8: A brief extract specifying the certain daily payments,...
<< 7: A letter of Master William Harebrowne, the English ambassador,... || 9: Annuities of lands never improved five times more in value... >>
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.
The Imbrahur Pasha, master of his horse, one hundred and fifty aspers
the day, in sterling money three hundred and eight and twenty pounds.
The chief esquire under him, one hundred and fifty aspers, is three
hundred and eight and twenty pounds.
The Agas of the Spahi, captains of the horsemen, five at one hundred
and fifty aspers to either of them, maketh sterling one thousand nine
hundred threescore and eleven pounds.
The Capagi Pashas, head porters, four, one hundred and fifty aspers to
each, and maketh out in sterling money by the year, one thousand three
hundred and fourteen pounds.
The Sisinghir Pasha, controller of the household, one hundred and
twenty aspers the day, and maketh out in sterling money by the year,
two hundred threescore and two pounds, sixteen shillings.
The Chiaus Pasha, captain of the pensioners, one hundred and twenty
aspers the day, and amounteth to, by the year, in sterling money, two
hundred threescore and two pounds, sixteen shillings.
The Capigilar Caiafi, captain of his barge, one hundred and twenty
aspers the day, and maketh out by the year, in sterling money, two
hundred threescore and two pounds, sixteen shillings.
The Solach Bassi, captain of his guard, one hundred and twenty aspers,
two hundred threescore and two pounds, sixteen shillings.
The Giebrigi Bassi, master of the armoury, one hundred and twenty
aspers, two hundred threescore and two pounds, sixteen shillings.
The Topagi Bassi, master of the artillery, one hundred and twenty
aspers, two hundred threescore and two pounds, sixteen shillings.
The Echim Bassi, physician to his person, one hundred and twenty
aspers, two hundred threescore and two pounds, sixteen shillings.
The forty physicians under him, to each forty aspers is three thousand
eight hundred threescore and six pounds, sixteen shillings.
The Mustafaracas, spearmen attending on his person, in number 500, to
either threescore aspers, and maketh sterling threescore and five
thousand and seven hundred pounds.
The Cisingeri, gentlemen attending upon his diet, forty, at forty
aspers each of them, and amounteth to sterling by the year, three
thousand five hundred and four pounds.
The Chiausi, pensioners, four hundred and forty, at thirty aspers,
twenty-eight thousand nine hundred and eight pounds.
The Capagi, porters of the Court and city, four hundred at eight
aspers, and maketh sterling money by the year, seven thousand and eight
pounds.
The Solachi, archers of his guard, three hundred and twenty, at nine
aspers, and cometh unto, in English money, the sum of six thousand
three hundred and six pounds.
The Spahi, men of arms of the Court and the city, ten thousand, at
twenty-five aspers, and maketh of English money, five hundred forty and
seven thousand and five hundred pounds.
The Janisaries, sixteen thousand, at six aspers, is two hundred and ten
thousand and two hundred and forty pounds.
The Giebegi, furbishers of armour, one thousand five hundred, at six
aspers, and amounteth to sterling money, nineteen thousand seven
hundred and fourscore pounds.
The Seiefir, servitors in his esquire or stable, five hundred, at two
aspers, and maketh sterling money, two thousand one hundred fourscore
and ten pounds.
The Saefi, saddlers and bit-makers, five hundred, at seven aspers,
seven thousand six hundred threescore and five pounds.
The Capergi, carriers upon mules, two hundred, at five aspers, two
thousand one hundred fourscore and ten pounds.
The Ginegi, carriers upon camels, one thousand five hundred, at eight
aspers, and amounteth in sterling money to twenty-six thousand two
hundred and fourscore pounds.
The Reiz, or captains of the galleys, three hundred, at ten aspers, and
amounteth in English money, by the year, the sum of six thousand five
hundred threescore and ten pounds.
The Alechingi, masters of the said galleys, three hundred, at seven
aspers, four thousand five hundred fourscore and nineteen pounds.
The Getti, boatswains thereof, three hundred, at six aspers, is three
thousand nine hundred forty and two pounds.
The Oda Bassi, pursers, three hundred, at five aspers, maketh three
thousand two hundred and fourscore pounds.
The Azappi, soldiers, two thousand six hundred, at four aspers, whereof
the five hundred do continually keep the galleys, two-and-twenty
thousand seven hundred fourscore and six pounds.
The Mariers Bassi, masters over the shipwrights and caulkers of the
navy, nine, at twenty aspers the piece, amounteth to three thousand
fourscore and four pounds, four shillings.
The Master Dassi, shipwrights and caulkers, one thousand, at fourteen
aspers, and amounteth to, by the year, thirty thousand six hundred and
threescore pounds.
Summa totalis of daily payments amounteth by the year sterling one
million nine hundred threescore eight thousand seven hundred and
thirtyfive pounds, nineteen shillings, and eight pence, answered
quarterly without default with the sum of four hundred fourscore twelve
thousand one hundred fourscore and four pounds, four shillings, and
eleven pence, and is for every day five thousand three hundred
fourscore and thirteen pounds, fifteen shillings, and ten pence.
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