Pilgrimage, Book 3 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
A Continuation of the Turkish Warres and Affaires: together with the succession of the Great Turkes, till this present yeare 1612.
SOlyman, surnamed the Magnificent, succeeded his father Selym in place, and surmouned him exceedingly in exploites. Belgrade, (which ominous name did presage happinesse vntounto him in his Warres and Proceedings) was the beginning of his Conquests, woon by the Turkes August 29, 1521. aSee the Historie at large in Hakl.to.2. & Iacob.Fontanus Brugensis.Rhodes receiueth him on Christmas day 1522, but withall exileth both Cheere, Christmas, and Christians. He inuadeth bMart.Fumee Hist of Hung. lib. 1. Melchior Soiterus de bell… Pa…ice.Hungarie, and in the field discomfiteth and killeth Lewes, and slayeth or captiueth two hundred thousand Hungarians in that Expedition, 1526. He entreth Hungarie the second time, 1529, and (after some butcheries therein) marcheth to Vienna in Austria, where he left fourescore thousand of his Turkes, and then with shame and anger returned. In the yeare 1532 he returneth with an Armie of fiue hundred thousand men; to whome Charles the fifth opposed himselfe and the Christian forces, in greater numbers then hath in many ages beene seene, mustering in his Armie at Vienna two hundred and threescore thousand men, whereof fourescore and tenne thousand footmen, and thirtie thousand horsemen were old souldiors, to whom Solyman did not, or durst not, bid battaile. Poore Hungarie rues it meane while, whether he gets or looseth in Austria, being made his through-fare as he went and came.
After this he trieth his successe against the Persian, where he taketh Tauris and Babylon, with the Countries of Assyria and Media, Anno 1534. each of which had sometimes beene Ladie of the World. At incredible costs he prepared a Fleet in the Red Sea, 1537, and taking Aden and Zibyth, two pettie Kingdomes in Arabia, by his forces cDam.a Goes Diensis oppugnatio.besieged Dium, a Castle of the Portugals in the East Indies, but without his wished successe. For the Portugals still retaine their Indian Seas and Trassique, and not onelyonly freed that their Castle from Turkish bondage, but had meanes to fortifie it better, by the Ordinance which the Turkes, in their hastie flight, had left behind. A more dangerous plot did Solyman, meane-while, contriue against Christendome *Turkish Historie, Kn., preparing his forces to inuade Italie, and to that end was come to Aulona, an Hauen in Macedonia, with two hundred thousand souldiors, where Barbarussa and Lutzis Bassa, his great Admirall, met him with his Fleet, to transport his Armie. But Solyman first employed these Sea-Forces on the coast of Italie, and tooke Castrum: his horsemen (which he had sent ouer in great Palendars) carried away the People, Cattell, and Substance, betwixt Brundusium and Tarentum, fortie myles space; all the Countrey of Otranto terrified with feare of a greater tempest. But the Venetians turned it from the rest of Italie vponupon themselues (notwithstanding their league) by vnseasonable exacting of that Seacourtesie, the vailing of the bonnets or top-sayles of some Turkish Gallies vntounto them, as Lords of that Sea: for which neglect, some of them were sunke. Auria *Andrew D'Oree, a famous Sea-Captaine.also, the Emperours Admirall, had surprised some of the Turkes stragling Fleet, and after held cruell fight with twelue great Gallies full of Ianizaries and choisemen, whome he ouerthrew and tooke. But the Ianizaries that were left, cast their scimitars ouer-boord, least such choice weapons should come to the Christians hands. Solyman conuerting his forces against the Venetians, for the indignities mentioned, had almost failen into the hands of the Mountaine-Theeues, which liued in the Acroceraunian Hills: who in a strange resolution had conspired to kill him in his Tent, and had almost (to the wonder of the world) in a night, by vnknowne wayes, suddenly effected it, had not the cracking of a bough discouered their Captaine, who in a Tree was taking view of the Campe, how to bring to passe his desperate designes. This their Captaine, (by name Damianus) was, after confession hereof, torne in pieces, and those wilde Mountainers (liuing on Robberte, without Law or Religion) were, like wilde beasts, hunted to destruction.
The Turkes inuaded Corsu, whence they carried sixteene thousand of the Islanders captiues. They likewise, in their returne, committed great spoyle in Zante and Cythera, sacked Aegina, Paros, and other Islands in the Archipelago; bringing Naxos vnderunder Tribute. Barbarussa sacked Botrotus, a Venetian Citie: The like did Vstrif to Obroatium, and the Castle of Nadin. Nauplium also, and Epidaurus were besieged. But Ferdinand (who had intituled himselfe King of Hungatie, after Lewis his death) receiued a greater disgrace in Hungarie by the Turkish forces, then befell the Venetians in all their losses; Cazzianer (the Generall of the Christians) shamefully fleeing, and betraying his associates to the Turkish crueltie. The next yeare, 1538, Barbarussa chaseth the Christian Fleet, in which the Emperours, Venetians, and the Popes forces were ioyned.
In the yeare 1541 Solyman againe inuadeth Hungarie, professing himselfe protector of the young King, which Iohn late King of Hungarie (who had held long warres with Ferdinand about that Title) had left behind him his heire and successor. But vnderunder colour of protection, he maketh himselfe Lord of Buda, the chiefe Citie, turning the Cathedrall Church into a Meschit; and maketh Hungarie a Turkish Prouince, bestowing Transyluania, and what he pleased, on the Orphan. Two yeares after he re-entreth Hungarie, and taketh Strigoninm: turning the Christian Temples into Mahumetane; sacrificing there for his victorie, as he had done at Buda. He entred also into *loan. Martini Stelle…p. ad frat.Alba Regalis, (where the Hungarian Kings lye entombed) another chiefe Citie of that Kingdome, and slew the Magistrates. I speake not all this while of the spacious Countries in Africa, which, from the Riuer Mulvia, he added to his Dominions: the Kingdomes of Algier, Tremisen, Tunes, Tripoli, &c. being annexed to his Turkish Soueraignetie. Howbeit, Tunes, by aide of Charles the Emperour, somewhat recouered her selfe, but breathed out againe her last gaspe of libertie, in the dayes of Selym his sonne. And thus was *Solyman as vnnaturall to, his children, as Selim was to his father Baiazet.Solyman victorious and happie, otherwhere victorious and vnhappie, when he was forced to darreine battaile against his owne bowels, and hauing murthered Mustapha his eldest sonne (the hopefullest branch in Turkish estimation that euer grew out of the Ottoman stocke) he warred against Baiazet, another of his sonnes; whome, with foure of his children, he procured to be done to death in Persia. And after much domesticall trouble, in his seuenth Expedition into Hungarie (his fleet in the siege of Malta being before, with great disgrace, repulsed) he died at the siege of Zigeth the fourth of September, 1566.
Selym, the onelyonly sonne which the bloudie father had left aliue, succeeded in the Throne, not in the prowesse and valour of his father. Neither hath any Turkish Sultan, since his dayes, led their forces in person, but committed it to their Deputies and Generals; except once, when Mahomet the third had almost lost his Armie and himselfe. Yet did this Selym, by his Bassaes, make himselfe Lord of *Of the warres of Cyprus, see the realtions of Nestor Martiningo in Hakl.tom.2. part. 1.Cyprus, and also of the Kingdome of Tunis. But this sweet meat was sourely sawced by his exceeding losse in the Sea-fight betwixt Haly Bassa, Admirall of the Turkes *Our gracious Soueraign King Iames hath written a Poeme of this battell., and Don Iohn of Austria, Generall of the Fleet, set forth by the Pope, Spaniard, and Venetian, 1571: wherein an hundred threescore and one Gallies were taken, fortie sunke or burnt, and of Galliots, and other small Vessels, were taken about threescore. The Turkish Admirall was then slaine. Wittily did a Turke descant vponupon this losse of the Turkes, and their gaine of Cyprus, comparing this to the shauing of a mans beard, which would grow againe: that, to the losse of an arme, which, once cut off, cannot be renewed. Lastly, Tunes came in, and Selym went out of this Turkish Soueraigntie both in manner together, 1574.
Amurath, his heire, began his Empire with the slaughter of his fiue brethren. Michael ab isselt, Com. Anno 1575.The mother of Solyman (one of that number) slew her selfe with a dagger, for anguish of that losse. He, in viewing a new Gallie by the breach of a Peece, hardly escaped death, thirtie of his companie being slaine. And because the Plague was exceeding hote, he by deuotion sought to appease diuine anger: and therefore prohibited all vse of Sodomie, Blasphemie, and Polygamie, and himselfe put out fiue hundred women out of his Seraile. In a priuate habit he visited the Markets, and hanged vp the hoorders of Corne. He by the Tartars inuaded Polonia: And, Henry of Fraunce secretly leauing that Kingdome of Polonia, he wrote vntounto them to chuse Stephen Battor for their king; in which letters he called himselfe, GOD of the Earth, Gouernour of the whole World. Messenger of GOD, and faithfull seruant of the great Prophet: which wrought so much with the Nobilitie, that either they would not or durst not doe otherwise, howsoeuer Maximilian had beene before by many of them chosen.
Tamas dMinad…i's Historie of the warres betwixt the Turks and Persians, translated by Abraham Martwell in nine books, relaleth these thinges at large.the Persian (at the same time dying) bequeathed his Crowne to Ismael his sonne, whom Aidere, his brother, seekes to depriue, but is therefore himselfe depriued of that ambitious head which he sought to adorne with the Crowne; & Ismael adding the slaughter of 8. his yonger brethren, ascendeth the throne, which, together with his life, he lost, by like vnnatural trecherie of Periaconcona his sister, the 24 of Nouēb. 1577. Mahomet his brother succeeded in this troublesome State, which Amurath the Turke (in these troubled waters) thought fit time for himselfe to fish for. Hereunto also helped the hatred and ciuill broyles in Persia, for the head of Peria…oncona, presented to Mahomet, with the haire disheuelled on a launce, and for other vncouth and bloudie spectacles; Sahamal and Levent Ogli (two Georgian Lords) seeking also innouations. Amurath therefore, in the yeare 1578, sent Mustapha Bassa, which had lately conquered Cyprus, with an Armie of 110000, into Persia: who, in the first battaile he had with them, slew fiue thousand, and tooke three thousand Persians: and to strike that Nation with terror, commanded a bulwarke to be framed of those heads: but by an exceeding tempest, which lasted foure dayes together (whereby the Heauens seemed to melt themselues in teares for the Persians losse, and with Lightenings to shew that indignation against the Turkes, which in their thundering Dialect they aloud vttered) there grew such horror to their mindes from aboue, and such sicknesse to their bodies, from those putrified carkasses beneath, that Mustapha was forced to remoue, missing fortie thousand of his first musters. After he had fortified the Armenian castle of Teflis, his Armie being driuen to shifts for lacke of victuals, tenne thousand of his foragers were slaine by the Persians, who were recompenced with like slaughter by Mustapha, that came vponupon them whiles they were busie about the spoyle, and spoyled the spoylers. In passing ouer the Riuer Canac, he lost fourescore thousand Turkes, which the Riuer seemed to take for Custome (as it had many of the Persians in the late conflict) whereof his violent current was a greedie and cruell exactor. Mustapha erected a Fortresse in Eres, and tooke Sumachia, chiefe Citie of Siruan (Derbent offering her selfe to the Turke) and then returned into Natolia. But Emir Hamse Mirise, the Persian Prince, recouered, after his departure, both Eres and Sumachia, slew and captiued the Tartars, thirtie thousand of whome were newly come to the Turkes aide. He rased Sumachia euen with the ground. The next yeare Mustapha fortified Chars in three and twentie dayes, wherein they were hindered with Snowes on the fiue and twentieth of August, although it standeth in fortie foure Degrees. Anno 1580, Sinan Bassa was chosen Generall for the Persian Warre; who, as he departed from Teflis, lost seuen thousand of his people, besides such as the Georgians and Persians, together with the spoyle, carried away. This was earnest, the rest was but sportfull shewes of Warre, in trayning his souldiors; after which he returned. In 1583, Ferat Bassa was sent Generall: but little was done, till Osman Bassa, a new Generall, 1585, tooke Tauris, the auncient Ecbatana (as Minadoi is of opinion.) But the Persian Prince, carried with indignation, reuenged this losse on the Turkes with his owne hands, slaying Carae…t Bassa, Generall in the place of Osman, then sicke, and gaue his head (as opima spolia) to one of his followers; and afterwards at Sancazan slew twentie thousand Turkes. Osman died of sicknesse; and the Persian Prince (the morning-starre of that Easterne State) was soone after murthered. In that dismall yeare 1588, Ferat tooke Genge: fifteene thousand houses, seuen Temples, and fiue and twentie great Innes were burned in Constantinople, the tumultuous Ianizaries not suffering the fire to be quenched. An Impost was leuied of the subiects, to satisfie the pay due to the souldiors for the Persian Warre, which raised these stirres. Yea, the Priests dissuaded the people from those new payments, and persuaded them to maintaine their auncient Liberties, shut vp their Meschits, intermitted their Orisons: and the Great Tvrke was forced to call in his Mandats, and deliuer the authors of that counsell (whereof the Beglerbeg of Grecia was one) to the Ianizaries furie, who made Tennis-balls of their heads. In 1592, Wihitz, chiefe Citie of Croatia, was yeelded to the Turke. The next yeare Siseg was besieged, but relieued by the Christians, who slew eighteene thousand Turks, and tooke their Tents; yet was it soone after taken by the renewed forces of the Turkes. Sinan tooke Vesprinium in Hungarie and Palotta, but their losse was farre greater then their gaines; which continuing, and a broile of the Ianizaries added thereto, brought dTo this Amurath was M. Harebora her Maiesties Embassado: and after M.Barton: of which, see Hak.to.2. part. 1. There also, pag.293. you may reade of the Turks officers, reuenues, payments, forces, &c. Also the Letters of the Great Turke to the Queene, and of the Sultanesse, and of Sinan Bassa, & many other things worthie obseruation. That Trade into Turkie, then begun, still continueth, renewed by the Kings Maiestie that now is.Amurath into melancholie and sicknesse, whereof he died, Ianuarie 18. 1595. Transyluania, Valachia, and Moldauia hauing before reuolted from him to Sigismund, who was entitled their Prince.
Mahomet his sonne succeeded; who inuiting his nineteene brethren to a Feast, sent them to learne his fathers death in the other world, accompanied thither with tenne of Amuraths women, from whome issue was feared, which with drowning them he preuented. Much adoe he had with his Ianizaries at home, much losse in his dominions abroad, for which cause he sent for Ferat Bassa out of Hungarie, and strangled him, and sent Sinan his emulous corriuall, in his roome, whome the Transyluanian Prince ouerthrew in battaile, and after chased him ouer a Bridge, which he made a myle in length for his Armie to passe ouer Danubius, with great losse of his people. His Bridge the fire and water diuided betwixt them; and the conceit of this ill successe (as was thought) procured his death soone after. In the yeare 1597, Mahomet in his owne person enterprised these warres, and not farre from Agria, on the sixe and twentieth of October, fought a cruell battaile with the Christians, wherein (had not Couetousnesse, rightly called the root of all euill, hindered) had beene atchieued the most glorious victorie against those Barbarians, that euer Christendome was blessed with. Mahomet fMahomets Armie was reported to be 600000 sayth M. Wrag. apud Hakl. to.2.himselfe for feare, seeing his Ordinance (an hundred fourescore and tenne great Peeces) taken, and his men slaine in multitudes, fled with Ibrahim Bassa towards Agria, shedding teares by the way, which he wiped off his blubbered face with a piece of greene Silke, supposed to be a piece of Mahomets garment, carried with him as a holy Relique. But whiles the Christians were now halfe Conquerors, by greedie turning to the spoyle, their victorie was wholly lost, and twentie thousand of them slaine, who had slaine threescore thousand Turkes. Not long after, the Bassa of Buda was taken, and the Bassa of Bosna, with some thousands of Turks slaine, An. 1599. Yet did not all his losses in the West by the Christians vexe the Great Sultan so much, as a rebellion gThe long and dangerous rebellion in Turkey by Cusahin, the Scrivano, &c. See Knol. Turkish Historie.raised in the East, which many yeares continued. Cusahin Bassa of Caramania rose in armes against his Master, and hauing now done great matters, his souldiors, before false to their Prince, became now also false to him: he fleeing, was after taken and tortured to death. His rebellion out-liued him, and was maintained by one, called the Scriuano*, who ouerthrew Mehemet Bassa in the field, and the second time, in the yeare 1601, ouerthrew him with his armie of fiftie thousand, and foraged all the Countrey almost as farre as Aleppo, proclaiming himselfe the defendor of the Mahumetane faith, and soone after gaue the Bassa a third ouerthrow. The Turkes Embassadour, sent into Persia to demaund the Sophi's sonne in hostage, for assurance of the peace betweene those two Monarchs, was for his proud message put to the Bastinado, and grieuously threatened, sent backe to the Grand Signior. The Scrivano's proceedings were much furthered by the dissentions betweene the Ianizaries of Aleppo and Damasco: but death stayed him, not his rebellion, which a younger brother of his prosecuted, against whome Hassan Bassa was sent, but lost himselfe and his Armie. The Rebels besieged Angole, and forced them to giuegive two hundred thousand duckats to buy their peace. Meane while the Ianizaries, after their insolent maner, in a mutinie forced Mahomet to commit the Capi-Aga, one of his greatest officers, & some others, to whome the successe of these Rebels was imputed, to their cruell execution. The Rebels sacked Burze, one of the chiefe Cities, the Turkes Store-house for his warres, and Treasurie for his reuenues; and the great Sbangh of Persia had taken Corberie also from the Turks. The Gouernor of Babylon inclined now also to the rebels. Mahomet, not able with force to preuaile, by faire meanes sought to winne them, and gaue them their demaunds, making Zelalic, one of their Chiefetaines, Bassa of Bosna. Whereupon his men of warre entred into a resolution, to depriue him of the State, and to inuest therewith Mahomet his eldest sonne: about which an Astrologian being consulted, promised all happie successe: (vnhappie foole, that knew not his owne approching ruine, which Mahomet executed on him, together with young Mahomet the Prince, and fiftie other conspirators.)
He set forth a fleet of Gallies against the King of Fesse; which, hauing encountred with a tempest, was forced with great losse to retire to their former Port. The chiefe Rebell making shew he would come into Europe, as Zellalie had done, Mahomet sent certaine Gallies to receiue him, but he receiued them, and possessing himselfe of the Gallies, slew the men, and mocked the Sultan. Hassan, a great Bassa, ioyned himselfe also vntounto them, about such time as Tauris hTauris recovered by the Persians.was againe recouered by the Persian. All these disasters draue Mahomet to his deuotions for refuge, accounting these crosses to be inflicted for his sinnes, and therefore appointed publike Prayers in all the Mosques of his dominion, and sent two Priests bare-headed and bare-footed to Mecca, on pilgrimage, to pray for him. But that Mahomet either had no eares to heare this, or else was so farre entreated, as to be better acquainted with this great Sultan in the place of his eternall residence, whither (about the yeare 1593) Mahomet the Turke iOf the disposition of this Mahomet, his cruelties, forces power, government &c. see Soranzo his Ottomannus.was by death soone after sent. His sonne Achmat succeeded; for his eldest was strangled in his sight. He was buried in a faire Chappell by himselfe, for that purpose built about fiftie foot square, with foure Turrets or Steeples: in the middest is his Sepulchre, in a great Coffin of white Marble: his Turbant at his head, two exceeding great candles of White Waxe, standing (but neuer burning) the one at his head, the other at his feet. The Floore is couered with Mats, and faire Carpets on them. Round about are like Tombes for his wiues and children, but not so great and faire. Diuers such Chappels there are neere to the Temple of Sophia as of his father Amurath, with his 45. children, entombed about him, and of the other great Sultans, two Selims, Solyman, Baiazet, Mahomet, each hauing a faire Hospitall for the reliefe of the poore adioyning. Some of the great Bassaes imitate the same. No other Turkes are buried in the Cities, but in the fields, with stones layd ouer, or set vpright, fashioned with some resemblance of the head, which beareth ensigne of his dignitie, and whether it be a man or woman, with letters engrauen further to testifie the same.
Achmat kAchmat the present Sultan.set a sure guard about his brother, and to preuent the insolencie of the Ianizaries & souldiors, distributed amongst them two millions and a halfe, and being 15. yeares old, was crowned Emperour. He is said in behauior and resemblance much to resemble Mahomet the Great, first Conqueror of Constantinople. At the same time the warres in Transyluania had procured such famine, that roots, herbes, leaues of trees were their food: yea, a mother is said to hauehave brought back into her wombe (by vnnaturall meanes satisfying Nature) her sixe children: two men to eat their mother: others to cut downe malefactors from the gallowes, and eat them. Horses, Dogges, Cats, and such like were rarities to the poore, and dainties beyond their reach. And if this State can be made worse, theeues by robberies, & souldiors by continuall spoyles, in taking away their goods, adde to their miseries. Cicala Bassa is sent against the Asian Rebels, and receiueth an ouerthrow: the second time he reneweth his forces, with renewing his fortunes, namely, the losse of 30000 of his men. The Persian recouered the country of Sirvan, and the Citie of Arusta, with the countrey thereabouts, and all that from the daies of Solyman had beene taken from them, except two or three places. Hassan Bassa is sent against the Christians in Hungarie, assisted with the Tartars, alwayes readie to helpe the Turkes, both because they are linked in marriages, like in conditions, and that huge Empire, for want of heire males of the Ottomans, is entailed to the Tartar Cham: pay and spoile are no small motiues also to fetch them into these Expeditions. Cicala Bassa is sent against the Persians, but defeated with all his power by the Persian, who also tooke Bagdat from the Turke. In Hungarie they doe more with their money, to maintaine rebellions, then with open force. In the yere 1605 a tumult arose among the Ianizaries in Constantinople, & 500 shops & ware-houses, with 200 Iewes, and other persons to whom they belonged, were burnt: the Ianizaries enriched thēselues with the spoile. Hungarie is at once vexed with foraine & ciuill warres: the mutinous Christians doing more harme thē the Turkes, and the people flee into Polonia, or the Mountains, for refuge. The rebels take great Towns, yea they spoile Stiria & Austria. The German name growes odious to the Hungarian. Botscay, chiefe of the rebels, is assisted by the Turks, & called Prince of Transyluania, all Hungarie in maner following his ensignes. But the rebels in Asia and the Persian exploits detained the Turks from making vse of these occasions, else likely to hauehave swallowed Hungarie and Austria both: yet Pesth was before taken by them, & now Strigonium. Cicala Bassa is againe ouerthrowne by the Persian, & with 300 flieth to Adena. The Bassa of Trebezond is sent to succor him, but is discomfited, & almost all his army slain. Achmat enraged, causeth Cicala Bassa's house at Cōstantinople, full of wealth & treasure, to be rifled. Adena is yeelded to the Persian. The Bassa's of Damasco & Aleppo had before falne out, & takē arms, Damasco had ouerthrowne Aleppo in the field, besieged him, and forced him to composition. lCivill warres betweene the Bassa's of Aleppo and Damasco.Now againe, Aleppo ouerthroweth him, & the Bassas of Tripolis and Gazara his companions, with their armie of threescore thousand men; tooke Tripolis, the Basla wherof he againe ouerthrew, and added to his garlands Damasco the treasurie of the Turks reuenue, & chiefe City of Syria. The Beglerbeg of Natolia sent his Liefe-tenant with a great armie against him, but to their owne ruine. He intercepted a ship laden with the tributes of Egypt. The Persian sent him, in token of louelove, a present worth fifty thousand crownes. Achmat is hereby forced to peace with the Christians, and to recal his forces out of Hungary for this employment. An. 1606. The Emperour yeeldeth satisfaction to the discontents in Hungary, with free vse of Religion to all, and Transyluania to remaine to Botscay and his heires male for euer. A fire at Constantinople kindled in a Iewes house by the Tartars, burnt many houses & Iewes, and foure millions of goods. Achmat in great magnificence went to his Moschee, to render thanks to Mahomet for a peace concluded with the Emperour. He now looketh Eastward with his power, and An. 1607. sent the Visier Bassa with an hundred and thirty thousand against the rebels, who preuaileth more by discreete appeasing of them, then by force. The Basla of Aleppo three times withstood his whole forces; the fourth time fleeth towards Persia with his treasure. Aleppo is left to be taken, and the Garrison put to the sword: But the Bassa himself obtained pardon, with restitution of his goods taken from him in Syria. Another fire arose at Constantinople, and consumed two millions of goods. The Duke of Florence doth much harme to the Turkes by the sea, 1608. The rebels make new commotions in Asia. Matthias the Arch-Duke standeth out with his forces against the Emperour, and commeth with his armie toward Prage, obtaineth the crowne and royalties of Hungarie by composition, comes King to Vienna; but the Protestants refuse to sweare alleageance, till free vse of Religion in Austria by King Matthias was granted. He was crowned at Presburg.
Sultan Achmet is now An. 1612. foure and twentie yeares old: of good stature, strong and actiue more then any of his Court. He hath three thousand concubines and virgins for his lust: his eldest son is about seuen yeares old: he is much delighted with pleasures of the field, for which in Graecia and Natolia he hath forty thousand Falconers, his Hnnts-men are not much fewer. And whereas their religion binds them once eueryevery day to practise some manuall trade, as his father did making of arrowes: this Sultan eueryevery morning after his deuotions, maketh horne-rings, which they weare on their thumbes for the better drawing of their bowes. Eight thousand persons are alway resident in his Palace. His officers mThe cheefe officers of the Turks and his other instruments of private and publique service.are the Capi, Aga, by whom he speaks to such as hauehave suites to him; Treasurer of the houshold, Cup-bearer, Steward, Ouerseer of his women, and principal Gardner. These six are in great place: he hath Mutes (persons borne deaf and dumbe) which attend him; he hath fifteene hundred gelded men, from whom their priuities are wholly cut, and they make water through short quills of siluer, which to that end they weare on their Turbants. His Visier Bassas, or Priuy-counsellors, whereof there are nine at Constantinople, and were wont to be much fewer, are now thirty. The rest of thē are in their charges or Beglerbegs places abroad. They sit eueryevery Saturday, Sunday, Munday, and Tuesday, in the Diuano or Counsel-hall. The Aga is Captain of the Ianizaries. The Chiauses are his Pursiuants. The Spahi his guard of horse-men. The Ianizaries are his best foot-men, who in their child-hood are taken from their parents, & brought vp in all hardnes, and in the rules of their religion. Then are they put to schooles, where vnderunder most seuere masters they are taught the vse of diuers weapons, & such as proue fit are enrolled for Ianizaries. Of whom in al are forty thousand, and about sixteene thousand with their Aga, attend the Grand Seignior his person at Constantinople, where they are employed as Constables, Clerkes of the Market, warders of the gates, Sergeants for arrests, to guard Embassadors, & other offices. He hath also in pay others called Topegi, six thousand, which are gunners; and twelue thousand Gebegi, which hauehave charge of the powder and shot in the armies. He hath Seminaries for the training vp of those yonglings, the one sort of which are called Ieheoglani, whereof are fiue thousand, which neuer goe out of the Seraglio in sixteene or twentie yeares, neuer see any but their officers, where they are trained vp to future seruice. The Gemoglani (who are also tithed children of the Christians) are brought vp with some more liberty, and to base offices of husbandry and such like, and may also proue Ianizaries. Of these are twentie thousand. The Ianizaries and tithed children, with his Timariots, are the maine pillars of his Empire. His Timariots, which hold land in Fee to maintaine so many horse-men in his seruice, are in Europe two hundred fifty seuen thousand; in Asia and Africa, foure hundred sixtie two thousand. Beglerbeg signifieth LORD of LORDS; of which were wont to be two; one in Europe; another in Asia: but by Soliman encreased, that though Romania & Natolia hauehave still the chiefe titles, yet in Europe are foure others; in Asia before these Persian warres, nine and twentie, in Africa foure, in all nine and thirty, which are as Vice-royes and hauehave their Begs or Sanzackes vnderunder them. His Admirals place is as great by sea. And thus much of Turkish affaires, the summe of the large worke of M. Knolles, whom I principally follow.