, and to be reuenged of the presumption hee had vsed against them. They obserue the murmuring of the people against this Fauourite, and what the great mens [...]e of him, and make it knowne to Solyman. Moreouer, as they were busie to ruine his greatnesse, they discouer that this Bassa fauoured the House of Austria, and that he had secret intelligence with the Emperor Charies the Fift, an Enemy to his Master: This treachery being auerred, it did wholy ouerthrow that which the Sultana's had already shaken. Solyman to whom they had made knowne the truth of all this, concludes his death; but the promise and oath which he had made vnto him not to put him to death whilest hee were aliue, suspends the execution vntill hee might find a Dispensation by the aduice and [...]ritie of the chiefe Preists of his Law; [...] of the most Learned; one of the number giues him a pleasant [...], to free himselfe of the Bassa, and yet to keepe his Word. You haue sworde, Sir, saith he, not to put him to death, whilest you are liuing; [...] him up be strangled when you are asleepe: Life consist [...] [...]gilam action, and he th [...] sleepes doth not truly [...] to you [Page] may punish his disloyaltie, and not violate your oath. Doubtlesse if Solyman were dead when hee slept, according to the saying of this Talisman, hee hath reuiued many times whilest he liued. This Prince seekes noe more, he contents himselfe, to haue found a Clergie man which absolues him for this deed: He sends for Hibraim Bassa to the Serrail, hee causeth him to supp with him, and supper being ended hee letts him see his crymes by his owne letters written to Charles the fift, and Ferdinand his brother; hee reproaches his ingratitude and commands his dumbe men to strangle him whilest he slept, and thereupon went to Bed. Thus ended the life and greatnes of Hibraim Bassa fauorite to Solyman: For an example, that if the fortunes of the Court shine like gold, they breake like glasse. His Maistes had aduanced him more then hee desired, fearing a fall in the beginning of his fortune, into the which he did precipitate himselfe by his disloyaltie: he supported the continuance of his greatnesse vpon his Princes Oath:Cuncta mortalium incarta; quanto pl [...] adeptus forot tant [...] se magis in lubrico dissitants Tacit. li. 1. Annal. speaking of Tiberius who discoursed in in this manner to the Senate. But they were humane, and their nature is to haue no other stay, but the declining where they slide. A Courtiers fauour is neuer durable, if it hath not Iustice and Pittie for Companions, which makes them zealous towards God, and well deseruing of men: If these parts be found in a Fauourite, they make enuie to yeeld, and impose silence to the bitterest slanders Hibraim Bassa had not these good qualities: his formes seruices had deserued some share in his Masters affection; but his pride against the Sultana's, and his treachery against Solyman made him vnworthy of that which he enjoyed. So the Lion of Lybia wipes out with her long taile the steps of her feet: the insolencie which followed, defaced all the good which went before. To enjoy the fauour of the Court, they must haue so strong and generous a spirit, as they must neuer suffer themselues to be transported with pride, nor dejected with amazement but remayning in a commendable equality, continue couragiously in doing well.

The example of the fortune and disaster of Hibraim Bassa shall be followed in this History with that of the great credit,Deruier F [...] rites to At [...] prosperities and disgraces of Bassa Derueir, a Fauourite to [Page] Achmat the first, Brother to Sultan Mustapha, who raigned of late yeares. This man of a base condition laboured in the Gardens of the Serrail, when as hee began to enter into fauour: Achmat in his Garden-walkes, seeing his jouiall humour, tooke many times delight in his tales, stayed to see him worke, and in the end so affected him, as without knowledge of any other merit, he made him Bostangibassi, or great Gardiner; This charge (as we haue said) is one of the goodliest of the Turkish Empire, being then void by his death who had enioyed it: Therein Deruier serued with so great care, and made himselfe so pleasing to his Master, as he bound him to make him greater. The Generall of the Sea dies, and Achmat giues him the place: he doth it with that lustre and pompe which followes this dignitie; he causeth the Galleyes to be armed, goes to Sea, takes all he meces with, and sailes so happily as the inconstant windes seemed to fauour him, and the most inconstant Elements seeme to joy in the happinesse of this new Fauourite; his courses are fortunate, and his returne glorious: But the Sea of the Court more stormie than the Sea it selfe will one day teach him that it doth amaze the best Pilots, and will make him feele to his disgrace, a more troublesome shipwracke, than he could haue found vpon the waues of the Louant Seas. The reception which hee found at his returne, and the triumph wherewith hee is honoured after the taking of many Christian Vessels, are felicities which flatter,Nibil esse tam e [...]elsum, quod non virtutes isla, tuus (que) [...] [...] [...]ntur, Tacit. lib. 1. Annal. Tiberius spake so to Sci [...] his Fauourite, who demanded Lanis in Marriage. and deceiuing him, make him imagine that happinesse it selfe did him homage. Achmat cherished him more than himselfe, and had no rest, vntill hee had aduanced him to the height of the prosperities of the Court: That is to say, to the Dignitie of Grand Vizir, Lieutenant Generall of his Empire: Soone after it fell void, and hee bestowed it on him, with these words of affection: There is not any thing in my Estate, how great soeuer it be, which thy vertues, and the affection thou bearest to my seruice, hath not well deserued. Thus De [...]r became the first man of the Turks Court, and his Master was sorry, that hee could not make him the prime Man of the World. In this charge hee restored many [Page] good Lawes, which disorder had ouerthrowne; hee reduced euery man to his duty, strooke terrour into the Magistrates: and let the Souldiers know that they were vnworthy to make their Musters, and to receiue the pay, if they be not in case to serue. These things doubtlesse had crowned his name with new glory, if violence and crueltie had not blemisht him: He caused more men to be executed in one day, than his Predecessours had done in a whole yeare: The least suspition of a Crime was culpable of punishment, and this Fauourite made lesse account of the life of men, than of the Coleworts which hee had sometimes planted in the Gardens of the Serrail. But violence is neuer durable, and that Fauourite which followes it suffers himselfe to bee led to his owne ruine. Hee that kils, shall be killed (sai [...] God) hee that loues bloud shall perish in bloud. Doubtlesse, it is a miserable thing in Princes Courts, and prejudiciall to a whole Estate, that a base fellow, and a man of nothing, without vertue or merit should be aduanced to the qualitie of a Fauourite; master the affections of his Soueraigne, and enjoy the prime Dignities of an Empire: For such persons are most commonly cruell; contemne the Nobilitie, and make no account of vertue, as being ignorant of the one and the other. Derueir in all these Offices had gathered together great treasures, the which with his extraordinary seueritie, furnish matter of Enuy to the other Bassa's, who all joyntly vndertake his ruine, and labour so carefully therein, as they find meanes to entertaine Sultan Achmat, with the insolencies of his carriage: he heares them, belieues part of that which they tell him, and growes so violently jealous of the credit and authoritie of Deruier, that he resolues to free himselfe of him; he concludes his death, and commands the execution to a troupe of the Capigis of his Serrail, who receiued commandement to strangle him, as soone as he should come: But hee will trouble them to performe it, they shall not finde in him a delicate fauorite, bred vp from his youth in the softnesse of the Court, he will defend his life couragiously, and let them see that a man, which hath long time handled a Spade and a Mattocke, is not soe easily mastered. Achmat sends for [Page] Deruier to the Serrail; he comes and is scarce entred when he suspects the partie which was made against him; he goes into the Grand Sigueurs quarter, being there, this troupe of Capigis fall vpon him to seaze on him, and to put the Halter about his necke; he frees himselfe from them, and stands vpon his defence although he had nothing in his hands, and with his fists scatters them brauely; hee beates one of their Noses flat, puts out the eye of another, and strikes out his teeth that held the Halter, and puts him out of breath which had taken hold of his Arme, and remaines free in the midst of al them which did i [...]biron him, and durst not take him: The feare of punishment which doth attend those which doe not speecily execute the will of the Sultan in such affaires, and the shame that one man alone disarmed should slay them all, [...]uised one of the troupe to fetch a Leauer, wherewith approaching to Deruier, he gaue him so great a blow as hee brake his thigh, and ouerthrew him; then they put the cord about his necke and strangled him. Thus hee ended his life, which gouerned the whole Turkish Empire, and strooke a terrour into the greatest: The iouiall humours and the humble discourses of the Gardiner, had raised him to the greatest fortune that a Courtier could find in all the world; and the insolencie and pride of the Grand Vizir had humbled him, and deliuered him to the mercie of a dozen Rascals which strangle him: For a new example, that fauour is not durable, if it hath not moderation for its companion, and Iustice and Piety to support it. His bodie is buried without pompe or honour, his treasure came vnto the Sultan, and his name was so forgotten, as in three dayes they did not know in Court if there had beene any such man. The which may serue for a lesson to great Men, which possesse their Princes, that the course of a boundlesse and proud fauour in Court is like the flight of a Bird in the Aire, the passage of a Ship at Sea, or the gliding of a Serpent vpon the stones, where there remaines no shew.

Nassuf Fauourite to AchmasThis thing happened at Constantinople in the yeare 1606. But of a later date in the yeare 1614. Nassaf Bassa, of whom we haue formerly shade mention, Grand Vezir of the Turkish [Page] Empire and fauorite to the same Sultan Achmat, gaue (by the fall of his fortune) as much amazement to the East, as his prosperities had given admiration his riches were greater and his credite more absolute then the two former fauourites; but his extraction and Birth as base as theirs, and his pride equall. Hee was Sonne to a Greeke Priest, borne in a little Hamblet neere to Salonica. The Collectors of the tribute tooke him from his Fathers house in his infancie, and led him to Constantinople, where hee was sold for three Sultanins, (which is foure and twentie shillings of our sterling money) to an Eunuch of the Serraeil, who bred him vp vnto the age of twentie yeeres. Then hee sold him to a steward of the Sultana Mother to Achmat, to serue him in his charge. This Man soone found in his slaue the eminent gifts of a free spirit, which is inlightned with dexteritie: and holding him fit for greater affaires then those of the houshold, wherein hee imployed him, hee gaue him the ouer-sight of the building of a rich and stately Mosquee, which the Sultana Mother caused to bee built at her charge, to bee an immortall marke of her pictio and magnificence. Hee prospered so well in this charge, and gaue so good proefes of his Iudgement, as hee gaue good content vnto the Sultana, and hard such part in her liking and affection, as shee made him Superintendant of her house. In thi [...] Dignitie hee let the whole Serrail See, what an able and sufficient Man may doe when hee is imployed in affaires; his merite came vnto the knowledge of Sultan Achmat, who would haue him to his seruice. Thus hee changed Master, and mounted to a new Dignitie. Achmat gaue him the place of Capigibassi, soone after he made him Bassa of Alepp [...], where hauing finished the time, which they giue to such Gouernors, they honoured him with the Dignitie of Gouernor Generall of Messopotamia: hee parted from Constantinople, hauing the traine, attendance and pompe, of a Turkish Vice-roy. The commoditie of this Prouince, Frontier to Persia, filled his Cofers with treasure, and his Spirit with ambition. Hee knew that hee was very necessarie for his Master, he saw that the Neighbour-hood of the Persian, might by secret intelligences [Page] with him bring him great wealth. This imagination flatters him, and his auarice followes him: hee abandons his fidelitie to the offers which the Persian King made him, and practiseth in secret with his Ministers, and fauoureth what hee can, the Enemy of his Soueraigne Prince. Achmat is aduertised, and louing him still with passion, dissembles his cryme and resolues to gaine him to himselfe, to dis-ingage him from the Persian, and to content his ambition with any thing hee could desire in his Empire. To this end hee sends for him to Constantinople, and at his ariuall gaue him the place of Grand Vizir, which Serdar had newly left, and with it the best and richest of this Bassa's spoyles. Moreouer he promised to giue him the Sultana his Daughter in Marriage. All these things are signes of the great bountie of Achmat, thus to honour a Traitor, who deserued rather a shamefull death, then the first dignitie of the Turkish Empire; they will in like sort be a testimonie of the ingratitude of the fauourite, who will abuse them. For an example that too indulgent a Prince to a notable Traitor, doth furnish him with meanes to do worse. Nassuf being now Grand Vizir & with assurance to be Sonne in law to his Master, goes to horse-backe, and in qualitie of Generall of an Armie, leads the forces of Turkey against the Persian, enters with them into his Countrie, makes a generall spoyle, and forceth Ka Abbas, who is King at this Day, to demaund a peace, and in the meane time grants him a truce for six Moneths. Hee parts from Persia, leading with him the Embassadour of Ka Abbas, hee comes to Constantinople, enters in pompe, hee is receiued not onely as the vanquisher of Persia, but as the restorer of the Othoman esta [...]e. The custome of Turkey binds the Bassa's when they returne from their gouernments, and the Generals of Armies from the Warre, to make a present vnto the Sultan. Nassuf at his comming exceedes the magnificence of all the Presents that euer entred into the Serrail, since the Turkes estate was setled, for besides a thousand rarities which hee brought from Persia, to the Sultan his Master; he presented him with a Million of Gold coyned, and within few dayes [Page] after married his Daughter. This is the ascent and height of his fortune: Behold the descent. Achmat saw that Nassuf exceeded the ordinary of all the other Vizirs which had serued him, that his treasure did equall his, if not exceed it:Auri vim atque op [...]s principibus insensas essè, said Sosibius Gouernour to Britannicus in Tacit lib. 11. Annal. He conceiued a jealousie (abundance of riches is many times criminall and offensiue to Princes) and growes into distrust of his actions. The Bassa's hauing some vent thereof by some of the Agalarie, Eunuches of the Chamber, labour to informe him of the carriage of Nassuf. The Bassa of Babylon knew more than any Man, they cause him to come to Constantinople, and obtained secret audience for him: This Man did plainly discouer vnto the Sultan, that the Bassa Nassuf betrayed him, for the which hee drew great Pensions from the Persian, to whom hee wrote the secrets of his most important affaires. Achmat well informed of the disloyalties of his Fauourite, resolues not to leaue them vnpunished, and presently concludes his death: He giues the charge to the Bostangibassi, which is the great Gardiner: Nassuf is aduertized by the Sultana, which was most fauoured, being his Pensioner, that Achmat was much discontented with him: This amazeth him, hee faines himself sicke, and keepes his bed; the Bostangibassi comes to his Lodging, and demands to speake with him in the Sultans name, hee excused himselfe vpon the discommoditie of a violent purgation which troubled him: The Bostangibassi presses it, and tels him that hee would not returne vntill hee had spoken with him; that the Sultan had commanded him to see him, in what estate he was, & to learn from himself the newes of his health. Then Nassuf commanded they should suffer him to come: There the Bostangibassi complements with him concerning his indispostion, and assured him that he should be soone cured: he might boldly speake it, seeing hee carried the remedie in his pocket. After such like discourses of courtesie, he drew out of his pocket a commandement from the Sultan written to Nassuf, to send him the Seales of his Empire. Nassuf obeyeth, causeth them to be brought vnto his bed, wraps them in his Handkercher, seales them with his owne Seale, and giuing them to [Page] the Bostangibassi kisses them, and intreats him to assure his Master, that he had kept them faithfully, and had neuer sealed any thing which was against his seruice: Then hee thought that the discontentment whereof the Sultana aduertized him, would haue no other sequell but to depriue him of his charge, which they call in this Court to be made Mansul, and that by the helpe of his friends and the force of money, hee might be restored in a short time. His misreckoning was not farre off; the Bostangibassi, being now in possession of the Seales of the Empire, drew forth another Commandement to Nassuf from the same Sultan, to send him his head: Then Nassuf cried out, calling Heauen and Earth to witnesse of his innocencie; he desired to speake with the Sultan, and intreats the Bostangibassi to conduct him; he excuses himselfe, that he had no other charge but to see him strangled by ten or twelue Capigis which attended him: Vpon this refusall he contested long; but seeing to deferre his end, was but to prolong his distemperature and griefe, he resolues to die, only hee demands of the great Gardiner to suffer him to goe and wash himselfe in a Chamber neere by, to depart this World in the estate of puritie, according to the Turks beliefe, which hold the washing of the body for the purification of the soules: This grace also was denied him. Then he abandons his life to the Capigis who were about his bed: they put a cord about his necke, and not able to strangle him so speedily as they desired by reason of his extraordinary fatnesse, one of them drew a Knife out of his pocket,Tacitus in the [...]ourth Booke of his Annals, speakes as much of Suilius in these words, Quem vidit sequeatatas prapotentem venalem & Claudij Pri [...]cipus amiciti [...] as a propere, nunquam bene [...]. and cut his throat. Achmat would see him dead, to be the better assured; and then appointed his buriall among the common people without any honour. Such was the fortune of Bassa Nassuf and such his fall: His good wit had raised him to these great Dignities of his Empire, and his pride cast him downe, hauing long enjoyed the fauour of his Master, and made no good vse of it: His riches equall to his fortune were extraordinary; the Officers of the treasure, which were imployed to take an Inuentory of his goods, found in his Cosers in Sultanin [...], (which is a Coyne of Gold) fiue hundred thousand pounds sterling, in Siluer coyned three hundred [Page] and eight thousand pounds sterling, the quantitie of three bushels of precious Stones not yet wrought, a bushell of Diamonds not set, and two bushels of goodly round Pearles. His Armory was furnished with aboue a thousand rich Swords, whereof the least had the Hilt and Pomell of siluer, and amidst this number there was one all set with Diamonds, valued at twentie thousand pounds sterling money: The Chambers of his Lodging and his Wardrobe, were richly hanged with Tapestry of Persia and Caire: Many rich stuffes of silke and gold excellently wrought, did augment the quantity of his precious Moueables: In his Stables were found aboue a thousand great Horses of price, foure hundred and fortie Mares of Arabia and Egypt, as beautiful as any Painter could represent, with this there were many thousand Camels and Moiles for his Baggage when hee trauelled: In his base Courts they numbred a hundred thousand Oxen, Kine and Sheepe: the number of his slaues exceeded foure thousand. With this great wealth he might haue done great good, if he had had a friend to giue him good counsel (but great prosperities haue not any) who might haue contained him by wise aduice, within the limits of his dutie. Thus the fauours and pomps of the Court passe away. Those of Turkey, culpable of the least crymes, yea those which are innocent are of no longer continuance. For if the Court in what place soeuer, bee a Sea full of waues, that of the Othoman is alwayes beaten with stormes, and tost with Tempests: The winds of the Sultana's passions, which are most cherished by the Prince, the couetous desires of the Enuches which serue him, and are his familiars, banish the calme, and are the cause of such like shipwrackes, if they doe not pacifie the greedinesse of the one, in glutting them with presents, and the auarice of the other by great pensions. And although they take this course most commonly, yet notwithstanding they are oftentimes allarmed, suffer troublesome apprehensions, and liue alwayes in feare and disquietnesse. To teach men, which admire and adore the lustre of such fortunes that their perfectest ioyes are fruitfull in sorrowes: And when they thinke to make their Paradice in this World, then they carry their Hell with them.

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CHAP. XIX. Of the Grand Seigneurs Armes and Seales.

THe Turkes who esteeme vertue by its price haue no Armes, nor Sirnames: The Lawes established and seuerely obserued among them, which haue made them so powerfull vpon earth, would thus banish out of Turkey (although somewhat preposterously) this subject of vanity in Families, and force men rather to support their glory vpon their owne merit, than in the vertue of their Ancestors which is not theirs: For this cause in their Monarchy, the sonne of a great Bassa, is lesse esteemed than he of a Waterman, if he hath lesse vertue: All the aduantage hee can challenge, to be borne of vertuous Parents, is to tearme himselfe their sonne. As for example, Mustapha the sonne of Siruan shall be called Siruanogli, that is to say, the sonne of Siruan: The rest of his glory must be supplyed by himselfe, and not borrowed from his Father. Their Emperours haue no Armes, and the Family of the Othomans neuer beare any. They defaced in the siege of the Gracian Empire, those of the most Illustrious Family of the Paliologus, who were the Soueraigne Monarches, who carried gloriously the Titles of their triumphant prosperities, by foure Letters separated distinctly, which the Greekes call Vita, and not Fusils, as some haue dream't, these Letters signified in the same Language, [...], that is to say, King of Kings, raigning ouer them that raigne. It is true the Turkish Princes, haue some kinde of Marke or Ensigne, rather of their Empire than of their Family: for when as they represent it, they paint the Globe of the World, with a Crescent or halfe Moone on the top; and in their Armies, their Ensignes haue no other deuice but the same Crescent: their Towers and Steeples carry it, yea the Pilgrimes which goe to Mequa, carry it on the top of their slaues: the which shewes that this Crescent is rather a marke of their Religion, then of the Imperiall Race. Wee [Page] haue obserued in our History of their Religion, the Miracle which Mahomet their Prophet brags hee had done, when as he repaired the Moone which was torne, and all in pieces, after he had drawne it from Heauen and put it into his sleeue: The Turkes which count their Moneths by Moones, shew the veritie hereof, when as they prostrate themselues in the beginning thereof, before the Moone, and lifting vp their eyes to his brightnesse, they pray unto God that hee will grant them the grace to begin happily, to continue in like manner, and to end with good successe the course of this Starre.

The Imperiall Seale of the Grand Seigneurs of Turkey, hath no other figure, but certaine Arabian Characters, which expresse their name, that of their Father, and note the pride of the felicity whereof they brag. Achmat the Emperour, who died in the yeare 1617, had caused these words to be grauen in the Seale, wherewith his Patents were sealed: Achmet ibni Mehemet Cham Sadet: that is to say; Achmet sonne to Mehemet, Emperour alwayes victorious. The other Othoman Monarches, haue in a manner the same deuice, the names only changed: It is true that the Arabique Letters are so interlaced one with another (in a manner like the Cyphers, wherewith they expresse their names in France) as few men in his Estate, can expound them: only the Vizir, or he which scales hath the perfect knowledge. This manner of grauing their Seales only with Letters, hath beene imitated only from their Prophet: For the Turkish Monarchy, and all that depends thereof, hold it a glory to haue for their principall support, the Religion which he professeth, and to haue no other interest but his: Mahomet the Authour of the Alcoran, caused words only to be grauen in his Seale, and wordes without truth; which were these, Mahomet the Messenger of God. This Seale was made seuen hundred and fiue or six yeares before that Othoman the first Prince of that Family, which raignes at this day in the East, had setled the Turkish Monarchy: and since, we doe not read that any Turkish Emperour hath had any other Armes for their Seales than the Characters and Arabique words: Thus these men by words not [Page] cast into the wind, as many other Princes doe, but grauen, haue by the esteeme which they haue made of the vertue of men which haue serued them, subdued the Emperour of Constantinople, rauished that of Trebifonde, seazed vpon Egypt, Palestina, Damas, Pamphylia, Cilicia, Caramania, and all Natolia, vanquished Rhodes and Cyprus, triumphed ouer Graecia, Albania, Illyria, and the Triballieus, and likewise doth by his Armes possesse the best parts of Moldania, Transilnania, and Hungary, and without doubt, their Conquests had extended farther into the Prouinces of Christendome, if Heauen had not giuen them bounds, and stayed their courses, by the troubles of the Othoman House, and the death of its Princes.

CHAP. XX. Of the Death, Mourning, Funerall, and Burying, of the Grand SEIGNEVAS, Emperours of Turkey.

THe Kings which receiue tribute from so many Nations pay it vnto death, and the condition of their perishing life, makes them to suffer this equalitie with other men, to returne vnto dust the common beginning of all euen liuing: the which should incite them the [...] to forget the glory of their Name, and to repaire by their goodly and royall actions, the shortnesse of their dayes, [...] they may past from the disquietnesse of an [...] Religion, [...] eternall rest of a heauenly command, and change their Crownes which are not durable, to the Diadem of an Empire which hath no end. The Turkish Sultans spend their dayes farre from those wise thoughts in the [...] of their [...], in the midst of pleasures, with their Sultan's; the [...] of [...], doth blemish their glory, and [...] their [...] the humours of their Bodies, and shortens their [...]. For delights kill more men than the sword. When they can sick, [...] [Page] ni Bassa, who is the chiefe of the Phisitians, assembles the rest within the Serrail, and shuts himselfe vp with them, where they labour for the cure of their Maister, with that care which wee haue formerly mentioned. Remedies are but for helpes, they draw them not from the Bed, whereas their life and pride must haue an end: They die, and leauing their Scepters and Crownes, with all that which the World adores, they carry nothing with them but the good they haue done liuing, yet vnprofitable to their soules health, seeing they haue not Truth for their Guide. The Prince which is to succeed puts on Mourning, and attires himselfe in blacke for a short time, hee couers his head with a little Turbant, and doth testifie by his exterior shew, the griefe hee hath for the losse of his Predecessour, although that in his soule, hee feeles the most sensible joy that euer hee had. Thus Selym the Third shewed himselfe before the Body of Selyman the Second, his Father, who dyed in Hungary at the siege of Sighet: All the Bassa's weare little Turbants in signe of Mourning: And if the Emperour dies in the Warre as Solyman did, all the Ensignes and the Standard Royall, are turned downward towards the ground, vntill the now Sultan takes his Royall Robes, and puts on a great white Turbane, the which is done soone after: Then they cry as wee haue formerly related; That the soule of the Inuincible Emperour Sultan N. enjoyes the immortall glory and eternall peace: That the Empire of Sultan N may prosper withall felicitie. But they interre them all in Constantinople, since they setled the Seate of their Empire in that place: Before, their Tombes were erected at Prussia in Asia, the place of their first Domination: their [...] in this manner.

The Emperours Body is carried in a Cossin couered with Linnen very rich, or of Veluet: His Turbant is set before it, with a Plume of He [...] Feathers: The Talismans, San [...], Alpha [...]uis, Der [...], and the like rabble of the Alcoran, carry in their hands T [...]pers lighted, to shew that their Prophet is the Ape of Christianity; goe before singing in their Language such Verses, A [...]a rahmmani arh [...] Alla,[Page]illa Alla, Alla [...] Alla, that is to say, Mercifull God bane pittie on him, there is no God but God, God is God. They also say these words: Iabilac [...]illata Mehemet ressultaha tungari bir berem berac; which signifieth, God is God, and there is no other God, Mahomet is his Counsellour, and his true Prophet. Before the Corps doth march the Mutaferaga, who carries the Emperours Turbant vpon a Lance, with the tayle of a Horse tied neere vnto it: The Ianizaries, the Solachi, and the rest of the Imperiall Guard follow the Hearse: After these the Officers of the Sultans house march in order vnder the conduct of Casuegirhassi, or Master of the Household: The Malundarb bedith mandura, carrieth the deceased Grand Seigueurs Armes, and the Royall Standard dragging vpon the ground: The Bassa's and all the great Men of the Port, yeelding their last duty vnto their Master, assist at their Funerall pleasantly attired in mourning: They haue a piece of Grey-cloth hangs before and behind from the head to the foot, like vnto the Fro [...]k which the Brethren of the Hospitall, of the Charity, in the Suburbes of Saint Germain at Paris do weare: some of them for that they will not seeme too sorrowfull; tie only a long piece of Linnen cloth, to the end of their Turbants, which h [...]ng downe vnto their heeles. In this great Mourning the most [...] in the [...] Cou [...]t, hold their Rancks in this Funerall Pompe, whereas the Men make but a part of the Convoy, [...] supply the rest, with lesse griefe and more [...]cares: For all the Sultans great Horses are at his Interment; they carry their Saddles turned vpward, and better couered than the Bassa's in their Grey Froches, they haue blacke Veluet hanging vnto the ground: They weepe and sigh without [...]: They put Assagoth or Tobacco into their [...], and into their eyes to draw forth [...] is the [...] pompe of the Turkish Sultans, who being [...] men to weepe f [...] their losse, constraine [...] to [...]: In this [...] they conduct the body (the hard first after the Turkish manner) to the Tombe where they wil inclose [...] is usually [...] to the Mosqu [...]e, which the deceased Sultan hath cause [Page] built, in a Chappell apart: the Sepulchre is couered with black Veluet. If the Prince died in the Warre, they lay his Scmiter vpon it; if not, his Turbant is aduanced, and set against the wall neere vnto the Tombe, with rich Plumes of Herons feathers for an Ornament; two Candlestickes which carry great Tapers gilt, are at the foot of the Sepulchre: Some Turkish Priests which are instituted to that end, repeate continually the Azoares of the Alcoran in their turnes, and one after another sayes the Turkes Chapelet; whereof wee haue spoken in the History of their Religion, and pray continually for the soule of the deceased. On Fridayes these Imperiall Tombes, are adorned with new Couerings, and strewed with flowres: They which come on such dayes pray for the dead, or powre forth theirteares, and take a Nosegay when they returne. Sometimes they doe also set much meat, to giue Almes vnto the poore, and they call to these Funerall Feasts, not only poore Beggers, but also Beasts, as Dogges, Cats, and Bi [...]s, the which are honourably receiued, and feasted with as much liberty and safety as the Men, who seeing the pawes of Cats in pottage with their hands, dare not chase them away: But contrariwise they owe them respect and succour, as those whom misery hath made their equals, and therefore capable to receiue the effects of the Turkish Charity: For the Mahomets hold opinion, that to giue Almes vnto Beasts is a worke no lesse meritorious before God, than to giue vnto Men: for that, say they, these poore animals possesse nothing in this World, where they are destitute of all temporall goods, necessary for the maintenance of life. Thus they shut him vp in sixe foot of ground whom all the World could not containe, and whose vnrestrained ambition aspired to more Empire than the Earth containes: And after that he had bin a terrour to Men, and the cruell scourge of many Nations, he is made the subject of Wormes, and their ordinary food. In this manner passeth, and ends the glory of the World.

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Title statement

The history of the imperiall estate of the grand seigneurs their habitations, liues, titles ... gouernment and tyranny. Translated out of French by E.G. S.A.Histoire generalle du serrail, et de la cour du Grand Seigneur, Empereur des Turcs. English

Baudier, Michel, 1589?-1645.

Edition statement

1635

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Text Creation Partnership,

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2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A05751

ID [STC]

STC 1593

ID [STC]

ESTC S101093

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99836917

ID [PROQUEST]

99836917

ID [VID]

1212

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A05751)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 1212)

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— The history of the imperiall estate of the grand seigneurs their habitations, liues, titles ... gouernment and tyranny. Translated out of French by E.G. S.A., Histoire generalle du serrail, et de la cour du Grand Seigneur, Empereur des Turcs. English, Baudier, Michel, 1589?-1645., Baudier, Michel, 1589?-1645. Histoire de la cour du roy de la Chine. aut, Grimeston, Edward..

Extent

[8], 248 p.

Printed by William Stansby, for Richard Meighen, next to the middle Temple in Fleetstreet,. London :: 1635.. (Translations by Edward Grimeston of "Histoire generalle du serrail, et de la cour du Grand Seigneur, Empereur des Turcs" and "Histoire de la cour du roy de la Chine" by Michel Baudier.) ("The history of the serrail, and of the court of the Grand Seigneur, Emperour of the Turkes" and "The history of the Court of the King of China" each has separate title page: pagination and register are continuous. Both author and translator are named on the last title page.) (Only the first work appears on UMI microfilm.) (Reproduction of the original in Cambridge University Library.)

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