the black death in early ottoman territories - Bilkent University

From Constantinople, from sir Piero Zen, our orator, dated on the 5th of August.
That there, 500 die daily of plague, and that the Lord was in the palace and did not grant
audience to anyone.
MDXXIII, DICEMBRE (December 1523)
81. vol. 35, col. 257
Summary of what was understood from sir Francesco Zen (son) of sir Piero, who is
orator to the Turkish Lord, arriving from Constantinople over land on the 6th of
December 1523.
Idem, that plague was great; and that . . . were dying daily niun si schivava; has run great
danger: the Baylo became ill with plague because a plague-stricken was left half-dead in
the streets by his relatives, next to his house and he, the Baylo sir Andrea di Prioli had him
carried hither and became pale, which is when plague struck him. He died in 4 days, and
had never wanted to say he caught it (the disease)... Idem, that in the house of the Orator,
who was in Costantinople, 4 had become plague-stricken, 1 died, 3 were cured. He had . .
. aspers daily from the Lord for expenditures, which is 6 ducates, and guards remained
with him; and in the end he did not go to kiss the hand of the Lord, he did not go out; then
he went where he wanted and all came who wanted to this orator and as the Lord withheld
the aspers, the guards were abolished.
Idem, that in Constantinople there are from each nation, and all remain in their own faith..
El Signor vol il sua carazo nè di altro se cura; almost always there is plague here, but this
plague is not as that from Italy, because many get cured from it.
MDXXIV, MARZO (March 1524)
82. vol. 36, col. 118
Copy of a letter from Constantinople, from the 14th of February 1524.
The magnificent ambassador on the one hand refrained from seeing those guests for two
reasons, the first (being) that he was afraid of plague, the other reason being that he could
not stay up half a night, for you know well that sleep is the nutrition of the elderly...
MDXXV, DICEMBRE (December 1525)
83. vol. 40, col. 513- 515
From Constantinople, fromi sir Piero Bragadin, baylo on the 6th of November.
Died from plague Ali Bey, dragoman, who while having plague went to the residence of
the pasha and apologized for non being able to stand upright; certainly Ibraim took it
badly, and did not mourn a great deal because it was a man who liked war...
... Plague here makes progress, 500 to 600 die daily, which is a great event in these days.
God holds my hand, all those that became ill under the last moon are died. And having
gone to speak with Mustapha Pasha, there are 60 dead in his house of plague, among
whose were very beautiful slaves that had cost 2000 ducates. He writes that he, baylo, has
stayed as the only one of our people in Pera, the merchants have fled to the vineyards.
Few are the houses that are not plague-stricken. That God may help me.
MDXXVI, FEBRAIO (February, 1526)
84. vol. 40, col. 824
From Constantinople, from sir Piero Bragadin baylo, dated in Pera on the 29th of
December.
Talisman Rays died of plague while on the way to Alexandria and his ship returned here
and plague has abated somewhat and it is improving.
85. vol. 40, col. 893-894
From Constantinople, from sir Piero Bragadin baylo, from the 4th of January.
Gasparon di Livieri, jeweller, died of plague in two days...
MDXXVI, GIUGNO (June, 1526)
86. vol. 41, col. 525-534
Summary of the comments (relaas) of sir Piero Bragadin who came, Baylo of
Constantinople, done in Pregadi on the 9th of June 1526.
Has gone through great fatigue and risk for my life because of plague, this Baylo that
never spared himself; his preservation is certainly miraculous if one can say so and he got
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