Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. X.

Apparell, Bedding, Sicknesse, Hospitals. Inheritance; Kings expences, Recreations, receiuing Petitions, Stables; Ramazan Solemnities.

THe Grand Signiors Apparell, is nothing different in fashion from other mens, sauing in [ 40] * 1.1 the length of his Vests, and the richnesse thereof; nor are his shooes shod with Iron at the heeles, as other Turkes weare them, but are rased and painted like childrens shooes, with knots and flowers.

And as for his Lodging; he sleepes vpon Matteresses of Veluet and Cloth of gold: In the Summer in Sheets of Shash embroydered with Silke sowen to the quilts: and in the Winter * 1.2 betwixt Couerlets of Lucernes or of Sables, wearing all night a little Telbent on his head; And when he lies alone in his owne Lodgings, he is alwaies watched by his Pages of his Cham∣ber, * 1.3 by two and two at a time, changing euery three houres; one of them standing at the Chamber doore, and the other by the Bed side to couer him, in case the clothes should slide off, [ 50] and to be neere hand, if his Maiestie should want any thing: And in the same Chamber where he lies, there are alwaies two women that attend with burning Torches in their hands; nor * 1.4 may they put them out till such time as the King is risen out of his Bed.

The habite of the women is much like to that of the men, for they weare Chacksirs, and Bus∣kins, and haue their Shooes shod with Iron at the heeles. They sleepe as the men doe, in linnen * 1.5 Breeches, and in quilted Wast-coats; hauing thinne and light ones for the Summer, and more thicke and warme ones for the Winter.

The Turkes neuer haue any Close-stooles, or such like inplements in their Chambers; but ha∣uing a will to that businesse, they rise and goe to their Priuies, made in places apart, where there * 1.6 doe alwaies stand Water-pots ready, that they may wash when they haue done; nor may they vse Paper in that seruice, as we doe. [ 60]

The seuerall stipends which the Grand Signior alloweth to those of the Serraglio, (of what * 1.7 degree or condition soeuer they be) are payd out of the outmost Hazineh; and the chiefe Defter∣dar (who hath a Booke as well of the names of the Stipendaries, as of their stipends) is bound to

send once euery three moneths, to all the Odahs in seuerall bagges, so much money as their pay imports, and there they share it amongst them: The like hee doth also by the women, and the Agiamoglans, paying them in good money. And against the Biram, which is their Carneual, hee sends them their Vests, their Linnen, and such like necessaries, of which he neuer fayles them; for, they wanting them, if he should disappoint them, they would so complaine against the said Defterdar, that it would bee his vtter ouerthrow; for hee should bee sure (at the least) to lose his place.

When any one dieth in the Serraglio, his Chamber-fellowes are made his Heires, and that * 1.8 which he left is diuided amongst them. And if any great Eunuch die, all comes to the King; for they are alwaies very rich, by reason of the manifold gifts which come to their hands: But if any Eunuch of the Serraglios abroad, or in places of other gouernment should die, then two [ 10] thirds of his estate falls to the King by Canon, the other third part being to bee disposed of ac∣cording to the Testators will; and that is onely when the King giues way vnto it, and will not * 1.9 out of his supreme authoritie take all to himselfe, as he vseth to doe by all great rich ones, the Kings person being held the principall and most lawfull Heire of all; they being accounted as slaues which haue receiued their liuelihood, goods, estates, and all that they haue enioyed, meer∣ly from his greatnesse, and bountie. And to this end there is an Officer, called the Beytilmawlgee, * 1.10 who so soone as any one dies, makes inquisition for their estates, and so certifies the Defterdar thereof, leauing the execution to him, if it be in matters of import. But the Beytilmalgee for his owne priuate gayne, doth oftentimes conceale a great part of the estate of the deceased, parting the same betwixt the kindred and himselfe. [ 20]

When any ordinary person falls sicke in the Serraglio, he is carried from his chamber in a Cart which is couered and drawne with hands; and is put into the aforesaid Hospitall or Lazaretta, * 1.11 where he is lookt vnto after the Turkish fashion; and kept so closely, that none may come to the speech of him but with great difficultie; and growing well againe, he is carried backe in the same manner to his owne chamber where he was at the first.

The expences of the Serraglio are very great, as any one may gather by what hath beene al∣ready * 1.12 said; besides, there are other charges of great consideration which the King is at, by rea∣son of the Queene, the chiefe Uizirs, the Generals of his seuerall forces, and the great Defter∣dars: All whom he doth present according as he seeth fit vpon diuers occasions; as at the times of their going forth, or at their returnes from their employments abroad; The which Pre∣sents [ 30] are of Vests, some vnlined, and some lined with very costly Furs; Swords, Bowes, Plumes and Brooches, Girdles all set with rich Stones, and in fine many other things of great value; and some but of lowe price, according to the qualitie and desert of the partie to whom hee is pleased to shew his liberalitie. Nay, the Hazinehdar Bashee without (who hath the keeping of the Cloth of gold and siluer of Bursia) doth affirme, that in that one commoditie, to make Vests of, there is spent yeerely two hundred thousand Sultanines; besides what he disburseth for the * 1.13 buying of Venetian Silkes and Wollen clothes, of which the Serraglio consumes a great quanti∣tie, they not wearing (for the most part) any other.

Neither would this alone serue the turne, for besides all this, the Gr. Signior giues away all that which is giuen him by strangers, and a great part of that which comes to him of the spoyle of the [ 40] dead, of which he is Master, as hath bene shewed before. And surely, should he want these helps, the King could not continue in that humour of giuing Presents, long, as he doth, to his wenches, to his Bashawes, and to all such as are at any time to kisse his hand. Neuerthelesse, true it is that the greatest part of things of great value, in time, come againe to his hands; for, his Sultanaes, Ba∣shawes, or other rich men dying, hee becomes Master of all, or (at least) of the greatest part of their estate. And so much of such things, there is a continuall ebbing and flowing in the Serraglio. * 1.14

The Queene also giues much away; for, as shee is presented by many, so is it fit, that shee should in part make some compensation: and to that end, shee hath an allowance of Vests, and other things in abundance; besides, shee hath libertie to dispose of many of those which haue beene worne by the King. [ 50]

The chiefe Uizir is likewise a giuer, as well whilest hee is in Constantinople, as when he is vp∣on departure as Generall of the Armie: and to that end, before he departeth, hee hath allowed him from the Hazinehdar Bashee, a great number of Vests and other things, that he may be pro∣uided when he is in the field with Presents; according to the Turkish custome, which (in all bu∣sinesses, and vpon euery occasion) is, to giue and take.

The King (if he please) may at any time goe abroad either by water or by land: when hee goes by water, he hath his Kaik of sixteene or eighteene bankes; with a very sumptuous Poope, * 1.15 couered ouer with rich embroydered crimson Veluet, vnder which he himselfe sits, and none but he, on cushions of Veluet and Cloth of gold; his Aghaes standing all on their feete, and onely the Bustangee Bashee, who steeres the Kaik, may now and then sit downe, that he may handle [ 60] the Helme the better. Now the Bustangee Bashee, by reason the King talkes much with him in the Barge, (at which time least any one should heare what they say, the Mutes fall a howling * 1.16 like little Dogs) may benefit or preiudice whom he pleaseth; the King being ignorant of diuers

passages, and apt to beleeue any information, either with or against any Subiect whatsoeuer. His Kaik is rowed by Agiamoglans, which are brought vp to that exercise, and indeed they manage the businesse with a great deale of dexteritie.

When he goeth forth by land, hee alwaies rides on horse-backe, and goes out (for the most part) at the greatest Gate, especially, at such times as he goes to the Moschea which is vpon the * 1.17 Friday (it being their Sabboth) and is accompanied into the Citie by the Bashawes, and other great men of the Port, besides many of his owne seruants which goe by his stirrop, and diuers Solacks with their Bowes and Arrowes, for his Guard. And as he rides along the streets, he sa∣lutes the people with nodding his head, who againe salute him with loude shouts and prayers of * 1.18 prosperitie and happinesse; and for recompence, hee oftentimes puts his hand into his Pocket, [ 10] and throwes whole handfuls of money amongst them.

Now, they of the Serraglio, which goe by his stirrop, haue charge to receiue such Petitions * 1.19 as are preferred to his Maiestie, as he rides along: and many poore folkes, who dare not to ap∣proach nigh him, stand a farre off with fire vpon their heads, holding vp their Petitions in their hands; the which the King seeing, sends immediatly to take the said Petitions, and being re∣turned home into his Serraglio, reades them all, and then giues order for redresse as he thinks fit. By reason of which complaints, the King oftentimes takes occasion to execute Iustice, euen a∣gainst the most eminent in place, before they are aware, without taking any course in Law a∣gainst them; but causing a sudden execution of what punishment he pleaseth vpon them. Which makes the Bashawes that they care not how seldome the Grand Signior stirres abroad in publike, [ 20] for feare least in that manner their vniust proceedings and bad lustice should come to his eare. And indeed, they alwaies liue in great feare, through the multiplicitie of businesse that passeth through their hands, and in danger of losing their liues at a short warning; which makes them, vse the Prouerbe; that, He that is greatest in Office, is but a statue of Glasse.

The Grand Signior, for the vse of his houshold, hath in Constantinople neere vnto the Serra∣glio; * 1.20 an exceeding large Stable of a thousand Horses and vpward: And the Imrohor Bashee, which is Master of the Horse, hath the charge of them, together with an Vnder-Imrohor for his assistant; besides many ordinary Groomes, which are to looke to them and see that they be kept in good case. Now, the said Imrohor Bashee and his Deputie, are to see the Kings seruants prouided of Horses, at such times as they accompanie his Maiestie abroad, either a hunting, or [ 30] for other sports.

Besides this Stable, hee hath diuers others in other places, for his owne seruice, and for the * 1.21 vse of his Gentlemen, at such times as he or they shall come thither; namely, at his Gardens, and Houses of pleasure abroad in the Countrey, to which his Maiestie vseth to goe very often: but these Stables haue not aboue eight or ten Horses a piece in them, for to those houses hee car∣rieth but few followers with him.

Hee hath also Stables for his Stallions for race, in Bursia, Adrianopoli, and in diuers other pla∣ces; from which are brought very stately Horses; besides such as are continually sent him for Presents, from Cairo, Bagdat, Arabia, and from other places from the Bashawes, and also such as fall to his share by the death of great persons; all which are Horses of great price, and kept for [ 40] his owne vse. And because there must bee a great number of Horses for ordinary seruices for the baser sort of his seruants; he is therefore furnished with lowe priced Nags out of Valachia.

Besides these Stables of Horses, the Grand Signior is prouided of fiue thousand Mules which * 1.22 serue to carrie Pauilions, Chists, Water, and all other necessaries for trauell: but because the Uizir (going out Generall) makes vse of a great part of them, there is seldome that number complete at home. And should the King himselfe goe out to the Warres, his very houshold would vse a thousand of them, besides their riding Horses; for, the Emperours of Turkie are alwaies almost as well accommodated in their Voyages abroad, as they are at home in the Citie: and indeed, the generalitie of the Turkes are very well fitted against such times as they are to goe forth, especially for long iourneyes. [ 50]

The Grand Signior is bound by Canon of the Empire, that vpon the first day of the Byram, * 1.23 which is their Carneuall, the Ramazan being ended, which is their Lent, hee shew himselfe publikely, and let all the great men, and the better sort of his owne seruants, kisse his Vest: wherefore vpon that day, early in the morning, being richly clad and set forth with his best Iewels, he comes out at his Serraglio Gate, that is, out of the Eunuches Gate, in the third Court; and sets him downe vpon a Persian Carpet of silke and gold, in a certaine place (close by the a∣foresaid Gate) which is onely for that seruice, and doth not stirre thence vntill all haue kissed his Vest in token of their reuerence and dutie; The chiefe Uizir standing close by him, and telling him the names of such as hee thinkes fit, to the end the Grand Signior may take notice of them: Now, to some of the Doctors of the Law which are of high degree, the King raiseth himselfe [ 60] * 1.24 vp a little, to honour and receiue them; and to some he shewes more grace and affection, then to other some, and indeed more then ordinary.

Now, this Ceremonie being ended he goeth to the Moschea of Santa Sophia, accompanied by * 1.25 them all; and at his returne taking his leaue, hee retires him selfe to his owne Lodgings, where

he dines alone, as he doth vpon other dayes; notwithstanding vpon that day he maketh a very solemne Banquet in the Diuan for the Bashawes and other Great ones; and a very great Dinner in the Court yard, for all such as did accompanie him, and are there present. Then his Majestie * 1.26 obseruing the ordinarie Custome, sends to present the Chiefe Vizir with a very rich Vest, lined with a very costly Furre, and doing the like by the other great ones of the Port, (though with Vests of farre lower price) hee also extends his bountie to all his Aghas, giuing them Swords and such like things; and to the Sultanaes costly Iewels, and other Gifts to many others of the Ser∣raglio, giuing (as wee say) New-yeeres Gifts, to all.

Euery night during the three dayes of the Byram (for it is but for three dayes and so it ends) * 1.27 hee causeth Shewes to bee made of Fire-workes, and such like, which continue vntill Morning, [ 10] and that the Sultanaes may see them, the King comes of purpose into their companie to be mer∣rie with them, and is more free and familiar then at other times; and hee giues free libertie for mirth and sports Day and Night throughout the Citie, during those three dayes.

To these Festiuals, all the Sultanaes which liue out of the Serraglio, are also inuited, who both giue Presents to the King, and take Presents from him. Likewise in these three dayes the King is * 1.28 presented by the Bashawes and Great men, and indeed with Gifts of great value, for euery one striues to exceed another, thinking thereby to winne fauour. The Sultanaes also are not behinde hand, for they present him, with Shirts, Handkirchiefes, Linnen breeches, and such like things of good consideration, the which the Grand Signior afterwards makes vse of for his owne wearing. [ 20]

The same Byram of three dayes is kept in all his Dominions, and throughout the Citie of Con∣stantinople, euen in euery Turkes house; the Streets being at almost euery corner set out with De∣uises, and Swings of diuers sorts very artificially made; where old and young are solaced, and gi∣uing two or three Aspers to them which owe the Swings, they may haue sport sufficient. But during this Feast, it is somewhat dangerous for the poore Christians and Iewes to walke the * 1.29 streets; for, the Turkes being then somewhat insolent and full of Wine, doe put them in great feare of doing them some mischiefe, if they deny them money when they demand it of them; And so they doe likewise in another Byram, which is called the little Byram, and comes three * 1.30 Moneths after the other.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fashion of Kings apparell.
• * 1.2

  His bedding.
• * 1.3

  Pages watch.
• * 1.4

  Two Torch∣women.
• * 1.5

  Womens habit.
• * 1.6

  No Close-stooles.
• * 1.7

  No Paper, &c. Stipends.
• * 1.8

  Serraglio-Heires.
• * 1.9

  Testaments.
• * 1.10

  Beytilmawlgee.
• * 1.11

  Hospitall.
• * 1.12

  Kings expen∣ces.
• * 1.13

  200000. Sulta∣nines spent in Vests of Cloth of gold and sil∣uer.
• * 1.14

  Ebbing and flowing from and to this Ocean. Queenes ex∣pences. Vizirs Vests.
• * 1.15

  Kings Kalk.
• * 1.16

  Mutes how∣ling.
• * 1.17

  Mis going out by land.
• * 1.18

  Gratulations and gratifica∣tions.
• * 1.19

  Petitions.
• * 1.20

  His great Stable.
• * 1.21

  Other Stables.
• * 1.22

  Mule••.
• * 1.23

  Publike ap∣pearing at Ra∣mazan.
• * 1.24

  His honour to some.
• * 1.25

  Going to Santa Sophia.
• * 1.26

  Gifts to the Grandes.
• * 1.27

  Three dayes Solemnitie. Fire workes and Shewes.
• * 1.28

  Presents to him.
• * 1.29

  Christians awed
• * 1.30

  Little Byram.