that I should feign to be with Child and it has been so given out already to be about that very time in which Roxana was made so in effect There are some Women that have prov'd pregnant about that time also who have Spies upon them to observe whether they will have a Boy at the time of their delivery that I may be supply'd with a Male Child when my feigned time of deliverance is accomplish'd now if Roxana 's Child proves to be a Son nothing would be more conformable to my desires than to have it to pass for a Prince Tell Roxana this from me that she should continue in her solitary reservedness still on this account and that when the business is over I shall take care to provide for her according to her quality and merits mean time continu'd she give her this from me with an assurance of my special favour With that she gave her a rich Jewel and so dismiss'd her The Mother being return'd home told all the whole Story to Roxana who being still more and more afflicted at the publishing of her misfortune did not rejoyce as her Mother expected at the Sultana's confidence which she repos'd in them nor at her kind assurances of favour and protection on the contrary she plung'd her self deeper still in Melancholy so that from that time she continu'd in darkness admitting of no more light into her Chamber than what a small dim Taper did afford The Confinement of the Mufties in the Tower of the Dardanelles had much disturb'd the whole Party of the true Mahometists they had murmur'd aloud they had acted with more fire than usually so that it was known that they did expect some assistance from some place but whence not yet certainly known and business not being ripe to come to a conclusion on the Halists party till the pretended Heir were come into the World to satisfie the multitude as well as others and keep them under till their rising would be to no effect a day was appointed for bringing the imprison'd Mufties to a publick Examination to satisfie the true Mahometists but it was so deferr'd that it should not be till after the Sultana had been deliver'd of her fictitious great Belly The time of her delivery at last grew near according to that reckning which they had given out but because it did not exactly agree with the true reckoning which Roxana made or that her Mother made for her for she her self minded nothing another Reckning was set up and given out and that being near out also the Sultana had ordered at what places she would Lye In which were sometime in one place sometimes in another that no body should have any certain knowledge of it but those who were of the Secret. It was not long after that Roxana's Mother sent a Letter to the Sultana to let her know that her Daughter was in her effectual Labour Orders were presently sent back in a Letter that she should be brought into the Seraglio if it were possible to be done with Secresie But she was so far gone that it could not be and she being deliver'd of a Son the Child according to the orders that had been given was secretly convey'd to the Seraglio into that Appartment which the Sultana had last made choice of there kept by a good Fire in the next Chamber to that appointed for the Sultana's Lying In and notice presently brought to the Sultana that every thing was in a readiness The Sultana did presently get her self carried to that Apartment by some of her Attendants and put into her Bed the Midwife and all the rest of the Confederacy at hand Amurat had notice given that the Sultana was in Labour and he sent to his late Brother's Sultana and to divers others of the Sect of Hali instantly to repair to that Appartment to which the Sultana had been newly transported there presently was a considerable appearance at the appointed place of such as were of the Sect of Hali except two or three at the most of old true Mahometists who being held in Discourse by Amurat at the Beds feet the Curtains being shut close round the Bed so that nothing was to be seen and scarce heard for the Sultana not being accustomed to those sorts of Pageantry she could not bring her self to cry out with that vigour and strength that acute Pains cause Women to do but however the Child being conveyed into the Bed by a by door which was at the inward side or Ruel of the Bed to which they had given some small thing to cause it to sleep for â—ar that it should cry out and â—scover all A little while after â—â—e Midwife pulls it out of the Pâ—â—â—lapped up in warm Cloths puâ— it into her lap and conveyed hâ—â— self and it into the next Room â—rough the same by-door not deâ—â—aring what it was that she had goâ— but presently after it was told to Amurat who spoke it to the Company rejoycing mightily at it Thus was Roxana's Child us'd to suâ—â—titute an Heir to the Empire that might be brought up in the Sect of Hali to the prejudice of Zelinda who was the true and undoubted Heir apparent only because she was of the true Mahometan Religion The News of a new born Prince being spread abroad it afforded new Subject of great Joy to all those of the Sect of Hali amongst the rest of their demonstrations of joy there was a Fire-work which was so great and so curiously contriv'd that it seem'd as if those Fusees of which it was compos'd were flying up with a design to consume the Region of Fire to burst in pieces the Thunderbolts to fire Lightning and to allarm the very Stars Presently were seen Ambassadours from all parts amongst which one from Cha-Abas was not the last to compliment the Emperour and Sultana on the birth of the young Prince But now that so much of the great work was done that which remained yet undone was to be thought of Roxana remain'd still unconsolable insomuch that she never made any enquiry after her Child whether it was dead or alive neither did she take such care of her self as she ought to do but that was her Mother's part of which she acquitted her self as she ought to do The Cabinet Council thought fit to have Roxana convey'd out of the way lest that having been made privy to the Plot at some time or other she should in one of her melancholick fits discover the whole mistery and the Mufti Repset was appointed to perform that pious piece of work He undertook the business but it was not till after he had attempted and try'd all the ways and means imaginable to reclaim Roxana out of her deep melancholy and to bring her to give an ear to his addresses but finding all to be labour in vain he on the sudden converted all his former Love into Hatred insomuch that he did not only contrive her Confinement in some place in Persia but he
that he was come she bid him to tell her what he had to say Madam said he I am sorry I have thus intruded on your privacy and the business I come about requires a long discourse with a great deal of attention I think it will be best for me to defer the opening of it to another time and at present to retire If the business is not of such a nature as to lend fewel to a certain Melancholy which has seiz'd me at present I should rather chuse this time than any other to hear what you have to say reply'd the Sultana It may afford me some diversion and as things are order'd on other accounts you may not be disturb'd in the relation Place your self at ease and let me hear what you would say This good beginning did still inspire our Mufti more and more with Hope and Joy which was so great that it discover'd it self upon his Face in his Eyes and in all his Actions having fitted himself for to deliver his Speech he thus began It cannot be unknown to you Madam how instrumental I have been through the assistance of Heaven in bringing about the great work of extirpating of Heresie out of this Empire and of settling in it the Religion of our Great Prophet Hali Since that it has reach'd the great Mufti 's Ears who upon that information has Commissionated me to go on with that work so well begun and to finish it according as I shall find occasions to act You also know Madam with how little success all Physical means have been used both as to your person and to the Emperor's so that all helps are laid aside of having a young Successor from his Loyns I am not of your Opinion replyed the Sultana and I believe that the defect lyes more in me than in the Emperor for though I seem not to see that I might not in the least check his pleasures I know very well that of late he has had a Child by one of his Mistresses Madam replyed our Mufti you know not the Wiles and Artifices of those kind of Creatures they value not who gets their Children they adopt them to what Father they think are most proper to own them it is sufficient only that they have once enjoyed the man to perswade him nay convince him that he is the true and right Father of the Child they go with they go yet further Madam according to the persons inclinations to one Sex more than another the Child shall be right or wrong of that very Sex or there shall be no child in the whole Empire of that Sex to make a change with I cannot think however but that I am more in the fault than Amurat replyed the Sultana I am apt to believe that a certain decay which I feel in me is the cause of my having no Children of late wherefore I am desirous to try what the Heavens will do being solicited to that purpose by those Holy Prayers Pilgrimages and Offerings which you your self have proposed and that have been resolved upon both by the Emperor and the whole Court and it is no little wonder to me to find you so soon in so contrary a mind Madam replyed the Mufti I must deal plainly with you I have not I confess all the faith that might be imagin'd in those things of truth they are good and necessary pious frauds to amuse the Vulgar withal and to work divers good and Religious ends and it is to that purpose only that we have now designed them to please and blind the people and to exalt our Religion with which none can compare for contriving of Miracles of which that of your proving with Child presently upon the return from the Pilgrimage however otherways the Child were got would be none of the least but to the purpose Madam give me leave to tell you Therefore that what I now propose is not in the least to put off the Pilgrimage on the contrary it is to the same end I have read something of Physick have seen some operations and dissections and I am sufficiently versed in those Arts to be bold enough to lay a Wager that the defect is not in the least in you Madam How can we be sure of that replyed the Sultana How Madam answered he again if you made use of any other person than the Emperor to trye the Experiment and that I had layed a great sum on it I should soon draw the Stakes You speak of things that cannot be replyed the Sultana That cannot be Madam replyed the Mufti say rather Madam that you will not admit to be Is it not my Duty not to admit of any such thing said she hastily raising her voice Yes Madam said the Mufti according to the common Rules but Madam when the welfare of Empires the extirpating of Heresies the establishing of true Religion call for our Assistances all those little particular Rules cease they are overrul'd by an higher power and in the very design and intention of establishing of Religion all these small tyes upon our Duties vanish into Air nothing can be too good too great nor too holy not to be sacrificed to so laudable and so pious a work That great and general Duty swallows up and dispences with all those little ones which at other times are in force all must yield to that great work and that which at any other time would appear unjust or unlawful becomes the most just lawful and necessary good that can be done when it is for the good of the Church This Doctrine is so new to me answered the Sultana that I am more surpriz'd at than edified by it This Madam I have foreseen said the Mufti and it is for that reason that I did chuse this opportunity in which without disturbance I might infuse those weighty Reasons which I have in order to perswade you to condescend to so just a request as I am going to make to you You have surprized me I say once again and the nature of the business requires some serious considerations Not that I in the least incline to what you propose but that I may arm my self with such Arguments against those â—â—w Doctrines which you set up that I may have some colour for my refusal besides the natural abhorrence which I find in me towards what you propose and I wish that some other means might be found out in which I might be so happy as to serve the Church None greater than this Madam Replyed the Mufti who would not so easily be put by and give me leave to add Madam to what I have said already that the Emperor is obliged for the forwarding of so great a work to give his consent to it only all the business in this case is that it must be made a Mystery a Court-Secret to avoid all Scandal for in such Cases Sin if it may be call'd so considering to what a pious end it is acted becomes none and the
Innocence from the aspersion of Disobedience and Rebellion with which they were charg'd they were all sent Prisoners to the Tower of the Dardanelles As this Confinement of the Mufties did highly rejoice the Halists which did all conclude from thence a sudden fall of the Mahometan Religion to the Elevation of theirs so it did raise such fears and apprehensions in the true Mahometists that they began to provide with more vigour than ever though underhand against the Fatal stroke which was ready to fall upon their Religion Rights and Lives They sent Messengers to Prince Solyman to intreat him to be in a readiness to defend his own Right and the Laws of the Empire He hearken'd to their advices and made Preparations underhand to assist those of his own Religion and to free them from Persian slavery Thus were all Parties busie in supporting and promoting their own interest by all means imaginable The one pufft up with great hopes and the other as much abased with fears and apprehensions Roxana was not without a very great increase of trouble on her part notwithstanding the general rejoicing of all those of her own Sect. She had felt some motions in her Belly which she was not accustom'd to feel which with some sick fits that had lately come upon her had made her to give her Mother an account of the whole her Mother did presently Judge by what her Daughter had told her and by some other Circumstances and Signs that Roxana had not only been ravish'd but that she had been got with Child also She confirm'd her Daughter in those Suspicions that she had of it and the knowledge of that further mischief did wholly cast down Roxana so that from that time she confin'd her self entirely to her Chamber and would not admit but one from amongst all her Servants in which she most confided to approach near her or to see her Our Mufti was not satisfied with applauding himself with his late invention wherewith he had entrapp'd his great Enemies the Mufties of the true Mahometan Religion as he deem'd them but he would be prais'd for it likewise by all his Party not sparing Amurat and the Sultana from acknowledging his Subtilty in the managing of that branch of the great work To this purpose he went to pay his devoirs to the Sultana who he had not seen since that great Exploit She fail'd not to magnifie his ingenuity and to praise his indefatigable Industry in the propagation of the Faith after which falling on particular discourses the Sultana ask'd him what was become of Roxana and her Mother saying that she had not seen them nor heard of them since her return and that she had expected a congratulatory visit from them for her great belly The Mufti glad that the Sultana had fallen on that Theam of her self made answer that he had heard by accident that they were still both in Town but that his multiplicity of business had hindred him from making any further enquiry about them The Sultana said that she had a desire to see the Beauteous and Ingenious Roxana again and with that order'd that a Messenger should be immediately sent from her to the Mother and Daughter to command them to wait on her that very day The Messenger deliver'd the Message to Roxana's Mother but did not come to the speech of her and all that her Mother could say or do after the Messenger was gone to whom she had said they both would obey the Sultana's obliging Commands she could not prevail with her to keep her Company What will the Sultana think said the Mother What shall I say What excuse shall I make All that Roxana said was what you please use your own discretion and act according to your own fancy The Mother was forc'd to go to the Seraglio without Roxana very much dissatisfied and very full of thoughts what she should tell the Sultana and whether she had best to discover to her what misfortunes had hapned to Roxana or not She left all to the conduct of Fortune and resolv'd to discover or keep secret according as the Sultana would give her occasion to act She was kindly receiv'd by the Sultana who presently ask'd after Roxana Is she sick said the Sultana Yes Madam reply'd the Mother she is not well nor very sick neither What Riddle is this reply'd the Sultana Pray unfold it At this the Mother who had much to do to retain her Tears and in whose Face the Sultana had observ'd great marks of Sorrow could no longer contain her self She gave her Eyes liberty to dischage themselves upon her Cheeks which so sensibly mov'd the Sultana that she once again bid her to let her know what was the cause of so great a Sorrow as she express'd assuring her that nothing should be wanting to give her comfort My Griefs are of that nature Madam reply'd the Mother that they will not admit of any Redress I must rest satisfy'd in letting you know them without any hopes of Comfort neither from you nor any body else in the World continu'd she But Madam since it is your pleasure to hear my sorowful Story be pleas'd at least to afford me your Pity With that she told the Sultana all that had happen'd to Roxana since the Court's removal and return This is very ill for poor Roxana said the Sultana the rather because that there is no means left to know her Ravisher who though I do not believe to be designedly so yet deserv'd some punishment for using so ill the opportunity which he had of serving poor Roxana in a nobler way at least if he were a person sutable to her rank he should be compell'd to marry her or I should lose my Interest with Amurat. But though I cannot redress your Griefs according to my own desires in some measure I will alleviate them and render them somewhat more easie for you both to bear Does any body know of Roxana 's misfortune added the Sultana No Madam not any one I can assure you for she has not seen the Face of any person since nor could I so much as prevail with her to wait upon you Madam I cannot deny but that Zora Mufti Repset 's Sister may suspect something of the business as having had a hand in it on the Mufti 's account so far as his design went. That 's nothing reply'd the Sultana They are both of the Cabal in which I now will joyn you and Roxana as being persons that may be of great use to me in carrying on the great design But you must be all secret not a whisper or a betraying look or all is lost Madam you may command our Lives reply'd the Mother we should go to our deaths without murmuring if it were to serve you I believe you and thank you reply'd the Sultana Know now that for the good of our Cause and the Glory of the Sect of our great Prophet Haly it has been thought fit by our Privy Council