part are Iewes for the men of that Nation study carefully in Physicke and prosper well And seeing that the Turkes neglecting Learning doe not attaine to those Sciences which are necessary to make a good Physician Amidst this number there is one superiour to the rest called in their Language Lecchin Bassi or the first Physician Their entertainments are great and the Presents they receiue make them rich The first of them is reuerenced in the Serrail they serue him with the same bread they giue vnto the Sultan which is a dainty kind of bread made of the Graine which is gathered at Bursia in Natolia reserued for the Princes mouth He hath what fauour hee can desire in Court and his Master honours him extraordinarily Necessitie is a powerfull Daemon and his vertue makes him also to be honoured But the merit of Physick hath made it so commendable in the World and in Court that many Kings haue crowned it with their owne Diadems Sabor and Gyges haue practised it in their estates of Media Sabid married it to his Scepter of Arabia Methridatus to that of Pontus and Hermes held it as great a glory to bee a Physician in Egypt as to be a Soueraigne King When the Sultan is sick his Physicians are cald to visit him if they hold his infirmity to be of continuance they are presently lodged in the secret Serrail which is the Princes quarter in Chambers neare vnto him They giue them two seruants to attend them and they may not go out of the Pallace what necessity soeuer doth presse them vntill the Sultan bee recouered or dead But when hee is in health they are only bound to goe three of them euery morning into the Apothecaries shop in the Serrail and there to attend vntill noone if there be any need of their helpe The Sultans Chyrurgions and Barbers haue lesse libertie They may not goe out of the Serrail where they lodge but on the day of Bairam which is the Turkes Easter vnlesse it be by the Princes permission The youngest of this profession serue him as Pages some others are Eunuches which attend the seruice of his Chamber These shaue him when hee desires and wash him in his Bathes when hee goes to temper the heate which troubles him or to satisfie the commandement of his Law The Apothecaries are also lodged in the Serrail their number exceeds both the others So their Seruice is more ordinary There are eighteene Masters which worke and three hundred Boyes which serue them most of which goe once a yeare to search for Simples on the Mountaines and Valleyes for the composing of their Physicke Foure Masters most expert in their Art are Superiour to all those They call them the Priors The shop of these Apothecaries deserues so many men as serues this great Prince it is aboue fifty fathome long and halfe in breadth The great Vessels which doe beautifie it furnish it abundantly with all sorts of Oiles Sirrops Ointments Waters and other liquors proper for Physicke On the side of it are foure goodly Chambers full of diuers sorts of Drugs Besides these there are two others scituate towards the Gardens where during the Spring which doth enamile the Earth with flowres and the Summer which doth crowne it with Fruits they draw the essences and distill the Waters which are fit for Physicke But in all these Vessels amidst these Drugs and diuers Quintessences they find not any remedy which can mortifie the amorous Passions of the Prince wherewith hee is continually afflicted They deuoure his leisure interrupt the exercises which are more worthy of his person and â—eiect him vnder that which hee is and make him a slaue to his slaues for louing them desperately he liues more in them then in himselfe The end of the first Booke THE GENERALL HISTORY OF THE Serrail and of the Grand SEIGNEVRS Court The second BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the publique Diuan in the Serrail where they dispatch and iudge all Affaires IN the second Court of the Serrail where as a goodly Fountain couered with the shadow of many pleasing Cypresse trees which enuiron it powres forth a cleere streame as if it were liquid Christ all is built vpon the left hand at the end of a long Gallery a great Hall where as the Sultan causeth the Diuan to be kept foure dayes in the Weeke that is to say on Saturday Sunday Munday and Tuesday This word Diuan signifies a Colledge whither many men repaire whereas they distribute Iustice equally to any that demand it for what cause soeuer And the greatest benefit they find is that the parties are admitted to deliuer their owne causes hauing no necessitie to consume their goods and their time whereof the losse is irreparable among wrangling Pettifoggers who enrich themselues by other mens follies The Turkes policie giues this case vnto the people that they will not allow of any Whosoeuer hath an action against any other hee brings him to the Diuan by the fist and the other dares not refuse there by the Iustification of their Acts if they leaue any or by a summary and verball deposition of two Witnesses the cause is iudged with great facilitie and the execution is not difficult Or if the judgement be refered after the audience and committed to some one of the Iudges the importune delayes and the horrour of wrangling which is practised in France being not admitted among the Turkes hinder not a speedy dispatch The Officers which assist at this Diuan are the Basha or Grand Vizir Lieutenant Generall of the whole Empire who precides The other Vizirs or Basha's accompany him the two Beglierbeys the one of Natâ—lia and the other of Romania two of the prime Dignities of the Crowne after the Grand Vizir The two Cadilesquers or great Iudges of Armies Superiour to all the Cadis or Iudges of the Empire The three Teftardars or generall Treasurers for the ordinary and extraordinary treasure who keepe the Sultans Cofers and receiue that great Reuenew which is leuied in his Estates The Nassans Bassa or high Chancellor The Netangi who is as the Secretary of Estate with vs which serues moâ—ethly who signes the Commandements and dispatches with the Royall Signature The Bassa's Secretary with a great number of Iafitschi or Notaries which are as Registâ—s The Chaâ—ux Bassi who is chiefe of all the Chaâ—ux of the 〈◊〉 which carries the Sultans Commandements both within and without the Estate they goe in Embassies although they be but vild and base Messengers and execute the Decrees of the Basha's is at the dooâ—e of this Dauan with a great member of his company to execute that which the Grand Vizir shall command Hee carries a Staffe of siluer in his hand for the marke of his authoritie And all these men aswell Basha's as others of inferiour qualitie come into this Hall of the Diuan by foure of the clocke in the morning with a commendable diligence to discharge their duties in the administration of justice
to dance in a round in a goodly Hall where he doth assist and place himselfe in the midst like vnto a Butterflie in the midst of many glistering fires where heloseth himselfe For feeling his heart suddenly enflamed by the eyes of some one of them which pleaseth him best he casts her his handkercher for a signe that he is vanquished she receiues it with great demonstrations of humilitie kisses it and layes it on her head presently the Cheyachadun or Mother of the Maids takes this faire slaue which comes to triumph ouer her Masters libertie she leads her into a Chamber appointed for the sports of loue decks her with the goodliest Ornaments she can deuise perfumes her and addes to her naturall beautie the cunning of her Art This is while the Sun shines for imitating his course as well as his lustre this faire Creature lies downe as soone as this Planet sets The Chadun conducts her into the same Chamber where the Sultan is lodged layes her in the same Bed where shee enters by the feet for the greater reuerence and during the night season many old Moorish women watch and stand sentinell one at the Beds feet another in the midst of the Chamber and a third at the doore They are reliued euery third houre by others of the same hue vntill it bee day There is one stands at the Beds head with two Torches burning and doth carefully obserue on what side the Prince doth turne least the light should offend his eyes I haue learned from a Iew a learned Physician which had serued the Grand Seigneur that the Chadun watcheth at the Beds feet and doth sometimes speake some words to encourage they young Maide giuing her to vnderstand that night would be the cause of her good fortune and that she would attaine to the dignitie of a Princesse It is the custome in Turkey that on the Marriage night an olde woman doth assist in the Chamber of the married couple and imployes the experience of her time past to encourage the and her Pension is 〈◊〉 sixteene Charges of Money The rest of the Serrail which are yet Virgins or haue had the Princes company but once imploy all their allurements to please him and finding their cunning deuices too feeble they adde the help of Charmes and Sorcerie which they purchase at any 〈◊〉 whatsoeuer But if any one of these women be deliuered first of a Sonne which is to succeed in the Empire shee is called Queene the Grand Seigneur honours her with a Crowne of pretious stones hee causeth a cloth of Estate to be carried into her Chamber of Presence inlargeth her Lodging and giues her a Family sin for a Queene on Empresse of Turkey Shee hath a sufficient Reuenew to supply her necessities and her bounties If shee be deliuered of a Daughter they send her a Nurse three thousand Sequins and Slaues to serue her the honour is the lesse but the joy which shee concerneth if there be Male Children formerly borne is incomparable for shee is assured that the young Princesse shall be bred vp with her and that shee shall be one day married to a Grand Vizir or to some other Basha of the most powerfull in the Empire who will 〈◊〉 and fill her old age 〈…〉 if shee had beene deliuered of a younger Sonne he should be taken from her at the age of twelue yeares or thereabouts and put into the hands of Schoolemasters to instruct him where shee might not se◠〈…〉 foure times in the yearâ— and in the end hee should bee 〈…〉 â—o the safâ— of 〈◊〉 elder Brothers Raigne and soone strangled by Mâ— This is that which makes them desireth haue Daughters wâ— is alreadie a Sonne 〈◊〉 All these woman although they 〈…〉 the true Successours of the 〈◊〉 yet they are but the Emperourâ— Concubities he 〈◊〉 marries any vnlesse be wonderfully surprised with 〈…〉 which hath first brought him a 〈◊〉 then be followes the blind motions of his passion And doubelesse when as loue makes him to feele in this sort the râ—our of his 〈…〉 Tyrâ—â—t should 〈…〉 for if the one doth captiues that 〈◊〉 the other torments one to the succession of the Empire brings him to ruine and makes him to end his dayes miserably by the Sword Solyman hath beene the only Prince since 〈◊〉 the First vnto this day whereof there hath beene fifteene Emperours twenty in all by a direct succession from Father to Sonne which hath married a Wife Amurath the Third his Grandchild being charmed with the beauty of Asachi being enformed of the practices of Rouilana in the Serrail by the power of her infranchisement and the authoritie of the Princes Wife refused the Letters of Sabyn although he had had fourteene children by her and loued her aboue all his Women Yet they say that Osman which died last had married the Daughter of the Muftie of Constantinople But the History of the extraordinary Marriage of the Turkish Prince hath made vs abandon the relation of his loues with his Concubines But let vs returne and follow him into his Garden where hee is in the midst of his 〈◊〉 loue imbracements It is dangerous to see him but no fear of danger should deterre vs from seruing of the publique He goes 〈◊〉 out of his 〈…〉 goe and daily with his women in 〈…〉 Eunuches which 〈◊〉 the Women are the only 〈◊〉 which accompany him all the 〈…〉 they caâ— The 〈…〉 to worth the Sea 〈…〉 Master For if there should 〈…〉 Serrail that should 〈…〉 when they walke with the 〈…〉 Thus the 〈…〉 Thus the 〈…〉 that they 〈…〉 is 〈…〉 which he obserues against those which would see him forbids to reueale the secret Only wee know that in the effeminate delights wherewith the women charme him hee is pleased with the ridiculous encounters of his Iesters and Dwarffes and shewes that Loue is an entertainment of Men that are Birds A curious person which hath had authority in the Leuant enformed me that in these places there many times happens light riots of Loue betwixt the Sultan and his Women Hee vnderstood it from a blacke Eunuch of the womens Serrail and he told him that if the jealousie of these faire creatures did raise them they were supprest by the discretion of the Chadun which is their old Gouernesse and by her humilitie which is interessed in the Quarrell Thus the giddie Quarrels of Louers are the winds which kindle and enflame their foolish passion And the Pigeons bils which were the armes of their choller are the sweet instruments of their loue That which we haue formerly written of the entertainment of the Turkish Prince with his women is not the most blameable of his affections The greatnesse of his power which makes all mens wils obey him and the contagious example of his Courtiers carries him to the detestable excesse of an vnnaturall passion Hee burnes many times for the loue of men and the youngest Boyes which are in the Leuant the flowre of
the poyson where with they were infected layes him in the bed of death and depriues him of life Spaine hath beene alwayes subject to such accidents whilest the Mahometans commanded there and the Kings thereof had cause to feare a double poyson For whilest the Turkish Princes did attempt their persons by poyson the Alphaquis and Priests of the Alcoran poysoned the soules of their subjects by the contagious impurities of a false and brutish Doctrine A little before the death of the King of Castile he of Leon called Don Sancho was poysoned by the inuention of a Turke who taught Gonzales his Lieutenant at Leon the detestable meanes to kill his Master in giuing him an Apple the which this wretched Lieutenant performed This was at the same time when as a Deluge of fire come out of the Ocean the which carried its flame farre into Spaine burne a great Countrey and of many Burroâ—ghâ— and Villages made heaps of ashes as farre as Zâ—ora These examples shew the malice of the Turkes against the the Christians but they doe no lesse among themselues A Turkish King of Feâ— not able to indure the prosperities of him of Gâ—anadâ— called Ioseph a Mahometan like himselfe he resolued to take away his life Hee sends to visit him oftnes than he had accustomed he makes a greater shew of friendship and after he hath receiued many effects of his hee sent him for a 〈◊〉 Cassocke of Cloth of Gold of great 〈◊〉 King Ioseph receiues it and puts it on not hee had not worne it a day but the poyson wherewith the Prince of Feâ— had infected i◠〈◊〉 vpon him and gaue him such cruell convulsions and 〈◊〉 as his flesh fell away in piece and the Physician◠〈…〉 the true cause of his disease nor could apply â—hy reâ— that hee of Granado and by the damnable 〈◊〉 Moorish King The like villanies which were practiced among the ancient Turkes are vsed at this day in the Louant at the Court of Constantinople and in other places whither they send great Men to 〈◊〉 charges In our dayes a Turkish Courtier affected by all meanes possible the dignitie of Bassa of Alâ—ppo the beauty of the place the lustre of this dignitie but rather the great gaine which the Vice-royes make inflamed his desire to the possession of this Gouernment to attain vnto it he purchased by great gifts the affections of the Agalaâ—is or Foâ—iâ—s of the Sâ—rrail which are the Eunuches attending the Princes person These men content his ambition and obtained the gouernment which he desired from the Sultan hee receiues the Letters takes his leaue to goe vnto his charge hee arriues and is receiued with the applause of the people but he had scarce begun to enjoy the first honours of this new dignity but another doth dispossesse him by the same meanes which he had vsed hee gets the friendship of the Eunuches and glâ—ts their aâ—arke with greater gifts obtaining Letters for this place He was aduertized hereof the displeasure which he conceiued to see himselfe deceiued by the Courtiers of the Sâ—rrail to whom hee had giuen much more money than hee had gotten in so short a time that he had 〈◊〉 Bassa of Alâ—ppâ— made him to draw his dearest friends about him to resolue with them how hee should gouerne himselfe in this important businesse Many were of opinion that he should 〈◊〉 the entry iâ— the Town to this new Bassa who was vpon the way vntill he informed the Sultan the Mâ—fâ— and the Grand Vizir of the couetous disloyaltie of the Agalaâ—ie and this Counsell was conformable to his apprehension But one of 〈…〉 him aside told him Th◠〈…〉 him brought a 〈…〉 wherein iâ— was dangerous to vse 〈…〉 was the safest way in such 〈…〉 him a 〈…〉 make the 〈…〉 than his had beene that 〈…〉 the Bassa which came and 〈…〉 him a 〈…〉 and all loue and friendship to him and 〈…〉 him out of the World by the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Persons They resolued it and laboured in their designe In the meane time the new Bassa arriues the other receiues him and yeelds him the place It is the custome of the great men in Turkey to giue Presents to the new Gouernor when they enter in charge some to testifie that they are welcome and others to gain their affections This discontented Bassa who left his charge before the ordinary time would not be the last to present this new commer He giues him a poysoned Handkercher imbroydered with Gold and great round Pearles the price thereof could not be easily valued The new Gouernour receiues it with vnspeakable joy for great men hold nothing so sweet in their places as to take whencesoeuer it comes but God doth many times suffer that such greedy Takers are taken in taking as it happened to this Bassa of Aleppo The Handkercher of price which was the price of his life contents him Hee admires the worke lookes vpon the great Pearles and his hands doe not abandon it vntill the poyson forced him the which exhaling and infecting the Bassa they grew weake and make him to leaue it whereupon hee died and left the gouernment which he had not enjoyed The other Bassa flies speedily to Constantinople redemands the gouernment whereof he had beene dispossest and grounds his reason vpon his speedie obedience and forceth the iniquity of the Fauourites to consent that hee should enjoy it Thus couetousnesse had depriued him of a Dignity where it had first placed him and poysoning restores him Whereby wee may Iudge what these Gouernours can be that are setled by such meanes It is certaine that the like offences are committed daily in the Turkes Court by the Bassa's thereof who imploy their greatest care to find out the most subtillest poysons and how to employ them cunningly one against another The most ordinary which they vse is drawne from Toads They cause a Toade to sucke the Milke of a woman that hath an extraordinary red haire When it is full they beate it gently with a little wand they put it into choler its poyson mingles with this Milke and it bursts in its rage this poyson is so violent and strong that in rubbing only the stirrop of his horse whom they meane to poyson it is an assured death Thus corruption is absolute in Turkey for if their Prophet hath poysoned their soules with filthy Doctrine they poyson their bodies with all sorts of venome CHAP. XIV Of the filthy and vnnaturall lust of the Bassa's and of the great Men of the Court. THe great fortunes which are found in the Courts of great Monarches produce great riches and these furnish Courtiers with delights in the which they glut their sensuall and brutish appetites The Bassa's of the Court great in dignities and abounding in riches plunge themselues in all sorts of voluptuousnesse and their spirits mollified in the myre of filthy pleasures they seeke them by a contrary course and demand that of nature which she hath not Being many times tired
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
whom hee should find to be the Motiues they perswade him that Muâ—apâ—a Bassa who had credit among the â—ootmen had induced them to 〈…〉 hangeth his 〈◊〉 vpon him and seeing him on 〈…〉 by a Iester which followed him The Bassa perceiued it and the disgrace which he receiued made him to end his dayes in the midst of the cares and griefe which a man of his qualitie doth feele when he thinkes he hath 〈◊〉 the reputation which made him to liue gloriously in the World and Court The infamy of this affront comes not alone it hath for a companion the 〈◊〉 of a shamefull punishment which the great men of the 〈…〉 â—ue when hee holds him guilty of some small crime When he hath caused the Crouper of some of their 〈◊〉 be cut he doth likewise â—auâ— others to be 〈◊〉 by his 〈◊〉 as it happened in the 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 Coâ—ell of the 〈…〉 who 〈…〉 coâ—ed to haue 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 the Emperour caused him to be taken and 〈◊〉 But 〈…〉 is not so 〈…〉 â—ble vnto theâ— is the 〈…〉 the Crouper as if the Leather of the 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 horse were mor◠〈…〉 them 〈…〉 so much 〈…〉 which 〈…〉 things which 〈…〉 〈…〉 â—d Croupers to be cut tha◠〈…〉 whip vpon the body But 〈…〉 which follow the greatnes of the 〈…〉 of their Basha's CHAP. XII In what â—iâ—e the Grand SEIGNEVE 〈◊〉 vnto his Bassa's The greatest dignities of the World are not the most happy said an Ancient and the condition of 〈◊〉 Monarches hath secured miserable to some 〈…〉 had little to desire and much 〈◊〉 feare for being 〈…〉 height of humane greatnesse they cannot desire 〈◊〉 but continuing in the languishing of their spirit they sometimes conceiue jealousies and imaginary terrours and many times such as are true the which troubles their 〈…〉 their liues and fils them with tedious conceit So saith the Master of Princes in the holy Writ in these true words deliuered by a Prince The heart of Kings is inscrutable Certainly truth doth teach vs that if Crownes and Scepâ— be weighty as charge of â—re and trouble the Office of Kings is painfull for there is nothing so difficult to man 〈…〉 well whereon dependâ— the knowledge of 〈…〉 The Prince which commands must obserue three things that what he desires may be just for the publique good and concerne his owne glory The which is done by word or â—ing The Othoman Monarches as Princes retired within their Serrail and not much communicable command in 〈◊〉 not daily by writing and the stile which they vse in writing that which they command is particular vnto them We shall hardly find in Histories any one example of a Monarchi 〈…〉 wealth in the which the Superiourâ— haue 〈…〉 so imperiously and hath beene obeyed secondly as with the Turkes their letters breathe nothing but threats and they speake no other language but that of cruelties Behold some examples of those which the Sultanâ— haue 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 In the 〈…〉 third â—ring of the 〈…〉 in Hâ—ria which the Châ—stâ— had recouered and holding this 〈…〉 very great must make this Bridge or die hee labours hazards all and loseth many thousand men yet notwithstanding this ouerflowing of the water hee finished a Bridge in sixteene dayes ouer the Riuer of Draue being fiue thousand fiue hundred fathome long and fourteene broad supported by Boats tyed one to another with chaines of Iron Solyman past his Army ouer it and went to lay his siege to Segher where he died Assaâ—bâ—g had good strong excuses not to attempt the making of this Bridge any other Prince but a Turke would haue allowed of them But hee who was as the Turkes be a bad husband of mens liues would haue it done at what rate soeuer The threat of those Letters which wee haue related are with some condition But the Turkish Princes many times write absolutely as it happened in the yeare 1614 in the person of Nassuf Bassa Grand Vizir of the Turkish Empire The Emperour Achmat the first would haue his life and his treasure He sends vnto him being in Constantinople the Bostangibassi with two Letters written by his own hand whereof this was the tenour of the first Faile not presently vpon the receipt hereof in sâ—nd 〈◊〉 by the Bostangibassi the Seales of my Empire Nassâ—f obeyed and deliuered them into the great Gardiners hands hauing receiued them he drew another of the Sulâ—ans Letters out of his pocket to Nassuf wherof these were the words After that thou hast sent me my Seales send mee thy Hand by him that shall giue thee this Note This command was rough and the stile of his Letter troublesome yet hee must obey not of force for Nassuf was in his house with a Family of aboue two thousand men and the Gardiner had 〈…〉 staffe and was only assisted 〈…〉 Rascals vâ—med which were Capigis or 〈◊〉 of the Serrail Nassuf suffered himselfe to bestrangled and the Bostangibassi carried away his hand in the view of all his gâ—as Family whereof the least Scullions might haue 〈◊〉 him with their 〈◊〉 with his goodly traine Y◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 the people of the Serrail and knowing that it was the Princes pleasure their Armes were their teares and sorrowes Thus this rough meanes of writing prooues very beneficiall to the Turkish Princes and they reape many co◠〈◊〉 thereby First they are not forced to 〈◊〉 money to the Gouernour of a strong place who is not faithfull or profitable to draw him out of it and to buy with great summes of money as they doe in other places the Townes and Forts of their Estates the least of their Letters drawes forth a Gouernour where they place whom they please they compasse great enterprizes causing that to be done by feare which loue cannot doe they are lesse betrayed in affaires of importance and are generally exactly obeyed CHAP. XIII Of the malicious inâ—ent 〈◊〉 and poysâ—nings which the Turkes vse the against another and â—sseâ— tally great Men. AMbition hath brought other Vices into the Courâ— where sâ—e imployes there in her designes Slander and Treason are the 〈◊〉 of her â—â—estable inuention and poysoning yâ—rs them in execution But this last finds more imployment in the Court of Maboâ—an Princes than in any other part of the Worldâ— They resecâ— in alâ—â—miâ—able meane to reuenge 〈◊〉 and to content their passions And after â—heir â—xample the great Men and Bassaâ— imploy it Former ages and the disorder of that wherein we liue turnish examplâ— In the yeare 137◠〈◊〉 told King of Gramâ—e a Maâ— Poiâ—t◠〈◊〉 where 〈◊〉 that 〈…〉 King thereof 〈…〉 rich 〈◊〉 〈…〉 things 〈…〉 Hee 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 with an infinite number of 〈…〉 to Castite Don Henry 〈…〉 pleased with so rates Present hee doth publiquely commend the magnificence of the Turkish Prince But hee doth soone learne to his cost that poyson is rather among gold and precious stones than among pouerty Hee puts them on the next day but presently