speake and is not seâ—â— and answers the demands which they make vnto him 〈◊〉 peâ—tie Kings of the Indies 〈…〉 which they will 〈…〉 of â—â—fti◠〈◊〉 who deliver it 〈…〉 it comes vnto him The grauitie of a Prince 〈…〉 appeare in his manners then in his 〈◊〉 and his wisdome should wherein more â—â—rable than all 〈…〉 fashion speaking and commanding If the Prince will 〈…〉 liuing Image let him know that there 〈…〉 in the diuine Maiestie Power Wisdome and Bountie Let them adde vnto their Soueraigne power of Command the effects of wisdome and those of a Royall bountie By these they shall raigne securely in their Estates and shall be more cherished and honoured then by the vaine gestures and signes of their puft-vp grauitie CHAP. VIII How the Grand SEIGNEVR receiues the Embassadours of Forreine Princes and the forme of his Oath in an Alliance THere are two sorts of Embassadours which come to the Turkish Court those of Kings and others of inferiour Princes The first who without contradiction haue the precedence must likewise haue it in this Historie We will speake of their Reception and will take for a President that of the Embassadour of France Being arriued at Perâ— hee passeth within few dayes after to Constantinople sees the Mâ— visits the Grana Vizir salutes the Bâ—stangâ—basâ—i or great Gardiner vseth some complements to the Teftardar or high Treasurer and performes some testimonies of honour and courtesie to the other great men of the Part to make them fauourable vnto him vpon occasions After this they aduertise him of the day when he shall be receiued to kisse his hand It is vsually vpon a day of Dinan when as the Sultan giues audience to his principall Officers The Grand Vizir cals the Dinan or assembly of the Councell hee sends for all the Chaoux the Mâ—feragat which are those of the light Horse 〈◊〉 Spaâ— who are alâ—o of the Canallerie the Ianizaries which are Footmen All which with their Leaders haue commandement to arme and attire themselâ—es with as much state as may be to be the Embassadour see with the curiositie of their A◠〈…〉 his great Court They come 〈…〉 whereof we haue formerly spoken where all together make a bodie of stately troupes The Embassadour aduertised of the houre appointed parts from his lodging at Pera attired vpon his own Clothes with a Robe after the Turkish manner of Cloth of Gold curled and furred if the season require it with Sables His Gentlemen and Secretaries are attired in the like Robes but the stuffe is not so rich wearing on their heads caps of blacke Veluet like vnto the Masters of the Accompts in France He hath twenty seruants attired in Robes of Scarlet which the Turkes call Ferrages and vpon them other long Robes of the same stuffe and on their heads caps of blacke Taâ—fatae The foure Dragomans or the Kings Interpreters are of the number the Captaines Masters of Ships and other Frenchmen doe accompany him Being thus followed hee passeth the Channell of the Sea which separates Fâ—ra from Constantinople being twice as broad as the Riuer of Seine is at Paris before the Louver Being come vnto the other shoare hee findes many goodly horses for him and his followers which the Turkes that are friends to France send him to carry him to the Citie At the entry whereof hee finds many Chambrand Ianizaries which attend him to conduct him to the Serrail â—wo Choux Basti one of either side of him the other Turkes goe before In this order hee comes to the Imperial Pallace at the Gate whereof he finds two Capigâ—â—asiâ— who 〈◊〉 him and had him to the Grand Viâ—r in the Hill of the 〈◊〉 the day they dispatch little 〈…〉 against the Grand Vizir vpon a forme without 〈…〉 with Cloth of Gold Therefor a 〈…〉 or Draâ— they 〈…〉 vntill that the 〈…〉 has brought The Sâ— of the 〈…〉 where some other 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 the Chaâ— of Ac◠〈…〉 There is a Dragoman which 〈…〉 〈…〉 in a low Gallerie where a Table is prepared in this manner A great Tapestrie is laid vpon the ground and somedishes are set very thinne and sparingly Their Meates are Panado made with Sugar and some broths with Pullets two men carrying as in a Scarfe a certain vessell of boiled Leather like vnto a Bagipe in the which they carrie Cerbet the which is a Drinke made of the juice of Citrons water and Sugar They giue to euery one drinke in his turne in a Cup of Copper tinned and they goe betwixt the Dishes to serue them more commodiously The Embassadour and his people hauing dined in this manner hee retires to a certaine place neere vnto the Gate of the Sultans Quarter where they attend vntill the Officers of the Diâ—an haue had Audience of their Master after which they all retire except such Bashaes as remaine about his person Then the Master of the Ceremonies goes for the Embassadour and brings him to the Emperours lodging The Capiaga assisted by many Eunuches receiues them at the Gate and conducts them into the Imperiall Chamber whose walls are within couered with great plates of Gold and Siluer enricht with stones and Pearle At the entry thereofewer 〈◊〉 or Porters take him vnder the Armes not to kisse the Emperours hand but his Robe This vnworthy custome to lead the Embassadors of forreine Princes by the Armes growes from the treacherie of the Turkes themselues Baiazei the Second sonne to him that tooke Constantinople going one day to a Monasterie hee found in his way a Religious man of his Law of the order of the Deruis This Monke of the Alcoran seeing the Emperour ran towards him to execute his detestable designe comming neere vnto him he demands an Almes and in saying his Aâ—labithi that is to say in the Name of God hee drew a Semiter from vnder his â—obe of Felt with the which Baiazet had beene murthered if his Horse in bounding had not receiued the greatest violence of the blow yet hee was hurt and this wretched Parricide had alreadie lifted vp his arme to double the blow if Bassa Scheuder had not suddenly beaten him downe with his Busâ—gutu or Pollâ— After which it was ordained that whosoeuer should come to salute the Grand Seigneur should be led vnder the Armes by Capigis And this custome hath hee carefully obserued Wee doe not read that there was euer any stranger but suffered this Rigour except an Embassadour of France named Monsieur Nouailles Bishop of Aix who was sent to Selim the Second by King Charles the Ninth to mediate some accommodation for the Venetians affaires comming into the Chamber when as the Capigis had laid hold of his Arme he scattered them with his Elbowes and spake aloud that the libertie of a Frenchman and the dignitie of a Bishop could not endure to be led like a slaue And so leauing the Sultan and those that were in the Chamber amazed he went freely to his Reuerence and would not cast himselfe
which drew him to the Serrail But he promiseth at his returne to content her desires imtearing her to attend at the passage In the meane time he goes to the Serrail followes his businesse and hauing dispatched in roâ—es to his Lodging another way and leauing the woman in the impatiencie of a deceitfull attendance she saw herselfe in the end deceiued by this Frenchman who to reuenge this affront had recourse to her Witchcrafts and imployes them against him They worke their effect and this Frenchman found himselfe suddainly seized with a kind of Palsey The sicke man tooke his bed and was continually afflicted with sensible paines and convulsions The Physicians were called to his help but all their lerning could not find out the cause of his infirmitie nor prescribe a remedie Some dayes past in these extremities after which an old Turkish woman offers to cure him she visits him and hauing looked vpon him she told him in her gibbridge I will soon cure you But tell the truth haue you not refused some Lady that sought your loue By her Charmes she expelled those which tormented him and restored him to health After which this man going in Constantinople hee encountred a woman which told him in his eare Remember another time not to abuse the courtesie of Women which affect you and deceiue them no more by your vaine promises All the women of Turkey and especially those of Constantinople doe not tie their affections to men only they grow passionately in loue one with another and giue themselues to false and vnlawfull loue especially the wiues of men of quality who liue coopt vp in Serrails vnder the guard of Eunuches This vitious appetite doth domincere ouer them so tyrannously as it smothers in them the desires of a naturall and lawfull loue and many times causeth them to loathe their husbands This disorder may grow for that their affection wanting a lawfull prize they tie it to a strange object Moreouer the reuenge of the vnnaturall loue to their husbands carries them vnto it for most men of those Easterne parts and the greatest are giuen to that beastly and brutish lasciuiousnesse These Ladies loue one another most ardently and come to the effects of their foolish loues they imbrace one another and doe other actions which loue seekes and modestie forbids to write They whom this strange loue makes slaues to others goe to finde them in the Bâ—th to see them naked and entertayning them vpon the subject whereof they languish make such like discourses in their Language They had reason to say that the Sun did plunge it selfe in the waues seeing that you are in this water the which by Nature should quench the fire but it kindles my flames when you are in it Is it possible that you should receiue to the enioying of so rare a beauty other persons than those of your owne sexe which are like your selfe Fly the imbracings of Men which contemne vs and haue no loue but for their like and enioy with vs the Contentments which they deserue not When as a foolish womanish Louer hath made such like discourses shee goes into the Bath and burnes with a flame which it is not able to quench she imbraces her Louer kisseth her and attempts to doe that although in vaine which I must heere conceale And these loues of woman to woman are so frequent in the Leuant as when any Turks are resolued to marrie the chiefe thing which they inquire of is whether the party whom they affect be not subject to some woman whom they loue or is beloued Thus these people liue farre from the light of true Faith in the darknesse of Mahometan ignorance which haue carried them to the excesse of all sorts of vices CHAP. XVI Of the foure principall Bassa's of the Port. THe foure chiefe Bassa's of the Port and the foure prime Wheeles which mooue this vast and powerfull Turkish Empire are the Vizir Azem or the Grand Vizir the Captaine of the Sea the Aga of the Ianizaries and the Captaine of Constantinople called the Captaine Bassa Their places are the chiefe of the Empire and the glory there of giues them respect with the Prince to be honoured by great Men and feared by the people The Vizir Azem or Grand Vizir holds the first place next vnto his Master he is Lieutenant Generall of the Empire and Armies high Chancellor and chiefe of the Diuan which is the Councell where Iustice is administred the Captaine of the Sea is high Admirall and Generall of Nauall Armies The Aga of the Ianizaries commands all the Turkish foot as sole Colonell thereof And the Captaine of Constantinople gouernes the Citie and takes knowledge of the chiefe affaires which passe These foure Bassa's differing in Offices and Honours are notwithstanding powerfull in authoritie the which is of such weight as they giue and take the Crown from their Soueraigne Prince when they thinke good We haue seene the experience of late yeares in the persons of Sultan Mustapha and Osman Achmat ended his life and Raigne in the yeare 1617 hee left two young sonnes Osman and Amurath He knew by experience that the weight of such a Crowne could not be borne by a Childe and that the absolute gouernment of the Turkish Monarchie required a man He called to the succession of his Scepter his brother Mustapha who had beene fourteene yeares a Prisoner in his Serrail and made him to taste this sweet change to come from a Dungeon to a Throne and from the fetters of a tedious captiuitie to that power to command the greatest I state vpon the Earth But the great rigour of his command and the extrauagances of his inconstant humour made him odious to the Captaine Bassa he gained the other three who drew the Souldiers and some great men vnto their party they vnthroned him put him into his Prison and set vp Osman sonne to his brother Achmat. This example was in our dayeâ— but that which followeth is so fresh as the newes hereof came when I was labouring about this worke Osman not well satisfied with the affection of the Ianizaries who are the sinewes of his Estate and disliking some of the foure Bassa's had an intent to change the Seat of his Empire to Caire and to abandon Constantinople he prepares himselfe gathers together as much Treasure as hee could and couers his designe with the pretext of a Pilgrimage to Meque where he said his intent was to accomplish a vow and to make as great a gift as euer Prince made vnto a Temple of what Religion soeuer When as he had mannaged his enterprize vnto the day of his departure when as his Galleyes were readie and the Bassa of Caire come with an Armie to receiue him the Ianizaries were aduertised they runne to the Serrail with the consent of the Aga the people are moued the Captaine Bassa stirres them vp they take the Sultan in his Chamber kill some great Men in his presence dragge him into
not goe out of the place without leaue the Gates are shut by night and the keyes are kept by the Captaine The Arsenall is one of the goodliest and rarest things in Constantinople it is vpon the Sea shoare and containes a hundred and fourescore Arches vnder either of which enters a great Galley yea three may be safely lodged The Officers which serue in this Arsenall and receiue pay are commonly fortie six thousand men But its greatest force is the good order that is obserued by the which there are certaine Merchants which haue contracted to entertaine fourescore Gallies alwayes furnished with all things necessary and readie to put to Sea the Munition of Powder is kept in diuers Towres in the walls of the Citie which looke towards Pera they bring it from Grand Caire where the Sultans cause it to be made The Garners in the which they keepe their prouision of Corne and other graine are built in a corner of the Citie towards Pera the walls are very strong and the Gates of Iron there is sufficient to serue for many yeares but euery third yeare they renew it In the time of Amurath the third there was found a great quantitie of Millet the which had beene preserued sweet and vncorrupted for the space of foure score yeares But this great Imperiall Citie cannot bee happily gouerned without the execution of Iustice which is the soule of the World and the order of Reason A Soueraigne Iudge is the chiefe the Turkes call him Stambolcadisi that is to say the Iudge of Constantinople He takes notice indifferently both of Ciuill and Criminall Causes and no man is put to death in that place if hee hath not condemned him There are foure Lieutenants generall distinguished into the foure principall Quarters of the Citie and execute vnder him the same Iustice but from their Sentences they appeale vnto the Iudge Besides these there is a great Captaine of Iustice called Sonbasi who doth execute the greatest Function of his charge in Prisons to heare the Causes and to make report vnto the Grand Vizir There are also foure Lieutenants vnder him separated into the Quarters of the Citie by the order of the Policies ther 〈◊〉 and a great number of inferiour Officers as Sergeants aâ—â—ther base persons which serue him The Prisons of Constantinople are diuided into two either of them is beautified if there be any beautifull Prisons with a great Medow in the midst and a pleasing Fountaine It hath two stories in that below are lodged criminall Offenders in that aboue are such as are committed for ciuill causes Heere the Iewes are separated from the Turkes and the Turkes from the Christians but in the lowest they are altogether as Persons whom their Offences haue made common The Almes deeds good workes which are exercised there by the Turkes surpasse in few dayes those which are done in our Countries in many yeeres The Turkish Charitie towardes his Neighbour surmounts ours and it seemes that for such good deeds Heaâ—en suffers them in the Empire of the World for his equitie doth recompence the good in any subiect whatsoeuer aswell as it doth punish the euill The Turkish Emperours themselues shew great compassion they many times deliuer a great number of ciuill Prisoners paying their debts for them The other particularities which concerne the Turkes Iustice shall bee handled in another Tract In the meane time seeing wee are come neere vnto the Imperiall Pallace which is the Serrail let vs striue to enter although the Gates bee carefully garded and let vs see the rare beauties of this famous place CHAP. II. Of the Grand Seigneurs Serrail THree Serrails doe augment the glorie of Constantinople the one is called Eschy Saray that is to say the old Serrail which was the first Royall House built within the Citie after that the Turkes became Masters It is scituated almost in the midst of it the forme is square and the Circle containes an Italian mile and a halfe or halfe a French League such as are in Languedoc or Prouence The women which haue serued the deceased Emperours their Sisters if they bee not married their Childrens Nurses haue it for their Lâ—ing from whence they may not depart vnlesse they maâ— A Dame whose age and discretion hath purchased merit hath the care and conduct of the rest as Superiour they call her Cheira Cadâ—n that is to say Great Dame The Grand Seigneur in his most solitarie humours retires himselfe sometimes into this place to seeke the consolation which he cannot find elsewhere The other Serrail is of a lesse extent it is scituated at the Hippodrome and serues at this day for the solemnizing of Playes Pompes and Sports for the Turkish Princes and for an Academie to foure hundred of the Grand Seigneurs Pages which are there instructed in the Turkish tongue to manage Armes and other Exercises fit for them and they goe not forth vntill they be made Espayn that is to say Men at Armes they are bred vp and taught at their Masters charge this place is called Ebrayn Bassa Saray that is to say the Serrail of Hâ— Bassa who was sonne in Law to Sultan Solyman the Second and his Fauourite for a time Hee caused it to bee built at his owne charge The third is called Boyuâ—h Saray that is the great Serrail now the ordinary abode of the Turkish Emperours It is of this which we meane to speake This great Serrail the Mansion of Turkish Emperours and of their Family is pleasantly scituated in the same place where as Byzance was in old time built vpon a pleasant point of firme Land which lookes towards the mouth of the blacke Sea Its forme is triangular two sides thereof are warred by the waues of the Egaean Sea the third is supported by the Citie it is â—nuironed with high walls and fortified with many Towres which doth better the defence It hath three miles in circuse Many Gates serue for the entrie aswell towardes the Sea as Land one principall neere to Sancta Sophia is vsually open the others are not but when it pleaseth the Grand Seignour This Gate is guarded day and night by Companies of Capigis who are Porters which relieue one another and in the night some I am iâ—â—ies which are without the Gate in little Cabins of wood mounted vpon wheeles are in Sentinell and when need requires aduertise the Corps de Gard of Capigis In the Towres which are vpon the Serrail certaine Aâ—amoglaus that is to say Children without experience or Rusticks of those of the Tribute to see if any one doth approach by Land or any Vessels by Sea neere to this Imperiall House And in that case they discharge certaine Peeces of Artillerie which are ready charged to that effect vpon a little platforme of fiue â—athomebroad which is betwixt the wall of the Serrail and the Sea The Chambers and Royall Hals of the Sultans Lodging are disposed according to the diuers seasons of the yeare Those whither
and rare qualities of the mind haue raised aboue others What entertainment can a great Prince find in such abiect persons and so ill bred and what seruice can hee receiue from a man drawne from the Stable and from the profession of a Horse-keeper or a Coachman from a Huntsman and the bawling of Hounds What contentment from a brutish Faulkoner whilest that Men of merit are in contempt This disorder is sometimes seene in the World yea in the Courts of great Princes to their shame and to the great preiudice of the publique Neere vnto this Chamber is a goodly Librarie where are many Bookes rich for their stately couerings and precious for their workes the immortall markes of the glorie of their Authours This is called the secret Library it is the most renowned of all the Serrail There is another towards their Quarter which serue the Chamber and the Grand Seigneurs Pages filled with a great number of Bookes in all Languages among the which there are to bee seene at this day sixe score Volumes of the ancient Librarie of Great Constantine of an extraordinary bignesse They are aboue a fathome broad and two in length Their leaues are of such thinne Parchment as they seeme rather to be of Silke then Skinnes most part written in letters of Gold especially those which containe the Old and New Testament their couerings are of Siluer gilt after the antique manner set with a great number of precious stones The price without doubt hath preserued them from spoile and ruine where as the rest haue perished by the barbarousnesse of the Turkes who sackt Constantinople in the time of Mahomet the Second The Sultan holds them so precious as he will not allow any one to handle them The number of Gardens in the Serrail are not fewer in number then are delightfull to looke on The Prince hath his the Sultana's theirs and without this Imperiall House there are eighteene planted towardes the Sea whereof the fruites and reuenewes are by the Law of State employed for the entertainment of the Princes Table whereof we will speake elsewhere He which hath the chiefe charge is called Bostangibassi that is to say great Gardiner and is one of the most eminent Dignities of the Empire he is many times much affected by his Master and feared by the other Bashaes to whom hee may doe good and bad Offices with the Prince when hee gouernes him alone in his walkes and entertaines him in affaires of Estate Two Mosquees serue in the Serraile for their Deuotion The one is towardes that Quarter where the Prince and his Officers lodge and the other is neere the Lodging of the women and their slaues And although the Turkes will not admit of the vse of Bells yet there are a great number of little Clockes in the Serrail which strike the houres both by day and night The Grand Seigneurs Pages are instructed to keepe them and most part of the men of qualitie in the Serrail and likewise the women haue little Watches whereof they make vse This is all that can be written of the Grand Seigneurs Serrail at the least that can come vnto the knowledge of Christians to whom the entrie vnlesse it be vpon the dayes of Diuan is expresly forbidden and the inward parts of this Imperiall House whereof wee haue spoken may not be seene by them vnlesse the Prince be absent and yet hee must haue some particular friendship with the Officers of the Serrail and monie in his hand the which doth not only open them the closest Gates in Turkie but doth facilitate the most difficult affaires through the auarice of the Turkes to the which all their other passions seeme to yeeld Let vs come now to the Grand Seigneurs Exercises to his manner of liuing to the number of his Officers and other particularities of his Crowne But let vs begin by his Coronation CHAP. III. Of the Coronation of the Turkish Emperour AFter that death who strikes with an equall hand aswell the stately Pallaces of Kings as poore Cottages couered with straw hath taken out of this World some Turkish Emperour he of his Children which is destinated to the succession of his Scepter parts from the gouernment whither his Father had sent him the which most commonly is Magnesia a Prouince in Asia and comes secretly to Constantinople and into the Serrail by that Port which lookes towards the Sea for the passage whereof the Bostangibassi which is the great Gardiner goes to receiue him in the Imperiall Galley vpon the side of Asia passeth the straight conducts him into the Serrail and leads him into his Fathers Throne whither the great men of the Port that is to say of the Court for so they call it come to adore him and to acknowledge him for their Prince Presently the Basha which is Gouernour of Constantinople causeth Proclamation to be made in the Citie then throughout all the Empire That the Soule of the inuincible Emperour Sultan N. enioyes an immortall Glorie and an eternall Peace and that the Empire of Sultan N. may flourish and prosper in all felicitie for many yeares The third day after they hold the great Diuan which is the generall Councell where as all the great Men of the Court and Officers of the Crowne assist and resolue concerning the affaires of the Estate The Emperour doth not assist yet he is in a Chamber neere and sees but is not seâ—ne and heares through a Lattice window what they treat of and what they say At the end of the Diuan all these Officers goe by foure and foure or by sixe and sixe into the Chamber where the Sultan is and there without speaking any thing make a low reuerence and so passe on going forth to another doore They returne to the Diuan where as Dinner attends them The Sultan dines at the same time and after halfe an houre which is all the time he spends at the Table he mounts vpon a stately Horse being followed by the chiefe Commanders of the Warre hee shewes himselfe to his people of Constantinople and receiues from them their cryes and acclamations of Ioy which are Liue and long may Sultan N. Raigne Hee goes to some Mosquee where his Predecessours haue beene buried Hee makes his prayers which being ended one of the twentie Preachers of his Court goes into the Pulpit and by a short discourse giues him to vnderstand after the Turkish manner the greatnesse of the charge whereunto God hath called him exhorts him to haue a care of his Estate and especially to the maintenance and increase of Mahomets Law The Sermon being ended the same Priest doth blesse him seuen times and at euery time the people answere Amen At the same time the Moufti or high Priest of the Law who is present makes him to take the Oath vpon the Alcoran Girds him with the Sword which in old time Ottoman did weare and blessing him sayes these wordes God send you Ottomans Bountie They doe so much honour the
their m◠〈…〉 Hâ—â—uen to the preseruation of their Estates and would force 〈◊〉 to cherish their memorie The Turkish Emperours are neuer crowned with this meâ—it their breeding to the excesse of vices rather than to the continencie of vertue doth not make them capable to know themselues and the excesse of the prosperities of their Empire transports them to pride So as if Heauen suffers them to continue in the Monarchie of the East it is to punish our disorders Their actions doe not only shew their Pride but their Titles speake it more plainly Sâ—lym the First of that Name stiled himselfe Master of all 〈◊〉 â—raignes of the World Behold the Qualities which he did assume Sultan Solym Othoman King of Kings Lord of all Lords Prince of all Princes Sonne and Nephew of God Hee caused it to be written vnder his Portraite the which Solyman the Second his Sonne did 〈◊〉 keepe by his bed side This man was no modester then his Father for if he â—â—th not set downe in his Titles that hee would be the only Prince of the World hee hath often deliuered it in his words By the Soule of my Father said he being in Hungarie at the siege of 〈◊〉 seeing there is but 〈◊〉 God G◠〈…〉 reasonable there should be but one 〈…〉 the inferiour Worlde The rest which haue followed 〈◊〉 â—uccession of the Othoman Estate haue vsed the same vnto our dayes Achmat the First who died in the yeare 1617 treating with the inuiâ—ible Monarch Henry the Great by the meanes of the Seigniour of 〈◊〉 his Embassadour at Constantinople causeth to be set downe in the beginning of the Articles which were sent into France the Titles which follow In the name of God a marke of the high Family of the Othoman Monarches with the beautie greatnesse and splendour thereof so many Countries are conquered and gouerned I who am by the infinite graces of the Iust great and all powerfull Creatour and by the abundance of Miracles of the chiefe of his Prophets Emperour of 〈…〉 Disposer of Crownes to the greatest Pri◠〈…〉 of two most sacred Townes Mequa and Mediâ—â— Protector and Gouernour of the holy 〈…〉 and Africa â—â—ly 〈◊〉 by our 〈…〉 them somewhat longer and his shooes are without buckles and cut in leaues But when hee adornes himselfe to honour with his presence the solemnitie of some great day at the Circumcision of the Princes his Children or to make his entrie into Constantinople his Robes of Cloth of Gold forwith Pearles and great Diamonds giue the Maiestie of his person a glorious lustre This is the glory of such Princes Maiestie consists in Vertue and not in the pompe of Habits A King should rather shew himselfe a King by his 〈◊〉 carriage and his authoritie than by his Robes The Sultana's differ not much in their Habits from their Soueraigne Prince They weare breeches like vnto his and vnder them linings of fine Linnen Their Robes are of the same stuffe and their shooes in like manner They steepe like vnto him in their Linnen lynings and little Cassocks of Silke pinckt which goes little beneath the waste The Prince riseth with the Day and the Morning sees him begin his Prayers after the Turkish manner wherein hee spends halfe an houre After this hee writes asmuch during the which they bring him some cordiall thing which hee takes presently Then reading followes for a whole houre but it is many times without fruit for that hee entertaines the time with fabulous Bookes It is true that some Sultans haue taken delight to read the life of Great Alexander and some others haue caused Aristotle to be expounded vnto them An ignorant Prince is a Pilot without Card or Compasse Alphonso King of Arragon called such Princes by a Name which I forbeare to mention for the reâ—nce I owe to Kings Hauing read if it be a day of Dâ— or of Counsell he giues Audience to the Grand Vizâ—r who come to make report of that which hath beene done and he receiues the veneration of other Officers From thence he descends into his Gardens or walkes contents his eyes with the 〈…〉 Fâ—â—â—es and pleasing Alleâ—eâ— and 〈◊〉 his eares with the 〈◊〉 and â—râ—â—lities of his â—eâ—tres 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 which follow him At his returne hee fals 〈…〉 haue any 〈◊〉 in it or to some other 〈…〉 for Dinner the which is speedily serued Hee neuer spends aboue halfe an houre at the Table from the which hee goes to his Prayers at noone where after his manner hee entertaines the Diuinitie But how variable is humane inconstâ—ncie from this 〈…〉 to the embracings of humanitie and 〈…〉 with his Women for sooâ—â— houres vntill the time of Prayer at Night doth force him to leaue them When 〈…〉 another walke into his Garden 〈…〉 by his 〈◊〉 and Dwarffs he entertaines himselfe with 〈…〉 The last Office calls him to his Chamber it is that which the Turkes say when as the day is spent and in the obscuritie of the night where hee imployes himselfe vntill Supper time These are his imployment iâ— generall Let vs now speake of them in particular CHAP. VI. Of the Grand Seigâ—rs Table of his â—te and of his sleepe THe Grand Seignâ—r eates three or foure times a day in Summer but lesse in Winter He sitâ—es crosse legged after the Turkish manner Most commonly his Table is low made of 〈◊〉 Siluer with a little boâ—der about it two fingers high like vnto a Table of Accompaniâ— which â—ll money There is 〈◊〉 of pure Gold enricht with diuers precious 〈…〉 in the years He 〈…〉 and another vpon his 〈…〉 many leaues made of three 〈…〉 whereof the Graine is gathered 〈…〉 for his 〈◊〉 They 〈…〉 thereof they feed a great troupe 〈…〉 of the Serrail His Cooâ—es are at worke 〈…〉 they 〈…〉 call 〈◊〉 The Essay is taken at the Kitchin in the presence of the Capiaga or Master of the Houshold and they serue it vp in dishes of gold couered His Agalaris or Familiars goe and receiue it at the hands of the Capiaga without For there is another of the same Office within who goes not into the Kitchin hee carries them to him that serues at the Table who is vpon his knee They serue out thirtie Dishes in the which are thirtie forts of meates the Table is round and stands vpon a Vise which turnes as it pleases the Prince for no man carues him neither doth he himselfe vse any Knife his bread is so tender as it will not endure any he breakes it with his fingers without any trouble so doth he his meate prepared with the like delicacie They serue no Salt vnto him and whatsoeuer hee eats is not seasoned with Spices his Physicians forbidding it in the Kitchin The daintiest meat for his royall mouth are roasted Pigeons whereof they serue a dozen in a Capson or Platter Pullets Lambe or Mutton rosted boyled are after the Pigeons which hee loues best Hee makes a signe for at his Table no man speakes any thing that
the poyson where with they were infected layes him in the bed of death and depriues him of life Spaine hath beene alwayes subject to such accidents whilest the Mahometans commanded there and the Kings thereof had cause to feare a double poyson For whilest the Turkish Princes did attempt their persons by poyson the Alphaquis and Priests of the Alcoran poysoned the soules of their subjects by the contagious impurities of a false and brutish Doctrine A little before the death of the King of Castile he of Leon called Don Sancho was poysoned by the inuention of a Turke who taught Gonzales his Lieutenant at Leon the detestable meanes to kill his Master in giuing him an Apple the which this wretched Lieutenant performed This was at the same time when as a Deluge of fire come out of the Ocean the which carried its flame farre into Spaine burne a great Countrey and of many Burroâ—ghâ— and Villages made heaps of ashes as farre as Zâ—ora These examples shew the malice of the Turkes against the the Christians but they doe no lesse among themselues A Turkish King of Feâ— not able to indure the prosperities of him of Gâ—anadâ— called Ioseph a Mahometan like himselfe he resolued to take away his life Hee sends to visit him oftnes than he had accustomed he makes a greater shew of friendship and after he hath receiued many effects of his hee sent him for a 〈◊〉 Cassocke of Cloth of Gold of great 〈◊〉 King Ioseph receiues it and puts it on not hee had not worne it a day but the poyson wherewith the Prince of Feâ— had infected i◠〈◊〉 vpon him and gaue him such cruell convulsions and 〈◊〉 as his flesh fell away in piece and the Physician◠〈…〉 the true cause of his disease nor could apply â—hy reâ— that hee of Granado and by the damnable 〈◊〉 Moorish King The like villanies which were practiced among the ancient Turkes are vsed at this day in the Louant at the Court of Constantinople and in other places whither they send great Men to 〈◊〉 charges In our dayes a Turkish Courtier affected by all meanes possible the dignitie of Bassa of Alâ—ppo the beauty of the place the lustre of this dignitie but rather the great gaine which the Vice-royes make inflamed his desire to the possession of this Gouernment to attain vnto it he purchased by great gifts the affections of the Agalaâ—is or Foâ—iâ—s of the Sâ—rrail which are the Eunuches attending the Princes person These men content his ambition and obtained the gouernment which he desired from the Sultan hee receiues the Letters takes his leaue to goe vnto his charge hee arriues and is receiued with the applause of the people but he had scarce begun to enjoy the first honours of this new dignity but another doth dispossesse him by the same meanes which he had vsed hee gets the friendship of the Eunuches and glâ—ts their aâ—arke with greater gifts obtaining Letters for this place He was aduertized hereof the displeasure which he conceiued to see himselfe deceiued by the Courtiers of the Sâ—rrail to whom hee had giuen much more money than hee had gotten in so short a time that he had 〈◊〉 Bassa of Alâ—ppâ— made him to draw his dearest friends about him to resolue with them how hee should gouerne himselfe in this important businesse Many were of opinion that he should 〈◊〉 the entry iâ— the Town to this new Bassa who was vpon the way vntill he informed the Sultan the Mâ—fâ— and the Grand Vizir of the couetous disloyaltie of the Agalaâ—ie and this Counsell was conformable to his apprehension But one of 〈…〉 him aside told him Th◠〈…〉 him brought a 〈…〉 wherein iâ— was dangerous to vse 〈…〉 was the safest way in such 〈…〉 him a 〈…〉 make the 〈…〉 than his had beene that 〈…〉 the Bassa which came and 〈…〉 him a 〈…〉 and all loue and friendship to him and 〈…〉 him out of the World by the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Persons They resolued it and laboured in their designe In the meane time the new Bassa arriues the other receiues him and yeelds him the place It is the custome of the great men in Turkey to giue Presents to the new Gouernor when they enter in charge some to testifie that they are welcome and others to gain their affections This discontented Bassa who left his charge before the ordinary time would not be the last to present this new commer He giues him a poysoned Handkercher imbroydered with Gold and great round Pearles the price thereof could not be easily valued The new Gouernour receiues it with vnspeakable joy for great men hold nothing so sweet in their places as to take whencesoeuer it comes but God doth many times suffer that such greedy Takers are taken in taking as it happened to this Bassa of Aleppo The Handkercher of price which was the price of his life contents him Hee admires the worke lookes vpon the great Pearles and his hands doe not abandon it vntill the poyson forced him the which exhaling and infecting the Bassa they grew weake and make him to leaue it whereupon hee died and left the gouernment which he had not enjoyed The other Bassa flies speedily to Constantinople redemands the gouernment whereof he had beene dispossest and grounds his reason vpon his speedie obedience and forceth the iniquity of the Fauourites to consent that hee should enjoy it Thus couetousnesse had depriued him of a Dignity where it had first placed him and poysoning restores him Whereby wee may Iudge what these Gouernours can be that are setled by such meanes It is certaine that the like offences are committed daily in the Turkes Court by the Bassa's thereof who imploy their greatest care to find out the most subtillest poysons and how to employ them cunningly one against another The most ordinary which they vse is drawne from Toads They cause a Toade to sucke the Milke of a woman that hath an extraordinary red haire When it is full they beate it gently with a little wand they put it into choler its poyson mingles with this Milke and it bursts in its rage this poyson is so violent and strong that in rubbing only the stirrop of his horse whom they meane to poyson it is an assured death Thus corruption is absolute in Turkey for if their Prophet hath poysoned their soules with filthy Doctrine they poyson their bodies with all sorts of venome CHAP. XIV Of the filthy and vnnaturall lust of the Bassa's and of the great Men of the Court. THe great fortunes which are found in the Courts of great Monarches produce great riches and these furnish Courtiers with delights in the which they glut their sensuall and brutish appetites The Bassa's of the Court great in dignities and abounding in riches plunge themselues in all sorts of voluptuousnesse and their spirits mollified in the myre of filthy pleasures they seeke them by a contrary course and demand that of nature which she hath not Being many times tired
a prison and there make him to suffer a shamefull death by the hands of an Executioner hauing drawne Mustapha his Vncle out of Prison again and crowned him the second time Soueraigne Sultan of the Turkish Empire That which is here set downe for true proofs of the authoritie and power of these foure great Bassa's They are not alone in greatnesse although that no man doth equall them in all the Othoman Court There are two Beglierbeys that is to say Lord of Lords the one of Romania or Greece the other of Natolia or Asia the lesse The Nissanzi Bassa or ordinary Chancellour who signes all the Dispatches of the Court three Teftardars which are the high Treasurers thorough whose hands the Reuenewes of the Empire doth passe The Rais Kintap whose charge is to keepe the Books Papers and Records of the Empire Besides these there are many others of lesse consideration Doubtlesse as Whales are in the vast and deepe Seas so great and eminent Dignities are in great Empires and those of Turkey make those which enjoy them to seeme like so many pettie Kings about the person of a great Monarch CHAP. XVII Of the Tymar Tymarriots and Pensioners of the Port. THe Turkes giue two sorts of pay to their Souldiers the one is called in their Language Vlefe ' which is payed daily by the Treasurers of the warre and is the entertainment of ordinary Souldiers The other is called Tymar or pension assigned vpon Houses Lands or whole Burroughes this is not giuen but to men who by their valour haue done some notable seruice to the Prince and deserued well of the publique These Pensions are honourable the recompence of their vertue and the marke of their merit It seemes that the Turkes haue borrowed the name of this recompence from the Gracians who called it Tymarion and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Honour Such Pensioners are called Tymariots they are most commonly Spahis and Horsemen who enjoy the honour and profit of such Pensions taken out of the Lands in Turkey which belonging all vnto the Prince by the right of Soueraigne Master of the persons of all his Subjects who are his slaues he giues them to such as haue made themselues worthy by their good Seruice as they doe with vs the Commanders of Military Order or the Fees or Lands which the Princes haue instituted in our Countries to honour Gentlemen of merit and to binde them to serue them vpon all occasions It is true that the continuance of such fees doth farre exceed that of the Tymar for they passe vnto their Successors and this is temporall and no man is suffered to enioy it any longer than it shall please the giuer If the Spahi be not in his Equipage fit for a Souldier if hee doth not serue with that care and diligence as hee ought the Iudges which the Sultan appoints to visit the Tymar depriue him and recompence another that may serue better so that Tymariots or Pensioners of the Turks Court are not vnprofitable mouthes as in other places there the credit of an insolent Fauourite cannot take them from vertue to giue them to the idlenesse of some one of those which follow him and idolatrize the greatnesse of his fortune CHAP. XVIII Of the Grand SEIGNEVRS Favourites aduanced to the greatnesse of the Empire and of their fall FEw Kings haue beene without Fauourites and what reason were it to 〈◊〉 the most eminent among men from that which is allowed to the most object that is to loue one man aboue all others and to honour him with the effects of their friendship by honours and greatnesse whereof they are the Masters and absolute Disposers Doubtlesse the Soueraigne of Kings who came into the World to teach both Men and Kings perfection hath not denied them this libertie when as he himselfe gaue them an example louing and fauouring aboue the small number of men which were in his Ordinary Court him whom hee thought most worthy of his fauours But few Fauourites haue beene without insolencie whether it be that most Princes are not much carefull to make choice of men whose vertues haue made them worthy of their friendship or that the nature of fauour and honour which follow them be such as it blinds their vnderstanding and puffes vp their spirits with pride This History hauing taken for its principall Subject the Court of the Othoman Monarches it shall seeke no farther for examples of this truth Hibraim Bassa Fauourite to Solyman the Second had attained to the height of greatnesse which hee enjoyed by such degrees He was a Christian borne of a very base extraction at the age of seuen or eight yeeres they which exact the tribute of Christians Children tooke him from his Fathers house and conducted him with a troupe of other young slaues to Constantinople At his arriuall he was giuen vnto a Bassa who caused him to be bred vp carefully and soone after presented him to Solyman This Prince to whom Hibraim was equall in age tooke him into his affection his seruice was alwayes more pleasing vnto him than that of the other slaues He honoured him with the charge of Capiaga who is Captaine of the Gate of the inner Serrail From this place hee came to that of Aga or Colonell of the Ianizaries Then the example of some great Men of the Othoman Court ruined by the inconstancie of Fortune gaue vnto his spirit the first apprehensions which the great Dignities of the Court giues vnto Fauourites which enjoy them and serued as a bridle to restraint his passion hee besought Solyman not to aduance his fortune so high as he might full with the greater ruine Hee shewed him that a meane prosperitie was more safe than all the greatnesse wherewith he would honour him That his seruices should be sufficiently rewarded if hee gaue him wherewith to spend his dayes in rest farre from the necessities of life Solyman commended his modestie and meaning to aduance him to the chiefe Dignities of his Empire he sware vnto him neuer to put him to death whilst he liued what change soeuer should happen in his Court But the condition of King which is humane and subject to change and that of Fauourites which is proud and vnthankfull shall cause Solyman to faile of his promise and Hibraim of his faith and loyaltie as wee shall see In the meane time this Fauourite becomes a Bassa and soone after Grand Vizir and Lieuetenant Generall of his Masters Empire his credit his traine his wealth and the pompe of his greatnesse teach euery man that hee is the Arbitrator of Turkey But his fortune is too great to be without Enuie and it seemes vnreasonable that the highest trees which are on the tops of the highest Mountaines should be free from the violence of the windes The Princesse Mother to Solyman and Roxillana his wife the best beloued of his Sultana's enuie the credit of Hibraim and his vnlimited authoritie is insupportable vnto them