CHAP. II. The fundamental Maximes of the Turkish Po­licy.

THe first Grand Maxime of the Turkish Policy, is an entire and absolute Submis­sion and Obedience of the Subjects to the Will of their Prince, this absolute resignation to the Pleasure and Command of their Soveraign is instilled into the Turks, indeed rather as a Principle of Religion, than a meer Politick Maxime; such Care being taken in the E­ducation both of the Youth of the Seraglio who stand fair and are the Nursery for the Principal Offices of the Empire and of all the other Subjects of the Grand Seigniors Dominions, as to infuse into them this O­ [...]inion, that it is highly Meritorious and a [...]ind of holy Martyrdom to dye by either the [...]and or Command of their Prince; inso­much that it would be no wonder amongst [...]em to see whole Armies at his least beck [Page 4]plunge themselves into Abysses, make Bridg­ges with Piles of their Bodies for him to pass over Rivers, and only for his Diversion kill and butcher one another. This sub­jection the Turkish Machiavels look upon to have been a main Engin to the Encrease and Enlargement of their Dominions, and fancy the slackning this Discipline, and the Ca­bals in the Ministry under some of the late Emperours, has been the occasion of those Revolts and Disorders which have happe­ned in that State.

The next is, the Princes preferring such Persons to the principal Charges of the Court and Empire, as he can advance with­out Envy, and destroy without Peril: And in­deed nothing could be more for the interest of a Prince than the conduct of the Ottoman Court in this point; for none are admitted into the Grand Seigniors Service, but such as have had their Breeding and Education from him, and by that means have imbibed such Principles from their Infancy as tend wholly to the real Thankfulness for the Bread and Nourishment they have recei­ved, and a kind of Religious Awe and Ve­neration to his Person. Besides, as thes [...] Persons are constantly such as are taken in War or by Pyracy from Christian Parents they remain without those usual support [Page 5]which the common Interest of a Family and Alliances does afford. Moreover, the Senti­ments they inspire into those Persons are such as nourish and foment a detestation and abhorrence of their Parents Opinions, and spurr them on to the venturing their lives, their All to reduce them to the same Be­lief.

The Parity of Persons which is observed throughout All the Turkish Dominions, is also without question one of the main secu­rities of the Turkish sway, for all are here equal and nothing but merit does advance People to the Ministry and places of State. Thus all Offices being in the immediate di­sposal of the Emperour, and not to be ob­tained by the Factions of Grandees, who might divert the Peoples Eyes from off the Court, and by degrees tempt and delude themselves into Rebellion, they make their addresses directly to the Grand Seignior, as to the true source of their Promotions and Fortunes. And as this Parity makes all the People court only their Princes favour, so it prevents any thoughts of an Insurrection, or off casting of that Yoke of Tyranny, scor­ning basely to follow and promote the Interest of those who are but their Equalls. Thus the Subjects in Turky have nothing Hereditary, all their Honours and Places de­termining [Page 6]with their lives, none receiving any Glory from Illustriousness of extraction, but only from the Princes Favour and Boun­ty, which is in no wise claim'd or lessen'd by greatness of Birth, which here rather creates jealousy and danger, than favour and advantage: By these means People are Studious to qualify themselves for Offices, which Personal Merits render them Candi­dates for; and as the Grand Seignior is here the Administratour to all dead Men's Estates, Parents have not their thoughts so intent of heaping up Riches for an Inheritance to their Children, as they are to Capacitate them for their Princes Service. And this Destruction of all Nobility, cutting off all succession to Riches, Offices and the Go­vernment, but in the direct Ottomen line, does certainly preserve the Body of the Em­pire free from Faction and Rebellion. Where­as the Rich and powerful Governments of many Provinces which lye far remote from the Seat of the Empire, might tempt their Governours to a Rebellion, had they the assistance and support which an ancient and an Illustrious Extraction does afford. But as their Bashaws come of unknown Parents, are continued but for a short time in those forreign Governments, are Strangers in the Countries they sway, have no ancient Blood [Page 7]and Estates to entitle them Heirs to the Suc­cession, no Relations, Kindred or Alliances to second, prosecute or revenge their Quarrels, or to create Kindness or Compassion in the People to concern themselves in their behalf; so are these Ministers deprived of all means, opportunities or possibility, of promoting any Interest of their own above that of their Soveraigns: this it is has rendred all Emo­tions that have been, and sometimes will be in all Empires of such short continu­ance as Turky; this it is that suffers the greatest Subjects in those Dominions to be cut off according to the Princes Caprice, without raising the least Murmurs amongst the Peo­ple, who gaze upon such Spectacles with­out concern, or if they Create any Motions in them they are only such as afford pleasure, which they receive in seeing such Examples of Fortunes Unconstancy in the World. But this severity in the Turkish Policy does not only extend to the Bashaws and great Men, but to the very Ottoman Family it self, who are suppressed with greater strictness than all others, and are debarred all Wealth and Offices. Thus by the fundamental Laws of the Empire, the Children of a Grand Seigniors Daughter married to a Bashaw, are not capable of any Office in the State, but if by favour this is at any time dispensed [Page 8]with, they can never attain to any higher Preferment than that of a Capugibashee, which is one of the Porters of the Grand Seigniors Gate. Nay, it is so great a Crime to be allyed to the Royal Family, that it is almost Treason in those of this Race to name it, nor is there in Turky but one Branch of this Line of any account or esteem, and that is the Offspring of Sultan Ibrahim, who was a Son of the Grand Seigniors Sister, and marryed to a Sultana (and are said to be of the Race of the Tartars) thus coming only by the Womans side the less notice is taken of their Blood. Nor had this Family sub­sisted to this day, had it not been for this extraordinary Prudence and Discretion of its conduct in all the Revolutions of the Turkish Government, never aspiring to Offi­ces, nor medling with affaires of State, but living contentedly and with out Ostentation upon a small yearly revenue of about 70000 Dollars.

The Turks do look upon as one Cause of the Conservation of their Dominions, their laying wast and desolating their own Pro­vinces that lye the farthest remote from the Seat of their Empire, and by this means they think to enervate and dispirit the People, and bring them more within the reach and compass of Authority. And indeed it is [Page 9]seldom known that any Rebellions do arise under the Turkish sway, tho' in the remotest parts of Asia; and these few that have been seen, have with case been calmed and sup­pressed for the Male-contents and restless Spirits find no shelter in those Parts, being stripped of their Fortifications and Retreats in the Woods and Forrests, and the Rebels thereby exposed to the pursuits of an irri­tated Prince. And this it is that constrains the great men of that Empire to deliver themselves up without more ado to under­go Punishment and Death at the Will of their Soveraign, seeing they have no means of flight, nor no place of refuge lest in Coun­tries, that are laid wholly wast and afford no sustenance or support. Besides this dis­peopling, dismantling, and thus desola­ting the Country, is attended with this o­ther advantage, that no Forreign Enemy can with a Land Army make any Invasion in­to it with advantage, for the desolation of it renders it uncapable of furnishing any Provisions, and that there it is easily de­stroyed by the Grand Seigniors own Sub­jects, and for an Army to bring Ammuni­tion, and Provision along with it sufficient for such an Expedition, is a thing almost impossible. Nevertheless the immediate Fron­tier Places of their new Conquests the Turks [Page 10]take always Care to fortify, and to garnish and strengthen with Colonies of their own People.

Now as the Turkish Expeditions are like a Torrent, which bears all down before them so it is a point of their Policy when they have made a Conquest of any considerable Country to strike up a Peace immediately, that so they may have time to settle and confirm themselves in their new Acquisiti­ons, well knowing, that what they have so hastily overrun, is again to be as easily re­covered, and that the stream of such in­undations is as rapid in the Ebb as in the Flux.

The frequent Change of Officers, the degrading of some and exalting of others, is thought to tend very much to the wel­fare of the Ottoman Empire, for hereby those Sparks are deprived of the means of rivet­ting themselves in the Peoples Affections, or of fomenting any mutiny or alteration in the State: Besides as all Offices are here purchased at very dear Rates, every Bashaw of Grand Caire or of Babylon paying three or four hundred thousand Dollars for their Commission; others two, others one hun­dred thousand, according as their places are more or less considerable, and this Mo­ney they are constrained to take up at inte­rest [Page 11]paying forty or fifty per cent. annually and oftentimes more, so that they are forced to squeeze and fleece the People for the re­imbursing themselves again, clear their en­gagements, and bribe and purchase the Fa­vour and Protection of the Minions of the Court. Nevertheless this stands them in little stead, for when they have pretty well glutted themselves with their Exorbitant Exactions, and that the People begin to bawle out loud against the Tyranny and Oppression of those Ministers, they are pre­sently offered up a Sacrifice to their Furies, and those vast Estates and Mass of Treasure which they had so unjustly heaped, confis­cated to the Grand Seigniors use, who only bestows on their Posterity what he in his Bounty thinks fitting. Nor are these Har­pies of Ministers the only Persons liable to the severity of the Turkish Government, those who are the Favourites of the People being no less exposed to the keenness of the Ottoman sway, which looks upon Popularity as an unpardonable Crime. But then these Darling Officers are not dispatched into the other World after the same manner as those publick Pests, who are executed in Tri­umph, but the others are cajoled with all manner of fair treatment, the Grand Seigni­ors Umbrage is dissembled and they perhaps [Page 12]presented with a Horse, a Sword, a Sable Vest, or a Commission for some more ho­nourable and advantagious Government, until they have got them into such places, that the Executioner doing his orders by slipping the Bow-string about their Necks, cannot create any combustion nor hazard the publick Peace. Thus does Turky afford the fruitful Landskip of the unconstancy and mutability of Humane Grandeur that ever any other Country did, one moment seeing one of these Meteors shining in all the splen­dour, pomp, lustre and magnificence ima­ginable, and the next fall unpittied, barba­rously put to death, his body thrown into the Dirt of a forreign and unknown Coun­trey, without any solemnity of Funeral or Monument, but no sooner in the Grave than his memory is forgotten.

But now I think 'twould not be all toge­ther improper to set down some of those Religious Arts and Maximes whereby the Turkish Faith has and is propogated, especi­ally since their Law has that influence upon Affairs of State, and so contrived for the ho­nour and profit of the Sovereign; but for that purpose I shall not need to look back so far as to give an account of its first ta­king root or establishment, nor that Maho­mets Law was an hodge-podg of Judaisme, [Page 13]Chrystianity, and Paganism, nor of his nicking for lucky a juncture, as when the greatest Poli­ticians of the Age were employed in fra­ming a Model of an Ecclesiastical Monarchy, they and the Divines busied in healing the Wounds, which the Heresies of Arius and Nestorius had made in the Church, nor shall I speak of the stupidity and blockishness of the Age and Country he first set up in, and so the more easy to be imposed upon by his false and pretended Miracles, giving out he was sent by God to give a new Law to Man­kind, and that he was to reduce the World by force of Arms to his Obedience; that as Christ was greater than Moses, so was he greater than Christ and the last of the Pro­phets; that he had Communication with the Angel Gabriel for two years together that he lived in a Cave, who delivered to him and helped him to compile the Alchoran, tho' it was done by the help of Sergius the Monk; keeping a Pidgeon which he had taught to feed out of his Ear, he pretended it was the Holy Ghost, whom he conversed with and who instructed him in the Divine Precepts. Whenever he was in fits of the Falling-sick­ness, to which he was extreamly subject, he gave out that they were holy and prophe­tical Trances, with many other such like fop­peries, and mad-visionary tales, too tedious [Page 14]here to relate. Wherefore we will only take a short view of the practices now in use with them for the insinuating and promo­ting the Rites, Doctrines and Laws of the Turkish Religion.

The first was a Toleration of other Reli­gions, especially cajoling the Christians and their Te [...]ents, owning Christ to be a Prophet, and a greater too than Moses; that Mary conceived by the smell of a Rose; that the blessed Virgin was free from Original sin, and the Temptations of the Devil; that Christ was the Word of God and is so stiled in the Alchoran, and cured Diseases, raised the dead, and workt many miracles, and that his Disciples did the like by his power, hardly any of them ever speaking of our Saviour but with Veneration and Reverence, but will warmly deny his Passion, saying it were an Impiety to believe that God who loved and had conferred so much Power, and so many Graces on Christ, should so far dishonour him, as to deliver him into the Hands of the Jews, who were the worst and most scorned of Men, or to the Death of the Cross which was the most vile and infamous of all punishments; for being, as they say, led toward the place of Executi­on, God not permitting so base a People to put to Death so holy a Prophet (for they [Page 15]confess that he never sinned) did assume him into Heaven: when mist and sought by the Souldiers in the throng, they laid hold of one of the Judges that had con­demned him, who resembled him much in favour and proportion, telling him that he should not escape from them again; and so not believing whatsoever he said, executed him in his Room. By such like Baits and Artifices as these, and punishing severely all those who Blaspheme the name of Christ, they think to decoy and invite over to their belief the unwary Christians.

Toleration, as I said, being one of the first Traps that was laid for the Professours of others Creeds, they have improved it to this, among the other advantages of seducing and perverting the People that dwell among them, that as they allow of Churches and Houses of Devotion in places where they have been anciently founded, but admit not of holy buildings on new Foundations; they may repair the old coverings and roofs, but cannot lay a stone in a new Place conse­crated to Divine Service, nor if fire or any accident destroy the superstructure can it be re-edifyed, or any new strength added to the Foundation, wherewith to underprop for an other building. Thus in time all the Churches in the Ottoman Empire must of [Page 16]necessity fall to utter ruine, as many have al­ready done, so that seeing the Turkish Laws do not permit Christian Churches to be re­stored, Christianity in time will be abolished in those Dominions, unless it be the good Will of Heaven otherwise to ordain it.

Neither are their Laws concerning Chri­stian Children less conducing to the propa­gating Christianity, for if a man turn Turk, his Children under the age of fourteen years, tho' educated with other Principles, must be forced to the same Perswasion, Men that speak against the Mahometan Law, that have rashly promised at a time of Distracti­on or Drunkenness to become Turks, orhave had a carnal knowledge of a Turkish Wo­man, must either become Martyrs or Apo­states; besides many other subtleties they have to entrap the Souls of Christians with the niceties and entanglements of their Law.

Another point of the Mahometan Policy is for the promoting of their Sect, not to de­liver up any City Town or Fortress where Mosques or other Religious Houses of their perswasion have been once built, and where Mahometanism has been professed; thus the Turk has no sooner set footing in a Town, but that he falls immediately to erecting of Mosques and Temples, and thereby lays an [Page 17]obligation upon the consciences of the Gar­rison to make the most obstinate and vigo­rous Defence, and this being a Principle of their Religion never to yield upon a volun­tary surrender, it has often been so preva­lent, and spirited the Defendants to that De­gree, that all the terrours and miseries of Famine, Sword, and other Calamities have not been capable to constrain them to lay down their Arms and capitulate a delive­ry.

Besides these Artifices the Mahametan Do­ctrine it self had such Baits and Decoys, as were sure to catch and trepan all Carnal and Voluptuous Men, Mahomet promising to the Possessours of the World, magnifi­cent Palaces spread all over with silk Carpets, flowry Fields and Christalline Ri­vers; Trees of Gold still flourishing; ple­asing the Eye with their goodly Forms, and the Taste with their Fruits, under whose fragrant shades they shall spend the course of their happy time with Amorous Virgins, who shall alone regard their particular lo­vers: Not such as have lived in this World, but created on purpose: with great black Eyes, beautiful as a Hyacinth, and the du­ration of one act of Carnal Copulation [...]hould be for the space of sixty years; that [...]heir Women shall have daily their lost Vir­ginities [Page 18]restored, ever young (continuing there as here at fifteen, and the Man as at thirty) and ever free from natural Porti­ons; Boys of Divine feature shall minister unto them, and set before them all variety of delicate Viands. And a thousand other things sensual and ridiculous to wise and thinking Men, yet capable of drawing in a senceless tho' sensual Multitude as the Oriental Nations are above all others.

But when all these tricks fail them, they have an other way to propagate their Reli­gion much more prevalent than any yet mentioned, and indeed is what first intro­duced it, established it, and has since main­ [...] [...] the World, and that is by the [...]wo [...]d [...] it is one of the Principal Arti­cles of their Creed that the Souls of those who dye in the Wars against the Christians, without the help of any previous Acts of performance of their Law, or other Works, are immediately transported to Paradice, which must necessarily make keen the Swords and animate the Courage of the Souldiers: and besides this Resolution in War, they infuse into them an invincible patience in bearing all terrestrial wants by which they are kept tite against Sedition and apt to retain all things necessary to compliance in Go­vernment. And by such like Insinuations [Page 19]is these, do they whet such Multitudes of [...]heir Souldiers to rush blindly on to their [...]wn Ruine and Slaughter valuing their Lives [...]nd Bodies at no higher rate than the price [...]f Stones and Rubbish to stuff up Brooks and Ditches, that they may but erect a Bridge or [...]assage for their Fellows to assault their E­ [...]emies.

The success of the Ottoman Arms has con­ [...]rmed their opinion of their Faith, and they [...]ave made it a Principle, that whosoever pro­ [...]ers, hath God for the Author, and by how [...]uch more successful have been their Wars, by [...] much the more hath God been an owner of their [...]ause and Religion.

Nor is their constancy to, and their strict observation of their Primitive institutes, small preservative against Divisions and editions both in Church and State.

The Institution, Power and Office of the [...]ufti is also a most Political Contrivance, [...]r tho' his decisions be looked upon as sa­ [...]ed and infallible, yet is he constantly a [...]eature of the Grand Seigniors, and that all [...]wer both Ecclesiastical and Civil be radical­ [...] in the Sultan, yet he is only a mere Wea­ [...]er-cock of State, pointing as the Court [...]rects; the Grand Seignior always chooses [...]r this Office some person most Famous for [...]s learning in the Laws, and eminent for [Page 20]his Virtues and strict conduct of Life. Thi [...] Ministers Office is so great among the Turk [...] that the Grand Seignior will in no wise con­tradict or oppose his Determination in an [...] case whatever.

This Minister is made use of as a Skrec [...] by the Court, whether in cases of condem­ning any great and Popular Man to Death or making War or Peace or other impor­tant affairs of the Empire; and this is eithe [...] to appear the more just and Religious, or t [...] incline the People more willingly to Obed [...] ­dience. Now tho' the Grand Seignior be th [...] Fountain and Oracle of justice, tho' he b [...] above the Law, yet when he has resolve upon the Fall and Destruction of any grea [...] and Popular Man, the Mufti's Sentence giv [...] a gloss and innocent varnish to his Action of Justice.

But in case the Mufti be at any time foun [...] refractory, and cannot or will not resol [...] the cases that are offered to his solution, b [...] is fairly dismissed from his infallible Office and an other set up in his stead who is mo [...] ­pliant and flexible, and a fitter Oracle fo [...] the present juncture. And if any Hesitat [...] on be met with in the second, he is also d [...] ­charged, and so on with others until th [...] have met with one whose Prophesies jun [...] more with the interest of the Prince, y [...] [Page 21] [...]et things go as they will, the Musti's Life is [...]ree from the Sword, and his Fortunes sel­ [...]om subject to the Subversion. In short, he [...]s the supream Judg and rectifier of all Acti­ons, as well civil as ecclesiastical, and an approver of the Justice of the Military. He seldom goes abroad, nor does he admit of impertinent Conversation, he carries gra­vity with him in his looks, as well as in his behaviour. When any come to him for Judgment, they deliver him in Writing the State of the Question, and he in Wri­ting briefly returns his Oraculous answer, [...]he commonly weareth a Vest of Green, and the greatest turbant in the Empire, and tho' we should say as large as a Bushel we should not be much out of compass. His Seraglio is neither large nor beautiful. In it he kee­peth a Seminary of Boys, who are instructed in the Mysteries of their Laws; he is not re­strained, nor restraineth himself from the Penalty of Women his Incomes are great, his expences small, and therefore his Wealth infinite. Thus having briefly touched upon the Maximes of the Turkish Policy and some of the Articles of their Creed. I shall now proceed, to give an, account of their Persons, Garb, Dispositions, Manners and Fashi­ons.

CHAP. III. Of the Persons, Garb, Dispositions, Manners and Fashions of the Turks.

THe Turks are generally well complexio­ned, of goodly Statures, full Bodies, and sutably proportioned; they suffer no hair about them, but a lock on their Crown, and what grows on their Faces; for their Beards they wear at full length, as a mark of gravity and of freedom, the Slaves in the Levant being shaved, and the Christians ridi­culed who so un-man themselves by taking off their Beards. It is a badge of their Reli­gion to wear white Shashes and Turbants on their Heads, and they distinguish their Vocations and Quality by their foldings and their size. Next to their Skin they wear a Calico Smock, with large Sleeves longer than their Arms; under this a pair of Ca­lico Drawers, reaching to their Anckles, with Yellow or Red slip-Shoes, picked at the Toe, and plated on the Soal: Over all they wear a half sleeved Coat girt unto them with a Shash or Towel: their Neck all bare; and this is their Summer Garb with­in Doors. But when they go abroad they [Page 23]wear over all Gownes, some with wide half Sleeves, others with long hanging Sleeves buttoned before, and by the meaner People another Fashion, reaching but a little be­low the Knee, with hanging-Sleeves not much longer than the Arm, and open be­fore, but all of them ungathered in the Shoulders. In the Winter they wear a kind of Breeches or Drawers of Cloth which a­bout the small of their Leg are sowed to short smooth Buskins of Leather without Soals, fit for the Foot, as the Glove for the Hand; lining their Gowns with Fur, as they do their Coats; having then the Sleeves (or quilted Wastecotes under them) reaching close to their Wrists. They wear no Gloves, they wear long Handkerchiefs at their Girdles, some of great Value, and admirable well wrought, the Modes never change in Turky, no more than they do in Spain, nor is there any great difference in the make of the Cloaths of mean People and those of Quality, only that they wear Cloth of Tissue, of Gold and Silver, Velvet, Scar­let, Satin, Damask, Camlets, lined with Sables and other costly Furres, and with Martins, Squirrils, Foxes, and Coney-skins according to their several Qualities. But the common wear is Violet Cloth, they re­tain still the Antient custome of presenting [Page 24]Change of Rayment. The Clergy go much in Green, it being Mahomets Colour, and those of his Posterity and Kindred wear Green shashes, and are called Emers, which is Lord, the Women in like manner wea­ring also something of Green upon their Heads to be known. A Christian is not al­lowed to wear Green, if he does out of ig­norance, he shall be soundly beaten, and his Cloaths torn off his Back. In the City they have no Arms, only tuck under their Girdle a crooked Knife of the bigness of a Dagger, in sheaths of Mettal, all beset with Gemms and precious Stones to a considera­ble value. They are upright in their Gate, lofty in their Demeanour with an elated Countenance. The greatest sign of Love and Honour is among them to take a Person by the Hand, and lay it to ones Forehead; they lay their Hands on their Bosomes in their familiar Salutations, bending their Bo­dies a little; but in their respects to Per­sons of Illustrious Quality, they bow to the very Ground, and kiss the Hem of his Gar­ment. The Ornaments of their Head, they never put off upon any occasion, they are Devout observers of cleanliness and neat­ness, not only washing all parts of their Bo­dies upon every slight, occasion, but going into their Bannio's (which are the most state­ly [Page 25]of their Publick Buildings) once or twice a Week, but perfuming their Beards and the inside of their Turbants with Amber, they are so superstitious in their washings, that they fancy the least Excrement upon their Garments is a Polution. They sel­dom travel single, but expecting till a grea­ter number be bound for the same place, go and lodg together; These are called Ca­ravans, and are security from Thieves unless they come in Troops, and then the Gover­nours sends against them, they have not many Occupations and Exercises, being gene­rally extream slothful, their Minds being in no wise inclined to Arts, nor have they any Inclination for the Sciences, so that it's no wonder if a Man can only be provided in their Country with what is absolutely ne­cessary for Life, indispensably useful to Com­merce, and very meanly proper for the Re­creation of the Mind and Body, and for the passing ones time pleasantly and with de­ [...]ight, which ever proves tedious to such dull, heavy and unthinking People as are he Mahometans. Thus almost their only Exercise is shooting, wherein too they take so little pains, that they sit all the while [...]n Carpets in the shade, and make their slaves fetch their Arrows, their Bows are made of the Horns of Buffiloes, intermix­ed [Page 26]with Sinewes, rarely wrought and many of them exquisitely guilded, and are for form and length not unlike the Lath of a large Cross-Bow: They are indeed excel­lent at Rope-dancing, and some of them are Wrestlers. But only such as make it their Profession, and gain thereby their live­lyhood. Cards and Dice they do not un­derstand, but will play at chess all the day long, an amuzement suting well enough with their sedentary Humour. Those of the better rank delight much in Horses, which are both beautiful and well managed, but cannot undergo hard riding; their Sad­dles, tho' not large be hard and deep, pla­ted behind and before, and some of them with Silver, as are their Massie Stirrups, and the Reins of their Bridles suited unto their other costly Caparisons. When they stand in the Stable, they feed them for the most part, if not altogether with Barley; being here of small Value, and only serving for that purpose; they litter them in their own Dung, first dryed in the Sun, and pul­verated, which keeps their Skins clean, smooth and shining.

In Turky they shut Cats and Dogs out of Doors every Night, and this is made a piece of their Religion, and a cleanly one: the Dogs go most together making a hideous noise [Page 27]and are dangerous by Night to Thieves and Drunkards; others seldom walk among them after it is dark.

The thing, wherein Necessity has con­strained the Turks to busy themselves, are, Agriculture, Baking, dressing Victuals, and Architecture, and of late the Christians have Care to cultivate the Lands in the Ottoman Empire. The Turks seldome put Hand to Plow, but when they are pinched by neces­sity, for if there be any Greeks or Armenians in [...] Village, they leave all to them and never [...]rouble themselves with sowing or reaping. They have a great number of Bakers in all the great Cities, those Bakers having for the most [...]art Mills in their own Houses, and keeping [...]ertain Animals for the turning their Mills. The Turks Kitchins are none of the most La­ [...]ish and Delicious, a Man needing to be sharp [...]t to be much pleased with their Cookery, [...]heir Pillaw is the Principal Dish, and is [...]ice in Grain, dressed very small in Meat [...]oth, or else with Water and Butter. And [...]is is the most excellent of all their Dishes, [...]ithout which the greatest Feast in the [...]orld would not be of any esteem, some­ [...]mes they put into turn'd Milk which they [...]l Joyhourt, Saffron to make it Yellow, [...]ney or Pekmess, which is Wine boyled [...] make it sweet, and a thousand other In­gredients [Page 28]to satisfy the whimsicalness of so depraved a Tast as theirs. They often have Roast-meat which they call Kiabab, which they neither lard nor bast, unless it be with the fatt of Caramanian Mutton, the Tails of which Sheep are as broad as the Brims of a Hat and proportionably thick. They are but a short while at Table, and have sooner dined then we can eat a Dish of Broth. As soon as Dinners over they wrap up their Sofra or Leather Carpet, their Table being a round Board, standing on a Foot not past a Foot high, and brim'd like a Charger; the Dishes have Feet like stan­ding Bowls, and are so set one upon an o­ther, that you may eat of each without re­moving of any, tho' commonly they have neither Tables nor Stools in their Houses but sit cross'd legg'd on the Floor at thei [...] Victuals, all in a ring. Their Houses are ge­nerally made of Brick baked in the Sun, ar [...] low and mean, which is to be ascribed to the Peoples having no properties of thei [...] owne, and therefore Care not to spend ei­ther their Treasure or their time in building what they cannot transmit to their Posterity nay which they themselves may be outed [...] the very next Moment. Now tho' the Ma­hometans have some Rules of Architectur [...] for the above mentioned reason they neve [...] [Page 29]practise them for their own use. None but Publick Buildings as are the Temples, Baths, Hospitals, Coravanserats, Basarts and Besest­ins, that have any thing in any wise passable well contrived. Nevertheless the roofs of many of their Private Houses are curiously fieled with inlaid Wood adorned with Gold and Azure to an excessive costliness, the upper end of the Room being a little raised, is covered with Turky Carpets, whereon when they tread they put off their Slip-shoes. In the heat of the day they sit on great out-Windows which many of them have made for that purpose. But as for Hangings or the like to their Rooms they have none, all their Furniture on the Inside being only bare White Walls, unless some peculiar Room in the Houses of those of the Highest Quality.

Their Publick Buildings are vast, and stately afar off being wonderfully beautifyed by the abundance of Trees planted among the Houses, so as each City seems rather a Wood than a City; which, beside the pleasant A­spect, shelters against the Summer Sun and Winters Wind; the Streets are not broad, but paved with a high foot-Causay on each side, in the middle a passage for Carts and Horses; from the Caves on both sides is made a Boarded Arch not very close, yet [Page 30]much defensive against Sun and Rain. Turky is furnished with magnificent Bridges, as Hanes, Mesketoes, High-ways and other publick Structures; and by this means, when any Provincial Governour is both for Riches and Rapin notorious, he is sure ere long to be circumvented, or else laid open to the Accuser for confiscation, he to pre­vent this hath no fairer way, than for the publick good to make some work of e­minent magnificence; wherein lie the two safe points of Reputation, in being held pious and exhaust, the one stops the Accuser, the other the Exchequer.

But as I have spoke something of their Diet and their Habitations, it will not be impertinent to enlarge a little farther upon their House-keepings and Habitations; the Turks find the advantage of their sparing hu­mour both in War and at home, the greatest Provisions that are carryed into their Camp being only of Rice, potted Butter, and some dry or poudred Meats, they do not busy a vast number of Men to search after and procure a hundred sorts of different Meats, nor oblige their Souldiers to wander from their main Body to fetch away to the peril of their lives wherewith to satisfy their Intemperance. And as for their House keeping a Barrel of Rice a year, with some Pots of Butter, and [Page 31]dryed Fruits, make the greatest Provisions of a very numerous Family. For my part I can refer to no other Cause than this the so­briety the strength and plumpness of all the Eastern-People: And if they were allowed to have great Estates in Property for the re­ceiving of Annual Rents, this Retrench­ment and Moderation they have so long made in their Diet, would have setled more Rich Families in Constantinople, than Feasting and Luxury have ruined in all his Majesties three Kingdomes. For a Kitchin in a House is like the Spleen in the Body, the more it Augments, the more the other Faculties di­minish. Nevertheless their Pillaw, Doulma, Boureck, Chorbes and other Dainties would be pleasing enough to some of our nicest Pa­lats in Europe, and whereon a Man might make both a substantiall and a delicious meal.

Their Attendants at the Table are Slaves, such as have been bestowed upon them by way of Present, or which they have obtai­ned in War or by their Money; and the greater number a Man has, the richer he is accounted: They make three Meals a day. But at a Feast they besiege the Table all the day long, unless they rise to ease Nature and forthwith return. They abominate Hogs-Flesh, Blood, and whatever hath dyed of [Page 32]it self, unless in extream necessity. As Wine is prohibited them by their Alcoran, (wherein nevertheless they will debauch to a high Degree in private) their usual Drink is pure Water and sundry sorts of Sherbets, some made of Sugar and Lemmons, some of Violets, Peaches, Apricocks, or other Flowers, Fruits or Plumbs, as is the pro­duct of each Province; these are dryed to­gether into a consistence reasonable hard, and portable for their use in War, or else­where, mingling about a spoonful with a Quart of Water. But one of their most common Drinks, now in great request with us, is their Coffee, and Coffee-Houses abound in Turky more than Taverns nay Inns or Ale-Houses in England. In their Coffee-Houses upon Scaffolds half a yard High, which they call Sofats, covered with Mats, they sit cross-leg'd after the Turkish manner, commonly two or three hundred together chatting, often having some sorry Musick, thrumming up and down the Room all the while. They are incredible takers of Opium, which abounds in some of their Provinces, this they say expelleth all fear and renders them Couragious, but ra­ther wild-headed, and occasioning turbulent Dreams. The Turks are excessive in their jea­lousy, surpassing therein all other Nations [Page 33]which is to be ascribed to Polygamy, which renders the Husband unfit for sufficient cor­respondence, and suspicious the Women will seek for due Benevolence elsewhere. Now they are generally exhorted to Matrimony for the propagating of their Law, and the Man loses his Reputation who deferreth marrying till the Age of five and twenty. E­very Man is allowed four Wives, who must all pin their Faith upon Mahomets Sleeves, and as many Concubines as he can keep, and that two of any Religion soever. Yet this set number of their Wives is no point of their Religion, but a restriction introduced upon some Politick Consideration, as too great a Burden and debilitation to mens E­states and Bodies. A Man being bound to make each Wife a Cabin or Dowry, and each by the Law is allowed to claim her share in the conjugal allowance, at least one night in the Week; for if any of them hath been neglected for a whole Week before, she may challenge Thursday night as her due, and the Law hath provided her Remedy in that case against her Husband: But if her modesty will not allow her to sue for one Weeks Default, she has nevertheless the In­genuity to contrive a supply of her wants. Now as the Women in Turky are kept in the highest restraint imaginable, not being [Page 34]allowed to stir abroad but muffled all but the Eyes, nor suffered to go to Church, or look out of the Windows of their own Houses, nay not to converse with their own Sons after such an Age; so none in the World can match them in their Ingeni­ous contrivances for the satisfying their las­civious Desires, which are nourisht and fo­mented to that Degree by the strictness of their Guardians, that the Turkish Women are accounted the most immodest Women in the World. Nevertheless, a Wives in­continency does not here redound to the Disgrace and Scandal of a Husband, the Brow-Antlets being placed to the account of the Father, Brother or kindred of the Woman: Her Blood and Family being thereby tainted and dishonoured, and he by a Divorce both rids himself of his Wife, and purges himself of the disgrace. But before we speak of the formalities of a Di­vorce, it will not be impertinent to s [...]t down those of a Wedding. Now having bought their Wife of her Parents, and re­corded the contract before the Cadi they solemnize their marriage in this manner. Many Women are invited by the Mother of the Bride to accompany her the night before the Marriage day, whereof they spend a great part in feasting; then lead they her [Page 35]into a Bath, where they anoint and bath her. So breaking company, they depart unto their several Rests, and in the mor­ning return unto her Chamber; where they deck her in her richest Ornaments, tying on her Silcken Buskins with Knots not easi­ly unknit. The Bridegroom having feasted a number in like manner, in the morning they also repair to his House in their best Trappings, and nobly mounted, from whence they set forward two and two in a Rank, to fetch home the Bride, accompanyed with Musick, and conducted by the Sagdich, who is the nearest of his Kindred. To the Sag­dich the Bride is delivered with her Face close covered, and then she is set astride on Horse-back, with a Canopy carryed over her in such manner, as no part of her is to be discerned. Thus does this Troup re­turn in the same order that it came, having their Presents and Apparel carryed after them in Serbets or a kind of Baskets, and then follows the Bride her self, and last of all her Slaves if any have been given her. The Bridegroom standeth at his Door to re­ceive her, and has all respects paid him by his Guests: who nevertheless go not in, and is regated by them with several Presents be­fore their departure. If she be of Quality, she is led to the Bride Chamber by an Eu­nuch, [Page 36]where Women stand prepared to un­dress her. But the Bridegroom himself must untie her Buskins, to which he is fain to apply his Teeth. Now he must enter­tain his Wifes with equal respect, giving them the same Diet, the same Apparel, and the same Benevolence, being expressly or­dained in the precepts of their Doctors, and all this must be exactly observed unless they are willing, and consent to change Turns, and upon Default they may procure a Di­vorce upon complaint to the Cadi: Now they have three Degrees of Divorce, e­very one of which is made, before the Cadi, and by him both extracted and Regi­stred; the first separates the Man and Wife only from the same House and Bed, the Wife being still allowed her Maintenance; the second divides them not only in that manner, but the Husband is compelled to make good her Kabin, or Dowry promised at her Marriage, so as to have no Interest either in him or his Estate, and to be at per­fect Freedome to Marry another, the third sort of Divorce is called (Ouch Talac) and is made in a Solemn and more Serious man­ner, with more rigorous terms of separati­on, and in this case the Husband repenting of his Divorce, and desirous to take his Wife again, cannot be admitted to her by [Page 37]the Law, without consenting and content­ing himself to see an other Man enjoy her before his Face, an injunction ordained by the Law for a punishment of the Husbands levity and inconstancy. And how severe a Condition soever this may seem, there be some Turks who are content to accept of them again upon those Articles, and make choice of some handsome Youth for the en­tring their Wifes Bed. In some cases a Woman with many of her Friends goes be­fore a Cadi, where weeping and taking off her Shoe, she holds the Soal upwards but says nothing, and this ceremony is used when a marryed Woman complains that her Husband would abuse her against Na­ture. And no delivery can be so clean and neat as this by way of Emblem, such Facts being too unclean for Language; there are some other points pleadable in Law for Di­vorce in behalf of the Woman, as impoten­cy or frigidity in the Husband, and the like; as also if he maintain her not with Bread, Butter, Rice, and Flax to Spin for her cloa­thing, the Law supposing her so good a Huswife as to supply her self with her own Labour; they have also a sort of half Mar­riage among them which is called Kabin, when a man takes a Wife for a Month, or for a certain limited time, and an agreement [Page 38]is made for the price before the Cadee or Judge: and this is chiefly used by Stran­gers. Moreover there is still an other sort of Marriages practised in Turky, which is the Conjunction of an Eunuch with a Wo­man; such as are wholly deprived and dis­armed of all parts of Manhood, and yet do notwithstanding take many Wives, and ex­ercise Lusts of an unknown and prodigious Nature.

One Priviledge the Grand Seigniors Sub­jects, have more then their Soveraign, that they can marry whom they please, where­as he can marry none at all, under which restriction those Princes have lain ever since the misfortune of Bajazet, who being a Prisoner to Tamerlane had his dearly belo­ved Wife Despina violated before his very Eyes; Insomuch that the Sultans to prevent such like Misfortunes and Dishonours for the future, take no Female companion of their Empire, in whom they can interess them­selves farther than as Slaves, or for the loss of Goods, Riches or Estates. Besides this Policy has a larger extent, for it puts off all those vast Dowries, which otherwise should be made answerable to a Sultana's Condition, so that by this means a great part of the Revenues of the Empire would be diverted from the true Channel of its In­terest [Page 39]and Conservation, and lavisht upon uses rather tending to its Undermining and Debilitation, than to the setling and aug­menting its Grandeur.

The Children the Turks have by their Slaves, are equally esteemed by them with those they have by their Wives, bating this difference in esteem of the Law, that unless the Father manumisses them by his Testa­ment, and conferrs a lively-hood upon them by Legacy, they remain to the Charity of the Elder Brother that is born from the Wife, and are his Slaves, and he their Lord and Master, so that from the Loins of the same Father may proceed Children of a servile and ignominious Condition. The Women respect their Hu [...]band as a Master; receive chastizement from him, which they interpret as a mark of his Affection, they eat apart, unless particularly called by the Husband, and do not concern themselves with Domestick Affairs, the Principal of their business being to study all the ways possible to please their Husband, Nurse their own Children, and cultivate their Charms. And indeed they are generally well featured, clear, smooth, and ruddy complexioned, with large black Eyes, which they consider as a Beauty, and is to be one of the grea­test Charms of Mahomets Paradice, and [Page 40]those who have not naturally black Eyes, have the Art to make them seem so, and also dye their Eye Lashes and Eye brows, as they also do the hair of their Head which they wear sometimes dishevell'd. Their Nails they paint with a Yellowish Red. On the top of their Heads they wear a Cap not un­like the top of a Sugar-loaf, yet a little flat of Paste-Board, and covered with Cloth of Silver or Tissue.

Women of the better Rank wear about the upper parts of their Armes, and smalls of their Leggs, Bracelets, and are elsewhere adorned with Jewels. When they go a­broad they wear over all long Gowns of Violet or Scarlet Cloth, tyed close before, the large Sleeves hanging over their Hands, having Buskins on their Leggs, and their Heads and Faces so mufled in fine Linnen that no more is to be seen of them than their Eyes, nor that of some, who look as through a Bevour, being forbidden by their Alchoran to disclose their Beautyes unto any save their Fathers and their Husbands.

The next that fall in our way to speak of after their Wives, be their Slaves, who are Christians taken in War or purchased with their Money. Of those there are weekly Markets in each City, where they are to be sold as Horses in Fairs, the Men [Page 41]being prized according to their faculties or Personal abilities, and the Women for their Youths and Beauties, being decked with all the Ornaments that can inspire Love and Affection, and allure and invite Chap­men. And as Jockyes view and examine every Part and Limb before they strike up a Bargain, so are they so scrutinous as to search even her very Mouth. Their Masters may lye with them, chastise them, exchange and sell them at their Pleasure: If any Slave become a Mahometan, he is dischar­ged his Bondage. The old and the most deformed are put to the most Drudgery, the Men-Slaves may compel their Masters before the Cady, to limit the time of their Bon­dage, or set a price of their Redemption, or else to sell them unto an other; but whether of the two, they lightly refer un­to the Slaves Election. If they be only fit for Labour, they will accept of the Time, but if skillful in any craft, of the Price, which expired or paid, they may return un­to their Countryes. But Gally-Slaves are seldom released, in regard of their small number, and much employment which they have for them: Nor those that are Slaves unto great ones, to whom the Cady's Au­thority extends not.

Many of the Children that the Turks do buy, they castrate, making all smooth as the back of the Hand, whereof divers do dye in cutting, who supply the uses of Na­ture with a Silver Quill, which they wear in their Turbants. In times past, they only did but geld them; but being admitted to the free Converse of their Women, it was observed by some that they more than or­dinarily delighted in their Societies. But others, that one of the Sultans seeing a Gel­ding cover a Mare, brought in among them that Inhumane Custome. Eunuchs are in great repute with their Masters in Turky, being intrusted with the whole manage­ment of their Estates, the Government of their Women and Houses in their ab­sence, and have shown themselves so Trusty, Loyal, Prudent and Couragious, that they have often been called to the Helm, and had the whole conduct of the State committed to their Care.

As for the Trade, and Sciences of the Turks, some of them have some small In­sight and Knowledge in Philosophy. Phy­sick they have learnt rather from necessity and experience than the Grounds of the Art. Astronomy is in great vogue with them, and there be many pretenders to it, who sit frequently in the Streets of the City [Page 43]to tell Fortunes, and are resorted to by such as are to go a Journey or undertake any affair of Moment. They have a knack in Poetry, wherein they chaunt their A­mours in the Persian Tongue to vile Musick, yet are they forbidden so to do by their Law; Citterns, Harps, and Recorders be­ing their Principal Instruments. But their loud Instruments do rather terrify than please, and charm the Ear. They neither study, nor are farther acquainted with Rhe­torick or Logick than what meer Nature does afford. Historians they have, tho' their Writings read by none or few, as fancying none can give us the truth of the time past, since none dare write the Truth of what is present. Nor indeed is Printing tolerated in Turky, for the Grand Seignior having ob­served Learning and the Press to have been the chief fomenters of Divisions in Christen­dome, has prohibited them his Dominions, and makes his Subjects contented with such learning as proceeds from less erring Expe­rience, which they find adapt them suffici­ently for all State-employments, and sooner furnishes them with clearer reason, than those who run through a long course of can­ting Terms, strang Languages and musty Arts, which the Custome of their Universities does oblige their Students to. And indeed [Page 44]their Ministry has been found so expert, so Prudent and so sagacious in all their Nego­ciations and Transactions, that they could never be over-reached by the most learned and most Politick Princes of Christendom. Thus all Sciences that have any affinity to those we call liberal, are taught no where save in the Seraglio, as we shall shew more at large hereafter, where the Grand Seignior hath power to increase or diminish the num­ber of their Professours according as it suits his Occasions. By which conduct those many Schisms and Distractions which in the State of most Christian Princes do fre­quently happen both in Church and State, are foreclosed and prevented, and those ma­ny refined Mercurial Heads, which with us for want of employment make it their Bu­siness to blow up the flames of Sedition, are seta [...]nd bred to more gross Employments, and become more eager and intent upon Profit and sensual Pleasures, than the vain and often desolating Destructive Projects of our speculative Men. Writing they use, and that in the Arabick Characters, but leave out the Vowels unless it be at the end of a word, so that much is contained in a lit­tle Room; they curiously sleek their Paper which is thick, much of it being Coloured and dappelled like Chamblets, done by a [Page 45]trick they have of dipping it in Water. Every one hath some Trade or other, not so much as the Grand Seignior excepted. Yet their Trades are such as serve only their own Uses and Necessities, and not such as supply forreign Marts, which they do not much frequent. And tho' the Turks be ex­cessively avaricious, yet they only work by starts, and more for their Amusement and Recreation then for Profit. The Europeans have taught them to be subtle, nay treache­rous in their compacts and dealings, tho' indeed it must be owned, they have not yet attained to the skill of their Masters. There is no People more covetous of Salu­tation than the Turks, in meeting upon the High-way one with a stoop, and his Hand upon his Breast, bids Salaum Aleek, the other with like abeysance, replyes Aleek Salaum: And when any one comes into Company, the rest salute him with a Merrabbak Sulta­num, ever sweetning their Conversation, with such accent of Pronunciation, and so much respective gesture, as savours of a gentle Genius, free from that rudeness where­of they are accused.

After their departure this Life, the Men by the Men, and the Women by the Wo­men are laid out in the middle of the Room. Whereupon diverse of their Priests do assem­ble [Page 46]about the Body, and having performed certain vain Ceremonies, as in wrapping their Beads about it, and in the often tur­ning it, invoking God to have mercy on the departed, they wash it, shave it, and shrowd it in Linnen, which they leave un­tyed both at hands and Feet. Then lay the Coarse on a Beer, placing a Turbant at the upper end, and carry it to the Grave, with the Head forward: some of the Dervises go­ing before with Tapers, the Priest singing after, and lastly his Friends and Acquain­tance. But Persons of Principal Quality have their Horses led before them, with en­signes trailed on the Earth, and other Rites of that Nature, divers of the Lanters going before, naming of God, and shaking of their Heads, and whirling about until they fall down giddy, the sides and bot­tomes of the Grave are Boarded. For they are of opinion that two terrible Angels called Mongi [...] and Gudequir, do presently repair unto the Grave, and put the Soul again into the Body, as if (saith the Alcoran) a Man should put on his Shirt and raising him on his Knees, with his Head uncovered, (the winding Sheet being left unknit for that purpose) demand of him in particular how he hath behaved himself in this Life. Which if not well, the one strikes him on the Head [Page 47]with a Hammer nine fathome into the Earth, the other tearing him with an Iron Hook; and so continue to torment until the day of Judgment. A Purgatory so feared, that in their prayers they Petition God to deliver them from the Examinations of the Black Angels, the tortures of the Grave and their evil Journey. But if he have satisfyed them in this reply, they vanish a­way, and two white Angels come in their Places, the one laying his Arm under his Head, the other sitting at his Feet, and so Protect him until Dooms day. Their Se­pultures are notable; those of Princes or great Men, are covered over with Silk, or Cloth of Gold, with a Turbant at the Head, land set under a vaulted Arch supported by four Marble Pillars; some with a little Cock of Fountain Water, and Lamps con­tinually burning; they are made near the Mosquees, especially if they built one, but never with in them; the more ordinary are buryed in some pleasant Place without the City, with a high Stone standing at the Head, and another at the Feet; that at the Head, hath sometimes an Epitaph, and if it be a Man of Quality, is made at top in form of a Turbant; those who bestow a Marble Stone over them, have it in the middle cut through about a yard long, and [Page 48]a Foot broad; therein they Plant such a kind of Plants, or Flowers as endure Green all the Year long; which seem to grow out of the dead Body, thinking thereby to reduce it again into Play, tho' not in the Scene of sensible Creatures, yet of those ve­gitable, which is the next degree, and per­haps a preferment beyond the Dust. The Women flock every Thursday in Multitudes to the Graves, weeping over their Children, Husbands, Kinsfolks and dead Progenitors, often kissing the Stones, and praying for their delivery from the aforesaid Black tor­tures; many times leaving Bread and Meat on the Graves for Dogs and Birds to de­vour, as well as to relieve the Poor, being held an available Alms for the deceased. The better sort do mourn in white, and but for a little season. And the Women are not to marry by their Law, until four Months and ten days after their Husbands death.

CHAP. III. Of the Mahometan Religion, Sects and Priest­hood.

THough several Articles before treated of, might well enough fall under the General Head of Religion, nay tho' the whole Law of Mahomet it self was wholly [...]ramed for the promoting of Temporal In­ [...]erests, yet it having for the Sins of Man­kind obtained so far, and made such Pro­gress in the World, as to establish its abo­minable superstitions in the best and grea­ [...]est part thereof, It will well enough merit [...] distinct Chapter to show by what means [...]t imposed, and continues its Tyranny up­ [...]n the Minds of its followers, into how many and what Sects it is divided, and [...]y what Methods governed and Officia­ [...]ed.

Few are Ignorant that the Law of the Mussulmans was compiled by Mahomet with [...]e help of a Monk called Sergius, and this [...]e called the Alcoran; to which some Do­ [...]ours that succeeded, added the consent [...]nd testimony of wise Men, called the Asso­ [...]ah, or the Traditions of the Prophets, and [Page 50]a third Book, containing Inferences or De­ductions from one thing unto an other. Those Doctours were Ebubecher, Osmar, Osman and Haly; the Califfs of Babylon and of Egypt, were other Doctours and Exposi­tours of their Law, whose Sentences and Positions were of Divine Authority among them; but their esteem of being Oraculous, failing with their temporal Power, that Dignity and Authority of Infallible Deter­minations, was by the Force of the Sword given to the Turkish Mufti. But tho' their Doct­ours do differ very much in the Explication of the Law, yet a Man shall be accounted a Mussulman or true Believer, it he observe these five Articles or Fundamentals of the Law, to which every Turk is bound.

The first, is Cleanness in the outward parts of their Body and Garments.

The second, to make Prayers five times a day.

The third, to observe the Ramazan or mon­thly Fast.

The fourth, to perform faithfully the Ze­hat, or giving of Alms according to the Proporti­on prescribed in a certain Book, wrote by the four Doctours of theirs, called Asar, Embela, &c.

The fifth, to make their Pilgrimage to Mecca, if they have means and possibility to [...]erform it.

But the Article of Faith required to be [...]elieved is but one, namely, that there is [...]ut one God and Mahomet his Profit.

Other Rites as Circumcission, Observa­ [...]ion of Friday for a day of Devotion, Absti­ [...]ence from Swines Flesh, and from Blood, [...]all under the five Principal points, be­cause they are enjoyned as proofs and Try­ [...]ls of Mans Obedience to the more necessa­ [...]y Law.

Now for the more easy obtruding this [...]ew Contrivance upon the World, Maho­met decked it with such Ornaments of [...]he Jewish and Christian Religion, as he fancyed would most take the Eye and [...]rocure him Votaries out of the Pale of their Churches, yet leaving out such solemni­ [...]ies, as he judged to be too effeminate, as [...]ne Pictures, Musick in Churches, strange Vestures and Processions, and those that were too chargeable, as the stately Sacrifices [...]nd other solemnities of the Heathens, which had already been raised to that [...]eight, that he could never expect to match much less to surpass. Miracles he did not much relye on, well knowing that frequent [...]mpostors had rendred them suspected to [Page 52]the World; but made the Sword th [...] Foundation of his Religion, being mind ful that it with more assurance Command Mankind, and therefore when in his fir [...] beginning he was asked what Miracles h [...] had to approve his Doctrine, he drawing forth his Scimitar, told, that God having had his Miracles so long slighted by the in credulity of Men, would now Plant hi [...] Laws with a strong Hand, and no mor [...] leave them to the Discretion of Ignoran [...] and vain Men; and that he had therefore sent him in the Power of the Sword, ra­ther then of Miracles: from hence it is that their Boys now ride to Circumcision bearing an Iron Club in their Hands: Ne­vertheless, he fayled not to frame his Sect so as might take Humane Nature; not the intellectual part; for all superstition Sub­sists on weak Hypotheses, whose plausible reasons may for a while prevaile in the World, by possessing some shallow, rash peremptory Braines but cannot hold ou [...] long, unless it have better Root than tha [...] of Argument; he therefore made it comply with the main Parts of our Nature, Hope and fear, thereby filing the Mind with good Courage, which was much to his Military purpose: for he finding the Sword to be the Foundation of Empires, and that [Page 53]to manage the Sword, the rude and sensual [...]e more vigorous, then Wits softned in a [...]ild rational way of Civility, did at first [...]ame his Institutions to a rude Insolent sen­ [...]uality; after which Education, he fitted [...]is future Pretences just unto such Capaci­ [...]ves: Wherefore seeing that Mens Opini­ [...]ns are in a great part complexional and [...]abitual, it is no wonder to see them taken with Promises, which to us seeme Beastly [...]nd ridiculous; they as much contemn [...]urs; and in a more natural way every thing [...] received, not at the rate of its own worth, but as it agrees with the Receivers [...]umour; whereby their Hopes and fears, [...]hough false, prevail as strongly as if true, [...]nd serve the State as effectually, because Opinion which moves all our Actions, is [...]overned by the appearance of things, not [...]y their reality. Now to the intent that [...]he most notable fancies of Men might be [...]ntertained, there are four several Orders [...] their Religion, all very malicious against [...]he Christians; not seeming otherwise Vici­ [...]us, except their profest sodomy, which [...]ho' severely punished by their Laws, is ne­ [...]ertheless not reputed by them a Vice: [...]ch order upholds its Reputation up, on [...]ome one peculiar Virtue, which alone it [...]rofesses, not pretending to any other: the [Page 54] Calenderim upon Chastity, wearing an Iro [...] Ring through the Skin of his Yard, in som [...] it is capable of being taken off, with som [...] difficulty; the Hagiemlar or Musick or Love songs: the Torbacchi on Revelations an [...] Enthusiasmes, to foretel, and divert Divin [...] Wrath: the most rigid Spirits are the Dervislar, like Baals Priests launching them selves with Knives: these Dervislars hav [...] assassinated many Bashawes, and also attem­pted some of the Emperours in the mid [...] of their Armies; so dangerous are violen [...] Spirits when seconded by Religion, whic [...] being the only pretence in its way, glorifie [...] to Umpire Soveraign Authority, is to b [...] kept within its due Limits, least instead [...] cooperating with the State, it grow abuse [...] beyond that use. But indeed through th [...] Prudent conduct of the Ottoman Helm, thes [...] excesses have not been very frequent, th [...] Governement choosing into and so regulating the Clergy, as that they make it thei [...] buisiness more to Trumpet up and dow [...] such Notions as tend more to the Conservation and Interest of the State, than t [...] scatter and infuse their Enthusiastick fancye and self conceited and self concerned Tenet [...] The Turkish Governement is sensible of wha [...] vast concernment is a Grave and Pruden [...] Clergy to well being, though of late muc [...] [Page 55]slighted among some sort of Christians, not so wise as to observe that the Eye for the most part is caught before the Heart; and that Austerity and Reverence in external Worship (if devested of all advantages else) cannot be denyed to have a huge Operation upon Obedience to the Civil Magistrate. It being unlikely that such as take decency in Divine Worship for Ido­latry, should not soon be worn out of Re­verence to their Governours, since the most destructive Parity begins always in the Church.

Tho' we have treated before of the Pow­er and Office of the Mufti's, and of their Government in Religious matters, when we considered him as a Minister and Imple­ment of State, yet we will add what re­mains more to be said in this place, and will begin with the Title which the Grand Seignior gives unto the Mufti when he writes to him, which is.

This Mufti created as is before said by the Emperour, to whom he is held ever subordinate; which makes the Turkish Theo­logy excellently to correspond with the State, as depending thereon: and seems of reason more Politick, then if this Head Ec­clesiastick were of another Country, or o­therwise independant upon the Prince, whereby having separate Interests, he might often make God Almighty seem to decree more conform thereto, than either to the occasions of the Prince or common Wealth; for all the Heathenish Gods, are used like Puppets, they seem to speak, yet it is not they, but the Man who in a concealed man­ner, speaks through them what he pleases. For tho' the supream Head of judicature is the Mufti's, there being no appeal beyond him in the greatest case soever, nor the Em­perour himself questioning his Decrees, and the reason is because they are secretly gui­ded by his assent and the Grand Viziors. Thus the Mufti is an Instrument made use of to Spirit the Souldiers by colouring of publick Projects, and resolves by Divine [Page 57]Authority, and also to deside contraversies, when they are too unruly, for any arbitre­ment not held Divine. Nevertheless, as I said, underhand he consults the Grand Vizi­ers, who lets him know the Grand Seigniors Mind, and being thus inspired with that Soul, full of that God, he utters his Orra­cles; which pass for the Word of God, as considering them grounded upon the Alco­ran.

This course has been strictly observed by the Ottoman Policy, well knowing that the Keys of the Church can hang no where so qui­etly as at the Princes Girdle, and considering that by this means the Court provided it self with a favourable Empire, and who seemed of a more sanctifyed and indifferent allay, than a secular Minister, and both by receiving from, and adding a greater lustre to the Beames of Religion, would be the more acceptable arbitrator for the compo­sing any discontents, that might be fomen­ted between the civil Power and the Sub­ject, either through others Ambition or their own Oppression, not unlikely to re­sult from so absolute a Jurisdiction. The Mufti seldome appears in Publick, so that the People have him in that Veneration, as if they considered something about him more then Humane. He is cloathed in [Page 58]Green, which kind none but the Kindred of Mahomet are suffered to wear. N [...] Malefactour is suffered to dye, who hat [...] the Fortune to see or be seen by him as h [...] passeth. But notwithstanding the Princ [...] Places him upon all weighty Occasions nex [...] to the Throne, and bestows and suffer [...] him to receive all the other Honours in [...] ginable, yet if he is in the least found inclinable to run-counter to the Will and designs of the Court, he is straity removed It having been a Maxime long observed i [...] this Empire, that neither Friends, Money Sanctity, Love of People, former deserts or any present need of the Persons accurate Parts, should in any wise byass the practised Method of this Government, o [...] removing upon the least umbrage and jea­lousy soever given to the Grand Seignior, by any Minister or other Person, the Prince esteeming no number of Lives, tho' never so Innocent, equivalent with his safety, and the Nations. But tho' this Holy Man comes to an unnatural Death. the Honour of his Place is so far from receiving any Blemish by it, that his Body goes to the Grave without any Aspersion, and his Suc­cessour Mounts his Chair without any pre­judice, far from being blasted with those errours that have been fastened upon Popes [Page 59]and Patriarchs by their Predecessours ill [...]onduct. For here the Mufti howsoever [...]l he had deserved of Church or State is [...]egistred amongst their Saints. And herein [...]ppears a main point of the Turkish Policy, [...]or by these means they prevent the truth of his Judgment being brought into Que­ [...]tion while he is in being, which no Man will do of a Person whose Actions he dares not arraign after he is Dead.

But we have considered this Divine Man sufficiently, it is now fit that we look a while into the Alcoran, which Book the Turks never touch with unwashed Hands; and a Capital Crime it is in the reading there­of to mistake a Letter, or displace the ac­cent, they kiss it, embrace it, and swear by it: calling it the Book of Glory and direct­our unto Paradice. It teaches that God is only to be worshipped, only one and the Creatour of all Righteous, pitiful: In Wis­dom and power Incomprehensible. How God made Man of all sorts and Colours of Earth; and being formed for thousands of Years laid him a Baking in the Sun, until he was pleased to breath Life into him. Then commanded he all his Angels, to re­verence him: which the Devil at that time, an Angel of Light, refused to do, ex­postulating why he should so honour that [Page 60]Creature whom he knew would becom [...] so polluted with all manner of Vices, tha [...] God therefore condemned the Devil to Hell who ever since hath continued an Enem [...] to Man. Idolatry they hold to be the mos [...] accursed of Crimes, and therefore they in­terdict all Images and Counterfeits soever reputing the Christians Idolaters for that they have them in their Churches and Houses. But there was also a Politick motive of this Prohibition of Maohmets, who considered that it was impossible if a Nation once at­tains an Universal Prudence, but that the deceitful knack of such a Carnal Adoration must needs grow loathsome, or lye obvi­ous to their reproof, that shall make it their full employment to find faults; and after an opportunity is easily gained, to fo­ment a Change, by discovering to the Peo­ple absurdities in their Worship; which is better prevented, in one directed as his is, to the only Invisible and Omnipotent Crea­tour, whose Nature and Power is so far remote from the weake apprehensions of Men, as the sharpest Reason is not able to batter a Faith solely built upon it. They are commanded seaven times a day to resort unto Publick Prayers: the first assembling is called Singilnamas, which is two Hours before day; the second Sabahnamas, at day [Page 61]break; the third Vyle-namas at noon; the fourth Kyndinameus at three of the Clock: the fifth Akshamnamas after Sun set: the sixth Chogicnamas, two Hours within night: and the seventh Giuma-namas at ten of the Clock in the Night: the two last also on Fridayes observed by all, on the other days but by the more Religious: congregated they are by the chanting of Priests from the tops of Steeples; at which times lightly tho' they be in the Fields; they will spread the upper Garments on the Earth, and fall to their Devotions. Friday is their Sab­bath, yet they spend but a part thereof in Devotion, the rest in Recreations; but for that time they observe it so rigorously that all Persons are exemplarily punished that transgress the orders of it. Before they pray they wash all the Organs of their se­nces; their Legs to their Knees, and their Arms to their Elbows: their Privities after their purging of Nature; and sometimes all over from top to toe: for which there are Houses of Office with Conduits belong­ing to every Principal Mosque. Where Water is wanting they do it with Dust. At the Door of the Mosque, they put of their Shoes, and entring sit cross legg'd upon rows of Mats one behind another, the Poor and the Rich promiscuously, the Priest in [Page 62]a Pulpit before them, not otherwise distin­guished in Habit, but by the folding of their Turbant. When they pray they turn their Faces toward Mecca: first standing upright; without any Motions of their Bodies, hol­ding the Palms of their Hands upward; sometimes they stop their Eyes and Ears, and oft pull their Heir on the sides of their Faces; then thrice they Bow, as in their Salutations; and as often prosterating them­selves on the Earth. Doing this sun­dry times they will look back upon no Oc­casion, until they come unto the Salutati­on of Mahomet: at which time they reverse their Faces, first over the Right Shoulder, and then over the left, believing that his coming will be behind them, when they are at their Devotion, the Priest doth some­times read unto them some part of the Al­coran. This Book is written in Arabick Verse, in forme of a Dialogue, between the Angel Gabriel and their Prophet, it is pro­hibited to be translated, which both pre­serves the Arabick Tongue, and conceals Religion. All set Texts are obnoxious to several Expositions, thence grows Distracti­ons so hath this Bread four different Sects of Mahometans, each interpreting it accor­ding to the Genius of its Nation, the Tartars simply, the Moors and Arabs supestiti­ously; [Page 63]the Persian Ingeniously, the Turks with most liberty, each nation scornes to yield to other in opinion, for honour sake, especially the Turk and Persian, who now­rishing Designs of Conquest of each other, do after the Old Custome of Princes, dis­affect their People in Religion toward the Enemy that they may be more fierce and ob­stinate against him.

A great means as I have already said, of Mohometismes making that Progress in the World, is its pleasing Doctrine, suited to the depraved Inclinations of Mankind, it being said in the Alcoran that when their Prophet asked the Angel concerning Venery and some other delicacyes of life, he told him; that God did not give Man such Ap­petites, to have them frustrate but enjoyed, as made for the Gust of Man, not his tor­ment, wherein his Creatour delights not, upon this it is, and for the drawing in Luxurious Complexions, which perhaps are the greatest part of Mankind, that the Alco­ran permits Poligamy to make a numerous People, which is the Foundation of all great Empires; and prohibits Wine, preten­ding a Devil in every Grape; thereby har­dening the Souldier, preventing disorder, and facillitating publick Provision. The first being grateful to Nature is generally [Page 64]received but the other is overpowred by Appetite, so that many more Drink than abstain from Wine. Two other Principal points I shall touch upon in the Mahometan Religion. One is Predestination, the other Purgatory: the first not meant in matter of Salvation, but of Fortune, and success in this Life, they peremptoryly permit to De­stiny fixt, and not avoydable by any Act of ours. And yet this opinion of fate which usually takes Men off from all Industrious Care of their own safety, does not sl [...]cker their Diligence in dan­gers at Sea, and other cases. They ad­mit no Hell for any but those who believe not Mahomet; their own they afright with a Purgatory, which holds but tell Doomes day; it is acted in the Grave, the pain is inflicted by a bad Angel, whose force is les­soned by a good one, according as the par­tyes Life was led. To strengthen this good Angel, they do many Works of Charity, erecting Hanes, Hospitals and Mesketoes, making Bridges and High ways, and storing them with Fountains and other Conveni­encyes for the relief of Travellers.

Having spoke so much of the Religion it self, it is now convenient to say something of the manner of its Exercise, which is this in short; every Mosque has a high slender [Page 65]Spyre Steeple adjoyning: on the outside whereof and high, is made abound or Tower with a Door opening South-East or East, as the Countrye lyes towards Meccha; here the Priest or Muazzin entring, with his Hands bowed over his Ears walking round, turning on the Right Hand, in a loud voice tells the People, many times over that there is but one God, which having performed, all those that are piously given, throng to the Mosque, and say their Prayers, continually repeating Allah heeber, as also the profession of their Faith, and then they say Ahia Elfela, Ahia Elfela, which signifies come away to prayers, I give you fair notice. Their gestures are first sitting cross legg'd, wafting of the Body, then prostrate twice on their Face, they kiss the Earth; afterward they rise, and stand with their Hand bowed over their Ears, but never do they kneel or uncover their Head, accounting those po­stures unseeming. Having already menti­oned how often this service is performed, It is fitting that I insert, that they believe that the Jews and Christians not having obeyed the Command they had received from God, of praying to him often, he ordered Mahomet to prescribe to the Mussul­mans [Page 66]that they should address to him fifty times a day their Vows and Prayers, but he foreseeing that his followers could not well acquit themselves of this Command­ment, he prevailed so far with God that he contented himself with the tenth part of the Homages, that he meant to have had paid him, and that this great number of fifty prayers a day, was reduced to five, now the last and first Service which is at day break and an Hour after Sunset makes a fine Show, all the Mosques being hung full of burning Lamps; but none are bound to this frequency of prayer, but such Per­sons as have leisure, others making the High-way or their Houses serve the turn, and this was devised to keep Religion from falling into the danger of oblivion, which is in no wise better maintain'd than by be­ing often called to mind. Their Sabbath is kept on the Friday, tho' not observed with all the strictness that Sundays are or ought to be amongst us. Moreover they have two solemn times: Bairam and Rama­zan, they are both Lents, the first lasts three days, the other a month: their Fast is ac­cording to the Jewish manner, not in quantity or quality of Meats, but in time; for all the day long, they may neither eat, drink, nor use any sort of venery; but at [Page 67]the appearance of the first Star, thay make reprizals, gorging themselves in all man­ner of Gluttony and Lust. Besides the Turks have one piece of Divinity peculiar to themselves, which is a Custome of their Priests to sell their merit; some more, some less, according to the Sanctimony of the Seller. But before I close up this Article of Religion, I will set down what things a Turk is bound to do before prayers, which may be reduced to five. The first, is to be­lieve the Articles of the Mahometan Faith. The second, to be Circumcized. The third, to pardon ones Enemyes. The fourth, is to call out at the Turret of the Church Steeples, or to go to the Mosque when one is called thither. And the fifth, is to wash ones self, which is the immediate Prepara­tion to prayer. Now all the Articles of the Mahometan Faith may be reduced to two, namely that there is one God, and that Mahomet is his Prophet or messenger, and that that only God is the Creatour of Hea­ven and of Earth, and absolute Master of all things. For which reason they do not suffer in their Mosques any Image represen­ting any living thing, either in relief or meer painting. The second Article of the Mahometan Faith comprehends an abridg­ment of all the mad fancyes and extravagan­cyes [Page 68]of the Alcoran and of all its Commen­tatours, believing that Mahomet is the Messenger of God, and that there cannot be a more certain truth, than all that this Impostour has left them either in Writing or Tradition. This Article being the Foun­tain of all the rest, it is not necessary that I hear insert all their silly fancies of the Creation of the World, of its Preservation, and of the course God takes to sanctify and save it; nor shall I speak of all their whim­sycal Opinions and so little conformable to right reason with which they fill their Minds and stuff their Books. Enough al­ready has been said of their Paradice which they make all Spiritual by the beatifick Vi­sion of God, and all brutal by a glut of all sensual pleasures, and their affording Roome there to several Brute Animals. Nor shall I so much as touch upon the Per­sons whom they admit into the List of their Prophets, the number being too great, and who may all be reduced to these three, Mo­ses, Jesus Christ. Whose Divine Filiation and Death upon the Cross they deny, and Mahomet, whom they believe to be the greatest of all. But will fall to give some account of their Circumcision, and their manner of performing it. Being often hindred by a Phimosis from satisfying his [Page 69]Brutalities, had his fore skin cut, and orde­red that all his followers should cause them­selves to be circumcised, that so the Bodyes of his Mussulmans might again be known that were killed in the Battells, they should fight for the establishment of his Law, that so they might be interred and Honoured as Martyres, whether it was for the more drawing in the Jews to follow his errours by the resemblance of that Ceremony, which only differs from theirs in that having cut the fore skin, they do not tear like them, with the Naile a little of the Flesh, which is above what the Anotamists call the Curb, whether in short, that this impure Legis la­tor affecting an exteriour neatness, for the better hiding from the People the filth of his Mind, he commanded those who had already embraced his errours, to have their foreskin cut, because that it might other­wise detain some ordures, by which means a Mahometan presenting himself to prayer, without being entirely purifyed, would not be heard of God. Who would consi­der him as a Mordar, that is to say, unbe­lieving impure and Gullyed.

This Circumsicion which the Turks call Shounet, is only a mark of their Obedi­ence to the vocal Words of Mahomet, who has not written it in his Alcoran; but or­dered [Page 70]it only afterwards, seeing he had ma­ny followers to distinguish them from the Christians who have the foreskin; and from the Jews who have it otherwise cut then they, tho' that their Circum­cision be received among the Mahome­tans.

Those whom they Circumcise must have attained to the Age of seven or eight years, never younger, but often much older. The day being appointed for the Ceremony, a Feast is prepared at the House of the Person to be circumcised. Who is dressed as fine as Hands can make him, and having set him upon a Horse or Camel, they carry him all about the Town if it is small, or only in his own Prince or Parish if it be great. His Scool-Fellows and Friends follow him all on Foot huzzaing and shouting the prayses of their Friend, who is going to be listed, in the number of the Mussul­mans or true Believers. The Cavalcade being ended, and the People retur­ned home. The Imam of the Mosque of the Place, makes a short Exhortation upon the Operation that is going to be made, then a Chirurgion having placed the Young-man upon the Sofa or State, two Servants hold a Toilet strerched out before him, and the Chirurgion having drawn out the Fore-skin [Page 71] [...]s far as he can, he seizes it with a small [...]air of Pincers at the end of the Balances, [...]hen with his Razour cuts it neatly, and [...]howes it round his Finger, which he lifts up crying several times, Alla Hecberia, alla, [...]lla. He then dresses the circumcised Per­son, who gives sufficiently to understand by his Groans, how much pain a Wound puts him to, made in so ticling a part, and the by-standers continuing their acclamations [...]ongratulate the circumcised upon his be­ing entred into the number of the Faithful, and then fit round about the Sofra or Tur­ [...]ish Table, where they are entertained ac­cording to the manner of the circumcised's Parents.

The liberalities which Rich Persons be­stow at the Circumcision of their Children do often mount to very great sums; for besides the Presents which they give to [...] number of Poor little Boys, who are [...]lso then circumcised then at their Costs [...]s well as their own, and the entertain­ments they give almost to all those who come thither, they likewise distribute great Alms to the poor of their Neighbourhood, that they may obtain from God blessings for the new circumcised, and for all his Fa­mily.

The Ceremony that is preformed at the Cir­cumcision of Renegadoes, is almost the same except that being commonly miserable Wretches and the scum of the World, two great Basons are carryed after them, for the gathering the Alms, which most of the Spectatours do not refuse them. They also carry as well as the rest an Arrow in the Right-hand, holding the point or Iron downwards for to make the People believe that they will rather suffer themselves to be pierced with a thousand Darts, than re­nounce the Mahometan Faith; but neverthe­less many Turks of sence do entertain upon this [...]point many distrusts touching the sincerity of the Faith of these new Mussul­mans.

There are three sorts of Renegadoes, the first are those whom fate engages amongst the Tribute Children, whom the Grand Seignior leavyes throughout all his Empire; the second, those who out of a determined will change Religion, in hopes perhaps of bettering their Fortune thereby; and the last, who only become so out of fear of punishments, which perhaps they have merited for some fault, or by their ill usage of him whom they have had the misforune to have met with for their Patron. The number of these last is the least. Slaves in [Page 73] [...]urky are not so ill treated as People do [...]magin, nay they are happy if they happen [...]to some great City where they have a [...]ood Aga and some peculiar Talent, then [...]hey are cherished by their Master, who [...]oes not hinder them from going to Church [...]nd performing their Devotions there when [...]ey please, and often also meet with much [...]ood will from their Mistresses, who out of [...]e Compassion common to their Sex do ve­ [...] much alleviate the rigours of their Capti­ [...]ity, making them from time to time some resents and Gratifications.

As for the place of this Bloody Ceremo­ [...]y of their Circumcision, it is indeterminate, [...] well as the time and the choice of the [...]inister. They do not wait until this Ce­ [...]mony to give names to their Children; [...]nd tho' they have a Godfather, it is not [...]r the first naming of them, that is done [...] the House as soon as they are born, when [...]eir Father out of a laudable Custom takes [...]m in his Arms, lifts them up towards [...]eaven to offer them to God, and then [...]ts some Corns of Salt into their Mouths, [...]d names them saying, may it please God [...]) that his holy Name may be always [...] savoury to thee, as this Salt which I put to thy Mouth, and that he hinder thee [...]m relishing the things of the Earth. As [Page 74]for those who dye under age before this Circumcision, they are accounted to be sa­ved by that of their Parents. Their littl [...] Finger is only broken before they be bu­ryed, for a mark of their uncircumcisi­on.

Having mentioned that the pardoning [...] ones Enemyes is the third Duty before Pray­er, I must add that as the pardoning [...] ones Enemyes has reguard as well to th [...] publick tranquility, as it is expresly com­manded by the sacred Orders of our Savi­our; it's no wonder if the Tukish, which are only a corrupted heap of what is good Indifferent, or ill amongst the Christian Jews and Idolaters, have ordained all th [...] Mussulmans to pardon their particular En [...] ­myes; for they are obliged to entertain con­trary sentiments in regard of the Enemy [...] of their Religion and State. Thus there hardly any hatred amongst the Turks, an [...] when they have occasion to be angry, the are bound not to suffer Friday, which their Sunday to pass, without being recon­ciled with their Enemy, or at least if the cannot do it, they ought to begin the pray­er, to which they are obliged that day, [...] a Protestation they make to God to pardo [...] their Enemyes, otherwise they fancy th [...] should not be heard.

Upon this Foundation all the Mahome­tans are strictly forbidden through all Turky, to do any one's Neighbour an injury, whe­ther by Tongue in giving opprobrious Lan­guage, or with the Hands by striking him, or taking away his Goods, or finally by his sollicitations, exciting any other to do him a mischief; on the contrary Punishments are inflicted upon those who are caught in any of those faults. The Cudgel (which they fancy to have descended from Heaven) because it imprints more respect among them, and contains them better in their Du­ty than the most holy can do in our Coun­tryes, is the only P [...]w wherewith they write and put in Execution the Sentences which they pass against the Culpable. It is sufficient that the Subbacha does sometimes walk a­bout the Streets to put all the Inhabitants of a Town in Mind, that the least Storm that shall be heard to grumble among them, is sufficient to bring down upon the Heads not only of the Authors, but idle specta­tours too, a Shour of Bastonades, not with­standing all the reittreated cryes they might make of Toba-Sultanum, which those who are beaten make use of to ask pardon for their faults.

This fear makes every one upon his Guard. Those who have an Itch [...] [Page 76]with one another, dare not vent their spleen for fear of being constrained to empty their Purse of some thousands of Aspers, if they should come to be accused or the Devan; and much less of enterchanging blows, for fear they be repaid with others more sensi­ble; and those who perceive them begin to quarrel, being obliged under the same Pe­nalties to part them with the soonest, do not leave them until they have made them let go their hold. Besides it commonly happens that they oblige them to embrace at the very Instant after their Quarrels, and to renew a Friendship which would have been broken to all Eternity, if the blind passion of two hot spurrs had been s [...]ffered to take its course without daring to say any thing to them, as happens but two often in many parts of Christendome.

When those who quarrel or f [...]ight, will not leave off, let what remonstrances soever be made to them, or any passage of the Alcoran told them, which does not often happen, they are seized on by force, baw­ling to them Charceulla, which is as much as to say by the Law of God, they are led to Justice before the Cadi or some other Judge, who condemns them to undergo the Punishments due to their obstinacy. They lay the Criminal upon his Back, and giving [Page 77]him upon the Soul of his Feet at least two or three hundred blows with a Stick, they also make him pay two or three thousand Aspers for his penalty whom his passion had engaged.

The rigour of these Laws does not only bridle by force the Turks, who would in­jure others, or do them any wrong, it has also insensibly accustomed them not to swear nor prophane the Holy name of God by their Blasphemyes, as so many others who have much more Holy Lawes than they do with impunity. For this reason it is that the greatest Oath they have in their Mouths is when they would confirme any thing, is Vallahebilla, by the God I adore, and very often all the Turks who live far distant from Constantinople, and who have by con­sequence more Communication with Chri­ [...]tians, make use of the Oaths of the Greeks and others, having none of their own in their Tongue, and they use them rather by way of flattery and carress then invect­ [...]ve. Nevertheless they do not always keep this Moderation, especially the Mobile or common People, and that they treat with Persons of a different Religion from theirs; for instead of the soft Words of Janum, [...]kigusum, Cardache, which fignify my Heart, my two Eyes, my Brother, and others [Page 78]which they commonly use, they than use the outraging Terms, of Giaour, Kapee din­sis, Infidel Dog, without Faith, and other such like execrations, which commonly come only out of Meane People's Mouths. Persons on the contrary who are raised some­thing above whats common, as Merchants, and People of the Law, are for the most part very affable and humane, and if they take but the least liking to a Stranger, they make him as many caresses and obliging receptions as if he was of their Country or of their Religion, and especially if he can discourse with them in the Turkish Ton­gue.

I have already sufficiently treated of their fourth Duty before Prayer, that is concer­ning their being called out from the Turret of the Church, wherefore I shall proceed to the last Preparation which the Turks make for that holly Office, which they name Pu­rification, and distinguish these Oblations by five different names; and tho' they be not bound to do them all five before they go to prayers, it will not however be unreasona­ble that I set them down in this place. The first of all, and which is the most general, since the Christians make use of it as well as the Turks, is the ordinary Bath, which they call Amam; the second is for the corporal ne­cessity, [Page 79]and they call it Taharat, which [...]gnifyes cleanness. The third is to purify [...]hemselves of the impurityes they may have [...]ontracted in them by night or day, they [...]ive it the name of Gously, that is to say [...]urification. The fourth, is to wash them­ [...]elves from all the other Ordures, which [...]hey have contracted during the day by the Organs of the five natural Senses. They [...]ake use of a Persian term to name it, that [...] the abdest, which signifyes Water for the [...]and or Ablution. And the last is the wa­ [...]ing the Corps of the Dead, which they all Euluriak makh, or Mortuary Sotion. Now of all the Nations in the World, there [...] none which affects neatness so much as [...]oes the Mahometan, as well amongst the Ot­ [...]mans as amongst the Persians. All these [...]eople have made it a fundamental Princi­ [...]le, or rather, all the essence of their Reli­ [...]ion, which only consists in outward Cere­monies. This it is that renders them obli­ [...]ed to build a number of Places appointed or Baths, wherein they may wash the Bo­ [...]y entirely. There is a great number of [...]hem in all the Principal Cityes of Turky, [...]ay and many of them are not much inferi­ [...]ur to the ancient Banio's of the Roman [...]mperours. There needs no more than to [...]ee those of the City of Bursa, which are [Page 80]of a Water naturally hot, received into grea [...] Marble Cisterns; they are surrounded wit [...] seats of the same matter, are covered wit [...] two very fine Domos, which form unde [...] them two great Rooms where the Air an [...] Water are of different heats, as well as i [...] all the others. And before People ente [...] therein, they undress in another great Roo [...] more cool; so as all these structures hav [...] of necessity at least three great Rooms: th [...] first a man enters in is of a very temperat [...] Air, and yet hotter than that of the Street and then they strip themselves of thei [...] Cloaths. The second is of a stronger heat and the third is so hot that one cannot re­main therein without sweating.

All sorts of Persons are admitted to these Baths, the Christians and the Jews as wel [...] as the Turks, because they are built for th [...] publick use, and for the neatness and Health of all People. I believe that these Baths d [...] prevent all the Eastern People from being s [...] subject to Distempers as we are, nay an [...] that they would have still fewer Diseases if they went into their Bannians less often It is with these Remedyes as with Wine Tobacco, Medicines and all other Medica­ments, which people ought to take only for necessity, otherwise this becomes more inju­rious to the Health than profittable. So i [...] [Page 81]is with the Bannians in all the Levant, there would be nothing better in the World if they went into them at most but once a month, but because the Turks take them al­most every day. This moistens so much their Brain, that most of them are afflicted with a continual Opthalmy which incom­modes them extreamly. Neverthelese, be­cause the Mahometans are very exact in ob­serving the ridiculous orders of a Religion so ill founded as is theirs, they love rather, let a man say what he will to them, venture their Health by the frequent use of Bathing, than not satisfy as much as is profitable for them, what the Law does command them. Thus they all go too often to the Bannio that their ordinary revenue would not suf­fice that expence, if they paid after the rate we do here in England, and would have reason to complain of the excessive Charges to which their Obedience to their Law does oblige them. But as there is no set price for this purpose, and as every one gives what he thinks fitting as People do to Bar­bers, it costs them no more than three or four Aspers, or each man his two pence. The Frans or Europians give much more. All the World pays both Masters, Mistresses and their Slaves, none but little Children tell five or six years end are exempted from [Page 82]paying, nay often their Mothers give some Aspers for them when they carry them thi­ther; but when this happens it is not in the Company of their Father, since that the Women are never in the Bannio at the same time with the Man; the time is limited for each, the men go in from Breake of Day till noon, till after which time the Women never come, whether that the Men are of the Ancients Opinion, that it is not over Healthful for Men to wash in the same place, and at the same time that the Woman Bath, or that decency not allowing it, the are forbidden expresly under grievious Punish­ments not so much as to come thither. It being only allowed that Young Boys of sea­ven or eight years old at most to enter the Bannio's with their Mother, or their other Re­lations who carry them thither, fearing no­thing from so tender an Age. Nevertheless this does not hinder, but that there are some so Ingenious as to take notice of all the sorts of Divertisements which they take therein seeing the Women go as much to the Ban­nio for pleasure as for necessity. they do no [...] wait as the formerly did amongst the Ro­mans, for the wringing of a Bell before they go to the Bannnio's; which are opened a four a Clock in the Morning, and are no [...] shut untill about eight in the Evening: Bu [...] [Page 83]during all that time never any noise or quar­ [...]els are heard in the Bannio, nor that any ones Cloaths are Purse or stolen.

The Mahometans do affect neatness of the Body to that Degree, that fearing to be sul­ [...]yed by the vent of any of its Excrements, [...]hey do not content themselves with washing [...]n the Publick Bath all their Skin which is [...]he universal Emunctory, they are moreover obliged to clean all the passages, whereby Nature discharges its necessities, and that as often as they have had need to discharge themselves of the remains of the last Cocti­on of nourishment: thus they have almost ever the Embrick or the Ewer in their Hands for the cleaning all the parts of the Body, through which any Excrement has been vented, and nothing is more pleasant than to see a Turk who has any Diarrhea or loose­ness, or any involuntary miction. He needs then no other business for the sufficiently employing his time and exercing his Hands; they know not the use of a Sponge as to that point, and it would be an unpardona­ble Crime amongst them to make use of Paper, which being filled with Writing, might, have amongst the Characters the Letters which forme the name of God, which their ignorance cannot perhaps disco­ver therein, or else might be capable of re­ceiving [Page 84]them therein, having not been mad [...] use of. For this reason it is that Paper i [...] in such great Veneration amongst the Maho­metans. they do not employ it in any vil [...] uses, and cannot endure it should be tro [...] upon. When that they find any scrap of i [...] in the Streets, they snatch it up, kiss it and put it very devoutly into some whole of [...] Wall. This great respect for Paper, they do certainly derive from that they have for the Alcoran, which they never hold lower then their middle, when they carry it, [...] keep it in their Houses, or else from tha [...] which they have all so for learned Per­sons, who are with them in great e­steem.

It is not sufficient that the Mahometans wash their whole Body in the ordinary Bath they are moreover bound, (after having performed the Abdest whereof I will present­ly give some account) to rinse it as I may say in a private Bath, when it happens that they have had any extraordinary Evacuati­on in the night time, or that they have slept alone or in company. This Purifica [...] ­ion is performed in a great Tub or Cistern of a four sqare Figure, which is filled with Water every Morning and not emptyed un­till Evening. This Tub the Turks call Aou [...] Gousli. As they do not make use of this Pu­rifications [Page 85]untill they well washed themselves in the Bannio and performed the Abdest, they are not long adoing it; they do nothing more then plunge themselves three times into the Water, than they go out and make Room for an other, who does the same and accordingly gives place to the next, and so one after another untill all the Turks whom the foregoing Night had obliged to this ce­remony have purified themselves after this manner.

Tho' the number of those who plunge themselves into the purifying Cistern, be considerably great, because that married Per­sons, to whom Marriage allows many things forbidden to others, are thereto obliged as well as those who are not. Nevertheless they do not change the Water until It has served them all, and that they have said, plunging themselves in itt, he usual prayer of good Mussulmans, which is la illa illa la Allam dulilla, Alla heeber, or other such like.

Now the fourth and last Preparation for Prayer by the Turks, is the Abdest; they may do every where, nay and with herbs by Stones or Earth, when they are in any place, where there is no Water: they have got a fancy that God (who demends more the inside than the outside of Men) if they had [Page 86]not first of all satisfied, at least as much as they can that Ablution; nay, and that be­ing made in that impure State, they would be rather capable of drawing down the An­ger of God upon them, than obtain his Blessings, which they believe their Abdest does procure them. For this reason it is they never build Moschs without adorning them with some Fountains; and when the Place is not convenient for that purpose. They hire a Man to keep Water in some Reservatories, from which each Person draws by the means of some Cocks as much Water as is necessary for the satisfying this Abluti­on.

It is to no purpose to say here after what manner the Turks perform this Abdest, I be­lieve that there be few People but know that the Turks wash almost all their Head and Neck, the Arms to the Elbow, the Feet and extremity of the Channel through which the Urine runs and the Port by which a grosser Excrement is vented: But perhaps the Reader will not be sorry to learn that the strict Obligation they have of washing themselves so often, is extreamly painful and troublesome for those who are in the Countryes and far from Water, or who dwell in cold or more Northern Climates, nay, and that it is the Cause that several [Page 87]of those Turks could wish they were allowed to change their Religion, and embrace an other, that does bind them to so many trou­blesome washings.

The fifth of the Turkish washings is that which is called Eulu-iorkmaghi or mortuary cleansing, which is washing the dead Coarse, but as I think we have been padling long e­nough, I shall Pass on to give an account of the Turkish Justice. And indeed nothing can be more proper than to place here the Tribunal, next after the Religion and Church, their Judges being ever Ecclesiasti­cal Persons; whereby both orders joyned give orders to one another, and not only Reputation but maintenance; for these pla­ces of Judicature are the only preferment of the Priesthood; wherewith the Priest and Judge being maintained in the same Per­son, two Gaps are stopt with one Bush without causing any part of the Land to lye dead in the hands of the Clergy, or other­wise impoverishing the People with Tythes. And this that Divine Legis-lator, Moses seems to have foreseen, and therefore made him unite the sacred Rites, and Civil Sanctions into one Body, making the Law of the Land a piece of Gods Law, and the justice of the Magistrate Religion; which stamps no less Authority upon the Law, than it procures [Page 88]Reverence to the Judges and promiseth to the Government, where it is entertained, length of days and safety on the one Hand, with Riches and Honour on the other. Which course affords also such Expedition as gives one side at least, cause to applaud Justice. Whereas here the bettered Party is left so little to Boast of, that he re­turns home as ill satisfyed, as he who had Sentence pronounced against him.

There are Divers orders of Judges; espe­cially two; the Cadi, and over him the Moulacadi like a Lord Chief Justice; tho' as I have already said the supreame Head of Judicature is the Mufti: These Judges are all excepting the Mufti limited to set Pre­cincts, and when convicted of Corruption they are made horrid Examples; the main points wherein Turkish Justice differs from that of other Nations are three; it is more severe, speedy, and arbitraty; they hold the Foundation of all Empire to consist in exact Obedience, and that in exemplary severity; which is undeniable in all the World, but more notable in their State, made up of several People different in Blood, seat and Interest one from another, nor linct in affection, or any common engagement toward the Publick good, other than what meer terrour puts upon them. A soft Hand [Page 89]were unaffectual upon such a Subject, and would soon find it self slighted, therefore the Turkish Justice Curbs and Executes without either remorse or respect; which succeeds better than ever did the Romans, with all their milder Arts of Civility; com­pare their Conquests with those made by the Turk; you shall find his to continue quieta nd firme, theirs not secure for many Ages. Witness first Italy, than Greece and France, always full of Rebellions, Conspi­racies and new Troubles, which were cau­sed by their Lenity, that did not humble the subdued as low as Prudence did require; And the Sultan has a great Iron Club set up in most Places of Turky, especially Bosnia, Sclavonia, Hungary, Thrace and Macedonia, to intimate what they are to trust to; nor does he so much rely upon the Peoples Af­fection, which would tye him to respect full and less absolute Domination, and then also be in their Power to alter, as upon that strength which is in his own Hand makes him more himself, and binds with the tye of fear, whereto Humane Nature is ever enthralled. The second point wherein their Justice excells is quick dispatch; if the buisness be present matter of Fact, then upon the least complaint the partyes and Testimonyes are taken, and suddainly [Page 90]brought before the Judge, by certain Jani­zaryes; and the cause is ever less than in two Hours dispatched, Execution instantly performed, unless it appears a cause of such moment as does allow of an appeal to the Moulacady, where also it is as speedily de­cided: If the matter be of Title or Right, the Partyes Name, the witnesses, who shall forthwith be constrained to come in. For they have no old Deeds, nor other recko­nings beyond the memory of Man: In such cases Possession and Modern Right carryes it, without that odious course of looking too far backward into the times past: this Expedition avoids confusion and clears the Court; whereby it so becomes sufficient for many Causes, and for a great People. Now as for the particular Person, tho he sometimes seems dissadvantaged by the hast, which may make judgment rash, yet that hast not being passionate, it happens not often; nor then likely, is his dammage therein worse, than with us, where after the suspence, delay and Charge of suit, the o­versight of a Lawyer, may with errour of pleading Cast a good Cause; so that after a Man hath been miserably detained to such disadvantages as his other affairs, as he had better have lost his Suit at first; then doth it finally not so much on its own bare Right, [Page 91] [...]s upon the Advocate sufficiency. The last notable point of their Judicature is, they have little fixt Law, and therewith flouri­ [...]hing make good that the most Laws are in [...]he worst States. Yet they pretend to judge by the Alcoran; whereby the Opinion of Divine Authority does Countenance these Arbitrary Deqvisions, which without some Authentive Law to justify them would hard­ [...]y be endured. But as it is manifest that the Alcoran is no Book of particular Law Cases, they pretend its Study does not informe the Judge lititerally, but by way of illumine­tion, which not being given to secular Per­sons, does neatly put losers off from refer­ring themselves to the Text: The Justice being Arbitrary, makes it their Opinion the more to the purpose of the Publick. For the Judges knowing themselves, but Instru­ments of State, and that in its favour is their Establishment, they will ever judge by the Interest thereof, if not out of Honesty, yet for their own Advancement.

CHAP. V. Of the Principal Offices and Dignities of the Ottoman Empire.

NOw having said thus much of the Turkish Ju­stice, we will hasten into an account of the Offices, Dignities, and several Governments in the Ottoman Empire, and will for that purpose begin with the Prime Visior called in Turkish Visior Azem, which is as much as chief Counsellor; sometimes he has the Title of the Grand Seigniors D [...]puty or Representative, being immediately entrusted with all the Power of the Sultan, and indeed he is the Lieut [...]nant General of the Empire and of the Ar­myes, head of the Council, and disposes absolute­ly under the orders of the Grand Seignior of all the Aff [...]ires of State and of War, having in his keeping the Seal of the Empire. He has for Asses­stors in the Divan or Court where Causes are tryed, six other Viz [...]ors who are called Viziors of the Bench, and who are properly Councellours of State, but who have no Deliberative Voice, but are only admitted into the Divan for the being consulted upon some point of the Law, wherein they are learned without medling with the Government of State or any affair, at least unless their advice be asked. There be fiver B [...]gler [...]egs to whom the Grand Seignior gives the Quality of Vizier, and who pos­ses the greatest and Richest Governments of the Empire, namely the Bashawes of Babilon of C [...]yro, of Buda, of Natolea, and of Rom [...]nia: The three first, who are the [...]hree P [...]ncipal, had formerly the Pri­viledge wi [...]h Exe [...]usion, to all the other Ba [...]hawes, to cause as well the Grand Vizier's three Horse tales to be carried before them. But mentioning these Ho [...]s [...]-tales, it will not perhaps, be ungtareful to give the Reader an Account of the Origine of that Custom, which the Bashaw's, who have the Quality [Page 93] [...]f Viziers, have of carrying three Standards or Ban­ [...]ers, to each of which is fastened a Horse-tale, died [...]hat colour they please, except Green, though [...]hey be allowed to dye the Wood Green, to which [...]he Standard is fastned: Which was a follows. [...]he Turkes having one day delivered Battel to the [...]hri [...]tians, their Standard was taken in the Hurry, [...]nd the Tu [...]kish General seeing that the loss of the [...]tandard made his Men loose Courage, who began [...]o run away; he cut off a Horses tale with his Sa­ [...]te, and fastened it to the end of a Half-Pike, which [...] lifted up; Crying, Here's the Great Standard, who [...]es me, let him follow m [...]. At the very instant, the [...]rks took Heart again, and being rallyed, return­ [...]d to the Charge again, and won the Battel. The [...]fficers under the Ba [...]hawe have their Standards too, [...]ut are not allowed to add to them one of those [...]ales, and it is to be observed, that the Bashawes, [...]ho are not Viziers, can only carry two as the Beyes, [...]ho are below the Bashawes; and the Governors of [...]e lesser Province, carry but one. When the [...]rand S [...]ignior goes into the Campaign, they carry [...]ven, because that according to the Turks; that [...]e World is divided into seven parts or seven [...]limates, whereof the Grand Seignior is Master, ta­ [...]ng them in Breadth, and for that reason it is, they [...]ve him in their T [...]ngue the Tittle of Master of all [...]ings. This is sounded upon Mahomet's saying, that [...] who after his Death should be Master of the [...]nds cou [...]aining his Sepulcher, should take the Ti­ [...] of Master or Head of al the Kings of the Earth. [...]ey add that there be but three Empires, which [...]e those of Constantinople, of Babylon, and of [...]rebi­ [...]d; and for that re [...]son it is that the Grand [...]ignior wears three Tufts of black [...]eron Fea [...]hers [...]his Turbant. Now none but the H [...]rons of Candy [...]ve this Aigrette perfectly black, the Herons of all [Page 94]other Countreys have it either white or mingled and as there goes a great Quantity to the making o [...] a Tuft, this raises its price to a high Degree, which perhaps has made the use of 'em to be lost in ou [...] Europe. As for all the Princes of Asia, they have always the Aigrette very much In Esteem, but it must not have the least imperfection; and in case it be the least broken at the point, they make no accoun [...] of it, and it loses all its value. By these three Ai­grettes of the Grand Seigniors Turbant, People know that the Grand Vizior is in the Army, because that then he wears but two of them, and the thing is worthy of being remarked. When the Troop [...] are to March, the Grand Seignior draws up into Battalia, those which are at Constantinople, and in the Neighbour-hood, and having the Great Vizio [...] by his side, he presents him to them for their Gene­ral. The Souldiers then say not a word, and d [...] not make the usual Salute, until that the Grand Seignior has caused one of the Agrettes to be taken out of his Turbant, to be put upon that of the Grand Vizior: Then all the Army Salute him, and own him for their General, and receive pay from him at the same time.

But to return, the Priviledge of Horse-tales ex­tends at present to the Bashawes of Natolia and R [...] ­mania, and they are all five equal in that point▪ But as for the Grand Vizior, who has a Magnificen [...] Court, answerable to the Grandeur of the Maste [...] he serves, and his Family is composed of above two thousand Domesticks. Though he be subject as we [...] as the other Bashaws, to undergo the Anger of hi [...] Prince, and constrain'd to give him his Head, wh [...] he demands it; nevertheless the Grand Seignior i [...] important affairs and which demand it, does yiel [...] much to the Sentiments of the Grand Vizior an [...] his Propositions in the Council are, as man Se [...] ­tences. [Page 95]This it is renders his Power so absolute, that in all the Empires and Kingdoms in the World, there is not any Chief Minister whose authority can match that of the Grand Vizior. Whosever comes to Visit him, he does not rise either [...] receive him, or conduct him, unless it be the Mufti who is Head of the Law, for whom the Grand Seignior himself rises also. But tins principally is worthy of being observed, that as it only appertains to the Grand Vizior to propose all Affairs of Importance, he must he careful not to start any thing ungrateful to the Grand Seignior: For at the same time without ma­king him any answer, he would be strangled; upon this Maxim of the Ottoman Court, that nothing ought to be proposed to the Prince, which he can be displeased at.

But before I proceed on the other Ministers, I will say something of the Origine of the Grandees of the Port. Those who possess Places of trust, whether in the Serraglio, or in the Empire (unless it be Eunuchs, of whom more hereafter) come all generally from Children taken in War, or sent by way of Present from the Bashawes; and Tribute Children, that are taken at the Age of Nine or Ten years out of the Arms of their Mothers in all the Provinces, subdued by the Ottoman Prince, they ought all to be of Christian Parents; and without reckoning the Slaves taken from the Enemy, one may see by the Registers alone of the Demesne of Constantinople, that of both Sexes above twenty thousand are brought thither every year. The lesser Tartars who make continual Incursions into all the Territories that are Enemies of the Empire send 'em in Great Numbers; and the Grand Seignior having the Choice of all these young Children, the hand­somest and the most promising are distributed into divers Serraglio's, to be instructed there in the Law of Mahomet, and in all sorts of Exercises, that of [Page 96] Constantinople is filled with the flower of these last, and they are to be distinguished into two Orders. The first and most honourable is that of the Ichog­lans, destined for the great Charges of the Empire; the second Azamoglans, employed in Offices which only requite strength of Body. The Ichoglans, are those in whom, besides the Perfections of Body, their Governors have discovered a fine Genius, pro­per for a fine Education, and for the rendring them capable one day to serve their Prince. They are instructed with great Care and a very severe Disci­pline, they pass through four Chambers called Oda, which are as four Classes, wherein they learn by or­der all that is suitable to Young Men, who are con­tinually to attend upon a great Prince, and who are as his Pages and his Gentlemen. If they commit the least fault they are rigorously punished, and a Man had need to be endued with great Patience to attain to the fourth Oda, where they begin to breath. But the hopes of coming to the greatest Honours and most Eminent Offices, makes them suffer the bar­barous Treatment of the Eunuchs, who are appoint­ed for their Masters, and who are not sparing to them of their Cudgels. Though it be an Ordinance of the Empire that all these Children be of Christian Pa­rents, of the most Noble and the Handsomest that can be found, the Capi-Aga, or great Master of the Serraglio, the first of the White Eunuchs, who Commands in Chief the Ich [...]glans, does nevertheless suffer some natural Turks to be introduced into their number, recommendable by their good Qualities: But this is rarely done, and that with a particular permission of the Prince, who loves much rather that these Children be all Renegado Christians. This is the true O [...]igine of the Grandees of the Port; they are all Slaves, having no knowledge of their Pa­ren [...]s they apply wholly their Affections to the Ser­vice of the Prince, who has raised them to a high Fortune.

The Bashaws are thus taken out of the Order of the Ichoglans, and the Name of Bashaw is only a Title of Honour and Dignity, common to all the Grandees of the Port, who distinguish themselves by the difference of their Places. The four Principal are the Vizier Asem, or Grand Vizier, the Chaimacan, the Bashaw of the Sea, and the Aga of the Janiza­r [...]es. The Authority of these four Ba­shaws is so great, that they sometimes de­prive their Sovereign of his Crown, to give it to whom they please; as has hap­ [...]ed in our Age to two Emperours toge­ther, Mustapha and Osman the last of whom died in Prison by the infamous [...]and of an Executioner. But if these Bashaws do not understand aright how [...]o take their measures, they lose their Heads for the least fault, the Grand Seig­ [...]ior seizing on all their Estate upon their [...]eath, and taking their Children into [...]e Seraglio; very far from succeeding [...]nto the Riches and Offices of their Fa­ [...]ers, tho it should be the Son of a Grand [...]izier, nay, or of the Emperour's Sister; [...]ey can mount no higher than the [...]ace of a Captain of a Gally; the Poli­ [...] of the Turks not suffering that a Fami­ly [Page 98]should render it self Powerful from Father to Son, to deprive it of the means of ever being able to disturb the State. One may hereby see, that the Fortune of the Bashaws, which is glittering for a time, is a wavering Fortune; on which neither Son nor Father, be he in what Credit he will, can make any founda­tion.

Having already spoken of the Vizier▪ I shall now proceed to the Chaimacan, who is the Captain and Governour of the Ci­ty of Constantinople, Lieutenant of the Grand Vizier, but has no Authority bu [...] in his absence; then he performs all th [...] Functions of that important Office, Com­mands absolutely, and gives Audience t [...] Ambassadours. He is not subject as othe [...] Bashaws, to the harsh necessity of givin [...] his Head; because that if he does an [...] ­thing that is displeasing to the Gran [...] Seignior, he rejects the fault of it upo [...] the Grand Vizier, from whom he receiv [...] his Orders.

The Bashaw of the Sea is the Admin and Captain General of the Naval A [...] ­mies; the Beyes Governours of the M [...] ­ritime Provinces, and who are oblig [...] to maintain [...] Galleys of the Gra [...] [Page 99]Seignior, depend on his Orders, and must put to Sea upon the first Command he gives them.

The Janizary Aga, whom the Turks call Yongeri Agasi, is the Collonel Gene­ral of the Janizaries. This Office is very considerable, because that the Turk [...]sh In­fantry passes at present, for the greatest part, under the name of Janizaries, tho the true Janizaries, who draw their In­stitution from Ottoman the First, and their great Priviledges from Ottoman the Third, make at present but one Body of five and twenty thousand men. They have fine Regulations among them, and are divided into several Chambers in great Houses they possess, whether in Constantinople or other Places. The Or­der they keep there is so fine and exact in every thing, and so strictly observed, that they live less like Souldiers than Religi­ous and Monasticks; and tho they be not forbidden Matrimony, yet very seldom do they marry. The great Priviledges which they enjoy throughout all the Em­pire, where they are very much respect­ed, makes many People to exempt them­selves from paving Taxes, and to dis­charge themselves from some Publick Duties, to gain by money of the Officers, [Page 100]who protect them, and make them pass for Janizaries: but they do not receive any Pay from the Prince; all their Ad­vantages are limited to those Priviledges, which are sufficiently great. Thus by mingling the true Janizaries with the false, their Number does now amount to above a hundred thousand; and to reck­on only those who are effectually Jani­zaries, their Body has rendred it self so formidable, that they have unthroned Ottoman Monarchs, and made the face of the Empire change in a moment. The Power of their Aga is very great, and no Body can approach the Prince after the manner he is allowed to do; for, he can come into the Presence of the Grand Seig­nior with his Arms free, and after a bold Gate and manner, whereas that all the Grandees of the Port without Exception, even the Grand Vizer, dare not appear there but with Arms across, and their Hands upon one another on their Breast, for a sign of a profound Submission.

The Beglerbeyes follow in Dignity the four principal Bashaws, and are as so ma­ny Sovereigns in the general Govern­ments of the Empire, whereof the Grand Seignior gives them the Command. These Grand Bashaws have under them Sangiac­beys, [Page 101]who are Governours of Sangiacs or particular Provinces, as the Sangiacbey of Salonica or of Morea.

Thus having mentioned these Princi­pal Officers, and the Janizaries, I will proceed to give an account of the Spahees, Zaims, and Ghaoax's.

The Spahees, who make a Body of about fifteen thousand men, are a sort of Cava­liers, who would pass for the Nobility of the Country, and boast very much of their Bravery: they live upon certain Ti­marrits or Fewds given them by the Grand Seignior for term of life, as a Re­ward for Services, but with an Obligati­on to serve on Horse-back well appoint­ed, wheresoever they shall be summon­ed. These Timarres cannot be taken from them unless they are wanting in their Duty, which is to be at the Army when the Grand Vizier goes thither in Person. They live the most happy of all the Ottoman Empire, and like petty So­vereigns in the Places where they com­mand.

The Zaims differ little from the Spahees, and enjoy, as well as they, the Command and Revenue of certain Fiefs given them by the Grand Seignior. There is a great number of them throughout all the Em­pire, [Page 102]and they esteem themselves as Lords & Barons of the Country. The Zaims and the Spahis are they who compose the Ca­valry of the Turks, and they know how many Horses they are to furnish accord­ing to the Revenue of their Timars.

The Chaoux, or Chiaous Bashaw, is the Head of all the Chaoux of the Empire, who carry the Commands of the Prince within and without the State, and are sent upon Embassies, tho in the bottom they are only mere Messengers. Priso­ners of Quality are commonly committed to their Keeping, and they never suffer them out of sight.

These are the principal Offices and Dignities of the Empire, all possessed by People who are taken out of the Order of the Ichoglans. I now come to the Of­ficers of the Serraglio, where the Eunuchs are possessed of the principal Places of Trust.

There be two Orders of the Eunuchs; there are those who are white, who are meerly cut, and there are those who are black, who are shaved even with the Belly. Both are severe, fantastical, and jealous, and use all those cruelly who are under their Charge. There is a pro­digious number of them both in Constan­tinople [Page 103]and all the Empire, and generally through all the East, where there is no private Person, in case he has but any Estate, but keeps an Eunuch or two as a Guard to his Wives. This it is that makes the great Trade of Eunuchs in se­veral Parts of Asa and Africa; and only in the Kingdom of Goleonda, a small Territory in the East-Indies, there has been known to be made in one Year two and twenty thousand. In those Parts most Fathers and Mothers who are poor, and have no kindness for their Children, whom they fear they shall not be able to provide Sustenance for, if the least scar­city of Victuals should happen, fell them to Merchants, who afterwards cause them to be cut, and sometimes shaved sheer off. Some of those who have nothing left, when they are to make Water, are constrained to make use of a Quill or Tap▪ and to carry it at the bottom of the Belly. As few recover from so dangerous an Ope­ration, it renders them much dearer than the others, and they are sold in Persia and Turkey at the rare of six hundred Crowns a Man; a hundred, or a hundred and fifty, is the price of common Eu­nuchs. Now for the furnishing all Tur­key, all Persia, all the Indies, and all the [Page 104]Provinces of Africa, it is easie to judge that they must needs come by thousands from diverse Places. The Kingdom of Golconda in the Peninsula, on this side the Ganges, and those of Assan, Boutan, Ara­chan, and Pegu beyond it, furnish a pro­digious number of them. All these Eu­nuchs are white and tawny. The black Eunuchs, who come from Africa in a far lesser number, are, as I have said, much dearer. The most deformed are those which cost the most, their extreme Ug­liness being a Beauty to them in their kind. A flat Nose, a dismal Look, a great Mouth, thick Lips, black Teeth and at a distance from one another, for commonly the Moors have fine Teeth, are Advantages for the Merchants who sell them. The Serraglio of Constamino­ple is filled with these two sorts of Eunuchs. The black are appointed as a Guard to the Apartment of Women, and sent to the Court by the Bashaws of Grand Cairo. The white something less savage, and who have been brought up with some Care, are for the Quarter of the Grand Seignior.

The four principal Eunuchs, who ap­proach the Person of the Prince, are the Hazodabachaio, the Chasnardeerbashaw, [Page 105]the Kilargibashaw, and the Sarai Agasi, who have over them the Capi-Aga, who is the Intendant of all the Chambers in chief of the Ichoglans: they commonly succeed one another; that is to say, the Sarai-Agasi to the Kilargibashaw, he to Chasnadarbashaw, this last to Hazodaba­chi, and finally, the Hazodabachi to the Capi-Aga, who is ever the oldest in Ser­vice of the white Eunuchs.

The Capi-Aga or Capon Agasi, is as the Lord High Steward of the Serraglio, is the first in Dignity and in Credit of all the white Eunuchs, and is ever near the Person of the Grand Seignior be he where he will. He it is who introduces Ambas­sadors to the Audience; and all the great Affairs passing through his Hands to come to those of the Prince, his Office renders him necessary to all the others, and ac­quires him rich Presents. All those who make any to the Grand Seignior ought to address themselves also to the Capi-Aga for the presenting them to his Highness, from whence accrew to him very great Advantages. No Body can enter into the Apartment of the Emperour nor go out from thence without his Order: and when the Grand Vizier has a Mind to speak to him, he must be introduced by [Page 106]the Capi-Aga. Whether by Day or Night if any hasty Business does happen whereof the Vizier would give Notice to the Grand Seignior by Writing, the Capi Aga must receive it and return the An­swer. He wears a Turbant in the Serra­glio, and goes every whereon Horseback by a Priviledge particularly annexed to his Office. He accompanies the Grand Seignior, but stays at the Door, having no more Command in that Place. When he goes out of the Serraglio to quit his Office, which happens very seldom, he cannot be a Bashaw. As concerning his Table, it is furnished at the Prince's Charge, and he has above ten Sultanins a Day, which is above five Pounds of our Money. Capigi Aga's have been known to have died two Millions rich, which returns into the Grand Seigniors Coffers. This chief of the white Eunuchs is follow­ed with four others, who after him have the principal Places in the Grand Seigni­or's Apartment.

The Hazoda Bashaw is as the Lord High Chamberlain, who has under his Charge the forty Pages of the Chamber, who commonly attend the Grand Seigni­or's Person.

The Serai-Agasi has the Superinten­dence General of all the Chambers of the Grand Seignior's Quarter, in what regards the Neatness, and the necessary Repara­tions. He has an eye particularly upon the Seferli-Odasi, which is the Chamber of the Pages, who take care of the Grand Seignior's Linnen, and who accompany him in his Voyages. He it is who ap­points their Cloaths, and all things they have occasion for; and his Office is also much the same as in England the Consta­ble of Windsor, since it is for him gene­rally to provide all that contributes to the neatness and good order of that great Palace. His Lieutenant is Seraihet-Odasi, who is also an Eunuch, whose Office is to have the Tapistries changed every six Months, which are spread upon the floor in the Rooms and Chambers of the Se­raglio.

The Haznadar, or Chaznadar-bashaw, is the Head and Intendant of the Trea­sury, and has the Conduct of the Pages of that Chamber. It is not to be under­stood of the Treasury to be appointed to the necessities of State, and to the ordi­nary Pay of the Souldiers, whereof the Grand Seignior and the three Tef [...]erdars, or Treasurers General, have the Keys [Page 108]and Intendency: the Treasury I now mean, is the Place where the Jewels of the Crown are kept, and all the other Riches heap'd up from Father unto Son by the Ottoman Princes, But it is to be observed, that the Chaznadar-bushaw has now but the Name of the President of the Treasury, nay, and that he has place therein, since that under the Reign of Sultan Amurat, the Pages having made their Complaints to the Grand Seignior of the ill Conduct of that Eunuch; upon their Request he granted that the Chaz­nadar Bashaw should have no more com­mand therein, and that the Charnaketo­dosi should thence forward exercise his Charge, without depriving him of the Title.

The Kilargibachi is the Head of the Pages of the Kilar, which is the place where all the exquisite Drinks are kept for the Mouth of the Grand Seignior. He is moreover the Chief of all the Ake­gis, who are the Cooks and Comfit-ma­kers, no Body being allowed to enter into those Offices but by his Order; and he has under his Charge all the Plate which is for the Service of the Grand Seignior. This Officer's Substitute is the Kilarketodasi, upon quitting of his Charge. [Page 109]he is made a Bashaw. And here I must note, that those who go out of the Sera­glio to be Bashaws, must have been of the forty Pages of the Chamber, and have passed through one of these six Charges, of the Chaznaketodasi, and of Kilarketo­da [...]i, whereof I have spoken, of Dogan­gibas [...]i, of [...]hokadar, of the Seligdar, and of the Rikabdar, whereof I shall quickly speak. Unless in such cases, they can on­ly be Beyes, or Zaims, or Spahies, or at most, Capigi Bashies, by a singular Fa­vour of the Grand Seignior. It is the ve­ry same thing with the Gugombachi, who is the second Person of the Treasury, and with the Anakdar-Agasi, who is the third. If those Persons leave the Seraglio, before they are admitted into the Number of the forty Pages of the Chamber, they have but one Pay, whereas the highest mounts but to two hundred Aspers.

The Dogangibashi is the great Faulcon­er, and his Place affords him much at­tendance upon his Prince.

The Chokadar is He who carrys the Royal Robe called Ciamberluc, which we call in England the Port-mantell.

The Rikabder is he who holds the Stir­ [...]up when the Grand Seignior mounts on Horse back.

The Seligdar is the first of the Pages of the Chamber; he carries the Sword of the Grand Seignior on days of Ceremony; and one of the handsomest Pages is com­monly chosen for that Office.

The Hammangibashi is the Head and Intendant of the Baths. When he goes out of the Serraglio, as well as the Kama­chirbachi, who is the first of the Pages of the Seferli, their Pay is a hundred Aspers a day; and if they are in favour it may mount to a hundred and fifty. It is in general to be noted, that when there is a remove of any one of the forty Pa­ges of the Chamber, to fill their Places they take others out either of the Trea­sury, or the Kilar, or the Seferli, which is done in turns: they always take out the most ancient, and those that are next succeeding in their Place.

The Chimacibachi is the great Blan­cher, or the Head of those who whiten the Grand Seignior's Linnen.

The Giritbey is the Head of those who exercise themselves in shooting with the Bow and lancing Darts; wherein a great Exercise is performed every Friday in a Place of the Serraglio appointed for that Divertisement. These being the Char­ges of the Serraglio, possess'd by those [Page 111]who have passed the Chambers of the Ichoglans, I shall proceed to speak of the Black Eunuchs, to whom are committed the keeping of the Womens Apartment; and they choose for that Office the ugli­est and most deformed that can be found. they have all cut sheer off since the time of Soliman the Second, who one day see­ing a Gelding leap a Mare, judged from thence, that the Eunuchs who kept his Women might also amuse their Passions; which he prevented immediately by cutting off all they had; which Rule his Successors have ever since observed. They are many in number, and have amongst them their Chambers and their Regulations as well as the white Eu­nuchs.

The Keilar Agasi, or as others call him, Kutzlir Agasi, that is in English, the Keeper of the Virgins, is the Head of all the Black Eunuchs, and is equal in Au­thority and Credit with the Capi Aga, who is the Head of the white Eunuchs. He is the Superintendent of the Womens Apartment, keeps the Keys of the Door, and speaks when he pleases with the Em­perour. The Office he possesses procures him Presents from all sides; and none are made to the Sultana's by the Bashaws [Page 112]and other Persons who stand in need of their Favour with the Sultan, but that he also receives a share, which renders him one of the richest and most conside­rable Officers of the Port.

Now I shall proceed to say something more of the Azamoglans, who make the second Order of the Youth in the Serra­glio, and out of whose Number the mean­er Officers are taken, a List of whom I am going to set down.

The Azamoglans as well as the Icho­glans, are, as I have said, Tribute-Chil­dren that are levyed upon the Christians, or taken in War by Land or by Sea. They choose the handsomest and most robust for the Grand Serraglio; and they have neither Pay nor Profits, unless they are advanced to some petty Offices, which they cannot attain to untill after several Years of Service, and then their Wages is but seven Aspers and a half a day. As concerning meer Azamoglans that are brought up in other places and are not admitted into the Serraglio of Constantino­ple, the highest Pitch of their Fortune is to become Janizaries.

When that at the Arrival of these Youths at Constantinople the first Distribu­tion is made into the Serraglio's or Royal [Page 113]Palaces of the Grand Seignior; some are also left in the City to learn Trades, and others are sent to Sea to serve for Sea-men, and render themselves expert in Naviga­tion; by which means they attain to some Places. But the Azamoglans of the Grand Serraglio are employed in divers Offices, and are made Bostangis, Capigis, Atagis, Halvagis, and Baltagis.

The Bostangis are those who are em­ployed in the Gardens of the Grand Seig­nior, from out amongst whom those are [...]aken who are to row in the Grand Seig­ [...]nor's Brigantines, when he has a Mind to divert himself in fishing, or in taking the Air upon the Canal: those who are taken [...]nto the Brigantines, and row on the right, may attain to the Charge of Bostangi Bashi, which is one of the most considerable of [...]he Serraglio: but those who row on the [...]eft can only be admitted into the petty Employments, which are bestowed in the Gardens. If it chances that any one of [...]hem happens to break his Oar in the Grand Seignior's Presence, his Highness [...]auses immediately fifty Crowns to be gi­ [...]en him, and causes also Money to be di­ [...]ributed to the others every time he goes [...] ­board his Brigantine. Their greatest [...]ay, after having served some Years, is [Page 114]seven Aspers and a half a day, besides Food and Cloathing, which they are all equally provided with.

The Bostangi-Bashi has the Superinten­dance general of all the Grand Seignior's Gardens, as well of those of Constantino­ple as of the Neighbourhood, and com­mands above ten thousand Bostangis, whose Business is to look after them. Tho he be taken out of the low form of the Azamoglans, his Power is neverthele [...] very great, and his Office one of the fi­nest and most considerable of the Court: it admits him to the Prince's Person, to whom he may speak familiarly when he carries him by Sea, being seated at the Helm of the Brigantine, wherein the Grand Seignior is on Board, who very of­ten makes use of him to carry his Orders to some Bashaw whose Head he thinks fitting to take off. All the Grandees of the Port stand in awe of him, and endea­vour to gain his Affection by their Pre­sents, because he can do them good or ill Offices with the Prince, whom he go­verns in his Walks. When he is at his Elbowes, with the Rudder of the Bri­gantine in his Hand, he has the Privi­ledge of sitting down in his Presence, and may then discourse him upon the Affairs [Page 115] [...] State and the Conduct of the Bashaws, [...]d according to his Passion or his Inte­ [...]t, tell roundly how things go, or turn [...]em after what manner he thinks con­ [...]nient. In short, if he is much in favour, [...] may have one of the great Govern­ [...]ents, and become Bashaw of Buda, of [...]bylon, or of Cairo, nay and Grand Vi­ [...]r, which is the principal Office in the [...]pire.

The Capigis are the Porters or the [...]eepers of the Doors of the Serraglio, [...]at is to say, of the first and second [...]ourt; for that of the third which gives [...]trance to the inward Serraglio, is kept [...] Eunuchs. The chief of the Capigis [...] called Capigibashi, who has under him [...]ther Officers, who have the same name, [...]d of whom the Grand Seignior makes [...]lso use to carry his Orders. The Capi­ [...]ga is over all.

The Atagis are the Cooks of the Ser­ [...]aglio, over whom, as well as over the [...]alvargis, the Kilargibashi has full power: [...]ach Kitchin has its Atigachi, that is to [...]y, it's Master, whom we call Steward; [...]nd the Mouatbakemin is the Intendant who furnishes the Kitchins with all that is [...]ecessary for them, taking care also of [...]he Table of Ambassadors, according as [Page 116]he is directed by the Grand Seigni [...]

The Halvagis are the Comfitmakers [...]

The Baltagis are strong Fellows, e [...] ployed to carry Burdens, like our Po [...] ters and Carmen; Baltagi signifying pr [...] perly a labouring Man.

The Emirahourbashi is the Master [...] the Horse, who marches before t [...] Grand Seignior when he shews himself [...] Publick, and in all Ceremonies.

The Ekmeggobashi is the chief of t [...] Pantry, and has the Superintendence [...] all the Bread that is eaten in the Serr [...] glio. These two Offices are not given [...] any of those who remain within the Se [...] raglio, but to persons who reside witho [...] and have the freedom of going in a [...] out at all Hours.

The Caragi-Bachi is the Head of tho [...] who raise the Tributes; and both he an [...] the Gemmeroubuchi or Principal Commissioner of the Revenues, and the B [...] zarcunbachi or chief of the Merchants, a [...] bound to make Advances to the Gran [...] Seignior when he stands in need of M [...] ney, and that there is none in the Pu [...] lick Treasury, not being willing the [...] cret Treasury should be medled wit [...] ▪ They must procure it, and it is no diff [...] cult matter for them to do, because [...] [Page 117] [...] the Tributes, Demesns, and other [...]posts that are paying to the Grand [...]gnior; nothing of them is payed un­ [...] the end of the Year, and those Offi­ [...]s make themselves be payed in the be­ [...]ning.

All sorts of People, of what Religion [...]ver they be, except the Mahometan, [...] bound to pay the Tribute without [...]y Exception, after they have setled [...]emselves in the Empire, and have at­ [...]ned to the Age of sixteen Years: and [...]s Tribute is five hundred and fifty [...] Aspers a Head, which neither rise [...]r fall, remaining always upon the [...]me foot of eighty to a Plaster, which [...]mes to about five Crowns of our Mo­ [...]y. All the other Christians, who come [...]o the Empire to trade, or for Business, [...]ough it should be only for a day, they [...] made to pay the very first Town they [...]me to. Greeks who are Foreigners, as [...]m Muscovy and other places, pay three [...]ndred and fifty Aspers; the Armenians [...]o come from Persia, Georgia, Mingre­ [...], and other Countries, are only taxed [...]ee hundred. As for the Christians who [...] called Franks, they pay nothing; [...]d this has given a great deal of trou­ [...] to the Ambassadors of Europe. As [Page 118]the Turks make their Year but of twe [...] Moons, and ours being near twelve [...] a half, they are only payed for twe [...] Moons; but in revenge and to lose [...] thing, from thirty three to thirty th [...] Years they make the double be paye [...] that thirty third Year, and are gr [...] Husbands of their Masters Revenues.

There be but two Princes in [...] World who have the Name of Ch [...] the Emperour of great Tartary, and King of the lesser Tartars, who is a V [...] sal of the Ottoman Monarchs. It is [...] the present Condition of this last I int [...] now to inform the Reader.

When the Cham of lesser Tartary [...] ters upon the Government, he comes [...] take an Oath of Fidelity to the Gr [...] Seignior, and the Turks hold him o [...] as a Governour of a Province, or at [...] for a Vassal Prince. But those of [...] Country, the Muscovites, Polanders, G [...] gians, Mingrelians, and other People [...] the Neighbourhood, treat him as a K [...] when they write to him The Gr [...] Seignior uses a great deal of Policy in [...] Demeanour towards the Cham for [...] he should revolt, and render him [...] more powerful than he is by making [...] liances with neighbouring Princes; fo [...] [Page 119]is to be observed, that the lesser Tartary, whereof the City of Caffa near the Cim­merian Streight is the Capital, is not a Country conquered by the Arms of the Ottomans. It's ancient Kings put them­selves only under the Protection of the Grand Seignior, who granted them it up­on Condition, that when the Father di­ed, his Son or his nearest Relation his Successor, could not enter upon the Go­vernment unless he came to take the In­vestiture at the Port, and make Oath of Fidelity to the Grand Seignior, obliging himself to come to him upon his first Orders. The Grand Seignior promised in Return, that he will never establish any other than of his Race to command in lesser Tartary; and as there be two Branches of that Family, he keeps all­ways one in Exile in the Isle of Rhodes, while that the other governs. But if af­ter fifteen or twenty Years there be any Suspicion that this entertains any Designs of rendring himself absolute, he sends for the Cham, and his Children when he has any, and sending them to Rhodes, takes out from thence he who was in Ex­ile, and sends him to reign in his turn for some Years. Besides, if the Ottoman Race chance to fail, the Cham is to suc­ceed to the whole Empire.

But now as for the Grand Seignior's Ex­chequer. All the Gold and Silver that comes into it arises from the Revenues of the Empire, and from the sale of the Goods which the Bashaws leave after Death. As concerning the Empire which extends so far into the three Parts of our great Continent, and which embraces so many Kingdoms, it is casie to judge that it furnishes immense Sums to the Treasury; but it is not so easie to limit them. His Revenues consist principally in the leavy of Tributes and in the De­mesns. The three Tefterdars or Trea­surers-General giving an Account to the Grand Vizier of the Receipts of the Pro­vinces.

All the Receipts are for the most part in Silver in Specie; and as for the Gold it arises from four Species, whereof there be two forreign, and two of the Coun­try. The one of the two first is the Commerce of the English, French, Hol­landers, Ita [...]ns, Muscovites, and Poland­ers, who [...]ing Duccates from those Pro­vinces. The oth [...]r is the annual Tribute which the Cham of leser Tartary, the Prince, of [...]yloania, of Moldavia, and Walachia, the Republick of Bagusa, and a part of Mi [...]grella, and Russia, are to [Page 121]pay to the Grand Seignior in pieces of Gold, which mounts to very considera­ble Sums. The one of the two Sources of the Countrey comes from the Spoil of the Bashaws, whereof coyned Gold makes the better part; the other from the Re­venue of Egypt, where every year a cer­tain number of Sequins are coyned, ac­cording to the Quantity of Gold which comes thither from Ethiopia; and all those Sequins are brought into the Trea­sury.

The Revenue of Egypt does common­ly amount every Year to twelve Milli­ons of Livers, which are to be divided into three parts; five Millions enter into the Treasury of the Grand Seignior, four is employed in maintaining the Souldiers and Officers of the Kingdom; and the three others are appointed for the rich Present which his Highness sends every Year to Meccha, for the Charges which regard the Religious Worship, and to fill the Cisterns of Arabia, whither Wa­ter must be carried for several Days Jour­ney.

Of the five Millions which enter into the Serraglio, the greatest part is Sequins according to the quantity of Gold which [Page 122]the Abyssins have brought, and the rest in the Lyon or Hollands Rix Dollers.

But here perhaps it will not be unsea­sonable to speak of the Present which the Grand Seignior sends every Year to Mec­cha, especially having said that the third part of the Revenue of Egypt was parti­cularly appointed for that purpose.

Three Millions of Livres of the twelve of annual Revenues which, the Kingdom of Egypt affords the Grand Seignior, are employed in part in the rich Carpet and stately Tent he sends to the Cheq every Year for the honouring the Tomb of Mahomet. Another part goes to the Pay­ment of those who serve in the Mosques; as Imans, who are their Priests; Cheucks, who are their Preachers; Muczims, who go cry about the Turrets of the Mosques to call the People to Prayers, and Kacim [...] of Mecca and Medina, who keep and clean the Mosques and light the Lamps Out of these three Millions must the nou­rishment be taken of all the Pilgrims, th [...] Grand Seignior sending a sufficient Sum for that purpose to the Cheq. This Che [...] who is as the High Priest of the Law, an [...] the Sovereign Pontif of all the Mahohometans, of what Country or Sect soever, [Page 123]makes those poor People believe, that there is every year seventy thousand Pilgrims, Men and Women, at Meccha; and if the Number was not compleat, [...]he Angels would come in the form of Men to make it up.

This Prince, for Whom all the Maho­metans have a great Veneration, is very [...]ich and very potent, which is easie to [...]udge by the Presents He receives from [...]he Grand Seignior and other Mahometan Princes. These Presents belong to him [...]ll in Property at the end of the Year, when new ones come. He also profits by all those of the Pilgrims, and Sums of Money which those Princes send him, [...]or to be disposed of in Alms according [...]o his Will; and all these Presents toge­ [...]her raise him a Revenue that is not to [...]e imagined. For Mahometism extends [...]ery far in Europe, in Asia, and Africa, [...]nd much farther than People common­ [...]y do believe.

Caravans come to Mecca from several [...]arts of the World; and the day being [...]ome that the Devotion is to begin, the High Priest, assisted with all the People [...]f the Law, makes Day and Night the [...]ecessary Prayers and Ceremonies. On [Page 124]the seventeenth Day all the Pilgrims as­semble before the Cheq's Tent, who ap­pears at the Entrance, and standing up­on a Piedestal to be seen by the farthest off, says his Prayer, and gives his Bene­diction to all the People, ending with these Words, God grant they may return in Peace as they came. From this mo­ment every one must live at his own cost, the Cheq gives nothing more, and then his Gains begin to be very great; for al [...] that is sold for the maintenance of the Pilgrims, belongs to him, and besides he partakes with the Masters of the Ca­ravans, of whom the Pilgrims are boun [...] to buy their Carriage at three times mor [...] than it's worth, when that which they had brought with them from their own Country had failed them in the way.

The Caravan of Cairo is the most numerous and most considerable of all th [...] Caravans which go to Mecca. The Caravan Bashi, who is Captain thereof, ha [...] sometimes two hundred thousand Crown [...] profit at his Return; and there is grea [...] caballing for his place, which is at th [...] Bashaws Disposal, and is seldom give [...] but to him that bids most. The Captai [...] of this Caravan is also Master of the Waters [Page 125]that are brought into the Cisterns, it is by his Order that they are distribu­ted; and as this Distribution is equal for the Poor and for the Rich; and if this last will have beyond what he is order­ed, he must pay for it dearly, and the Captain who taxes it at what rate he pleases raises a considerable profit.

But let us return to the Grand Seigni­or's Present. The Tent and Carpet which he sends are two pieces equally precious, both for the Beauty of the Stuff and the Riches that are added to it. The Ta­pistry is to cover the Tomb of Mahomet, and the Tent which is set up against the Mosch is for the Cheq, who stirs not from thence during the seventeen days Devo­tion. That High Priest of the Law of Mahomet has found the secret to raise im­mense Sums by this Tapistry and Tent; every Year, and when the new Present [...]s arriv'd from the Grand Seignior, he [...]ends as a singular Favour pieces of the Courtin of the old Tent to several Ma­hometan Princes, from whom, in return, [...]e receives magnificent Presents. This Courtin which reaches all about the [...]ut side of the Tent, to hinder those [...]rom being seen that are within, is com­posed [Page 126]several pieces, six foot high, and of a great length; and the Cheq gives those Princes to understand, that by fa­stening one of those Pieces to their Tents when they go to War against thos [...] whom they consider as Infidels, they wil [...] be attended with all the happy Succes [...] imaginable, and will not be long befor [...] they gain the Victory. It must be som [...] great Monarch, as the Great Kam o [...] Tartary, or the Great Mogol, to whom he sends either the whole Courtin [...] Tent, or Tapistry, which he does onc [...] in ten or twelve Years, sometimes t [...] the one, sometimes to the other. Arte [...] that Aurengezebe, King of the Indies [...] and whom otherwise we call the Grea [...] Mogol, was setled upon the Throne, th [...] Cheq sent him the whole Courtain o [...] the Tent; and great Joy was there a [...] that Court that the King had receive [...] from so Holy a Place, as they call it so magnificent a Present. The Cheq presently after tasted of the Royal Liberality of that great Monarch, one of th [...] richest and most potent of the Universe And at this rate it is that the chief of th [...] Religion of Mahomet, who has a kin [...] of Dominion over all the Members [Page 127]knows how to render them useful, and found the means of enriching himself at the Costs of all the Mahometan Princes and People.

I do not doubt but that those who have written of the Mahometan Religi­on, have made mention of the Pilgri­mage of Mecca, which is one of its essen­tial Parts, wherefore I shall not enlarge farther upon that matter. I will only make three Remarks, taken out of an Original of one of the most Learned in the Rubricks of the Law of Mahomet. The first is, that by an ancient Tradi­tion the Turks believe that Mecca is the Place where God commanded Abraham to build him an House; that while he was there all Nations came to visit him in Crowds; and that it is also the same Place where Mahomet received the Alcoran from Heaven. The second regards the Com­mands made to all the Mahometans, to go once in their Life time a Pilgrimage to Mecca; for it is to be observed, that this Obligation does not extend to the poor People, who have nothing whereon abso­lutely to live, and who would make their Family suffer by their absence, ha­ving nothing to leave them for their [Page 128]Maintenance. The third Remark is, touching the preference of the two Ci­ties of Mecca and Medina. The first is the Place of Mahomet's Birth, which he had a design to have honoured and ce­lebrated by this famous Pilgrimage, to which he obliges all those of his Law The second is the Place of the Sepulture of which they tell many Fables. Maho­met in his Alcoran only Orders the going to Mecca, where there are no other Re­licks of this false Prophet than one of hi [...] Slippers: and the Doctors of the Law do also grant, that there is no Obligati­on to go to Medina, and that withou [...] seeing that City, the Command of Ma­homet is fulfilled.

CHAP. VI. Of the Original, and History of the Turks.

THO the Turks have acquired so vast an Empire, yet their Original is so obscure, that what we know of it is rather Conjecture than any certain Ac­count. However, this is allowed of by all hands, that they were a People of Scythia, who, either compelled by Fa­mine, or the Sword of their Neighbours, to abandon their own Countrey, passed through the Streights of the Caspian Mountains, and subdued and settled themselves in Armenia the Greater; there­upon called Turcomania, as it is at this day. Thus continued they to acquire Reputation, and multiply their Accessi­ons, professing Pagainism, and living in wandring Troops, after the manner of the Scythian Nomades. The Saracen Em­pire being upon its declension, nay, brought almost to the last Gasp, by the Division of its own Princes; Mahomet, the Sultan of Persia being overpower [...]d [Page 130]by the Caliph of Babylon, demanded Suc­cours of the Turks, from whom receiving three thousand Souldiers, under the Con­duct of Tangrolipix, the Chief of the Seleuccian Family, he overthrew the Ca­liph by his means. Nevertheless, he would have constrained the Turk to have continued in his Service, which occasi­oned so great a Breach, as that it came unto a Battel. Tangrolipix had the Vi­ctory, was by both Armies elected Sul­tan, conquered the Caliph of Babylon, which he added to his Dominions of Persia. About this time did the Turk embrace the Mahometan Religion, being two hundred and fourteen years after their Sally out of Scithia. Tangrolipix was succeeded by his Son Axan, who consented that Cutlu Muses, and his Kins­man, both of his Blood, should enjoy in absolute Sovereignty what they should conquer from the Grecian Emperour: and they receiving Aid accordingly from him for that purpose, subdued Media, much of Armenia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Bithinia, and the greater part of the les­ser Asia. This Sultan moreover bestow­ed the Cities of Damascus and Aleppo, with their Territories, upon two other of [Page 131]his Kinsmen, Duccot and Melich, upon condition of paying him Homage, and also promising them all they could gain from the Saracens, and allowing them Forces accordingly, they rendred them­selves Masters of the greater Part of Sy­ria; but in a short while after, were ex­pelled thence, as also out of the most part of Asia the lesser, by Godfrey of Bul­len, and by him and his Christians driven to the more Easterly Parts of their Dominions. After the Death of Cutlu Muses, his Son Solyman made a vi­gorous opposition against the Western Christians; after his Death, his Son Ma­homet had a War, and then a Peace with Masut Sultan of Iconium. This Masut having gotten possession of the whole Turkish Kingdom in that part of Asia, at his Death divided it amongst his three Sons. To Galizasthan he gave the Re­gal City of Iconium, with the under Pro­vinces; to Jagupasan, A nasta and An­evra, with part of Cappadocia and the Territories adjacent: but to Daduns he gave the ample Cities of Caesaria and Sebastia, and all the large Neighbouring Territories, being before part of the Greek, Empire. But these Brethren fell [Page 132]at odds with one another, and the eldest dispossessed Dadune of his Patrimony, and did the like with Jacupasan. After which he invaded the adjoyning Parts of the Greek Empire, and in a Battel over­threw Emmanuel Comnenus, a valiant, but unfortunate Emperour; who being dead, he conquered Phrygia, with divers Fron­tier Cities and Castles. Sultan dying in a very old Age, left behind him four Sons, Masut, Coppatine, Reucratine, and Chaichosroes. To Masut he bequeathed Amasa, Ancyra, Dorileum, with several Cities more of Pontus; to Coppatine, Me­litene, Cesaria, Taxaria; to Reucratine, Aminsum, Docea, with the Sea-bordring Cities; but to Chaicosroes, (besides the Regal Seat of Iconium) Lycaonia, Pamphi­lia, and the bordering Countries as far as Cotyanium, with the Title of Sultan. But these falling likewise into Dissention among themselves, upon Reucratine and Masut's contending in Arms for Coppa­tine's Possessions, who dyed not long af­ter his Father. But Fortune favouring Reucratine, he invaded the Sultan, took from him Iconium, drove him out of his Dominions, and became sole Sovereign. This Branch was not alone successful; [Page 133]for, the Race of Ducat and Melech reco­vered all Syria under the Conduct of the renowned Saladine, and joyned Egypt to his Empire, leaving nine Sons behind, all murdered, but one, by Saphradine their Uncle, that one escaping by the means of his Fathers Favourites, and was also called Saphradine and Sultan of Alep­po. From that treacherous Saphradine descended Meleden, Sultan of Egypt, and Coradin, Sultan of Damascus and Jerusa­lem. Tho the vast Dominions of Sala­din were thus again rent in pieces, yet still were they possessed by Branches of the Selzuccian Family, untill that the Mamulucks strip'd them of Egypt, and the Tartars drove them out of Syria; and the Turkish Empire which Tangralipix established in Persia and those Eastern Countries, was utterly subverted by the Tartars after it had continued a hundred and seventy Years. These Tartars were a cruel barbarous People, dwelling on the North of the Mountain Caucasus, who compelled by Famine upon the In­stances of one Zingis a Prophet of theirs, and who was dignified with the Title of Great Cham, like a violent Deluge broke over the Bounds of those Mountains [Page 134]wherein they had for many Ages been confined, and over run all the Eastern Parts of Asia as far as the great Ocean. Heccata his Son, built Quinsay in China, and Cambala in Cathaia, which last he made the Seat of his Empire. By his numerous Armies he subdued the Ara­cosians, Margians, Medes, Persians, Par­thians, Assyrians, Mesopotamians, Armeni­ans, Colchians, and Iberians, compelling the Turks to abandon those Countries. But these last under Aladine one of the Selzuccian Family, joyning with the People of lesser Asia, took Cilicia from the Greeks with the Places bordering; first setling the Seat of their new Kingdom in Sebastia, and afterwards at Iconium. Aladine left behind him two Sons, Aza­dine and Jathatine; but they falling at Dis­cord, the elder constrained the younger into Banishment. But Jathatine return­ed after Azadine's Death, and was own­ed for Sultan; but shortly after slain in single Combate by Theodorus Lascaes the Greek Emperour. Another of the same Name was his Successor, but defeated by the victorious Tartars, and forced out of Iconium: the Turks were finally compel­led to pay them Tribute, and become [Page 135] [...]heir Subjects. Jathatine being dead in Exile, the great Cham divided his King­dom between Masut and Cei-Cubades, who were both descended of the Selzucci­an Family, reserving a Tribute from them to himself. Thus was this great and mighty Empire extinguish'd in Egypt by the Mammalucks, and in both great and lesser Asia by the Tartars. But falling into Divisions, every one got a share, and turned the Monarchy of their new Masters into an Anarchy. The baser sort having got Possession of the Streights of the Mountains, did prove troublesome Neighbours to the Christians by their frequent Incursions; and having given a total Defeat to the Emperour's Lieutenant in Paphlagonia, they over-ran all the Country unto the River Sangarius, sub­duing Pontus and Galatia; and extending their Conquests Southward unto the Ly­cian and Carian Seas, and to the River Eurimedon, which they divided into se­veral Toparchyes. Of the two fore-na­med Princes, Masut died without Issue, but Ceicubades was succeeded by his Son Aladin, titular Lord of the Whole, though a Tributary to the Tartar, and the last of the Selzuccian Family. Up­on [Page 136]his Death the Sovereignty was usurped, but not long possessed, by Sa­hib the head Visier; the Grandees sha­ring among them the Remainder of that dismembred Kingdom as they had done the rest.

Ottoman, among these, possessed Sigu­ta, a small Seigniory in Bithynia, bestow­ed by Aladm the first upon his Father Ertogriel, the Son of Solyman, one of the Oguzian Family, and once Sultan of Machan. Whom, fear of the Traytors making him abandon his Kingdom, He for a long while led a wandring life, with uncertain Fortunes. But Ertogriel com­ing into the lesser Asia, desired Aladine to bestow upon him some corner of so vast a Kingdom for him and his Families Habitation. Aladin remembring his own Sufferings, and the Assistance he had re­ceived from Ertogriel in a certain En­counter, assigned him some few Lands, and a Command upon the Frontier; where he lived long in great tranquility, and much beloved both by the Turks and Christians, who were his Neighbours. Dying in the Year 1289, he left three Sons, Jundas, Saragatin, and this Otto­man, who was elected by the Oguzians [Page 137]for their Governour. His People having suffered some outrages from the Christi­ans, he thereupon surprized several of their Castles, defeated the Greeks in sun­dry Rencounters, took from them the City of Nice, and upon the Death of Aladin, took upon him the Title of Sul­tan, making Neapolis the Seat of his Kingdom, in the year 1300, where is to be placed the first Date of the Ottoman Government. During his Reign of se­ven and twenty years, he annexed Bi­thynia, Cappadocia, and most of the For­tresses that confine upon the Euxine Sea, unto his Crown. His Successor was his Son Orchanes, who took the great City of Pruse, and made it his Residence. Having made vast Additi­ons to his Dominions, he departed this Life, in the two and thirtieth Year of his Reign, leaving his Scepter to Amu­rath his Son. He perceiving the Greeks to be at Discord among themselves, first passed over the Streights into Eu­rope, took Abydosf and Callippolis, with the whole Chersonesus; and pushing on his Conquests into Thracia, he took Philippolis and Adrianople; and still con­tinuing his victorious Career, subdued [Page 138] Servia and Bulgaria, passed into the up­per Mysia, was at length stabbed by a Common-Souldier, in the one and thirtieth Year of his Reign, and lea­ving his vast Dominions and Acqusiti­ons to Bajazet his Son. This Bajazet subdued Phocis with the largest part of Greece, and twice besieged Constautinople, though in vain. Being at length taken by Tamerlane, and carry'd about in an iron Cage. He beat out his own Brains in the Year 1399, being succeeded by his Son Callepine, to whom some attri­bute six Years of Government, which others will not allow, but give the Succession to his youngest Son Mahomet; the Reason of this Diversity proceeding from the Suppression of the Turk [...]st Kingdom by the Tartars. Bajazet ha­ving many Sons, they and other Mahe­metans dismembred again this vast Em­pire, and possess'd themselves of several Provinces, but were all at length obtain­ed and re-united again by Mahomet, who added to them by Conquest, Dacia, Walachia, the greatest part of Sclavonia, Macedonia, as far as unto the Ionian Sea. He removed the Seat of his Empire from Prusa unto Adrianople, where he depart­ed [Page 139]this Life, after he had reigned seven­teen Years, reckoning from the Death of his Father. He was succeeded by his Son Amarath the Second: this Prince conquered Epyrus, Oetolia, Attica, Baeo­tia, Achaia, and Thessalonica. After he had ruled seven and twenty Years his Son Mahomet the Second ruled in his stead, and by his brave Performances acquired the Name of Great, utterly subverting the Greek Empire, taking Constantinople the Imperial City, the Emperour Constantine being trod to Death by the Crowd of People in Adri­anople Gate; and thus gained he the Title of Emperour. He also conquered the Empire of Trabezond which Alexius Comnenus had erected there, at such time as the Greeks did lose their Euro­pean Empire to the Latins. He also subdued Athens, Corinth, all Pelopon­nesus, Bosna, Lemnos, Euloera, Mity­len, &c. and died in the one and thir­tieth year of his Reign, it being much suspected he was poysoned. Bajazet the Second, his Son, having put a Period to his Wars with his Brother, subdued all Cilicia, part of Armenia, with the rest of Cappadocia, which before appertained to [Page 140]the Carmanian Kingdom. But his Inva­sion of Syria was not attended with that Success. After which, he bent his For­ces against the Venetians, took from them Naupactus, Methona, Dyrrachium, and almost desolated Dalmatia. But Selym, his Son and Successor, at length procured a Jew to poyson him in the six and thirtieth year of his Reign. This Selym subdued all Syria, Egypt, and Arabia; and after he had reigned eight years, died of a most loathsome Dis­ease, just as he was entertaining Designs of invading the Christians. His Son Solyman reigned in his stead, and took Rhodes, over-run Hungary several times, took Buda, Strigonium, Alba Regalis, drove the Persians out of Tauris, an­nexed Babylon with the Provinces of Media, Mesopotamia, and Assyria, to his Empire, extended his Conquests into Arabia, and brought the Portugals in the Indies within the Reach, of his Ambiti­on. He died in the six and fortieth Year of his Reign, leaving his Scepter to Selym the Second, the only Son he had then left unmurthered. This Selym won Cyprus from the Venetians by his Lieutenants, enlarged his Bounds with [Page 141] Walachia, Moldavia, and the Kingdom of Tunis, reigned eight years, and was succeeded by Amurath the Third, who during his Reign of nineteen Years, performed nothing of any great Consi­deration. Neither was Mahomet the Third, his Son, a Souldier; his Reign of eight years being inglorious, and chiefly spent in suppressing domestick Broils and intestine Rebellions. Upon Mahomet the Third's Death his Son Achmet, then but fifteen years old, was saluted Emperour. This Princes Reign was as unsuccessful as that of his imme­diate Predecessor, the Persian King in the Beginning of it recovering almost all from him that the Turks had taken from his Ancestors: for the Sophi, in Conjun­ction with Caracan the Head of a Re­bellion then in Turkey, defeated Cicala Bassa in a set Battel, with the loss of almost all his Turks, taking the Ba­shaw's Son Prisoner, and inviting, by secret Messengers, the border­ing Nations to revolt from the Tur­kish subjection, and again defeated the same Bassa, who returned with a vast Army into those Parts, in two set Bat­tels, wherein seventy thousand Turks [Page 142]were slain. These Successes of the Per­sians created a mighty terrour over all Turkey, even in Constantinople it self, it being bruited, that he was marching apace in the Head of an hundred thousand men, and that Bagagi, a male-contented Bassa, was joyned with him; Hereupon Cicala Bashaw was again dis­patched with Forces against the Sophi and the Asian Rebels, but was again defeated by the Persian Monarch, and the City of Babylon, now called Bag­dat taken. Nor the less successful were the Ottoman Troops in Hungary, the Imperialists routing them in seve­ral Occasions, which, with the seve­ral Defeats the Rebel Hungarians recei­ved in diverse Occasions, brought the Turks to more humble thoughts, and made way for a Peace between the two Empires.

Some time after, a Peace was also concluded by the Grand Seignior, with the Persian Ambassador, then resident at the Port, but the Sophi thinking it to be upon dishonourable terms, was so far from ratifying it, that he caused his Minister's Head to be cut off, at his first setting foot in Persia.

In the mean while, the Turkish Na­vigation was extreamly annoyed by Chri­stian Corsairs, who took their Ships, plundered their Islands, and Sea Coasts, and carried many of the Grand Seignior's Subjects away captive.

In this Sultan's time was a great Plague at Constantinople, destroying ma­ny thousands, of People every day, and almost desolating the whole City. And thus after an uneasie and unsuccessful Reign, Ackmet died, having lived thir­teen years, and swayed the Scepter fif­teen, and was succeeded by his Brother Mustapha, by reason of Osman, his Son's Minority. But this Mustapha proving cruel, not only to his own Subjects, but to Foreigners; imprisoning, upon some slight pretexts, the French Ambassa­dour, and torturing his Servants; clap­ping also young Osman, the right Heir, and his Brethren into Chains; which gave such Provocation, that the Grand Vizier at his return from the War of Persia, freed Osman out of Prison, and put Mustapha in his place; where we will let him remain until we have set down some Occurrences of the Reign of Osman, who was not full thirteen years [Page 144]of Age when he was advanced to the Throne.

The first thing he did was to promise redress for the Affront that the French Crown had received in the Person of it's Ambassadour. His Reign was also ushered in by a great Victory he gain'd by one of the Bashaws over the Persians, which was occasioned by an Invasion o [...] Persia it self, by which means several of its Provinces were desolated by Fire and Sword, which forced the Sophi to a dishonourable and disadvantageous Peace; the Persians sending two hun­dred Camels laden with silk as a Tri­bute to the Grand Seignir for many years after.

Osman abetted and promised assistance to Bethlem Gabor, Prince of Transilvania, in be Designs he entertained against the Em­ [...]erour; and also with a great Fleet of Gal­ [...]ies infested the Coast of Sicily, Landed in the Kingdom of Naples, carrying 1500 Christians away into Captivity. And pick­ing a Quarrel with, the King of Poland, [...]marched in the head of 300000 men, and [...]herewith inclosed the Polish Camp, where­in were 50000 brave resolute Fighting men, whom not being able to draw out of their Tranches, insomuch that the Turks having lost many of their men, what in the frequent Skirmishes, Diseased or Drowned in the Torrents of Rain which fall in the coming on of the Winter-season, a Peace was at length concluded by the Mediation of the Prince of Walachia; after which he began to think of executing the Design which the Insolence of the Janizaries had put into his head, which was to remove [...]he Seat of his Empire either to Grand Cairo or Babylon, though under the Mask of going a Pilgrimage to Meca; Trans­porting for that purpose all his Carriages over into Asia, with all his Treasure, not sparing the Plate and Ornament of his Pa­ [...]ace, but the Emperour being betrayed by one of his Considents who had acquaint­ed [Page 146]them with his intentions, they mutinied and ran in a Seditious manner to the Palace▪ demanding the Heads of the Chief Mini­sters, which the Grand Seignior declining, unless by a Legal way, they violently laid hands upon them, barbarously assassinating them in his Presence, and proceeded to call for Mustapha his Uncle, Proclaiming him their Prince and Emperour; and not­withstanding all the Condescension, nay Submission made them by Osman, they de­throned him, and advanced Mustapha it his stead; who caused his Nephew to b [...] Strangled after he had reigned three year and some days, and lived sixteen.

The first thing Mustapha would hav [...] done afrer his readvancement, was to hav [...] cut off Osman's Brethren, had he not bee [...] hindred from so doing by the Janizaries who caused the Councellors of such Wicked Designs to be Executed and removed from their Places, as was accordingly performed. In the mean while this Mustaph [...] being little better than an Ideot, and leaving the whole management of his affairs t [...] others, the Soldiers lived at Discretion, n [...] body daring to oppose their out-rages and exorbitancies: These Disorders occasioned three Rebellions, one at Babylon, an [...] ther at Arzirum upon the borders of Persia. [Page 147]and a third in Mesopotamia, which menaced no less than the absolute downfall of the Ottoman Empire: And indeed the Bashaw of Arzirum marched with an Ar­my of One Hundred Thousand Horse and Foot, demanding Justice of the Murderers of Sultan Osman, and though some efforts were used to oppose his Progress; yet the People being discontented with the present Government; so that they, the Soldiery and Ministers, concurred as it were in an universal consent to Depose him a second time, and exalt Sultan Morat, Osman's Brother into his place: Whereupon having put Mustapha again into Prison, they ha­led Amurath out of his Confinement, car­ried him to the Divan, cloathed him in White, and so installed him Emperour with all the usual Solemnities; After which this new Prince performed his Corban or Sa­crifice of Mutton to the Poor, and thus en­tred upon the Government in the most dan­gerous of all junctures; the insolence of the Janizaries being at the highest Pitch; the Troubles in Asia at that height as threatned the loss of those Deminions, and no less wavering were the African Pro­vinces. Besides the Tartars grew refra­ctory refusing him for their King whom the Grand Seignior had appointed; inso­much [Page 148]that the Turk was forced to comply with the Juncture, and allow of and con­firm their own Choice. Moreover the Cossacks infested extreamly the Turkish Coasts and Navigation, entring the Bos­phorus with a Hundred and Fifty Sail of Saicks, and Landing, Plunder'd and Burnt several Villages and Houses of Pleasure; after which, braving Constantinople it self, they raised such a Consternation in the People, as is hard to be imagined could be brought about by so inconsiderable a Foe in the Capital Seat of the Ottoman Monar­chy, and the most Formidable City of the Universe.

In the mean while Bethlem Gabor having obtained assistance from the Port against the German Emperour, he made such Pro­gresses in lower Austria, routing the Im­perial Forces in several Encounters, and ta­king in several Towns, that the Emperour thought it time to begin to listen to Pro­positions of Peace; which accordingly was concluded by the Mediation of the Palatine of Hungary; and indeed the Turks were willing enough to listen to an accommoda­tion, that they might the better attend their affairs in Asia; where the Rebellion of Abassa Bashaw of Erzerum growing dai­ly more and more considerable; for being [Page 149]joined with Bechir, Bashaw of Babylon, He was in a posture to Cope with the Grand Seigniors Forces, and his Troops encreased to that degree, that he adventured to Quar­ter within five days Journey of Constanti­nople; and at the same time Tidings coming that the King of Persia was entred into the Turkish Dominions with a powerful Army; all these things concurring together, put the Ottoman Court into a general Conster­nation; all the Troops which the Grand Seignior sent against them, being still rout­ed and defeated: The Grand Vizier being hereupon dispatched with numerous For­ces, to the Town of Babylon, in hopes that the Mutinies of the Garrison would afford him an easy Conquest over that place; but found such Opposition, That he was for­ced to raise the Siege with great disho­nour.

There having been again too, some breach between the Emperour, the Grand Seignior, and Bethlem Gabor; all Parties being desirous to come to an accommodati­on, it was accordingly struck up; this in­duced the Persian to make offers of a Peace, with a reserve nevertheless, of the Town and Province of Babylon; but these Condi­tions would in no wife be accepted by the Port, from whence another Army of an [Page 150]hundred and fifty thousand men was dis­peeded, which entred Persia, took Tau­ris, viewed Bagdat, but finding it well provided and defended with a numerous Garrison, they thought not fit to begin a Siege; but having their Army again re­inforced, they took some inconsiderable Towns, and destroyed some Troops of those who were the Sophies Allies. These Successes of the Turks being so little an­swerable to the Charges of the Expedition▪ being likewise forced to raise the Siege of Erzerum; new Troubles arising in Tarta­ry, with a Mutiny of the Janizaries; the Turkish Councils began to be inclinable to an accommodation with Abassa; where­upon a Treaty was set on foot, and a Re­conciliation made upon these Conditions▪ That Abassa should still continue Bassa of Erzerum, his Son, Bashaw of Besra; his Kakya, or Lieutenant Bashaw of Marasck with a general Act of Pardon or Indem­nity to be given to Abassa and his whole Army.

During these Occurrences, the Tartar [...] having made an Invasion into Poland, under [...] their new King; and being met by the Polanders and Cossacks, a Battel was fought wherein the Tartars were wholly routed▪ Thirty Thousand of them being slain upo­ [...] [Page 151]the place. About this time Bethlem Ga­bor, Prince of Transilvania being dead, Ragotski was Chosen Prince in his stead after some Opposition; This George Ragot­ski was a person rich in Money, and of great Interest by reason of the Jurisdicti­ons and Castles which he possessed in Hun­gary, belonging to his Patrimony; and be­ing conducted with great acclamation, and a general concourse of People to Alba Ju­ha, he there took the usual Oath with much Solemnity and Magnificence.

During these Occurrences, various were the Successes of the Turks and Persians, sometimes the one having the advantage, sometimes the other; now was Bagdat Be­sieged by the Grand Seignior, and shortly after raised again; some bickerings too there were between the Turks and Tartars, but presently healed up for a time; as al­so between the Turks and Poles, which end­ed in accommodations suitable to the exi­gency of the Juncture. Moreover, the Ca­bals at the Ottoman Court, occasioned no small destraction in their Councils; the four principal. Viziers being Brothers in Law, and having Married the Grand Seignior's Sisters, they monopolized the whole Ministry to themselves; though at length falling into some variance and mis­understanding [Page 152]it proved very detrimenta [...] to the Turky affairs. Moreover, at th [...] same time the Spahees and Janizaries joined in a Mutiny, which proceeded to that height, as to commit the greatest of Out rages in the very presence of the Gran [...] Seignior, inhumanely Murdering severa [...] of his Favourites. But the Grand Seignio [...] considering the emergency of his affairs was constrained to dissemble this affront to Majesty, until he had an occasion Clandestinely to take off the heads of the princi­pal Mutineers: These Turbulent humour [...] in the Capital City, fomented the like i [...] other parts of the Empire; so that ther [...] broke out a Rebellion in Anatolia, aros [...] Troubles in Moldavia, and Mutinies at Bu [...] da. About this time the French Ambassa­dors Interpreter, declaring too plainly th [...] Sentiments of his Master to the Grand Seignior, this last caused him to be empaled.

Now was a Peace suddenly struck up between the Grand Seignior and the Sophi [...] but it only lookt like those, who having ru [...] themselves out of Breath, stand still a while, That they may pursue their Chac [...] with the more vigor; for the same year i [...] was again broken, and the War prosecuted with more eagerness than before: The Truce between the Emperour and the Grand Seignior [Page 153]was continued for a longer time; not­withstanding that the Progresses of Gusta­vus Adolphus at that time in Germany, did invite the Turks to a Rupture. Warlike preparations were then made against Emir Facardin, a Prince inhabiting a large part of Arabia; and the like designed against [...]he Crown of Poland: But passing over all [...]hese, I will proceed to give a Relation of [...] Fight of two English Ships, called the He­ctor, and William and Ralph against the whole Turkish Fleet; these two English Ships being Lading of Corn in the Gulph of Mola, were met with by the Captain Ba­shaw, in his passage with the whole Turkish Fleet towards Cairo and those Ports; now Corn being a Prohibited Commodity, and [...]ot to be Transported, under penalty of forfeiting Ships, Goods, and liberty of the [...]en; the Bashaw was invited at che pro­ [...]pect of such a Booty, to Command his [...]allies to seize the Vessels, which as they were but two, it was not questioned but [...]hat they would yield and surrender upon [...]e first summons; but these true English [...]ou rages not being used to yield themselves [...]p so tamely, were resolved the Turks [...]hould pay as dear as they could make [...]em for the loss of their Liberty, Lives [...]nd Goods; wherefore having by cutting [Page 154]their Cables, put themselves under Sai [...] and got into the main Sea; they fought with the whole Fleet above three hours, being sometimes Boarded by one Galley, som [...] times by two at once; yet as they plie [...] their Quarter-Deck Guns with small-sho [...] and made a gallant Defence with the [...] Half Pikes, they often cleared their Deck [...] and put off the Enemy with great slaugh [...] ter; the Captain Bashaw being ashame [...] that his whole Fleet should meet with su [...] Opposition from such Vessels, resolved t [...] enter his men at the Gun-room Port of on [...] of the Ships; and running the Prow of the Galley into the Stern Port, the valiant Cre [...] of the Gun-Room, clapt an Iron Spike in to the Trunch-hole of the Prow, whereb [...] the Galley being wedged fast to the Timber of the Ships, they brought their Stern-sh [...] laden with Cross-Barrs, pieces of Iron, and Partridg-shot to bear upon them, which r [...] king them fore and aft, killed the Capta [...] Bashaw himself, with near three hundre [...] out of the Admiral Galley: At length having spent all their Shot, they Charged the [...] Guns with Pieces of Eight, and being ove [...] powered by numbers of their Enemies, an [...] not able farther to resist, they set Fire [...] their Ships, which blowing up, destroye two or three of the Gallies which lay [...] [Page 155] [...]heir sides, together with those men which were then Fighting aboard at hand-blows on the Deck with the Defendants; so that none of the English were taken, unless three or four that were Fished out of the Water; and thus was an end put to the Fight, the Turks gaining the Victory with the loss of Twelve Hundred Slaves Killed or Wound­ed, besides Turks, and were forced into Port, where they remained a full Month to repair their Gallies, this Fight affected all the Turks with amazement, at the Bra­very or Obstinacy as they call it of the English; and is a matter remembred and talked of to this day, especially by the Son of the Captain Bashaw who was slain, cal­led Omem, Bashaw of Ogli, being Bashaw at Rhodes at present, and Commands three or four Gallies; for which reason he is so inveterate an Enemy to the English, that to satisfy his Revenge, he buyes what Eng­lish Slaves he can get into his Gallies, and sells none out under a double price or ran­som.

In the mean while the Son of Facardin being overthrown, taken and strangled, the Father himself was at length forced to sur­render upon Condition, and became for a while the Grand Seigniors Favourite; but this creating him a great deal of En [...]y at [Page 156]Court, by the suggestion of his Enemies, [...] had at length a formal Sentence of Deat [...] passed upon him by the Grand Seignior him self, and was accordingly strangled by tw [...] Mutes.

As Morat grew up in years, so he be­gan to take upon himself the Government though he exercised several Acts of Ty­ranny at the same time; and declared he expected a blind Obedience from all his Subjects whatsoever: And as he was strange­ly addicted to Wine, and often smarted un­der the effect of his Excesses therein, he Prohibited the use of it under the severest penalty to all his Subjects, After which, Declaring War against Poland, he bent his Arms that way, though without Success, several ill Accidents happening both by Land and Water in his Empire; many of his Ships being Cast away, with several of the chief of his Officers; Fires being very frequent, especially a Terrible one hap­pening at Constantinople, which burnt down above 20000 Houses, 200 Mosques, and the Library of the Mufti, which for the number of the Persian and Arabick Books, was curious, and of high esteem; as also the Abbies or habitation of the Janizaries, containing 300 Chambers, each Chamber being capable to receive 400 men. In the [Page 157]mean while the Ottoman Forces being in­successful in their Expeditions against Po­land; the Port was constrained again to implore a Peace of that Crown; and to ob­tain it, to give up the chief Advisers of the War a Sacrifice to its Resentment. New Troubles now happening in Transilvanania, the Turk sent thither an Army, which was beat­en, and the Turk compelled to a Peace.

Now does Morat resolve to go in Person against the Persians, and accordingly marched for that purpose in the head of an Army of 300000 men; and coming before Revan, had by the Treachery of the Persian Governor, who was ever after his principal Favourite, that Town surrendred to him, and pursuing his Successes, he entred farther into Persia, destroyed Tauris, and having deso­lated and laid all waste where-ever he came; he returned in great Triumph to Constanti­nople, where he committed unheard of Acts of Cruelty in any other Tyrant soever, the most Arbitrary and Vicious sort of life that ever Prince did. During his absence from: the Army, the Persians regained Tauris, cut [...]f 15000 Turks in an Ambush; the Otto­pan Troops mutinied and assassinated their [...]rincipal Officers. Now though the Grand seignior indulged his extravagant humour [...]th all sorts of Cruelties, yet this bad news [Page 158]from Persia hasted his Preparations for those Wars, to which he was resolved to return in person, in his way having subdued some Re­bels, he passed the River Euphrates; and the Persian Army not being able to make head against such formidable Forces, he laid Siege to Bagdat; and being habited like a Common Soldier, he protested he would never change his Cloaths in any place but within the Walls of Bagdat; and after the loss of vast numbers of men on both sides, he took that place, and returned to Constantinople; where an Ambassador ar­riving shortly after from the Sophi, a Peace was concluded between the two Empires. After which, pursuing his Pleasures, especi­ally Drinking with the former excesses, they at length kindled in him a violent Feaver, whereof he Died on Feb. 8. 1640. in the 17 year of his Reign, and the 31 of his Age; This Prince was of a most Cruel and Impla­cable Disposition, having amongst his other Acts of Tyranny, imbrued his hands in the Blood of his two Brothers, Orchan and Ba­jazet, as also strangled his Uncle Mustapha [...] whose innocent weakness had been sufficien [...] to secure himself against the most horri [...] Monster of humane Tyranny; he lest n [...] Son, for tho' he had divers, they died in the Infancy, notwithstanding which, his Kindre [...] [Page 159]were so detested by him, that he grudged the descent of Monarchy on his Brother Ibrahim, who was preserved by a strange Providence from his Fury; often saying, That he wished he might be the last of the Ottoman line, that the Empire of that Fa­mily might end with him, and devolve unto the Tartar. He was unquestionably the most absolute Prince that ever swayed the Otto­man Scepter; but Religion he had none, sel­dom fasting in the Month of Ramazan, de­spising and ridiculing all the Religious Or­ders of the Ottomans; never was the Sol­diery brought under that Subjection, as du­ring the latter part of his Reign; he pryed into all the Occurrences of Constantinople, keeping spies for that purpose, and of­ten concerted his affairs from the Discour­ses he himself had had in disguise with peo­ple concerning his Government: He was a great Dissembler, Ready, Active and Re­vengeful, excessively Avaricious, leaving 15 Millions of Gold in his Treasury, which was empty when he took upon himself the Government. In short, how bold a word so­ever, he was the most Tyrannical Prince that ever sat at the Turkish Helm.

Sultan Amurath, or Morat being thus Dead, he was succeeded by Sultan Ibrahim his Brother, who was the Sole Surviver, and [Page 160]undoubted Heir of the Ottoman Family; But this poor Prince having been confined in a dark Room, where he had received neither Light nor Air, but what a little Window afforded, which sometimes in fa­vour was opened to him from above; and what was worse, the continual expectations and fear of Death, without Friends, Con­versation or House, rendring that confine­ment worse than the Grave it self; his dai­ly Scene and Entertainment being such as might terrify a mind more firm and con­stant than his; so soon as he heard the ac­clamations and Huzza's of a multitude near his Door, he forthwith fancied that his last hour was now come, and thereupon Barring the Door, refused to give entrance; and though the Viziers Proclaimed him Emperour; yet suspecting it might be some Artifice of his Brothers to see with what sa­tisfaction he would entertain the Tidings, he told them that he had not the least Thoughts of the Empire, nor did he de­sire it; but prayed for the long Life of Sultan Morat, whose Slave he pretended to be rather than his Brother; but perceiving they endeavoured to force open the Door, yet with tokens of respect, he opposed, as much as in him [...]y their [...]ss [...]rts, and kept it as fast as possible he could; be remaining [Page 161]thus obstinate not to open, and they out of Veneration to his Person, forbearing any ru­der violence; Ibrahim could in no wise be prevailed with to come out to a Throne, until all this bustle coming to the ears of the Queen Mother, she came her self in person, and caused the dead Body of Sul­tan Morat to be said before Sultan Ibra­hims Door; which besides her winning Ex­pressions, and firm assurances of Amuraths Death, his fears began to be dissipated; and suffering them to open the Door, he receiv'd the Congratulations of the Ministers and Soldiers; after which having performed all the Ceremonies of his Coronation, instead of attending business, he gave himself en­tirely up to Luxury and Venereal Plea­sures, committing the whole management of affairs to his Mother.

The first thing of note undertaken in this Sultan's Reign, was the War against the Cos­sack's, and that was done by laying Siege to a Town of theirs called Asac, which after they had forced the Turks to retreat from, they themselves abandoned; about which time was the young Prince, Sultan Maho­met Born that now Reigns: After his Birth had been Solemnized with all sorts of Ex­pressions of Universal Joy and Satisfaction, came Complaints from the Emperour, of [Page 162]the Treachery of the Turks, in endeavou­ring to surprise Raab, a strong Town in Hun­gary, with 4000 men, yet without redress. In 1643 the Grand Seignior had two other Sons Born; and indeed he seem'd to make Procreation the whole business of his Life, being always in Company of his Women, ne­ver stirring out of his Seraglio; suffering the Ministers to dispose of all as they thought fit.

His Fleet indeed he sent to Sea, but with­out any other performances, than the taking off a Bashaw's head; the Turkish attempts in all parts savouring of the pusilanimity of him at the Helm.

At Alexandria 6000 Slaves took the Opportunity to make their escape, through the little care that was then taken of them, by reason of the great Plague which then raged in that Town; and carrying several Vessels with them that rode at Anchor in the Road, they got first to Candia and Malta, and so into their respective Countreys: And upon the Grand Seignior's meeting with a denial of returning them at his re-demand­ing them from the Seigniory of Venice, they at the Port first mediated the War against that Republick, which afterwards occasi­oned the loss of Candia,

During these Occurrences, the Tartars making an Invasion into Poland, were ren­countred [Page 163]by a Parry of that Country, who killed 10000 of them upon the place, forced many from Captivity, recovered a great Booty; and sent the rest Naked in­to their own Country.

Ragotski, Prince of Transilvania, and the Turks fomenting a Rebellion in Austria and Hungary, had 6000 of their men cut off by the Imperialists; which forced the Turks to come to a Peace.

In the mean while all imaginable Pre­parations were making for a War, at the Port; the Design as they gave out, being on­ly upon Malta; but indeed the whole Storm was to fall upon Candia, and other the Do­minions of the Seigniory of Venice: For, notwithstanding all the specious pretences of the Ottomans to lull asleep the fears of the Venetians, and damp their Preparations; a Turkish Fleet of 100 Gallies, and 50 great Ships, with 300 Saicks, having on board an Army which consisted of 7000 Janizaries, 14000 Spahees, 50000 Timariots, 3000 Pioneers, which they landed in Candia; and now the mask being off, a War was Pro­claimed at the same time at Constantinople; now before the Venetians could bring such Troops into the Field, as might be capable to make head against so Formidable a Pow­er, the Turks had spoiled a great part of the [Page 164]Island; taken Canea the second City of im­portance, as also Retimo; nevertheless th [...] Venetians were not idle; their Fleet ha [...] the advantage over the Turks in severa [...] Rencounters, lying before the Dardanells and braving all the Ottoman Naval Forces tho' some time after several of their men of War were Shipwrackt, and the damag [...] sustained by that Storm was very great However the Venetian Forces in Dalmatia under General Foscolo were very successful he Defeating the Ottoman Troops, tho' very numerous, re-taking the Towns they had surprized, and utterly driving them out o [...] the Country.

During these Transactions, Ibrahim pur­sued his Pleasures with as much eagerness as ever, being wholly guided by a Bawd o [...] Wench, who in the nature of a Bawd or Pro­curer, went from Bath to Bath to take a view of the Ladies; and enquiring out the Dwellings of the most Charming, she re­commended them to her Sovereign, who was forthwith enamoured upon her prai­sing their Beauty; and had them immedi­ately conveyed to his Bed, either by fair means, or by force; he would also have ra­vished a Sultaness, Widow to his Brother Morat Deceased; but she defended her self by a Dagger, and found the means to [Page 165]avoid his pursuits for the future; Then his [...]rocurer casting an eye upon the Daughter [...]f the Mufti, a young person infinitely [...]eautiful; she represented her so Charm­ [...]g to the Amorous Ibrahim, that he re­ [...]lved to possess her, let what would come [...]t, but thought it Prudence at first, consi­ [...]ring the Mufti's Power, to try if fair [...]eans could prevail with him to deliver [...] up his Daughter; cajoling him with [...]esents and Caresses; but that not succeed­ [...]g, he treated him with Scorn and Neglect, [...]ishing him the Court, and caused the [...]and Vizier to seize on her by force, and [...]ng her to his Bed; and after some days [...]oyment, her continual Tears, Sullenness [...] Reluctancy much abating the pleasure expected, he sent her home again to her [...]her; this workt the Mufti's anger to [...] highest pitch of resentment, resolving [...]n Revenge; and to that purpose Con­ [...]ing with Mahomet Bashaw, a principal [...]ber of the Divan, and the Aga of the [...]izaries, both Enemies to the Grand Vi­ [...]; they concluded first on this Principal [...]isters Destruction; whom accordingly Mutiny of the Janizaries, they caused [...]e Strangled; and having also drawn in Queen Mother into the Conspiracy, in [...]s the whole management of Affairs [Page 166]would devolve upon her, she consented t [...] her Sons Deposition; whereupon they cau­sed the Janizaries to mutiny again; wh [...] demanded of the Mufti, Whether accord­ing to their Law, Ibrahim as a Fool, Tyran and one unfit to sway the Ottoman Scepte [...] ought not to be Deposed? which being r [...] ­solved in the Affirmative, the Grand Sci [...] ­nior was summoned to appear before t [...] Divan; which Summons was seconded [...] a Festa; which is a point of Law resolv [...] by the Mufti, That the Grand Seignior c [...] ­ [...]led to account, is obliged to appear befo [...] the Justice; but though he disdained [...] Festa, threatned the Mufti's Head; [...] Tumults encreased to such a degree, T [...] Ibrahim lost all Courage, and fled to [...] Mother for Protection; but the Soldi [...] took him and committed him Prisone [...] the very same hole from whence he was vanced to the Empire: After which t [...] took his eldest Son Mahomet, and pla [...] him upon the Throne, Proclaiming him [...] ­perour with great acclamations, which ming to Ibrahim's Ears, he grew impact and with sad Lamentations beat his [...] against the Wall, till at length, to put a to his Fury, four Mutes were sent to stra [...] him, which on the 17 of August 1 [...] they accordingly performed.

Sultan Ibrahim being thus taken off in 1648. in the 8 year of his Reign, and the 39 of his Age, the Government was committed into the hands of the Grand Vizier and the Queen Mother, called by the Turks Kio­sim, and of twelve Bashaws, who were to have the whole management of affairs, during Sultan Mabomet's minority.

CHAP. VII. The Reign of Sultan Mehmet, or Ma­homet the Fourth, Thirteenth Em­perour of the Turks.

SƲltan Ibrahim perishing in this manner by the Cabals of the Mufti, and the mutinous violence of the Soldiery; his Son Mehmet or Mahomet being a Child of se­ven years of Age, succeeded in the Throne; during whose minority, (which was to continue for the space of two years longer,) his Mother who was the first Sultana assisted with the Council of Twelve Bashaws, took upon her self the [Page 168]Regency; and their first Resolution was, That the War against the Venetians should be continued, though Ibrahim a little be­fore his Deposition, was far advanced in a Treaty of Peace with that State. Now the Spahees not having the usual Presents bestowed amongst them as was Customary at the Coronation of an Emperour, fell in­to Mutinies and Disputes with the Janiza­ries; insomuch that they had frequent Disputes and Rencounters in the Streets of Constantinople, wherein many were slain [...] but the Spahees came ever so much by the [...]st, that they were compelled to aban­d [...] that Town.

In the mean, while the Venetians had the Opportunity by the means of these Animosities, to provide for a War which they saw was inevitable, from th [...] Imprisonment, nay, and worse usage o [...] their Ambassador; and the Strangling o [...] his Interpreter; which Barbarity is com­monly committed by the Turks upon suc [...] persons, that others being thus Terrified may not dare to tell them their own; s [...] that they often mince, or wholly alte [...] the sense or meaning of their Masters o [...] those occasions, when words are spoke [...] by them, ungrateful to the Turks.

The Breach thus growing daily great­er between the Turks and the Venetians, the warlike Preparations on both sides were hastened with all possible Diligence; several Rencounters the two Nations had, as well at Land as Sea: but tho the Ve­netians blocked up the Dardanells, yet the Turks conveyed great Succors to their Forces in Candia, where their Affairs standing in good terms, they adventured to besiege the City of Candia, and batter­ing it with many Pieces of Ordinance, they at length took a small Fort that flanked it, and put the City in great dan­ger; when there arrived six Gallies of Malta with 600 Volunteers, and 60 Knights of the Order, who beat out the Turks with great slaughter; and after ob­stinate Disputes on both sides, th [...] Turks were constrained shamefully to [...] the Siege.

During these Transactions, the Divi­sions amongst the Souldiery growing greater, insomuch that the Governour to appease them was forced to sacrifice the Grand Vizier to them, whom they exe­cuted, yet the Disorders were grown to that height in Asia, that this was not pre­valent enough to make them lay down their Arms, but on the contrary, the [Page 170] Bassa was denied to pay in the Tribute of their Provinces, alledging they would reserve it untill the Grand Seignior was of Age, and then be accountable to him both for Principal and Interests.

No less troublesome were the Cossacks too to the Port, committing Outrages upon the Grand Seignior's Subjects in the very sight of Constantinople. But after they had raised a general Consternation in that great Town, and made the In­habitants afraid it would become a Scene of Plunder and Slaughter, they returned to their old homes, and so freed the Metropolis of the Empire from these Ap­prehensions.

Notwithstanding all these Domestick Broils and Alarums, the Turks seemed re­solutely bent upon the War in Candia; for the carrying on of which, they again fitted out a Fleet of a thousand Ships, Gallies, Galliasses, Saiques, Brigantines, and lesser Vessels, provided with Bombes, Mortarpieces, and Fire Works producing strange effects: and having strict Orders to fight the Venetian Fleet, they engaged and fought with great Obstinacy and Resolution; but the Venetians being the better Seamen, broke and disordered their Luge Armado, took and sunk seve­ral [Page 171]Gallies, and put the rest to Flight, the Bashaw of Anatolia being slain in one of them, who was sent to succeed Chusa­din, Bashaw General of the Forces in Can­dia, who had been made Vizier. Never­theless, this great Fleet of Turks over­powering to such degree as to numbers, that of the Venetians they rendezvouzed again out of the several Ports they had sheltered themselves, with a resolution to recover the honour they had so shame­fully lost in the last Engagement: Thus being met out of their several Harbours, they ranged their Fleet in the Form of a Crescent, and the signal for the Battel being given with much greater fury and obstinacy than the former: But notwith­standing that the Turks fought with as great Bravery as possible, yet the Veneti­ans plied them so with thundering shot and Fire-works, that they were put to the worst, and the Venetians pur­suing their advantage they took 39 Gal­leys, 23 Ships, three Galliasses, and three thousand Souldiers, forty Galleys, Ships, and other Vessels, were burnt and sunk, and in them, by the great and small shot, 900. Turks perished in both En­gagements, the rest, with much ado, esca­ping to Naxos.

This discouraged extremely the Turks, and created some confusion in their Coun­cils, and what added to the troubles, were the News which came that the Peo­ple of Grand Cairo and Damascus had ta­ken the opportunity of the Civil and Domestick Broils, to throw off the Otto­man yoke, and assembling to forty thou­sand, had possessed themselves of seve­ral Fortresses and strong Places, the Tur­kish Governours conniving at these Pro­ceedings, as looking upon the Empire on the point to fall to pieces, which they thought to take advantage of and shift every one for himself. Thus the Turkish Councils were wholly taken up in contri­ving of means to put a stop to these Com­bustions, giving in the mean while the Candiotts time to fortifie their City after such a manner as that it afterwards be­came the Wonder of the World. This the Turks were sensible of, and therefore by fine Words would fain have cajoled the Venetians out of Candy: but they-un­derstood the Posture of their own and their Enemies Affairs too well to comply with the Turks Conditions: wherefore they commanded their Admiral to block up the Dardanells, which he accordingly did; so that the Ottoman Fleet under their [Page 173]Captain Bashaw durst not venture through; for which he being displaced and strangled, the Bashaw of Buda was constituted Captain General in his stead: and having rigged out a new Navy, this Admiral desirous to perform some Ex­ploit that might render him worthy of his place, took his Advantage, broke through the Venetian Fleet, but therein sustained such damage that he had little cause to boast, for the Venetians pursued him to the very Harbours mouth, plyed him so with thundring Shot, that seven­teen of his Gallies were sunk and taken, and four thousand of his Men killed; yet he put twelve thousand Men on shore, and what Provision he could spare, re­ceiving Order to return when he had re­paired his Damages, tho at the hazard of a Battel. But the Venetians having notice of his Intentions, stood continually on their Guard; nevertheless he made a shift to represent his own Exploits in such colours, that he caused the General of the Forces in Candia's Head to be taken off that he might have his Place, which he accordingly obtained, as also that of the Grand Vizier, but soon after was for­ced to resign this latter to the Bashaw of Aleppo, a stirring and active Man; who, [Page 174]after he had made such a Remove of the Officers at Court as he thought conveni­ent, sent to all the Maritime Ports to fit out, with all Expedition, such Ships and Galleys as were fit for Service, determi­ning to set forth a Fleet greater than what had for many years before been seen in the Levant; which was accordingly per­formed, but with the same Success with those which had been formerly fitted out: for, most of the principal Gallies and Men of War of the Ottoman Fleet were so rent by the Canon of the Venetians, chat for the future they were rendred un­serviceable, many falling into the hands of the Venetians, the Turks abandoning their Ships, and flying to the Shore, no longer daring to make head against them.

These ill Tidings first raised a general Consternation, and then such a horrible storm of Mutiny and Sedition at Constan­tinople, as constrained the Grandees of the Council to quit, for the present, all Thoughts of providing for War against the Enemy, that they might defend and sure themselves from the fury of their own People; for the Spahees and Jani­zaries joyning together, pretended to re­form the Abuses of the State: to perform which, in a furious Tumult, putting [Page 175]themselves in Arms, they ran to the Di­van, where they deposed the Grand Vi­zier, and discharged divers other Offi­cers of their Employment, the Mufti was constrained to fly to Jerusalem; and the Queen-Mother scarce remained secure in her own Seraglio; and to so great a height their Rebellion proceeded, that they pur­posed even to dethrone the Grand Seigni­or himself. And having thus cast off all Respect; they entred the Imperial Pa­lace, and forcing the Guards, broke up the Treasury, and carried two Millions from thence. Nor did the Merchants Shops and Warehouses escape plunder­ing in this general Disorder.

In the mean while the Seditionaries having raised a base Fellow to the Grand Viziership, as soon as this Storm was a little over, he was handsomly laid aside, and one Kuperlee, a man of great Expe­rience and Understanding, placed in his stead.

But notwithstanding these Domestick troubles, the Turks were so absolutely bent upon having Candia, that they con­tinued to make all the Preparations ima­ginable for the vigorous prosecution of that War, and for that purpose equipped another Fleet to Sea in the Year 1646, [Page 176]consisting of 60 light Gallies, 28 Ships, and 9 Galleasses; and tho the Venetians lay at the mouth of the Dardanelli with no more than 29 Gallies with some Boats and Brigantines, and that the Turks had fortified themselves with Batteries on the shore, yet coming to an Engage­ment, the Venetians had so absolute a Victory, that excepting fourteen Gallies which escaped with the Captain Bashaw, and 4 Gallies of the Beyes, all the whole Pleet was either taken, sunk, or burnt. The Venetians nothing able to man all the Vessels they had taken, set many of them on fire in the night, excepting on­ly twelve Gallies, four Ships, and two Galeassies, which they reserved for a de­monstration of their Victory. With this glorious Success 5000 poor Christians ob­tained their freedom, tho in all this Acti­on the Venetians had but 300 men in all killed and wounded. The Venetians in prosecution of this Victory, attached the Island of Tenedos, and became Masters of it in the space of two dayes; as also in a short while after, of Salimene ancient­ly called Lemnos, which shameful losses irritated the mind of the Grand Seignior to that degree, that he resolved the next Summer in Person to carry the War into [Page 177] Dalmatia; tho this Resolution was after­wards changed, by reason of the Discon­tents at home, and the Fears of an Inva­sion from the Persian and Muscovits a­broad.

1657 was only remarkable for the recovery of Tenedos and Lemnos by the Turks.

1658 for the Rebellion of the Bashaw of Aleppo, who with an Army of forty thousand Men, declared he would re­venge the Death of his Brother, who had been put to Death by order of the Port. This Bashaw grew at length so formida­ble by his Defeating the Grand Visiers Numerous Army, and his joyning with other Rebels, that he gave Umbrage to the City of Constantinople it self, and in all probability would have ruined the Ot­toman Empire, had he not under pretence of a Treaty of a Peace, been separated from his Army, and so strangled by a Minister of the Port, 1659.

1660 was wholly spent in making pre­parations for War, without much Acti­on, but the Year following the Visier marched in the Head of a hundred thou­sand Men into Transylvania where the restless Humour and Ambition of Ragit­ [...]skie had created some Troubles, a [...]ree­score [...] [Page 178]having displaced the old, established a new Prince, and taken in some Towns, finding himself so ill as in no likelihood to reco­ver, he prevailed with the Grand Seignior that his Son should succeed him in the Grand Visiership, who followed his Fa­thers steps in endeavouring to subdue the Souldiery, and extinguish all Arrogance and Faction in the Empire.

Some time before the Grand Visiers Death, so terrible a Plague raged at Con­stantinople that it swept away vast Numbers of People, almost desolated that Town, and constrained the Grand Seignior to be­take him self to Adrianople.

But the Pestilence seizing at length the Grand Seignior, in 1662 returned a­gain to Constantinople, spending the great­est part of his time in Hunting, which he followed to that excess as proved trouble­some and Expensive to his People, for that all the Inhabitants wear summoned whithersoever he came, insomuch that sometimes twenty or thirty thousand Men were appointed to beat the Woods for three or four days, carrying before them the Compass of a whole days Journey, a­bout, inclosing all the tame and wild Beasts, within that Circuit, which on the [...]v of the Scent, the Grand Seignior kills [Page 179]or destroys with Dogs, Guns, or any other way with abundance of noise and Confusion.

But while the Grand Seignior is divert­ing himself with such sort of Pastimes, the Grand Visier endeavours to establish himself by removing his Enemies, which he found no easie matter, having great Antagonists, as the Queen Mother, some of the principal Bashaws, and several of the Grand Seigniors cheifest Favourites; nevertheless his Conduct was attended with such Prudence and Vigour, that he weathered all their Machinations, and maintained himself in his Port.

In the mean time the Troubles conti­nuing in Trainsylvania, great Preparati­ons were making at the Ottoman Court for the carrying on a War in Hungary, and that Province. But while the Turks thoughts were busied in making Provi­sions for that purpose, came tidings to Constantinople that the Turkish Fleet, con­sisting of seventeen Ships, and thirty-seven Saiques bound for Alexandria in Egypt, and convoyed by his Gallyes, which met them at Siro, very rich with Money, were incountred near Rhodes with the Venetian Armates, and such ru­ine and prize made of them, that of three­score [Page 180]Saile, twenty eight Saiques and four▪ Ships were sunk and taken.

Tho this Rencounter created deep Re­sentments in the Grand Seigniors mind, yet it did not direct the Ottoman Designs against Hungary, where the Grand Visier being arrived with a vast Army, sat down before New-husel, which after a close Siege of 43 days and the Loss of 15000 Turks, was delivered up to him upon Capitulation; after which he took Lew­ents and Novigrade, but assaulting Schin­ta was beaten off and forced to a Retreat.

But the Year 1664, was more propi­tious to the Christians, Count Serini, for the Emperour, besieging and recovering several Places, and routing the Turks in divers Rencounters. But at length jea­lousie arising between the Commanders, the Turks took the advantage of it, raised the Siege of Canisia, which the Christians had begirt, took Serins, within view of the Emperours Army. But on the other side the Christians took Nitra, defeated a Body of four. thousand Turks and Tar­tars, recovered Sewa, and tho the Pope in so critical a Juncture recalled the Forces which he had sent to the Emperours As­sistance, which might have proved very injurous to the Affairs of Christendom, [Page 181]yet the Turks having again besieged Sawa [...] with a vast Army, the Imperialists▪ fought them, defeated them absolutly, burnt Burcum, and falling apon the Turks near the River of Rab, they made such Slaughter of them, that on the Turks side were slain that Day Ishmael the late Bashaw of Buda, and Chimacham of Con­stantinople, by a Shot from the Enemy▪ passing the Water; the Spalsula Agase, General of the Spahies; the Janizary Aga, the younger Son of the Tartar Itan, and several other Bashaws; Al [...]begh Ge­neral of Borna, thirty▪ Capugi Bashaws, five and thirty Pages or the Visiers, three hundred of his Guard, five thou­sand Janizaries, three thousand Spahies, fifteen hundred Bosnacks, eight hundred Albarians, six hundred Croats and Hun­garians of the Turks Subjects, two hun­dred and fifty Wallachians and Molda­vians, six hundred Tartars, of Aratibia fifteen hundred, and about four thousand other Asiaticks, from the farthest parts of the Turks Dominions Eastward; so that in all seventeen thousand were slain on the Turks side; besides which were taken sixteen peices of Canon, a hundred and twenty six Colours, with the Standard of the Vizier's Guard, five [Page 182]thousand Cymetars, most of which-were embossed with silver and some beset with Jewels, with many Horses, of which six were sent as a Present to the Visier. Of the Christians were slain about three thousand Men.

These Losses raised Discontents and Seditions amongst the Turkish Souldiery, and both concurred to perswade the Vi­zier to make some Overtures of Peace; and evidencing the reality of his Intenti­ons by his Presents of a Vest of Sable, and a Horse rickly furnished, with which he flattered and caressed the German Re­sident, the Articles were accepted and embraced at Vienna with much Greedi­ness, and the Peace almost concluded and clapped up in a moment to the asto­nishment of the whole World.

And now the Turks began to think again of prosecuting the War in Candia, of the total Subjection whereof the Vi­zier being extreamly ambitious, he made all possible Preparations and Provisions for the carrying it on. Hereupon was an Engagement near Canca, with the loss of many men on both sides. But while the Grand Vizier was making ready to come in Person to Candia with a numerous Ar­my, the Jews were grown mad all over [Page 183] Turkey with the belief that their Messiah was now come, an Impostor called Sab­batai giving himself out to be him; inso­much, that they flocked together with so great a Concourse, as that it was thought fitting to take the Ring-leaders into Cu­stody, and put them to Death. But the pretended Messiah, Sabatai Nevi, turned Mahometan to escape Punishment.

Now, in the Year 1667, does the Grand Vizier pass over in Person into Candia, and having taken a view and surveyed all sides of the City, he laid a formal and close Siege to it. Now were Mines daily fired on both sides, and Sallies as frequently made, to the great Slaughter of Men and the Destruction of their Works; and notwithstanding that Winter came on, yet the Turks ha­ving gained Ground, continued the Siege tho the Extremity of the Season put some Cessation to Action.

The Year 1668 was ushered in by a Fight at Sea, both to the Honour and Advantage of the Venetians. In the mean while the Marquess de Villa, Go­vernour of Candia, being recalled by his Sovereign the Duke of Savoy, he was succeeded, in that Command, by the Marquess de St. Andrew Montbrun, who [Page 184]wanted nothing of the Vigilance and Circumspection of his Predecessor, pas­sing whole months without uncloathing himself; and as his Nights were without Sleep, so he consumed the Nights with­out Repose, applying himself personally to Places where was the most Danger. The Turks now approaching and pressing the Town daily more and more closely, so were the Skirmishes and Sallies more frequent and bloody: the Venetians by a Mine overthrew a Battery of the Turks: the French in a Sally slew vast numbers of the Infidels, but lost themselves a hun­dred and twenty Gentlemen in that Acti­on. The Lunenburghers too made seve­ral successful Sallies under Count Walde [...]k, who, exposing himself to all Dangers, re­ceived the Wounds whereof he died. The Turks on the other side stormed three Bastions at once, but were valiant­ly repressed by the Christians, and with great Slaughter.

In the mean while the Succours sent by his most Christian Majesty arrived in Candy; whereupon, a general Sally was made, and the Christians carried all be­fore them, untill that a Magizine of Powder, by chance taking Fire, it put them into Confusion; insomuch they [Page 185]were forced to retreat into the Town with great loss; and some Sallies more being made by the French with the like Slaugh­ter of their own Men. And now seeing that the Place was hardly any longer te­nable, they resolved to return into France, notwithstanding the earnest En­treaties of the Venetians to the contrary: Who being discouraged by their depar­ture, and the Turks animated, they be­gan to think of Capitulating with the Vizier: A Treaty was accordingly con­cluded, and the place delivered up on the 27th of Sept. 1669. and this after it had maintained the War from the year 1645.

In the year 1670. Count Serini, Prince of Croatia, the Marquis Frangipani, and Count Nadasti, joyning with other No­bles of Hungary, sent Messengers to the Grand Vizier at Candia, offering them­selves Subjects and Tributaries to the Turks, desiring his Protection of their Religion and Liberties.

In the mean while the Grand Seignior spent his time wholly in Hunting, and in the Company of the Sultana, of whom having had a Son, he was so enamour­ed, that he could not be absent from her in the least, no more than she from him.

During these transactions, and after, loss of Candia, and the Grand Vizier's return to Adrianople, the common place of residence of the Grand Seignior; who has ever had an aversion for Constanti­nople; Commissioners were appointed, and met upon the Frontiers, for the treating of a Peace between the Port and the Republick of Venice. The Hunga­rian Malecontents having sent Depu­puties to the Grand Seignior, to implore his Protection, which by reason of the desperateness of their affairs, was at that time refused them. Many wondred that the House of Serini, that had afforded such Valiant Champions for Christiani­ty, should Apostatize, and submit them­selves to the Infidels. But the Neglects and Affronts undeservedly cast on Nicholas Se­rini, during the late War, by the Mini­of the Imperial Court, and the Con­tempt and Scorn put on the Groatian and Hungarian Nobility, was supposed to have fired the hot and ambitious Spi­rits of those persons, who could more easily endure the slavery of the Turkish yoak, than condescend to the Govern­ment and Prevalency of a contrary par­ty. Hence was the source of the present War in Hungary, which we will leave [Page 187]for a while, to speak of that which the Turks did meditate against Poland in 1672. it being requisite for the Intestine Tranquillity of the Ottoman Empire, that they have always their forces em­ployed in a foreign War, and the Turks upon the more inclinable to one with Poland, both in regard of the ancient and inveterate Hatred they have con­ceived against that Kingdom, through the valiant opposition and successful re­pulses it alwayes made against the vari­ous attempts or the Turks, and the haugh­ty Conduct of the Polish Ambassadour, then Resident at the Port, between whose Ministers and that Person was a great misunderstanding. Hereupon followed an Invasion of Poland, in the year 1672, by the Grand Seignior, with an Army of an hundred and fifty thousand men, and beginning his Enterprize with an Attach upon Caminieck, he had it, after eleven dayes, surrendred to him, notwithstand­ing that it had formerly been looked up­on as an impregnable Fortress. After which, the Turks extended their Con­quests as far as they pleased, meeting with no opposition; the Poles being at Dissen­tion among themselves, finding there was no resiststing this Torrent, concluded a [Page 188]Peace with the Ottomans upon these terms;

That the King of Poland should quit all claim to Ʋkrain, Podolia, and Rus­land.

That for Leopolis, and the Countrey thereabouts, should be paid a Tribute of seventy thousand Dollars a year; all o­ther Capitulations formerly made were to stand in force and vertue.

But the Year following the Poles re­fused to pay their promised Tribute; de­claring, that if they were pressed farther for it, they should be forced to take up Arms in defence of their Honours, Safe­ty, and Privilege of their Dominions. This enraged the Turks to that degree, that Orders were immediately issued out, that all those who eat the Grand Seigni­or's Bread, should, without farther delay, prepare themselves for the War against Poland. Whereupon the Forces march­ed on both sides; but notwithstanding the Grand Seignior's Menaces, the Poles under their General Sobieski, now King of Poland, fell upon the Turkish Camp, under the Command of Chusalin, and other Bashaws, kill'd to about twenty five thousand of their men, with most of their Principal▪ Officers. The Booty too was very considerable; for besides the ordi­nary [Page 189]Baggage, they took two thousand Purses of Money, then newly brought for the payment of the Souldiery, and twenty five thousand Waggons of Pro­visions and Ammunition. Shortly after which, the King of Poland dying, Gene­ral Sobieski was elected in his stead, and now reigneth:

During these Occurrences, the Maltese and Signiorese Corsairs meeting with the Alexandria Fleet, they attacked them, and took four Gallions and two Saicks, being a Prize of inestimable value.

About the same time the Malecontents in Hungary renewed their Petitions to the Turks for their assistance.

As for Action, there was little passed, the Grand Seignior dedicating the Year 1675 wholly to Mirth and Jollitry upon the account of the Circumcision of his Son. In 1676 the Grand Vizier Achmet died, in the forty seventh Year of his Age, and fifteenth Year and eighth Day of his Government, after he had upon every Expedition, enlarged the Bounds of he Empire, overcome New-hasel or Oy­war, and annexed to it a considerable part of Hungary, concluded the War with Venice after twenty seven years Continu­ance, by an entire and total Subjection of [Page 190]the Island of Candia, won Kamenite the Key of Poland, and laid the Ʋkrain to the Empire.

In the mean while the Bashaw of Grand Cairo having laid too heavy Taxes upon the People, they broke out into a Rebel­lion, assaulted the Bashaw, and commit­ted him to Prison; but means were quick­ly found by the Ottoman Court to appease the People, which was chiefly brough [...] about by removing the Bashaw to the Government of Candia.

The Grand Vizier being dead, the Sea was given to Kara Mustapha, Bashaw who for many Years had exercised the Office of Chimacam, or Deputy to the Great Vizier, being a Man of courteous Behaviour, wise and affable, not given to Avarice, nor of a cruel Disposition▪ but immediately after his Promotion he sent to the deceased Visier's Servants to condole the Death of their Master, with Assurances▪ he would take them into hi [...] Care and Protection; and accordingly advanced them to great Promotions. He ushered in his Government by Actions o [...] Justice upon several Transgressors, cut­ting off the Pay-master's Head for bring­ing false Money into the Exchequer, and displacing and deposing such Ministers a [...] [Page 191]he had found corrupted or remiss in their Duty. But his carriage towards Foreign Ministers was arrogant and intolerable, refusing the French Ambassadour to have his Stool upon the Sofra at Audience, which occasion'd great. Dispute, and hin­dred Sir John Finch, his Majesty's Am­bassador, then at the Port, from going to Audience, which was offered, though his declining of it was only under pretence of some Indisposition.

During these Transactions there being no prospect of an Accommodation with Poland, great Preparati­ons were made for the carrying on the War. The Tartar Han, by Order from the Port took the Field; but after he had committed many Outrages his Army was routed by a Body of sixteen thousand Turks and Tartars, and he obliged to repass the Neister. The King of Poland too, in another Rencounter, charged [...] Body of the Turks, killing seven thousand of them upon the Spot. After which falling into Podolia, then [...]n Possession of the Ottomans, whom meeting with, he fought, and slew five thousand of them at that Bout; but hearing that the Turks and Tartars, with a [...]umerous Army, had invaded the very Heart of Po­ [...]and, he bent his Forces that way, which though not [...]xceeding six thousand Men, he fought that Army, [...]aving first proclaimed the Name of Jesus thrice, in [...]he Head of his Troops; and in this Battel ninety [...]housand Tartars, Turks, Moldavians, and Walachians, [...]ere slain, seven hundred taken Prisoner, a great [...]ooty recovered; seven hundred being only slain of [...]e Poles side.

These reiterated Losses and the desire the Grand [...]eignior had to possess himself of the rest of Hungary, [Page 192]whose Divisions gave him a prospect of reducing [...] to his Obedience, made way for a Peace; which was accordingly concluded.

In the mean while, the misunderstanding between the Grand Vizier and the French Ambassadour aug­menting daily more and more about the Sofra, he was treated by those Infidels in such manner as in n [...] wise suted with his Character, and the Breach be­came the greater by the Enterprize of Monsieur d [...] Quesne, the French Admiral, at Chio, in the Yea [...] 1680; for the most Christian King being then a [...] Wars with the Tripolins, seven of those Corsairs had taken refuge in the Port of Chio, an Island belong­ing to the Grand Seignior, Monsieur de Quesne reso­lutely entred the Port with his Gallies, and after ha­ving batter'd down a great part of the Castle, and demolished many magnificent Fabricks, he sunk tw [...] of the Ships, took one, and fired the rest, losing i [...] this action but thirty of his men, tho of the Turk [...] above eight hundred were slain and drowned. Upo [...] the arrival of this News at Constantinople, the Frenc [...] Ambassadour was confined, and many of his Servant imprisoned, nor could he obtain his release men [...] with less than three hundred purses of Money, eac [...] purse being accounted five hundred Dollars.

Now tho the Grand Seignior had threatned th [...] Czar of Muscovy with a War, yet his Designs upo [...] Hungary made him think of an accommodation, an [...] accordingly in May 1681, a Truce was conclude [...] for the space of twenty years. Thus were the Turk [...] at full liberty to attend their Affairs in Hungary whereof we will give an Account in the followin [...] present State of that Countrey.