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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58003	The present state of the Ottoman Empire containing the maxims of the Turkish politie, the most material points of the Mahometan religion, their sects and heresies, their convents and religious votaries, their military discipline ... : illustrated with divers pieces of sculpture, representing the variety of habits amongst the Turks, in three books / by Paul Rycaut Esq. ...	Rycaut, Paul, Sir, 1628-1700.	1668 (1668)	Wing R2413; ESTC R18075	228,446	228

Sultan Mahomet Han the present Emperour of the Turkes aged 23 yeares Anno 1666 THE PRESENT STATE OF THE Ottoman Empire Containing the MAXIMS of the TURKISH POLITIE The most material Points of the MAHOMETAN RELIGION Their SECTS and HERESIES their CONVENTS and RELIGIOUS Votaries THEIR MILITARY DISCIPLINE With an exact Computation of their FORCES both by LAND and SEA Illustrated with divers Pieces of Sculpture representing the variety of Habits amongst the Turks IN THREE BOOKS By PAUL RYCAUT Esq Secretary to his Excellency the Earl of Winchilsea Embassador Extraordinary for his Majesty Charles the Second c. to Sultan Mahomet Han the Fourth Emperour of the Turks LONDON Printed for John Starkey and Henry Brome at the Mitre between the Middle-Temple-Gate and Temple-Bar in Fleet-street and the Star in Little-Britain 1668. To the Right Honourable HENRY Lord ARLINGTON His Majesties Principal Secretary of State My Lord AFter five years residence at Constantinople in service of the Embassy of the Earl of Winchilsea my ever honoured Lord and this my second journey from thence by land into my own Country I judged it a point of my Duty and of my Religion too to dedicate this following Treatise as the fruits of my Travels Negotiations and leisure in those remote parts to the Noble Person of your Lordship as that Votiva Tabula which many both in ancient and in the modern times after some signal deliverance or happy arrival at their desired Port use to offer to their Gods their Saints or their Patrons And truly my Lord this Discourse treating chiefly of the Turkish Policy Government and Maxims of State seems naturally to appertain to the Patronage of your Lordship whose faculties of Wisdom and Vertue have given you the Blessing of your Princes Favour and the Reputation as well abroad as at home of an Eminent and Dexterous Minister of State It were a great Presumption in me to offer any Observations of my own in the Courts of Christian Princes to the test of your Lordships Experience and Judgment who not only is acquainted with the Customs and Manners but penetrates into the Designs and knows the Cabinet Councels of Neighbouring Principalities with whom our divided world may possibly be concerned but perhaps without disparagement to your Lordships profound Wisdom or over-value of my own abilities I may confidently draw a rude Scheme before your Lordship of the Turkish Government Policies and Customs a Subject which Travellers have rather represented to their Country-men to supply them with discourse and admiration than as a matter worthythe consideration or concernment of our Kings or our Governors It hath been the happy fortune of the Turk to be accounted barbarous and ignorant for upon this perswasion Christian Princes have laid themselves open and unguarded to their greatest danger contending together for one Palm of land whilst this puissant Enemy hath made himself master of whole Provinces and largely shared in the rich and pleasant possessions of Europe This contempt of the Turk on one side caused the Emperour to be so backward in opposing that torrent of the Ottoman Force which in the first year of the late War broke in upon him and the suspition of designs from France on the other altered the Resolutions and Councels of the Emperour for prosecution of the War which then running favourably on the Christian part was no less than with the astonishment of the whole world and of the Turks themselves on a sudden understood to be clapt up with Articles of a disadvantageous Peace admiring to see the Emperour give a stop to the current of his Victories and relinquish the Game with a lucky hand But this will seem no riddle to those who penetrate Affairs with the same judgment that your Lordship doth and consider the unfirm condition the House of Austria was in by a daily expectation of the death or fall of so main a Basis of it as the King of Spain and the division amongst the Princes of the Empire the League of the Rhine the French practices to make the Duke of Enguyen King of Poland and the extravagant demands of the French and Rhinish League for Winter quarters and places of strength not only in Hungary but also in Styria and the adjacent places and at the same time look on the Factions in Hungary and a considerable Army of French in the bowels of Germany who were supposed in those parts to have rather come with design to over-awe the next Diet and force the German Princes to elect the French King for King of the Romans than with sincere and simple intentions of opposing themselves to the Enemy of the Faith for then it will appear that the best use the Emperor could make of his good success was moderation in Victory and reconciliation with his powerful Enemy And hereupon Earl Leisle being dispatched for Extraordinary Embassador from his Imperial Majesty to the Grand Signior though the Turk was elevated with the thoughts of the necessity the Christians had of a Peace did yet so happily manage his Charge and Employment as created in the Turks an extraordinary reverence towards his Person and obtained such Honours and Treatments from them as the Turkish Court never bestowed before on the Emperors or any other Christian Embassador extorting this Complement from the great Vizier That he was more satisfied the Emperor had sent so brave and illustrious a person than if he had sought to reconcile his Affections with a hundred thousand Dollars more of Present And to do justice to this worthy Person he hath brought a reputation to the British Nation above any in our age whose vertues and industry have acquired the highest Trusts and Preferments in Forreign Parts and done the same honour to his King under whom he was born a Subject as to the present Emperor and his Ancestors under whom he is and hath alwaies been a faithful Minister having deserved so eminently for saving the whole German Empire from the Treason of Wallestein by his own single act of bravery a story notoriously known to all the world as can never in gratitude be forgot by that Nation nor want its due Record and place in the History of that Country The speculation of what is contained in this following Discourse may seem unworthy of your Lordships precious hours in regard of that notion of Barbarity with which this Empire is stiled yet the knowledge hereof will be like a Turquoise or some other Jewel set within the Rose of those many Gems of your Lordships Wisdom and Vertues This Present which I thus humbly consecrate to your Lordship may be termed barbarous as all things are which are differenced from us by diversity of Manners and Custom and are not dressed in ●●e mode and fashion of our times and Countries for we contract prejudice from ignorance and want of familiarity But your Lordship who exactly ponderates the weight of humane Actions acknowledges reason in all its habits and draws not the measures of

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

Oeconomy or Policy from external appearances or effects but from the fundamental and original Constitutions so that your Lordship will conclude that a People as the Turks are men of the same composition with us cannot be so savage and rude as they are generally described for ignorance and grossness is the effect of Poverty not incident to happy men whose spirits are elevated with Spoils and Trophies of so many Nations Knowing My Lord that this work which I have undertaken is liable to common censure I have chosen to shrowd my name under the patronage of your Lordship to protect me from the ill-understanding and mis-conceptions of our Countrymen both at home and abroad against which I doubt not but to be sufficiently armed in all parts where I travel when the countenance your Lordship affords me is joined to the authority of his Excellency the Earl of Winchilsea his Majesties Embassador Extraordinary now actually resident at Constantinople my ever honoured Lord to whom I read a long time before publish'd to the World the greatest part of this following Treatise and as I received his favourable approbation and assent to the verity of most matters herein contained so I must ingenuously confess to have been beholding to that quick and refined Genius of his who often rectified my mistakes supplyed me with matter and remembred me of many material points which I might otherwise have most unadvisedly omitted And his Excellency knowing that in his absence this Book might want a favourable Patron left me to my self to seek out one who might concur with him in the same innocent defence And as My Lord you are a publick person and under our Gracious Sovereign are one of those generous spirits which have espoused the common interest of the Nation so I presume on this present occasion not to want your protection also in a single capacity for which excess of favours I shall ever pray for the exaltation of the greater glory of your Lordship and for ever acknowledge my self My Lord Your Lordships most humble most faithful and most devoted Servant PAUL Rycaut THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Courteous Reader I Present thee here with a true Systeme or Model of theTurkish Government and Religion not in the same manner as certain ingenious Travellers have done who have set down their Observations as they have obvionsly occurred in their Journeys which being collected for the most part from Relations and Discourses of such who casually intervene in company of Passengers are consequently subject to many errours and mistakes But having been an Inhabitant my self at the Imperial City for the space of five years and assisted by the advantage of considerable Journeys I have made through divers parts of Turky and qualified by the Office I hold of Secretary to the Earl of Winchilsea Lord Embassador I had opportunity by the constant access and practice with the Chief Ministers of State and variety of Negotiations which passed through my hands in the Turkish Court to penetrate farther into the Mysteries of this Politie which appear so strange and barbarous to us than hasty Travellers could do who are forced to content themselves with a superficial knowledge The Computations I have made of the value of their Offices of the strength and number of their Souldiery according as every City and Country is rated are deduced from their own Registers and Records The Observations I have made of their Politie are either Maxims received from the Mouth and Argument of confiderable Ministers or Conclusions arising from my own Experience and Considerations The Articles of their Faith and Constitutions of Religion I have set down as pronounced from the mouth of some of the most learned Doctors and Preachers of their Law with whom for Money or Presents I gained a familiarity and appearance of friendship The Relation of the Seraglio and Education of their Youth with divers other matters of Custom and Rule were transmitted to me by several sober Persons trained up with the best Education of the Turkish Learning and particularly by an understanding Polonian who had spent nineteen years in the Ottoman Court. If Reader the superstition vanity and ill foundation of the Mahometan Religion seem fabulous as a Dream or the fancies of a distracted and wild Brain thank God that thou wert born a Christian and within the Pale of an Holy and an Orthodox Church If the Tyranny Oppression and Cruelty of that State wherein Reason stands in no competition with the pride and lust of an unreasonable Minister seem strange to thy Liberty and Happiness thank God that thou art born in a Country the most free and just in all the World and a Subject to the most indulgent the most gracious of all the Princes of the Universe That thy Wife thy Children and the fruits of thy labour can be called thine own and protected by the valiant Arm of thy fortunate King And thus learn to know and prize thy own Freedom by comparison with Forreign Servitude that thou mayst ever bless God and thy King and make thy Happiness breed thy Content without degenerating into wantonness or desire of revolution Farewell THE CONTENTS Of the several CHAPTERS The First Book CHAP. I. THE Constitution of the Turkish Government being different from most others in the world hath need of peculiar Maxims and Rules whereon to establish and confirm it self Page 1 CHAP. II. The absoluteness of the Emperour is a great support of the Turkish Empire 2 CHAP. III The Lesson of Obedience to their Emperour is taught by the Turks as a Principle of Religion rather than of State 8 CHAP. IV. The History of Kiosem or the Queen-Mother 11 CHAP. V. The Education of Young Men in the Seraglio out of which those who are to discharge the great Offices of the Empire are elected it being a Maxim of the Turkish Politie To have the Prince served by such whom he can raise without envy and destroy without danger 25 CHAP. VI. Of the Method in the Turkish Studies and Learning in the Seraglio 30 CHAP. VII Of the Platonick affection and Friendship the Pages in the Seraglio bear each to other 33 CHAP. VIII Of the Mutes and Dwarfs 34 CHAP. IX Of the Eunuchs 35 Of the Black Eunuchs and Appartments of the Women 37 CHAP. X. Of the Agiamoglans 40 CHAP. XI Of the Vizier Azem or Prime Vizier his Office the other six Viziers of the Bench and of the Divan or place of Judicature 43 CHAP. XII Of the Offices Dignities and several Governments of the Empire 51 CHAP. XIII In what manner the Tartar Han depends on the Turk 57 CHAP. XIV Of the Tributary Princes to the Turks viz. the Moldavians Valachians Transilvanians Raguseans c. 60 CHAP. XV. The desolation and ruine which the Turks make of their own Country in Asia and the Parts most remote from the Imperial Seat esteemed one cause of the conservation of the Empire 67 CHAP. XVI All Hereditary Succession in Government as also the

Officers as they pass bowing altogether at the same time is war-like and yet courtly and savours of good Discipline and Obedience The Embassadour is then brought to a great gate neer the Audience the Porch of which is filled with white Eunuchs clothed in Silks and Cloth of Gold farther then this none is suffered to proceed besides the Secretary Interpreter and some other persons of best quality at the door of the Chamber of Audience is a deep silence and the murmuring of a Fountain neer by adds to the melancholy and no other guard is there but a white Eunuch and here a pause is made and they tread softly in token of fear and reverence so as not to disturb with the least noise the Majesty of the Sultan for access to the Eastern Princes was always difficult and not permitted with the same familiarity as hath been practised amongst the Romans and at present with us where the sight of the King is his own glory and the satisfaction of his Subjects For it is with the Turks as it was with the Parthians when they received Vonones their King educated in the Roman Court who conforming to those manners saith Tacitus irridebantur Graeci Comites prompli aditus obvia comitas ignotae Parthis virtutes the affability and easiness of address to their Prince was a scandal to that Nation At the entrance of the Chamber of Audience hangs a ball of Gold studded with pretious Stones and about it great chains of rich Pearl the Floor is covered with Carpets of Crimson-velvet embroidered with Gold wyre in many places beset with seed Pearl The Throne where the Grand Signior sits is raised a small height from the ground supported with four Pillars plated with Gold the roof is richly guilded from which hang balls that seem to be of gold the Cushions he leaned upon as also those which lay by were richly embroidered with Gold and Jewels In this Chamber with this occasion remains no other attendance besides the first Visier who stands at the right hand of the Grand Signior with modesty and reverence When the Embassadour comes to appear 〈◊〉 the Grand Signior he is led in and supported under the arms by the two Capugibashees before mentioned who bringing him to a convenient distance laying their hands upon his neck make him bow until his forehead almost touches the ground and then raising him again retire backwards to the farther parts of the room the like ceremony is used with all the others who attend the Embassadour only that they make them bow somewhat lower then him the reason of this custom as Busbequius saith was because that a Croat being admitted neer to Amurath to communicate something to him made use of that opportunity to kill him in revenge of the death of his Master Marous but the Turkish History saith that this was done by one Miles Corbelitz who after the defeat given Lazarus the Despost of Servia rising from amongst the dead had neer access to the presence of Amurath The Embassadour at this Audience hath no 〈◊〉 set him but standing informs the Grand Signior by his Interpreter the several demands of his Master and the business he comes upon which is all penned first in writing which when read is with the Letter of credence consigned into the hands of the great Visier from whom the answer and farther treaty is to be received This was the manner of the Audience given the Earl of Winchelsea when Embassadour there for His Majesty and is as is there said the form used to others who come from a Prince equally honoured and respected But though the Turks make these outward demonstrations of all due reverence and religious care to preserve the persons of Embassadours sacred and free from violence yet it is apparent by their treatment and usage towards them in all emergencies and difference between the Prince they come from and themselves that they have no 〈◊〉 of the Law of Nations or place any Religion in the maintenance of their Faith For when a War is proclaimed the Embassadour immediately is either committed to close imprisonment or at least to the custody of a careful guard confined within the limits of his own house in this manner the Representative of Venice called there the Bailo by name Sorenzo in a streight Chamber of a Castle situated on the Bosphorus endured a severe imprisonment having his Interpreter strangled for no other cause then performing his office in the true interpretation of his Masters sence afterwards this Bailo for so they call there the Embassadors from Venice was removed to another prison at Adrianople where he continued some years and in fine by force of presents mollifying the Turks with mony with which their nature is easily made gentle and pliable he obtained liberty to remain in the house appropriated to the Representatives of Venice but under a guard whose office was to secure him from escape and observe his actions and yet with liberality and presents which overcome the Turks more then any consideration in the world he enjoyed as he pleased license for his health to take the fresh air and use what freedom was reasonable Nor less injurious to the Law of Nations have been the examples of violence and rage acted on the persons of the French Embassadours first on the Sieur Sensi accused upon suspition of having contrived the escape of Konispolski General of the Polish Army taken captive in a Fight and sent Prisoner to the abovesaid Castle on the Bosphorus the means was by a Silken cord sent in a Pye with Limes and Files to cut the Iron bars and having first secured his guard with the strength of wine in the dead of the night let him down by the cord from the highest Tower where finding Horses ready he got safe into Poland the contrivance of this stratagem and the instruments of the escape was laid to the charge of the French Embassadour who was committed for that reason to the Prison of the seven Towers where he remained for the space of four months until his mony and the French King his Master mediated for him promising to send another speedily to succeed him he was delivered from his imprisonment and returned home by the way of Poland The successor of this Embassadour was the Count Cesi a man too generous and splendid to live amongst covetous and craving Turks exhausted most of his wealth in gifts and presents to which adding a vanity and ambition to court the Grand Signiors Mistresses in the Seraglio as is said he paid such vast sums of mony to the Eunuchs for his admittance that in a few years he became so indebted and importuned with the clamours of his Creditors as wholly discredited and lost the Honour and Authority of his Embassy so that the French King thinking it dishonourable to continue his Minister in that charge who was failed and undone in the reputation of the world sent his Letter of Revocation to recal him home