The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, - Richard Hakluyt
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The monson from China for Goa.
The ships depart to be the 10 of May in Goa, and being not then arriued,
they turne backe to Cochin, and if they cannot fetch Cochin, they returne
to Malacca.
The monson from Goa to the Moluccaes.
The ships depart about 10 or 15 of May, which time being past, the shippes
can not passe ouer the barre of Goa for the cause abouesaid.
The monson of the ships of the Moluccaes arriuall in Goa.
The ships which come from the Moluccaes arriue vpon the bar of Goa about
the 15. of April.
The monsons of the Portingall ships for the Indies.
[Sidenote: Note.] The ships which come from Portugall depart thence
ordinarily betwixt the tenth and fifteenth of March, comming the straight
way during the moneth of Iuly to the coast of Melinde, and Mosambique, and
from thence goe straight for Goa, and if in the moneth Iuly they should not
be at the coast of Melinde, they can in no wise that yeere fetch Melinde,
but returne to the Isle of Saint Helena, and so are not able, that time
being past, to fetch the coast of India, and to come straight for Goa.
Therefore (as is abouesaid) they returne to the Island of Saint Helena, and
if they cannot make the said Island, then they runne as lost vpon the Coast
of Guinea: but if the said ships be arriued in time vpon the coast of
Melinde, they set forwardes for Goa, and if by the fifteenth of September
they cannot fetch Goa, they then goe for Cochin, but if they see they
cannot fetch Cochin, they returne to Mosambique to winter there vpon the
sayd coast. [Sidenote: Note.] Albeit in the yeere of our Lord 1580 there
arriued the ship called San Lorenzo, being wonderfull sore sea-beaten, the
eight of October, which was accounted as a myracle for that the like had
not beene seene before.
The monson from India for Portugall.
The shippes depart from Cochin betweene the fifteenth and last of Ianuary,
going on till they haue sight of Capo de buona speranza, and the Isle of
Saint Helena, which Islande is about the midway, being in sixteene degrees
to the South. And it is a litle Island being fruitfull of all things which
a man can imagine, with great store of fruit: and this Island is a great
succour to the shipping which returne for Portugall. And not long since the
said Island was found by the Portugales, and was discouered by a shippe
that came from the Indies in a great storme, in which they found such
abundance of wilde beastes, and boares, and all sort of fruite, that by
meanes thereof that poore ship which had been foure moneths at sea,
refreshed themselues both with water and meate very well, and this Island
they called S. Helena, because it was discouered vpon S. Helens day. And
vndoubtedly this Island is a great succour, and so great an ayde to the
ships of Portugall, that many would surely perish if that helpe wanted. And
therefore the king of Portugall caused a Church to be made there for
deuotion of S. Helena: where there are onely resident Eremits, and all
other are forbidden to inhabite there by the kings commaundement, to the
ende that the ships may be the more sufficiently furnished with victuals,
because the ships which come from India come but slenderly victualled,
[Sidenote: Note.] because there groweth no corne there, neither make they
any wine: but the ships which come from Portugall to the Indies touch not
in the sayd Island, because they set out being sufficiently furnished with
bread and water from Portugall for eight moneths voyage. Any other people
then the two Eremites abouesaid, cannot inhabite this Island, except some
sicke man that may be set there a shore to remaine in the Eremites
companie, for his helpe and recouery.
The monson from Goa to Mosambique.
The ships depart betwixt the 10 and 15 of Ianuarie.
The monson from Mosambique to Goa.
The ships depart betweene the 8 and last of August, and arriue in Chaul or
Goa in the moneth of October, till the 15 of Nouember.
The monson from Ormus to Bengala.
The ships depart betwixt the 15 and 20 of Iune, and goe to winter at Teue
and depart thence about the 15 of August for Bengala.
* * * * *
A briefe extract specifying the certaine dayly paiments, answered quarterly
in time of peace, by the Grand Signior, out of his Treasurie, to the
Officers of his Seraglio or Court, successiuely in degrees: collected in
a yeerely totall summe, as followeth.
For his owne diet euery day, one thousand and one aspers, according to a
former custome receiued from his auncestors: notwithstanding that otherwise
his diurnall expence is very much, and not certainly knowen, which summe
maketh sterling mony by the yere, two thousand, one hundred, 92. pounds,
three shillings, eightpence.
The fiue and fourtie thousand Ianizaries dispersed in sundry places of his
dominions, at sixe aspers the day, amounteth by the yeere to fiue hundreth,
fourescore and eleuen thousand, and three hundreth pounds.
The Azamoglans, tribute children, farre surmount that number, for that they
are collected from among the Christians, from whom betweene the yeeres of
sixe and twelue, they are pulled away yeerely perforce: whereof I suppose
those in seruice may be equall in number with the Ianizaries abouesayd, at
three aspers a day, one with another, which is two hundred fourescore and
fifteene thousand, sixe hundred and fiftie pounds.
The fiue Bassas, whereof the Viceroy is supreme, at one thousand aspers the
day, besides their yerely reuenues, amounteth sterling by the yeere to ten
thousand, nine hundred and fiftie pounds.
The fiue Beglerbegs, chiefe presidents of Greece, Hungary, and Sclauonia,
being in Europe, in Natolia, and Caramania of Asia, at one thousande aspers
the day: as also to eighteene other gouernours of Prouinces, at fiue
hundred aspers the day, amounteth by the yeere, to thirtie thousand sixe
hundred, and threescore pounds.
The Bassa, Admirall of the Sea, one thousand aspers the day, two thousand,
one hundred foure score and ten pounds.
The Aga of the Ianizaries, generall of the footemen, fiue hundred aspers
the day, and maketh by the yeere in sterling money, one thousand, foure
score and fifteene pounds.
The Imbrahur Bassa, Master of his horse, one hundred and fiftie aspers the
day, is sterling money, three hundred and eight and twenty pounds.
The chiefe Esquire vnder him, one hundred and fiftie aspers, is three
hundred and eight and twenty pounds.
The Agas of the Spahi, Captaines of the horsemen, sixe, at one hundred and
fiftie aspers to either of them, maketh sterling, one thousand, nine
hundred, three score and eleuen pounds.
The Capagi Bassas head porters foure, one hundred and fiftie aspers to ech,
and maketh out in sterling money by the yeere, one thousand, three hundred,
and fourteene pounds.
The Sisinghir Bassa, Controller of the housholde, one hundred and twentie
aspers the day, and maketh out in sterling money by the yeere, two hundred,
threescore and two pounds, sixteene shillings.
The Chaus Bassa, Captaine of the Pensioners, one hundred and twentie aspers
the day, and amounteth to by the yeere in sterling money, two hundred,
threescore and two pounds, sixteene shillings.
The Capigilar Caiasi Captaine of his Barge, one hundreth and twentie aspers
the day, and maketh out by the yeere in sterling money, two hundred,
threescore and two poundes, sixteene shillings.
The Solach Bassi, Captaine of his guard, one hundred and twentie aspers,
two hundred, three score and two pounds, sixteene shillings.
The Giebrigi Bassi, master of the armoury, one hundred and twentie aspers,
two hundred, three score and two pounds, sixteene shillings.
The Topagi Bassi, Master of the artillerie, one hundred and twentie aspers,
two hundred, three score and two pounds, sixteene shillings.
The Echim Bassi, Phisition to his person, one hundred and twentie aspers,
two hundred, three score and two pounds, sixteene shillings.
To fourtie Phisitions vnder him, to ech fourtie aspers, is three thousand,
eight hundred, three score and sixe pounds, sixteene shillings.
The Mustafaracas spearemen, attending on his person, in number fiue
hundred, to either three score aspers, and maketh sterling, threescore and
fiue thousand, and seuen hundred pounds.
The Cisingeri gentlemen, attending vpon his diet, fourtie, at fourtie
aspers ech of them, and amounteth to sterling by the yeere, three thousand,
fiue hundred and foure pounds.
The Chausi Pensioners, foure hundred and fourtie, at thirtie aspers, twenty
eight thousand, nine hundred and eight pounds.
The Capagi porters of the Court and City, foure hundred, at eight aspers,
and maketh sterling money by the yeere, seuen thousand, and eight pounds.
The Solachi, archers of his guard, three hundred and twenty, at nine
aspers, and commeth vnto in English money, the summe of sixe thousand,
three hundred and sixe pounds.
The Spahi, men of Armes of the Court and the City, ten thousand, at twenty
fiue asters, and maketh of English money, fiue hundred, forty and seuen
thousand, and fiue hundred pounds.
The Ianizaires sixteene thousand, at six aspers, is two hundred and ten
thousand, and two hundred and forty pounds.
The Giebegi furbushers of armor, one thousand, fiue hundred, at sixe
aspers, and amounteth to sterling money, nineteene thousand, seuen hundred,
and fourescore pounds.
The Seiesir, seruitors in his Equier or stable, fiue hundred, at two
aspers, and maketh sterling money, two thousand, one hundred, fourescore
and ten pounds.
The Saesi, Sadlers and bit makers, five hundred, at seuen aspers, seuen
thousand, six hundred, threescore and fiue pounds.
The Catergi, Carriers vpon Mules, two hundred, at fiue aspers, two
thousand, one hundred, fourescore and ten pounds.
The Cinegi, Carriers vpon Camels, one thousand, fiue hundred, at eight
aspers, and amounteth in sterling money, to twenty sixe thousand, two
hundred, and fourescore pounds.
The Reiz, or Captaines of the Gallies, three hundred, at ten aspers, and
amounteth in English money by the yeere, the summe of sixe thousand, fiue
hundred, threescore and ten pounds.
The Alechingi, Masters of the said Gallies, three hundred, at seven aspers,
foure thousand, fiue hundred, fourescore and nineteene pounds.
The Getti, Boateswaines thereof, three hundred, at sixe aspers, is three
thousande, nine hundred, fourty and two pounds.
The Oda Bassi, Pursers, three hundred, at fiue aspers, maketh three
thousand two hundred, and fourescore pounds.
The Azappi souldiers two thousand sixe hundred at foure Aspers, whereof the
six hundred do continually keepe the gallies, two and twentie thousand,
seuen hundred fourscore and six pounds.
The Mariers Bassi masters over the shipwrights and kalkers of the navie,
nine, at 20. Aspers the piece, amounteth to three thousand fourescore and
foure pound, foure shillings.
The Master Dassi shipwrights and kalkers, one thousand at fourteene aspers,
which amounteth by the yeere, to thirtie thousand, sixe hundred threescore
pound.
Summa totalis of dayly paiments amounteth by the yeere sterling, one
million, nine hundred threescore eight thousand, seuen hundred thirty
fiue pounds, nineteene shillings eight pence, answered quarterly without
default, with the summe of foure hundred fourescore twelue thousand, one
hundred fourescore and foure pounds foure shillings eleven pence, and is
for every day fiue thousand three hundred, fourescore and thirteene
pounds, fifteene shillings ten pence.
Annuities of lands neuer improued, fiue times more in value then their
summes mentioned, giuen by the saide Grand Signior, as followeth.
To the Viceroy for his Timar or annuitie 60. thousand golde ducats.
To the second Bassa for his annuitie 50. thousand ducats.
To the third Bassa for his annuitie 40. thousand ducats.
To the fourth Bassa for his annuitie 30. thousand ducats.
To the fifth Bassa for his annuitie 20. thousand ducats.
To the Captaine of the Ianizaries 20. thousand ducats.
To the Ieu Merhorbassi master of his horse 15. thousand ducats.
To the Captaine of the pensioners 10. thousand ducats.
To the Captaine of his guard 5. thousand ducats.
Summa totalls 90. thousand li. sterling.
Beside these aboue specified, be sundry other annuities giuen to diuers
others of his aforesaid officers, as also to certaine called Sahims,
diminishing from three thousand to two hundred ducats, esteemed treble to
surmount the annuitie abouesaid.
The Turkes chiefe officers.
The Viceroy is high Treasurer, notwithstanding that vnder him be three
subtreasurers called Teftadars, which bee accomptable to him of the
receipts out of Europe, Asia and Africa, saue 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 haue bene of ancient appertayning to king
Salomon the wise.
The Admirall giueth his voyce in the election of all Begs, Captaines of the
Islandes, to whom hee giueth their charge, as also appointeth the
Subbasses, Bayliffes or Constables ouer Cities and Townes vpon 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 serueth 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 profile, moreouer
rewarded with annuities of lands.
There are also two chiefe Iudges named Cadi Lesker, the one ouer Europe,
and the other ouer Asia and Africa, which in Court doe sit on the Bench at
the left hand of the Bassas. These sell all offices to the vnder Iudges of
the land called Cadies, whereof is one in euery Citie or towne, before whom
all matters in controuersie are by iudgement decided, as also penalties and
corrections for crimes ordained to be executed vpon the offenders by the
Subbassi.
The number of Souldiers continually attending vpon the Beglerbegs the
gouernours of Prouinces and Saniacks, and their petie Captaines
mainteined of these Prouinces.
The Beglerbegs of
Graecia, fourtie thousand persons.
Buda, fifteene thousand persons.
Sclauonia, fifteene thousand persons.
Natolia, fifteene thousand persons.
Caramania, fifteene thousand persons.
Armenia, eighteene thousand persons.
Persia, twentie thousand persons.
Vsdrum, fifteene thousand persons.
Chirusta, fifteene thousand persons.
Caraemiti, thirtie thousand persons.
Gierusal, two and thirtie thousand persons.
The Beglerbegs of
Bagdat, fiue and twentie thousand persons.
Balsara, two and twenty thousand persons.
Lassaija, seuenteene thousand persons.
Alepo, fiue and twentie thousand persons.
Damasco, seuenteene thousand persons.
Cayro, twelue thousand persons.
Abes, twelue thousand persons.
Mecca, eight thousand persons.
Cyprus, eighteene thousand persons.
Tunis in Barbary, eight thousand persons.
Tripolis in Syria, eight thousand persons.
Alger, fourtie thousand persons.
Whose Sangiacks and petie Captaines be three hundred sixtie eight, euery of
which retaining continually in pay from fiue hundreth to two hundreth
Souldiers, may be one with another at the least, three hundreth thousand
persons.
Chiefe officers in his Seraglio about his person. Be these--
Capiaga, High Porter.
Alnader Bassi, Treasurer.
Oda Bassi, Chamberlaine.
Killergi Bassi, Steward.
Saraiaga, Comptroller.
Peskerolen, Groome of the chamber.
Edostoglan, Gentleman of the Ewer.
Sehetaraga, Armour bearer.
Choataraga, he that carieth his riding cloake.
Ebietaraga, Groome of the stoole.
There be many other maner Officers, which I esteeme superfluous to write.
The Turkes yeerely reuenue.
The Grand Signiors annual reuenue is said to be fourteene Millions and an
halfe of golden ducats, which is sterling fiue millions, eight score
thousand pounds.
The tribute payd by the Christians his Subiects is one gold ducat yeerely
for the redemption of euery head, which may amount vnto not so litle as one
Million of golden ducats, which is sterling three hundred threescore
thousand pounds.
Moreouer, in time of warre, he exacteth manifolde summes for maintenance of
his Armie and Nauie 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 amount to twentie thousand
dollers.
Ambassadors Allowances.
The Ambassadour of the Emperour is allowed one thousand Aspers the day.
The Ambassadour of the French king heretofore enioyed the like: but of late
yeeres by meanes of displeasure conceiued by Mahumet then Viceroy, it was
reduced to sixe crownes the day, beside the prouision of his Esquire of his
stable.
The Ambassadours of Poland, and for the state of Venice are not Ligiers as
these two abouesaid. The said Polack is allowed 12. Frenche 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 vrgent necessity:
but in stead thereof keepe their Agent, president ouer other Marchants of
them termed a bailife, who hath none allowance of the Grand Signior,
although his port and state is in maner as magnifical as the other
aforesaid Ambassadors. The Spanish Ambassador was equall with other in
Ianizaries: but for so much as he would not according to custome folow the
list of other Ambassadors in making presents to the Grand Signior, he had
none alowance. His abode there was 3. yeres, at the end whereof, hauing
concluded a truce for six yeres, taking place from his first comming in
Nouember last past 1580. he was not admitted to the presence of the Grand
Signior.
* * * * *
To the Worshipfull and his very loving Vncle M. Rowland Hewish, Esquier, at
Sand in Devonshire.
Sir, considering the goodnesse of your Nature which is woont kindely to
accept from a friend, euen of meane things being giuen with a good heart, I
haue presumed to trouble you with the reading of this rude discourse of my
trauels into Turkie, and of the deliuerie of the present with such other
occurrents as there happened woorthie the obseruation: of all which
proceedings I was an eie-witnesse, it pleasing the Ambassadour to take mee
in with him to the Grand Signior. If for lacke of time to put it in order I
haue not performed it so well as it ought, I craue pardon, assuring you
that to my knowledge I haue not missed in the trueth of any thing. If you
aske me what in my trauels I haue learned, I answere as a noble man of
France did to the like demaund, Hoc vnum didici, mundi contemptum: and so
concluding with the wise man in the booke of the Preacher, that all is
vanitie, and one thing onely is necessarie, I take my leaue and commit you
to the Almightie. From London the 16. March 1597.
Your louing Nephew
Richard Wrag.
A description of a Voiage to Constantinople and Syria, begun the 21. of
March 1593. and ended the 9. of August, 1595. wherein is shewed the order
of deliuering the second Present by Master Edward Barton her maiesties
Ambassador, which was sent from her Maiestie to Sultan Murad Can,
Emperour of Turkie.
We set saile in the Ascension of London, a new shippe very well appointed,
of two hundred and three score tunnes (whereof was master one William
Broadbanke, a prouident and skilfull man in his facultie) from Grauesend
the one and twentie of March 1593. And vpon the eight of Aprill folowing
wee passed the streights of Gibraltar, and with a small Westerne gale, the
24. of the same, we arriued at Zante an Iland vnder the Venetians. The
fourth of May wee departed, and the one and twentie wee arriued at
Alexandretta in Cilicia in the very bottome of the Mediterrane sea, a roade
some 25. miles distance from Antioch, where our marchants land their goods
to bee sent for Aleppo. From thence wee set saile the fift of Iune, and by
contrary windes were driuen vpon the coast of Caramania into a road neere a
litle Iland where a castle standeth, called Castle Rosso, some thirtie
leagues to the Eastwards of the Rhodes, where after long search for fresh
water, we could finde none, vntil certaine poore Greekes of the Iland
brought vs to a well where we had 5 or 6 tuns. That part of the country
next the sea is very barren and full of mountains, yet found we there an
olde tombe of marble, with an epitaph of an ancient Greeke caracter, by
antiquity neere worne out and past reading; which to the beholders seemed a
monument of the greatnesse of the Grecian monarchy. [Sidenote: Candie.]
From thence we went to the Rhodes, and by contrary windes were driuen into
a port of Candy, called Sittia: this Iland is vnder the Venetians, who haue
there 600 souldiers, besides certaine Greeks, continually in pay. Here with
contrary winds we stayed six weeks, and in the end, hauing the winde
prosperous, we sailed by Nicaria, Pharos, Delos, and Andros, with sight of
many other Ilands in the Archipelago, and arriued at the two castles in
Hellespont the 24 of August. Within few dayes after we came to Galipoli
some thirty miles from this place, where foure of vs tooke a Parma or boat
of that place, with two watermen, which rowed us along the Thracian shore
to Constantinople, which sometime sailing and sometime rowing, in foure
dayes they performed. The first of September we arriued at the famous port
of the Grand Signior, where we were not a little welcome to M. Edward
Barton vntil then her Maiesties Agent, who (with many other great persons)
had for many dayes expected the present. [Sidenote: The Ascension arriued
at the 7 towers.] Fiue or sixe dayes after the shippe arriued neere the
Seuen towers, which is a very strong hold, and so called of so many
turrets, which it hath, standing neere the sea side, being the first part
of the city that we came vnto. [Sidenote: The ship saluteth the grand
Signior.] Heere the Agent appointed the master of the Ascension to stay
with the shippe vntill a fitte winde and opportunity serued to bring her
about the Seraglio to Salute the Grand Signior in his moskyta or church:
for you shall vnderstand that he hath built one neere the wall of his
Seraglio or pallace adioyning to the Sea side; whereunto twise or thrise a
weeke he resorteth to performe such religious rites as their law requireth:
where hee being within few dayes after, our shippe set out in their best
maner with flagges, streamers and pendants of diuers coloured silke, with
all the mariners, together with most of the Ambassadours men, hauing the
winde faire, and came within two cables length of this his moskita, where
(hee to his great content beholding the shippe in such brauery) they
discharged first two volies of small shot, and then all the great ordinance
twise ouer, there being seuen and twentie or eight and twentie pieces in
the ship. Which performed, he appointed the Bustangi-Bassa or captaine of
the great and spacious garden or parke, to giue our men thankes, with
request that some other day they would shew him the like sporte when hee
would have the Sultana or Empresse a beholder thereof, which few dayes
after at the shippes going to the Custome-house they performed.
The grand Signiors salutation thus ended, the master brought the ship to an
anker at Rapamat neere the ambassadors house, where hee likewise saluted
him with all his great ordinance once ouer, and where he landed the
Present, the deliuerie whereof for a time was staied: the cause of which
staie it shall neither be dishonorable for our nation, or that woorthie man
the ambassador to shew you. [Sidenote: The cause of staying the present.]
At the departure of Sinan Bassa the chiefe Vizir, and our ambassadors great
friend toward the warres of Hungarie there was another Bassa appointed in
his place, a churlish and harsh natured man, who vpon occasion of certaine
Genouezes, escaping out of the castles standing toward the Euxine Sea, nowe
called the black Sea, there imprisoned, apprehended and threatened to
execute one of our Englishmen called Iohn Field, for that hee was taken
thereabouts, and knowen not many dayes before to haue brought a letter to
one of them: vpon the soliciting of whose libertie there fell a iarre
betweene the Bassa (being now chiefe Vizir) and our ambassador, and in
choler he gaue her maiesties ambassador such words, as without sustaining
some great indignitie hee could not put vp. [Sidenote: An Arz to the grand
Signior] Whereupon after the arriual of the Present, he made an Arz, that
is, a bill of Complaint to the grand Signior against him, the manner in
exhibiting whereof is thus performed.