their m◠〈…〉 Hâ—â—uen to the preseruation of their Estates and would force 〈◊〉 to cherish their memorie The Turkish Emperours are neuer crowned with this meâ—it their breeding to the excesse of vices rather than to the continencie of vertue doth not make them capable to know themselues and the excesse of the prosperities of their Empire transports them to pride So as if Heauen suffers them to continue in the Monarchie of the East it is to punish our disorders Their actions doe not only shew their Pride but their Titles speake it more plainly Sâ—lym the First of that Name stiled himselfe Master of all 〈◊〉 â—raignes of the World Behold the Qualities which he did assume Sultan Solym Othoman King of Kings Lord of all Lords Prince of all Princes Sonne and Nephew of God Hee caused it to be written vnder his Portraite the which Solyman the Second his Sonne did 〈◊〉 keepe by his bed side This man was no modester then his Father for if he â—â—th not set downe in his Titles that hee would be the only Prince of the World hee hath often deliuered it in his words By the Soule of my Father said he being in Hungarie at the siege of 〈◊〉 seeing there is but 〈◊〉 God G◠〈…〉 reasonable there should be but one 〈…〉 the inferiour Worlde The rest which haue followed 〈◊〉 â—uccession of the Othoman Estate haue vsed the same vnto our dayes Achmat the First who died in the yeare 1617 treating with the inuiâ—ible Monarch Henry the Great by the meanes of the Seigniour of 〈◊〉 his Embassadour at Constantinople causeth to be set downe in the beginning of the Articles which were sent into France the Titles which follow In the name of God a marke of the high Family of the Othoman Monarches with the beautie greatnesse and splendour thereof so many Countries are conquered and gouerned I who am by the infinite graces of the Iust great and all powerfull Creatour and by the abundance of Miracles of the chiefe of his Prophets Emperour of 〈…〉 Disposer of Crownes to the greatest Pri◠〈…〉 of two most sacred Townes Mequa and Mediâ—â— Protector and Gouernour of the holy 〈…〉 and Africa â—â—ly 〈◊〉 by our 〈…〉 them somewhat longer and his shooes are without buckles and cut in leaues But when hee adornes himselfe to honour with his presence the solemnitie of some great day at the Circumcision of the Princes his Children or to make his entrie into Constantinople his Robes of Cloth of Gold forwith Pearles and great Diamonds giue the Maiestie of his person a glorious lustre This is the glory of such Princes Maiestie consists in Vertue and not in the pompe of Habits A King should rather shew himselfe a King by his 〈◊〉 carriage and his authoritie than by his Robes The Sultana's differ not much in their Habits from their Soueraigne Prince They weare breeches like vnto his and vnder them linings of fine Linnen Their Robes are of the same stuffe and their shooes in like manner They steepe like vnto him in their Linnen lynings and little Cassocks of Silke pinckt which goes little beneath the waste The Prince riseth with the Day and the Morning sees him begin his Prayers after the Turkish manner wherein hee spends halfe an houre After this hee writes asmuch during the which they bring him some cordiall thing which hee takes presently Then reading followes for a whole houre but it is many times without fruit for that hee entertaines the time with fabulous Bookes It is true that some Sultans haue taken delight to read the life of Great Alexander and some others haue caused Aristotle to be expounded vnto them An ignorant Prince is a Pilot without Card or Compasse Alphonso King of Arragon called such Princes by a Name which I forbeare to mention for the reâ—nce I owe to Kings Hauing read if it be a day of Dâ— or of Counsell he giues Audience to the Grand Vizâ—r who come to make report of that which hath beene done and he receiues the veneration of other Officers From thence he descends into his Gardens or walkes contents his eyes with the 〈…〉 Fâ—â—â—es and pleasing Alleâ—eâ— and 〈◊〉 his eares with the 〈◊〉 and â—râ—â—lities of his â—eâ—tres 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 which follow him At his returne hee fals 〈…〉 haue any 〈◊〉 in it or to some other 〈…〉 for Dinner the which is speedily serued Hee neuer spends aboue halfe an houre at the Table from the which hee goes to his Prayers at noone where after his manner hee entertaines the Diuinitie But how variable is humane inconstâ—ncie from this 〈…〉 to the embracings of humanitie and 〈…〉 with his Women for sooâ—â— houres vntill the time of Prayer at Night doth force him to leaue them When 〈…〉 another walke into his Garden 〈…〉 by his 〈◊〉 and Dwarffs he entertaines himselfe with 〈…〉 The last Office calls him to his Chamber it is that which the Turkes say when as the day is spent and in the obscuritie of the night where hee imployes himselfe vntill Supper time These are his imployment iâ— generall Let vs now speake of them in particular CHAP. VI. Of the Grand Seigâ—rs Table of his â—te and of his sleepe THe Grand Seignâ—r eates three or foure times a day in Summer but lesse in Winter He sitâ—es crosse legged after the Turkish manner Most commonly his Table is low made of 〈◊〉 Siluer with a little boâ—der about it two fingers high like vnto a Table of Accompaniâ— which â—ll money There is 〈◊〉 of pure Gold enricht with diuers precious 〈…〉 in the years He 〈…〉 and another vpon his 〈…〉 many leaues made of three 〈…〉 whereof the Graine is gathered 〈…〉 for his 〈◊〉 They 〈…〉 thereof they feed a great troupe 〈…〉 of the Serrail His Cooâ—es are at worke 〈…〉 they 〈…〉 call 〈◊〉 The Essay is taken at the Kitchin in the presence of the Capiaga or Master of the Houshold and they serue it vp in dishes of gold couered His Agalaris or Familiars goe and receiue it at the hands of the Capiaga without For there is another of the same Office within who goes not into the Kitchin hee carries them to him that serues at the Table who is vpon his knee They serue out thirtie Dishes in the which are thirtie forts of meates the Table is round and stands vpon a Vise which turnes as it pleases the Prince for no man carues him neither doth he himselfe vse any Knife his bread is so tender as it will not endure any he breakes it with his fingers without any trouble so doth he his meate prepared with the like delicacie They serue no Salt vnto him and whatsoeuer hee eats is not seasoned with Spices his Physicians forbidding it in the Kitchin The daintiest meat for his royall mouth are roasted Pigeons whereof they serue a dozen in a Capson or Platter Pullets Lambe or Mutton rosted boyled are after the Pigeons which hee loues best Hee makes a signe for at his Table no man speakes any thing that
and rare qualities of the mind haue raised aboue others What entertainment can a great Prince find in such abiect persons and so ill bred and what seruice can hee receiue from a man drawne from the Stable and from the profession of a Horse-keeper or a Coachman from a Huntsman and the bawling of Hounds What contentment from a brutish Faulkoner whilest that Men of merit are in contempt This disorder is sometimes seene in the World yea in the Courts of great Princes to their shame and to the great preiudice of the publique Neere vnto this Chamber is a goodly Librarie where are many Bookes rich for their stately couerings and precious for their workes the immortall markes of the glorie of their Authours This is called the secret Library it is the most renowned of all the Serrail There is another towards their Quarter which serue the Chamber and the Grand Seigneurs Pages filled with a great number of Bookes in all Languages among the which there are to bee seene at this day sixe score Volumes of the ancient Librarie of Great Constantine of an extraordinary bignesse They are aboue a fathome broad and two in length Their leaues are of such thinne Parchment as they seeme rather to be of Silke then Skinnes most part written in letters of Gold especially those which containe the Old and New Testament their couerings are of Siluer gilt after the antique manner set with a great number of precious stones The price without doubt hath preserued them from spoile and ruine where as the rest haue perished by the barbarousnesse of the Turkes who sackt Constantinople in the time of Mahomet the Second The Sultan holds them so precious as he will not allow any one to handle them The number of Gardens in the Serrail are not fewer in number then are delightfull to looke on The Prince hath his the Sultana's theirs and without this Imperiall House there are eighteene planted towardes the Sea whereof the fruites and reuenewes are by the Law of State employed for the entertainment of the Princes Table whereof we will speake elsewhere He which hath the chiefe charge is called Bostangibassi that is to say great Gardiner and is one of the most eminent Dignities of the Empire he is many times much affected by his Master and feared by the other Bashaes to whom hee may doe good and bad Offices with the Prince when hee gouernes him alone in his walkes and entertaines him in affaires of Estate Two Mosquees serue in the Serraile for their Deuotion The one is towardes that Quarter where the Prince and his Officers lodge and the other is neere the Lodging of the women and their slaues And although the Turkes will not admit of the vse of Bells yet there are a great number of little Clockes in the Serrail which strike the houres both by day and night The Grand Seigneurs Pages are instructed to keepe them and most part of the men of qualitie in the Serrail and likewise the women haue little Watches whereof they make vse This is all that can be written of the Grand Seigneurs Serrail at the least that can come vnto the knowledge of Christians to whom the entrie vnlesse it be vpon the dayes of Diuan is expresly forbidden and the inward parts of this Imperiall House whereof wee haue spoken may not be seene by them vnlesse the Prince be absent and yet hee must haue some particular friendship with the Officers of the Serrail and monie in his hand the which doth not only open them the closest Gates in Turkie but doth facilitate the most difficult affaires through the auarice of the Turkes to the which all their other passions seeme to yeeld Let vs come now to the Grand Seigneurs Exercises to his manner of liuing to the number of his Officers and other particularities of his Crowne But let vs begin by his Coronation CHAP. III. Of the Coronation of the Turkish Emperour AFter that death who strikes with an equall hand aswell the stately Pallaces of Kings as poore Cottages couered with straw hath taken out of this World some Turkish Emperour he of his Children which is destinated to the succession of his Scepter parts from the gouernment whither his Father had sent him the which most commonly is Magnesia a Prouince in Asia and comes secretly to Constantinople and into the Serrail by that Port which lookes towards the Sea for the passage whereof the Bostangibassi which is the great Gardiner goes to receiue him in the Imperiall Galley vpon the side of Asia passeth the straight conducts him into the Serrail and leads him into his Fathers Throne whither the great men of the Port that is to say of the Court for so they call it come to adore him and to acknowledge him for their Prince Presently the Basha which is Gouernour of Constantinople causeth Proclamation to be made in the Citie then throughout all the Empire That the Soule of the inuincible Emperour Sultan N. enioyes an immortall Glorie and an eternall Peace and that the Empire of Sultan N. may flourish and prosper in all felicitie for many yeares The third day after they hold the great Diuan which is the generall Councell where as all the great Men of the Court and Officers of the Crowne assist and resolue concerning the affaires of the Estate The Emperour doth not assist yet he is in a Chamber neere and sees but is not seâ—ne and heares through a Lattice window what they treat of and what they say At the end of the Diuan all these Officers goe by foure and foure or by sixe and sixe into the Chamber where the Sultan is and there without speaking any thing make a low reuerence and so passe on going forth to another doore They returne to the Diuan where as Dinner attends them The Sultan dines at the same time and after halfe an houre which is all the time he spends at the Table he mounts vpon a stately Horse being followed by the chiefe Commanders of the Warre hee shewes himselfe to his people of Constantinople and receiues from them their cryes and acclamations of Ioy which are Liue and long may Sultan N. Raigne Hee goes to some Mosquee where his Predecessours haue beene buried Hee makes his prayers which being ended one of the twentie Preachers of his Court goes into the Pulpit and by a short discourse giues him to vnderstand after the Turkish manner the greatnesse of the charge whereunto God hath called him exhorts him to haue a care of his Estate and especially to the maintenance and increase of Mahomets Law The Sermon being ended the same Priest doth blesse him seuen times and at euery time the people answere Amen At the same time the Moufti or high Priest of the Law who is present makes him to take the Oath vpon the Alcoran Girds him with the Sword which in old time Ottoman did weare and blessing him sayes these wordes God send you Ottomans Bountie They doe so much honour the
commerce of his Loues Carrying with him close Coaches full of his faire Sultana's as we haue said else-where with whom he spends the best of his dayes and abandons all noble exercises more worthy of a Prince to enjoy their charming company Thus these women detaine him possesse him and diuert him from vertue In this sense an Ancient had reason to say That if the World were without Women Men should conuerse with the Gods This must be vnderstood of vitious women and not of those that loue vertue the which is to be esteemed and embraced in what subiect soeuer it be found Chap. XII Of the Grand Seigneurs Sisters and his other Kinswomen and of the Marriages of his Daughters THe Turkish Emperours Sisters lodge and liue in the old Serrail their Quarters are distinct from the other women furnished according to their Qualities Pleasures and continuall delights are their ordinary entertainment In the which they attend vntill the Sultan giues them in Marriage to some of his great Bashaes When that happens they goe out of that place with their rich Stuffe their Coffers full of Iewels and their slaues to serue them to the number of fiftie or threescore besides those which their Husbands adde vnto them who are bound to furnish them with a traine fit for their Qualities and to make them a rich Dowrie according to the custome of the Turkes where the Men endow their Wiues at the least with fiue hundred thousand Sultanins which are two Millions of Liuers with the great expences hee makes in presents of precious stones The Prince their Brother continues the same pensions they formerly had and augments them thirtie six charges of money yeerely to buy them Pattins saith the custome of the Empire the Husbands which marrie such wiues verifie this truth to their losse that a great inequalitie in Marriage doth many times breed a contempt the authoritie of the House fals then vnto the Distaffe they command them they call them their slaues they doe them good or harme according to the satisfaction they receiued from them and when the 〈◊〉 giues way they repudiate them to take others better to their liking and many times make them to lose their liues So for a signe of the insolencie of their power ouer their Husbands they weare at their sides a Cartar which is a little Poniard inricht with precious stones If the Marriage continue equally to the death of the one or the other the husband must arme his spirit with an extraordinary patience to indure the imperfections of a wife who knowes that all things are lawfull for her and who is not restrained by the loue of any vertue within the bounds of a commandable Modestie The Bashaes auoid as much as they can the vexations of this Royall Alliance which is bought by their seruitude entertained with great charges and many times ends with their bloud They seldome imbrace it if the Princes commandement doe not force them Such women haue libertie by the fauour of the Sultan their brother to go when they please vnto the Serrail of Sultanan's and to visit him in like manner The Grand Seigneurs Aunts and his other Kinswomen liue also in the old Serrail with a traine fit for their conditions The Princes Mother is in like manner lodged there she is often visited by her Sonne hee honours her and supplies her with all the things she can desire she hath leaue to goe to the Imperiall Serrail to see him when she pleases and if hee fals sicke she parts not from his Beds side where as naturall loue makes her imploy all her care for the recouery of his health The Princesses Daughters to the Sultan are bred vp neere their Mothers vntill they bee married to such great Men of his Court as shall please him so as he be a Renegado or taken out of the Children of the Tribute which they leuy vpon the Christians or some other which hath abandoned the Law of Iesus Christ to follow that of Mahomet These Marriages are made when as these Royall Daughters haue attained the age of eighteene yeares with a magnificence and pompe worthy of the Orthoman House The thirtieth of Iune 1612 was famous for the like Solemnitie when as the Emperour Achmat gaue his eldest Daughter to Mahomet Bassa Captaine of the Sea It is here briefly described according vnto the order which was then in Constantinople The day before the Consummation of this Marriage the Moueables and Iewels of the Spouse which we call the trusse or bundle were carried from the Serrail to the Bridegroomes Lodging Before it marcht fiue hundred Ianizaries on foot of the Gallantest Men in all their Regiment The high Prouost of Constantinople and the Grand Vizir follow on horsebace in rich Robes of Cloth of Gold The Aga or Colonell of the Ianizaries came alone after them vpon a Turkish Horse of great price Two hundred Men of Qualitie mounted and stately attired followed with a gentle pace the Talismans Alfaquis Santons Emirs Seriphes and other men of Mahomets Clergie marcht after with the puft vp grauitie of their condition About fiue and twentie paces off came Ameth Bassa Taftardar or high Treasurer chosen by the Emperour to be Sag◠or Father to the Bride in rich Robes mounted vpon a Horse with a royall Caparison hauing about him twelue Foot men he conducted these precious Moueables or this Royall bundle which had in the head of it Musique on horsebacke of Hobbies and Drummes after the Turkish manner It was distinguished into seuen and twenty Presents diuersly carried by seuen and twenty Men. The first was a little Hatte of Massiue Gold couered with rich stones The second was a paire of Pattins after the Turkish manner also of pure Gold enricht with Turquoises and Rubies The third a Booke of Mahomets Law the couering whereof was of massiue Gold set with Diamonds The fourth vnto the sixt was three paire of Bracelets of Gold and precious stones The seuenth and eighth two great Bodkins of Diamonds The ninth a little Cofer of Chrystall of the Rocke with the corners of Gold halfe a yard high and halfe as broad in the which were seene great Diamonds and huge Pearles of the value of eight hundred thousand Liuers The tenth vnto the fifteenth were six Smocks imbroydered with Gold and stones The sixteenth to the one and twentieth were six head-bands for her forehead of the same stuffe and as rich The two and twentieth vnto the seuen and twentieth were sixe stately Robes of Cloth of Gold richly set with Pearles and Diamonds After these Presents followed eleuen Chariots full of young Virgins slaues to serue the Bride they were couered and close and either of them accompanied or rather guarded by two blacke Eunuches Twentie other Virgins slaues followed on horsebacke and so many blacke Eunuches richly attired and mounted in like manner accompanied them After all this marched a hundred and forty Moyles laden with Tapestrie hangings of Cloth of Gold of
them who were wonderful faire and attired with great aduantage to 〈…〉 They couer their heads with many 〈…〉 Gold wretched with their haire which they suffer to hang downe vnto their girdles and they artificially make two little hornes of haâ—re enricht with Pearle and precious stones the which fall vpon their faire fore-heade They made the Bâ—itana's to enuy them who beheld them and admired their grace thorow their â—aâ—tice windowes Persia hath alwayes had the glorie to haue had the fairest women in the World The Daughters of Cyrus and the Wife of King Darius had so many â—râ—mentâ— in their beautifull countenances as Alexander durst not looke on them fearing to be vanquished and Roxanâ— although of â—ase condition was found so beautifull as she deserued the honour to be wise vnto the great Prince The Turkish women enter not into comparison with the Persians for beautie to whom they yeeld it and they say that their Prophet Mahomet would neuer got into Persia and when they demanded the reason his answers was that the women 〈◊〉 so beautifull courtesie and friendship that which the others brought for tribute Hee gaue hi◠〈◊〉 fâ—ly Clocke of 〈◊〉 which strooke the houres melodiously in Musique by length and twentie Bels of siluer and with it thirtie pâ—ks of Scaâ—her The Bailiffe of Venice proseâ—dâ— Cupboard of siluer plaâ—e the one hâ— fragile and the other white sixe great Bayâ—es of siluer to draw water ten peeces of Cloth of Gold ten of Silke Sattin and Veluet and twentie of Scarlet The Polonian brought 〈◊〉 â—ter whose 〈◊〉 and scabbaâ— was all couered with precious flower He of Ragusa geue fifteâ—ne goodly Cups of siluer many Tapetâ— of white Waâ—â— which the Turkes esteeme and some peece of Scarlet The Persian presented two â—oâ—anâ— and some other Bookes of Muhamâ—a Larvâ— couered without 〈◊〉 Gold many Persian 〈…〉 silkâ— and a good iâ—â—her of grâ—â—t 〈◊〉 Thâ— Embassadour of Tâ—rtâ— gaue many skins of Saâ—es and other exquisite Pâ— of great price All the rest tâ—e their Presents according to the order and rancke of the Princes 〈◊〉 Mâ—â—â—thâ—â— They 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 loue and the rigours of 〈…〉 â—dered this 〈◊〉 yet they did celebrate the First in those goodly places 〈◊〉 they are 〈◊〉 For the 〈…〉 the Grand â—gâ—s Câ—â—blâ—câ— made Piâ—y to 〈…〉 Serrail where the 〈…〉 rich Presents and gaâ— another time vnto the Sâ— Asâ—â—hi that is to say crowned whom we haue lodged 〈◊〉 him in the Pâ—lâ— of 〈◊〉 Bassa a Crowne of 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 brought 〈…〉 all made of Sugar presented to the life of the 〈…〉 proportion they ought to be of as Camels Lions Elephants Tygers and many 〈◊〉 The Embassadours had their p◠〈…〉 were 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 This was 〈…〉 〈…〉 The Mufti who is the high Priest of the Turkish Law opened the beginning he appeared first in the place being Maiestically set in a Tabernacle carried vpon a Camels backe He had a Booke in his hands which hee turned alwayes ouer About him were on foot a great number of Priests and religious Mahometans who held Bookes in like manner But their fantasticke attire did shew plainely the humours of their brutish spirits Some had their heads couered with hoods others with Mitres some with Crownes Many had Robes of beasts skinnes They were no sooner come vnto the place but they made shew of their Religious modestie in whistling howling beating vpon Pans and Basons ringing of little bels which they carried in their hands as a man would say that these testimonies of their zealous deuotion were an insolent jangling at the sound whereof they did leape friske without ceasing In this posture they made three turnes about the place after which they stayed before the Grand Seigneurs window who looked vpon their fooleries There they made their prayers during the which some religious Men of the troupe drew out great Kniues and cut their flesh in diuers parts of their bodies for the leue of the Prophet and of their Sultan The Mufti descended from his Tabernacle entred into the Pallace and made his Presents which consisted in some Bookes of the Law After which he retired with the brutish company of this monstrous Clergie And for that this first troupe was ridiculous that which followed was lamentable They were the two Christian Patriarches the one of the Grecians the other of the Armenians attired in long blacke Copes which are their Patriarchall Robes the true colours of their seruitude and heauinesse They were followed by some Christian Priests Their Gate was pittifull hauing their heads hanging downe in such sort as the Christians that were come thither to laugh found a worthy subiect of weeping seeing the Church captivated to the cruelty of Turkes and the Reuerend Pastors thereof forced to goe and humble themselues at the feet of their Tyrant and Enemy of their Law in a superstitious Ceremony and contrary to their Religion to life their sacred hands vpon him and prostitute vpon his person the grace of their blessings This is the estate whereunto the Diuision of Christians hath reduced them When they came before the Sultan they prayed vnto God with a loud voice to blesse him they presented him with a great Bason of siluer full of peeces of Gold and so returned poorer than they came The Merchants followed to vent without profit the most precious of their Merchandize They were a thousand in a troupe Turkes Christians or Iewes all attired in Robes of Gold and followed by a pleasing band of young men attired like maidens hauing Bowes in their hands and Quiuers at their backes full of golden Arrowes A childish troope of daintie young Boyes like so many Cupids crowned with flowers and holding Darts in their hands drew without any difficultie a Chariot which followed them whereon was set and opened a shop full of Cloth or Gold and Silke with Tapestries of all sorts which they presented to the Sultan and cryed Liue Sultan Amurath The Goldsmiths followed after their decking did shew that they traded in precious Wares They were all couered with precious stones Some of their number drew a rich shop full of Vessels of Gold and Siluer which they gaue vnto the Grand Seigneur A small troupe of other Goldsmiths made a band a part They were those of Baiestan whereof we haue spoken before stately attired The stones and pearles which were vpon their Garments were valued at a Million of gold The Presents which they made were great and rich All the other Tradsmen came in their order and all laboured in their profession The makers of cloth of gold and silke to the number of fiue hundred men well attired caused two Loomes to march with them whereon they made a peece of cloth of gold and another of silke before they had gone thrice about the place The Lace-makers did the like in their kind They were in the midst of many sorts of beasts made of silke which marched with them
they are reasonably exact to yeeld vnto euery man that which is due vnto him The feare of their owne ruine if they had no vertue were sufficient to make the ballance eeuen and straight For the Turkish Princes are accustomed to goe by one of their Chambers vnto a Window only shut vp with a Lattice the which lookes into the Diuan directly ouer the head of the Grand Vizir From thence he heares what is spoken and treated with the complaints of parties and the Decrees of Iudges if iniquitie doe sway the minds and mouths of those to deny vnto the weakest the reliefe which justice doth owe them against the violent oppressions of the Mighty the punishment which hee takes is very exemplary Doubtlesse as the foundations vphold a house so justice is a strong support vnto an Empire without the which it cannot long subsist Kings whose principall office is to yeeld it vnto men ought to cherish it aboue all things It doth aduance them aboue other men and makes them to raigne happily and without it violence drawes all disorders in their Estates troubles them and ruines them in the end They themselues without justice are like vnto those bodies which are troubled with the falling sicknesse whom weaknesse and paine afflicts This diuine vertue should not only be the soule of their Decree but the soule of their soule In justice they shall possesse all the other vertues for it containes them all CHAP. II. Of the Azamoglans or Children of the Tribute of base condition which serue in the Serrail and elsewhere THe Christians labour so profitably to inlarge the Turkes Empire as they not only furnish them with occasions by their wretched diuision but they also breed them vp men which in time are the most generous of their troupes the greatest in their Court and the most triumphant in Townes Christian Prouinces But in this last force and the constraint which these Barbarians vse towards them makes them more excusable than when they abandon the reason and the interests of Christianity to the blind passions of a fatall discord For they see come into their houses thoroughout all Greece or Morea and in the Countrey of Albania a troupe of the Grand Seigneurs Capigis deputed to make the exaction of the richest and the most exquisite Tribute that can be leuied in a Country the which is of men the best proportioned and enricht with the gifts of Nature There they choose the soundest the goodliest and the most actiue of all their Children out of euery three one the which they doe euery third yeere and hauing drawne together aboue two thousand they lead them to Constantinople At their arriuall they attire them all in Robes of Cloth of diuers colours they giue vnto euery one a yellow Cap of Felt like vnto a Sugar-loafe In this Equipage they are led before the Grand Vizir who being accompanied with al the other Bassa's and Ministers of the Serrail he makes choice of those that are most actiue for the war These young men are set apart and conducted into the Serrail by the Bostangibassi or chiefe of the Gardiners and a part of them distributed where they wanted Then they circumcise them being children of Christians they become yong Turks and for an inconstant fortune of the World and of the Court they lose the eternall happinesse of Heauen in the way whereof their first beliefe had directed them They cause them to learne the Turkish Tongue and if their spirits be capable of more to read and write But all indifferently are instructed to wrestle runne leape shoot dart an Azegaye and in all other Exercises which are fit for them which will make profession of Armes The rest of this goodly choice of the young Children of the Tribute is in the power of the Grand Vizir Hee doth lodge them and distribute them diuersly some are sent into the Sultans Gardens and Houses of Pleasure others are put into the Gallions and Vessels at Sea which make Voyages for the Sultana's The Patrons charge themselues and are bound to restore them when they are demanded They place a good number in Artificers shops to learne diuers trades whereof they may serue for a Squadron when they shall be Ianizaries and especially in the time of Warre The Basha's and all the great Men of the Court haue their part They are deliuered vnto them by their Names Countries Markes of their face or elsewhere and by the colour of their haire they binde themselues in writing which is contained in a Booke for that purpose to the end that if the necessitie of the Warre should force the Captaines to fill vp their companies in the place of those that are dead they may take these to that effect But most commonly they giue the rudest and grossest to these Basha's and they imploy them in their Stables Kitchins and other base Offices of their Houses They which remaine of these Azamoglans are sent into diuers Seminaries vnder the conduct of diuers Eunuches which haue the charge and take the care to breed them vp to bee one day capable to beare Armes and to serue in the Warre in qualitie of Ianizaries These Children thus placed the Grand Vizir represents them in a Booke to the Grand Seigneur This Prince assignes them an entertainment according to his pleasure and augments the pay which the great custome doth allow them which is of foure or fiue Aâ—pres by the day besides their nourishment and apparell Hee assignes the assignation with his owne hand and sends it by the Vizar to the Testardar to the end he may be carefull to pay it according to the order Hee sees them euery three Moneths and visits them one after another calling them by their names to know the number of those which are dead and to see how they be fed and gouerned But the Azamoglans appointed for the seruice of the Serrail are imployed about base and vile things as the meanest of all those which are of the Royall Family They serue for Labourers in their buildings they imploy them in their Stables Kitchins Gardens to cut wood and to carry it to lead Dogges to the field as their Seruants and to doe whatsoeuer their Superiours command them whereof some haue charge of tens others of hundreds and these are also vnder the authoritie of the Chicaia or Steward of the Bostangibassi the toyle they vndergoe the paines they take and the miseries which they indure make them the most patient men in the World and their Masters instruct them to mortification by most rigorous courses the least fault is rewarded with fiftie blowes with a Cudgell the which are soundly set on But their basenesse is not without honour nor recompence There are charges and eminent Offices among them to the which they succeed by the order of their antiquity and their patience may make them hope and aspire to the place of a steward yea of Bostangibassi to shew that there is nothing so base
full of excellent 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 thridate Balme of Cairo Terra Sigilat◠〈…〉 Bezar-stones Vessels of Agath Turquoises 〈◊〉 Chrystall and other things of price which they 〈…〉 and neatly for the Princes person others haue a care of rare Furres the vse whereof serues for his health with a thousand other Rarities which they bring from the Indies Besides all this there is employment in the Serrail for many other Eunuches which keepe one place whither they carry all the rich moueables confiseated of the great men of the Court who haue beene executed for the enormity of their crimes or by the sinister inuentions of Enuie and likewise of other persons which die rich for being all slaues their goods belong vnto the Prince Those Eunuches receiue these goodly moueables and giue aduice vnto the Sultan who goes to see them and makes choice of what doth like him the rest is set to sale in the Serrail only to the Officers thereof and if there remaine any thing vnbought it is sent to the publique Market of the City and sold to them that will The Money that is raised is deliuered into the hands of the Chasnadar Bassi who puts it into the secret Treasure Some other Eunuches haue for their imployment the charge of other Serrails and Seminaries where the Prince doth cause the youth to be instructed at his Charge as in royall Colledges both at Constantinople Andrinopolis Bursia and elsewhere Thus by the wise Policy of the Serrail they which serue are aduanced for an example to the younger sort to flie idlenesse and assurance that their continuall labour shall be one day crowned with an honourable and profitable recompence CHAP. V. Of many other Officers seruing in the Serrail and the Sultans Person and of the number of Men which serue in this Palace BEsides these Eunuches aduanced to great Offices and those which are vnder them there is a certaine number of other men which do vsually serue the Sultans person Some are Groomes of his Chamber others in a more eminent Dignitie all ordred by thirties as thirty for his Shirt thirty for his Wastcoat thirty for his little Cassocke which the Turkes weare vnder their Robes thirty for his Furres thirty for his Turbant thirty for his Girdle thirty for his Breeches thirty for his Stockings thirty for his Shooes thirty to make his Bed thirty to dresse vp his Chamber and thirty to order and dispose of the Moueables thirty for his Armes as his Bow Arrowes and Semiter thirty for his Scepter thirty for his Imperiall Crowne thirty for his rich Hangings and as many for his Cushions not that they serue all at one instant but by order from time to time They which serue for his Mouth are many in number gouerned by foure principall Officers subordinate one vnto another The first is the Argihassi who hath a care that euery man doe his dutie The second is the Mimmute Pag◠who doth furnish the money daily that is necessary for the expences His place doth giue him a priuiledge to speake often vnto the Prince to learne from him what he desires to eat He hath like vnto the former foure Sultanins by the day his Table and two Robes yearely the one of Silke the other of Cloth of Gold The third is the Checaya an Office like vnto the Comptroller Generall of the Kings House in France he is in a manner equall in authority to the Master of the Houshold he reconciles the Quarrels which Enuy or Pride do breed among the Officers He hath foure Sultanins a day and yearely two Robes of Silke and Cloth of Gold The fourth is the Mutpariazigi which is as a Clarke of the Office All these men imploy their cares and the authoritie of their places in the Princes Kitchin Without there serue many Sahangylers as Stewards or rather Gentlemen seruants which carrie the meate They are neere fifteene hundred men which serue at diuers times in diuers troupes The number of other inferiour Officers in the Serrail shewes that this stately Pallace is of great expences and that the Prince which liues there is powerfull and magnificent The Baltagis which fetch wood for the Bake-house and for other fiting are aboue two hundred The Bostangies or Gardiners are eight or nine hundred so vast and of great entertainment are the Gardens where this great Monarch doth walke The Purueyours only for wilde Fowle or Poulterie are fiue hundred the Groomes of the Stable eight hundred and the other men of the like condition increase the number of the inferiour Officers of the Turkish Emperours house So as they doe number within the Serrail thirteene or fourteene thousand Mouthes which are daily fed at the Sultans charge comprehending the Quarter of the Women CHAP. VI. Of the ordinary Victualls of the Serrail and of the Prouisions thereof for the nourishment of the Prince and of those which serue there AN order being so judiciously established in the Serrail and so exactly obserued it hath not forgotten the necessarie prouision of victuals They are brought and preserued with admirable husbandrie contrarie to the ordinarie confusion of Princes Houses First the Corne is gathered for the Sultans mouth for the Sultana's the great Bassa's and the Mufti for all of them haue their part in the Territory of Bursia a Towne in Bithynia where retaine for the purest and best of all the Easterne parts They retaine for the Serrail eight or nine thousand Quilots euery Quilot is two Bushels of Paris measure The Mils erected to that end in Constantinople grind it the great Ouens of the Serrail bake it into bread and this goodly order distributes it by rule as to the Sultana's twentie Loaues a day to the Bassa's ten to the Mufti eight and to other inferiour persons much lesse and to some but one This distribution is contained in a Book which the chiefe Baker keepes to cause it to be obserued The Corne which is appointed for the great number of men which serue in the Serrail is gathered in Gracia and brought to Constantinople to the quantitie of fortie thousand Quilots and distributed with the like order to those for whom it is ordained For there they feed men with necessarie sobrietie to make them labour seriously in any businesse whatsoeuer The Victuals be it for the Annuall prouisions or for the ordinarie of the day are brought and distributed with the like order About the end of Autumne the Grand Vizir appoints certaine dayes to see the Pastromanis made for the Kitchins of the Sultan and of the Sultana's They are made with the flesh of Cowes that are with Calfe that they may be the more tender they salt them as they doe Stags or Hogs in Christendome about that time they kill to the number of foure thousand The Serrail esteemes this kind of meat among the delicacies of their Feasts and the Turkish Families if they haue any conuenient meanes make likewise their prouision this great store of flesh is for the whole yeere But
a prison and there make him to suffer a shamefull death by the hands of an Executioner hauing drawne Mustapha his Vncle out of Prison again and crowned him the second time Soueraigne Sultan of the Turkish Empire That which is here set downe for true proofs of the authoritie and power of these foure great Bassa's They are not alone in greatnesse although that no man doth equall them in all the Othoman Court There are two Beglierbeys that is to say Lord of Lords the one of Romania or Greece the other of Natolia or Asia the lesse The Nissanzi Bassa or ordinary Chancellour who signes all the Dispatches of the Court three Teftardars which are the high Treasurers thorough whose hands the Reuenewes of the Empire doth passe The Rais Kintap whose charge is to keepe the Books Papers and Records of the Empire Besides these there are many others of lesse consideration Doubtlesse as Whales are in the vast and deepe Seas so great and eminent Dignities are in great Empires and those of Turkey make those which enjoy them to seeme like so many pettie Kings about the person of a great Monarch CHAP. XVII Of the Tymar Tymarriots and Pensioners of the Port. THe Turkes giue two sorts of pay to their Souldiers the one is called in their Language Vlefe ' which is payed daily by the Treasurers of the warre and is the entertainment of ordinary Souldiers The other is called Tymar or pension assigned vpon Houses Lands or whole Burroughes this is not giuen but to men who by their valour haue done some notable seruice to the Prince and deserued well of the publique These Pensions are honourable the recompence of their vertue and the marke of their merit It seemes that the Turkes haue borrowed the name of this recompence from the Gracians who called it Tymarion and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Honour Such Pensioners are called Tymariots they are most commonly Spahis and Horsemen who enjoy the honour and profit of such Pensions taken out of the Lands in Turkey which belonging all vnto the Prince by the right of Soueraigne Master of the persons of all his Subjects who are his slaues he giues them to such as haue made themselues worthy by their good Seruice as they doe with vs the Commanders of Military Order or the Fees or Lands which the Princes haue instituted in our Countries to honour Gentlemen of merit and to binde them to serue them vpon all occasions It is true that the continuance of such fees doth farre exceed that of the Tymar for they passe vnto their Successors and this is temporall and no man is suffered to enioy it any longer than it shall please the giuer If the Spahi be not in his Equipage fit for a Souldier if hee doth not serue with that care and diligence as hee ought the Iudges which the Sultan appoints to visit the Tymar depriue him and recompence another that may serue better so that Tymariots or Pensioners of the Turks Court are not vnprofitable mouthes as in other places there the credit of an insolent Fauourite cannot take them from vertue to giue them to the idlenesse of some one of those which follow him and idolatrize the greatnesse of his fortune CHAP. XVIII Of the Grand SEIGNEVRS Favourites aduanced to the greatnesse of the Empire and of their fall FEw Kings haue beene without Fauourites and what reason were it to 〈◊〉 the most eminent among men from that which is allowed to the most object that is to loue one man aboue all others and to honour him with the effects of their friendship by honours and greatnesse whereof they are the Masters and absolute Disposers Doubtlesse the Soueraigne of Kings who came into the World to teach both Men and Kings perfection hath not denied them this libertie when as he himselfe gaue them an example louing and fauouring aboue the small number of men which were in his Ordinary Court him whom hee thought most worthy of his fauours But few Fauourites haue beene without insolencie whether it be that most Princes are not much carefull to make choice of men whose vertues haue made them worthy of their friendship or that the nature of fauour and honour which follow them be such as it blinds their vnderstanding and puffes vp their spirits with pride This History hauing taken for its principall Subject the Court of the Othoman Monarches it shall seeke no farther for examples of this truth Hibraim Bassa Fauourite to Solyman the Second had attained to the height of greatnesse which hee enjoyed by such degrees He was a Christian borne of a very base extraction at the age of seuen or eight yeeres they which exact the tribute of Christians Children tooke him from his Fathers house and conducted him with a troupe of other young slaues to Constantinople At his arriuall he was giuen vnto a Bassa who caused him to be bred vp carefully and soone after presented him to Solyman This Prince to whom Hibraim was equall in age tooke him into his affection his seruice was alwayes more pleasing vnto him than that of the other slaues He honoured him with the charge of Capiaga who is Captaine of the Gate of the inner Serrail From this place hee came to that of Aga or Colonell of the Ianizaries Then the example of some great Men of the Othoman Court ruined by the inconstancie of Fortune gaue vnto his spirit the first apprehensions which the great Dignities of the Court giues vnto Fauourites which enjoy them and serued as a bridle to restraint his passion hee besought Solyman not to aduance his fortune so high as he might full with the greater ruine Hee shewed him that a meane prosperitie was more safe than all the greatnesse wherewith he would honour him That his seruices should be sufficiently rewarded if hee gaue him wherewith to spend his dayes in rest farre from the necessities of life Solyman commended his modestie and meaning to aduance him to the chiefe Dignities of his Empire he sware vnto him neuer to put him to death whilst he liued what change soeuer should happen in his Court But the condition of King which is humane and subject to change and that of Fauourites which is proud and vnthankfull shall cause Solyman to faile of his promise and Hibraim of his faith and loyaltie as wee shall see In the meane time this Fauourite becomes a Bassa and soone after Grand Vizir and Lieuetenant Generall of his Masters Empire his credit his traine his wealth and the pompe of his greatnesse teach euery man that hee is the Arbitrator of Turkey But his fortune is too great to be without Enuie and it seemes vnreasonable that the highest trees which are on the tops of the highest Mountaines should be free from the violence of the windes The Princesse Mother to Solyman and Roxillana his wife the best beloued of his Sultana's enuie the credit of Hibraim and his vnlimited authoritie is insupportable vnto them