1588. Europe, Asia and Africa, save their yeerely annuitie of lands. The Lord Chancellor is called Nissangi Bassa, who sealeth with a certaine proper character such licences, safe conducts, passeports, especiall graunts, &c. as proceed from the Grand Signior: notwithstanding all letters to forreine princes so firmed be after inclosed in a bagge, and sealed by the Grand Signior, with a signet which he ordinarily weareth about his necke, credited of them to have bene of ancient appertayning to king Salomon the wise. The Admirall giveth his voyce in the election of all Begs, Captaines of Islandes, to whom hee giveth their charge, as also appointeth the Subbassas, Bayliffes or Constables over Cities and Townes upon the Sea coastes about Constantinople, and in the Archipelago, whereof hee reapeth great profit. The Subbassi of Pera payeth him yeerely fifteene thousande ducats, and so likewise either of the others according as they are placed. The Ressistop serveth in office to the Viceroy and Chancellor, as Secretary, and so likewise doeth the Cogie Master of the Rolls, before which two, passe all writings presented to, or granted by the said Viceroy and Chancellor, offices of especiall credite and like profite, moreover rewarded with annuities of lands. There are also two chiefe Judges named Cadi Lesker, the one over Europe, and the other over Asia and Africa, which in Court doe sit on the Bench at the left hand of the Bassas. These sell all offices to the under Judges of the land called Cadies, whereof is one in every Citie [II. i. 293.] or towne, before whom all matters in controversie are by judgement decided, as also penalties and corrections for crimes ordained to be executed upon the offenders by the Subbassi. The number of Souldiers continually attending upon the Beglerbegs the governours of Provinces and Sanjacks, and their petie Captaines mainteined of these Provinces. G The Beglerbegs of Ræcia, fourtie thousand Buda, fifteene thousand Sclavonia, fifteene thousand persons. 1588. Chirusta, fifteene thousand Caraemiti, thirtie thousand Giersul, two and thirtie thousand The Beglerbegs of BAgdat, five and twentie thousand Balsara, two and twenty thousand Alepo, five and twentie thousand Cayro, twelve thousand Abes, twelve thousand Mecca, eight thousand Cyprus, eighteene thousand Tunis in Barbary, eight thousand persons. Whose Sangjacks and petie Captaines be three hundred sixtie eight, every of which retaining continually in pay from five hundreth to two hundreth Souldiers, may be one with another at the least, three hundreth thousand persons. [Chiefe officers 1588. [II. i. 294.] Chiefe officers in his Seraglio about his person. Apiaga, High porter. Alnader Bassi, Treasurer. Oda Bassi, Chamberlaine. Be these Sarajaga, Comptroller. Peskerolen, Groome of the chamber. Sehetaraga, Armour bearer. Choataraga, he that carieth his riding cloake. There be many other maner Officers, which I esteeme superfluous to write. He The Turkes yeerely revenue. The Grand Signiors annual revenue is said to be four teene Millions and an halfe of golden ducats, which is sterling five millions, eight score thousand pounds. The tribute payd by the Christians his Subjects is one gold ducat yeerely for the redemption of every head, which may amount unto not so litle as one Million of golden ducats, which is sterling three hundred threescore thousand pounds. Moreover, in time of warre he exacteth manifolde summes for maintenance of his Armie and Navie of the said Christians. The Emperour payeth him yeerely tribute for Hungary, threescore thousand dollers, which is sterling thirteene thousand pound, besides presents to the Viceroy and Bassas, which are said to surmount to twentie thousand dollers. TH Ambassadors Allowances. He Ambassadour of the Emperor is allowed one thousand Aspers the day. The Ambassadour of the French king heretofore enjoyed the like: but of late yeeres by meanes of displeasure conceived by Mahumet then Viceroy, it was reduced to sixe crownes the day, beside the provision of his Esquier of his stable. The Ambassadours of Poland, and for the state of Venice are not Ligiers as these two abovesaid. The said Polack is allowed 12. French crownes the day during his abode, which may be for a moneth. Very seldome do the state of Venice send any Ambassador otherwise, then enforced of urgent necessity: but in stead thereof keepe their Agent, president over other Marchants, of them termed a bailife, who hath none allowance of the Grand Signior, although his port & state is in maner as magnifical as the other aforesaid ambassadors. The Spanish Ambassador was equall with others in Janizaries : but for so much as he would not according to custome folow the list of other ambassadors in making presents to ye Grand Signior, he had none alowance. His abode there was 3. yeres, at the end wherof, having concluded a truce for 6. yeres, taking place from his first comming in November last past 1580. he was not admitted to the presence of the Grand Signior. The letters of Sinan Bassa chiefe counsellour to Loriosissima & splendore fulgidissima fœminarum, selectíssima Princeps magnanimorum JESUM sectantium, regni inclyti Angliæ Regina Serenissima Elizabetha, moderatrix rerum & negotiorum omnium plebis & familiæ Nazarenorum sapientissima; Origo splendoris & gloriæ dulcissima; nubes pluviarum gratissima, heres & domina beatitudinis & gloriæ regni inclyti Angliæ; ad quam 1590. I590. omnes supplices confugiunt, incrementum omnium rerum & actionum Serenitatis vestræ beatissimum, exitusque fœlicissimos à Creatore omnipotente optantes, mutuáque & perpetua familiaritate nostra digna vota & laudes sempiternas offerentes: Significamus Ser. vestræ amicissimè; Quia sunt anni aliquot, à quibus annis potentissima Cæsarea celsitudo bella ineffabilia cum Casul-bas, Principe nempe Persarum gessit; ratione quorum bellorum in partes alias bellum movere noluit, ob eamque causam in partibus Poloniæ latrones quidam Cosaci nuncupati, & alii facinorosi in partibus illis existentes, subditos Cæsaris potentissimi turbare & infestare non desierunt. Nunc autem partibus Persicis compositis & absolutis, in partibus Poloniæ & aliis partibus exurgentes facinorosos punire constituens, Beglerbego Græciæ exercitu aliquo adjuncto, & Principi Tartarorum mandato Cæsaris misso, anno proximè præterito pars aliqua Regni Poloniæ infestata, turbata & devastata fuit, & Cosaci aliique facinorosi juxta merita sua puniti fuerunt. Quo rex Poloniæ viso duos legatos ad Cæsaream celsitudinem mittens, quòd facinorosos exquirere, & pœna perfecta punire, & ab annis multis ad portam Cæsareæ celsitudinis missum munus augere vellet, significavit. Cæsarea autem celsitudo (cui Creator omnipotens tantam suppeditavit potentiam, & quæ omnes supplices exaudire dignata est) supplicatione Regis Poloniæ non accepta, iterùm in regem Poloniæ exercitum suum mittere, & Creatoris omnipotentis auxilio regnum ejus subvertere constituerat. Verum Legato Serenitatis vestræ in porta beata & fulgida Cæsareæ celsitudinis residente sese interponente, Et quòd Serenitati vestræ ex partibus Poloniæ, fruges, pulvis, arbores navium, tormenta, & alia necessaria suppeditarentur significante, & pacem pro regno & rege Poloniæ petente, nevè regnum Poloniæ ex parte Cæsareæ celsitudinis turbaretur vel infestaretur intercedente, Serenitatisque vestræ hanc singularem esse voluntatem exponente, Legati serenitatis vestræ significatio & intercessio cùm Cæsareæ celsitudini significata fuisset, In favorem sereni |