of Lepantho made little Crescents or halfe Moones which the Turkish Pilgrimes carrie vpon their staues when they goethe Voyage to Meque Amurath his Sonne made Arrowes and others made little Kniues all which is sold at a deare rate in regard of the grossenesse of the worke Hee thinkes himselfe happie that can recouer any for monie They ground this Custome of labouring for their liuing not only vpon the rules of their Alcoran but also vpon that passage of Genesis Their Schoolmasters make them learne it by heart In the sweat of thy browes thou shalt eat thy bread vntill thou returne to earth whereon thou wert made It is only in the time of peace for in the time of warre the Prince must liue vpon the charges of the people for whose defence and increase hee takes Armes But in another season if the Sultan should employ the Money which he leuies of his people in his delights the Law and the custome of the Empire would hold it a crime They call their Taxe and Subsidie Aaram Agemini Cani that is to say The prohibited bloud of the people And for that the labour of their hands cannot furnish the expences of their diet to keepe a Table worthy of their Qualitie they adde vnto it the reuenewes of their Gardens which in truth is great and almost incredible I haue learned from some Turkes that they yeeld two hundred thousand Crownes a yeare rent some others say a hundred thousand pounds sterling Besides those which he hath in the Serrail hee hath along the Sea side and towards the Arsenall great Gardens which are very fruitfull Foure Leagues from Constantinople and further at Andrinopolis and vpon the side of Asia at Scutary where the Citie of Chalcedonia did sometimes stand there are the goodliest Gardens in the East The fruits which are gathered are sold at Constantinople and elsewhere in so great abundance as they furnish all the Countrie The Bostangihassi or great Gardiner who is an Officer of the Crown hath a care of this Reuenew causeth it to bee brought to the Serrail and the Sultans hold it for their true Patrimonie and Demesnes wherewith they may feed themselues without any oppression To these Manuall workes of the Turkish Emperours wee must adde their Religious custome to plough the Land when as they come from their Gouernment to Constantinople to take possession of the Empire they are bound to hold the Plough and to make some furrowes Amurath the Third Grandfather to Achmat obserued it after the decease of Seâ—â— his Father when as comming from Magnesia where he was Gouernour to goe and take possession of his Scepter he met with an Husband man in the fields where lighting from his horse he laid hold on the Plough and made three or foure furrowes After which he drew a handfull of Gold out of his pocket and gaue it in charitie to this Labourer and withall he put off his Robe which was of rich Cloth of Gold furred with Sables and gaue it him The Law which makes him to obserue this Ceremony is mentioned in the Glosses of the Alcoran in these termes That the Emperour comming to the Empire and going to the Imperiall Citie to take possession hee must manure the Land to banish sterrilitie from his Countrie and to make it fruitfull It is nothing the more for all this For the Prince employing so great a number of his Subiects in his warres much good Land lies waste for want of men to till it Thus doe the Turkish Sultans employ themselues and yet they doe not flie idlenesse to the which they many times abandon themselues Wee shall see something in the following Chapter CHAP. X. Of the Grand Seigneurs Loues AMong all the passions which rule the affections of Princes Loue as the most powerfull triumphes more ouer great men then all the rest together for they obtaine no victories but to encrease its glory Couetousnesse heaps vp to furnish the charges Ambition aspires to make it great So we see the most powerfull Princes after they had subdued all other passions were vanquished by Loue. Alexander laid the honour of so many victories in Persia at the feet of his Captiue Roxana Coesar being in Alexandria submitted all his triumphs to the beautie of Cleopatra who afterward was friend to Anthonie And the Turkish Monarches make subiect vnto the allurements of their Sultana's the glory and lustre of that Soueraigne power whereby they are Masters of the best parts of the World But behold how these singular beauties enter into their Serrail and the bonds where with Loue doth captiuate their wils After that the Rights of birth haue brought a Turkish Prince to the Imperiall Throne of his Ancestors the women which his Predecessor did honour in the Serrail are put forth and conducted to a place called in their Language Eschy Saray that is to say the old Serrail as a man would say the old place for Saray in the Persian Tongue signifies a place or Hostell There they are shut vp vntill they be married to some great Men of the Port. In the meane time others must supply their roome to bee new subiects of Loue to the new Emperour Then the Bashaes which are at the Port and others which represent the Soueraigntie of their Master in remote Prouinces imploy all their care to find out Virgins in the Leuant or else-where the rarest in beautie and of the sweetest perfections of their sex whether that the greatnesse â—f their treasurs force the necessitie of miserable Mothers to deliuer them for money or that the chance of warre hath made them Captiues at the taking of some Towne and so fall into their hands They cause them to bee instructed after the Turkish manner in all gentile Qualities fit for their sex if they be not alreadie they learne to sing to play of the Lute and the Gittern and to dance hauing had a speciall care for the keeping of their Virginity they bring them to the Sultan and present them vnto him The Princes Mother his Sisters which are married labour in the same designe and make him the like presents for the law of Poligamy or pluralitie of women allowed by the Alcoran and receiued in Turkey giues them leaue to keepe as many as they will so as they bee able to feed them The Sultan doth recompence their care that bring them such gifts with some rich present to buy saith he these Virgins which they bring that they may bee his slaues But hee will be soone fettered in their beautie The Serrail of women being thus furnished hee passeth thither when he pleaseth and is not seene by any man by a doore right against his Chamber whereof he hath one Key and the Chissar Aga or great Eunuch of the Sultana's another He doth aduertise the Cheyachadun which is an ancient woman their Gouernesse to ranke them in a Gallerie in the which he passeth and repasseth often beholding their allurements or else he causeth them
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
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
THE HISTORY OF THE SERRAIL AND OF THE COVRT of the Grand Seigneur Emperour of the Turkes WHEREIN IS SEENE the Image of the Othoman Greatnesse A Table of humane passions and the Examples of the inconstant prosperities of the Court. Translated out of French by Edward Grimeston Serjant at Armes LONDON Printed by William Stansby TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL HIS WORTHY Kinsman S. Harbottell Grimeston Knight and Baronet SIR IT is the vsuall manner of Men whom GOD hath blest with the goods of Fortune when Death summons them to leaue the world with all their wealth they are then â—ous and carefull how to dispose of that which they cannot carrie with them Then they call for Couâ— to aduise them in the drawing of their last Wills and Testaments bequeathing large 〈◊〉 or to their Children Kinsfolke and best respected Friends to remayne as a future testimonie of their bounties But if fareth not so with mee I must say with poore Bias Oâ—nid 〈◊〉 mâ—cum pâ—rto I am now creeping into my Graue and am freed from that care how to dispose of my worldly estate But I feare that my disabilitie will leaue some staine of Ingratitude vpon mee when I dead that I haue left no testimonie of my thankfulnesse to so worthy a friend as your selfe from whom I haue receiued so many fauours To make any reall satisfaction I cannot neither doe you need it Yet to free my selfe in some sort of this imputation of ingratitude I haue be 〈◊〉 you◠〈◊〉 Legacie the last of â—y â—aid â—s I hope you will giue it acceptance and countenance it for your owne whoâ—e you may at your best leisure without any labour trauell or expences enter into the great Turk's Sâ—raglio or Court and there taâ— suruay of the life lusts reuenewes power gouâ— and tyranny of that great Ottoman I bequeath it you as a testimonie of my thankfulnes when I am gone If you make it your recreation after more serious affaires I hope you will receiue some content to reade the State of the proudest and most powerfull Monarch of the World If it please you I shall thinke my selfe very happy hauing performed this last dutie And will euer rest Your truly affected poore Vnckle Edward Grimeston THE GENERALL HISTORY OF THE SERRAIL and of the Court of the Grand SEIGNEVR Emperour of the TVRKES The first BOOKE THe wisest among Men aduise vs to goe vnto Kings as vnto the fire neither â—o neere nor too farre off It burnes when wee approach indifferently and doth not warme hiâ— that stands farre off The glorious lustre of Royall Maiestie consâ— their reâ— presumption of those which approach too neere and the beaâ— of their bounty doe neuer warme those sauage 〈◊〉 which recâ—e in flying from them The true examples which Histories supply haue confirmed the excellency of this counsell yet a desire of the publique good hath enforced me to violate this respect and my vowes to serue it carries 〈◊〉 into the danger there is in gaâ—ing too neere vpon Kings I approach vnto the proudest of all other Princes and the most seuere of Men yea so neere as Idâ—e into his secrets visit his person discouer his most hidden affections and relate his most particular loues If I loose myselfe yet I shall giue proofes of this veritie that in the age wherein wee liue whosoeuer imployes himselfe wholy for the publique in the end ruines himselfe But Man is not borne only for himselfe and the barbarous ingratitude of the times cannot serue for a pretext but vnto idlenesse He that will labour must passe ouer these obstacles for he is not worthy of life which doth not imploy it well and to consume himselfe for the publique good it to reuiue againe gloriously out of his ashes like vnto a new Phoenix I haue conceiued that hauing giuen you the History of the Turkish Empire from its beginning vnto our times it would not be vnprofitable to let you see what their manners are their kind of liuing their conuersation and the order of their gouernement which so powerfull and redoubted a Conquerour doth obserue To doest safely woe must enter into the Serrail where the secret of all these things is carefully shut vp But for that in going thither we must crosse thorough the Citie of Constantinople let vs speake something of the situation antiquitie and beautie of this pompous Citie the fatall abode of the most powerfull Emperours of the Earth CHAP. I. Of the Citie of Constantinople THe Grecians consulting with the Oracle of Apollo l'ytheus what place they should choose to build a City in Thrace had for answere that they should lay the foundations right against the Territory of blind Men so terming the Calcidonians who comming first into that country could not make choice of the fertility of a good soyle and were seated vpon the other side of the Sea vpon the borders of Asia in a place which was vnpleasing and vnfruitfull in old time called the Towne of Calcedonia but now the Borough Scutarâ— Pausanius Captaine of the Spartians had the charge to build it and Byze Generall of the Megarian Floet gaue it his name and called it Byzance It hath carried it for many ages with the glory to be esteemed among the Grecians the most fertile of their Townes the Port of Europe and the Bridge to passe thither from Asia vntill that Great Constantine leauing Italy retired into the East and carried with him the most powerfull Lords which might trouple that estate He built after the Modell of Rome a stately Citie vpon the Antiquities of Byzance where he erected the Eternitie of his Name and called it Constantinople or new Rome The greatnesse of the Wals the safety of the Forts the beautie of the Houses the riches of Columnes which seemed to haue drawne into that place all the Marble I asper and Porphyry of the Earth were the rare wonders of the Architecture but aboue all these things appeared a magnificent Temple which the pietie of this Prince had consecrated to the Diuine Wisdome vnder the name of Saincta Sophia whose building the riches seemed in some sort to enuie the glory of King Salomon in the like designe at the least according to the time and the power of Constantine Seuen rich Lampes ministred occasion to curious spirits to obserue their rare art they all receiued at one instant the substance which did nourish their flames and one being extinct all the rest were quencht This was in the yeare of Grace three hundred and thirty Since two tumultuous factions grew in the Citie who after they had cast the fire of an vnfortunate Sedition into the spirits of Men brought the flames into this goodly Temple and burnt it For this cause Instinian the Emperour employed in the restoring thereof a part of the Treasures which he had greedily gathered together He caused it to be re-edified with more state then it had beene and in seuenteene yeares he imployed thirty foure Millions of gold which was
commerce of his Loues Carrying with him close Coaches full of his faire Sultana's as we haue said else-where with whom he spends the best of his dayes and abandons all noble exercises more worthy of a Prince to enjoy their charming company Thus these women detaine him possesse him and diuert him from vertue In this sense an Ancient had reason to say That if the World were without Women Men should conuerse with the Gods This must be vnderstood of vitious women and not of those that loue vertue the which is to be esteemed and embraced in what subiect soeuer it be found Chap. XII Of the Grand Seigneurs Sisters and his other Kinswomen and of the Marriages of his Daughters THe Turkish Emperours Sisters lodge and liue in the old Serrail their Quarters are distinct from the other women furnished according to their Qualities Pleasures and continuall delights are their ordinary entertainment In the which they attend vntill the Sultan giues them in Marriage to some of his great Bashaes When that happens they goe out of that place with their rich Stuffe their Coffers full of Iewels and their slaues to serue them to the number of fiftie or threescore besides those which their Husbands adde vnto them who are bound to furnish them with a traine fit for their Qualities and to make them a rich Dowrie according to the custome of the Turkes where the Men endow their Wiues at the least with fiue hundred thousand Sultanins which are two Millions of Liuers with the great expences hee makes in presents of precious stones The Prince their Brother continues the same pensions they formerly had and augments them thirtie six charges of money yeerely to buy them Pattins saith the custome of the Empire the Husbands which marrie such wiues verifie this truth to their losse that a great inequalitie in Marriage doth many times breed a contempt the authoritie of the House fals then vnto the Distaffe they command them they call them their slaues they doe them good or harme according to the satisfaction they receiued from them and when the 〈◊〉 giues way they repudiate them to take others better to their liking and many times make them to lose their liues So for a signe of the insolencie of their power ouer their Husbands they weare at their sides a Cartar which is a little Poniard inricht with precious stones If the Marriage continue equally to the death of the one or the other the husband must arme his spirit with an extraordinary patience to indure the imperfections of a wife who knowes that all things are lawfull for her and who is not restrained by the loue of any vertue within the bounds of a commandable Modestie The Bashaes auoid as much as they can the vexations of this Royall Alliance which is bought by their seruitude entertained with great charges and many times ends with their bloud They seldome imbrace it if the Princes commandement doe not force them Such women haue libertie by the fauour of the Sultan their brother to go when they please vnto the Serrail of Sultanan's and to visit him in like manner The Grand Seigneurs Aunts and his other Kinswomen liue also in the old Serrail with a traine fit for their conditions The Princes Mother is in like manner lodged there she is often visited by her Sonne hee honours her and supplies her with all the things she can desire she hath leaue to goe to the Imperiall Serrail to see him when she pleases and if hee fals sicke she parts not from his Beds side where as naturall loue makes her imploy all her care for the recouery of his health The Princesses Daughters to the Sultan are bred vp neere their Mothers vntill they bee married to such great Men of his Court as shall please him so as he be a Renegado or taken out of the Children of the Tribute which they leuy vpon the Christians or some other which hath abandoned the Law of Iesus Christ to follow that of Mahomet These Marriages are made when as these Royall Daughters haue attained the age of eighteene yeares with a magnificence and pompe worthy of the Orthoman House The thirtieth of Iune 1612 was famous for the like Solemnitie when as the Emperour Achmat gaue his eldest Daughter to Mahomet Bassa Captaine of the Sea It is here briefly described according vnto the order which was then in Constantinople The day before the Consummation of this Marriage the Moueables and Iewels of the Spouse which we call the trusse or bundle were carried from the Serrail to the Bridegroomes Lodging Before it marcht fiue hundred Ianizaries on foot of the Gallantest Men in all their Regiment The high Prouost of Constantinople and the Grand Vizir follow on horsebace in rich Robes of Cloth of Gold The Aga or Colonell of the Ianizaries came alone after them vpon a Turkish Horse of great price Two hundred Men of Qualitie mounted and stately attired followed with a gentle pace the Talismans Alfaquis Santons Emirs Seriphes and other men of Mahomets Clergie marcht after with the puft vp grauitie of their condition About fiue and twentie paces off came Ameth Bassa Taftardar or high Treasurer chosen by the Emperour to be Sag◠or Father to the Bride in rich Robes mounted vpon a Horse with a royall Caparison hauing about him twelue Foot men he conducted these precious Moueables or this Royall bundle which had in the head of it Musique on horsebacke of Hobbies and Drummes after the Turkish manner It was distinguished into seuen and twenty Presents diuersly carried by seuen and twenty Men. The first was a little Hatte of Massiue Gold couered with rich stones The second was a paire of Pattins after the Turkish manner also of pure Gold enricht with Turquoises and Rubies The third a Booke of Mahomets Law the couering whereof was of massiue Gold set with Diamonds The fourth vnto the sixt was three paire of Bracelets of Gold and precious stones The seuenth and eighth two great Bodkins of Diamonds The ninth a little Cofer of Chrystall of the Rocke with the corners of Gold halfe a yard high and halfe as broad in the which were seene great Diamonds and huge Pearles of the value of eight hundred thousand Liuers The tenth vnto the fifteenth were six Smocks imbroydered with Gold and stones The sixteenth to the one and twentieth were six head-bands for her forehead of the same stuffe and as rich The two and twentieth vnto the seuen and twentieth were sixe stately Robes of Cloth of Gold richly set with Pearles and Diamonds After these Presents followed eleuen Chariots full of young Virgins slaues to serue the Bride they were couered and close and either of them accompanied or rather guarded by two blacke Eunuches Twentie other Virgins slaues followed on horsebacke and so many blacke Eunuches richly attired and mounted in like manner accompanied them After all this marched a hundred and forty Moyles laden with Tapestrie hangings of Cloth of Gold of
them who were wonderful faire and attired with great aduantage to 〈…〉 They couer their heads with many 〈…〉 Gold wretched with their haire which they suffer to hang downe vnto their girdles and they artificially make two little hornes of haâ—re enricht with Pearle and precious stones the which fall vpon their faire fore-heade They made the Bâ—itana's to enuy them who beheld them and admired their grace thorow their â—aâ—tice windowes Persia hath alwayes had the glorie to haue had the fairest women in the World The Daughters of Cyrus and the Wife of King Darius had so many â—râ—mentâ— in their beautifull countenances as Alexander durst not looke on them fearing to be vanquished and Roxanâ— although of â—ase condition was found so beautifull as she deserued the honour to be wise vnto the great Prince The Turkish women enter not into comparison with the Persians for beautie to whom they yeeld it and they say that their Prophet Mahomet would neuer got into Persia and when they demanded the reason his answers was that the women 〈◊〉 so beautifull courtesie and friendship that which the others brought for tribute Hee gaue hi◠〈◊〉 fâ—ly Clocke of 〈◊〉 which strooke the houres melodiously in Musique by length and twentie Bels of siluer and with it thirtie pâ—ks of Scaâ—her The Bailiffe of Venice proseâ—dâ— Cupboard of siluer plaâ—e the one hâ— fragile and the other white sixe great Bayâ—es of siluer to draw water ten peeces of Cloth of Gold ten of Silke Sattin and Veluet and twentie of Scarlet The Polonian brought 〈◊〉 â—ter whose 〈◊〉 and scabbaâ— was all couered with precious flower He of Ragusa geue fifteâ—ne goodly Cups of siluer many Tapetâ— of white Waâ—â— which the Turkes esteeme and some peece of Scarlet The Persian presented two â—oâ—anâ— and some other Bookes of Muhamâ—a Larvâ— couered without 〈◊〉 Gold many Persian 〈…〉 silkâ— and a good iâ—â—her of grâ—â—t 〈◊〉 Thâ— Embassadour of Tâ—rtâ— gaue many skins of Saâ—es and other exquisite Pâ— of great price All the rest tâ—e their Presents according to the order and rancke of the Princes 〈◊〉 Mâ—â—â—thâ—â— They 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 loue and the rigours of 〈…〉 â—dered this 〈◊〉 yet they did celebrate the First in those goodly places 〈◊〉 they are 〈◊〉 For the 〈…〉 the Grand â—gâ—s Câ—â—blâ—câ— made Piâ—y to 〈…〉 Serrail where the 〈…〉 rich Presents and gaâ— another time vnto the Sâ— Asâ—â—hi that is to say crowned whom we haue lodged 〈◊〉 him in the Pâ—lâ— of 〈◊〉 Bassa a Crowne of 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 brought 〈…〉 all made of Sugar presented to the life of the 〈…〉 proportion they ought to be of as Camels Lions Elephants Tygers and many 〈◊〉 The Embassadours had their p◠〈…〉 were 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 This was 〈…〉 〈…〉 The Mufti who is the high Priest of the Turkish Law opened the beginning he appeared first in the place being Maiestically set in a Tabernacle carried vpon a Camels backe He had a Booke in his hands which hee turned alwayes ouer About him were on foot a great number of Priests and religious Mahometans who held Bookes in like manner But their fantasticke attire did shew plainely the humours of their brutish spirits Some had their heads couered with hoods others with Mitres some with Crownes Many had Robes of beasts skinnes They were no sooner come vnto the place but they made shew of their Religious modestie in whistling howling beating vpon Pans and Basons ringing of little bels which they carried in their hands as a man would say that these testimonies of their zealous deuotion were an insolent jangling at the sound whereof they did leape friske without ceasing In this posture they made three turnes about the place after which they stayed before the Grand Seigneurs window who looked vpon their fooleries There they made their prayers during the which some religious Men of the troupe drew out great Kniues and cut their flesh in diuers parts of their bodies for the leue of the Prophet and of their Sultan The Mufti descended from his Tabernacle entred into the Pallace and made his Presents which consisted in some Bookes of the Law After which he retired with the brutish company of this monstrous Clergie And for that this first troupe was ridiculous that which followed was lamentable They were the two Christian Patriarches the one of the Grecians the other of the Armenians attired in long blacke Copes which are their Patriarchall Robes the true colours of their seruitude and heauinesse They were followed by some Christian Priests Their Gate was pittifull hauing their heads hanging downe in such sort as the Christians that were come thither to laugh found a worthy subiect of weeping seeing the Church captivated to the cruelty of Turkes and the Reuerend Pastors thereof forced to goe and humble themselues at the feet of their Tyrant and Enemy of their Law in a superstitious Ceremony and contrary to their Religion to life their sacred hands vpon him and prostitute vpon his person the grace of their blessings This is the estate whereunto the Diuision of Christians hath reduced them When they came before the Sultan they prayed vnto God with a loud voice to blesse him they presented him with a great Bason of siluer full of peeces of Gold and so returned poorer than they came The Merchants followed to vent without profit the most precious of their Merchandize They were a thousand in a troupe Turkes Christians or Iewes all attired in Robes of Gold and followed by a pleasing band of young men attired like maidens hauing Bowes in their hands and Quiuers at their backes full of golden Arrowes A childish troope of daintie young Boyes like so many Cupids crowned with flowers and holding Darts in their hands drew without any difficultie a Chariot which followed them whereon was set and opened a shop full of Cloth or Gold and Silke with Tapestries of all sorts which they presented to the Sultan and cryed Liue Sultan Amurath The Goldsmiths followed after their decking did shew that they traded in precious Wares They were all couered with precious stones Some of their number drew a rich shop full of Vessels of Gold and Siluer which they gaue vnto the Grand Seigneur A small troupe of other Goldsmiths made a band a part They were those of Baiestan whereof we haue spoken before stately attired The stones and pearles which were vpon their Garments were valued at a Million of gold The Presents which they made were great and rich All the other Tradsmen came in their order and all laboured in their profession The makers of cloth of gold and silke to the number of fiue hundred men well attired caused two Loomes to march with them whereon they made a peece of cloth of gold and another of silke before they had gone thrice about the place The Lace-makers did the like in their kind They were in the midst of many sorts of beasts made of silke which marched with them
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
with the loue of women they abandon their affections to young Boyes and desperatly follow the allurements of their beauties They imbrace them and vse them in the place of women This abhominable vice is so ordinary in the Turks Court as yee shall hardly find one Bassa that is not miserably inclined vnto it It serues for an ordinary subject of entertainment among the greatest when they are together they speake not but of the perfections of their Ganimodes One sayes they haue brought mee from Hangarie the most beautifull and accomplished Miâ—iâ—a that ouer was borne among men he is the height of my felicitie and the only object that my thoughts adore Another saith I haue lately bought a young Infant of Bassa who hath not his like in all the East and I dare assure you his 〈◊〉 is not humane but that of an Angell Some Soâ— of the company intreats him earnestly to haue a fight and that hee may bee satisfied by his eyes These are the discourses of those lustfull â—ts The care they haue to keepe neatly and to attire richly those poore â—tures destinated to so damnable an vse is not small the Eunuches which haue them in guard are alwayes neere them to beautifie them outwardly they plaite their haire with Gold and sometimes with Pearles they perfume them they attire them in Robes of Cloth of Gold and adde to their naturall beauty whatsoeuer Arte can inuent what vertue what wisdome what pietie can be found in a Court composed of such men He that is the Head and commands them doth furnish this pernicious example for the Sultans Serrail is full of such Boyes chosen out of the most beautifull of the East and vowed to his vnnaturall pleasures This doth countenance this disorder and corruption in the Othoman Court Such as the Prince is such are most commonly the Courtiers which follow him the principall Maxime which they giue for a precept to their fortune is to follow the humours and manners of the Prince whatsoeuer they be yea many times they incite the Prince to these disorders The miseries and diasters which happen daily in Turkey are too many to be coucht in this Historie The great Men kill or poyson one another for such subjects Families are in combustion Wiues make away their Husbands and Husbands their Wiues Mabemet the second Emperour of the Turkes was â—abde in the thigh and if any misfortune seeme monstrous among them this vice which is so monstrous doth produce it Men well bred abhorre it Heauen detests it When it was borne vpon the Earth Idolatry was her sister Twinne So being the auersion of Nature and the contempt of the Author thereof Heauen doth punish it and casts forth the fire of his wrath vpon those which are polluted therewith whole Townes haue been consumed men eternally lost and the memory of the one and the other in execration vpon the Earth The Turkes doe not punish it they alleage as wee haue obserued in the History of their Religion that God hath reserued the chastisement to himselfe and they bring an example of a miserable wretch who had abused a young Boy which stab'd him This Sodomite being thus slaine Mahomet their Prophet sent his Kinsmen to open his Tombe and see how many wounds he had they came and saw no body but found in the place a blacke and smoakie stocke Hence they say that seeing the diuine Iustice doth punish those that are culpable of this offence they must leaue the execuâ— him and in the meane time suffer this vnnaturall exâ— The Turkish Ladies detesting these damnable affections of their husbands haue also abandoned themselues by their example or for reuenge to another disorder the following Chapter will shew it For the husbands are many times the cause of the losse of their wiues and the contagious example of their vices giues them occasion to ill and to faile in their faith to him who had first broken it CHAP. XV. Of the Loues of the great Ladies of the Turkes Court and of their violent affections among themselues THe prouocations of a hot Climate the seruitude of women restrained and the bad example of loose and luxurious husbands are the principall Motions of the loues wherunto the Turkish Ladies abandon themselues Some to haue free exercise take occasion to see their Louers when as they are allowed to goe to the Bath to receiue the Purifications which their Law doth enjoyne them others better qualified from whom the commoditie of Waters and Scoues which are in their houses hath taken away this pretext make vse of other man Sometimes they borrow the habit of their slaues and thus disguised goe to find them they loue When this course is difficult by the encounter of some great obstacle they imploy man and woman whom they reward to find them subjects which may please their eyes and content their passions but this last meanes is more apparent and better knowne in Constantinople for such Messengers of 〈◊〉 discouering themselues to some that refuse them they diâ— their secret They addresse themselues vsually to Christian strangers of the West and if they can finde Frenchmen the seruice they doe vnto their Mistresses is the more pleasing The disposition of their humours the grace of their bodies say they and the ordinary courtesie of their Nation makes them more desired But it is dangerous to serue the passions of such Louers where the recompence and the reward or a painfull loue is a Dagger or a Glasse of poyson For these cruell women when they haue kept some young stranger three or foure dayes hidden in their Chambers and haue made vse of him vntill he be so tired and weary with their lasciuiousnesse as hee is no longer profitable they stab him or poyson him and cast his bodie into some Priuie Whether it be that they feare their affections should be discouered or that their light and inconstant humours doth alwayes demand new subjects or that it is the nature of their lasciuious loue to change into Rage and Fury tragically cruell They which are aduertised at Constantinople auoid this danger and reward their pains which speake vnto them with a flat deniall but not without danger For such Messengers aswell as the great ones that imploy them are Witches and reuenge a deniall vpon the person of him that made it as it happened of late yeares to a French Gentleman which was at Constantinople when as the Baron Sausy did serue the King there as his Embassadour This Gentleman going to the Diuan which is the publique Audience of the Serrail was encountred by a woman whose age habit and discourse did shew plainly that shee did pleasures for the Turkish Ladies Shee came vnto him and vsed these words Hast thou the courage to see a faire Lady which is in loue with thee He who knew well with what Mertils such Ladies are accustomed to crowne their Louers which haue serued them excuseth himselfe for that time pretending some important businesse