Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	old_a	young_a	youth_n	300	4	8.2577	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

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

is so commonly used that it is publickly drank without cautions or fear of giving scandal the great men because in office are more careful how the world discovers the delight they take in that Liquor least the miscarriages of their office should be attributed to the excess of Wine or the knowledge of their use of that which deprives them of their reason render them uncapable of their trust and dignity For the Turks account it impossible to drink Wine with moderation and are ignorant of the benefit of it for correction of crude humours and indisgestions of the stomach and wonder to see it by English French or Italians tempered with water for unless they may drink it with full-bowls and have sufficient thereof to give them their Kaif as they call it that is to transport them into a dissolute Mirth or the ridiculous actions of drunkenness or to a surfeit or a vomit they esteem it not worth the drinking and a provocation to the appetite and palate to remain with a desire of demanding more But such as would appear Religious amongst them and are superstitious morose and haters of Christians abstain wholy from Wine and are of a Stoical pride melancholy temper and censorious of the whole world These men who drink only Water and Coffee enter into discourses of State Matters censure the actions and pass Characters on the Grandees and great Officers Assumtâ Stoicorum arrogatiâ 〈◊〉 quae turbidos negotiorum appetentes faciat Tac. lib. 14. And this was the reason why the great 〈◊〉 Kupruli put down the Coffee-houses in 〈◊〉 and yet priviledged the Taverns because the first were melancholy places where Seditions were vented where reflexions were made on all occurrences of State and discontents published and aggravated but Wine raised the spirits of men to a gay humour and would never operate those effects to endanger his condition as the Councels which were contrived in the Assemblies of those who addicted themselves to a more melancholy Liquor The drinking Wine in young men is esteemed amongst the extravagancies of youth but in old men is a crime more undecent and scandalous in a higher degree But why Mahomet should so severely forbid the use of Wine to his Disciples is recounted in a fable on this occasion That their Prophet being once invited by a friend to an entertainment at his house chanced in his way thither to be detained a while at a Nuptial Feast where the Guests raised with the chearful spirits of the Wine were Merry embracing and in a kind temper each towards other which pleasing humour Mahomet attributing to the effect of the Wine blessed it as a sacred thing and so departed But it happening that in the Evening returning again and expecting to see the love and 〈◊〉 he had before blessed to be augmented he found the house to the contrary full of brawls and noise fightings and all confusion which he also having understood to be another effect of the Wine changed his former blessing into a curse and for ever after made it Haram or an abomination to his Disciples CHAP. XXVI Of their Morality Good Works and some certain of their Laws worthy of observation THough according to the preceding discourse the Character that may thence result from the nature and temperament of the Turks doth not promise any long Treatise concerning their deep morality vertues and elevated graces yet in the minds of all mankind though never so barbarous God having wrote the Law of nature and made that impression of doing right to our neighbour which tends towards the conservation of the world we may well expect to find the same principles in the Turks especially their Victories and Spoils abroad having procured them conversation with other Nations and their Wars and Treaties with Christians having refined their minds in a good part of that rude temper they brought with them out of Scythia it will not be strange for us to find amongst them men whom Education hath made civil polished in all points of vertuous deportment and made Heroes of their Age though I must confess I cannot applaud the generality of this people with so high Encomiums as I have read in the Books of some ingenious travellers and do believe without partiality that they come short of the good nature and vertues are to be found in most parts of Christendom Howsoever wherein they conceive a great part of charity is placed and meritorious works it will not be unworthy nor unpleasant to consider Aud in the first place they esteem it a good work to build houses though from thence they obtain a Rent because it is a habitation for those who have no Lands or Estates to have them of their own But especially such as are Princes and great men who build Chans or Inns which are receptacles for travellers at night are ranked in the first order of sacred Benefactors and are blessed and prayed for by the weary Guests who have found repose and refreshment through their munificence And in these buildings the Turks are extraordinary Magnificent in most parts of the Empire having united to many of them a stately Moschs Baths and Shops for Artisants and Trades-men to supply all the necessities of the travellers and some of them are so endowed that every night the Guests are entertained at free cost with a convenient Supper be their number more or less according as the Chan is capable to receive The form of these buildings is for the most part according to the model of the highest and stateliest of our Halls covered with lead though not altogether so high-roofed yet some I have observed for their breadth and length very Magnificent yet by reason that they have been somewhat lower have only in that come short of the pride of the stateliest Fabricks though in few of them are apartments for different companies yet every one is sufficiently retired having at a convenient distance different Chimnies for all parties of Guests to dress their meat and in the winter for their fire the greatest inconvenience to men of watchful spirits and used to quiet retirements is the want of sleep which untill I have been over-tired with labour and accustomed thereto by divers dayes journeyes hath been alwayes a stranger to my eyes by reason of the molestation of various companies some of which are alwayes awake some mending their Carts others dressing meat others upon their departure that in those publick places never want noise to disturb those who sleep but of one ear These stately Chans or Inns which with the Moschs are the only durable and magnificent buildings of the Empire are the Edifices of certain great men who fearing to be deprived of their riches by a hasty death should they endeavour to continue them to their family chuse to perpetuate their names and secure their conditions by these publick works Those who would appear of a compassionate and tender nature hold it a pious work to buy a Bird from a

Janizaries have succeeded divers other but because there hath been no disorder amongst them so notorious and memorable as that which occasioned the death of Kiosem Grand-mother to the present Sultan we have thought fit to record the certain particulars of it to all posterity CHAP. IV. A true relation of the designs managed by the old Queen Wife of Sultan Ahmet and Mother of Sultan Morat and Sultan Ibrahim against her Grand-child Sultan Mahomet who now Reigns and of the death of the said Queen and her Complices AFter the murder of Sultan Ibrahim by conspiracy of the Janizaries Sultan Mahomet eldest son of the late deceased Emperour a child of nine years old succeeded in the throne of his father and the tuition of him and administration of the Government during his minority was committed to the old Queen the Grand-mother called Kiosem a Lady who through her long experience and practice in affairs was able and proper for so considerable an office and so the young Sultan was conducted to the Mosch of Eiub where with the accustomed Ceremonies his sword was girt to his side and he proclaimed Emperour through all the Kingdoms and Provinces of his Dominions For some time this old Queen governed all things according to her pleasure until the Mother of this young Sultan as yet trembling with the thoughts of the horrid death of her Lord and fearing lest the subtle and old Polititian the Grandmother who had compassed the death of her husband should likewise contrive the Murder of her Son grew hourly more jealous of his life and safety which suspition of hers was augmented by the knowledge she had of the ambitious and haughty spirit of the Grand-mother and the private treaties and secret correspondence she held with the Janizaries which compelled her to a resolution of making a faction likewise with the Spahees and Pashaws and Beyes who had received their Education in the Seraglio being a party alwaies opposite to the Janizaries These she Courted by Letters and Messages complaining of the death and Murder of the Sultan her Husband the Pride and Insolence of the Janizaries and small esteem was had of her Son their undoubted Prince adding that if they provided not for their own safety the Old Queen would abolish both the name and order of Spahees The Asiatick Spahees awakened hereat with a considerable Army marched to Scutari under the Conduct of Gurgi Nebi and demanded the heads of those who had been the traytors and conspirators against the sacred Life of their late Soveraign all which were then under the protection of the Janizaries and supported by the powerful Authority of the Queen Regent Upon this Alarum the Grand Visier called Morat Pashaw who had had his Education amongst the Janizaries being adored by them as an Oracle and engaged with them in the late Treason against the Sultan speedily passed over from Constantinople to Scutari with an Army of Janizaries and others of his favourites and followers transporting likewise Artillery and all necessaries for entrenchment some skirmishes passed between the Van-guard of the Spahees and the Deli which are the Visiers Guard and thereby had engaged both the Armies but that the two Chief Justices of Anatolia and Greece interposing with their grave and religious countenances preached to them of the danger and impiety there was in the effusion of Musselmins or believers bloud and that had they any just pretences their plea should be heard and all differences decided by the Law These and such like perswasions made impression on Gurgi Nebi and other Spahees and the posture they found their Adversaries in to give them battel made them inclinable to hearken to proposals for accomodation but especially their courages were abated by what the Justices had declared that in case they repaired not to their own homes the Visier was resolved to burn all the Rolls and proclaim a general Nesiraum through the whole Empire which is an Edict of the King and Mufti commanding all the Turks of his Kingdoms from seven years old and upward to arm and follow him to the war The Spahees hereupon dispersed themselves and from their retreat encreased the Pride of the Janizaries faction and of their chief Commanders viz. Bectas Aga highly favoured by the Queen Regent Kul Kiahia Lieutenant of the Janizaries and Kara Chiaus a follower of Bectas who now esteemed themselves absolute Masters of the Empire These three now governed all matters contriving in their secret Councils the destruction of the Spahees especially those famed for riches and valour and as one of the first rank gave order to the Pasha of Anatolia to take away the life of Gurgi Nebi whom accordingly he one day assaulted in his quarters and being abandoned by his Souldiers shot him with a Pistol and sent his head to Constantinople The Spahees exasperated hereat entred into private Councils and Conspiracies in Anatolia against the Janizaries drawing to their party several Beyes and Pashaws of Asia and particularly one Ipsir a Circasian born but educated in the Seraglio a Person of a couragious spirit and powerful in men and treasure assaulted many quarters of the Janizaries in Asia and cutting off their arms and noses miserably slaughtered as many as fell into their hands On the other party Bectas Aga secure in his condition amassed wealth with both hands by new impositions rapine and other arts causing to be coined at Belgrade 300 thousand Aspers one third silver and two of tinne these Aspers he dispersed amongst the Tradesmen and Artisans forcing others to exchange his false metal for Gold at the value of 160 Aspers for the Hungarian Ducat The people sensible of the cheat begun a mutiny in the quarter of the Sadlers at Constantinople which encreased so fast that the whole City was immediately in a general uproar this tumult was violently carried to the place of the Mufti whom they forced with the Seigh who is the Grand Signiors Preacher and the Nakib Esref or Primate of the Mahometan Race to accompany them to the Seraglio where at the inward gate of the Royal Lodgings with clamours and out-cries they made their complaint In this danger the Grand Signior was advised by the Capi Agasi and Solyman Aga the Kuzlir Aga or chief Eunuch of the Women that this happy conjuncture was to be embraced for the destruction of Bectas and his complices but fear and too much caution hindered that design for the present only it was judged fit for satisfaction of the multitude that Metek Ahmet Pashaw then Prime Visier and yet a slave to the lusts of the Janizaries should be deprived his office which was immediately effected and the Seal taken from him was delivered to Siaus Pashaw a Stout and Valiant person This Visier being jealous of his own honour and jealous for the safety of the Empire cast about all ways to suppress the arrogance of Bectas and his adherents lest the like shame and misfortune should befall him as did to Murad Pasha one

to Constantinople who pretends to speak the Grand Signiors sence in this particular on occasions of difference which the insolent rudeness of the Janizaries had caus'd between themselves and his Family For Rusan Pashaw then Prime Visier admonished him friendly to condescend to any terms of Composition for that Law could not avail where Souldiers ruled and the powerful 〈◊〉 himself who then reigned trembled at nothing more than the apprehension of some secret Ulcer of perfidiousness which might lye concealed within the retirement of the Janizaries But as there is no question but a standing Army of veterane and well-disciplin'd Souldiers must be always useful and advantageous to the Interest of a Prince so on the contrary negligence in the Officers and remisness of Government produces that licentiousness and wrestiness in the Souldiery as betrays them to all the disorders which are dangerous and of evil consequence to the welfare of a State And so it hath fared with the Ottoman Empire which rising only by the power of Arms and established on the blood of many valiant and daring Captains gave Priviledges Honours and Riches to the Militia and at all times encouraged their Prowess and forwardness by Rewards and connivance at their Crimes by which indulgence and impunity these men ill-principled 〈◊〉 rules of Virtue and unequally bearing Prosperity and the favour of the Prince have for a long time been gathering a 〈◊〉 of ill humours ready to receive any contagion of seditious design and to maintain it with an impudence constant to the Janizaries for some Ages which may equal the levity of the Roman Souldiery untill they shamelesly set their Empire to sale and forgot both their old obedience to the Senate and reverence to their new Emperours The death and ruine of many Grandees and of the Sultan himself by such like Seditions hath at length by dear experience taught the Principal Ministers how unsafe it is to permit an Army lodged in the bowels of the capital City of a disposition favourable to it self envious and impatient of any other jealous and always at enmity with the Court rich and powerful with Possessions and Rents appertaining to its Commanders in Anatolia and a Treasury of unknown sums which have descended to the Common Bank by the decease of their Generals or Janizar Agas and therefore have by degrees and as prudently as might be begun to diminish the strength of this 〈◊〉 by the destruction of the veterane Souldiers and ruine of their reputation by various arts in the estimation of the World The particular means whereby the Janizaries have been studiously destroy'd are by many ways evident for first they are exposed upon every obscure Service and drawn forth to encounter every Assault of the Empire as the Wars of Candy have exhausted the flower of this Militia the Battels at Sea buried vast numbers who 〈◊〉 formerly reserved for times of eminent exploits and glory Secondly Which destruction of the veterane Souldiers hath created other mischiefs to this order in point of discipline as prejudicial as the former for as the Agiamoglans were obliged to perform six or seven years Novitiate now by reason of the constant necessities to supply the Wars they overskip the orderly formalities of the first Institution and create them Janizaries after a year or half a years service And others I have known educated in Mechanick Professions and from framing Timber and carrying Burdens in the Arsenal have at once for the Service in Candie been created Janizaries who neither know how to manage a 〈◊〉 nor are otherwise disciplin'd to any exercise of Arms. Thirdly that Europe may not be dispeopled by the triennial seisure of Christian Children for the Grand Signiors Service which in Turkish is called Deuschirme that politick Custom and principal conservation of the discipline of Janizaries is as we have said before wholly forgotten and instead thereof election is made of Vagabonds that proffer themselves out of Asia or other parts who having passed five or six months like Novices are afterwards made Janizaries and being ignorant in the use of Arms and unaccustomed to labours and sufferings run from their Colours and renounce their Order which has been in times past one of the most honourable in the whole Empire 4. The old veterane Officers which had by degrees and steps proceeded to Honour methodically from inferiour Souldiers have either by their own seditious spirits or jealousie of the Prince been dispeeded from this world and in their places the Sons of Constantinopolitan Janizaries succeeded who have been bred up with softness and effeminacy and their Tchorbagees or Captains have not obtained their Commands by time or valour but buy their places with money and presents to the prime Officers Fifthly And to forward the decay of this Militia and to take off their warlike and haughty courages the confinement to their Chambers is not severe but liberty given upon colour of poverty and impossibility of livelihood on their mean pay to attend other Trades and services whereby the exercise of Arms and thoughts of the War is converted to mechanick Arts and an intention to ways of maintenance of themselves and Families Sixthly Hope of reward and fear of punishment which are the incitements to worthy actions and restrictions from the vilest crimes are rarely held up to the Janizaries in these times for their encouragement or terrour for without money to the superior Officers none of them obtains preferment nor can any worn out with age and wounds procure dismission from the War with the enjoyment of the usual stipend who are called by the Turks Oturak and by the Latines Exauctorati and on the contrary the children of Officers born in Constantinople are often made Oturaks in their Cradles and lusty youths are with favour and mony exempted in the flower of their age from the labours of War and yet enjoy the benefits due to a toilsome Militia And yet as if all the connivance at these various disorders and subversion of the good institutions of this Souldiery were not sufficient to impoverish their Spirits to mould them into a more effeminate temper and cause them to lose their interest and reputation it is the common opinion that the Vizier Kupriuli laid the designs for the late War with Germany before his death and enjoyned it to his Son to prosecute with an intention amongst other expectations of benefit to the Empire to complete the final destruction of the ancient Spahees and Janizaries so as to be able to lay a foundation of new Discipline which may more easily for the future restrain the Turkish Militia within the compass of better modesty and obedience which design hath taken so severe effect in the War of Hungary in the year 1664. that the bloudiest part of slaughter in the Battels fell on the Janizaries and Spahees and by how much more any were more bold and forward in their attempts by so much more fatal and hasty was their ruine so that it is