Governor and faithful servant unto your
lord), and the same may turn to your great honour and profit by the
trade of merchandise, which our men in time to come may use in that
government of yours, which, generally, as well those poor men as all
others which you shall meet at the sea, ought to be, according to the
commandment of the Grand Signior, friendly entertained and received of
your honourable lordship; and we will not fail in the duties of a
special friend whatsoever you shall have occasion to use us as we
desire. Almighty God grant unto your lordship (in the fulfilling of
this our just request, whereby we may be delivered from further trouble
in this matter and yourself from further displeasure) all true felicity
and increase of honour. Given in our palace from Capamat, in Pera, the
15th of January, 1585.
A BRIEF EXTRACT SPECIFYING THE CERTAIN DAILY PAYMENTS, ANSWERED
QUARTERLY IN TIME OF PEACE, BY THE GRAND SIGNIOR, OUT OF HIS TREASURY,
TO THE OFFICERS OF HIS SERAGLIO OR COURT, SUCCESSIVELY IN DEGREES;
COLLECTED IN A YEARLY TOTAL SUM AS FOLLOWETH:
For his own diet every day, one thousand and one aspers, according to a
former custom received from his ancestors; notwithstanding that
otherwise his diurnal expense is very much, and not certainly known,
which sum maketh sterling money by the year, two thousand one hundred
and ninety-two pounds, three shillings, and eightpence.
The forty-five thousand janisaries, reparted into sundry places of his
dominions, at five aspers a day, amounteth by the year, five hundred
fourscore and eleven thousand and three hundred pounds.
The azamoglans' tribute children far surmount that number, for that
they are collected from among the Christians, from whom between the
years of five and twelve they are pulled away yearly perforce; whereof
I suppose those in service may be equal in number with the janisaries
abovesaid, at three aspers a day, one with another, which is two
hundred fourscore and fifteen thousand five hundred and fifty pounds.
The five Pashas whereof the Viceroy is supreme, at one thousand aspers
the day, besides their yearly revenues, amounteth sterling by the year,
ten thousand nine hundred and fifty pounds.
The five Beglerbegs, chief presidents of Greece, Hungary, and Slavonia,
being in Europe, in Anatolia, and Carmania of Asia, at one thousand
aspers the day; as also to eighteen other governors of provinces at
five hundred aspers the day, amounteth by the year thirty thousand five
hundred and threescore pounds.
The Pasha, admiral of the sea, one thousand aspers the day, two
thousand one hundred fourscore and ten thousand pounds.
The Aga of the janisaries, general of the footmen, five hundred aspers
the day, and maketh by the year in sterling money one thousand
fourscore and fifteen pounds.
