The ofspring of the house of Ottomanno and officers pertaining to the greate Turkes court. Whereunto is added Bartholomeus Georgieuiz Epitome, of the customes rytes, ceremonies, and religion of the Turkes: with the miserbale affliction of those Christians, whiche liue vnder their captiuitie and bondage. In the ende also is adioyned the maner hovv Mustapha, oldest sonne of Soltan Soliman, twelfth Emperour of the Turkes, was murthered by his father, in the yere of our Lorde 1553. al Englished by Hugh Goughe.

❀ The Originall beginning of the Turkishe Empyre and Lineall Race of theyr Empe∣rours, vvyth the trade and Ordi∣naunces of theyr warres

THat the Turkes are lineally descended frō the Barbarous Na∣tion of the Scithians, not onely all the aun∣cyente Hystoryogra∣phers do witnesse, but also ther maners, face, countenāces, pryde, rashenes, won∣derfull audacity, & finallye al their trade and order in fightyng doth it moste eui∣dently declarē. They sixe hundred yeres sence, entring into the lesser Asia, which now hath to name Natholia, committed ther infinite spoilinges, and robberies, vntill by litle and litle they had brought subiect to their empire inheritances, ca∣stels, and cyties, and oppressed the inha∣bitantes

of Asia the lesser, whiche hadde not bene accustomed to fightinge, and warres. Neyther at that time had the Turkes any certaine Prince or Kynge, but, rouing abrode by flockes, ouerrane, brought vnder their subiectiō, and cruel∣lye raygned ouer the noble countreye of al the lesser Asia. But afterwarde when thre hundred thousande footmen and an hundred thousand horsmen of the Chri∣stians had assembled and gathered toge∣ther vnto the moste renowmed Duke Gottfridus Bilioneus, and passed ouer the Sea to possesse and inhabite the holye lande, where was the sepulcher of our redemer Iesus Christe: the Turkes also flocking together, created one Soliman ther Captaine, & so made warre agaynst the Christians. But after a cruell and blouddye battell, they were by the sayde Christians vanquished and put to flight. From this time foreward we reade not that the Turkes had any Prince, vntill

the yeare after Christes incarnation a thousand and thre hundred, about which season at lenght Ottomannus began to wexe famous, and being of great powr•• and strenght, was created first Em∣perour of the Turkes, from whom al the rest, as the table ensewing shall plainely declare, con∣sequently tooke ther beginninge.

A brefe rehersall of al the Emperours of Turkeye

Otthomannus,

OTthomannus firste Emperour of the Turkes, whiche was of the turkishe nation as it wer the grandfather, & from whom all the other Princes of Turkey do take their name, was fortunate, victo∣rious, and a very cruell tyrant. He raig∣ned eight and twentye yeares, and dyed in the yeare of our Lorde, a thousande, thre hundred, twenty and eight.

Oreanus,

OReanes secōd Emperour of the Tur∣kes, was subtil & wittye, he inuented sondrye sortes of instrumentes and En∣ginnes of warre, and gouerned the Em∣pire two & twentie yeares.

Amurathes,

AMurathes the sonne of Oreanes and

third Emperour of the Turkes, beynge a young man, was disceiful, circumspect and vigilant. In the yeare of Christe a thousande thre hundred thre score and thre he possessed by force of armes Adria¦nopolis, and raygned thre and twentye yeares.

Baiazetus,

BAiazetus the first of that name & forth Emperour of y^e Turkes, was victori∣ous, but a famous and cruell tyrant. He brought in subiection to his Empire al∣most all Grece, and was at lenghte van∣quished by the most mighty Tamberlane.

Cyriskelebes,

CYriskelebes the sōne of Baiazetus, and fifte Emperour of the Turkes, came vnto the Empire beynge a very younge man. He fought a battel with Sigismun∣dus Emperour of Rome, whiche at that present was king of Hungarye, ouercam

and put him to flight in the felde called Salumbetus. He dyed beinge yet of you∣thely yeares, & rained about sixe yeares.

Moises,

MOises was sixt Emperour of y^e Tur¦kes. After y^t he had slaine Oreanes his brothers sōne, he obteined y^e turkish Empire, but not lōg gouerned the same. For he was also murthered by Maho∣metus brother vnto Oreanes slaine of him before, which after the death of Moises brought vnder his subiection the Em∣pire of Turkey.

Mahometus,

MAhometus the first of that name, & seuenth Emperour of Turks was notable throughe his cruelty. He weake∣ned in many battells the strenght of the Walachians, & oppressed them. He raig∣ned fouretene yeares, and dyed in the yeare from Christes incarnation a thou∣sande foure hundred and nintene.

Amurathes,

AMurathes the seconde of this name, & eight Emperour of the Turkes was full of guile and cruel. He first inuented, and established the order of Ianitzaries, of whome it shalbe spoken hereafter. He raigned yeares thirty one, and died in the yeare of christian health, a thousand four hundred and fiftye.

Mahometus.

MAhometus of that name the second, ninth Emperour of y^e Turkes, was bolde, of great audacitye stubborne, and rash. He toke Constantinople in the yere from Christes incarnation, a thousande four hundred fifty and thre, the nine and twenty day of may, and was Emperour thirty and two yeares.

Baiazetus.

BAiazetus called the second of that na∣me, tenth Emperour of y^e Turkes, by

force of warre subdewed all Moldauia, and brought it in subiection to his Em∣pire. Besides that he fought many, gret, and perilous battels, at the whiche he was present in his owne person among his souldiers. He raigned thirty and one yeares.

Selimus,

SElimus eleuenth Emperour of y^e Tur∣kes was marueilous cruel. He poiso∣ned his Father, and by that meanes ob∣teined the turkishe Empire, in the yeare of our Lorde God a thousande fiue hun∣dred and twelue. Afterwarde when he had subdewed the great Sultan, he sacked the most populons citye Alkairum, and raigned but eight yeares, at what tyme he was iustly punished for his crueltye.

Solymannus,

SOlymannus the sonne of Selimus and twelueth Emperour of the Turkes, whiche reigned in our time, but now is

saide to be dead, was for our sinnes and offences fortunate and victorious. By him wer subdewed y^e Grecian city Alba, with Rhodes. And after that he had van∣quished kyng Ludouicus, he adioyned al∣so to his Empire, Buda, Strigonium, Alba Regalis, and many other cityes of Hun∣garye. He also in the yeare of our Lorde a thousand fiuehundred twentye and nyne beseged Vienna, wher from by helpe of the sone of God, whom he hathe as his enemye, he was driuen away.

In what maner the Turkes do vse to make vvarres.

AFter that the Turkes had vanquished the strenght & powre of the Macedonians, thei kept and imitated ther traininge vp of souldiers, warrelike discipline, and maner in go∣uerning, althoughe in euery particuler point they agre not. Wherfore ther har∣neis being coates of maile, they ar accu∣stomed to fight with spere, shilde, and swordes croked in the backe lyke our woode kniues, and often times proue conquerours. It is most certain that the Ianitzaries do nothing at all differ from the most picked souldiers of Macedonia, by whose martiall prowes Alexander the great, vanquished the inhabitantes of the Easterne partes, and brought thē in subiection to his Empire. They bring vp, exercise, and instructe them euen frō

their infancye in fighting and the war∣res. Not one amonge them doth knowe either his parentes, or knisefolke. They ar (to saye the truth) the children of chri∣stians, rauished and taken awaye at son∣drye robberies, and spoiling conquestes, whiche beyng brought into the orcharde of the turkishe Prince, they practise and traine vp in warrelike feates and exer∣cises, wherby in time to come, they may be haue and defend thē selues more mā∣fully in the forefront of their battelles. If any of them chaunce to dye, or to bée slaine in the felde, eyther at the assaute of any citie strong castell, or other migh∣tye places of defence, incontinent they ordaine and substitute in ther places, cer¦taine of those so exactly exercised and in∣structed yong menne, and by that mea∣nes fil vp the member. By reason wher of the bande of Ianitzaries, whiche is is it were the fortresse and harte of all the powre and strength of the Turkes, doth

alwaies confinew vndeminished. They haue not equal stipendes, but euery one hath a pension: according to his propre manlines and puisant dedes atchiued.

And this is the onelye cause why they proue so desperate prompt and ready to attempt all kynde of valiant actes and aduentures, as of late yeares wée haue of them bene taught and certifyed, not withe out oure greate grefe, domage, and discommodytie. For euen sithens the time of Amurathes the second, which first constituted the Ianitzaries, and dis∣posed them in this order, we neuer reade that they loste the vniuersall and hole strenght of any generall armye, but by experience haue rather knowen them, to be the victours and conquerours.

The Turkes do mainteine & kepe with suche iustice and seueritie the discipline of war, the lawes and customes in bat∣tell, that in this behalfe they maye seme farre to passe y^e Gretiās & Romains. Ther

neuer chaunceth amonge them, eyther diuisions, mutual slaughters, seditions, or treason. For they ar fourthe with be∣headed, being but for a trifeling offence conuicted. The turkish souldiers in ma∣ny respectes do surmount the warriours of other nations. First of all they readi∣ly obeye, with out grudging or disdaine, their Prince & Captaines, which is not obserued among vs. Secōdly al thoughe they be enforced with moste vrgent ne∣cessitie, yet they neuer take flight, but rather assaile and fight more desperatly. For they fully beleue that by celestiall prouidēce it is determined at what time, and after what sorte euerye mane shall ende his lyfe and dye, and therfore they thinke that no misfortune may chaunce vnto them before the prefixed houre.

Finally in as muche as they ar endura∣ble & most patiēt, a lōg space of time they can susteine thē selues with out bred or wine, with only water and rice.

❀ The Officers perteinning to the greate Turkes Courte and vvarres, vvith the disposition of the same, and diuersities of his souldiers.

Visier Bassae,

VIsier Bassae are Councellours to the turkishe Emperour: For with these he accustometh to deliberate & consulte of all his busines and affaires. They ar in number foure, and are chosen by the Emperour him selfe, of the multitude of those, whiche haue forsaken Christ, and of Christians ar bée come Turkes, yea ther haue bene founde to proue of them more worse then the Turkes thē selues Their authorytye and powre is of great estimation, and they are of marueilous riches and substance.

Lesker Kadie

LEsker Kadie are y^e chefe Judges, whi∣che determine, & discide, be they neuer

so many, all contentions, and controuer∣sies of warre. The one hath his seat in in Romania, the other in Natolia. Theire office is to declare the lawe, sit in iud∣gement, and the causes of as manye as ar brought before them, to decyde accor∣dyng to the lawes of Mahomet. Unto these do apeale and resort all the other inferiour Judges named also Kadie, and in their powre it lyeth to geue iudge∣ment of any controuersie, be it neuer of so great weight.

Beglerbeg,

BEglerbeg he hath the soueraintye of al other Captaines, & is chefe Prince of warrefare, or one that supplieth y^e chefe Princes rome. Ther ar two Beglerbegs, and they haue the dominion ouer them that ar named Szantsakbegler. The one hath his abode in Natōlia at Cutheia a ci∣tye of Galatia, the other in Romania in a citie of the Ruscians, whiche of them is

called Sophia.

Tepthedar

Tepthedar in their lāguage doth signi∣fy a boke, in the which reckoninges and accoūptes ar writen. Wherof they haue their name Tepthedar. They ar y^e Que∣stours, or Treasourers. The one in Ra∣mania, the other in Natolia do receyue an accounte of the yearly profites, and reuenewes, throughe out the whole tur∣kishe Empire, and of all rentes and ex∣penses. They ar of great authoritye an estimation in the courtes of Princes.

Iereys,

Iereys is Prince of the battels fought vpon the sea, and warres about the sea coastes, whiche alwaies is choseu out of the nomber of them wyche are named Szantsakbegler, or Liuetenantes whyche gouerne Calliopolis. He hath the charge of thre hundred shippes, all whiche are gouerned by sailes.

Moderie,

Moderis are menne learned in the constitutions, decres, and ordinaunces of Mahomet, wise, and of meruelous ex∣perience, and therfore they are all gene∣rallye called by this name.

Muthi,

Muthi are lawiers, of the whiche one is elected to be as principall Doctor of the lawe, whose apointmente or deci∣ding it is not lawefull for any manne to retracte or call againe. If any obscure & darke places are founde in the lawes, these are consulted concernynge the in∣terpretation therof.

Iaziti.

Iaziti are diuers scribes in the courtes of turkishe Princes, howbeit they vse sondrye languages and letters. For in Turkeye they speake and writte withe their propre spech and letters. In Grece

and Italye with the tounge and letters of the Grecians. But in Pannonia and Moldauia are accustomed in writing the language and letters of the Rascians. The Turkes do call all the scribes by one name Iaziti.

Spahioglani.

Spahi in their ••ong betokeneth noble, and Oglan doth signifye a younge man or sonne, wherof they haue to name Spa∣hioglani, and they are the principall bor∣semene in the turkishe armye, brought vp in the Emperours Orchard, and are called his sonnes. Out of y^e band of these are chosen such as they call Szantsakbe∣gler, after that his Legates or Embassa∣dours. The ful number of thē is a thou∣sande▪ beinge apparaled with gorgeous and riche ornamentes, they ride by the Emperours right syde. Euery one of thē hath seuē or eight souldiers vnder him.

Soluphthari

Soluphthari, these are hrought vp toge∣ther with the Spahioglans, and are equi∣valent vnto them in powre and dignity. Their number also is a thousand, being cladde in moste fine and sumptuous ro∣bes thei go by the Emperours lefte side.

Capiti.

Capi in the turkishe language dothe signifie a Gate, of the which their name deriued is Capici. They are the kepers or porters of the Princes Gates, whiche are maruelously estemed, and aduaun∣ced to highe dignities. They are elected out of the bande of Ianitzaries. The num∣ber of them is fourhundred.

Vlufagi.

Vlufagi are a thousande horsemene so called, chosen from the troupe of Ianit∣zaries, or pycked souldiers of the Bassaens, whiche haue made manifest by some fa∣mous or notable acte their fidelytye and manlye prowes. They kepe the thirde

ranke after the Emperour of Turkye.

Caripiti.

Caripiti, these also are horsemene, in number a thousande. And euen as their horses are quicke and swifte, so are they also endewed with wonderfull audacity and swiftenes. Thei vse and arme them selues with bow, arrowes, shilde, ••ere, and croked swordes, and haue stipen∣des verye large.

Solakhi.

Solakhi, are the principall and best a∣pointed souldiers. These also are chosen frome the bande of Ianitzaries, whyche ar marueilous skilful in shewing with arrowes, and are practised and accusto∣med, aboue all the rest, in shewtinge thē of most streight vnto y^e prefixed marke. Their number is seuen hundred, whose offyce is to enuiron and safegarde the Emperour with their arrowes nocked.

Ianitzaraga.

Ianitzaraga. By this name is called the Chefteine of the Ianitzaries, which hath vnder him Peticapteines, of whom cer∣teine haue the gouernmēte ouer a thou∣sande, other of fiue hundred. Ther are besydes these Centurions, and captai∣nes ouer tenne. Vnder whose dominion do the rest of the Ianitzaries lead a moste quiet lyfe.

Ianitzari,

Ianitzari are footmen in nūber twelue thousande, most valiant, of marueilous practise, & stronge souldiers, vnto whose fidelity the turkishe Emperour is wont thefelye to credite and committe hym selfe. They vse long Gunnes, out of the whyche they showte fourthe pellettes with great swiftnes, & strike the marke or thinge whervnto they send the same.

Beslie,

Beslie, are also souldiers most famous and exercised, whiche haue declared no∣table

actes of their strenght. Euery one of them receiueth the stipendes of fiue souldiers, and are almost in nūber four∣hundred.

Mutapharak

Mutapharak, are the sonnes of greate Princes, ministers or seruantes of the Emperour, they enioye aboundant ly∣bertye, and susteine no trauels, sauinge that they stande before the turkish Em∣perour, obserue, waite vpon, and accum∣panye him.

Czausi.

Czausi, these do cary clubbes in their handes, they order and dispose the hoste. They goe also before the Prince in the armye, and make him waye, as hereaf∣ter it shalbe declared againe. Ther are of them thrée hundred. Whose help and aide, the turkishe Emperour is also accu∣stomed to vse in Ambassadges.

Gimlie,

Gimlie. These souldiers are formes∣sangers, which haue horses most swifte, and when necessitye requireth, can ryde and dispatche a great space of grounde in one night. They are couered with coates of maile, and fight with shild spe∣••es and croked swordes.

Alcantzi,

Alcantzi be horsemen of the lowest estate or degre, they are cruell wasters and spoilers, whiche, in as much as they goe to warre, onely for their priuate cō∣modities sake (for no spoiles or booty is wonte to be exacted at their hādes) they waste and consume euerye thinge with fyre and sworde. The multitude of them is great, for they excead the number of thirty thousande.

Mekther

Mekther, are ministers of the turkishe Prince, whiche are ordeined to purge, make cleane, and decke vp the houses of

the Emperour of Turkeye. These haue the charge of al the hanginges of tapes∣trye and arras. They kepe the tentes of the turkishe Emperour, when he goeth vnto any warre.

Asappi,

Asappi are footemene verye skilefull in showetinge of arrowes, sent from the cities of Turkeye, the help the turkishe Emperour in time of warre Euery one of them, for the stipende of one moneth, dothe receiue thrée turkyshe peace of goulde.