The voyage of the Susan of London to Constantinople, wherein the worshipfull M. William Harborne was sent first Ambassadour unto Sultan Murad Can, the great Turke, with whom he continued as her Majesties Ligier almost sixe yeeres.
THE 14 of November 1582, we departed from Blackewall,
bound for the Citie of Constantinople, in the tall shippe
called the Susan of London: the Master whereof was
Richard Parsons, a very excellent and skilfull man in his
facultie. But by occasion of contrary weather we spent
two moneths before we could recover the Kowes in the
Isle of Wight. Where the 14 of January following we
tooke in the worshipfull M. William Hareborne her
Majesties Ambassadour to the Turke, and his company,
and sailed thence to Yarmouth
in the foresayd
Isle of
Wight. The 19 we put from Wight. The 26 we did see
Cavo de Sant Vincente. The same day we were thwart
of Cavo Santa Maria. The 27 we passed by Tariffa, and
Gibraltar
. The 28 in the morning we passed by Velez
Malaga: and that night were thwart of Cavo de Gates.
The 29 at night we had sight of Cavo de Palos. The
30 in the morning we did see the high land of Denia
, in
the kingdome of Valentia
, and that night we had sight of
the
Iland Formentera. The 31 in the morning appeared
the
Iland of Cabrera. The first of February we put into
a Port in Mallorca
, called Porto de Sant Pedro: where
they would have evill intreated us for comming into the
Harbour: we thought we might have bene as bolde there
as in other places of Christendome, but it proved farre
otherwise. The first man we met on land was a simple
Shepheard, of whom we demanded whether we might have
a sheepe or such like to refresh our selves, who tolde us
yea. And by such conference had with him, at the last he
came aboord once or twise, and had the best cheare that
we could make him: and our Ambassadour himselfe talked
with him, and still he made us faire promises, but nothing
at all meant to performe the same, as the end shewed.
In the meane time came in a shippe of Marseils, the
Master whereof did know our Ambassadour very well,
with whom our Ambassadour had conference, and with
his Marchants also. They came from Alger
in
Barbarie,
which is under the governement of the Great Turke.
They did present our Ambassadour with an Ape, where
fore he made very much of them, and had them often
aboord. By them I suppose, he was bewrayed of his
purpose as touching his message, but yet still we had
faire words of the Shepheard aforesayd, and others. So
that upon their words, our Purser and another man went
to a Towne which was three or foure miles from the port,
and there were well entertained, and had of the people
very faire speeches, and such small things as could be
gotten upon the sudden, and so returned to the shippe
that day. Then wee were emboldened, and thought all
had bene well, according to their talke. The next day,
being the sixth day of Februarie, two of our Gentlemen,
with one of our Marchants, and the Purser, and one of
the Ambassadours men went to the Towne aforesayd,
thinking to doe as the Purser and the other had done
before, but it prooved contrary: for at their comming
thither they had faire wordes a while, and had bread and
wine, and such necessaries for their money, untill such
time as they were beset with men, and the Majorcans
never shewed in their countenance any such matter, but
as the maner of all the people in the dominions of Spaine
is, for the most part to be trecherous to us, if they
thinke they have any advantage. For upon the sudden
they layed handes on them, and put them in holde, as sure
as might be in such a simple Towne. Then were they
well guarded with men both day and night, and still
deluded with faire words, & they sayd to our men it was
for no hurt, but that the
Viceroy of the Iland would come
aboord to see the shippe. But they presently sent the
Purser to the
Towne of Majorca, where he was examined
by the Viceroy very straightly, what their shippe and
captaine were, and what voyage they intended, but he
confessed nothing at all. In the meane time they in the
Towne were likewise straightly examined by a Priest and
other officers upon their othes: who for their othes sake
declared the whole estate of their voyage. The Ambassadours man was a French man, and therefore was
suffered to goe to the shippe on a message, but he could
tell the Ambassadour none other newes, but that the
Viceroy would come aboord the shippe, and that our men
should come with him, but they had another meaning.
For the Marseilian Marchants were stayed in like maner
in the Towne, onely to make a better shew unto us. But
in the meane time, being there three or foure dayes, there
came men unto us every day, more or lesse, but one day
especially there came two men on horsebacke, whom we
tooke to be officers, being lusty men, and very well horsed.
These men desired to speake with our Captaine (for all
things that passed there were done in the name of our
Captaine John Gray) for it was sayd by us there, that he
was Captaine of one of her Majesties shippes: wherefore
all things passed in his name: and the Ambassadour not
seene in any thing but rather concealed, and yet did all,
because of his tongue and good inditing in that language.
For he himselfe went on land clothed in Velvet, and
talked with these men, and with him ten or twelve lusty
fellowes well weaponed, ech one having a Boarespeare or
a Caliver, the Captaine John Gray being one of them, and
our boat lying by very warely kept and ready. For then
wee began to suspect, because the place was more frequented with men then it was woont. The men on
horsebacke were in doubt to come neere, because hee
came so well weaponed. But they bade him welcome,
and gave him great salutations in words as their maner
is: and demanded why he came so strong, for they sayd
he needed not to feare any man in the Iland. Answere
was made, that it was the maner of English Captaines to
goe with their guard in strange places. Then they tolde
our Ambassador (thinking him to be the Captaine) that
they were sent from the Viceroy to know what they did
lacke, for they promised him beefe or mutton, or any
thing that was in the Iland to be had, but their purpose
was to have gotten more of our men if they could, and
they sayde that wee should have our men againe the next
day: with such prety delusions they fed us still. Then
our Ambassadour did write a letter to the Viceroy in her
Majesties name, and in our Captaine John Grayes name,
and not in his owne, and sent it by them, desiring him to
send his men, and not to trouble him in his voyage, for
he had given him no such cause, nor any of his. So these
men departed with great courtesie in words on both parts.
And in all this time we did see men on horsebacke and
on foot in the woods and trees more then they were
accustomed to be, but we could perceive nothing thereby.
The next day, or the second, came either foure or sixe
of the best of them as wee thought (the Viceroy excepted)
and very many men besides in the fieldes, both on foot
and on horse, but came not neere the water side. And
those in like order desired to speake with the Captaine,
and that when he came on land the trumpets might sound :
but then the Ambassadour, whom they thought to be
Captaine, would not goe, nor suffer the trumpets to be
sounded (for that he thought it was a trappe to take
himselfe, and more of his company.) But did send one of
the principall of the Marchants to talke with them. And
the Captaine John Gray went also with him, not being
knowen of the Spaniards, for he went as a souldiour.
Thus they received of those men the like wordes as they
had of the other before mentioned, who sayd we should
have our men againe, for they meant us no hurt. Then
our Ambassadour did write another letter, and sent it by
them to the Viceroy, in like order as he did before, but
he received no answere of any of them. In all this time
they had privily gathered together the principall men of
the Iland, and had laboured day and night to bring downe
ordinance, not making any shew of their trecherie towards
us. But the same night following, we saw very many
lights passe in the woods among the trees. And in the
morning when the watch was broken up, being Saturday
the ninth of Februarie, at faire day light, one of our men
looked foorth, and saw standing on land the cariage of a
piece: then was one commanded to goe into the toppe,
and there he did descrie two or three pieces, and also
many men on the shoare, with divers weapons that they
brought. Then they suddenly tooke foure or five brasse
pieces, and placed them on either side of the harborough
where we should go out, and hid them with stones and
bushes that we should not see them. Now I thinke the
harborough not to be above the eight part of a mile over.
Thus perceiving their meaning which was most plaine:
wee agreed to take up our anker and goe out, and leave
our men there, having none other way to take. Then our
Ambassadour intreated the Master of the Marseilian, his
friend, to goe on land with his boat, and to know the
trueth: who satisfied his request. And at his returne he
tolde us that it was very true, that they would lay holde
of us if they could. Then we weighed our ankers: but
having little winde, we towed the shippe forward with the
boat. The Viceroy. himselfe was at the water side with
more then five hundred men on both sides of the harbour
as we thought. And when we came out with our shippe
as far as their ordinance, our Ambassadour and the Cap
taine being in their armour, the Master commanding of
the company, and trimming of the sailes, the Pilot standing on the poope, attending to his charge, with other very
well furnished, and every man in order about their businesse very ready, they on land on the contrary part having
a very faire piece mounted on the North side openly in
all our sights, as the shippe passed by, they traversed that
piece right with the maine mast or after-quarter of the
shippe, and a Gunner standing by, with a lint-stocke in
his hand, about foureteene or fifteene foot long, being (as
we thought) ready to give fire. Our whole noise of
trumpets were sounding on the poope with drumme and
flute, and a Minion of brasse on the summer decke, with
two or three other pieces, alwayes by our Gunners traversed mouth to mouth with theirs on land, still looking
when they on land should shoot, for to answere them
againe. The Pilot standing on the poope, seeing this
readinesse, and the shippe going very softly, because of
the calmenesse of the winde, he called to them on the
South side, where the Viceroy was, and sayd unto him:
Have you warres with us? If you have, it is more then
we know; but by your provision it seemeth so: if you
have, shoot in Gods name, and spare not, but they held
all fast and shot not. Then the Viceroy himselfe held
up a paper, and sayd he had a letter for our Captaine, and
desired us to stay for it. Then we answered and sayd we
would not, but willed him to send it by the Marseilians
boat, and our men also. All this while, our trumpets,
drum and flute sounded, and so we passed out in the face
of them all. When they perceived that they could lay
no holde on us, they presently sent to the Towne for our
men, whom within lesse then three houres after they sent
aboord with the sayd letter, wherein he desired our Captaine and his company not to take it in ill part, for he
meant them no harme, but would have seene our shippe.
His letter did import these and such like faire speeches:
for it altogether contained courteous salutations, saying
that he might boldly come into any port within his Iland,
and that he and his would shew him what friendship they
might: and that the injury that was offered was done at
the request of the Shepheards and poore people of the
countrey, for the more safegard of their flockes, and
because it was not a thing usuall to have any such shippe
to come into that port, with many other deceitfull words
in the sayd letter. Then our Ambassadour wrote unto
him another letter to answere that, and gave him thanks
for his men that he had sent him, and also for his good
will, and sent him a present. This done, we shot off halfe
a dozen pieces, hoised our sailes, and departed on our
voyage. Then the Purser and the rest of our men that
had beene in holde, tolde us that they did see the Captaine,
and other gentlemen of the Iland, having their buskins
and stockings torne from their legges, with labouring in
the bushes day and night to make that sudden provision.
The 12 of February we saw an
Iland of Africa side called
Galata, where they use to drag out of the Sea much
Corall, and we saw likewise Sardinia
, which is an Iland
subject to Spaine. The 13 in the morning we were hard
by Sardinia
. The 15 we did see an Iland neere Sicilia
,
and an Iland on Africa
side called Cysimbre. The same
day likewise we saw an Iland called Pantalaria, and that
night we were thwart the middle of Sicilia
. The 16 at
night we were as farre as Capo Passaro, which is the
Southeast part of Sicilia
. The 24 we were put into a port
called Porto de Conte, in an Iland called Cephalonia
: it
is an out Iland in the dominions of Grecia
, and now at
this present governed by the Signory of Venice, as the
rest of Grecia
is under the Turke, for the most part. The
27 we came from thence, and that day arrived at Zante
which is also in Grecia
: for at this present wee entred
the parts of Grecia
. The second of March we came from
Zante
; and the same day were thwart of an Iland called
Prodeno: and the 4 we were thwart of an Iland called
Sapientia. There standeth a faire Towne and a Castle
on the maine over against it, called Modon
. The same
day by reason of contrary windes we put backe againe
to Prodeno, because we could not fetch Sapientia. The
ninth we came from thence, and were as farre as Sapientia
againe. The tenth we were as farre shot as Cavo Matapan; and that day we entred the Archipelago, and passed
thorow betweene Cerigo
and Cavo Malio. This Cerigo
is
an Iland where one Menelaus did sometimes reigne, from
whome was stollen by Paris
faire Helena
, and carried to
Troy
, as ancient Recordes doe declare. The same day
we had sight of a little Iland called Bellapola, and did
likewise see both the Milos
, being Ilands in the Archipelago. The 11 in the morning we were hard by an
Iland called Falconara, and the
Iland of Antemila. The
12 in the morning we were betweene Fermenia and Zea,
being both Ilands. That night wee were betweene
Negroponte
and Andri, being likewise Ilands. The 13
in the morning we were hard by Psara and Sarafo, being
Ilands nine or tenne miles from Chio, and could not fetch
Chio. So we put roome with a port in
Metelin called
Sigra, and about nine of the clocke at night we ankered
there. The 15 we came from thence, the sixteenth we
put into Porto Delfi. The port is 9 English miles to the
Northward of the
City of Chio, (and it may be twelve of
their miles) this night we stayed in the sayd port, being
in the
Iland of Chio. Then went our Marchant and one
or two with him to the
City of Chio. And when the By,
who is the governour of the Iland (and is in their language
a Duke) had communed with the Marchant, and those that
were with him, and understood of our arrivall within his
dominion, the day following he armed his gallies, and
came to welcome our Ambassadour, accompanied with the
Ermine, that is, the Kings Customer, and also the French
Consull, with divers of the chiefe of the City, and offered
him as much friendship as he could or would desire: for
he did offer to attend upon us, and towe us if need were
to the Castles. The 21 we departed from thence, and
that day passed by port Sigra againe. This Iland of
Metelin is part of Asia, and is neere to Natolia. The 22
we passed by a head land called Baberno, and is also in
Asia. And that day at night we passed by the
Isle of
Tenedo, part of Asia, and by another Iland called Maure.
And the same day we passed thorow the straights of
Galipoli, and by the Castles, and also by the
Towne of
Galipoli it selfe, which standeth in Europa. And that
night we were in sight of Marmora which is neere Natolia,
and part of Asia. The 23 in the morning we were thwart
of Araclia, and that night we ankered in
Silauria. The
24 in the morning the Marchant and the Pilot were set
on land to goe to the City about the Ambassadours businesse, but there they could not land because we had the
winde faire. That place of some is called Ponte
grande,
and is foure and twenty miles on this side of Constantinople, and because of the winde, they followed in the skiffe
untill they came to a place called Ponte
picola, andthere
is a little bridge, it standeth eight Turkish miles from
Constantinople, there the Marchant and the Pilot landed.
At this bridge is an house of the great Turkes with a
faire Garden belonging unto it, neere the which is a point
called Ponta S. Stephano, and there the shippe ankered
that day. The 26 day the ship came to the seven Towers,
and the 27 we came neerer. The 29 there came three
gallies to bring us up further: and when the shippe came
against the great Turks palace, we shot off all our ordinance to the number of foure and thirty pieces. Then
landed our Ambassadour, and then we discharged foure
and twenty pieces, who was received with more then fifty
or threescore men on horsebacke. The ninth of April he
presented the great Bassa with sixe clothes, foure cannes
of silver double gilt, and one piece of fine holland, and
to three other Bassas, that is to say, the second Bassa,
which is a gelded man, and his name is Mahomet Bassa,
to the third who maried the great Turks sister, and to
the fourth whom they call Abraham Bassa, to every one
of these he gave foure clothes. Now, before the great
Bassa, and Abraham Bassa, at their returne from the
Court (and as we thinke at other times, but at that time
for a certaine) there came a man in maner of a foole, who
gave a great shout three or foure times, crying very
hollowly, the place rebounded with the sound, and this
man, say they, is a prophet of Mahomet, his armes and
legges naked, on his feet he did weare woodden pattens
of two sorts, in his hand, a flagge, or streamer set on a
short speare painted, he carried a mat and bottels, and
other trumpery at his backe, and sometimes under his
arme, on his head he had a cappe of white Camels haire,
flat like an helmet, written about with letters, and about
his head a linnen rowle. Other servingmen there were
with the sayd Bassas, with red attire on their heads,
much like French hoods, but the long flappe somewhat
smaller towardes the end, with scuffes or plates of mettall,
like unto the chape of an ancient arming sword, standing
on their foreheads like other Janisaries. These Bassas
entertained us as followeth: First, they brought us into
a hall, there to stand on one side, and our Ambassadour
and gentlemen on the other side, who sate them downe
on a bench covered with carpets, the Ambassadour in the
midst; on his left hand sate our gentlemen, and on his
right hand the Turkes, next to the doore where their
master goeth in and out: the common sort of Turkes
stayed in the Court yard, not suffered to come neere us.
When our Ambassadour had sitten halfe an houre, the
Bassas (who sate by themselves in an inner small roome)
sent for him; to whom the Ambassadour and his gentlemen went: they all kissed his hand, and presently returned
(the Ambassadour onely excepted, who stayed there, and a
Turks chaus with him) with the Ambassadour and his
gentlemen went in also so many of our men as there were
presents to cary in, but these neither kissed his hand nor
taried. After this I went to visit the church of Santa
Sophia, which was the chiefe church when it was the
Christians, and now is the chiefe see and church of
primacie of this Turke present: before I entred I was
willed to put off my shoes, to the end I should not prophane their church, I being a Christian. The pillers on
both sides of the church are very costly and rich, their
Pulpets seemely and handsome, two are common to preach
in, the third reserved onely for their Paschall. The
ground is covered with Mats, and the walles hanged with
Tapistry. They have also Lamps in their churches, one
in the middle of the church of exceeding greatnesse, and
another in another part of the church of cleane golde, or
double gilded, full as bigge as a barrel. Round about
the church there is a gallery builded upon rich and stately
pillers. That day I was in both the chappels, in one of
the which lieth the Turkes father, and five of his sonnes
in tombes right costly, with their turbents very white and
cleane, shifted (as they say) every Friday, they be not on
their heads, but stand on mouldes made for that purpose.
At the endes, over, and about their tombes are belts, like
girdles, beset with jewels. In the other chappell are foure
other of his sonnes, and one daughter, in like order. In
the first chappell is a thing foure foot high, covered with
greene, beset with mother of pearle very richly. This is
a relique of Mahomet, and standeth on the left side of the
head of the great Turks tombe. These chappels have
their floores covered, and their walles hanged with Tapistrie of great price, I could value the covering and
hangings of one of the chappels, at no lesse then five
hundred poundes, besides their lamps hanging richly
gilded. These chappels have their roofes curiously
wrought with rich stone, and gilded. And there lie the
bookes of their Lawes for every man to reade. The 11
day of April the shippe came to the Key of the Custome
house. The 16 the Ambassadour and we his men went
to the Captaine Bassa, who is Admirall of the seas, his
name is Uchali, he would not receive us into his house,
but into his gallie, to deliver our present, which was as
followeth: Foure pieces of cloth, and two silver pots gilt
& graven. The poope or sterne of his gaily was gilded
both within and without, and under his feet, and where he
sate was all covered with very rich Tapistry. Our Ambassadour and his gentlemen kissed his hand, and then the
gentlemen were commanded out, and our Ambassadour
sate downe by him on his left hand, and the chaus stood
before him. Our men might walke in the gaily fore and
after, some of us taried, and some went out againe. The
gaily had seven pieces of brasse in her prowe, small and
great, she had thirty bankes or oares on either side, and
at every banke or oare seven men to rowe. The 18 day
the shippe went from the Key. And 21 the Admirall tooke
his leave of the great Turke, being bound to the Sea
with sixe and thirty gallies, very fairely beautified with
gilding and painting, and beset with flags and streamers,
all the which gallies discharged their ordinance: and we
for his farewell gave him one and twenty pieces. Then
he went to his house with his gallies, and the 22 he went
to the Sea, and the Castle that standeth in the water gave
him foureteene or sixteene pieces : and when he came
against the Turks Seraglio he shot off all his calivers and
his great pieces, and so hee went his way. The 24 our
Ambassadour went to the Court, whose entertainement
with the order thereof followeth. When wee came first
on land there was way made for us by two or three
Bassaes and divers chauses on horsebacke with their men
on foot, to accompany our Ambassadour to the Court.
Also they brought horses for him and his gentlemen for
to ride, which were very richly furnished: and by the way
there met with us other chauses to accompany us to the
Court. When we came there wee passed thorow two
gates, at the second gate there stood very many men with
horses attending on their masters. When we came within
that gate we were within a very faire Court yard, in compasse twise so bigge as Pauls Church-yard. On the right
hand of the sayd Court was a faire gallerie like an Alley,
and within it were placed railes and such other provision.
On the left side was the like, halfe the Court over: it
was divided into two parts, the innermost fairer then the
other. The other part of that side is the place where the
Councell doe usually sit, and at the inner end of that is a
faire place to sit in, much like unto that place in Pauls
Church-yard, where the Maior and his brethren use to
sit, thither was our Ambassadour brought, and set in that
place. Within that sayde place is another like open
roome, where hee did eate. Assoone as wee came in,
wee were placed in the innermost alley of the second
roome, on the left side of the Court, which was spread
with carpets on the ground fourescore or fourescore and
tenne foot long, with an hundred and fiftie severall dishes
set thereon, that is to say, Mutton boiled and rosted, Rice
diversly dressed, Fritters of the finest fashion, and dishes
daintily dight with pritty pappe, with infinite others, I
know not how to expresse them. We had also rosted
Hennes with sundry sorts of fowles to me unknowen.
The gentlemen and we sate downe on the ground, for it
is their maner so to feede. There were also Greekes and
others set to furnish out the roome. Our drinke was
made with Rose
water and Sugar and spices brewed
together. Those that did serve us with it had a great
bagge tied over their showlders, with a broad belt like an
arming belt full of plates of copper and gilt, with part of
the sayd bagge under his arme, and the mouth in his
hand: then he had a devise to let it out when he would
into cuppes, when we called for drinke. The Ambassadour when hee had eaten, passed by us, with the chauses
aforesayd, and sate him downe in an inner roome. This
place where he sate was against the gate where we came
in, and hard by the Councell chamber end, somewhat on
the left side of the Court, this was at the East end of the
Court, for we came in at the West. All this time our
presents stood by us untill we had dined, and diner once
ended, this was their order of taking up the dishes.
Certaine were called in, like those of the Blacke gard in
the Court of England, the Turks call them Moglans.
These came in like rude and ravening Mastifs, without
order or fashion, and made cleane riddance: for he whose
hungry eye one dish could not fill turned two, one into
the other, and thus even on the sudden was made a cleane
riddance of all. Then came certaine chauses and brought
our gentlemen to sit with the Ambassadour. Immediatly
came officers & appointed Janisers to beare from us our
presents, who caried them on the right side of the Court,
and set them hard by the doore of the Privy chamber,
as we call it: there all things stoode for the space of an
houre. Thus the Ambassadour and his gentlemen sate
still, and to the Southward of them was a doore whereas
the great Turke himselfe went in and out at, and on the
South side of that doore sate on a bench all his chiefe
lordes and gentlemen, and on the North side of the West
gate stood his gard, in number as I gesse them a
thousand men. These men have on their heads round
cappes of mettall like sculles, but sharpe in the toppe, in
this they have a bunch of Ostridge feathers, as bigge as
a brush, with the corner or edge forward: at the lower
end of these feathers was there a smaller feather, like
those that are commonly worn here. Some of his gard
had smal staves, & most of them were weaponed with
bowes and arrowes. Here they waited, during our abode
at the Court, to gard their Lord. After the Ambassadour
with his gentlemen had sitten an houre and more, there
came three or foure chauses, and brought them into the
great Turkes presence. At the Privy chamber doore two
noble men tooke the Ambassadour by ech arme one, and
put their fingers within his sleeves, and so brought him to
the great Turke where he sumptuously sate alone. He
kissed his hand and stood by untill all the gentlemen were
brought before him in like maner, one by one, and ledde
backewards againe his face towards the Turke; for they
might neither tarry nor turne their backs, and in like
maner returned the Ambassadour. The salutation that
the Noble men did, was taking them by the hands. All
this time they trode on cloth of golde, most of the Noble
men that sate on the South side of the Privy chamber sate
likewise on cloth of golde. Many officers or Janisaries
there were with staves, who kept very good order, for
no Turke whatsoever might goe any further then they
willed him. At our Ambassadours entring they followed
that bare his presents, to say, twelve fine broad clothes,
two pieces of fine holland, tenne pieces of plate double
gilt, one case of candlesticks, the case whereof was very
large, and three foot high and more, two very great
Cannes
or pots, and one lesser, one basin and ewer, two
poppinjayes of silver, the one with two heads: they were
to drinke in: two bottles with chaines, three faire mastifs
in coats of redde cloth, three spaniels, two bloodhounds,
one common hunting hound, two greyhounds, two little
dogges in coats of silke: one clocke valued at five
hundred pounds sterling: over it was a forrest with trees
of silver, among the which were deere chased with dogs,
and men on horsebacke following, men drawing of water,
others carrying mine oare on barrowes: on the toppe of
the clocke stood a castle, and on the castle a mill. All
these were of silver. And the clocke was round beset
with jewels. All the time that we stayed at the Councell
chamber doore they were telling or weighing of money to
send into Persia for his Souldiours pay. There were
carried out an hundred and three and thirty bags, and in
every bagge, as it was tolde us, one thousand ducats,
which amounteth to three hundred and thirty thousand *
, and in sterling English money to fourescore and nineteene thousand pounds. The Captaine of the guard in the
meane time went to the great Turke, and returned againe,
then they of the Court made obeisance to him, bowing
downe their heads, and their hands on their breasts, and
he in like order resaluted them: he was in cloth of silver,
he went and came with two or three with him and no
more. Then wee went out at the first gate, and there
we were commanded to stay untill the Captaine of the
guard was passed by and all his guard with him, part
before him and part behinde him, some on horsebacke and
some on foot, but the most part on foot carrying on their
shoulders the money before mentioned, and so we passed
home. There was in the Court during our abode there,
for the most part a foole resembling the first, but not
naked as was the other at the Bassas: but he turned
him continually, & cried Hough very hollowly. The third
of May I saw the Turke go to the church: he had more
then two hundred and fifty horses before and behinde him,
but most before him. There were many empty horses that
came in no order. Many of his Nobilitie were in cloth of
golde, but himselfe in white sattin. There did ride
behinde him sixe or seven youthes, one or two whereof
carried water for him to drinke as they sayd. There
were many of his guard running before him and behinde
him, and when he alighted, they cried Hough very hollowly, as the aforesayd fooles.
