A LETTER From an Eminent Merchant in CONSTANTINOPLE, To a FRIEND in LONDON: Giving an exact Relation of the Great and Glorious Cavalcade of Sultan Mahomet the fourth, present Emperor of the Turks, as he Marched out of Constantinople, for the Invasion of Christendom, and the Siege of VIENNA. Entered according to ORDER. SIR, ELeven Days past, the Grand Signior made his public Alloy (or Exit) out of this City, accompanied by the Grand Vizier, and the Officers of the Empire, as also Prince Mahomet his eldest Son, a Youth of about Eighteen years old, and the first that any Emperor ever suffered to show himself to the people. In this Sight was exposed to view the greatest Riches of the Empire, consisting in Jewels of inestimable value, Horses, Clothes and Furniture, the Magnificence whereof is not to be expressed in Writing, unless it was possible to show you Horses Furniture covered over with Diamonds, Rubies and Emeralds; and the Horses themselves more remarkable than their Furniture. They proceeded in order: First; A Body of Horsemen Armed Cap-a-pe with their Bows, Quivers, Swords and Lances; Next the Bashaws, each with his retinue of led Horses, handsome Pages with Coats of Mail richly dressed; And next, all the Caddees, or Justices, with Turbans at least a Yard Diameter, with their Attendants; After them proceeded the Chiauses of the Viziers who bring people to Justice before him, with prodigious long Turbans, but not so big as the Caddees, and with them their followers; To them succeeded the Emirs, or Kindred of Mahomet, all with Green Heads to distinguish them: Next came the Viziers Chia (Nor Secretary) with a vast and rich retinue of led Horses, Pages and Aga's; Next came the Great Treasurer, or Desterdar, with a greater Attendants of like nature; Then appeared a great number of Horses richly Trapped, and led by very fine Pages, and followed by many persons of Quality, Attendants on the Two, which immediately succeeded on most stately Horses, with rich Furniture, being the Mosaip, or Favourite, (who Married the Grand Signiors Daughter,) and Kara Kiah the greatest Officer in the Empire next the Vizier, called Chimacham, who were attended by a vast number of Pages, on Foot and Horseback: Then past the two Cadalesches or Lord Chief Justices, than the Viziers Guard covered over with the Skins of Lions, Bears, Tigers and Leopards, every one differently habited; Next came the Six Horse-Tails, carried before the Vizier by Eighteen Men, on Poles of Ten yards long; Then Fifty of the Viziers' Pages a Foot on each side the way, between whom Road himself, and the Mufty; After him all his Aga's and great Officers of his Household, with a number of Pages; Next several of the Grand Signiors, Eunuches; and after them the Kizler Aga or black Eunuch, with attendants equal to the Viziers; He was succeeded by bawling Holy men; Lean, ill-favoured, praying all the way for the Grand Signiors Life, and the Propagation of their Law; These were followed by Two of the greatest Camels to be found in the Empire; the first of which carried the of Mahomet, which he wore in his Life time; the latter carried the Alcoran as it was delivered by Mahomet to his Successors; which Beasts when they die, the Turks persuade themselves go to Heaven. After the Camels, and before the Grand Signior, Road Soliman Chia (Friend to our Nation) Master of the Horse to the Grand Signior, and his Favourite, but mortal Enemy to the Vizier: After him Road the Grand Signior on a Milk-white Horse, covered over with unvalluable Jewels, attended by Pages dressed alike with Caps of Massy Gold; their Habit Cloth of Gold; reaching down below their Knees, girded with a Girdle of three Inches broad, covered as thick with Diamonds and other Jewels as they could be set together. After these Road the Prince in a plain habit, Grand Seigniours Son. and on an ordinary Horse, followed by about Four hundred, all the Grand Signiors Pages, Armed with Caps and Coats of Mail, Gauntlets, Swords and Targets, each with a Quiver of Gild Arrows on his Right side, and a Bow on his Left; the Case of which, and the Quiver of some, was set with Diamonds and other Jewels: They wore a lose flying Garment of Satin, some Green, some Scarlet, some Blue, some Yellow, and all colours, which mixed, made a delicate show; Between every Ten or Twelve, Road two white Eunuches, the Turks being as jealous of their young Men as of their Women. After these the Officers of the Grand Signiors Household, in the midst of whom, his Coaches and Wagons, with loaded Mules, Camels; etc. The Rear was brought up by about five Thousand Spahees or Horsemen, each carrying in his hand a Pike Advanced, with a Bandera of several Colours flying, which made the sight delightful; with which it concluded, having lasted Five or Six hours. Constantinople Octob. the 10th. 1682. LONDON: Printed for A. Jones, in the Year, 1683.