are some few Astrologers and Phisitians of this Sect but in Parthia and Media they are numerous the men commonly worshipping the Sun and the women the Moon and others the Artick Pole they are not strict in a severity of life or in the conformity to the prescriptions of their Law but govern themselves with mortality and prudence They are not apt to believe the immortality of the soul nor the reward of Vertue or punishment of Vice in the next world nor prone to vindicate themselves from injuries reproachful language or other evil actions of men but regarding them as the natural effects of the Celestial influences are no more provoked by them than we are with a shower of Rain for wetting us or the intense heat of the Sun in the Summer Solstice Munasihi is a Sect purely Pythagorical which believes the Metampsychosis or Transmigration of souls of which there are some in Constantinople one Albertus Bobovius a 〈◊〉 by Nation but Educated in the the Seraglio and instructed in all the Learning of the Turkish Literature from whom I freely confess to have received many of my observations related to me a pleasant discourse that passed between him and a Dorgist at Constaneinople touching this subject This Dorgist being Learned was the occasion that Albertus frequented his Shop the oftner and once being after some familiar acquaintance at a collation together it chanced that a Black Dog giving them interruption at their Banquet that Albertus kicked him to drive him to a farther distance at which 〈◊〉 Dorgist growing pale and disordered Albertus guessed by his countenance that he was displeased at his unkindness towards the Dog and therefore desired his pardon if thereby he had given him any subject os offence the Dorgist being thus pacifyed with the courtesie of his Guest advised him to ask pardon of God for that it was no small crime and sin that he thereby committed This happening at the same time that the Funerals of a Mufti called Behai Efend were then solemnizing afforded an occasion of Discourse concerning the soul of the Mufti and Dog together the Dorgist demanding the opinion of his Guest whether he conceived the soul of that Mufti was predestinated to remain within the confines of the Grave untill the day of Resurrection in the knowledge of which question Albertus seeming wholly ignorant and desirous to understand the solution from him the Dorgist began freely to declare that the souls of men deceased enter into the bodies of Beasts which are in temperament most agreeable to the dispositions of those whom before they animated as the soul of the glutton enters into the Swine the soul of the lascivious into the Goat of the generous into the Horse of the vigilant into a Dog and so the like in proof of which he produced a Book treating of all the distinctions of nature and the proper assignments for their habitation after death adding moreover that of this opinion it was pitty there was so few in Constantinople some there were and those all of his own Trade and Profession but that at Gran Cairo were great numbers strict adherers to this Doctrine that for his part he prayed to God with the rest of his Brothers of the same Trade that their souls may hereafter be so honoured as to inform the body of the Camel because they are Beasts that are laborious abstemious patient and meek and bring their Dorges from the remotest parts of the East and that he did not doubt but after the Circle of 3365. years that his soul had travelled for several Ages through the world and wandred from the body of one Camel to animate another it should with the vicissitude of time return again to a humane body more purifyed and refined than in its first principles And this was the Credo of the Dorgist to which opinion it is said all China is greatly devoted Escbraki which signifies illuminated is a Sect purely Platonical contemplative of the Divine Idea and the number in God for though they hold the Unity yet they deny not the Trinity as a number proceeding from the Unity which conception of their they usually illustrate by three folds in a Handkerchief which may have the denomination of three but being extended is but one entire piece of Linnen These men are no great admirers of the composition of the Alchoran what they meet therein agreeable to their principles they embrace and produce as occasion serves in confirmation of their Doctrine other parts which with difficulty are reconciled they reject and stile abrogated and because they apprehend that the true beatitude and bless of Paradise consists in the contemplation of the Divine Majesty they contemn all the fancies and gross conceptions of Heaven which 〈◊〉 hath framed to allure and draw the minds of rude and gross men Of this Sect are all the Scheghs or able Preachers that belong to the Royals Moschs or Churches who are men constant in their devotions abstemious in their Diet of a chearful countenance and taking behaviour great lovers of harmony and Musick and of an indifferent strain in Poetry whereby they compose certain Songs in Meeter for entertainment of their Auditory They are likewise generous and compassionate of 〈◊〉 frailty and are not covetous Stoical or conceited of themselves by which means their behaviour is rendred extreamly taking through all Constantinople they are greatly delighted with an ingenious Aspect in youth and from thence gather matter of contemplation on the comliness of the increated beauty they are addicted to entertain a charitable 〈◊〉 for their neighbour because as they say he is the creature of God from whom our love is 〈◊〉 to the Creator Their Disciples they procure as much as possible to be men of comely and pleasing countenances and Majestick presence who they instruct in all the rules of abstinence gravety and other vertues most appropriated to their 〈◊〉 And these of all sorts of Turks seem worthy of the best Character whom I compassionate for not being born within the pale of a Christian Church nor duely instructed in the Mystery of Christianity to which they seem by their morality and vertues already to have prepared many previous dispositions A Sect much different to that immediately foregoing is the Haireti signifying amazed and doubtful in determination of all controversies who can endure any thing rather than to controvert opinions and dispute on question in chase of truth they will neither undertake to perswade or disswade but like the Academicks asfirm that falsity may by the wit and contrivance of man be dressed in a habit as not to be distinguished from truth it self and on the contrary truth may be so disguised with Sophistry and delusions as to be rendred as deformed and ugly as falshood and therefore they conclude all questions to be meerly probable and no wayes admitting of certain demonstration so that in points of dubious controversies their common sayings are Allah bilur God knows bize karanuk
os a little Rodomontado and vain-glory vices incident to their Country whereby they create in the Turks a conceit of the greatness riches and force of Spain according as it flourished in the time that the Moors possessed their seat and habitation there But yet the Turks though a people incurious and negligent of the accurate state of other places besides their own are not altogether ignorant of the decay of Spain the Wars in Portugal and the menaces from France which makes them aim at one of the Venetian Ports in Dalmatia to have the better prospect and easier passage unto Sicily or the Kingdom of Naples The esteem the Venetians are in at this time amongst them is greater then when the War first began for then they entertained an opinion of their force much inferiour to the real estimation thereof as they do now the contrary byond their true strength making always calculates from the effect and success of things Yet the Turk knows that the Venetian power is not comparable to his by land and that nothing but Friuli stands between him and the mastery of Venice which makes him ashamed and angry that after so many years Wars no greater additions should be acquired to the Empire then his footing in Candy the whole possession of which was imagined at the beginning of the war would upon a bare demand been quietly presented as the price and purchase of the peace The King of Poland is none of the least amongst the Christian Princes esteemed at the Ottoman Court by reason of his great power consisting chiefly in Horse which in opinion of the Turks is the most warlike and look on that people as martial and with much difficulty brought under their subjection But by reason of the great combustions and intestine troubles of that Country the Polanders apply themselves with much dexterity and caution in their treaties with the Turks and especially being borderers with them and subject to their incursions and robberies of Men and Cattel they endeavour all means of fair and reasonable complyance And on the other side the Turk is well inclined to the Polander and desires his prosperity beyond others of his neighbour-Princes because he looks on him as the only curb upon all occasions of the Moscovites and whom they may make use of to give some stop and arrest unto the progress of his Arms. The Moscovite hath yet a greater fame and renown with the Turks being reported able to make a hundred and fifty thousand Horse so that he treats with the Turk on equal terms and fills his Letters with high threats and Hyperbolical expressions of his power and with as swelling titles as the Turk The Greeks have also an inclination to the Moscovite beyond any other Christian Prince as being of their Rites and Religion terming him their Emperour and Protector from whom according to ancient prophesies and modern predictions they expect delivery and 〈◊〉 to their Church But the greatest dread the Turk hath of the Moscovite is from the union with the Soffi or Persian which two uniting together would be too unequal a match for the Ottoman Empire But above all the great Potentates of the world the King of 〈◊〉 was most feared and esteemed by the Turk not only by reason of his great force and that the borders of his Dominions run a long space on the confines of the Turks but because it is almost impossible by reason of the vast Deserts and uninhabited places to carry the War into his Country without the cumbersome carriages of all necessary provisions which with how much difficulty and incommodity were performed in the last 〈◊〉 between these two great Princes the History sufficiently relates but since the conquest of Babylon and decay of their riches they are now the subjects of the Turkish scorn and contempt The neerness of their Faith though derived from the same Founder but afterwards receiving some difference by the interpretation of Haly is in no wise a reconcilement of their affections but rather a ground and matter of their fear and jealousie lest at any time waging a War against the Persian that Heresie should begin to be set on foot amongst the people which like a spark that causes the conflagration of a whole City may breed those intestine civil distractions which may prove of more danger and ruine then the former War It will not be necessary to speak much of the Hollanders in regard that though they have a Resident there are scarce taken notice of as a Nation different but depending on the English And these are all the Nations considerable with whom the Turk hath occasion to treat or that follow under his cognisance or business CHAP. XXII The regard the Turks have to their Leagues with Forreign Princes AS the Christian Religion teaches humility charity courtesie and faith towards all that are within the pale of humane nature to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Turkish superstition furnishes its followers with principles not only to abhor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also the persons of such whom they term not 〈◊〉 The sordidness of their bloud and ungentleness of their education makes them insolent and swelled in prosperity and their Victories and Spoils upon Christians render 〈◊〉 Arms and Force of other parts contemptible in respect of theirs Upon these considerations of the vileness of Christianity and scorn of their power they assume this into a Maxime that they ought not to regard the Leagues they have with any Prince or the reasons and ground of a quarrel whilst the breach tends to the enlargement of their Empire which consequently infers the propagation of their Faith Many and various are the examples and stories in all Ages since the beginning and increase of the Turkish power of the perfidiousness and treachery of this people that it may be a question whether their valour and force hath prevailed more in the time of War or the little care of their faith and maintenance of their Leagues hath availed them in the time of Peace Thus Didymotichum in the time of Peace under Amurath third King of the Turks whilst the Walls and Fortifications were Building was by the Asian labourers which were entertained in the work and the help of other Turks which lay near in ambush surprised and taken so also Rhodestum in time of Peace by command of Amurath was by Eurenoses assaulted and taken by stratagem so Adrianople in the reign of the same Emperour after Peace made again and assurances given of better faith was by the art and disguise of Chasis-Ilbeg pretending to be a discontented Captain and a Fugitive from the Turks by fair Speeches and some Actions and Skirmishes abroad gained such confidence amongst the credulous Greeks as enabled him afterwards to set the Gates open to Amuraths Army which after some Conflict was taken and never recovered again by the power of the Greeks It is an old and practised subtilty of the Turks immediately after some notable
May God remunerate those who are witnesses to this writing Praise be to God the Lord of all creatures This Covenant or Articles with Christians howsoever denyed by the Turks to have been the act and agreement of Mahomet is yet by very good Authors taken for real and to have been at that time confirmed when his Kingdom was weak and in its infancy and when he Warred with the Arabians and fearing likewise the enmity of the Christians not to be assaulted by two enemies at once secured himself by this religious League made in the Monastery of Fryars in Mount Carmel from whence that strict Order have their denomination But mark how well Mahomet in the sequel observed this Law As soon as his Government increased and that by Arms and bad Arts he had secured his Kingdom he writes his Chapter of the Sword called so perhaps because the first words of it are often engraved on the Turks Cymeters made at Damascus and on their Bucklers and other sorts of Arms And another Chapter in the Alchoran called the Chapter of Battel which is always read by the Turks before they go to fight and therein his modests words if you adore not what I adore let your Religion be to you and mine to me and other promises of toleration and indulgence to the Christian Religion were changed to a harsher note and his Edicts were then for bloud and ruine and enslavement of Christians When you meet with Infidels saith he cut off their heads kill them take them prisoners bind them until either you think fit to give them liberty or pay their ransom and forbear not to persecute them until they have laid down their Arms and submitted And this is that sort of toleration the Turks give to the Christian Religion they know they cannot force mens Wills nor captivate their Consciences as well as their bodies but what means may be used to render them contemptible to make them poor their lives uncomfortable and the interest of their Religion weak and despicable are practised with divers Arts and Tyranny that their toleration of Christianity is rather to afflict and persecute it then any grant of favour or dispensation The Mahometan Religion tolerates Christian Churches and Houses of Devotion in places where they have been anciently founded but admits 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 may a new strength be added to the foundation wherewith to under-prop it for another Building so that at last the Christian Churches in those Dominions must necessarily come to ruine as many already have submitted to the common fate of time And as it happened in the great and notable Fires of Galata first and then of Constantinople in the year 1660 that many of the Christian Churches and Chappels were brought to Ashes and afterwards by the Piety and Zeal of Christians scarce re-edified before by publick order they were thrown down again into their former heaps being adjudged contrary to the Turkish Law to permit Churches again to be restored of which no more remained then the meer foundation CHAP. III. The Arts wherewith the Turkish Religion is propagated THe Turks though they offer the specious out-side of the foregoing toleration yet by their Law are Authorized to enforce mens consciences to the profession of their Faith and that is done by various arts and niceties of Religion For if a man turn Turk his Children under the age of fourteen years though 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 or have had carnal knowledge of a Turkish Woman must either become Martyrs or Apostates besides many other subtilties they have to entrap the souls of Christians within the entanglements of their Law It is another Policie wherewith the Mahometan Sect hath been encreased the accounting it a principle of Religion not to deliver a City or Fortress by consent or voluntary surrender where Mosques have been once built and Mahometanism professed And therefore the Turk no sooner enters a Town by Conquest but immediately lays foundations for his Temples thereby imposing an obligation of an obstinate and constant resolution on the conscience of the defendants which many times hath been found to have been more forcible and prevalent on the spirits of men then all the terrors and miseries of Famine Sword or other calamities It is well enough known upon what different interests Christianity and Mahometanism were introduced into the world the first had no other enforcements then the perswasions and Sermons of a few poor Fishermen verified with Miracles Signs and inspiration of the holy Ghost carrying before it the promises of another life and considerations of a glorified spirituality in a state of separation but the way to it was obstructed with the opposition of Emperours and Kings with scorn and contempt with persecution and death and this was all the encouragement proposed to mankind to embrace this Faith But Mahometanism made its way with the Sword what knots of Argument he could not unty he cut and made his spiritual power as large as his temporal made his precepts easie and pleasant and acceptable to the fancy and appetite as well as to the capacity of the vulgar representing heaven to them not in a spiritual manner or with delights unexpressible and ravishments known only in part to illuminated souls but with gross conceptions of the beauty of Women with great eyes of the duration of one act of carnal copulation for the space of sixty years and of the beastly satisfaction of 〈◊〉 glottonous palate things absurd and ridiculous to wise and knowing men but yet capable to draw multitudes of professors and carnal defenders of its verity And this Doctrine being irrational to the better sort of judgements causes the Lawyers who are men of the subtilest capacities amongst the Turks to mistrust much of the truth of the Doctrine of Mahomet especially the assertions relating to the condition of the other life For the representation of the delights of the next world in a corporeal and sensual manner being inconsistent with their reason leads them to doubt the truth of that point and so wavering with one scruple proceed to a mistrust of the whole system of the Mahometans faith One would think that in such men a way were prepared for the entertainment of a Religion erected on more solid principles and foundations and that the Jews might gain such Proselytes to their Law from which a great part of the Mahometan superstition was borrowed or that the Christians might take advantage in so well-disposed subjects to produce something of the Mysterie of Godliness But the first are a people so 〈◊〉 to scorn and contempt esteemed by the Turks to be the scum of the
in all reason ought are those of Royal Foundations called in Turkish Selatin Giameleri over which the Prime Superintendent is the Kuzlir Aga or the chief Black Eunuck of the Sultans Woman and in his power it is to distribute all considerable offices of Ecclesiastical Preferment relating to the Royal Moschs which office makes a considerable addition to his other power and Revenue for there are many of those Moschs in divers places of the Empire but especially where the Sultans do or have resided as Prusa Adrianople and Constantinople The Royal Moschs of Constantinople are Santa Sophia Sultan Mahomet who Conquered this City Sultan Bajazet Sultan Selin Sultan Soylman Schezade or the Son of Sultan Soylman Sultan Ahmet and three other Moschs built by the Queen Mothers one of which was lately erected and richly indowed by the Mother of this present Sultan I shall scarce adventure to acquaint my Reader with the particular Revenue belonging to all these Royal Edifices but certain it is they have Rents as noble and splendid as their Founders for example of which I shall instance only in that of Santa Sophia built by Justinian the Emperour and re-built by Theodosius and was the Metropolis of old Bizantium and the Mother Church belonging to the Patriarchal See of Greece is still conserved sacred and separated for use of Divine Service of the Revenue of which Mahometan Barbarism and Superstition hath made no Sacrilegious Robbery but maintained and improved and added to it in that manner that the in-come may equal any Religious foundation of Christendom for when I had the curosity of procuring from the Registers of that Church distinctly all the particular Gifts Benefices Lands Monies at interest and other endowments belonging thereunto and offered according to my ability some thing considerable to have a true Copy of the riches and annual Rent of the place the Keepers of those Lists would perswade me whether out of ostentation or scruple of sin to make one of my faith acquainted with the particulars of their Religious offerings that the Wealth rent and account of all those Royal endowments are so many that as they are distinctly set down fill a Volume and the knowledge of them is the study alone of those who are designed to this service but in general I am given to understand by those who magnifie not matters beyond their due computation That the Revenue amounts to about one hundred thousand Zechins a year which proceeds not from any Lands or Duties raised without the Walls of the City but all from within the Sultan himself being a Tenant to that place paying or acknowledging a Rent of one thousand and one Aspers a day for the ground on which the Seraglio stands on being in times of the Christian Emperours some part of the Sanctuary or Gardens dedicated to the use of that stately Temple which the Turks esteemed Sacrilegious to separate entirely from the holy Service to which it was assigned though the admirable situation thereof rendred it unfit for other habitation then the enjoyment of the Sultan did therefore think fit to oblige the Land to a Rent adding the odde Asper as a signification that the thousand Aspers were not a sufficient consideration for the use of the Church Lands and might therefore be augmented as the piety and devotion of succeeding Emperours should move them It is reported by the Turks that Constantinople was taken upon a Wednesday and that on the Friday following which is their Sunday or Sabbath as we may call it the victorious Sultan then first entituled Emperour went with all Magnificent Pomp and Solemnity to pay his Thansgiving and Devotions at the Church of Sancta Sophia the Magnificence of which so pleased him that he immediately added a yearly Rent of 10000 Zechins to the former endowments for the maintenance of Imams or Priests Doctors of their Law Talismans and others who continually attend there for the Education of youth teaching them to read and write instructing them also in the principles of their Law and Religion Other Emperours have since that time errected near unto it their Turbe or Chappels of burial in one of which lies Sultan Selim Surnamed Sarhose or the drunken with his hundred Children and therewith have conferred a maintenance of Oyl for Lamps and Candles which burn day and night and a provision for those who attend there in prayer for their souls departed to which opinion the Turks as I have said already are generally inclinable though not preached or inforced on any mans belief as an Article of Faith Over and above this expence there is daily provision made for relief of a multitude of poor who at certain hours appear at the Gates of this Temple and receive their daily sustenance whatsoever advances as yearly great summes are laid up in the Treasury is numbred with the riches of the Mosch and remains for the service of that place as for the reparation or building thereof in case of fire or other accidents Besides the sumptuous Edifices of the body of the Royal Moschs there are annexed unto them certain Colledges for Students in the Law called Tehmele out-houses for Kitchins where the poors Meat is dressed Hospitals called Timarhanelar Hans or Houses of Lodging for Strangers or Travellers publick Fountains shops for Artizans and whole Streets of low Cottages for habitation of the poor whose stock reaches not to a higher Rent All these appendages bring some Revenue to the Mosch which is constantly paid in to the Rector or President thereof called Mutevelli but because this is not a sufficient maintenance there are divers Lands Villages Mountains Woods and whole Countries assigned to this use called Wakfi which are hired out at certain Rents for the behoof and benefit of the Moschs some rents being paid in Corn others in Oyl and all sorts of Provisions and out of every new Conquered Country some part thereof is assigned to the use of Moschs of modern Fabrick as now from the Country gained lately about Newhausell which as I am informed from those who gave in the account to the Grand Signior there are two thousand Villages which pay Contribution to the Turk are assigned certain Lands for encrease of the rent of the Moschs built at Constantinople by this present Queen Mother which rents are sometimes raised by the way of Tenths or Tithes not that the Turks make Tithes a duty or rule for the maintenance of persons places and things consecrated to Divine Service but as they find it a convenient and equal expedient in some Countries for leviation of their rents Such Countries and Villages as these which are called Wakfi are greatly blessed and happy above others in regard that the Inhabitants enjoy not only particular priviledges and immunities from thence but freedom likewise from oppression of Pashaws and the 〈◊〉 Souldiery in their March or of great persons in their journey or passage from one Country to another who out of reverence to that lot to which they
stature and stomachs they speak big talk of nothing but killing and adventurous exploits but in reality their heart and courage is not esteemed proportionable to their bulk and bodies in the City they march before the Vizier on foot and make way for him to the Divan on journeys they are too heavy and lazy not to be well mounted they have a Captain over them called the Delibaschi their Arms are a Lance after the Hungarian fashion a Sword and Pole-Axe and some of them carry a Pistol at their Girdle This sort of People being naturally more faithful than the Turks and more inclinable to the Vizier Kupriuli for being of the same Country he maintained 2000 of them for his Guard which was so great a curb to the Janizaries and the other Militia that they were never able to execute any Conspiracy against him The same course his Son the present Vizier follows and is doubtless next the Grand Signiors favour his principal security Of the Segbans and Sarigias It is not to be omitted that the Beglerbegs and Pashaws maintain always a Miltia called Segbans to whose custody the charge of the baggage belonging to the Horse is committed and a select number called Sarigias to whose care the baggage of the Infantry is entrusted these serve on foot with Muskets like Janizaries and the others on Horse-back like Dragoons in Christendom their pay besides their meat is 3 or 4 Dollars a month The Beglerbegs have oftentimes on occasions of their Rebellions enrolled many of this sort of Militia to encounter the Janizaries the which was practised in these late times by Ipchir Pashaw Hasan Pashaw and Murteza Pashaw who having listed great numbers to fight under this denomination the Vizier Kupriuli for terrour and more easie destruction of this people proclaimed through all Asia that strict inquisition should be made after the Segbans and Sarigias and that it might be lawful for any one to kill and destroy them without mercy by which means many were butchered in several places and 30000 of them revolted to the Sofi of Persia. The Muhlagi and Besli Are the servants of Beglerbegs and Pashaws the first make profession of a principal art in good Horsemanship and exercise themselves in throwing the Gilid which is a Dart much used amongst the Turks in the true management of which there is great dexterity and because there are considerable rewards bestowed on those who are expert herein the Turks practise it on Horse-back as their only exercise and study very much delight herein the Grand Signiors have always taken and to be spectators of the Combats between the servants of several Pashaws born in different Countries and Nations who from a principle of honour to their Nation and hopes of preferment contend with that heat and malice one against the other as surpass the cruelty of the ancient Gladiators and not only limbs or eyes are lost in this skirmish but oftentimes sacrifice their blood and life for the pastime of their Prince Such as are observed to be bold active and dexterous at his Game are preferred to the degree and benefit of a Zaim or Timariot The Beslees are footmen who for their great abilities in walking and running attain oftentimes to be made Janizaries And thus we have now with as much brevity as may be run through the several Degrees Numbers Institutions Laws and Discipline of the Turkish Militia by Land whose farther progress into Christendom and damage to the Christian Cause may the Almighty Providence so disappoint that his Church corrected and grown more pious by this chastisement may at length be relieved from the Rod and Yoke of this great Oppressor CHAP. XI Certain Observations on the Turkish Camp and the Success of the last Battel against the Christians IN the year of our Lord 1665. the Earl of Winchelsea our Lord Embassador for certain Affairs of His Majesty and the Company or Merchants having commanded me to meet the Great Visier in his return from the Wars in Hungary through ill or rather uncertain information of the Visiers motion I was forced to proceed as far as Belgrade in Servia on the Confines of Hungary 23 days journey from Constantinople where finding a good part of the Turkish Army encamped neer that City for better convenience and expedition of my business I entred within the Quarters of the Spabees and pitched my Tent as neer the Visiers and the other principal Officers as consisted with due respect 〈◊〉 which place I remained seven days untill the Army removed towards Adrianople and not having fully compleated my business there I marched and remained other 13 days together with the Army in which time I had leisure to make some reflections on the Order of the Turkish Camp In the front of the Camp are Quarter'd the Janizaries and all others destin'd to Foot-service whose Tents encompass their Aga or General In the body of the Camp are erected the stately Pavilions of the Visier of his Kahija or chief Steward or Councellor the Reis Effendi or Lord Chancellor the Tefterdar Pascha or Lord Treasurer and the Kapisler Kahiasee or Master of the Ceremonies which five Pavilions take up a large extent of ground leaving a spacious Field in the midst in the centre of which is raised a lofty Canopy under which Offendors are corrected or executed aud serves to shelter from the Sun or Rain such as attend the Divan or other business with the Officers of State Within the same space of ground also is the Hasna or Treasury in small Chests one piled on the other in form of a circle for guard of which 15 Spahees every night keep a Watch with their Arms in their hands Neer these Quarters are the Tents of Pashaws Beghs Agaes and Persons of Quality who with their Retinue solely make up a considerable part of the Turkish Army In the Reer are the Quarters of the Spahees and others that attend the Horse-service as Segbans Sarigias and others On the 〈◊〉 hand of the Visier without the Camp are placed the Artillery and Ammunition which in the time I was there was inconsiderable the great Cannon remaining in Buda and in the City of Belgrade only 40 or 45 small Field-pieces of Brass as I reckoned them each drawn by four Horses marched with the Visier more at that time for State and Ostentation than for real Service The Pavilions of the Great Visier and other Persons of principal Office and Quality may rather be called Palaces than Tents being of a large extent richly wrought within adorned beyond their Houses accommodated with stately Furniture with all the convenience of the City and Country and in my opinion far exceed the magnificences the best of their Buildings for being but for few years continuance the maintenance of them is beyond the expence of Marble and Porphery or the perpetual Edifices of Italy durable to many Olympiads and Myriads of years With these Houses and movable Habitations which with the Posts that support them are