Travels into Turkey: Containing the most accurate account of the Turks, and neighbouring nations, their manners, customs, religion, superstition, policy, riches, coins, &c.Busbecq, Ogier Ghislain de
History
Travels into Turkey: Containing the most accurate account of the Turks, and neighbouring nations, their manners, customs, religion, superstition, policy, riches, coins, &c.
Busbecq, Ogier Ghislain de
Turkey -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
I told you before, that the _Turks_ use to carry their Arms and Tents
on Horse-Back to the War; but they are such as chiefly belong to the
_Janizaries_, for the _Turks_ are very careful to have their Army
healthy, and fenced against the Weather; let him defend himself as well
as he can against the Enemy, that’s to his own Peril; but the Public
takes care for his Health. Hence it is, that the _Turkish_ Army is better
cloathed than armed. They are afraid of Cold, as of their greatest
Enemy; and therefore, even in Summer-time, they are treble-clothed, and
their inmost Garment (call it a Waistcoat, or whatever you will,) is
made of coarse Thread, which keeps them very warm. And, to defend them
also against the Cold and Showers, Tents are carried about for them at
the Public Charge; and every _Janizary_ is allowed as much Space in the
Tent as the Dimensions of his Body are; so that one Tent can hold twenty
five or thirty _Janizaries_; and that thick Cloath, I speak of, is also
supplied out of the public Store. When it is distributed among them,
they take this Course, to prevent Quarrels; the Soldiers are ranged in
the Night in Files, in a Place appointed for that purpose, and so many
Cloaths are brought out of the Store as there are Soldiers, and every one
takes his Dole in the Dark; so that, if it be better or worse, he has no
cause to complain. And, for the same Reason, their Pay is weighed out,
not told, to them, lest any one should say, he was forced to receive
light or clipt Money; nor do they stay till the very Pay-day, but receive
it the Day before. The Arms that are carried are chiefly for the use of
the Horse, called _Spahi’s_; for the _Janizaries_ do usually fight on
Foot with Musquets, at a Distance, and therefore, when an Enemy is near,
and a Battle expected, the Armour is produced; but usually such as is
of an old Make, and are part of the Spoils obtained from former Fights
and Victories: These are distributed among the Horse; their other Armour
is but a light Buckler. You may easily think, how odly such Armour will
fit on a Man which is given out so hastily. One’s Breast-plate is too
narrow; another Man’s Helmet is too loose; another Coat of Mail is too
heavy for him to bear. Every Piece hath some Fault or other; and yet they
must not complain: They count it Cowardly so to do; for they resolve
to fight, be their Arms what they will, so great Confidence have they
in their Victories, and in the frequent Use of their Arms. Hence it is
also, that they put their old Foot on Horse-service, which they were not
used to before; for an experienced Soldier (they say) will do valiantly,
either on Horse or Foot-service. In my Judgment, the _Old Romans_ were
of the same Mind, and especially _Julius Cæsar_, who was wont to say,
_That his Soldiers would fight well, even though they were perfumed_;
for when he horsed the ten Legions, upon a Conference he was to have
with _Ariovistus_, what was his Intent, think we? but that they should
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