The History of the Turks describing the rise and ruin of their first empire in Persia, the original of their second : containing the lives and reigns of their several kings and emperors from Ottoman its first founder to this present year, 1683, being a succinct series of history, of all their wars (forreign and domestick) policies, customs, religion and manners, with what else is worthy of note in that great empire.

CHAP. XXV. A Description of the Power, Policy, Forces, Revenues, Religion, and Greatness of the Ottoman Empire; and by what Means it subsists and maintains its Grandeur, &c.

HAving in the succinct Series of this History related the Original of the Ottoman Empire, and its Growth from time to time, till it arrived to the vast Extent it at this Day is found; I shall now proceed to give the Reader a View of the Grandeur of it, and by what means it is supported, in the Description of the Grand Seignior's Port or Palace, Government, Officers, Riches, Forces, Religion, and the like.

The Turks originally a People of Scythia, supposed to have sprung from the Ten Tribes carried into Cap∣tivity, as is in the former Part of this History related, began their Second Empire in Asia under Othoman, a∣bout 1300; and spreading wide, entred Europe, seizing at length upon the pleasant City of Constantinople, ex∣pelling the Greek Emperour, and making it the Imperial Seat of the Othoman Sultans, now dignified by the Title of Grand Seigniors: A Description of which City, and of the Seraglio, or Imperial Port or Palace, take as fol∣loweth.

Constantinople, built by Constantine the Great, is accor∣ding to the Opinion of many, sixteeen Miles in circuit, called by the Turks, Stambul or Stombolda; the Sea bea∣ring upon it on the North and South sides, and on the

East it is divided from Asia by a large Channel, which runneth from the one Sea to the other, being seven Miles in length, called the Straights of Bosphorus. The City is built upon the declining of a Hill; for Buildings comparable to any in the World: But above all, beau∣tified with seven Mosques standing upon seven little Hills, founded by seven of the Ottoman Emperors; of which, that of Sultan Solyman is most famous: And the Sera∣glio, now made the Grand Seignior's Palace, which is three Miles in circuit, standeth on the North side, ha∣ving on the one side of it the Sea, and on the other the Haven; the other two Parts being encompassed with the Building of the City. This Palace, Port, or Sera∣glio, which you please, (for all these Names it bears) has within it many Gardens, Orchards, Meadows, Woods, pleasant Groves, Fountains, and all things else that can render it delightful. The Entrance is through a Gate of Iron into a large Court, where on the left hand stands a Building like a Turkish Mosque, which is used as a Store-house for Arms and Provision; on the Right, are several fair Gardens palazadoed in, from which they pass to another Court, with a Gate like unto the for∣mer; upon which hang many Targets, Scymitars, and other Weapons of War, many Porters attending; through which they pass into another large Court, plan∣ted with Cyprus-Trees; where many Deer are kept: which Court is surrounded with a Cloyster, which is in length 680 Foot, and in breadth 500; paved with Marble, leaded over, and supported by 140 Pillars of White and Gray Marble curiously wrought, standing upon Basis of Copper, with Capitals of the like Met∣tal. On the North side stands the Divano, or Council-House, where the Grand Vizier, and such others as are by the Grand Seignior appointed his Councellors, four times a Week, or oftner of Occasion require it, sit to consult the Important Affairs of the Empire; to hear

and determine all Matters of Controversie, and give Au∣dience to Ambassadors, and other Forreign Ministers.

In this Seraglio the Grand Seignior has many Cham∣bers hung with Cloth of Gold, gilded Skins, and Ta∣pestries made of Silk and Gold; wherein are lively represented the Wars of the Ottoman Emperours. His Lodging-Chamber is garnished with divers Precious Stones of great value; and constantly attending him six young Men, who do Service in his Chamber, and watch his Person all Night, two and two by turns, with lighted Torches; the one sitting at the Head, and the other at the Feet of his Bed: And when he attires him∣self, they put into his Pockets a thousand Aspars, and twenty Ducats of Gold; the which, if he does not di∣stribute that Day, at Night is their Fee; for he sel∣dom or never puts on one Suit of Apparel twice; and whensoever he goes to Hunting, or any the like Ex∣ercise, (besides the Money in his Pockets) his Casnadar Bassa, or Chief Treasurer, follows him with great store of Money to give away: Of these six Young Men, who are changed at Pleasure, their Offices are distinct; for the first carries his Shoes, the second his Bow and Ar∣rows, the Third his Vest, the fourth a Vessel with Wa∣ter, the fifth his Seat, and the sixth, called Oda Bassa, is Head of the Chamber.

He hath daily a great number of Persons resident in his Palace, imployed in their several Charges; the chief of which are these:

• First, The Capi Aga, by whom the Grand Seignior speaks to such as have any Important Business; for no Ambassador can be admitted to his Presence, but at his first Arrival, when he delivers his Letters of Credit and Presents: But if afterward any matter arises, he must address himself to the Capi Aga, that is the Grand Vizi∣er, or his Substitute.

• Secondly, The Casnadar Bassa, or Chief Treasurer of the Houshold.
• Thirdly, The Chilergi Bassa, or Chief Cup-Bearer.
• Fourthly, The Seragli Agasi, Steward or Master of the Houshold.
• Fifthly, The Chiller Agasi, or Seraider Bassa, Over∣seer of the Seraglio of Concubines; who is always an Eunuch.
• Sixthly and lastly, The Bostangi Bassa, or Chief Gar∣diner; who is Captain of the Jamoglans, and steers the Grand Seignior's Barge. When ever he goes by Water, he hath a Protogero or Lieutenant, and many Gardiners, to attend him, which are called Bostangi; who are fre∣quently listed in the number of Janizaries, when fitted thereto by hard Labour, &c.

These Six Officers have no Authority out of the Se∣raglio; yet the greatest Bassa's fear them, for that they being always near the Emperour, frequently incense him against them to their Destruction.

Near unto the Grand Seignior's Person, are common∣ly six Mutes, Men born both Deaf and Dumb, with whom he makes himself Pastime. There are found likewise about thirty four more of the same Tribe, which he keeps as Executioners of his Wrath; for upon the least Command, they will strangle the greatest Bassa of the Court, or otherwise make him away, it being their frequent Practice.

Within the Seraglio are kept to the number of five hundred, such Youths as are taken up for Tribute-Chil∣dren in Graecia, and other Parts of the Empire; all Sons of Christians, who taken young from their Parents, are instructed and brought up in divers Arts; and taught more especially to manage all sorts of Weapons, and to be perfect in the Mahometan Superstition; few of them being above eight Years of Age at their first En∣trance. Of these, some they make Janizaries; others

are preferred to Offices of Trust, and come to great Preferment: But none of them may, on Pain of Death, stir out of the Seraglio, till the Sultan thinks them of a fit Age, and sufficiently qualified for his Service. He has in like manner eighty Mutaferache, or Launce Bea∣rers, who carry his Launce; and are subject to the Com∣mand of none but himself.

He hath in continual pay a thousand Eunuches, whom the Turks call Hundurni; many of which are imployed to attend his Virgins and Concubines in the Seraglio. They are not only deprived of their Genitors, but in their Youth they have their whole Privities smoothed off by their Bellies: And in their Turbants they bear a Silver Quill or Crue, through which they evacuate their Urine. This Inhuman Barbarity was first commanded by Solyman the Magnificent, who grew jealous of them upon his observing a Gelding back a Mare; gathering from thence, that his Eunuches though they had lost their Genitor, might yet dalliance with his Females.

The Seraglio of Women is within the Palace, in which are constantly five hundred Virgins, the choicest Beauties that can be procured, being all Daughters to Christians, taken from their Parents when they are a∣bout eight Years of Age or under; none above are ad∣mitted, lest they should be debauched e're they enter. These are brought up to curious Works: And when at any time the Grand Seignior is desirous to have any of them brought to his Bed, he the Day before gives notice to the Captain of the Eunuches; who commands those under him to put them in order, and array them in their best Attire. Which done the Grand Seignior, attended by the said Captain, walking between them as they stand demurely in rowes on either Hand; and where he likes, drops his Handkerchief, of which he has many hanging at his Girdle; which the Eunuches that follow, observing, put her (or as many as his Plea∣sure

is to signifie by such Tokens) into a Coach, and carry them to his Lodgings; where they are gorgeous∣ly attired, and used as he has occasion for them: Af∣ter which they return, not to the Seraglio of the Virgins, but have other Lodgings appointed them. And when by reason of the Failure of Tribute-Virgins, the Sera∣glio grows empty, they purchase the Fairest they can find in the Market of Constantinople, whither they are brought to be sold as Slaves.

Another Seraglio there is, in which the Grand Seigni∣or keeps his Sultana's or Sultanesses, and their Children; as likewise, such other Concubines, of whom for his de∣light he hath chosen from amongst the Virgins. He never marries; but when any one is brought to his Bed side, he gives her a Golden Head-tire, and ten thousand As∣pers; causing her to live apart, daily increasing her Main∣tenance. The first that bears him a Child, is called the Sultana or Sultaness, and is accounted Mistress of the rest of his Women; and by him, for the most part, best beloved. The rest that hath been brought to his Bed, and with whom he hath dallianced, are returned back to their several Apartments, there to expect the Issue; and if they prove not with Child, then are they given in Marriage to his Slaves; whom for their sakes he advances to great Dignity, for the most part.

He hath three hundred Sollacchi, who march conti∣nually about his Person, and make (as it were) his Guard, being under the Command of the Aga of the Janizaries; all of them attired in Linnen-Garments hanging down beneath their Knees; and over them quilted Wast-Coats, with half Sleeves of Taffety, Da∣mask, or Sattin; and on their Heads Caps and Feathers, carrying Bows and Arrows. There are another sort of Foot-men, called Pei••••i, wonderful swift of Foot; whom he imploys in the nature of ••••••q••ies, or Foot-Posts; being attired in Cloth of Cold, with 〈…〉〈…〉

of the same tyed fast about them; upon their Heads wearing Caps like Butter-pots; with a Silver Pike stan∣ding out before, in the nature of a Horn.

The Porters of the Court, that give Attendance there, are four thousand; and are attired like the Janizaries, having over them three Capigi Bassa's.

The Grand Seignior's Power is so absolute, and his Government so tyrannical, that his Subjects term them∣selves his Slaves; none of them being sure of his Life or Goods beyond his Pleasure; for without any Try∣al or Process, he puts to Death whom it pleaseth him, unless restrained by the Souldiers, who often rescue their Minions out of his Hands, and oblige him to par∣don them.

Their Sutes are few, and those very short, they rare∣ly being permitted the Favour of Advocates to procra∣stinate Matters from coming to a speedy Result; tho' commonly he who can bribe most, fares the best: For the Turks are of all Nations the most Avaricious, doing no Man a Kindness unless they are fee'd; though they have the least Certainty of any People, to keep what they have gotten, all (as is aforesaid) being at the Dis∣posal of the Prince. They punish Crimes with great Severity, and so speedily, that it is observed that sel∣dom any Theft or Murther is committed by any pri∣vate Turk; but what Outrages do happen in the City, or elsewhere, are committed commonly by the Greci∣ans, and those that are not of the Progeny of the Turks.

The Grand Seignior's Chief Councellor is the Great Vizier; who wears his Signet, and is stiled his Lieu∣tenant; every Divano-day giving him an exact Account what is said and done: Nor dare he dissemble in ought; for that the Grand Seignior has a Window, from whence he can see and hear, and yet not be seen himself; which Window looks into the Divano. When this Vizier is

abroad, which never happens unless to be General of an Army, or upon some such like important Occa∣sion; at what time he appoints his Lieutenant to offici∣ate in his Absence, who is called the Chimacham.

Next unto the Bassa's, (of which there are ma∣ny dispersed throughout the Empire, to manage the Af∣fairs thereof) are the Beglerbegs, or Lords of Lords: They are Men of great Authority, and have the Com∣mand of great Kingdoms and Armies; under whose O∣bedience are divers Sanzacks, which are sent as Gover∣nors into Provinces, during the Princes Pleasure; being Men of great Experience; for the most part, comman∣ding over the Spahi and Timariots, the Turks chief Hors∣men, whom they continually exercise to render them the more expert. The Chief of these Beglerbegs, is the Beglerbeg of Romania or Grecia, under whose Com∣mand are twenty one Sanzacks; next to him is the Beg∣lerbeg of Buda, who hath under his Command thirteen Sanzacks: The Beglerbeg of Temeswar has under his Command eight Sanzacks: The Beglerbeg of Bosna hath under his Command nine Sanzacks: The Beglerbegship of Coffe or Capha, who resideth in Taurica Chersonesus, and commandeth over the Sanzacks near unto the great River Tanais, and the Fenns of Maeotis, which was at first but a Sanzackship, and depended upon the Begler∣begship of Grecia; and is indeed rather a Beglerbegship in Name, than in Power. These Beglerbegs, or Lords of Lords, great Governours of the Turkish Empire in Europe, besides the Sanzacks, have under their Com∣mand 257000 Timariots or Horse-men, who are bound for certain Lands alotted them by the Grand Seignior, out of his Conquests, to serve in the Wars upon all Oc∣casions.

The Beglerbegs, or Great Commanders of the Turk's Empire in Asia, are thirty in number; under whom are a proportionable number of Sanzacks, and not less than

400000 Timariots. The Beglerbegs commanding the Turk's Empire in Africa, are four; and have under them fourteen Sanzacks, and sixty two thousand Tima∣riots. Besides these Timariot-Horsemen, there are the Spahi, who are for the most part Europeans, being such as were brought up in their Infancy, or taken Captive: As likewise, Spa••hoglanians, Silictarians, and Olofagians; who have likewise Lands, or Annual Pensions assigned them; for which they are bound to serve in the Wars: for no Man in the Ottoman Empire can have any Lands, or Yearly Revenues that way, but must be ready, or send others in his stead; it being held, that the whole Empire in Fee simple, is the Grand Seigniors: No Man being permitted to buy or injoy any Lands longer, than it pleases his Prince: Nor can any one claim a Pro∣priety to a Foot, unless by the Donation of the Grand Seignior, or his Assignment; and that last, at longest, but during the Natural Life of him, to whom it is so given or assigned. These Horsemen march under a white Banner, being armed with strong Coats, Bows, and Arrows, Culeverings, Scymitars, and Battle Ax∣es.

Another sort of Horsemen there are, called Caripices, not exceeding eight hundred; who still ride near the Grand Seignior, as his Life-guard, in the middle of the Battalion of the Janizaries; and are the best Horse∣men accounted of all others, being (for the most part) Sons of the Great Commanders.

As for his Foot Forces, the chief Strength consists of Janizaries, who are Children taken from their Chri∣stian Parents, and inured in their Youth to all manner of Hardship, taught all the Use of Arms, and trained up in all Warlike Discipline, till they are adjudged fit to be inrolled for the War. These are taken up in Europe, no Children born either in Asia or Africa being admitted into their Seminary. These Men al∣ways

inclose the Person of the Grand Seignior at what time he marches with his Army; and are the last that fight, unless urgent Necessity require it. They wear white Caps, carry Harquibusses, and sharp Scymitars; who since their first Institution have been the chief Sup∣porters of the Turkish Empire; but of late they are much degenerated from their former Discipline, giving themselves up wholly to Ease and Pleasure; yet keep themselves in good order, for the most part. There remains twenty four thousand of them in Constantinople, and a far greater number in divers Places of the Empire. They are commanded by their Aga, or Captain, to whom nothing is so fatal as their Love for him; for then the Grand Seignior has him in mistrust, and well is it if he be not made away. They sleep together in great Halls, their Beds being placed on either side; and all those of a Squadron feed at one Table; the Younger ever serve the Elder: And if any one of them be absent from his Lodging in the Night, unless upon publick occasion, then is he the next day severely c••d∣gelled, and nevertheless obliged to kiss the Hand that beat him. Their Imploys are different in time of Peace; for some wait upon Ambassadors, others upon Mer∣chants and Consuls, others again upon such as travel through the Turkish Empire. They likewise arrest Ma∣lefactors, and see good Order kept, being feared of all Men; insomuch that if they buy any thing, they will have it at their own Price, the Vender not daring to re∣fuse it. They have great Power in their Princes Ele∣ction; no Emperour thinking himself safe in his Throne, till they approve of him: So that to gain their good Opinion, every new Emperour at his entring upon the Government, distributes large Sums of Money amongst them, and increases their Stipends.

Though the chief Strength of the Turkish Foot For∣ces rests in the Janizaries; yet are there another sort

of Foot-Men, called Acouices; which is a Forlorn Hope. These receive no Pay, but have free liberty to plun∣der; so that they deliver the fifth Part to the Grand Seigniour. Another kind there are, called Asapi; who are but of small Account, and rather used as Pioneers, than to encounter the Enemy; yet are they often thrust into the Front of the Battle, with their Bodies to blunt the Enemies Swords, or to scale the Walls of Towns; that by being slaughter'd, their Dead Bodies may fill up the Ditches, and so give the Janizaries opportuni∣ty on their Dead Carkasses to mount the Bullwarks.

The Grand Seignior keeps in continual Pay six thou∣sand Gunners, whom the Turks call Topegi; and for the Guard of the Powder and Shot, upon the March of the Army, twelve thousand Men are kept in pay, cal∣led Jebegi.

The Grand Seignior hath likewise certain Officers at∣tending on him, to the number of three thousand, whom they call Chiaus; which act in the Nature of Serjeants at Arms. These Men are well esteemed, and are often employed in Embassies to Forreign Princes: They al∣so carry Letters or Commendations from the Grand Seignior, or his Chief Vizier; and are impower'd to apprehend Malefactors: But never go to the Wars, un∣less the Grand Seignior be there in Person. They are commanded by a Chiaus Bassa; who is of such Credit with all Men, that when he is sent by the Grand Seignior to any Bassa, Sanzack, or Caddi, to have any Man's Head cut off, though he have no Warrant in writing, yet his Authority is not disputed.

Thus have I set down the Land Forces of the Turkish Empire; in number so great, that in shew they should breed Confusion, and ruin themselves; yet such is the Order and Discipline, that in that point they give place to none. They live (for the most part) on a little Bread

baked in the Ashes, with Rice and Powder of Flesh dried in the Sun. Wine is forbidden them by their Law, though 'tis often drunk by them in private, e∣specially the Great Commanders. No Women are seen in their Armies. In their March they observe a wonderful Silence; and all the Soldiers are governed by the Beck of the Hand, or Shew of the Countenance. Quarrels and Thefts are severely punished. When they March they dare not enter any Corn-field or Vineyard. The Valiant are assured of Preferment, and the Cow∣ard of Punishment.

As for the Grand Seignior's Naval Forces, they are great; he having of late, for Gain-sake, allured many Christian Carpenters and Shipwrights to his Arsenal, and hath a great number of Men trained up in Marine Affairs, by being continually imployed aboard his Gal∣lies at Rhodes, Cyprus, and Mitylene and Alexandria. He has also at his Beck the Pirates of Tunis, Tripoley, Sally, Argire, and other Places; from amongst whom he chooses his prime Commanders in Marine Af∣fairs.

To maintain these great Forces, it is requisite a won∣derful Mass of Money should be imployed, which is the Sinews of War, and without which so great an Empire could not be kept in frame, though many are of opini∣on, that the Grand Seignior's Annual Revenues exceed not eight Millions; meaning thereby, that which is collected of his Subjects, and upon the account of Cu∣stoms: For which they give these Reasons: First, That the Turks have no care but of Arms; the which do ra∣ther ruin, than enrich a Country. Secondly, They con∣sume so many Men in their Enterprizes, that they scarce leave a sufficient number to manure the Land; insomuch that the Subjects despairing to injoy their Wealth, and necessary Commodities, which they might get by their Labour and Industry, employ not themselves to work

nor traffick, more than by necessity they are constrain∣ed: For they argue, 'tis to no purpose to labour for another, their Lives and Estates being daily exposed to the Mercy of their Prince: And for this Reason, many spacious Countries in the Turkish Empire lie waste; which neglect frequently causes a Dearth. A Third Reason that is given, why the Grand Seignior's Reve∣nues are no greater, is, for that when he Conquers a∣ny Country, he assigns the Lands therein to his Tima∣riots, who serve in the Wars, and are no otherwise li∣able to accommodate their Prince.

But although his ordinary Revenues amount to no great Sum, in consideration of the large Circuit of his Empire; yet his extraordinary Profits accruing by Confiscations, Presents, (for no Stranger may approach his Presence empty handed) and Mony raised upon Places and Offices of Trust, amount to a far greater Sum than what has been mentioned. Nor are the Sums small, which he draws from the Princes their Tributaries, that are not absolutely under his Jurisdiction; as Mol∣davia, Vallachia, and Transylvania, with many more. So that in all, moderate Writers affirm, That his Cof∣fers are yearly supplied with twenty Millions: The Management of which is left to the Defterdari, or chief Treasurer, who has many Sub-officers under him.

Thus much having been spoken of the Forces, Re∣venues, and great Officers; I shall now proceed to give the Reader a View of their Religion, if it may without offence be so termed; which they call the Law of their great Prophet.

As for their Religion, it began in the time of Hera∣clius the Emperor; at what time the Heresie of Arius and Nestorius spread it self: to whose Infamous Pro∣selytes Mahomet the Impostor, born in Arabia, joyn∣ed himself; impiously denying the Divinity of Christ, and proclaiming himself a Prophet sent from God, draw∣ing

a Multitude after him: Insomuch that such as would not receive his impious Tenents by fair means, he compelled by force: And the better to ingratiate him∣self with the lewd and licentious sort of People, he to∣lerated all manner of Lust, and Worldly Delights. By the Law this Impostor left, and that now has overspread two Parts of the World, a Distinction is made between clean and unclean Meats, to content the Jews, who are the greatest Merchants in the Ottoman Empire. They also maintain Circumcision, but not at the Expiration of Eight Days, according to the Jewish Custom; but at the End of Eight Years, when the Infant is able to make a Confession of his Belief; and lifting up his Fin∣ger to speak these words in the Arabick Tongue, viz. There is but One God, and Mahomet is his Prophet; one God, and equal Prophets. The Circumcision ended, they feast three Days. As for the Female Children, they at eight Years old speak the same words; but are not capable of Circumcision. If any Christian turn A∣postate, and deny his Redeemer, which (to the loss of their Souls) too many do, only to avoid Taxations and Tribute, they are led through the Town or City, where they dwell in great Triumph, many People pre∣senting them with Gifts, as they pass, to encourage them to persevere in what they have undertaken. And for the Men, at what Age soever they are, they must be Circumcised.

The Law of Mahomet is contained in his Alchoran; wherein he confesseth One God, and honoureth Jesus Christ as a great Prophet: But impiously denies him to be the Son of God.

The Turks by their Law are forbid to worship Ima∣ges, or to have any placed in their Mosques: The whole Series of the Alcoran being full of Fables and Fictions, much like to those the Poets feigned of the Elizium-Shades; indulging Men in all Sensuality during this

Life, and promising them a Paradise, where they shall enjoy the like more perfectly after Death.

Their Sabbath is kept on our Fryday. They keep Lent thirty Days; during which space they eat nothing in the day-time, but take their Repast after Sun-set, abstaining from Wine and Women. This Lent is called by them Ramaden.

They likewise observe an Easter, called Bayran; which continues for the space of the three Days, though not always prefixed by reason they begin it in the New of the Moon.

They have no Bells in their Mosques; neither do they suffer the Christians to have any that live amongst them. When they enter the said Mosques, they leave their Shooes at the Door, and take them again when they return. Where soever they sit or stand in their Religious Houses, they have Tapestry or Mats under them, as not thinking their Feet holy enough to stand in that Place, during the Reading their Law; and if they look back, or scratch their Head till the Orizon is ended, they think they have lost the Benefit they were at that time to receive by their coming thither. They are not much addicted to Learning; yet of late they have brought up their Children to use the Arabick Tongue, in which their Law is written.

By this Law they have leave to marry as many Wives as they can maintain; and when once any of them proves with Child, her Husband may not carnally know her till she is delivered. They have certain Mar∣riages contracted during Pleasure, which they call Kebin, mostly practised by Strangers; who may, for a certain Sum of Money, have the Use of a Woman during his Pleasure: Yet when he turns her off, if she have any Children, he is bound to keep them. A Turk having had to do with a Christian Woman, both of them upon Conviction are to suffer Death, un∣less

she add sin to sin, by renouncing her Faith. The like is to be observed between a Christian, and a Tur∣kish VVoman; though either Offence, by bribing the Caddi's or Judges, may be omitted.

They allow of Divorce in case of Barrenness or In∣continency.

The chief Interpreter of these Laws, is the Muphti, or Arch-Priest, who is chosen by the Grand Seignior; and is greatly reverenced amongst the Turks, being Head of their Church, and Decider of all Controversies arising in matter of their Superstitious Religion. His Eminency is such, that all the Bassa's are subject to his Direction. He abaseth himself not so much as to sit in the Divano; only passing through it, when he is sent for by the Grand Seignior; who at his approach riseth from his Seat, (an Honour not allowed to any other) and then they sit together, and familiarly discourse of their Affairs.

The next to him are the Cadilesquires, or Talismen: Two Doctors of the Law, whose place it is to Examine the Caddi's or Judges, who are dispersed throughout the Provinces of the Empire, and are always attendant upon the Grand Seignior: The one of them having Jurisdiction over all the European Caddi's, and the other on those residing in Asia; there being few Cities, or great Towns, in which one of the Caddi's have not their Residence there, to hear and determine Matters of Controversie arising between Man and Man. The Cadilesquires are likewise Soveraign Judges within their own Jurisdiction, in all Causes belonging to their Reli∣gion, as it were Patriarks. They are of great Au∣thority, and have places in the Divano, and in Coun∣cil with the Bassa's, consult the weighty Affairs of the Empire.

There is a third Degree of Church-Men, not belong∣ing to their Law, called Mulli; which they account

their Bishops, and are directed in their Affairs by the Muphti. Their Office is to place and displace Church-Men as they see it convenient.

Another sort there are, called the Nuderisi, who act in the nature of Suffragans, and have under them several young Doctors of the Law, who are their Disci∣ples, called Naipi; who are, in the Absence of the Cad∣di's, constituted to hear and redress Grievances.

After these are the Hagi, who are employed to write their Books, they in no wise allowing them to be Prin∣ted; and inferior unto these are the Cassi, who read un∣to them what they write, &c.

These are their several Degrees of Lawyers, and Church-Men; for the Turks are governed by a kind of Ecclesiastical Law, according to their Alchoran. Many Colledges they have, which they call Medres∣sae's, situate not only in Constantinople, but in divers o∣ther Cities.

And thus, Reader, have I related the Suceinct Series of This History, as near as can be gathered from Au∣thors of undoubted Credit, and my own Knowledge: And now nothing more remains, but to make known the Vastness of the Ottoman Empire; which is, for the most part, the Subject of This History.

Know then, that since the Reign of Ottoman, first Founder of the Turkish Empire, it has proudly built it self upon the Four Monarchies of the VVorld, viz. the Assyrian, Grecian, Persian, and Roman Empires; for they enjoy Babylon, and all Chaldea, with the King∣dom of Media, a great part of Persia, all Greece, with the Kingdom of Egypt, and the greatest Part of Ara∣bia; the Islands of Cyprus, Rhodes, Mitylene, Negro∣pont, Ch••o or Scio, Candia, and many others: The

Empire of Trepezond, the Kingdoms of Colchis, now called Mingrelia, Tunis, and Argeirs, Dalmatia, Illyria, and Triballenia; the Countries of Transylvania, Wal∣lachia, Moldavia, and Bulgaria: A great part of Hungary, and many other Countries, which hold of the Empire, and pay Tribute to the Grand Seignior; who in Europe hath all the Sea-Coast from the Confines of Epidaurus, the utmost Boundard of his Empire in Europe, Westward, unto the Mouth of the River Ta∣nais, now called Don; with all that lieth between the City of Buda, and Constantinople: and Southward, all the Sea-Coast from Velex or Belis, the Boundard of the Kingdom of Fez, unto the Arabian Gulph, or Red-Sea; and so proportionably every way: The Greatness of which may be better conjectured by the Greatness of some part thereof; for the Meere of Maetis, which is all at the Grand Seignior's Com∣mand, is in Compass one thousand Miles; and the Euxine, or Black Sea, in Circuit two thousand seven hundred Miles: The Mediterranean-Coast, which is subject unto him, is in Compass upward of eight thou∣sand Miles. But to speak of his whole Territory to∣gether, he passeth in his own Dominion from Tau∣ris to Buda three thousand two hundred Miles; and the like Distance from Derbent to Adena: From Balsera, upon the Persian-Gulph, to Tremisena in Barbary, is accounted little less than about four thou∣sand.

Yet that this great Empire will not long consist, but like those that have preceded it, be again brought to nothing, the Turks themselves have divers Prophe∣sies: Nor is Sacred Writ silent in this Matter; ma∣ny of the Prophets plainly foretelling its Rise and Fall; which will undoubtedly be manifested, when God (in whose deep Counsels the Gr••at Revolutions

of Empires and Kingdoms are from Eternity shut up) shall in his Infinite Wisdom see fit time, to the un∣speakable Comfort of the poor afflicted Christians, that groan under the Oppression and Tyranny of those proud Infidels, Enemies to the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God blessed for ever-more, Amen.

FINIS.