holy league sworn by both our princes, as by
the privileges, which this our servant will show you, may appear. For
the seeing of which league performed, we remain here as Ledger in this
stately court, and by this means you shall answer in another world unto
God alone, and in this world unto the Grand Signior, for this heinous
sin committed by you against so many poor souls, which by this your
cruelty are in part dead, and in part detained by you in most miserable
captivity. Contrariwise, if it shall please you to avoid this
mischief, and to remain in the favour of Almighty God and of our
princes, you shall friendly fulfil this our just demand (as it behoveth
you to show yourself a prudent 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 an