Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

4. ALBANIA.

ALBANIA is bounded on the East, with the Caspian Sea; on the West, with Iberia; on the North, with the Caucasian Monntains; on the South, with the Moschici. So named from the Albani, who did once inhabit it; and of late called Sairia; but reckoned in these last ages as a part of Georgia.

The Countrey of so rich a soil, that without the least labour of the husbandman, the Earth doth naturally and liberally afford herstore, and where it is but once sown, will yield two or three reapings. But being ill husbands on it in former times, they occasioned Strabo to give them this note for a remembrance, That they needed not the use of the Sea, who knew no better how to make use of the Land. The people anti∣ently so simple that they could not reckon above an hundred; ignotant of weights, measures, and the use of money. Old age they had in high esteem, but held it utterly unlawfull to make speech of the dead. And of these Pliny doth report that they were gray-headed from their very youth, and could see as well by night as by day; the verity of which last may be somewhat questionable. But withall they are assirmed to have been a stout and couragious people, strong bodies, patient of toil and labour, as they are at this day. And well the men may be couragious and stout, where the women are so truely masculine. Of whom it is affirmed by Authors of undoubted credit, that they were excercised in Armes and martiall feats, as if descended lineally from the antient Amazons; whom Plutarch placeth in this tract, reporting some of them to be aiding to these Albanians in their war with Pompey: which possibly might be no other than some the more noble Albanian Dames.

Principall Rivers of this Countrey, 1. Soana, giving name to the Soani, one of the Nations of these parts mentioned by Pliny. 2. Coesius, 3. Gerrus, 4. Albanus, whence perhaps the name of Albani came unto this people. 5. Cyrus, (by Plutarch called Cyrnus) spoken of in Armenia Major, but more properly belonging to this Countrey, because herein it hath its spring, and the greatest part of its course also. For rising out of the Mountain Caucasus, which shuts up this Province on the North, it passeth thorow the middest of it, till it come to the borders of Armenia, where it beginneth to bend more towards the East: and having received into its Channel all the former Rivers, besides many others of less note, fal∣leth with twelve mouths into the Caspian or Hyrcanian Sea. Mountaines of note here are not any, but what are common unto them with other Nations: the Montes Moschici on the South, and Caucasus upon the North, being rather common boundaries betwixt severall nations, than peculiar unto any one; though from the last the Iberians, and these Albanians, be in some writers called Caucasioe Gentes.

Cities and Towns I find many in it, but little of them more than their very names. 1. Chabala, by Pliny called Cabalaca, and honoured with the Character of Insignior Albamoe urbs, the most noted City of this Countrey. 2. Albana, so called from the River Albanus, upon which it was seated. 3. Teleba, 4. Namechia, 5. Thelbis, 6. Getarra, neer unto the influx of the River Cyrus. How these are called, or whether any thing be remaining of them, I am not able to say. The chief now being, and worthy to be so accounted, is the City of Derbent, situate neer the Caspian Sea, from which to Tef∣lis a City spoken of before, remain the foundations of a high and thick wall, affirmed to have been built by Alexander the Great, to defend these parts against the irruptions of the Northen unconquered nations. The Town environed with two walls, and so defended by difficult and narrow passages of the rocks, that it is not easily accessible: but taken for all that by Mustapha the Turkish General, Anno 1587 and made the ordinary residence of a Turkish Bassa. Conceived to be the Caucasiae Portae of the Antients, which Pliy honoureth with the title of ingens naturae miraculum: by Egesippus for the strenght of it called Por∣toe Ferrea; with reference to which by the Turks called Demir-can, the word signifying in their language, a gate of iron. The other places of this tract are either of no accompt and estimation, or else are specified before amongst the Cities and good Towns of the Georgians, of whose Country this is now a part: yet we may add 2. Subran, upon the borders of Media. 3. Sancta Maria, north of Derbent; both of them on, or neer the banks of the Caspian Sea.

The first Inhabitants of this Countrey, seem to have been of the plantation of Gether the Sonne of A∣ram, and Nephew of Joephet, whose memory was long preserved in the City of Getara before-mention∣ed; So called by him or some of his posterity in remembrance of him. The People living somewhat out of the common road, were little troubled with Invaders from forreign parts; neither the Persians nor Ma∣cedonians looking so far North. Nor possibly had the Romans taken notice of them, had they not ingag∣ed themselves with Tigranes first, and afterwards with Mithridates. Falling on Pompey with an Ar∣my of 40000, and well beaten by him, they were content to sue for peace. But finding that the Iberians also had took up Arms, they ingaged again, leavying an Army of 12000 horse and 50000 foot, in which Oroezes their King, with his brother Cosis, were in person present. And though they had made good the banks of the River Cyrus; yet being ill armed, and for the most part only with skins of beasts, they made but small resi∣stance against the Romans; notwithstanding the gallant charge of Cosis, who assaulted Pompey, and had the honour to be siain by him in the place. After this overthrow, and their giving pledges

unto Pomper for their good behaviour, we find little mention of them in the Stories of the Roman Em∣pire, till the time of Iraan. Who having conquered and reduced Armenia Major to the form of a Province, resolved to shew his power to these neighbouring nations: and to that end imposed a King on the Albant of his own appointment, and made the Kings of Colchis, and Iberia, do their homage to him. In times succeeding no news of them; either because remote from the stage of Action, or serving under the command of some greater nation, where their name occurs not. Conquered by Occadan, or Hoc∣cata the Cham of Partarie, together with Iberia, and Armenia, they were a while subject to that Em∣pire: and possing in succeeding times by the name of Georgians, partook of the same fortunes with them. Now at the mercy of the Turk, who by reason of the strong footing which he hath gotten amongst them is become a dreadful neighbour to them, if not acknowledged by them for their Lord in chief.

Thus having taken a survey of all the Provinces of the Turkish Empire both in Europe and Asia, and touched upon the means by which they are possessed of Aegypt, whereunto all the rest of their hold in A∣friet, serves but for an accessory; we will now look upon the story of this people, their first originall, the great success of their affairs, the Princes under whose command they have made these conquests. Which having done, we will proceed to a Description of the Persons, Manners, and Conditions of the Turks themselves, their power and policy, with other things considerable in so great an Em∣pire.

And first for the original of the Turkish Nation, they were most probably the Descendants of those Tur∣coe, whom Pliny and Pomponius Mela place about the fennes of Moeotis. Of whom thus Mela, speak∣ing of the Gelani a Scychian people. Juxta Thyrsagetae Turcaeque Vast as sylvas occupant, aluntur{que}, vinard, &c. Next unto them (saith he) live the Thyrsagetae and the Turcae, possessed of vast woods, and maintained by hunting; and then a rough and desart Countrey with continuall rocks, as farre as to the Arymphetans. And Pany mustering up the barbarous nations of those parts, joins the Tussagetoe (or Thyrsagetoe) with the Turks, and placeth them next the Arympheians, as Mela doth, us{que} adsolundines solunasis vall bus asperas, spreading themselves unto the rough desarts, and woody vallies. Not known by action (though by name) till the time of Tiberius the second, who began his Empire Anno 577. when pressing hard on the Avares, a neighbouring Nation, they compelled them to forsake their seats and pass into Europe, where they made themselves masters of Pannonta, now called Hungary. In the time of Heraclius, we find them with other barbarous nations at the siege of Constantinople, but under the com∣mand of the Persians. After which they began to set up for themselves, and in the year 763. made a road into those Countreys which we last described, and loading themselves with prey and booty, returned home again. But liking better of these parts that their own poor dwellings, in the year 844. they brake once more thorow the Caspian Streights, and passing through Iberia, seized on Armenia Major, and there fixed themselves; giving it the name of Turcomania: in which wide and spacious Countrey they roamed up and down, without any certain habitation, removing their heards and families from one place to another, as they had formerly been used to do in the sennes of Moeotis; and as the Tartars and wild Arabs do untill this day. And so they lived, a poor and contemptible nation, till Maehomet the Sultan of Persia, rebelling against his Lord and Master the Caliph of Babylon, called in these Turks unto his aid; and by their help obtained a signall victory. The victory obtained, the Turks desire their wages, and a fair dismission; but could speed in neither; the Sultan being loth to part with such a necessary mis∣chief, till his affairs were better setled; and therefore shuting up the passages of the River Araxes, which he before had opened for them: Provoked wherewith, under the conduct of Tangrolipix, their prin∣cipal Leader, they began to spoil and wast the Countrey, a multitude of needy people, and some of the discontented Souldiers coming daily to them. Assaulted by the Persians, in the first battel they not onely got a notable victory, but such store of Armour, horses, and other necessaries, as made them able to en∣counter with the Sultan himself: whom having overthrown and slain in the second fight, Tan∣grolipix is by both Armies proclamed King of Persia, in the year one thousand and thirty, or there∣abouts.

There were at this time amongst the Turks two most noted Tribes, the Selzuccian, and the Ogazian. Of the Selzuccian, Tangrolipix, Cutlu Muses, and Ducat were the heades: of which Tangrolipix as the chief of that Clan or Family was setled in the throne of Persia; Cutlu Muses furnished with an Army against the Christians, possessed himself of a great part of Asix Minor; Melech and Du∣cat, by the like favour of their Cousen the Persian Sultan, were vested into the Cities of Aleppo and Da∣mascus, with their severall Territories. But the line of Tangrolipix and the rest being all worn out, as hath been shewn in our descriptions of Syria and Anatolia; the man of most nobility amongst the Turks was Ottoman, the chief of the Ogazian family, Nephew of Solyman Prince of Machan, a small territory in the Realm of Persia. Which Solyman, flying the fury of the Tartars when they conquered Persia, was drowned in crossing the River Euphrates, as he passed with his few Subjects towards Asia Minor, the best place of refuge for his Nation; leaving the chief-ship of his Tribe to Ethrogul his some: who obtained of the last Aladine of the Selzucciaen Family, the village of Saguta in Bithynia for himself and his small handfull of people. To him succeeded his sonne Ottoman, in the year 1280. who to revenge some inju∣ries done unto his people by the improvident Christians, took from them Castle after Castle; and in the end possessed himself of the City of Nice, not long before the Imperiall Seat of the Grecian Emperors. Em∣boldned with such great successes, and heating of the death of Aladins the second, whom he acknowledged for his Lord, he took unto himself the Title of Sultan, Anno 1300. from which before he had abstained. To this time, and these small beginnings, we must reduce the first foundation of the Ottoman Empire;

increased unto its present greatness by the courage and good fortune of these Princes following.

The Kings of the Turks of the Oguzian or Ottoman Family.

• 1300. 1. Ottoman, the sonne of Ethrogul, the first Turkish Sultan of this line, added to his small territory the greatest part of Bithynia, and some part of Pontus. 28.
• 1328. 2. Orchanes, took the City Prusa, and made it his residence; and was the first that put footing in Europe, where he got Gallipolis, and other peeces.
• 1350. 3. Amurath, wonne the Thracian Chersonese, the strong City of Adrianople, with the Countries of Servia, and Bulgaria, where he was slain by a common Souldier in the fields of Cossova. 23.
• 1373. 4. Bajazet, made himself master of a great part of Thrace, Macedon, and Achaia. He was taken prisoner by Tamerlane, and brained himself in an iron cage, in which the insolent Conqueror used to carry him. 26.
• 1399. 5. Mahomet, united the dismembred Empire of his Father, and inlarged it with the more absolute conquest of Dacia, part of Sclavonia, and the rest of Macedon. 17.
• 1416. 6. Amurath II. subdued from the Constantinopolitan Empire, all Achaia, Thessa∣ly, Epirus; he shaked the State of Hungary, and dyed before the Walls of Croy. 34.

The Ottoman Emperors.

• 1450. 7. Mahomet II. sumamed the Great, and first Emperor of the Turks, ruined the two Empires of Constantinople, and Trabezond, twelve Kingdomes, and two hundred Cities. 31.
• 1481. 8. Bajazet II. subdued the Caramanian Kingdome, and part of Armenia; and drove the Venetians from Morea, and their part, of Dalmatia. 31.
• 1512. 9. Sclimus, having poisoned his Father, subverted the Mamalucks of Egypt; bring∣ing it, together with Palestine, Syria, and Arabia, under the yoke of the Turks. 7.
• 1519. 10. Solyman the Magnificent, surprised Rhodes, Belgrad, Buda, with a great part of Hungary, Babylon, Assyria, Mesopotamia. 48.
• 1567. 11. Selimus II. an idle and effeminate Emperour, by his Deputies took from the Venetians, the Isle of Cyprius, and from the Moores, the Kingdome of Tunis, and Algi∣ers. 8.
• 1575. 12. Amurath III. took from the disagreeing Persians, Armenia, Media, and the City Tauris, and the fort Guierino from the Hungarians. 20.
• 1595. 13. Mahomet III. took Agria in Hungarie, which Kingdome had likely bin lost, if he had pursued his victory, at the battell of Keresture. 8.
• 1603. 14. Achmat, who the better to enjoy his pleasures, made peace with the German Emperor, and added nothing to his Empire. 15.
• 1618. 15. Mustapha, brother to Achmat, succeeded; a novelty never before heard of in this Kingdome; it being the Grand Signeurs common policy to strangle all the younger bro∣thers: howsoever this Mustapha was preserved, either because Achmat being once a younger brother, took pitty on him; or because he had no issue of his own body, and so was not permitted to kill him.
• 1618. 16. Osmen, succeeded his Unkle Mustapha; and being unsuccesseful in his war against Po∣land, was by the Janizaries slainin an uproar, and Mustapha again restored; yet long enjoyed be not his throne: for the same hand that raised him, plucked him down, and seated young Amurath in the place.
• 1623. 17. Morat (or Amurath the IV.) Brother of Osmen, of the age of 13. years, succeeded on the second deposition of his Unkle Mustapha, who proved a stout and masculine Prince, and bent himself to the reviving of the antient discipline. To the great good of Christen∣dome, he spent his stomach on the Persians.
• 18. Ibrahim, the brother of Morat, preserved by the Sultaness his mother in his brother life; and by her power deposed again for interdicting her the Court. He spent a great part of his reign in the warre of Crete, against the Venetians; but without any great suc∣cesse.
• 1648. 19. Mahomet IV. sonne of Ibrahim, now reigning: Lord of all this vast Empire, containing all Dacia, and Greece, the greatest part of Sclavonia and Hungary, the Isles of the Aegean Sea, and a great part of the Taurican Chersonese in Europe; of all the Isles and Provinces, which we have hitherto described in Asia; and in Africk of all Aegypt, the Kingdomes of Tunis and Algiers, with the Ports of Suachem, and Erocco. Nor is their stile inferiour to so vastan Empire, Solyman thus stiling himself in his Leter to Villerius great Master of the Rhades, at such time as he intended to invade that Iland: i.e. Solyman King of Kings, Lord of Lords, most high Emperour of Constantinople and Trabe∣zond; he most mighty King of Persia, Syria, Arabia, and the Holy Land; Lord of Europe, Asia, and A∣frica;

• ... Prince of Meccha, and Aleppo, Ruler of Hierusalem, and Soveraign Lord of all the Seas and Isles thereof.

As for the persons of the Turks, they are generally well-complexioned, of good stature, proportiona∣bly compacted, no idle talkers, nor doers of things superfluous; hot and venereous, servile to their Prince, and zealous in their Religion. They nourish no hair upon their heads, except it be a Tust on the top of their Crowns; by which they think that Mahomet will snatch them up into Paradise at the day of judge∣ment. For which reason they keep on of all sides, though never so poor, accounting it an approbrious thing to see any men uncover their heads; saying when they dislike of any thing which they see, or hear, I had as liefe thou hadst shewn me thy bare skull. In their familiar salutation they lay their hands on their bosomes, and a little incline their bodies; but when they accost a person of rank, they bow almost to the ground, and kiss the hem of his garment. Walking up and down they never use, and much wonder at the often walking of Christians. Biddulph relateth, that being at his ambulatory exercise with his com∣panion; a Turk demanded them whether they were out of their way, or their wits? If your way (quoth the Turk) lay toward the upper end of the Cloister, why come you downwards? If to the neither end, why go you back again? Shooting is their chief recreation, which they also follow with much laziness, sitting on carpets in the shadow, and sending some of their slaves to fetch their arrowes. They prefer, as they pass the streets, the left hand before the right, as being thereby made master of his sword with whom they walk. As they shave their heads, so they wear their berds long, as a sign of freedome; but their slaves keep theirs shaven and close cut.

The women are of small stature, for the most part ruddy, clear, and smooth as the polished Ivory; as neither afflicted with the weather, and often frequenting the baths: of a very good complexion, sel∣dome going abroad, and then masked; lascivious within doors, pleasing in matters of incontinency, and they are accounted most beautiful, which have the greatest eyes, and are of the blackest hue. Every Turk is permitted to have four wives, and as many slaves as he is able to keep, yet are they to meddle with none but their own, the offending women being drowned, and the man dismembred. These women live in great awe and respect of their husband, never sitting with him at the table, but waiting till he hath done, and then withdrawing into some room. If their husband hath been abroad, at his comming in they all rise from their stools whereon they fate, kiss his hand, and make an obeisance, and stand as long as he is in presence. The children which they have, they carry not in their arms as we do, but astride on their shoulders; they live immured from the sight of the world: and permit not any male children, no not their own sonnes, to come among them after they are twelve years old. From their husbands they cannot be divorced, but on special occasion: but their husbands may put away their wives, ot give them to their slaves, when and as often as they list. Far better is it with the sisters or the daughter of the Sultan; to whom when her Fa∣ther or brother bestoweth her on one of the Bassas, giveth her a dagger, saying I give thee this man to be thy slave or bedfellow; if he be not loving, obedient, and dutiful unto thee, I give thee here this Can∣zharre or dagger to cut off his head. When they are ma•• ryed, their husbands come not to bed unto them, till they are sent for, and then also they creep in at the beds feet. That ever any of their Ladies made use of their daggers, I could never read, onely I find, that Lutzis Bassa, the chief man of the Empire next the Sultan himself, and of him very much beloved, having given his wise, which was sister to Solyman the Magnificent, a box on the ear, was upon complaint by her made, thrust from all his honours, banished in∣to Macedon, and had doubtless been slain, if the Emperours love and his own merits had not pleaded for him. And this is all the Prerogative of the Sultans daughter: her sonnes being accounted as meer and ordinary Turks onely, and never being preferred above the rank of a common Cap∣tain.

The better sort of the Turks use the Schivonian Tonque, the vulgar speak the Turkish language, which being originally the Tartarian, borrowed from the Persians their words of State; from the Arabick their words of Religion; from the Grecians their words or terms of war; and from the Italians, their terms of navigation.

They were formerly idolatrous Pagans, and were first initiated in Mahometanism, when they got the Soveraignty of the Persian Scepter. The degrees in their Religion are, 1. The Saffi or Novices. 2. The Calsi, or readers. 3. The Hegi, or writers of books, for printing they use not. 4. The Napi, or young Doctors. 5. The Caddi, whereof there is at least one in every City, to judge of offences. 6. The Mudressi, who use to oversee the Caddis. 7. The Medlis, or principal Church Governour under the Musti. 8. The Caldelescats, whereof there are onely three, one of Greece, the other for Anatolia, the third for Egypt and Syria: These sit with the Bassas in the Divano, to determine of temporall suits. 9. The Musti, whose sentence in law and religion is uncontroulable. He abaseth not himself to sit in the Divano, nor affordeth more reverence to the Emperor than he doth to him.

His forces are either for the Sea, or the land. His Sea forces are great in regard of his spacious sea-coasts, vast woods, and number of Subjects: he never suffered but one memorable defeat, which was that at Le∣panto; yet the next year he shewed his Navy whole and entire. Gallies are his onely vessels, which being unable to cope with ships of any bigness, were not onely the occasion of that overthrow, but also have heartned the Florentine, onely with six great ships of war, to swager in the Seas; so that for more safety the tribute of Egypt is of late sent to Constantinople by land. The Captain Bassa, or Admirall, not∣withstanding with a Navy of 60 fail, makes a yearly progress about the Seas, and Sea Towns, to annoy the enemy, suppress Pyrates, collect the tributes, and to redress the abuses committed in the maritime Towns, belonging to the Admirallity: which annuall circuit is begun in May, and ended in Oc∣tober.

Their land forces are either horse or foot, they which served on horseback are the Spali and Asapi: these latter serving to weary the enemies, and dull there swords with there multitudes; of whole bodies the Janizaries use to make mounts whereon to assault the wall of a besieged Town: and are by them so contemned, that a Janizary once sold a of them for a sheeps head. As for the Spali, they till they are inrold into pay, are of the same originall and education with the Janizaries; and called by the same name Azamaglans. Their pay is ten aspers a day. The Turk is able and doth main∣tain 150000 Horses at little or no cost, which no other Prince can do with 14. millions of Gold; for wheresoever any Parcell of Land is conquered, it is divided into divers parts, and committed to the manuring of divers men, whom they call Timariots. These are to pay unto the Emperour cer∣tain rents, and at their own charges to send to his wars so many horse, excellently appointed for the field: and which is the chief point of their service to keep the subjects and all parts of his Em∣pire in awe. For being as they are dispersed in all quarters of his Dominions; the people can no sooner stir, but these will be assembled and fall upon them. These Timariots are in all accounted 719000 fighting men, whereof 257000 have their abode in Europe, and 402000 in Asia and A∣prica. Were it not for these Timartors as the Turks saying is, no Grass would grow where the Grand Signeurs horse hath once set his hoof: for if the care of manuring the ground were commited to Pai∣sants and not to military men, the greatest part of this Empire would grow wast and desolate. These Timariots were instituted by Ottomon the first Turkish King of this Family, and a curse by him laid on them that should annihilate the institution. The name is derived from the Turkish word Timaz signifying a stipend.

But the nerves and Sinews of this warlike body, are the Janizaries; who by originall being Christians, are chosen by the Turkish Officers, every five years, out of his European dominions: and so distributed abroad to learn the language, customes, and religion of the Turks; afterward according to there strength, will, or disposition, placed in divers chambers. They of the first cham∣ber are preferred some to be Chiausies, such as go on Embassies, and execute judgements; others to Sanziacks, or Governours of Cities; some to be Bassas or commanders of horsemen; and others to be Beglerbegs (idest, Lord of Lords) to command the rest in generall. They of the other cham∣bers are the Janizaries or Praetorian Souldiers of the Guard, to whose faith and trust the care of the Emperours Person is committed. The tithing of these young springals is as we have said every fifth year, and oftner sometimes, as occasions serve. By which means he not only disarmeth his own subjects and keepeth them from attempting any stirre or innovation in his Empire: but spoileth all the Provinces he most feareth, of the Flower, Sinews and strength of their People; choise being made of the strongest youths only, and fittest for war. These before they are inrold in pay, are called Azamoglans, and behave themselves with much submissiveness towards their Se∣niours and governours: but when once they are honoured with the title of Janizaries, they grow by degrees into an intolerable pride and haughtiness: till of late they were not permitted to mary, neither now can any of their sonnes be accounted any other than a naturall Turk, (whom of all the rest they account the basest) the eldest onely excepted: to whom this Prerogative was granted by A∣murath the third when he came to the crown. They are in number 40000. of which 16000 are alwaies resident in Constantinople. In this City they are diversly employed, being as Constables to see the Peace kept; as Clerks of the Market to see to the weights and measures; as Officers to arrest common offenders; as Warders to look to the gates, to guard the houses of Embassadours, and to travel with strangers for their more safety; in which charge they are very faithfull. There pay is but five aspers a day, and two gowns yearly; neither are their hopes great, the command of 10, 20, and 100 men being their greatest preferment; yet are they very obsequious to their Captain or Aga, who is in∣feriour to the meanest Bassa, though in power perhaps above the chiefest. For the crafty Turks join not power and authority, and if they observe the Janizaries to love and respect their Aga, they quickly de∣prive him of life and office. The Founder of this Order was Amurath the first, Anno 1365. their great∣test establisher Amurath the second: their name signifieth young Souldiers. Now concerning these Ja∣mazaries, we will farther consider the sway they bear in designing the Successour. 2. There insoleney to∣wards the Emperour, and his Officers. 3. Their behaviour in the vacancy of the throne; and 4. Their punishments.

1. Concerning the first, I never find any particular sway the Janizaries carryed in the designation of their Emperour, till the death of Mahomet the Great; when the Bassas having chosen Coreub the sonne of Bajazet, were overruled by the Aga and his Janizaries; who more inclined to Bajazet his Fa∣ther and sonne to Mahomet. Though I am not ignorant, that when this Mahomet succeeded in the Throne, the joyful acclamations made by the Souldiers was accounted the chiefest sign of his secure and perpetuated establishment. But the chief instance of their power herein, was the inthronizing of Selimus the first, who being but the seventh sonne of this Bajazet, was not only preferred by them before his brethren in his Fathers life time, but by their aids also be severally mastered them, and in the end poisoned his Father. To omit other examples, even of late Anno 1622. they slew the young Emperoun Osmen, drew his Unkle Mustapha out of prison, and established him in the Royalty.

2. As for the next, the first example in which I find them peccant toward their Prince, was at the be∣ginning of the reign of the abovementioned Bajazet; when hearing of the intended death of Achmet Bas∣sa whom they loved, they broke open the Court gates, and told the Emperour, They would teach him like a drunkard a beast and a rascall as he was, to use his great place and calling with more sobriety and discretion. Not long after conceiving further displeasure against the said Bajazet, they shook their

weapons against him, and refused to take him into the middest amongst them; and were not, without great and vile submission on his part, appeased. Against Selimns the first, they also mutined, when being resolv∣ed to winter in Armenia, for the better pursuit of his victories against the Persian, he was by them forc∣ed to return home unto Constantinople. Against Solyman they mutined so violently, that they compelled him to displace Rustan his chief Bassa or favorite. Against Amurath the 3d. for placing over them a new Aga, they so strongly opposed themselves; that first they set fire on Constantinople, and burnt therein, be∣sides shops and ware-houses, twentyfive great Innes, seven Temples, and 15000 houses, and in the end constrained him to give them money, and to yield also into their hands two of his chief Counsellors, by them supposed to be their adversaries; whom they drew about the streets. Finally, (to omit the tumult 1622 above-named) in the year 1600 they grew so discontented with Mahomet the 3d. that they not onely threatned to destroy the Principal Officers of the Court, and the banishment of the Sultaness his Mo∣ther, but the deposing of himself also.

3. Now for the third, I find it to have been the custome of these Janizaries, between the deaths of an old Emperor, and the beginning of a new, to commit divers insolencies; as the rifling of the houses of the Jews and Christians, among whom they dwell; the murdering of the Bassas, and principall men about the Court, whom they suspected not to have favoured them; and a number of the like outragious mis∣chiefs. Of these we find frequent mention, as after the death of Amurath the 2d. and Mahomet the Great: at which last time the Merchants of Constantinople, being naturall Turks, escaped not their ra∣venous hands; neither could Mahomet-Bassa avoid the fury of their swords. This spoil they took for so certain a due, that if they were disappointed of it, they would presently raise commotions both in Court, Field, and City, unless some present satisfaction were made them. To this end Ackmat distributed a∣mong them two millions and an half of Ducats; Selimus the first, two millions; others made an encicase of their dayly pay. But Selimus the 2d. distributing among them 100000 Sultanies onley, was by them prohibited to enter into his Seraglio, till he had inlarged his bounty: and the great Bass••es were rapped a∣bout the pate with their callivers, for perswading them to quietness. Now to prevent the dangerous and factious liberty, which in the vacancy of the Empire was usually committed, the death of the old Em∣perour was with all secrecy concealed, till the arrivall of the new. To omit others, I will instance in the deaths of Mahomet the first, and Solyman onely. This Solyman died at the siege of Sigeth in Hungary, which was so cunningly concealed by Mahomet-Bassa the space of twenty dayes; that before the Janizaries knew of it, his sonne Selimus had possessed himself of Constantinople, and came also to their Army then in retreat homewards. For this Mahomet privately strangled the Physicians and Apothe∣caries which knew of his death, commanded the Souldiers to go on in their siege, and diverse times shew∣ed them the Emperor sitting in his horse-litter, as (being troubled with the Gout) he used to do: and when the City was taken, marched home with his dead body, sitting still in the same manner. So after the death of Mahomet the first, the Bassaes of the Court called their Divanos, as formerly they used, gave order for the levying of an Army, as if some warre were intended, and the Kings Physicians went up and down with their Potions, as if they had him still in cure. But the Pensioners and Janizaries misdoubting the matter, with all egerness desired to see him, which when the Bassaes durst not deny, they appointed the next day for their visit. The next day the body was apparrelled in royall large robes, placed in a chair, at the end of a long gallery, and a litle boy cunningly set behind him to move the Kings hand to his head, as if he should stroke his beard, as his manner was: which signes of life and strength the Souldiers seeing, held themselves contented, and so was his death concealed the space of 41 dayes.

4. As for the last, These insolent and unsufferable pranks committed so commonly by these masterfull slaves, so exceedingly stomached Ba••azet the 2. that he secretly purposed with himself, for curing so dange∣rous a disease, to use as desperate a remedy; which was to kill and destroy suddenly all the Janizaries. It is like that this Ba••azet being a Scholar, had read how Constantine the Great had cassed the Praetorian Souldiers, and destroyed their camp, as men that were the causes of all the stirres in his Empire, and whose pride was come to an intollerable height: and having the same cause to destroy his Janizaries, hoped to have done it with as much ease and safety as the other did; but they having notice of the plot, for the time continued so united and linked together, that he durst not then attempt it; and afterward siding with his sonne Selimus, cast him out of his Throne into his grave. Since which time the Emperors never durst punish them openly, but when any of them proveth delinquent, he is sent privately in the night time to Pera over∣against Constantinople, where by the way he is drowned, and a peece of Ordinance shot off, to signifie the performing of the Sultans command.

Now for the Emperors themselves, we will consider them in matters of pleasure, in matters of ceremony, and in matters of State, the last being considerable in three main points, which are the murdering of their brethren, the removing of their sonnes, their revenue, and therein a touch of their goverenment. To these we will adde, what apparent symtomes may be observed to prognosticate the standing, decreasing, and increasing of this puissant Monarchy.

1. For the first, he hath not so few as 500. (sometimes a 1000) choice virgins kept in a Seraglio by them∣selves, all slaves born of Christian Parents, and indeed the rarest beauties of his Empire. When he is dis∣posed to take his pleasure with any of them, they are all ranked in a gallery, and she is by the Aga of the women prepared for his bed, to whom he giveth his handkercher. She that beareth him the first sonne, is honoured with the title of Sultaness (Queen Mother we may call her) neither can he make any of them free, unless he marry them. When the Sultan dieth, all his women are carried into another Seraglio, where they are strictly looked too, and liberally provided for, and not seldome times are bestowed by the succeeding Sultan, on his great Bassaes, and such us he chiefly favoureth, which is a principall honour. They are at∣tended

on by women, and Eunuches; these being not gelded onely, but deprived of all their genitalls, and supplying the uses of nature with a silver quill: which in humane custome was brought in among them by Selimus the second, because he had seen a Gelding cover a mare.

2. These ceremonies are either performed by them, which is for the most part the building of a Mosche onely to help to the salvation of their souls: or towards them by others, which are most apparent in the enter∣tainment of Embassadors. For when such come to his presence, they are led between two of his Courti∣ers, and comming before the Throne on both sides (whereof the Bassaes sit with admirable silence, resem∣bling rather Statuaes than men;) they bow themselves to the ground with all humility, laying their hands on their breasts, but never uncovering their heads, which (as we before noted) is counted an undecency. When they are to depart, they go all backwards, it being accounted very irreverent to turn their back-parts towards a Prince so glorious. The reason why they are thus brought in between two, is said to be for their greater honour: but is indeed a fear that they have, lest the Grand Seignieur, under the pretence of a Salurati∣on, or the delivery of an Embassie, should be stapped. Which wariness they have used, ever since the time that Miles Cobiletz, a Servian, scrambling from among the slain at the battel of Cassona, and being ad∣mitted to the speech of Amurath the first, the Author of that overthrow; stabbed him into the belly with his dagger.

3. Amongst all the jarres and discontents that be, none have been with more unkindness begun, or more eagerness prosecuted, than those of brothers: and that not only in private families, but in the stems of Princes; the multitude of Pretendants, being the originall of most civill wars. To prevent these pub∣lick emotions, the Emperors of Habassia use to immure up all their younger children in the hill Amaza; the Persians do put out the eyes of their younger brothers; and the Turks do murder them: strange and horrid courses, whereby to avoid the fear of a war in the State, they stirre up a war in their own bowels. The first amongst the Turks that began this barbarous cruelty, was Bajazet the first, on his brother Jacup; whom immediately after his Fathers death he strangled with a bow-string: this being the only in∣stument of their Fratricide, because thereby none of the blood-royall of Ottoman is spilt on the ground. After him, Mahomet the Great, caused his young brother then at nurse, to dy the death; and was not without much ado perswaded from being the executioner himself. Amurath the third, caused his five brethren to be at once strangled before his face; and Mahomet, his sonne, no fewer then nineteen in one day. By this course they imagine their own estate to be infinitely secured, as knowing that Mustapha a younger sonne, stirred a rebellion against Amurath; and Zemes against Bajazet, both the second of those names: that Solyman, Musa, and Isa, severally afflicted Mahomet the first, and Corcut, Seli¦mus; the first of these names also. But yet they will not know, that nothing sooner putteth their youn∣ger Brothers into these acts of hostility, than an inevitable certainty of a violent and unnatural death: where∣as were they but sure of life, and a liberall and Princely maintenance, it is more than probable, they would rest content, as in other Kingdomes the younger Princes do. And notwithstanding their barbarous policy, in particular, they are not quite free from fear, as knowing the counterfeits have heretofore much disturbed the quiet of their Predecessours: for thus we find Amurash the second to have been vexed by one that took upon him the name of Mustapha elder brother to Mahomet, then late deceased; who was much fur∣thered and aided by the Greek Princes. This hath been one of the vulgar policies of Princes to kindle flames of sedition in their neighbours Countreys. In the infancy of the Roman Empire we find a counter∣feit Agrippa, after that a counterfeit Nero, and before two counterfeit Alexanders in Syria. But never was Realm so often troubled with these Mock-kings, as England; a counterfeit Richard the 2d. being made in the time of Hen. the 4th. a counterfeit Mortimer, in the time of Hen. the 6th. counterfeit Duke of York, a ounterfeit Earl of Warwick, under Henry the 7th. and a counterfeit Edw. the 6th. under Q. Mary. To prevent these walking spirits, Mahomet the third, laid out the dead bodies of his Father and nineteen brethren, as a common spectacle for all that passed by, or would come to behold them. Of late indeed the Grand Signeur Mustapha, miraculously scaped the bow-string twice; 1. when his brother Achmat, and 2ly. when Osmen his young Nephew were made Sultans, and was the first that in this Empire did ever succeed in the collateral line: as Ibrahim the late Sultan was the second, on the death of Morat or Amurath the fourth, his elder brother.

4. The removing of the young Princes is done for three reasons: 1. to wean them from the pleasures of the Court, 2ly. to train them up in arms, and inure them to hardness, 3ly. and principally to avoid the danger of a Competitour, where of old Princes are especially jealous. The common places destinated to this Princely exile, are Amasia in Cappadocia, Magnesia in Lydia, and such like Towns of Natolia. Neither do the old Sultans by such a great distance think themselves secure altogether; but carry a vigilant eye over their sonnes actions, and have intelligence of almost every particular thought, the least suspicion being cause sufficient to destroy them; so we find Mustapha, sonne to Solyman, the hopefullest branch that ever sprang from the Ottomon tree, to have been shamefully strangled by the command of his Father, upon a rumour onely of a mariage which he was said to have negotiated with the Persian Kings Daughter. When these Princes are once setled in their government, it is a crime meriting no less punishment than death, to depart thence and come unto Constantinople, before their Fathers death; or unless they are by their Fathers sent for. Of this we have a Tragical example in Mahomet a Prince of great hope, sonne to Bajazet the second: who desiring to see the fashion of his Fathers Court, left Magnesia to which he was by his Father confined; and attended by two or three Gentlemen, came in the habit of a seafaring man to Constantinople, and having obtained his desire he returned to his charge. This strange action being quickly divulged abroad, and by divers variously entercepted, stirred such jealousies in the suspicious head of his old Father, that he took order not long after to have him secretly poisoned.

5. As for the ordinary revenue, it consisteth either in money received, or in money saved. The mo∣ney saved, is first by the Tartars, of whom he commands continnally 60000 to attend him in his wars without any pay but the spoil of the Enemie. And second by the Timariots, who nourish and bring into the Field more horses than any Prince in Christendome can keep (as we have already said) for 14 millions of Gold. The money received (according to Boterus) is only 15 millions of Sulianies, which is nothing in respect of so great an Empire: the chief reason whereof is the Tyrannicall government of the Turk, which deters men from tillage, merchandize, and other improvements of their estates; as knowing all their get∣tings to lie at the Grand Signieurs mercy. His extraordinary revenue is uncredible; For besides that no Em∣bassadour commeth before him empty handed; no man is master of his own wealth, further than it stands with the Emperours liking: so that his great Bassaes are but as spunges to suck up riches till their cofiers swell; and then to be squeezed into his Treasury. These men, as he advanceth without envy, so can he de∣stroy without danger: no man here hoping for Partakers, if he should resist, as not being ignorant that one mans fortune is built on the desired overthrow of another. Such riches as they gain, if they hap to die naturally, return to the Emperors coffers, who giveth only what he pleaseth to the Children of the deceased. These Bassaes have in their particular Provinces, their Divanoes, or Law-Courts, where justice hath bin administred formerly with great integrity; but now not a little corrupted; yet the comfort is, that such as miscarry in their right, shall without delay know what to trust to; and the Bassaes upon complaint to the Emperor are sure to die for it. Over these Bassaes (the chief of whom is the Uizier Bassa, or Presi∣dent of the Council) preside two Beglerbeggs; one for Greece, the other for Natolia.

6. Concerning the present state of the Empire, many judge it to be rather in the wane, than the increase, which judgement they ground upon good reasons, whereof these are the chief.

1. The body is grown too monstrous for the head: the Sultans since the death of Solyman never accompa∣nying their Armies in person (except Morat, or Amurath the fourth) but rioting and wasting their bodies and treasures at home.

2. The Janizaries, who have been accounted the principall strength of this Empire, are grown more factious in the Court, than valiant in the Camp: corrupted with ease and liberty, drowned in prohibited wines, enscebled with the continual converse of women, and fallen from their former austerity of disci∣pline.

3. They have of late given no increase unto their Dominions: and as in the paths of vertue, non progredi est ••egredi; so in Empires, by violence gotten, when they cease to be augmented, they begin to be dimi∣nished.

4. Rebellions have in these latter times been in this Empire strangely raised, and mightily supported; which commotions the former Sultans were never acquainted with.

5. The greatness of the Empire is such, that it laboureth with nothing more than the weightiness of it self; so that it must in a manner needs decline Pondere pressa suo, overburdened with its own mightiness. For as in a naturall body, a surfeit killeth more than fasting; so in the body Politick also, too much extent doth sooner draw on a ruin, than either too little or a mediocrity.

6. The Sonnes of the Grand Signieur, whose bravery of mind is ever suspected by their Fathers, are nurs∣ed up (contraty sometimes to their natural inclinations) in all effeminacy; which once rooted in them in their youth, doth alwayes after subject them to the softness and baseness of libidinous pleasure.

7. They have lost much of that fear and terror, which formerly their very name did carry with it: inso∣much that not the Venetians onely have by Sea often mated, and once overthrown them; the Hungarians withstood their greatest forces, for the space of 200 years, by land; the Polonians forced them to disho∣nourable retreat and composition: but the poore Prince of Transylvania did divers times discomfit them, with the death of many of their Bassaes; the Florentines with six ships onely, intercepteth their trade; and the poor Emir of Sidon held it out against them many years together.

8. By the avarice and corruption reigning in the Court; all peace and warre, all Counsels and informa∣tions, all injuries and favours, being now made saleable. And

9. It is visible and apparent, that their Empire was long sin ce at the highest: Et naturaliter quod pro∣cedere non potest, recedu, as Velleius hath it: when an Empire can ascend no higher, by the ordinary course of nature it must have a fall. All these are more than probable Prognosticks of a sinking Monarchy; and yet there is a greater than any of these, that is to say, the present State of Affaires. The young Empe∣ror Mahomet the fourth, now reigning, is but a weak staff to support so vast an Empire: consi∣dering not onely the infinite casualties to which children are naturally subject; but the dangers which he may justly fear from a Rebellious Souldiery, and a Factious Court; Who by the murder of one Emperor, and the deposition of two, have made themselves so formidable, but withall so odious in the sight of the Imperiall house, that there is no way left to save them from a merited vengeance, but to translate the Empire tosome other Family; though by the rooting out of this. Which whensoever it shall happen, either by the natu∣rall death, or unnaturall destruction of the present Sultan, it will draw with it an extermination of the Ot∣toman race: which I look on as a matter not to be avoided, except by miracle. Supposing then the line of Ottoman to fail, (as it is most probable that it will) what will become of this vast Empire? Three there will be to offer at it, viz. the Crim-Tartar, the Janizaries, and the Bassas, And first the Crim-Tartar may plead a composition, made by his Ancesters, with the Princes of the Ottoman family; which is, that he supplying them with 60000 men at his own charges, should on the failer of the heirs males suc∣ceed in this Empire. Besides which, he may hope for no small succors, not onely from the rest of the Tartarian Princes, but even from the Great Cham himself, to recover his Estate herein, if with-holden from him: thereby to adde unto the Present greatness and renown of the Tartars, the access of such a foa∣cious

Empire. 2. The Bassaes may conceive no small possibilities of dividing this great Empire among themselves, parely by the Example of Alexanders Captains, who after their masters death (there being yet some of the blood Royall remaining) parted amongst themselves not onely the new-gotten Provinces, which they had conquered from the Persians; but even the Kingdome of Macedon, his old Inheritance: partly by an example in their own Histories, by which it appeareth, that after the death of Aladine the 2d. Ca∣raman, Sarachan, Aedin, Carasus, and the rest of the more powerfull Commanders, divided among them the whole Turkish Kingdome in the Lesser Asia: and partly by the opportunity which they have as Govemours in their severall Provinces, and having so many bands of Souldiers under their command; which may easily invest them as Proprietaries in those Estates, of which they have already such a fair possession. And so we find the Sultans or Provincial Governours of the Caliphs of Babylon, to have done before them. 3. The Janizaries may also build their hopes on as fair foundations, as being the Sword and Buckler of the Ottoman Empire; got, and maintained by their valour chiefly, who to excite them to the Enterprize have the Example of the Pratorian Guards of the Roman Empire (a body farre more Politique and better compacted than this is); who out of their own company created the farre greater part of the Roman Em∣perors, neither the Provinces or Senate daring to oppose them in it. But above all Examples that of the Mamalucks of Egypt doth make fairest for them; who were born of Christian Parents, as these are; ap∣pointed for the Guard of the Sultans, as these are; purposely entertained and inured to the warres, to take from the naturall subjects, the use of Armes, as these are; men of approved valour, and the chief Bulwark of that Kingdome against the Christians, as these are: and then why may they not be like them in this last Attempt, for setting in their Masters Throne, as these Mamalucks did. Adde hereunto, that they are already in (a manner) possessed of Constantinople, the head town and heart of the Empire; and their hopes are not vain. For my part I hold them to be the men most like, unless the Princes of Christendome lay a∣side private malice, joyn all in arms to strip this proud Peacock of his feathers: and (upon so blessed an advantage) to break in peeces with a rod of iron, this insolent and burdensome Monarchy. A thing rather to be desired than expected. But this by way of supposition, and as in a dream, I awake.

The ensign of this Empire (or armes of it) is the Croissant, or half moon; but how blazoned I cannot tell you: not are the learned yet resolved on the beginnings of that bearing. Some derive it to them, from the Eastern Gentiles, who worshiped the Moon under both sexes; as we learn in Spartianus. Some make it common to them, with the other Mahumetans; and they derive it from a pretended miracle of Maho∣met: who to shew his power, is said to have made the Moon fall into his lappe in two peeces; and to have restored her whole again to the heavens. Others are of opinion, that it was taken by the Grand Signeur at the winning of Constantinople; ut signum victae gentis penes quam orientis imperium esset. And of this mind is Justus Lipsius, induced thereto as it seemeth, by the figure of the Croissant born in some old Bi∣zantine coins. A pretty plausible conceit; and therefore till we have a better, may pass as currant as the money.

And thus much I thought convenient to insert in this place, concerning the originall, proceeding, and continuance; the naturall dispositions, policies, and forces of the Turks: this being as the onely Province which retaineth their name; so both the first they were possessed of, and the last which they have fully con∣quered of all their Dominions.