A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 193
The Turkish Empire Described.
The Grand Signior, who hath his seat in the stately, and Imperiall City of Constantinople, hath under his command, the chiefest, and most fruitful parts of the three first known parts of the world. In Europe he hath all the sea coasts, from the confines of Epidaurus (the utmost bound of his Empire in Europe Westward) unto the mouth of the River Tanais, now called Don, with whatsoever lyes from Buda in Hungary, to the Imperial City of Constantinople: in which space is comprehended the greater part of Hungary, all Bosna, Servia, Bulgaria, with a great part of Dalmatia, Epirus, Macedonia, Grecia, Peloponesus, Thracia, the Archipelago, with the rich Islands contained therein. In Affrica he possesseth from the river Mulvia (the bounder of the kingdom of Fesse, to the Arabian Gulph, or Red-sea Eastward, except some sea-towns held by the King of Spain, and from Alexandria Northward, unto the City of Asna Southward: In which space are contained the famous Kingdomes of Tremizen, Algiers, Tunes, and Egypt, with divers other great Cities, and Provinces. In Asia all is his from the Hellespont Westward, unto the great City of Tauris Eastward: and from Derbent neer unto the Caspian sea Northward, unto Aden upon the Arabian Gulph Southward.
The greatnesse of his Empire may bee the better conceived by the greatnesse of some of the parts of it: the Meer of Meotis (which is all at his command) being in compasse one thousand miles: and the Euxine, or Black-sea, which is in circuit two thousand seven hundred miles, and the Mediterranean coast which is subject to him, contains in compasse about eight thousand miles. The like distance is from Derbent to Aden: And from Balsara upon the Persian Gulph, unto Tremisen in Barbary, are neer four thousand miles. Hee hath also in the Mediterranean sea, the noble Isles of Cyprus, Euboea, Rhodes, Samos, Chios, Lesbos, &c.
In this so large, and spatious an Empire, are contained many great Countries, sometimes famous Kingdomes, abounding with all sorts of temporal blessings, and natures store; For what Kingdome is more fruitful than Egypt, Syria, and a great part of Asia? what Countrey more abounding with all good things, than was sometimes Hungary, Grecia, and Thracia? In these Countries hee hath also many rich and famous Cities, but especially four, which bee of greatest wealth, and trade, viz. Constantinople, Grand-Caire, Aleppo, and Tauris. Constantinople, for multitude of Inhabitants, exceeds all the Cities in Europe, wherein are reckoned to bee above seven hundred thousand men. Aleppo is the greatest City of Syria, and the Centre whereunto all the merchandize of Asia is brought. Tauris, of late the royal seat of the Persian Kings, hath in it above two hundred thousand men. Grand-Caire amongst all the Cities in Africk, is the chiefest, being the store-house, not only of the riches of Egypt, but of much of Africk and India.
For his ordinary revenews they are not estimated to exceed eight millions of gold, but his extraordinary escheates are very considerable, as his confiscations, forfeitures, fines, amerciaments, tributes, customes, tenths of all Prizes taken by sea, or Land, &c. which far exceed his standing revenew: His Bassa's, and great officers, sucking out the blood of his poor subjects, and heaping up inestimable treasures, which usually falls to the Grand Signiors coffers. His presents also amount to a great value: for no Ambassadour can come before him without great gifts: none can get Offices, or preferments without money: none may return to him from their Provinces, or expeditions, empty-handed: In brief, its easy for so great a Tyrant to pick a quarrel with any rich man, and so to take away his life, and seize upon his estate be it never so much.
The strength of his Empire consists especially in these four things. In his Timariots, which are horsemen, to whom hee hath given lands for their life, upon condition of serving him upon all occasions with men and horses: by these, as with a bridle, hee keeps all the rest of his Subjects in his vast Empire in awe: for they can no sooner move, but they shall have these Timariots, as Falcons in their necks, for to that purpose they are dispersed all over his Dominions: and again, out of them hee is always able to draw into the field one hundred and fifty thousand horse-men well armed, without a farthing charge, to go whither soever hee shall command them. The whole number of them is accounted to bee seven hundred and ninety thousand fighting men: whereof two hundred fifty seven thousand dwell in Europe, the other four hundred sixty and two thousand in Asia, and Affrica.
Secondly, In his Spahi, Ulufagi, and Carapici of his Court, which are another sort of horse-men, to whom hee gives pay, being indeed the Seminaries of the great Officers, and Governours of his Empire, for from amongst them, hee chooseth his Sanzacks, or Captaines, whom for their good deserts, he raiseth to be Begs, Begler-begs, Visiers, and Bassaes.
Thirdly, Besides these, hee hath other horse-men, called Acanzii, which for some priviledges are bound to serve▪ they are of the peasants whom hee much esteems not, only they serve to blunt his enemies swords.
Fourthly, In his footmen, and Janisaries, which are born of Christian parents in Europe, and taken from them when they are young, and in whom there appeareth the greatest strength, activity, and courage: They are bred up to hard labour and pains, and after a certain time are taken into the Cloisters of the Aiamoglans (for so they are called, till they bee admitted into the number of Janisaries) and there delivered to governours, who keep them still exercised to painful labour, using them hardly in apparrel, diet, and lodging: there they learn to shoot in Bows, and Guns, the use of the Scimiter, and feats of activity, and when they are expert therein, they are admitted into the number of Janisaries, or Spahi.
Now for his strength by sea, hee hath as great means to set forth a Fleet as any Prince whatsoever, the overgrown woods of Epirus, and Cilicia, with those of Nicomedia, and Trapezund, yeild him abundance of Timber for ships, and Gallies: neither can he want shipwrights and Carpenters for the framing of them, his large pay drawing many, even from amongst the Christians into his Arsenals at Constantinople, Synope, Callipolis, &c. Neither hath hee ever wanted good store of expert Sea-men: for besides those which hee hath in the forenamed places, out of his Gallies, which hee hath at Lesbos, Chios, Rhodes, Cyprus, and Alexandria, and from the Pyrates which frequent his Havens of Tunis, Bugia, Tripolis, and Algeirs, hee can as need requires, chuse Captains, Marriners,, and rowers, sufficient for the storing, and managing of his Fleet. Notwithstanding all which, this vast Empire is much declined of late: their late Emperors much degenerating from their warlike Progenitors, their souldiers generally addicting themselves to unwonted pleasures, their ancient discipline of warre being neglected: their Religion, or superstition rather, not with so much zeal, as of old, regarded, and rebellions in diverse parts of the Empire, of late strangely raised, and mightily supported, being all signs of a declining state. See Knolles his discourse hereof.