cesternes vauted supported some by vaultes and othersom by a great number of pillars and diuers other fragments of Antiquities Of the Castle of seuen towres by rhe Turkes called Iadicula Chap. 17. VPon the corner of the citie wich stretcheth towards Gallipoli nere vnto the Sea side there is as before I haue said a very strong castle compassed with seuen great towres enuironed wyth hygh and strong walles furnished with a good quantitie of artillerie which castle is by the Turkes called Iadicula for the keeping whereof there is a captaine called Disgarda a man of great reuenewes and authoritie which ordinarily hath vnder him fiue huÌ„dred dead payes called Assarelis which haue all been lanissaries and haue euery one of them for theyr wages fiue thousand Aspres by the yeere there the great Turk keepeth such gard for that he and other Emperours Turkes his predecessours haue alwayes there kept their treasures and yet the great Lord commeth thither very seldome Of the Sarail wherein the great Turke dwelleth Chapter 18 VPon the corner of the citie which the Grecians haue called S. Demetrius the ancients the Promontorie Chrisoseras which stretcheth towardes the Easte right against the mouth of the port standeth the Sarail where ordinarilie the great lord Turk doth resede wheÌ„ he is at Constantinople and this Sarail is inclosed with strong high walles being in circuit about two miles in the midst wherof vpon a little hil is to be seen a faire delectable garden which beginning on the middest of the mount discendeth towards the Sea there are diuers little houses dwelling places with a gallery standing vpoÌ„ columnes after the forme of a monastarie round about the whiche are about 200. chaÌ„bers therabout the great Turk dwelleth for the most part of the sommer for that it is a place both high of a fresh aire abounding of good waters in times past these inhabitatioÌ„s haue bin of the dependeÌ„ces of S. Sophie but Baiazet the 2. caused theÌ„ to be deuided and in the midst therof caused a principal house to be builded within the which in the lower chaÌ„bers to eschew the Northeast wind of the Grecians called Boree Aparctie as coÌ„ming froÌ„ the party of Arctus whiche in greek signifieth a she Bear which by the Bosphore Thracien coÌ„meth out of the great sea he dwelleth all the winter A litle more below was another smal habitation al made of very cleare glasse ioyned tyed together with roddes of Tin in forme of a rounde Hemisphere vnder which by wonderful artifice passed a faire cleare fountain which sweetly disceÌ„ding by the same Hemisphere spreadeth ouer the whole garden In this place Baiazet in sommer ofteÌ„ went to refresh himself and pas his sleep ouer with the sweet noice of the waters but now the most part thereof being ruined the water hath taken his course towards other places within this coÌ„passe is as yet the Sarail of Sultana wife to the great Turke garnished with bathes most magnificque nere vnto the same a place for yong childreÌ„ which are pages being notwithstaÌ„ding estemed as slaues are there nourished instructed and exercised aswell in their religion as to ryde horses to shoote and doe all other warlyke exercises euen from their age of eight niene or ten yeeres vnto twentie the ordinarie number of these children being commonly about fiue or sixe hundred There is also a great stable within the which the Turk ordinarily keepeth forty or fiftie of his most fayrest horses The first and greatest gate wherby meÌ„ enter into this Sarail on the fide of S. Sophia is very great and well set forth with letters of gold and leaues of diuers colours after the fashion forme Iamesque through the same they enter into a great and large place vnpaued at the head whereof between two great towres is another gate garded by a nuÌ„ber of Capagis Ianissaries who vpoÌ„ the same haue their furnitures weapons hanging for there all those that do resort vnto the Sarail or court doe accustomably alight of their horses from thence go on foot into another great Court where the Baschas three times in the weeke giue publique audience vnto all commers of what nation or religion soeuer they be aswel in matters politique as processes other differences And notwithstaÌ„ding the number of the people comming together from all partes is very great yet suche silence is kept that yee could scarce say that the standers by did either spit or cough In the middest of this court is a very fayre fountaine set about with diuers faire cypres trees and below the garden towards the point of the Sarail whereupon the sea beatâ—th is another gate neare vnto which is a small pauillion out of the which the great Turk embarketh when he wil go to passe the time in his garden which he hath caused too bee made in Natolie in the place by the Turkes called Scutary by the auncients Calcedon and for this intent are ordeined two Brigantins vppon one of which hee is embarked by Bostaugi Bassi Captaine of the gardens gardiners and the other Brigentin followeth after being kept reserued as at a moment to succour supply the instant necessities which might happen The great ladie and wife vnto the great Turk The great Sarail or Sarail of women Chap. 19. THere is moreouer within the middest of the citie the olde Sarail which first was builded and inhabited by Mehemet the second before the edification of that before mentioned whiche likewise conntaineth 2000. paces in circuit inclosed with hygh walles of fifteene cubites and of thicknesse accordingly without any towres it hath onely two gates wherof the one commonly standeth open being wel garded by Eunuches and the other almost neuer opened within this Sarail are diuers smal houses being separated with chambers kitchins and other necessary coÌ„modities whithin which do dwell the wiues concubines of the great Turk which in number are aboue 200. being the most part daughters of Christians some beyng taken by courses on the seas or by land aswel fâ—om Grecians Hongarians Wallachers Mingreles Italians as other christian nations some of the other are bought of merchants and afterwardes by Beglierbeis Baschas and Captaines presented vnto the great Turke who keepeth them within this Sarail wel apparrelled nourished entertained vnder streight keeping of the Eunuches and euery ten of them haue a Matrone too instruct gouerne and teach them too woorke all sorts of needle woorkes The captaine of this Sarail called Capiangassi is also an Eunuch or a gelded man hauing for his wages threescore Aspres euery day and is clothed twise a yeere with cloth of silk he hath vnder him fortie Eunuches which supply the common seruice of these Dames of whiche the great Lorde taketh his pleasure when hee thinketh good and if it so come too passe that any of them be gotten with childe he causeth her to be separated from the other
the chief of them are made keepers of the castles hauing euerye one of them like wages as before they had by reason wherof none of them can decay into such miserable pouerty but that by reason of their wages ordinary they alwayes haue good meanes to liue The figure following doth liuely represent vnto you the proportion of the Ianissary about the gates of the great Turke or at Constantinople The Ianissarie or Ianissarler being a souldier on foot and of the ordinary gard of the great Turk Of the Bolukz Bassis being captains of 100. Ianissaries Chap. 5. THe Bolucks Bassis are chiefs of a band or captains of a 100 Ianisâ—aries hauing a pension of 60. Aspres by the day mounted on horseback and apparrelled according to the manner presented by the figure following Like vnto which are also they whom they do cal Oda Bassis which are chiefe of the chaÌ„bers or tenthmen And although they are apparrelled after the fashion of the Bolucz Bassis yet haue they but 40. Aspres by the day Their number is 3. or 4. hundreth and their office that wheÌ„ the gret Lord goeth to the Mosquee or into the fields to sit vpoÌ„ faire horses wel and richly harnished and in very good order before the esquadre of the Ianissaries being in their handes a launce or light spere after their fashion and vppon their saddle bow their roundel the Busdeghan being the mase of armes and being thus mouÌ„ted and armed with their great tufts of feathers vpon their heads they seem in their appearance proude and hawty and feareful to those that do see them comming a farre off being of such a shew that the number of them which is about 400. sheweth more in sighte then a 1000 of our horses would do These Bolucz Bassis being growen into age and discharged for that they can serue no longer in the warres are committed as Captains to keepe the places fortes and castles with a recompence equiualent vnto their accustomed sallery wages Boluch Bassi Captaine of one hundreth Ianissaries Of the Ianissarie Aga being Captaine general of the Ianissaries Chap. 6. THe Captain general of the Ianessaries by the Turkes called Ianissarie Aga or simply Aga or Agach which in their language signifieth a staffe hath a 1000. Aspres in wages by y t day 6000. duccats of Timar which we do cal peÌ„sion is clothed 5. times in the yeere with good cloth of gold silk And moreouer is furnished of victuals all other thinges necessary for the supporting of his house estate he hath vnder him a Chechaia or Protegero which is as his LieuetenaÌ„t general ouer al the Ianissaries hauing for his wages 200. Aspres a day and 30000. Aspres of pension He hath vnder him also a Ianissairiazigi which is to say a Cleark of the Ianissaries which hath for his stipende a 100. Aspres by the day but no yeerely pension This Aga hath 2. or 3. hundreth slaues of his owne for his seruice is a man set in such estate dignity and authority that oftentimes it hapneth that he marrieth the daughters or the sisters of the great Turke And whensoeuer he keepeth his court and house open which he doth twise in the weeke he is bound to giue a breakefast or repast vnto the the Ianissairies cause theÌ„ to be serued with bread ryse mutton water they are bouÌ„d to present theÌ„selues euery morning at his house to know whether he wil command them any thing thereupoÌ„ proÌ„ptly too obey him and as often as the great Turke goeth into the countrie or too the Mosquee the Aga rydeth alone after the Esquadre of the Ianissaries mounted vpon some fayre Turkie or Barbarie horse the saddle and other furnitures wrought with goldsmithes workes and set with pretious stones hee being clothed in a long gown of cloth of gold frised or els of veluet or Crimson sattin as yee may see in the figure followinge which I haue onely represented on foote hoping in the thirde volume to set him foorth marching on horseback in his order as also all the other housholde officers of the great Turke Aga captaine generall of the Ianissaries Of the Solaquis archers and of the ordinarye garde of the greate Turke Chap. 7. THe Solaquis are 300. in number chosen and picked out of the most strongest and most excellent archers amongst the Ianissaries for the ordinary garde of the bodye of the greate Turke and are al clothed in one liuery of damaske or white satten wearing their garment long behind and before short and tucked vp with a large rich Turky girdle of golde and silke and vppon their head a high hat of white felt and set behynde a great plume of Estrige feathers of indifferent greate pryce They weare for their armes a Cemiterre and in their hande a bowe guilded being bent with an arrow ready to shoote and a quiuer vpon their backe And whensoeuer the Turk goeth into the fields or to the Mosquee they march in this order two and two about his person to wit a ranke on the right side whiche are lefthanded and another vpon the left being right handed obseruing this order because that if it shuld happen for necessitye or pleasure of the Lorde it should behooue them to loose their bowes they should not turne their backs towards him for that they take the same for a great vnreuerence shame and dispraise and vpon this occasion they are called Solaquis or Czolachers which is to say left handed men Now if that the Lord going through the countrey must passe through a Riuer or brook they must also wade through it but true it is that if the water do come vnto their knees the Lord giueth euerye one of them for a present fiftie Aspres and if it passe aboue the gyrdlesteed they haue a hundred Aspres and if they must wade deeper one hundred fifty But if the water be too furious deepe they passe through it on horsebacke and is to bee vnderstood that they haue not suche a present at euerye Ryuer whiche they doo passe but onelye at the firste and at the other nothing at al. Their wages are from twelue to fifteene Aspres a day and are cloathed and hoased twise a yeere as the other Ianissaries but are not subiect as the other are to watch or ward nor goe vnto the Sarail but when the great Lorde meaneth to ryde into the fieldes or to the Mosquee They haue two Captaynes called Solach Bassis which haue euery of them threescore Aspres a day their liueries and other necessaries as other Captaynes haue and goe on Horsebacke Solachi or Solacler archer ordinary and of the garde of the great Turke Of the Peicz or Laques of the gerat Turke Chap. 8. BEsides the number of these Solaquis the great Lord hath 40. Lackies being Persians called in their language Peicz or Peiclars euery one hauing eight or ten Aspres by the day and twise in the yeare new clothed
of the great Bairam whiche is their Easter The third is the Chechaia or Stewards ordeined to ouersee al that which shal go out or into the kitchins to take order in al differences which might arise amongest the cookes and is prouided in wages like vnto the Emimmutpagi The 4. and last is called Muptariapagi who keepeth the books and accounts of the whole charges of the kitchins hath the charge to ordayne from day to day the meat for the diet of the great Lord and for this office he hath but 30. Aspres by the day and this is the estate of the Cookes and other officers of the kitchin of the great Turke and of his Sarail Now there resteth to speake of the dressing of their meat the ordinary maner of eating of the Turks which farre differeth from ours being so superfluous curious and delicate and our Cookes dressing the same accordingly wheras to the contrary theirs is scant bare and grosse without anye diuersities of lardings dressinges sawces ioyces and confections their Cookes being very simple dressers of meat as being neither dainty nor delicate in y e dressing therof For the Turks do content thēselues with slight meates easily dressed so as they be nourishing or restoratiue as Bucks flesh Goates fleshe Mutton Lambe and Kidde and certayne Hennes whereof there they haue as fatte and as sauery as in anye other place where I haue beene They do eate little beefe and lesse veale for they say that the cow hauing her calfe taken away from her would loose her milke and thereby should lack butter cheese and other whitemeat they hold the sheepes feet for a very delicate meate which ordinarily in diuers shops at Constantinople are set foorth to be solde readie sodden dressed with pilled garlike which is their common sauce at all times there are also to be sold pies of minced meate and rice dressed with butter and almonds very sauorie and of a good taste as for the fleshe they wyll rather eate it rosted then sodde and do roast the same in maner following They haue a great Iron potte of the bignesse of a ketle in the bottome whereof they doe lay red burning coales and ouer it a gredyron vpon the which they doe roast their flesh through the vapour and heate of the coales which can neither be wholsome nor daintie And to be short their kitchins Cookes are nothyng lyke vnto ours as for their drynke their most vsuall and common beurage is that which is natural vnto al beastes in the worlde too witte fayre and cleare water But they haue notwithstanding other drinkes artificially made and confectioned of diuers sortes which they doe sel in sundry places of the city Some made with water and barley after the maner of Ale some other of peares or apples or with the seething together of plummes reisons figges peares peaches and other lyke fruits of the beurage which they do cal Sorbet they do much vse to drinke in the sommer with yse or snow to coole the same They do also drinke much Aqua vitae both at and after meales which they cal Archent As for natural wine notwithstanding that by the Mahumetical law the drinking therof is forbidden them yet do they for all that leaue it nothing at all taking of it oftentimes so much in that scarce they are able to beare it But it is when it costeth them nothing for there is no nation in the worlde which seeke more theyr owne aduauntage then these Turkes doe specially when they maye get it of the Chrystians because they doe spend more and keep better cheere then they of their nation doe For example whereof I haue often times seene diuers of them of the principallest as Secretaries Dragomans and other officers of the great Turke which came to the lodging of Monsieur Darramont our Ambassador to banquet and make merry and without any curtesie drunk as much as pleased them which nothing was refused them but to the contrary the Ambassadour wel knowing their natural inclynation forgotte nothing which might serue for their good intertainment aswell with delicate meats as diuers sortes of good wines both Malmesies and Muscadels wherof they do stuffe thēselues so ful that oftentimes in going home to their houses the largest broadest streets in the city are too narrow for them And are so farre from shame and honest ciuility that they doe not thinke they haue made good cheere nor attribute any honour vnto those that haue feasted them except they bee made beastly drunk Notwithstāding that by theyr law as I haue said they are specially forbidden to drinke wine or to bee drunken wherat they make no great scruple lesse sinne so as they may drink free without their cost They haue another order to make themselues drunk without wine which is with their Opium being a composition made with a white stuffe wherof the Turkes doe not only vse but also the Persians and other people of Leuant through the opinion which they haue that it maketh thē to forget choler melancholy so causeth them to be ioyfull and merry and in the warres more stoute and hardy Of which Opium after they haue taken in of it about a Dragma doth so worke with them and maketh them so out of square that they loose both their wits and vnderstanding for they go reeling about the streetes holding one of another as the other Drunkardes doe foming out of the mouth like vnto chafed boares making fierce and terrible cries and howlings like vnto doggs And being in this case it is not good for Iewes or Christians to meet with them least they should be well beaten with fystes or cudgels But those which are most to be feared in the meeting are those 3. kinds which in the former chapter I haue liuely described vnto you to wit the Azamoglans the Leuentis and the Azappis being renied Christians and mortall enemies vnto all Christians and those which do vnto them the most wrongs and outrages and thus ye haue heard of the manner of eating and drinking of the Turkes farre differing from ours But because I will not forgette to touch the manner of the apparrell of these Cooks I wil say that they do weare a long coate of marokin or leather closed and shutting the same vppon the brest with great flat buttons of tinne insteed of siluer wearing on their heads a white Zarcole like vnto the Ianissaries but without any fringe of gold or other enrichment in al respects as the figure following doth represent vnto you A Cooke of Turkie Of the Phisitions of Constantinople Chap. 12. IN Turkie and principally at Constantinople are found dyuers Phisitions professing the Arte of physicke and exercysing the practyse thereof but a greater number of the Iewes then Turkes amongest the which there are many that are skilfull in Theorica and experimented in practise and the reason wherefore in this Arte they doe commonly exceede all
yee see in the figure â—ollowing But the richer sort goe more brauely costly apparrelled for they weare their Doliman either of veluet satten or damaske on their head a long myter figured with flowers of diuers colours couered with a great cloake hanging downe behynde to the ground the men are apparrelled after the fashion of the other Graecians obseruing the same fayth and religion and obeye vnto the Patriarche of Constantinople A woman of Caramania Of Cilicia presently called Caramania Chap. 15. AS for the countrey of Caramania first called Cilicia of the name of Caelix the sonn of Agenor according to Herodote Hipachea is described by Ptolome in his fift booke as a prouince of little Asia hauing for her borders towardes the East the mount Aman presently called the blacke mountaine of the North the mount of Taur of the west side a part of Pamphilia and on the other part of the South the vttermost partes of the goulph Issique which now is called â—asse This region is enuyroned with high and sharpe mountaines from the whiche drop towardes the sea diuers riuers And of these mountaines the issues are very narrow and streight of the one other side enuironed high with mountains first called the ports of Armenia afterwards the mountains of Caspie presently of Silicia through which narrow streights Alexander the great going into the East parties with great perilles and daungerous hazard made his armie to passe The principall and Metropolitan citie of this couÌ„trie is Tharse vulgarely called Terrase being the place of birth and houshold of S. Paul which first was founded by the noble Perseus sonne of the faire Danae Although Solin and pope Pius attribute her first edification vnto Sardanapal the last sonne of Anacindaraxe and last king of the Assyrians through the midst of the same Countrie runneth the fayre riuer Cydne or Caâ—ne by the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ called the riuer of Salef which takes her spring from the mount of Taur and wherein was drowned the Emperour Frederike Barberosse Vitruuius in his eight book and third chapter saith that if they did wash their legs within this riuer Cydne that incontinent after they should finde them selues cleansed and healed of their disease The Tarsians were in times past so giuen to philosophie that they excelled the Athenians and Alexandrians notwithstanding that the Athenians were more famous and renowmed in straunge countries and that their Citie was more frequented with al sorts of people Neuerthelesse the Tarsians were in philosophy more excellent and of their citie tooke origin Antipater Archelaus Antenor Marcel Diogenes Artemidore Dionisius and Crates the Grammarian Besides Tarse the head citie of Cilicia there is another renowmed citie of the auncients called Coryce and of the modernes Curth of all sides enuironed with a haueÌ„ of the sea sauing of one side being very streight which ioyneth vnto the firme land Aboue this citie there is an Antherne a caue or denne which Pomponius Mela saith to be made by such singular artifice of nature that the admiration excellency and soueraigne beautie thereof carrieth those that enter into it out of their proper senses and memory and almost rauisheth and taketh awaye the spirites of those whiche vppon the sodaine enter intoo it But after they are come to themselues they cannot satisfie them of the pleasure which is there For for to come to the bottom of this heauenlike denne you doe discend by a faire stare about 3. quarters of a myle indelectable and shadowed where is heard a harmony more then humaine certaine sounds agreeing sounding like vnto symbals or other melodious instruments which greatly abasheth and seemeth marueilous to those that firste enter into it So as in times past the inhabitauntes of the countrie by superstitious opinion did thinke that this sounding caue was the sepulchrall bedde of the valiaunt Gyant Typhon In the playne fieldes which are about Coryce or Curth groweth abundance of very good saffron giuing more smel being more like vnto the colour of golde and more profitable in medicines then any other hath for the singularitie thereof by the ancients been called saffron of Coryce Tarse therefore and Coryce are two the most famous and renowmed Cities of Cilicia or Caramania although there be diuers others of good and antique name as Selimontis in the honour of the good Emperor Traian after his death consecrated in his name and called Traianopolis There is also Satalia cituated vpon the sea coast of Cilicia whereof hath taken the name the goulfe of Satalia aunciently called Issa and presently Iasse about this place Alexander the Macedonian vanquished and ouercame the great Darius kyng of the Persians by reason whereof the Citie was called Nicopolis which is to say towne of victory Moreouer in the same region is as yet resting the auncient towne of the Sun called Heliopolis or to say better Solos or Soloe for that Solon one of the seuen sages of Grecia was founder therof and afterwardes by the name of Pompe was called Pompeiopolis for that in the time of the triumphaunt Rome the Cicilians dwelling along the coast of the Mediteran sea a people beeing acquainted with the seas exercising the nauigation Pirates Coursaries and Skummers of the sea stood vp in so great number and so strong men giuen to piracie of vessels and ships necessarie for that purpose as Foysts and Brigantins that they possessed and kept the Sea side in such distresse that they did not onely let and anoy the merchaunts shippes and shippes of warre but likewise kept the portes and passages so shutte that they kept away the corne and victuals from all Italie whereby the Romane people were in danger of being famished Wherfore as Flore writeth in his Epitome Pompee was sent against them with an armie which through marueilous diligence and speede within fortie dayes ouercame them and chased them cleane out of the sea and in the ende hauing on the land taken them into mercie sent them into certaine townes and landes in Cilicia farre from the Sea there to dwell and liue and too the ende to purge the sea and namely assigned newe inhabitants in the towne then called Soloe and since vpon this reason Pompeiopolis The Cilicians were in times past called Tarses as Iosephus writeth theyr denomination hauing taken that name of Tarse nephewe vnto Iaphet who first gaue them the order too liue bearyng ouer them the principalitie and gouernement Likewise called after hys name theyr chiefe citie Tarse Nowe a dayes the whole Cilicia is as I haue sayde called Caramania a countrie reduced vnder the puissaunce and domination of the great Turke whiche before was a kingdome so puissaunt that the kinges of Caramania might haue brought intoo the fielde fortie thousande menne on horsebacke yea that Orcan Lorde of the Turkes sonne and successour of the firste Othoman who made himselfe chiefe of the Turkes and that first gaue the name of his noblenesse to their Emperors durst wel for
report great praise of Vlisses For that he knew many mens manners and saw many cities And as histories beare witnesse of Mithridates the King of Pontus whose peregrinations and expeditions into forreyne landes was so beneficiall that besides a number of vnnamed commoditities he had the exquisite vse of two and twenty sundry tongues But nowe Right honorable and Noble to stop this flowing streame of wordes I leaue to the leuell of your exact considerations the manifold vtilities of peregrination because you are completely furnished with knowledge and experience in that behalfe not seuered but vnited Beseeching you to accept at my handes with no lesse fauour and well liking than is presented with hearty goodwill and honest meaning a work extant in French published in Duitch now printed in English at my costes charges for the general profite pleasure of the studious and al such as delight in nouelties Wherin thinges no lesse straunge and true are remembred than eyther Christopherus Colonus noteth in his voyage to the Indies or Petrus Martyr de Angleria mentioneth of the West Ocean ylandes or Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus specifieth of the occidentall Indies or Ludouicus Wertomannus rehearseth of Arabia Aegypt Persia Syria Aethiopia c. or Maximilian Transiluan recordeth of the wonderfull nauigation of the Spaniards rounde about the worlde c. Hoping that your Honorable wisedomes wil esteeme of it as the commendable labours of an aduenturous and skilfull trauelled Gentleman doth requyre which is the vttermost and indeede all in all that I can wish sauing health and happye dayes to your Honors with the fulnesse of all vertue and perfect noblenesse Your Honors most humble to be commanded Iohn Stell The first Booke of the nauigations and peregrinations Orientals of Nicholas de Nicholaij of Daulphine Chamberlaine and Geographar Ordinarie of the King of Fraunce The departure and voyage of the Lorde of Aâ—amont Ambassadour for the King towardes the great Turke from Constantinople to returne into Fraunce Chap. 1. ABout the end of the yeere of our Lord 1550. The Lord of Aramont a wyse vertuous Gentleman after he had for many yeeres bin Ambassadour for the most Christian kings Frauncis the first of that name and Henrie the 2. towardes Soliman Emperour of the Turkes about certain affaires greatly importing his charge was by the said Soliman sent backe into Fraunce and departing froÌ„ the citie of Constantinople aunciently called Bizance and of the Turks Stambolda hauing trauayled through the countries of Thracia Macedonia Bulgaria and surmounted the height and sharpnesse of the mount Rhodope vulgarly called the mountes of siluer because of the siluer mynes that there are found and passed Morannia Bossina and Seruia whiche by the auncients was called Mysia differing from those whiche are in Asia came to Ragusa in times past called Epidauia a citie in Dalmatia most rich and famous cituated vpon the Sea Adriatique gouerned in common wealth as hereafter in his place shalbe declared From thence inbarking himselfe in a Brigantin passed along by the Goulphe Adriatique the coasts of Dalmatia Slauonia the Ile of Istria vnto the cytie of Venice afterwardes taking his iourney by land towardes Padoa Vincence Veronne Bresse other towns of the Seigniorie of Venice of the Grisons Switsers arriued in the end at Lyons and from thence to Roane where hee imbarked vppon the riuer of Loyre repayred to the king beyng in the citie of Blois where his maister did receyue hym with all royall humanitie and hauing well and at large vnderstanded the proceedinges in his charge and the cause of his comming often putting the same to the deliberation of his counsell his returne was finallye concluded and resolued and that for the more suretie of his voyage he shoulde returne by Sea To which intent and in consideration of his vertue and seruice hauing already honourably endued him with the estate of a Gentleman ordinarie of his chamber hee gaue vnto hym two Gallies of the best and best furnished that were within the haueÌ„ of Marseillie ordayned the knight of Seur a man of great experience and excellent iudgement to accompany him with his galliot well appointed and I for certaine causes was by his maiestie expressely commaunded to assist him in all places during his voyage The departure of the Lorde of Arramont from the Court to returne in his ambassadge into Leuant towardes the greate Turke Chap. iâ— THE sayde Lorde of Arramount thus beeyng dispatched with all thinges necessary for his voyage hauing taken his leaue of his maiestie and of all the Princes and Lordes of hys counsell we departed from Hoyron a house in Poytou moste faire and stately belonging vnto Monsieur de Boissij Knyght of the order and greate maister of his Maiesties horse about the last of May 1551. and in fewe dayes after beyng come to Lyons we embarked vpon the Rhone a riuer being one of the swiftest of al Europe to go downe into Auignion where my Lady of Aramount of most feruent desire and singuler affection was attending her husbande as hauing byn depriued of his presence more then tenne yeeres And there being arriued he was of her receyued wyth incredible ioye and contentation as also of the Gentlemen and Ladies dwelling within the Citie and thereaboutes his kinsmen and Allies who all came to visite and bidde him welcome Afterwardes about the ende of the fifteenth daye after wee had rested ourselues the Ambassadour being mindfully bent to his charge hauing sette an order in his housholde affaires and taken his leaue of all parties sent downe his traine by water himselfe went by land accompanied with his kinsfolke certain Gentlemen went to visit the countie of Tende gouernor Lieuetenant general for the king in Prouince at his house at Marignane the day folowing they both arriued at Marseillie were lodged in the kings lodging where within few dayes after the Ambassador was takeÌ„ with a grieuous sickenes which persecuted him so violeÌ„tly that men dispayred of his life NotwithstaÌ„ding he was so diligently tended succoured of God men that before the captain Coste his Lieuetenant had giuen order for the ful rigging of his gallies the knight de la Seure his Galliot he recouered his health so as the iiii day of the moneth of Iulie in the yeere before specified about euensong time the Ambassadour his coÌ„pany imbarked in his gallies The ankers being weied by force of oares we went to the yle of If distant froÌ„ Marseillye one mile at the fortresse wherof my Lord the county of Tende accompanied with the great prior of Rome the Lord of Carses the captain Marse captain Pier bon captain of the said fortresse diuers other captaines gentlemen souldiers with xv gallies there caused a supper to be prepared And after the table was takeÌ„ vp and leaue taken of both parties the said countie with his companie
returned to Marseillie we about the first watch sayled straight towards the port of Carry beyng distant froÌ„ the yle of If xij miles at which place we made prouision of fresh water for our gallies and reuiewe of the Gentlemen souldiers and other of our company the principal wherof were the afore named Knight de Seure with his Galliot The Lorde of Monteuand Daulphinois a manne at armes of the company of the saide countie of Tende with a frigat to accompany vs and to bring backe newes from vs. The Captayn Coste Lieuetenant of the Ambassadours gallies a nephew of his called Erasme The Lord of S. Veran brother vnto my Lady of Arramont The young Baron of London and the Lord Fleâ—ri both nephewes to the Ambassador the knight of Magliane the Lord of Corignac chamberlaine ordinary vnto the king who for his very long voyages and trauailes in the kings affaires in Leuant was after the said Lord of Arramont made chiefe Ambassadour but notwithstanding afterwards cleane forgetting the honour and good which he had receiued of the king his soueraine Lord and the crowne of Fraunce contrary to that whiche duty fidelity commanded him went ouer to the king of Spayne The Lord of Vilrailh also chamberlaine ordinary vnto the king a gentleman learned and of singuler experience who for that he had the duitch tongue besides the Latine and other languages very familiarly hath since diuers times vnder the reigne and commandement of king Henrie byn very honorably and happily imploied in great and honorable affaires towards the Princes and Potentates of Germanie the holy empyre Three gentlemen of Gascoignie being brethren called Iueuses the Lord of Saint Marie the Lord De la motte otherwise called Chasteau Regnaud the captaines la castelle Barges and Bartolome de Auignon Guiliam de Grantrie nephew of Monsieur de Laubespine presently elected and sent to Constantinople as other Ambassadors a nephew of mine called Claude de Bayard and diuers other of whom for auoyding of prolixity I leaue to speake The reuiewe being thus made and hauing returned on shore certaine vnfit eaters our ankers being weyed and our sailes displayed we sayled along by East and by North towardes the North of the cape De creo in Cathalonia which the Spaniardes call Capo de Creuses and after hauing passed Grece Tramontane sailed through the Spanish Seas towards the Iles Baleares so aunciently called but by the modernes Maiorque and Minorque whereof passing forwarde wee will make some more description Of the Iles Baleares now called Maiorqúe and Minorqúe Chap. 3. THE yles Baleares whiche were so called and deriued out of the name of Balee coÌ„panion vnto Hercules althogh the Grecians haue named them Gimnesie Diodore Gimnaisis yet are they vulgarely by the Mariners called Maiorque and Minorque being situated in the Spanishe or Beleare Sea according to the name of the saide ylandes The inhabitaunts whereof as Vegece writeth were the first inuenters of casting with the sling Maiorque after the opinion of Bordon in his Isolarie conteineth in circuite 480. myles although the maryners now adayes doe ascribe vnto it but 200 and in breadth 100. about whiche Iles there are certaine shelues wherof the one which lyeth towardes the South is called Cabrera the other towardes the West Dragonera The saide Ilande hath two cities Palme nowe called Maiorque or Mallorque accorcording to the name of the Iland and Polence now called Alcidia Minorque hath in length 60. miles in circuit 150. to the East stretcheth from Maiorque 30. miles hath also according to the modernes two cities of which the one is called Minorque but aunciently Mugo and the other Iamma nowe called Citadella And although Minorque is lesse then Maiorque yet in goodnesse nothing inferiour for certainely both are very fertile and haue good ports Of the Iles by the auntients called the Pitieous Iles and nowe Ieuâ—â—e and Fromentiere Chap. 4. FRom the Baleares wee sayled towardes the Iles called Pitious which in times past were called Ebuse and Ophicuse â—â— that all the people moued at it runne to the mole head to see vs enter into the port where we being entred Cotignac was again sent with the Chiaous to the king to aduertise him of our arriual who stayed not but straightwayes ther came with him diuers other Chiaous captaines and Ianissaries to receiue the Ambassadour presenting him with a fayre horse of Turkie harnished after the fashion of a Spanish Gennet to bring him to the pallace which standeth in the middest of the citie wher comming in good order we entred into the lower court from whence the Chiaous which first was come with Cotignac conducting vs brought vs into another court somthing lesse then the first in the midst wherof was a smal pond foursquare paued with marble stones And at the end which is toward the South stood against the wal a great fountain for the common seruice of the house and at one of the sides was a great stayre of wood whiche did ascende into a long gallerie standing vpon pillers some of diuers marber stones some of white stone in the middest of the pauement which was of Marberstone made very artificially a small fountaine beeing no higher set then the pauement besides a seate which did enuiron it The king being apparelled in a gowne of whyte Damaske sate at the ende of the said Gallerie vpon a very fayre and costly seat a little from hym was his Capi-aga which is the Captain of his estate cloathed in a long gowne of crymson Veluet wyth a Tulbant vppon his head holding in hys hande a long staffe of siluer neare vnto hym were his Capagis which are Porters euerye one hauing in his hand a staffe couloured greene a little further were in a range the kings slaues bearyng on theyr heads a Saracoll of Crymson veluet and before the front the bande a siluer socket set with long feathers and certaine stones of small value And there the Ambassadour hauing done his reuereÌ„ce to the king in kyssyng of hys handes the kyng caused him to sit downe by him and after certaine talke the Ambassadour shewed hym his commission and so tooke his leaue of him and returning too his Gallies was accompanied by those whiche brought him vp The whole day after we were visited of a great number of Turks Moores to whom of our partes was made good cheere during foure dayes the king sent to vs euery day sixe oxen and xxi muttons The captaynes of the Gallies of Alger and other Turks and Moores brought vnto vs all sortes of frutes as Peares Apples Figs Reasons and millons of excellent goodnesse certain bread without leauen like vntoo cakes or bunnes To eueri of theÌ„ was giuen som money which increased their good will to returne often For in al the world is no nation like to them in theft and couetuousnes we
the Sea Mediterane giuen all to whoredome sodometrie theft and all other most detestable vices lyuing onely of rouings spoyles pilling at the Seas and the Ilande beyng about them and with their practick art bryng dayly too Algera number of pore Christians which they sell vnto the Moores and other merchauntes of Barbarie for slaues who afterwarde transport them and sell them where they thinke good or els beating them miserably wyth staues doo imploy and constraine them too woorke in the fields and in all other vile and abiect occupations and seruitude almost intollerable And therfore it is not to be marueyled at though these poore Christian slaues made of it no scruple at all in putting of vs in danger to set themselues at libertie Without the Citie towardes the West are manye fayre and pleasaunte Gardens sette and adourned with diuers trees brynging foorth fruites of all sortes Amongest other thinges there bee milons of marueylous goodnesse and incomparable sweetnesse they haue also another frute called Pateque which the Italians call Anguries beeing like in bignesse and colour to our greene citrouilles in winter which they eate rawe wythout bread or salt and hath a tast so delicate sweete that it melteth in ones mouth giuing a water as it were sugred and serue greatly to refresh and digest About theyr Gardens are many Welles full of good water and the grounde there aboutes although it is mountaines and vallies is verie fertile for frutes and vines On the other part towards the East wythout the towne runneth into the Sea a small riuer called Sauo which serueth well aswell to drinke of as other commodities and also maketh many mylles to grynde The course of the Sea from the Cape of Marfuz where as yet are seene the foundations of the auncient citie Tipasa which in times paste was by the Emperours of Rome honoured in prayse of the countrie Latine doth bow wind lyke vnto a Crosbowlath and all along the riuer and the shoare the Moorishe women and mayden slaues of Alger doe goe too washe theyr lynnen being commonly whole naked sauing that they weare a peece of cotton cloath of some strange colour to couer their secrete partes which notwithstanding for a litle peece of money they will willinglie vncouer They weare also for an ornament about theyr necke armes and legges great collers or bracelets of latten set wyth certaine false stones But as for the wiues of the Turkes or Moores they are not seene goe vncouered for they weare a greate Bernuche made of a blanket of white blacke or violet colour which couereth theyr whole body and the head And to the end yee shoulde more easilye comprehende the maner of all theyr apparrel I haue thought good in the ende of this present Chapter liuelye too sette foorth vnto you a woman as shee goeth in the streete and a maiden Moore beeing a slaue The seconde daye after our arriuall at Alger I founde the meanes for moneye and withe fayre woordes too hyre a renyed Spaniarde too conducte and leade mee thorowe all places that I most desired too see So as by his meanes I saw and learned many things within iiii or v. dayes that we were there in quiet And namely brought me vpon a high mountaine being a myle from the towne to see behold the cituation of a very strong and great tower beeyng buylded vpon another mountaine there neere about gently enquiring of him what strength the tower might be of he declared vnto me that the bredth of the ditches about the same was xvij brases sauing about the gate entry into it towardes the North it was only seuen fadomes broade and twoo speare lengths deep Moreouer he saide vnto me that within the fortresse there were niene great cast pieces and xviij other as wel mynions as faw conets other and that in the middest of the tower there was a wel of very good water vpon the height therof standing a windemill and another standing without the gates And that xxx ordinary souldiers are committed within it to keep the same And to make shorte that this tower was made to none other intent as also others since haue confirmed then for the garding and keeping of the fountayne heads which from thence are brought and conueyed vnder the water into the citie A Woman Moorisque of Alger in Barbarie as she goeth in the streetes A Mayden Moorisque being a slaue in Alger By what meanes Cairadin Barberousse came to be king of Alger Chap. 9. ALger was long time vnder the dominion of the king of Telensin vntil such time as they of Bugie chose a newe Kyng vnto whom they gaue and rendred them selues as his tributaries because he was neerer vnto them then the king of Telensin and that he could sooner helpe them if need were But in processe of time perceiuing themselues to bee as it were free and out of al doubt armed certaine shippes too the sea wyth the which they became suche Coursaires or pirates that in short time they annoyed by their pyracies robberies on the Sea not onely the coast of Spayne but also all the Mediterane ylandes Whiche perceiuing Ferdinando the king Catholike sent to Alger a great army to assiege them for to keep them in most distresse caused with a marueilous readinesse a forte to be made in a smal yland which lyeth before the citie keeping them by that meanes so straightly besieged that in short time they were constrained to require a truce for ten yeeres Which was agreed vnto them vpon condition of a certayne tribute which they payed vntill the death of king Ferdinando for then they espying a conuenient tyme and meanes too breake the truce and to set them selues at liberty called vnto them Cairadin Barba-rousse who after the siege of Bone retired to the castle of Gegill standing in the coast of the Mediterane Sea vppon the toppe of a high rock 70. myles from Bugie who being by them chosen too be their chiefe captaine gaue many fierce assaults vnto the fortresse so as he put the Spaniards too flight and incontinent after caused it to be ruined and pulled downe euen to the foundation He then seyng so happy successe of his enterprise could no longer abyde to be as companion but in a bath traiterously slew a prince of Arabie called Selim who declared himself to be Lord of the Citie Afterwardes forsaking the name of a Captayne any longer caused himselfe to be called king and coyned money vnder his name and so wel guided his affayres that in short time after he brought all his neighbours about him to become contributory vnto him Such was the beginning of the magnificent estate of Cariedin Barbe-rousse after whose death his brother Hariadne succeeded him in the kingdome after him his sonne Cassam who reigned at the time we arriued there Of the further procession of our Nauigation Chap. x. TO returne to the discourse of our nauigation
the sea side is not walled wee rested there one nighte but neuerthelesse came not a lande And in the morninge in the dawning of the daye beeyng with rowing gotten out of the porte wee founde a fresh wind which sayling brought vs before the goulph of Selimbrie which the modernes call Seliuree beyng an auncient city Trauishing this goulph a Northerly wynde came full in the face of vs and thought too haue made vs turne backe agayne but we laboured so that we passed the mouthes of the flouds Athiras which is also called Pidaras and presently Ponte Picciolo and Bathinias nowe vulgarly Ponte grande and from thence we went to come too an anker at a fayre Casal called Flora which is builded on the brinke of the Sea within a wood of Cypres and dyuers other trees From thence the Ambassadour sent a manne by land towards Constantinople too signifie his comming too his Secretary Phebus whom hee hadde left there as hys Agent which was vppon a Saterday beyng the nienteenth of September hauing agayne weighed our ankers wee recouered by force of oares the Casal of Saint Stephano which hath a very good port And there are seene certayne monumentes of olde walles beyng of great apparence The sayde Casal hath a small cape before which lye certayne small rockes and wee perceyuing the weather to be very close came to an anker in the Sea which wee hadde not so soone done but the raine ouertooke vs with such an impetuosity and violence that it semed that the skies would fall After supper the rayne beyng ceasâ—ed and the ankers weighed with strength of rowing we coasted along euen right ouer against the first corner of Constantinople in whiche place are seuen towres by the Turks called Iadicula within whiche the great Turks one after another haue kept their tresure for the keping wherof there are 500. meÌ„ ordinarily called Assarelis all beyng slaues vnto the great Turke and which haue bin his Ianissaries Their chiefe called Disdarga is a manne of great praise and authority From the said Casal S. Stephano vnto the 7. towers are seen diuers walles ruined and many faire mines whereof are taken great quantity of stone too builde the Mosquee of the great Turk other edifices of the city There came too visit vs in a boate a gray fryer of Calabria called brother Iohn with a certaine Grecian being both of the Ambassadors familie vnto whom they presented a letter from his Secretary Agent being very glad to heare good newes of his aâ—â—ayres and houshold we passed a good part of the night with talke making good cheer for the sayd Frater hadde brought with him a great bottle which the Grecians cal Ocalips ful of good muscadel with a quaÌ„titie of Plaisantin cheese certain sauceges and other good and acceptable refreshments to make vs mery with Aftarwards when euery one had prepared himselfe too goe to his rest about twelue of the clocke arose a fierce colde wynde wyth a sharpe showre of rayne whiche contynued vntyll the morning and so soone as it beganne too ceasse the Ambassadour returned the Gray Fryer and we hauing weighed our ankors rowed alongest by the Citie too recouer the poynt of the Sarail whiche is the seconde and moste eminent corner The wynde and the rayne tooke vs agayne wyth suche a furour and impetuosite that it euidentlye seemed heaueÌ„ earth wold haue gone together Notwithstanding the great desire which the Ambassador and his had to ioyne with a place so loÌ„g desired taking a good heart setting al feare aside we did vse such force that in despite of the rayne wind furye of the sea we gate the point of the Sarail but as wee thought to enter into the channel we found the streame that commeth froÌ„ Bosphore of Thracia so violent outragious besides that the wind was altogether contrary so as it was not possible for vs to enter but were constrayned not without great danger to passe ouer into Calcidonie and Natolie to passe along by the tower of the gard lying in the sea called the tower of â—anissaries to get aboue the streame working so forcibly with ores that wee entred into the port at the entring wherof were put out all the flags baÌ„ners streames gailliadets of our gallies our artyllery charged wherwith we saluted them before the Sarâ—il to be short thanks be giuen to God being the souerain pilot of al those that trust in him which in so long a voyage had safely coÌ„ducted vs being escaped out of many great dangers we went to take our harborowe on the side of Constantinople where the first Dragoman of the great Turk called Hebrahim a gentlemaÌ„ of Polonia of the Mahumet sect diuers other great personages Turks came to receiue the ambassadour assoone as he was landed accompanied with the Lord of Cotignac the yong Baron of Lodon S. Mary the yong Iueusse Serres me with certain others of his houshold hauing caused him to light on a faire horse which was brought for him was conducted vntoo the house of Rostan Bascha who receiued him with great couÌ„tenance of friendship And after being returned vnto the gally we crossed the channel to go towards Pera where he was also receiued with tokens of great ioy and gladnesse of all the christian inhabitaunts the most part of which accompanied him to his lodging which happened the 20 day of September anno 1551. being the 78. day after our departure from Marseille Of the foundation of Bizance now called Constantinople Chap. 12. BYzance called Constantinople is a citie moste famous by Strabo entituled Illustre and of Pliny and Iustin most noble cituated in Thracia now called Romaine a Region being one of the most fertil in al Europe vpoÌ„ the goulph of Poâ—thus which separateth Asia from Europe The forme therof is three square wherof the two sides are washed by the sea thâ—â—hyrd ioyneth vnto the firme land The soile therof is very deleâ—â—able bringing foorth all kinkes of good fruites necessary for sustenance of humane life the cituation wherof is so wel deâ—â—sed ordered that no shippe can enter nor go forth but with good wil of the Constantinopolitans being maisters of the sea Pontique which hauing 2. mouths the one coÌ„ming from Propontide the other froÌ„ the sea EuxinuÌ„ is by Ouid called tâ—â— port of 2. seas for the distance from Constantinople to Calcedon is but 14. furlongs the place which by the ancieÌ„ts is called Phane cituated in Asia wheras Iason returning from Calchos sacrificed vnto the 12. goddes hath in bredth but 10. furlonges But forsomuch as many great riuers of Asia and many more of Europe doe fall intoo the blacke and Euxine Sea 〈◊〉 commeth too passe that beeyng full she gusheth out through the mouth of her wyth great vyolence intoo the Sea Poâ—ticque and from thence through the streit of Hellesponthus beyng not much broader
hanging downe behind euen to the calfe of the legge but the widdowes weare the same coloured yeallow with saffron marching with great grauitie as ye may at large discerne by the three figures folowing A Gentlewoman of Pera Franque A Gretian woman of estate of Pera Franque A Mayden of estate of Pera. The thirde booke of the Nauigations and peregrinations orientall of N. De Nicolay of Daulphine Chamberlaine and Geographer ordinarie of the king of Fraunce Of the origin life and bringing vppe of the Azamoglans beeing children of tribute leuied vppon the Christians being Subiectes and tributaries too the great Turke The first Chapter AZamoglans are children which the Turk sendeth for to be leuied in forme of tribute frō 4. yeres to foure yeeres throughout al Grecia Albania Valaquia Seruia Bossina Trebisonda Mingrelia and all other prouinces of his Dominion of the Christians dwelling within the same taking away by tyranny more then barbarous of euery three male children one at the choise and will of the Cōmissarie and notwithstanding that all christians dwelling in these countries are not subiect vnto this kinde of tribute of soules yet are they so ouer charged with such excessiue Subsidies and exactions of money that oftentimes not hauing wherwith to pay him they are also constrained to giue deliuer their owne children into bodily seruitude eternall perdition of their soules a tyrannie I say again most cruell lamentable which ought too bee a great consideration compassion vnto all true christian princes for to stir prouoke thē vnto a good peace christian vnitie to apply their forces iointly to deliuer the children of their christiā brethren out of the miserable seruitude of these infidels which by outragious force rauish these most deare infants bodies free by nature from the lappes of their fathers mothers into a seruitude of enmity more then bestiall from baptisme to circumcision from the companie of the christian faith to seruitude Barbarous infidelity frō childly fatherly kindnes to mortal enmity towards their own blood for the executing of these lamentable leuyings are ordeined more then two hundred Commissaries which returning to Constantinople bring with them an incredible number of these chyldren amongest which the most fayrest are chosen to be put into the Sarail of the great Turke where they are nourished and brought vp in the law of Mahomet by diuers masters being Eunuches are instructed well to ride horses shooting and all other exercises of armes agilitie to the intent in processe of time to make them the more obeysant and apt too support all paines and trauailes of the warres or els they doe teach them to learne some art or occupation according to the capacitie of their spirit and such as amongst them are found to be the most grossest they are put some to carry water wood into the offices some other to make cleane the Sarail or in the winter too gather the snow which falleth from heauen for to carry the same vnder the grounde into a place called Carlich where it preserueth all the whole Sommer in hys accustomed nature and coldnesse without melting this being reserued in these colde places serueth in whotte weather too refreshe the great Turke his drinke the other are made gardiners or cookes or are put to serue the Ianissaries Spachis or captains vnto which degrees by succession time as fortune and vertue directeth thē they may attaine vnto themselues they haue for their wages two or three Aspres a day and are apparrelled and hosed twise a yeere with course blew cloth wearing on their heads a hygh yealow hatte made after the fashion of a suger loofe and are vnder a captaine called Agiander Agassi whiche hath for his prouision thyrtie Aspres a day clothed and apparrelled at the charges of the great Turke The finest of these Azamoglans are kept pretilie apparrelled according to their fashion And although they haue no skill of the art of musicke they do neuerthelesse giue themselues to play on diuers instrumentes and most commonly going in the steetes they doe sound vpon a thing very like vnto a Cittern which they call Tambora too which sound they do accord their voices with such an euill fauoured and vnpleasant harmonie that it were bad enough to make a Goat to daunce Of these instruments and of their apparrell yee may see the fourme naturally set forth as al the other are by the figure following Azamoglan or Iamoglan a childe of tribute Of the Azamoglans rustique Chap. 2. THE Deputies and Cōmissaries appointed for the leueing of the christian children after they haue put the fayrest pretiest of them into the Sarail of the great Turke send the other being the most rustique into the Natolie being little Asia towards Bursie and Caramanie to labour and till the ground and keepe the cattaile in the fieldes to the end to vse them to labour indurance in heat cold wether and to learne the turkish language And afterwardes at the end of 4 yeeres against which time others are leuied they are brought to Constantinople and deliuered to the Aga of the Azamoglans or Ianissairots which distributeth them in the seruice of the Ianisses or els causeth thē to be taught in som art or occupation seruing for the warres thus exercising in diuers places their apprentiships of Ianissairots are entertained brought vp as the others are at the charges of the great Turk except for the time y t they are in the Natolie wher they are nourished apparrelled at the charges of those whom they do serue Of these Azamoglans christian childrē Mahometised the venemous nature is so great mischieuous and pernitious that incontinent after they are taken from the lappes of their parents and instructed in the lawes of the Turkes they do declare themselues aswell by words as deedes mortal enemies vnto the Christians so as they practise nothing els then to doe vnto them all iniuries wrongs possible and how great or aged soeuer they become they wil neuer acknowledge theyr fathers mothers nor other friendes for by example I haue seene in Andrinople The great Turke being there a naturall vncle of the late Rostan first Bascha brother in lawe of the said Lorde which his poore vncle and certaine his nephewes christian men went openly a begging through the Citie without that the said Rostan beeing sprong vp of the rase of the Azamoglans wold vouchsafe once to know them and much lesse too doe them any good and yet some are found amongst them but very seldom that by their owne goodnesse vertue and noblenesse of hearte haue not so vnnaturally forgotten their blood natiue countrie nor humanitie and true religion but haue enclined finally returned vnto their naturall and primitiue vertue as of late the most valiant knight George Castriot by the Turkes called Scanderbegus which is to say the Lorde of Alexandria the most
new emperor succeeding they will neuer sweare fidelitie vnto him before he haue first granted vnto thē pardon for this kind of pillage in form of a gift or reward giuen vnto thē for a welcome this spoile made vpō y e Iewes christiās Being a custome certainly very barbarous cruel more then tyrannical whiche reasonably to consider aswel the time past present and too come is a true manifest token of the ruines threatned of this Oriental empire which by the same forces whereby nowe it is mainteyned shall one day be cleane ouerthrowen for euen as the Romaine Empire without comparison both greater and better ordered thē that of the Turks was ouerthrown in the end brought into decay from the time that the Caesars Antonines fayled the Pretorian legions which now adaies representeth the estate of these Ianissaries began to become rulers ouer their maisters vnder pretext of such a Militarie gift euen so by these means shal it happen vnto the Turkes for that was the beginning to make the empire vnto the world so odious that frō the election of the estate being come to a successiō inheritable was in the end made poison by the bands Pretorians other the legions Castrenses set at a price deliuered vnto him that offred most for it that vnder the title of a Militaire gift And also the emperor chosen by such corruptiō being once rid voyd of money those very same which had elected him slewe him for to haue a new one ful ready to giue with whō in few daies after they delt as with the former as also they did by y e old Iuliā with Partinax Maximiā Galba Otho Vitellius Caracola Heliogabulus diuers other wherby in the end the Romaine empire which before was the monarchy of the whole world cāe vnto ruine decay was ruled in diuers regiōs by sundry emperors tirants being chosen in euery place by their Legionaries who sold the title of the empire for a gift corrupted so finally fell in decay that of the greate name Emperiall in times past chiefe of the world there is almost nothing left then a shadow therof and that through an vsurped arrogancy vnder colour of a gift Military vsed by the Pretorians Captains souldiers And likewise according to the pleasure of this Monarque it shal happen vnto the empire of the Turks and that through the faction of these Ianissaries which one day shall choose a great Lorde to their owne wil to wit one that shal giue most vnto them suffer them to take al wherupon afterwardes they shall chase him out of the empire or rather kil him for a recompēce of his deserts therefore this warning pronosticated euidently founded vpon such pillage robbing of the merchants Iewes and christians may serue for all Princes that they do not suffer their people to be spoiled for whose defence they are chosen ordeined nor yet their subiects to be robbed through the licētious orders of the souldiers for fear least they by such custōable permissiō doe become arrogāt doe not ouermatch their chief be not the causers of his ruine as if he look not vnto it it cānot choose but must happen vnto the great Turke if he cut not his Ianissaries from such outragious pillage constraine them to content thēselues with their ordinary wages which are paid vnto thē from 3. moones to 3. moones as we might say from 3. moneths to 3. moneths for whereas wee reckon by the moneths the Turk counteth by the moons after the order of the greekes which called thē Neomenies which signifieth newe moones Of the Ianissaries going to the warres yee may see the naturall draught by the figure following The Ianissarie going to the warres Of the Ianissaries which are continually about the gates of the great Lord or at Constantinople Chap. 4. OF the Ianissaries some are married and some not married and for the dwelling and lodging of those which haue no wiues are ordayned 2. quarters within the city of Constantinople where they do dwel in time of quietnes peace and do ordinarily euery day and euery night by change and turnes to the number of fortie or fifty keepe watch and ward within the streets to the intent that no question or strife shoulde be mooued or any robbery be cōmitted within the citie bearing none other weapon then onely a long staffe of a cane of the Indies or of some other wood for that it is forbidden that none of what lawe estate or quality soeuer he be shal carry any weapōs about him The order in liuing of these Ianissaries is that they lay together a certain number of aspres by the day for their daily prouisiō which is prepared by a steward a cooke who do prouide their victuals as for the rest of their personall seruice those which amongst them haue the least wages do serue by bond for to get part of their expences by the other which haue more in this maner without any woman they do order their Economy The Ianissaries which are married doe abide dwell in the towns villages of Graecia and Natolie with their wiues liuing particularly by some kinde of meanes as they thinke good for the maintenance of their houshold And of both these estates of Ianissaries maried or vnmaried diuers of thē are sent abroad for the assistance seruice of strange Ambassadors of what law or natiō soeuer they be being come vnto the court of y e great Turk for any kind of busines so as euery Ambassadour hath 6. or 8. waiting on him for his gard conseruation or surety of his persō his house family so as to them or none of theirs be done any wrōg or iniury which if any shuld attempt to doe these Ianissaries haue full authority for to punishe suche by beating them with a staffe vpon their belly and buttocks yea sometime vnder the soles of their feet without that any dare withstande or resist them such is their greate authority And for this assured gard they haue of the Ambassadors aboue their ordinary wages 4. Aspres of pension by the day but vpon that they must fynde themselues and besides this they doe stand in hope that after they haue wel and truely serued the Ambassadors vnto whom they are set ouer as theyr gard by the approuing good report and laudable attestation of them for their merits and good seruice they may obtayne of the greate Turke augmentation of their wages or aduacement vnto a more higher degree to wit of Spachis Zainligelers Zagarzis or other more higher estates But when these men become to be olde so as they can serue no longer in the warres or that vpon any other occasion the great Lord wil haue them to be discharged of the states of Ianissaries they are sent as Assaries which is to say keepers of castles and towns whō we do cal dead payes
such drinke as their horses doe to wit faire and cleane water and so being gotten on horseback againe they proceed on their iourney Now to returne to our auncient Peicz the figure following setteth forth vnto you the manner of their going and forme of their apparrel The apparrel and auncient forme of the Peicz or Lackies of the great Turke Of the wrestlers of the great Turke called Gurelsis or Pleuianders Chap. 10. OF all the games anciently exercised in Asia and Grecia the Turke hath obserued the Palester of the Athletes which is too say the wrestling being very neare like vnto the old custom of the Greekes Asians Romans for the great Turks for one of his accustomed recreations entertaineth in wages o. men strong big set and full of flesh and sinewes which are of diuers nations but the most part Moores Indians or Tartares by the Turks called Peluianders or Guressis which signifieth wrestlers who at all times and as often as it shall please him to take therein his pleasure do wrastle before his person two and two with force of armes beeing bare on all their members sauing that they weare breaches of leather gathered made fast vnder the knee annointed with oyle as al the rest of their bodies likewise is according to the auncient custome of the Romans to the intent to giue or to take the lesse hold the one of the other by reason of the slipperous glyding of the oyle dropping vpon the dead leather or quick skinne whereby it commeth to passe that when they are wel chafed ofteÌ„times for lack of good hold with the hands they with their teeth do fasten vppon the flesh of the one other like vnto the fighting of the mastiffes with the Beares wild Buls in that order they doe bite and with their teeth nip one another in y e nose eares or any other part of the bodie sticking out or wher any hold is to be fastned on so as ofteÌ„times they do carry away a peece of the flesh with their teeth The wrestling being theÌ„ ended either through victorie or a signe of abstinence giuen and to wipe of the sweate they cast about their shoulders a cloath of blew cotteÌ„ checked according to their fashioÌ„ And such is their forme order apparrel and maner of their combat in wrestling but when they are wythout the barres and at common rest they are clothed with a long gowne which they do cal Dolyman girded with a large girdle of silke according to their maner their head being couered with a bonnet of blacke veluet or with the fur of a yong lamb which they cal Taquia haÌ„ging vpoÌ„ on of their shoulders after the fashion of the Georgians or the gentlemen of Polonia but that it is more euen straight they do say themselues too be impolluted of body obseruaÌ„ts of virginitie which in their opinion being not vnreasonable doeth the longer preserue maintaine their bodies in strength and what forces with their bodies abandoned soeuer they doe yet are they not therefore seruants or slaues but of free condition for their necessarie prouision haue of the great Lord ten or twelue Aspres a daye Of these like wrastlers strong big set men I haue seen a great many in Alger in Barbary which dayly about vhe going down of the Sun doe present themselues in the place neare vnto the hauen before the great Mosquee making place for al commers and there do wrastle after a fine strong maner for to make a shew pastime vnto the assembly beholders which therfore do giue vnto them a peece of money beeing fouresquare in the moorish speech called Giudith being worth about 4. deniers of our money The Prester â—an king of Ethyopia hath also of these wrastlers as lately hath written Francisco Aluarez in hys voyage of Ethyopia whereby is to be knowne that the people beyond the South East seas do as yet obserue the Palestres exercise of wrastling after the antiquitie of the Olmipicke games instituted by the valiant Hercules whiche in the same countrie of Mauritania and Afrike challenged and ouercame with wrastling the mighty Giant Antheus neuertheles Lactance firmian in his first booke doth attribute the first inuention of the Palestre vnto Mercurie as likewise he doth the playing on the fiddle In these figures following I haue liuely painted out vnto you these Peluianders as I haue seene them in Constantinople in the forme as they wrastle and in the other figure aswell of their making redie to the wrastlyng as after the game and finally of their ordinarie appparrell whiche they weare without the exercise Athletique and likewise haue represented vntoo you the draught of three drunkardes who after they haue well tippled themselues wyth their drinke which they call Sorbet or after they haue eaten of theyr pouder Opium goe howlyng about the streâ—tes like vnto Dogges and then it is euill for the Christians too bee neare them because of the perill they shoulde be in of being well beaten Pleuianders wrestling Pleuianders wrestlers The Drunkardes Of the Cookes and other officers of the Kitchin of the Great Turke and the ordinary maner of the eating of the Turkes Chap. 10. IT shall not be impertinent nor out of my purpose if I do speak and intreat of the estates officers duties wages seruices of Cooks other officers of the kitchin of the great Turke and therfore is to be vnderstood that ordinarily he keepeth within his Sarail 150. cooks aswel maisters as boies AzamoglaÌ„s amoÌ„gst which the best most expertest are chosen ordained for the priuy kitchin of the great Lord the other for the coÌ„mon sort The Maister cooks haue for their stipend 8. or 10. Aspres a day the boyes 3. clothed euery one of theÌ„ once in the yere those of the priuy kitchin haue their furnaces apart for to dresse and make ready the meat without smell of smoke which being sodden and dressed they lay into platters of purcelan and so deliuer it vnto the Cecigners whom we do cal caruers for to serue the same vnto the great Lord the tast beeing made in his presence the other cookes for the coÌ„mon sorte doe deliuer their meate vnto those whiche haue the charge of the distributing therof throughout the Sarail according to the order made by the officers therunto coÌ„mitted for ouer these two kitchins priuie common are set ordained foure superiours of whiche the first being in their language called Hargibassi is appointed to the charge keping therof to pay the cooks their wages hath for his pensioÌ„ 60. Aspres a day amounting to the valew of a ducat and euery yeere a gowne of silke The second is cal-Emimmutpagi whiche is to say chiefe kater ordeined for the disbursing of all the money charges of the kitchin and hath 50. Aspres a day a gowne such as it shall please the Turke to giue him vpon the day
other nations is the knowledge which they haue in the language and letters Greeke Arabian Chaldee and Hebrewe In which languages as to them partly peculiar and originall haue written the principall Authours of physicke and naturall phylosophie and Astronomie beyng the sciences meete and necessarye for those that study phisick Besides the common Phisitions which the Turkes call Echim the great Lord hath of his owne proper and ordinary waged wyth great stipendes and intertainments whereof part are Turkes and parte Iewes Hee which in the tyme that I was in Leuant had the first dignity and authority amongst the order of Phisitions was of nation an Hebrew called Amon of age aboue sixtie yeeres a personage great of authoritye and muche esteemed aswell for his goods knowledge and renowne as for honour and portlinesse They are moreouer besides those aforesaide within the Sarail of the great Turk ten common Phisitions which for their salarie haue euery one of them tenne aspres a day and meate and drinke their charge being such that so soone as there falleth any sicke within the Sarail one of them goeth vnto the great Turk to aske licence to heale him for otherwise they dare not take him in hād which hauing obtayned he causeth the patient to bee brought into a place which within the Sarail is ordayned for sick folke and is bound to visite him foure times a daye vntill suche time as he haue recouered his health but if it chaunce the sicke to waxe dayly worse and worse then all the other Phisitions are bound to come to his assistance As for the apparrell of the Phisitions of Turky it doth not differ much from that of the cōmon people but yet from that of the Iewish Phisitions for insteede of a yealow Tulbant very neere like vnto the Iewishe nation they were a high topped cappe died of redde scarlet after the maner as yee may beholde in the figure following A Phisition Iewe. Of the Graecian Peisants or husbandmen called Voinuchz Chap. 13 THe Voinuchz or Graecian village men are of a prouince of Graecia on the borders of Bossine comprehended as the other are vnder the dominion of the great Turk although that the men notwithstanding they are Christians are not tributorie in any gabels or money taxes yet are they pressed wyth a more grieuous tribute of their owne persons or o◠their Chyldren for they are subiect to obey a Sangiac Turke whom wee call a Gouernour whiche euery yeere leuyeth a thousande of them and sendeth them to Constantinople to be presented at the gates of the great Turke euery one bearing on their shoulder a satchell ful of haye in token of their bondage and seruice Now after they haue bin seen of the great Lord they are sēt vnto the Imbreorbassi being as it were chiefe groome of the stable which causeth them to be prouided of lodging within the stables of the greate Lorde thereunto appointed in time of peace to feede the horses in the pastures and in time of warre to follow the campe to mowe grasse and to make hay thereof for the dayly foode of the horses And if any should faile to be at suche commaundement and seruice he should be constrayned to hyre and pay another in his place for that these poore Voinuchz must serue of their owne charges and beeing verye poure people after they haue done their work appointed them thei do imploy that smal time of the rest of the day to make pastime vnto the people for to get some money making an assembly throughout the streets with a great baggepype made of a goates skinne being such a one as ye see here painted in the figure following and with a sound thereof they daunce certayne daunces with such a nimblenesse of the body and legges that the pleasure thereof is not small vnto the beholders And after they haue well daunced and leaped they haue some small peeces of money giuen vnto them which is their onely aduauntage and sustentation of their pouerty They haue besides this another meane and practise to gette something by in making an assembly of sixe or seuen of them in a company disguysing themselues with certaine masquerie as with heades and Cranes neckes and other most antike foule and straungest in the world which if God do preserue my life I hope to set forth vnto you in my third Tombe where I will intreate of the whole estate of the house of the greate Turke that nowe reigneth A Peisant or man of the countrie being a Greeke Of the Cadilesquers great Doctors of the lawe Mahometicke and chiefe Iustices of the Turkes Chap. 14. I Was not determined to haue intreated in this first tome any thing belonging vnto the religion of the Turkes pretending to haue reserued the same for the second part where I hope by God his grace too declare as before I haue proposed all that whiche may concerne their religion and ceremonies of their iustice and administration thereof which with the same is conioynct But hauing afterwards considered that the strange diuersitie wherewith these doctours of their lawe doe disguise themselues and also their Priests Monkes religious Heremits and Pilgrimes would no lesse delight the spirites and sight of the Readers thē the curious desire to vnderstand of their brutish liues abhominable superstition I thought it not impertinent to set heare in order onely the pourtractes and figures of the principallest amongst them with a briefe description declaration vpō euery of their figures beginning with the two Cadilesquers great doctours of their law chiefe of their iustice the one of them beeing ordeined for the administration of Grecia and the other for Natolia These Cadilesquers are reputed amongest the Turkes in the estate of religion of like dignitie and reuerence as the Metropolitans are in the church of Grecia and the Patriarches in the Romane Church and in the exercise of iustice as Chauncellours or chiefe Presidentes being created and elected vnto this dignitie and auctoritie not by fauourable ambition but through honorable election out of the first and most learned doctours of their lawe because they should be approued so pertinent and sufficient in knowledge that they themselues be prouided of wisedome counsel good iudgement before they wil counsaile or iudge others which they could not do lesse shuld be possible vnto thē to decide iustly an arrest of Iustice in matter or waight and of great difficultie if they were adorned with good knowledge great learning and prudent iudgement and therfore are they chosen of rype age and consistant too the intent the heat of youth should bee passed cooled with them or the fire of carnall loue of the one sexe to the other which detestably in those countries is vsed shoulde not cause them to sway or stray from the true way of iustice wheras to the contrary if they were chosen young that the olde men shoulde not haue occasion to esteeme them that euen as they were young