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.

§. II.

Of the Diuan Dayes, Iudges, Session, Iudicature, Dyet, Accounts.

THe Diuan dayes are foure in the Weeke; viz. Saturday, Sunday, Munday, and Tuesday, * 1.1 vpon which dayes, the Chiefe Vizir, with all the rest of the Vizirs; the two Ca∣dileschers of Gracia and Natolia (which are the Chiefe ouer all the Cadies of those two [ 50] Prouinces; which Cadees are men of the Law, who by priuiledge doe gouerne in all places and Cities of the Ottoman Empire, as Iustices of Peace doe with vs, but with a little grea∣ter domination) the three Defterdars (whose charge is to gather in the Kings Reuenues, and like∣wise * 1.2 to pay all the Souldiers, and others which haue any stipend due vnto them:) The Reiskita∣rob (which is the Chancellor.) The Nishawngee, (that is, hee which signeth the Commande∣ments and Letters with the Grand Signiors marke.) The Secretaries of all the B••shawes, and o∣ther * 1.3 great men; a great number of Clerkes or Scriueners, which are alwayes at hand attending at the doore of the Diuan; The Chiaush Bashee, who all that while that he is in the Serraglio, car∣rieth a siluer staffe in his hand; and many Chiaushes also to attend, that at the command of the * 1.4 Vizir they may bee readie to bee dispatched with such order as shall bee giuen them by him, to [ 60] what place, or to whom soeuer; For, they are those which are employed in Ambassies, in ordi∣nary Messages, to summon men to appeare before the Iustice, to keepe close Prisoners, and in fine to performe all businesses of that nature. All which aforesaid Officers, from the highest to the * 1.5 lowest are to be at the Diuan by breake of day.

The Vizirs being come into Diuan, doe sit within at the further end thereof, with their fa∣ces towards the doore, vpon a bench which ioyneth to the wall, euery one in his place as hee is * 1.6 in degree, sitting all at the right hand of the chiefe Vizir (for with them the left is counted the vpper hand) and on his left hand vpon the same bench doe sit the two Cadileschers, first hee of Grecia, as being the more noble and famous Prouince, and then hee of Natolia. And on the right side at the comming in at the doore: doe sit the three Defterdars, who haue behind them (in the aforesayd roome which is deuided with a woodden rayle) all the sayd Clerkes or Scriueners who sit vpon the ground, with Paper and Pennes in their hands, being ready to write whatsoeuer is commanded them. And on the other side (ouer against the Defterdars) doth sit the Nishawngee, * 1.7 with his Pen in his hand: hauing his Officers round about him. And in the middest of the roome [ 10] doe stand all such as require audience of the Bench.

Now being all come together, and euery man set in his owne place, forthwith the Petitioners begin their suites, one by one (who haue no need of Attorneyes, for euery one is to speake for himselfe) referring themselues to the iudgement and sentence of the Chiefe Vizir, who (if hee * 1.8 please) may end all; for the other Bashawes doe not speake, but attend till such time as hee shall referre any thing to their arbitriment, as oftentimes hee doth, for hee hauing once vnderstood the substance onely of the Cause; (to free himselfe from too much trouble) remits the deciding of the greatest part to others; As for example, if it bee appertayning to the Ciuill Law, hee remits * 1.9 it to the Cadeleschers. If it bee of Accounts, to the Defterdars. If of Falshood, (as counterfeiting the Marke or such like) to the Nishawngee. If concerning Merchants, or Merchandizes (where∣in [ 20] there may bee any great difficultie) to some one of the other Bashawes which sit by him; so that after this manner he doth exceedingly ease himselfe of so great a burthen, which otherwise hee alone should bee enforced to vndergoe; reseruing onely to himselfe that which hee thinketh to bee of greatest import and consequence. And on this wise they spend the time vntill it bee Noone: at which houre (one of the Sewers being appointed to bee there present) the Chiefe Vizir commands that the Dinner bee brought in, and immediately all the common people de∣part. So the roome being free, the Tables are made readie after this manner before the Chiefe * 1.10 Vizir, there is set vpon a stoole a thinne round plate of Copper tinned, about the bignesse of the * 1.11 bottome of a Barrell, at which hee with one or two at the most of the other Bashawes, doe eate; the like is prepared for the rest of the Bashawes which doe eate together: And another for the [ 30] Cadileschers; one for the Defterdars; and one likewise for the Nishawngee. And hauing euery one a Napkin spread vpon his knees to keepe his Garments cleane; and a great quantitie of * 1.12 Bread being layd readie round about the sayd Copper plates, immediately the Meate is brought in, and set before them vpon the Plates in great Dishes (which they call Tepsee) and still as they haue eaten of one Dish, the Sewer takes off that and sets on another. Their dyet is ordinarily Mutton, Hennes, Pigeons, Geese, Lambe, Chickens, broath of Rice and Pulse, dressed in diuers * 1.13 manners, and some Tarts or such like at the last; so in very short space they make an end of their Dinner. That which remayneth of the sayd Tables, the Officers of the Diuan doe eate, but they * 1.14 haue more also allowed and brought them from their Kitchin. The Bashawes and other Great * 1.15 men, haue Drinke brought vnto them, which is Sherbet, in great Porcelaine Dishes; but the o∣thers [ 40] doe either not drinke at all, if they doe drinke, it is faire Water brought them from the Fountaines. And the same time, when the Vizirs of the Bench and others of the Diuan are at Dinner, the vnder Officers, Waiters, and Keepers, doe dine also; the which are not lesse ordina∣rily * 1.16 then foure or fiue hundred persons, but their food is nothing but Bread and Pottage, which they call Churua.

Dinner being ended, the chiefe Vizir attendeth onely publique Affaires, and taking Coun∣sell together (if hee pleaseth and thinketh it fit) with the other Bashawes; at last, hee determi∣neth and resolueth of all within himselfe, and prepareth to goe in vnto the King; It being the ordinarie custome so to doe in two of the foure Diuan dayes, that is, vpon Sunday, and vpon * 1.17 Tuesday; to render an account vnto his Maiestie, of all such businesses as hee hath dispatched. [ 50] And to this end the Grand Signior (after hee hath dined also) repayreth vnto his Chamber of Audience, and being set downe vpon a Sofa, sendeth the Capi Agha (which hath in his hand a Siluer staffe) to call first the Cadileschers, who immediately rise vp out of their places, and hauing * 1.18 bowed to the chiefe Vizir, they depart, being accompanied with the sayd Capi Agha, and Chi∣aush Bashee, who goe before them with their Siluer staues in their hands, and so they goe in vnto the King, to giue account and make him acquainted with what hath passed concer∣ning their Charge, and so they being dismissed, (for that day) they goe directly home to their owne Houses.

Next after them are called the Defterdars, who in the same manner are brought vnto the King, * 1.19 and hauing dispatched, they take leaue, and giue place to the Vizirs who are called last of all, and goe together in a ranke one after another, the Chiefe Vizir being formost, ••••hered along [ 60] by the two aforesayd Siluer staues. And being come before the presence of the Grand Signior, * 1.20 they stand with their hands before them, holding downe their heads, in token of Humilitie; and so none but the Chiefe Vizir speaketh, and giues an account of what hee thinketh fit, deli∣uering * 1.21

his Memorials or Arzes one by one, the which the King hauing read, the Vizier taketh them, and hauing put them into a little crimson Sattin bagge, hee most humbly layeth them downe againe before his Maiestie: and so if the Grand Signior demand no further of him (the other Bashawes not hauing spoken one word all this while) they all depart and take horse at the * 1.22 second Gate; and being accompanied by their owne people, and by diuers others (especially the chiefe Uizier) who is brought euen into his owne house by a great companie of Chiaushes and others all for the most part on horse-backe) they goe euery one to his owne Serraglio, and so the Diuan is ended for that day, it being about two houres after noone.

It is to be noted that sometimes also the Agha of the Ianizaries, and the Captaine Bashaw * 1.23 come to the Diuan, when they are at home in Constantinople, and haue businesse to doe there: [ 10] but the Captaine Bashaw onely doth goe in vnto the King (which also may not be but in compa∣nie of the other Bashawes) to acquaint his Highnesse with the state and affaires of the Arsenal and Armado; his place in the Diuan is vpon the same Bench, but yet hee sitteth last of all the Bashawes, vnlesse he bee one of the Uiziers (as it is often seene) and then hee sitteth second, or third, as he is in degree by election: but the Agha of the Ianizaries doth not sit in Diuan, but * 1.24 sitteth vnder the open Gallerie on the right hand, within the second Gate; and if so bee it so fall out, vpon some extraordinarie businesse, that hee be to goe in vnto the King, then he goeth first of all others; and being come out againe from him, he sitteth downe againe in his place, vn∣till the Diuan be ended; and he is the last that departeth of all the great men.

The Grand Signiors Predecessors were alwaies wont, and this man sometimes commeth pri∣uately [ 20] * 1.25 by an vpper way to a certaine little window which looketh into the Diuan, right ouer the head of the chiefe Uizier, and there sitteth with a Lattice before him, that he may not be seene, to heare and see what is done in the Diuan; and especially at such times when he is to giue audience to any Ambassadour from a great Prince, to see him eate, and heare him reason with the Bashawes: and by this his comming to that window, the chiefe Uizier (who alwaies stan∣deth in ieopardy of losing his head, vpon any displeasure of the Grand Signior) is enforced to carrie himselfe very vprightly, and circumspectly in the managing of his affaires.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Diuan dayes & Officers. Vizirs. Cadees and C••∣dilesc••ers.
• * 1.2

  Defterdars and Reiskitar••b.
• * 1.3

  Secretaries & Clerke.
• * 1.4

  Chiaushes.
• * 1.5

  Manner of Session o•• Court.
• * 1.6

  Manner of Session or Court. Left the vpper hand.
• * 1.7

  Nishawngee.
• * 1.8

  No Attorneys. Chiefe Uizirs power.
• * 1.9

  Manner of de∣ciding.
• * 1.10

  Dinner rites.
• * 1.11

  Copper plate.
• * 1.12

  Napkin.
• * 1.13

  Dyet.
• * 1.14

  Officers.
• * 1.15

  Drinke.
• * 1.16

  Vnder-officers vnder-dyet.
• * 1.17

  Giuing ac∣count to the King.
• * 1.18

  By the Cadiles∣chers.
• * 1.19

  By the Defter∣dars.
• * 1.20

  By the Vizirs.
• * 1.21

  Reuerence.
• * 1.22

  Departure.
• * 1.23

  Captaine Bashaw.
• * 1.24

  Agha of the Ianizaries.
• * 1.25

  Kings priuate awfull win∣dow.