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
to dance in a round in a goodly Hall where he doth assist and place himselfe in the midst like vnto a Butterflie in the midst of many glistering fires where heloseth himselfe For feeling his heart suddenly enflamed by the eyes of some one of them which pleaseth him best he casts her his handkercher for a signe that he is vanquished she receiues it with great demonstrations of humilitie kisses it and layes it on her head presently the Cheyachadun or Mother of the Maids takes this faire slaue which comes to triumph ouer her Masters libertie she leads her into a Chamber appointed for the sports of loue decks her with the goodliest Ornaments she can deuise perfumes her and addes to her naturall beautie the cunning of her Art This is while the Sun shines for imitating his course as well as his lustre this faire Creature lies downe as soone as this Planet sets The Chadun conducts her into the same Chamber where the Sultan is lodged layes her in the same Bed where shee enters by the feet for the greater reuerence and during the night season many old Moorish women watch and stand sentinell one at the Beds feet another in the midst of the Chamber and a third at the doore They are reliued euery third houre by others of the same hue vntill it bee day There is one stands at the Beds head with two Torches burning and doth carefully obserue on what side the Prince doth turne least the light should offend his eyes I haue learned from a Iew a learned Physician which had serued the Grand Seigneur that the Chadun watcheth at the Beds feet and doth sometimes speake some words to encourage they young Maide giuing her to vnderstand that night would be the cause of her good fortune and that she would attaine to the dignitie of a Princesse It is the custome in Turkey that on the Marriage night an olde woman doth assist in the Chamber of the married couple and imployes the experience of her time past to encourage the and her Pension is 〈◊〉 sixteene Charges of Money The rest of the Serrail which are yet Virgins or haue had the Princes company but once imploy all their allurements to please him and finding their cunning deuices too feeble they adde the help of Charmes and Sorcerie which they purchase at any 〈◊〉 whatsoeuer But if any one of these women be deliuered first of a Sonne which is to succeed in the Empire shee is called Queene the Grand Seigneur honours her with a Crowne of pretious stones hee causeth a cloth of Estate to be carried into her Chamber of Presence inlargeth her Lodging and giues her a Family sin for a Queene on Empresse of Turkey Shee hath a sufficient Reuenew to supply her necessities and her bounties If shee be deliuered of a Daughter they send her a Nurse three thousand Sequins and Slaues to serue her the honour is the lesse but the joy which shee concerneth if there be Male Children formerly borne is incomparable for shee is assured that the young Princesse shall be bred vp with her and that shee shall be one day married to a Grand Vizir or to some other Basha of the most powerfull in the Empire who will 〈◊〉 and fill her old age 〈…〉 if shee had beene deliuered of a younger Sonne he should be taken from her at the age of twelue yeares or thereabouts and put into the hands of Schoolemasters to instruct him where shee might not se◠〈…〉 foure times in the yearâ— and in the end hee should bee 〈…〉 â—o the safâ— of 〈◊〉 elder Brothers Raigne and soone strangled by Mâ— This is that which makes them desireth haue Daughters wâ— is alreadie a Sonne 〈◊〉 All these woman although they 〈…〉 the true Successours of the 〈◊〉 yet they are but the Emperourâ— Concubities he 〈◊〉 marries any vnlesse be wonderfully surprised with 〈…〉 which hath first brought him a 〈◊〉 then be followes the blind motions of his passion And doubelesse when as loue makes him to feele in this sort the râ—our of his 〈…〉 Tyrâ—â—t should 〈…〉 for if the one doth captiues that 〈◊〉 the other torments one to the succession of the Empire brings him to ruine and makes him to end his dayes miserably by the Sword Solyman hath beene the only Prince since 〈◊〉 the First vnto this day whereof there hath beene fifteene Emperours twenty in all by a direct succession from Father to Sonne which hath married a Wife Amurath the Third his Grandchild being charmed with the beauty of Asachi being enformed of the practices of Rouilana in the Serrail by the power of her infranchisement and the authoritie of the Princes Wife refused the Letters of Sabyn although he had had fourteene children by her and loued her aboue all his Women Yet they say that Osman which died last had married the Daughter of the Muftie of Constantinople But the History of the extraordinary Marriage of the Turkish Prince hath made vs abandon the relation of his loues with his Concubines But let vs returne and follow him into his Garden where hee is in the midst of his 〈◊〉 loue imbracements It is dangerous to see him but no fear of danger should deterre vs from seruing of the publique He goes 〈◊〉 out of his 〈…〉 goe and daily with his women in 〈…〉 Eunuches which 〈◊〉 the Women are the only 〈◊〉 which accompany him all the 〈…〉 they caâ— The 〈…〉 to worth the Sea 〈…〉 Master For if there should 〈…〉 Serrail that should 〈…〉 when they walke with the 〈…〉 Thus the 〈…〉 Thus the 〈…〉 that they 〈…〉 is 〈…〉 which he obserues against those which would see him forbids to reueale the secret Only wee know that in the effeminate delights wherewith the women charme him hee is pleased with the ridiculous encounters of his Iesters and Dwarffes and shewes that Loue is an entertainment of Men that are Birds A curious person which hath had authority in the Leuant enformed me that in these places there many times happens light riots of Loue betwixt the Sultan and his Women Hee vnderstood it from a blacke Eunuch of the womens Serrail and he told him that if the jealousie of these faire creatures did raise them they were supprest by the discretion of the Chadun which is their old Gouernesse and by her humilitie which is interessed in the Quarrell Thus the giddie Quarrels of Louers are the winds which kindle and enflame their foolish passion And the Pigeons bils which were the armes of their choller are the sweet instruments of their loue That which we haue formerly written of the entertainment of the Turkish Prince with his women is not the most blameable of his affections The greatnesse of his power which makes all mens wils obey him and the contagious example of his Courtiers carries him to the detestable excesse of an vnnaturall passion Hee burnes many times for the loue of men and the youngest Boyes which are in the Leuant the flowre of
the Reuenew of Egypt for that time He laid a foundation of eight hundred thousand Duckers of yearely rent and caused this holy and reuerend place to be serued by nine hundred Priests Men who had the merit of their beginning from Learning and Pietie The Citie being the Queene of the World within few yeares after saw her restorer triumphing ouer the King of Persia and had the grace to keepe in her bosome the precious treasure of Christianity a part of the Crosse of the Redeemer of the World found by the carefull pietie of the Emperours Mother her joy pompe and lustre were growne to that height as it seemed there could be nothing more added it is by succession of time the seate of the greatest Monarches of the Earth Senerus and Anthonin his sonne did enuy it and rauished from its restorer the glory to haue named it calling it Anthonia by one of their names But whatsoeuer hath a beginning in this World must haue an end and the goodliest things paie tribute to change In the yeere 1453. on Tuesday the seuen and twentieth of May it was after a long siege made a prey to the victorious Turke Mahomet the Second of that name and the eleuenth Emperour of the Turks entred it by force spoyled it and sackt it The Emperour Constantine Paliologo lost his life with a great number of men of quality and all the Christian men were subiect to the Sword or to the rigour of bondage the women were a sport to the lubricity of the Turkes and their goods subiect to their spoyle in reuenge some say of the sacke and burning which the Grecians made of Troy from whom they will haue the Turkes to be descended but rather for a punishment of the impiety of the Grecians who blaspheming against Heauen deny that the Holy Ghost proceeds from Iesus Christ the second Person in the ineffable Trinity Mahomet the Second of that name was the first that setled the Othoman Throne there They changed the name among them and called it Stamboll that is to say the great the Royall and the abundant Her goodly places suffer the like inconstancie and are called Baestans the stately Hippodrome is called the place of Horses Atmaydan and the wonderfull Temple of Sainta Sophia is become the chiefe Mosquee of Mahomets superstition This Citie is situated vpon a point of firme Land aduanced into the channell which comes from Pontus Enxinus or the blacke Sea which Geographers call the Bosphorus of Thrace It is watred of three parts by the Sea towards the North by a Gulfe or Arme of the Sea called the Horne which the Bosphorus thrusts into Europe and make the Hauen of Constantinople the goodliest the deepest and the most commodious in Europe Towards the East it is watred by the extremitie of the channell or Bosphorus on the South by the waues of the Propontique Sea and vpon the South it hath the firme Land of Thrace The forme is Triangular whereof the largest side is that towards the Serrail which lookes to the Sea towards the seuen Towers and its vast circuit containes about fiue leagues The wals are of an extraordinary height with two false Brayes towards the Land and inclose seuen Hils within it The first serues as a Theatre to the Imperiall Palace of the Prince where it is commodiously and proudly feated The last lookes vpon the extremity of the farthest parts of the Towne opposite to this and vpon the way which leads to Andrinopolis by Land But betwixt the third and the fourth where a Valley doth extend it selfe called the great is an Aqucduct of rare structure which Constantine caused to be drawne seuen leagues from the City and Solyman the Second aduanced it two Leagues beyond and increased the current of water in so great abundance as they doe serue seuen hundred and forty Fountaines for the publique not reckoning those which are drawne into diuers parts to furnish the great number of Bathes which serue for delights and the Turkes superstition Vpon the last of the seuen Hils are yet to be seene the ancient buildings of a Fort strengthened with seuen Towres in the midst of the situation the Turkes call it Giedicula that is to say the Fort of the seuen Towres in the which the wonders of Art was so great in old time as what was spoken in the one was heard in all the rest not all at one instant but successiuely and in order Two hundred and fifty Souldiers are in guard commanded by a Captaine who hath the charge who may not goe forth without the leaue of the Grand Voâ—ir except it be on two dayes in the yeare when they celebrate their Feasts of Bayrans or Easter The first Turkish Emperour which possest Constantinople lodged their treasure in these Towres The one was full of Ingots and coyned gold two of them contained the siluer that was coyned and in Ingots another had diuers armes and ornaments for Souldiers and the Caparisons for Horses enricht with gold siluer and precious stones the fift serued for ancient Armes Medales and other precious remaynders of Antiquity the sixt contained the Engines for Warre and the seuenth the Rols and Records of the Empire accompanied with a goodly gallery in the which were placed the rich spoyles which Selym the first brought from Tauris when he triumphed ouer Persia All these treasures were carefully kept vntill the Reigne of Selym the Second But it is in estates as with priuate Families In these some gather together with much toyle that which their heires waste prodigally and some Kings heape vp treasure which serue as a subiect of prodigality to their Successors For this Prince base and effeminate who it seemes was not borne but for the ruine of his Empire if Christians could haue imbraced the occasions wasted in the expences of the Nauall Army which the battaile of Lepantho made subject to the Christians and before in the warre of Cyprus the best part of the immense treasure which his Father had heaped vp in these Towres the rest serued for his lasciuious and disordered passions with his Concubines Since Amurath his Sonne changed the place of the treasures of the Empire and from the Towres transferred them into his Serrail so they draw vnto him that which he loues and seeing that money doth possesse the hearts of Men it is reason they should haue a lodging in their Palace This alteration hath since appointed these places of the treasure to be Prisons for the great Men of the Port or Court whom the Sultans will not put to death For the Fortresse being of a great extent such Captiues haue the more libertie They shut vp in the Towres of the blacke Sea which is a Castle vpon Europe side ioyning to the Sea Christian Prisoners of qualitie where in the yeare 1617. Duke Koreski a Prince of Moldania was lodged Constantinople hath within the inclosure of the wals aboue two thousand Mosquees or Turkish Temples built by their Emperors for we
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
led by blacke Eunuches without seeing any of the Ladies into a Chamber where these young Princes remaine They instruct them in the presence of two old 〈…〉 as it iâ— allowed them to continue after which they returne with the same guides who bring them to the Gate of the Serrail This exercise is continued vntill the Prince comes to the age of thirteene yeares which is the ordinary â—earme of the Turkes Circumcision after the imitation of Ismael from whom they glory to be descended who was circumcised at the same age Sometimes the Father seeing him grow great and neare him stayes not so long He causeth him to be out at eleuen yeares to send him out of the Serrail and to reâ— him from him into some Gouernment of Asia The Ceremony of the Circumcision is in Turkey the most famous of their Pompe they call it Marriage but a Marriage of the Soule And for that the Soule is more excellent then the Bodie so the solemnitie of these Marriages doe farre exceed those of Corporall Marriage We will succinctly describe the particularities and will take for a Table of this royall Magnificence the Prefines Playes Feasts and gallant Showes which were made at the Circumcision of Mahoâ— the Third Grandfather to him that now raignes Some dayes before 〈◊〉 For the Circumcision followes the Feast which was 〈◊〉 vpon his occasion The Hippodrome is a great place in Constantinople about fourescore fanthome long and sortie broud artificially built vpon a great number of Pillars and Bashaes which suppose it strongly and keepe it from drowning by the waters of the Sea which run vnder it by certaine Channels which giue it entry It was the ancient mannage and course for Horses as the word doth signifie where the Greeke Emperours caused their Horses to be ridden and gaue vnto the eyes of the people which beheld them from a goodly Theater built at the end the pleasure of their stately courses The Theater is now ruined and the goodly stones wherewith it was built haue serued for the proud Pallaces of Bashaes which they haue raised thereabouts This place is called at this day Atmeiden that is to say Mannage There the Magnificences of the Circumcision of the Turkish Princes are performed The day being come when they are to begin the Feast the Emperour goes on horsebacke from the Serrail to come to the Hippodrome the young Prince his Sonne is on the right hand which is the lesse honourable among them attired in a rich Robe of Cloth of Gold couered with an infinite number of Diamonds and great round Pearles of inestimable value The point of his Turbant glistered with precious stones He was mounted vpon a goodly Horse with the richest Caparison that could be found in the Sultans Serrail The Bitt was of massiue Gold set with many Diamonds the Stirrops of the same mettall couered with Turquoises the Buckles were also of Gold enricht with Rubies and the rest of the stately Furniture accordingly The Grand Vizir the Begtierbeys of Asia and Europe with other Basha's of the Port follow their Lords the Ianizaries Solaquis Spahis Capigis and the other Guards and Officers of the Court accompany them all of them attired with so great lustre and pompe as it seemed that all the wealth not only of the East but of the whole World had beene transported to Constantinople to adorne the Men which shewed themselues in this Solemnitie Being come to the Hippodrome they were receiued with a double harmony The first consisted of Hobâ—yes Fifes Drums and Trumpets with such a noyse as the Ayre and Earth ecchoed againe The second the acclamations of the the people who cried with a loud voice Liue Sultan Amurath and liue Sultan Mahomet his Sonne Hee to let the people know how much he did cherish their affection gaue them a Largesse and cast many great handfuls of Gold and Siluer amongst them Whilst the Princes crosse the place they caused to march before them fiue great Tapers of waxe kindled and enricht with Chugnant and beautified with all sorts of flowres They weâ—â— for their proportion of bignesse and height rather like vnto great Oakes than Torches They carried fortie foot in height The Sultans hauing crost the place entred the Pallace of Hibraim Bassa where the pauement of the Court was all couered with Cloth of Gold whereon they marched and went to take their Places to be the Subiects and Spectators of this Royall Pompe The Father entred into a Pauillion which was prepared for him hauing a Portall adjoyned beautified with rich pictures of Arabia which looked towards the place The Sonne went into a Chamber vpon the left hand where his seate was prepared The Sultanâ—es place was ioyning to the Pauillion In the which were only the Mother of the young Prince and Wife to the Emperour his Sister the young Princesse and the woman of their Taâ—ine Their Robes and glorious lustre of pearles and precious stones which they carried were worthy of the wife Daughter of the most powerfull and rich Monarch of the Earth All the Agaes and Captaines of the Port were in a Gallery neere vnto them At the end of the same lodging were other Galleries erected of three stories They had diuided them into little Lodgings like vnto Cabinets In the first and highest was the Grand Vizir and the other Vizirs with the Begliarâ—eyâ— of Asia and Europe were placed next and the Bassa Oachiali Captaine of the Sea or Generall of the Galley and of all the Fleets of the Empire whom Fortune had dâ— from the Trade of a base Fisherman of Calabria and aduanced to that degree In the second story were many Lords Courtiers of the Port. In the third and lowest they had made places for the Embassadours of Kings and Christian Princes That of the French Embassadour was in the first Ranke the Emperours had the second the Polonians the third the Bâ—iliffe of Venice the fourth and he of Raguse the fiâ—st They were all in Cloth of Gold and their Gentlemen in like manner He of France did not assist holding it vnseemely for the Embassadour of a most Christian King and eldest Sonne of the Church to be spectator of a superstition contrary to the Law of his Religion yet his lodgings were kept void aboue those of the Imperiall Embassadour and no man held it during the Feast On the other side of the place there were Theaters and Lodgings erected for the Embassadours of Mahometan Princes who would not haue their places neere vnto the Christians The first place was giuen to him of Persia who was stately attired in those goodly Robes of Cloth of Gold after the Persian manner buttoned about him bandâ— it â—wise The Gentlemen of his Traine did equall in pompe and gallantnesse any other of their condition whatsoeutoer The top of their Turbants couered with goodly Turquoises whereof their Country abounds made a goodly shew They had brought their wines with
of siluer and amidst this number there was one all set with Diamonds valued at twentie thousand pounds sterling money The Chambers of his Lodging and his Wardrobe were richly hanged with Tapestry of Persia and Caire Many rich stuffes of silke and gold excellently wrought did augment the quantity of his precious Moueables In his Stables were found aboue a thousand great Horses of price foure hundred and fortie Mares of Arabia and Egypt as beautiful as any Painter could represent with this there were many thousand Camels and Moiles for his Baggage when hee trauelled In his base Courts they numbred a hundred thousand Oxen Kine and Sheepe the number of his slaues exceeded foure thousand With this great wealth he might haue done great good if he had had a friend to giue him good counsel but great prosperities haue not any who might haue contained him by wise aduice within the limits of his dutie Thus the fauours and pomps of the Court passe away Those of Turkey culpable of the least crymes yea those which are innocent are of no longer continuance For if the Court in what place soeuer bee a Sea full of waues that of the Othoman is alwayes beaten with stormes and tost with Tempests The winds of the Sultana's passions which are most cherished by the Prince the couetous desires of the Enuches which serue him and are his familiars banish the calme and are the cause of such like shipwrackes if they doe not pacifie the greedinesse of the one in glutting them with presents and the auarice of the other by great pensions And although they take this course most commonly yet notwithstanding they are oftentimes allarmed suffer troublesome apprehensions and liue alwayes in feare and disquietnesse To teach men which admire and adore the lustre of such fortunes that their perfectest ioyes are fruitfull in sorrowes And when they thinke to make their Paradice in this World then they carry their Hell with them CHAP. XIX Of the Grand Seigneurs Armes and Seales THe Turkes who esteeme vertue by its price haue no Armes nor Sirnames The Lawes established and seuerely obserued among them which haue made them so powerfull vpon earth would thus banish out of Turkey although somewhat preposterously this subject of vanity in Families and force men rather to support their glory vpon their owne merit than in the vertue of their Ancestors which is not theirs For this cause in their Monarchy the sonne of a great Bassa is lesse esteemed than he of a Waterman if he hath lesse vertue All the aduantage hee can challenge to be borne of vertuous Parents is to tearme himselfe their sonne As for example Mustapha the sonne of Siruan shall be called Siruanogli that is to say the sonne of Siruan The rest of his glory must be supplyed by himselfe and not borrowed from his Father Their Emperours haue no Armes and the Family of the Othomans neuer beare any They defaced in the siege of the Gracian Empire those of the most Illustrious Family of the Paliologus who were the Soueraigne Monarches who carried gloriously the Titles of their triumphant prosperities by foure Letters separated distinctly which the Greekes call Vita and not Fusils as some haue dream't these Letters signified in the same Language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say King of Kings raigning ouer them that raigne It is true the Turkish Princes haue some kinde of Marke or Ensigne rather of their Empire than of their Family for when as they represent it they paint the Globe of the World with a Crescent or halfe Moone on the top and in their Armies their Ensignes haue no other deuice but the same Crescent their Towers and Steeples carry it yea the Pilgrimes which goe to Mequa carry it on the top of their slaues the which shewes that this Crescent is rather a marke of their Religion then of the Imperiall Race Wee haue obserued in our History of their Religion the Miracle which Mahomet their Prophet brags hee had done when as he repaired the Moone which was torne and all in pieces after he had drawne it from Heauen and put it into his sleeue The Turkes which count their Moneths by Moones shew the veritie hereof when as they prostrate themselues in the beginning thereof before the Moone and lifting vp their eyes to his brightnesse they pray unto God that hee will grant them the grace to begin happily to continue in like manner and to end with good successe the course of this Starre The Imperiall Seale of the Grand Seigneurs of Turkey hath no other figure but certaine Arabian Characters which expresse their name that of their Father and note the pride of the felicity whereof they brag Achmat the Emperour who died in the yeare 1617 had caused these words to be grauen in the Seale wherewith his Patents were sealed Achmet ibni Mehemet Cham Sadet that is to say Achmet sonne to Mehemet Emperour alwayes victorious The other Othoman Monarches haue in a manner the same deuice the names only changed It is true that the Arabique Letters are so interlaced one with another in a manner like the Cyphers wherewith they expresse their names in France as few men in his Estate can expound them only the Vizir or he which scales hath the perfect knowledge This manner of grauing their Seales only with Letters hath beene imitated only from their Prophet For the Turkish Monarchy and all that depends thereof hold it a glory to haue for their principall support the Religion which he professeth and to haue no other interest but his Mahomet the Authour of the Alcoran caused words only to be grauen in his Seale and wordes without truth which were these Mahomet the Messenger of God This Seale was made seuen hundred and fiue or six yeares before that Othoman the first Prince of that Family which raignes at this day in the East had setled the Turkish Monarchy and since we doe not read that any Turkish Emperour hath had any other Armes for their Seales than the Characters and Arabique words Thus these men by words not cast into the wind as many other Princes doe but grauen haue by the esteeme which they haue made of the vertue of men which haue serued them subdued the Emperour of Constantinople rauished that of Trebifonde seazed vpon Egypt Palestina Damas Pamphylia Cilicia Caramania and all Natolia vanquished Rhodes and Cyprus triumphed ouer Graecia Albania Illyria and the Triballieus and likewise doth by his Armes possesse the best parts of Moldania Transilnania and Hungary and without doubt their Conquests had extended farther into the Prouinces of Christendome if Heauen had not giuen them bounds and stayed their courses by the troubles of the Othoman House and the death of its Princes CHAP. XX. Of the Death Mourning Funerall and Burying of the Grand SEIGNEVAS Emperours of Turkey THe Kings which receiue tribute from so many Nations pay it vnto death and the condition of their perishing life makes them to suffer this