Europe he refreshed himself after the â—oils of War in the Arms of a charming Persian Lady who far out-shined all his other Favorites This beautiful Persian was Sister to Emir Gumer who to obtain the Grand Signiors Favor when he basely surrendered Revan to him presented him also with his Sister Rachima The effect which her Charms had on the Sultans Heart made the Sultaness Roxana who had followed him to the Persian War extremely Jealous This Princess was not wont to suffer a Rival her Reign had been long and uncontrolled and she had often sent the finest Women in the Seraglio into the other World so soon as she was informed that they indeavoured to seduce her Gallant Amurath being acquainted with and fearing her humor to prevent her resentment and free himself from her importunate Jealousie sent her away before him to Constantinople where all the extraordinary Honors that were paid her were not sufficient to ballance her vexation for being supplanted by another but not being able to revenge her self on her Rival she resolved to fall upon those who rejoyced at her disgrace Her Jealousie and cruelty made her formidable to all the World but none had more reason to mistrust her than the Grand Signiors Brothers Bajazet Orcan and Ibrahim the two first whose Valor equall'd their Birth were tired with her persecutions they knew her to be the cause that their Brother kept them in Prison and how she had done her utmost to destroy them that none might remain to dispute the Empire with her own Son The fear of death which threatned them had hitherto kept them from shewing themselves justly sensible of the wrongs which the Sultana Valide their Mother and the Princesses their Sisters had suffered at her hands but having learnt that she had lost much of Amuraths esteem they laid aside their former moderation and began openly to complain of Roxana who was so inraged at it that she vow'd their ruin to let her Enemies see that her Authority was not at all diminished and that none should go unpunished who offended her nothing was left undone that might conduce to the accomplishment of her design By fair promises she gained the Caimacan or Lieutenant to the Grand Visier to whom the Sultan had left the charge of his two Brothers to act without acquainting Amurath left that should discover her Treason She counterfeited Letters which assured him that these Princes had intelligence with their Brothers Enemies and after she had prepared all things necessary to justifie what she was about to do she produced a false Order of the Sultans and was so cruel as to go herself attended by the Executioners to tell the unfortunate Princes that she sacrificed them to her own hatred rather than to the interest of Amurath Bajazet after he had reproached her with all her crimes and given her thanks for taking away that life which he could not imploy in destroying her submitted to the Mutes who came to strangle him Orcan was not so patient for without upbraiding her he stood upon his Guard and having slain two disabled two more from having any hand in his death which he was forced to undergo at last as well as his Brother The Murder of these two Princes caused an universal sorrow and consternation their Courage had given the World great hopes and their death so inflamed the People against the Sultana that had not the Grand Signior arrived they had torn her out of the Seraglio and made her a victim to the Public hate Amurath was received in Triumph with more magnificence than was ever afforded any of his Predecessors after their most Signal Victories He had left Rachima at Damas which made Roxana believe that she was not quite blotted out of his Heart and that she should soon recover her ground To this end she made it her whole business to appear more charming in his Eyes besides she brought him to thank her for the death of his Brothers as an extraordinary service by which she had diverted the dangers that threatened his Person and Empire She had indeed a greater Ascendent over Amurath than she could hope for and found it no difficult matter to rekindle in him all those flames which the fair Rachima seemed to have extinguished He now heaped new favours on her and abandoned himself to such excess of Love as proved fatal to one of the Princesses his Sister As she came one day to cast herself at his Feet to complain of Roxanas injurious carriage towards her and of the unjust death of her two Brothers he was so inraged at her that with a Battle-ax which he held in his hand he gave her a blow on the head of which the Young Princess died on the place Roxanas hatred was not satisfied with this Murther she would have added that of the Grand Visiers Achomat because he was of the Sultana Valides party of whose Authority she was Jealous Besides the intention she had of putting the Caimacan who was wholy her creature into his place she found means to render him criminal by accusing him of being acquainted with and favouring the designs of the Princes This was enough to ruin him but the fall of this great Favourites head made such a noise that it awakened all the Grandees of the Empire they complained loudly of the injustices which the Great Sultana made the Emperor every day commit they ript up all the Murders she had been guilty of and caused the Mufty in behalf of the Public to complain of her to Amurath He had no sooner begun to acquit himself of his dangerous Commission but the Sultana Kiozem Amuraths Mother came and presented her self to him together with a Slave whom she brought to discover the Plot that Roxana had formed against her Life The Sultan at first would believe nothing but the Eunuch whose remorse had made him acquaint the Sultana Valide with what was contrived against her protested so earnestly that after he had discharged his Conscience of those secrets which filled him with horror he was not afraid to die that at last Amurath was convinced Roxana was sent for to answer to the crimes that were laid to her charge which she did with so much Pride and Disdain that not being able longer to defer her punishment by burying his Poynard in her heart he endeavoured with his own hand to repair all those ills she had been the cause of She was three and twenty years old and was thought the handsomest woman that ever came into the Seraglio Her Picture that Amurath ordered to be Drawn in the first transports of his Passion which he always kept in his Closet shews her to have been an accomplished Beauty She was tall and well shaped her Min was noble and her Gate becoming her Hair of a fair light Brown the turn of her Face was Oval her Complexion was very Clear and Smooth her Eyes full and sparkling her Nose well made her Mouth little her Lips Vermillion
she chiefly esteemed but never thought that Amurath would have found her so handsome as to fall in love with her if she had made this reflection she would not have hazarded a conquest the whole glory of which she intended to reserve to her self Truly Zaime had need of all her charms to efface the impression which Fatima had made in the Sultans heart whom she wholly possest so at first sight that she had no leisure so much as to think of the Odalisque and in a short time she rendred her self more absolute over his will than ever the crafty Roxana had been but she made better use of her power and forgot not that she owed it all to the great Eunuch being impatient till she had testified her acknowledgments to him when he came to recommend the interests of Mahomet Coprogli to her desiring her to beg the Government of Baruth for him of the Emperour This Government is very considerable it was sought for by many Courtiers and Officers but Zaime who had a mind to oblige Vglan spoke so seasonably to Amurath that she obtained it for Coprogli before all other Competitors even Zelim Achmet himself to whom the Sultan had promised it She immediately got his Commission drawn which she put into the great Eunuchs hands withal assuring him that this was the least Grace he could ask of her that she would make no other advantage of her power but to serve him and that since he was kind to Coprogli she would take care of his Fortune The Eunuch who received these marks of her goodness with a great many submissions and thanks would no longer defer the accomplishment of Coprogli's happiness He told the Princess Zaime that he was infinitely sensible of what she had done for him but that since by an excess of generosity she was pleased not only to load him with her benefits but to extend them also to his friends he beseeched her to pity the love of Coprogli who as soon as he first saw Fatima became desperately in love with her This slave was very dear to Zaime and the proposition of the Kislar Agazi surprised her at first she could not bestow Fatima on his friend without parting with her for ever This separation seemed very difficult to her and she could have wished that Vglan to whom she could refuse nothing had desired any thing else of her but the great Eunuch who had undertaken to render Mahomet Caprogli happy resolved to finish what he had begun and at last prevailed so far upon her that she had no power to deny his request Go Vglan said she to the Eunuch go tell your friend that he is beholden to you for a favour which none but you could have obtained of me The Kislar Agazi did what became him on this occasion and reiterated all the protestations he had before made of being faithful to her as long as he lived His place puts him in a condition of obliging or disobliging the Grand Signiors Mistresses which makes them have the more respect for the chief of the Eunuchs who govern their Seraglio He was no sooner assured of Coprogli's felicity but he sent for him to tell him the good news who notwithstanding what he knew of the Eunuchs power could hardly be perswaded that in so short a time he had been so successful as to satisfie both his ambition and his love But at last being possest of Fatima and Vglan having given him his Commission for his Government he thought of nothing beside the enjoyment of his good Fortune which by the protection of the Sultana and the friendship of the Kislar Agazi seemed to be firmly established But when he was ready to go and take possession of his Government he saw himself exposed to the cruel persecutions of Zelim Achmet This formidable Rival was not able to see his Mistress and the Government of Baruth to fall to Coprogli's share without being jealous even to fury He could not indure a preference that made him almost desperate he presumed much on his own merit on the Sultans favour to him and on the authority of his Uncle Ragep Bassa who had succeeded in the charge of Grand Visier after the death of Achomat so that Coprogli was to expect all the ill offices that a private man can receive from a great Minister and a Favourite who has his Princes ear but yet having the Sultana on his side he believed her able to protect him against his enemies And he was so confident of this that without taking any other measures he parted from Constantinople with the fair Fatima to go and take possession of his Government of Baruth He exercised his charge with so much integrity that he deserved the adoration of the people But who can be innocent when merit it self is an offence The Grand Visier Ragep was wholly swayed by his Nephew Achmet who could not digest the affront which he pretended he had received from Mahomet Coprogli and was not satisfied with the Government of Syria which the Grand Signior had given him to comfort him for missing that of Baruth This insolent Favourite projected the ruine of Coprogli but seeing that the Sultana Zaime protected him policy kept him from declaring himself openly against him for fear of displeasing the Emperour who adored Zaime He knew Amuraths humour perfectly well and saw plainly that to oppose his love was the way to ruine himself therefore not to hazard any thing he contain'd himself in expectation of some more favourable opportunity of revenge and time had afforded him means if the authority of the Grand Visier his Uncle had continued Heaven which is weary of the injustice of the wicked could no longer bear with those of Ragep Bassa but destroyed him to preserve the innocent who were the objects of his cruelties and treacheries The jealousie which this Ragep when he was but a simple Bassa had heretofore had of Emir Ticcardin Prince of Drus whom the chance of War had made a Prisoner at Constantinople after the loss of his Children his Estate and Treasures made him now afresh persecute him with calumnies and engage the Mufti and Religion against him that he might oblige the Sultan to behead the Emir who derived himself from Godfrey of Bouillon King of Ierusalem and was the Protector of the Christians and Franks in the Eastern Provinces He had counselled Amurath to put to death Camtemir King of the petty Tartars whom he had brought to Constantinople under pretence of making his peace with the Great Cham of Tartary who had corrupted him with Bribes At last he had conspired to depose the Grand Signior and set up his Brother Ibrahim in his place So that the Sultan being informed of the treasons of this first Minister who was the Author of all the Confusions in the State he caused him to be strangled and by his death prevented the destruction of many of the Grandees of the Port whom he would have sacrificed to his ambition This disgrace
forced Zelim Achmet to let Coprogli be quiet for some time In the mean time Amurath who had ended the Persian War and calmed the troubles of his Empire abandoned himself to the delights of the Seraglio But Death which had spared him in Armies where he was exposed to the greatest dangers surprized him in the midst of his pleasures for in the Beyran which is the Turks Easter at which time they are wont to be very merry the better to forget the austerity of their Ramazan or Lent The Sultan made a debauch with the Selichtar Cham Gumar Machut and Iarzai two other Persians in which he drank so excessively of Malvasie and Ros-solis that he inflamed his bowels and fell into a burning Feaver of which he died a few days after Several Diseases had taken away all his Children and his cruelty had put all his Brothers to death except Ibrahim whom he thought incapable of reigning While he was sick he asked often to see him intending as some believe to have had him strangled that he might leave none of his Blood behind him but what should be born of Zaime whom he knew to be with child He had named Rahim Chiras C ham of the petty Tartars to be his Successor and had made a secret agreement with him that in case Zaime should be brought to bed of a Son he should resign the Empire to him But the Divan ordained otherwise and the Sultana Valide had no sooner closed his eyes but she went to take Ibrahim out of Prison This Prince made some difficulty at the proposition which the Sultana his Mother the Mufti the Visiers and Bassa's made him of ascending the Throne believing it to be a design to surprize him and continued to counterfeit himself mad as he had done till then by the advice of the Eunuch Zomboul his Governour who had taught him this way to avoid the cruelty of his Brother Amurath but when he saw the Emperors dead body he convinced them that he had concealed his Reason to preserve his life and shewed so much judgment that he at first suprized those who knew the manner of his Education Ibrahim having taken up the reins of the Ottoman Empire began his Reign with such Justice and Clemency as seemed to give the people an undoubted assurance of an happy Government The first Commandment he gave was to Mustapha his Grand Visier who had succeeded Ragep That he should put no man to death unless he were convict of so enormous a Crime that he could not be pardoned without committing a greater This Prince was extremely good natur'd as might be seen by the lineaments of his face he had a ruddy Complexion a broad Forehead his Limbs well set but his Behaviour was very silly and innocent proceeding from his obscure Education which had quite changed the vigor of his mind and health so that it was feared he could have no children This made the Sultana his Mother have a great care of the Sultana Zaime whom she knew to be with child Zaime who loved the Sultana Valide as her own Mother had discovered it to her and the subtil Sultana Kiozem Ibrahim's Mother not believing he would leave a Son behind him would not suffer Zaime to retire into the old Seraglio where the Sultanas of the deceased Grand Signiors shut themselves up She fancied it would be no hard matter to perswade Ibrahim to love her Zaime was young her great belly appeared not and no body knew of it nor was it difficult to make him believe that the Child she should be brought to bed of was his own but there was no need of all this contrivance for Ibrahim who never knew what love was was so well satisfied with Zaime that examining no farther he abandon'd himself wholly to the enjoyment of her yet afterwards not contented with the delights he found in this Princess who had taught him to love he had a mind to try if another could not as well recommend those pleasures which had so long been unknown to him and took a liking to an handsome Georgian well born and a Christian who had been taken from her Parents at twelve years old and brought to the great Seraglio at Constantinople as a perfect beauty She had been bred very carefully having been taught to sing and play on several Instruments to accompany her voice which was admirable and it was by this that she had attracted Ibrahim This Prince was a great lover of Musick both instrumental and vocal He walked one evening under a Balcony where the young Bassée so was the fair Georgian called sung a Song so passionate that he would needs know the person that had sung it but having found by conversing with her that she had no less Wit than Beauty he was so charmed that immediately he threw her his Handkerchief as a sure pledge of his Love and a certain token that she should that very night receive more particular favours Of all the Passions that Princes are subject to Love is the most powerful and may boast of more triumphs than all the rest and though it is said that fruition diminishes it that of Ibrahim manifested the contrary for by the possession of his new Favourite he became more and more inflamed and his kindness increasing every day contributed to Bassées good Fortune The next morning she had eight women four Eunuchs and four Cooks added to her train The Sultan sent her six Baskets full of very rich Presents with a Cabinet stored with many thousand Shekines augmenting her allowance proportionably to his kindness and not thinking this sufficient he would have her Train as great as that of the Sultana Zaime so that he gave her more Eunuchs and made up her number of women sixteen He furnished a private Apartment for her with the best Furniture in the Seraglio where he often did her the honour to eat with her The compliant humour of this Favourite diverted his natural melancholy she would sometimes prevail with him to walk by the Sea-side and to hunt in the neighbouring Fields At last the Eunuch Zomboul perceiving her to be with Child he carried the news of it to the Grand Signior who took a Diamond of a great value off from his finger to make her a Present of and not being able longer to contein his Joy went himself to congratulate her that she was become the depository of a Pledge so important to the Ottoman Empire afterwards he visited the Sultana Valide to rejoyce with her Zaime was quickly informed of it and the news had like to have kill'd her she found her self ready to lie down which spoiled hers and the Sultana Valide's design The time having deceived them there not remaining enough to make Ibrahim believe that he was the Father of her Child The Sultana Kiosem being one of the most subtle ingenious Princesses that ever was would not quite ruine Zaime whom she tenderly loved nor expose a Child of Amurath for she
made no question but that Ibrahim when he should come to know the truth would sacrifice Zaime's Child to his own safety Therefore she resolved to keep her lying in secret and to convey the Child out of the Seraglio by some trusty person They could think of no body fitter to be trusted with so important a secret than Fatima who was immediately sent for She was ready to lie in her self which served as a pretence for her coming to Constantinople whither the women of Quality often come to lay their great bellies She was no sooner arrived but she fell in labour and a little while after the Sultana Zaime was brought to bed of a Daughter which she put into Fatima's hands desiring her to have as much care of her as if she were her own Fatima acquitted her self very handsomely of her Charge and brought up this Princess in her own house under the name of Iohaime She had a Son who looked on her as his Sister and was suffered to continue in his error a great while as we shall see hereafter when we come to his History In the mean time the Sultana Zaime being freed from the apprehensions of her great belly appeared more beautiful than ever which had some effect on the Grand Signior but she could not quite regain him he was constant in his affection to the Sultana Bassée whose happiness made all those who pretended to his favour jealous and almost desperate Zaime whose loss was the greatest was most afflicted nor did she neglect any means to destroy her Rival who alone had banished her out of Ibrahim's heart The Sultan perceiving her jealousie and knowing her to be newly with Child by him out of the apprehension he had of her wit and great power endeavoured to reconcile her to the Sultana Bassée The two Sultana's willing to please Ibrahim by their obedience seemed to have stifled their jealousie which put the Sultan into such transports of Joy as nothing could augment but the birth of two Princes which the two Rivals almost at the same time were brought to bed of He now renewed the vow which he had before made of sending one of his Children to Mecha to give the Prophet Mahomet thanks for the favour which he believed Heaven had bestowed on him by his intercessions But as if the fruitfulness of Zaime and Bassée had distasted him he took off his affection from them allowing them only a place in his esteem and ingaged himself in new amours which manifested the inconstancy of his humour Ever since this Prince had let loose the reins to his Passions his counterfeit or natural sweetness degenerated into extreme effeminacy and a bloody brutality He began to despise those who ought to have been most dear to him as the Sultana Valide his Mother the Mufti and Zomboul his protector He put to death his Grand Visier Mustapha Bassa and Salik Pacha who succeeded him soon after had the same fate Cappigi Bassa after the great services he had done him had no better fortune than the rest he caused the Captain Bassa General of the Sea to be strangled for answering him freely in an important affair The Aga of the Ianizaries lost his head for the insolence of the Souldiers who complained openly of the effeminacy and cruelty of their Emperour He was so fearful that he would put the most considerable persons of the Empire to death upon the least suspicion He craftily invited the Cham of the Tartars to Constantinople and beheaded him for saying that if his Highness should die with-Children he should inherit the Ottoman Empire which belonged to him of right by Sultan Amurath's Will the Constitutions of the Empire and the Laws of the Musulmans These cruelties made him odious to the Grandees of the Port and the chief of the Seraglio of which number were the Sultana Valide the Eunuch Zomboul and the Mufti Several Bassa's revolted but they were suppressed by Mehemet Bassa of Damas who was made Grand Visier though he could neither write nor read All the Rebels were deprived of their Governments that of Aleppo was given to Mahomet Coprogli who relinquished that of Baruth to his sworn enemy Zelim Achmet who by his Intrigues at the Port had hitherto preserved himself The Ianizaries and Spahies which are the two most considerable orders of the Turkish Militia raised several tumults one after another which were quieted again by giving them money At last the Mufti the new Grand Visier and the principals of the Court being weary of Ibrahim's cruelty and ill administration resolved to rid themselves of him but fearing lest if he should discover their conspiracy he would secure himself by the death of his own Children that he only might survive of his race and so save himself by the general necessity of the State because the Turks cannot indure to have any other Emperours but what are of the Ottoman Family They agreed before they undertook any thing to make sure of his Children or at least to get one of them out of the Seraglio whom they might have in their own power The best expedient they could think of to bring this design about was to let the Sultan know by the Mufti that he was indispensably oblig'd to accomplish the vow he had made while he had no children of sending one of his Sons to Mecha assuring him that if he delay'd it any longer he would bring the wrath of Heaven upon him and by declaring himself a transgressor of the Law might cause an universal revolt Ibrahim who was naturally very timorous yielded to the Mufti 's perswasions sticking only at the choice of him whom he ought to send The voyage being very long the confidence he had in his Prophet could not free him from his fear lest some ill accident should befal the young Pilgrim he would not venture his eldest Son by the Sultana Bassée who was then about three years old but was more inclined to send Prince Mahomet then but thirty months old whom he had by Zaime who feigned her self to be with child again She was not informed of the conspiracy and knowing the Grand Signiors design she told him she would not leave her Son and that the inconvenience of her great belly would not permit her to accompany him in so dangerous a voyage Perhaps her jealousie furnished her with this pretence to remove her Rival from the Seraglio on the other side Bassée knowing the conspiracy solicited the Sultan to let her conduct Prince Ottoman his Son to the Temple of their Prophet alledging that his eldest Son ought to accomplish his vow The extreme care she had to free her Son from the tempest which she saw ready to fall on the Seraglio and her desire to leave a place where she believed she had been poisoned made her the more earnest to go being seconded by the Mufti who assured Ibrahim that he ought to send the eldest of his children So that the Sultan being pressed by
such strong arguments yielded against his will to superstition and a Mothers tenderness He immediately gave order to the General of the Sea to equip the strongest Gally he could find There was one of a prodigious bigness which was not quite finished The Captain Bassa sent him word that it would require some time before she could be sit to put to Sea But Ibrahim who was extremely importun'd said that if she were not ready to sail in four days his head should pay for his negligence in the mean while he imployed the little time prescribed for their departure in ordering all things necessary for their voyage intending they should imbark with the greatest splendor and pomp that had ever been seen The day assigned being come the Sultana Bassée who was otherwise indisposed was more sensibly troubled to depart without her dear Confident Zomboul who had discovered the plot to her and desired her to provide for her own and her Sons safety by quitting the Seraglio This Eunuch had the charge of Ibrahim when he was in prison and had not only counsell'd him to counterfeit himself mad to avoid his Brothers cruelty who otherwise would have murdered him with the rest of his Brothers but he preserved his life when the Emperor commanded him to dispatch him secretly Yet Sultan Ibrahim was so ingrateful to Zomboul that after he had put him out of his place of Capi Aga he often threatned him with death so that his resentment made him joy with those who conspired his ruine and foreseeing the approaching revolution he was willing to secure his fortune by following the young Prince who in all likelihood would soon come to be Emperour The Sultana Bassée just before she went away when she took her leave of the Sultan cast her self at his feet with tears in her eyes to implore the last favour that she should ever ask of him on which the happiness of her life depended The Emperor moved by her tears presently lifted her up and promised to grant what ever she would request Sir said she I ask Zomboul of you to accompany me in my voyage I know well enough that I shall rob you of a faithful servant but when you consider it is for the service of your Son and a Mother afflicted by so cruel a separation I am perswaded you will not refuse me this last grace Ibrahim was a little surprized at this unexpected complement he could hardly think of parting with a Slave to whom he owed his life and one whom he believed the most faithful of all his Officers but he had promised and that to a person who was dear to him for his Sons sake therefore he ordered Zomboul to be ready to part the next day and gave him the general command of the conduct of the voyage He would have their departure kept secret to which end about midnight the Sultana Bassée Prince Osman her Son and her Servants being let out at the Garden gate of the Seraglio the Grand Signior came himself in a disguise to the Sea-side to give the Sultana and her Son his last kisses This Princess answered the Sultan's tenderness in such a manner as would have inspired the most insensible Soul with love and sorrow Farewel Sir said she with a languishing voice you will never see me more for I am poisoned by my perfidious Rival After these words she went abord the Gally and set sail leaving Ibrahim in a melancholy which continued upon him for many days Her last words were imprinted in his Soul and perhaps he would presently have made Zaime sensible of his displeasure had he not believed her to be with child it being his desire to leave a great many children behind him This inclined him to wait till after her delivery to punish her for what she was unjustly accused of Bassée who it may be had been poisoned by some body else was vexed to leave her Rival in the Seraglio although she had been promised that she and her Son Mahomet should be involved in the Grand Signiors ruine She would rather have had her fall by the Sultans own hand and this made her defame this Princess who has given too sublime marks of her virtue to let the world so much as suspect her of so base a crime Those who had conspired the death of Ibrahim deferred the execution of their design till Bassée and her Son were arrived at Alexandria but the Gally which carried them being met near the Isle of Rhodes by the Gallies of Malta commanded by Boisbaudran the General of the Gallies of that fraternity was assaulted and made a long and a valiant resistance in which the Aga Zomboul after he had given proofs of an extraordinary courage and done all that a brave man and a wise Captain could do on such an occasion was shot through the body with a Musket bullet which disabled him from fighting any longer He caused himself to be carried down to the Sultana's Cabin where having called the Captains to him he counselled them to compound with the Enemy then kissing young Osman's hand and taking leave of his Mother he made them carry him up again into the fight where he incouraged the Souldiers to the very last His death disheartned the Turks so that the Knights soon became masters of the Vessel but the Prize cost the Victors dear General Boisbaudran performing the part of a great Captain died of a Musket shot in his breast Piancourt great Steward to the Grand Master of Maltha and Captain of the St. Mary was slain as he was drawing an arrow out of his hand and Monsieur d' Albigre a Novice of great hopes lost his life there with many more gallant Knights The great booty was but an inconsiderable recompence for the loss of so many brave men The Sultana and the Prince her Son with their train were conducted to the Isle of Malta and the news being brought to Constantinople made the Conspirators defer their enterprize The Grand Signior received the news with inexpressible sorrow but when he heard that his dear Bassée was dead his grief grew so excessive that he was almost distracted He continued several days without speaking to any body and upon coming a little to himself he remembred Bassée's last words at her departure which plunged him again into his former despair He commanded Zaime to be brought to him who apprehending his cruelty took young Mahomet along with her who was then look'd upon as heir to the Empire that she might allay the Fathers fury by the presence of his Son but he would have revenged himself on the Mother and the Son too if they had not been delivered out of his hands As soon as he beheld Zaime he reproached her with her treachery and without hearing her justification which she was ready to make on her knees he had thrust his Dagger into her breast if young Mahomet had not staid his hand and received the stroke which he intended to have
resolved to take away the root of all the mischiefs that threatned them by depriving an unworthy Prince of his Power and by punishing the crimes of the Grand Visier Achmet and the Traytor Hussein The people and the Janizaries were easily brought into the Conspiracy being both weary of the Tyranny The people were so oppressed by the Grand Visier and the Souldiers so provoked for want of their pay that they offered to set the Seraglio on fire The Mufti Who is the chief Priest of the Turkish Law the Kadileskess who are the Judges the Visiers and Bassa's who are the Chancellors of State and Intendents of Provinces the Aga of the Janizaries who is Colonel of all the Infantry the Captain who is Admiral of the Sea and generally all the principal Officers revolted with one accord The Sedition was begun by the request which the Mufti made to Ibrahim in the name of the whole State to have the Grand Visier Achmet punished The Sultan provoked by this boldness commanded his Guard to chastise the Mutineers for making such an impudent proposition but the Janizaries were too much incensed to obey him which forced him to flie to the Sultana Valide his Mother who had fomented the Rebellion that she might revenge the wrongs she had suffered from her Son by the counsel of the Grand Visier whom with the Traitor Hussein Ibrahim delivered up to the people to be torn in pieces naming Mahomet a popular man who was threescore and ten years old to supply his place not being able to appease the Rebels any other way But they were not satisfied with this they would have Ibrahim himself come and render an account of his actions before the Mufti who summoned him before the Divan or Consul by sending a Kadilesker to him whom the Sultan slighted and tore the Fetfa which is a summons to appear before the Judges This being reiterated in vain the Mufti with the Visiers the Bassa's and other Officers went to the Seraglio and took him by force out of his Mothers arms and carried him to the prison in which he was brought up where ten days after he was Strangled his Son Mahomet who was then about seven years old being placed in the Imperial Throne and publickly proclaimed Emperor of the Turks and his Mother Zaime Regent during his minority The Sultana was assisted by a Council of twelve Bassa's who were to deliberate with her concerning Affairs of State in which she was so well versed that she soon obtained Authority enough to make any thing pass in the Divan which she had resolved in her Closet and discharged the Grand Visier of a great deal of trouble which she was willing to take upon her self And not long after the Visier died leaving the Sultana at liberty to bestow his place on one of her own creatures However she was forced to use great caution in the choice of this Minister Policy instructed her not to raise one that might intrench upon her power or one who by displeasing the Grandees and the People might render her odious to them both She had fresh examples before her eyes of the fatal consequence of such Elections and of the dangers that the Sultans were exposed to by the imprudence of their Ministers Dissimulation is a virtue in Princes she had already formed her design in her head nothing remaining but to put it handsomly in execution to which end she caused the Divan or Council of State of the Ottoman Empire to be assembled to which the Mufti and all the great men of the Port were summoned She represented to them that by the death of Mahomet the Office of the Visier Azem was vacant in a time that considering the great Wars he was ingaged in with his most cruel Enemies more than every required an able and experienced Minister to support the weakness of the Sultan who could not in many years be capable of taking care of his Empire himself She told them that the Treasures were exhausted and that she had brought them together to take their advice in such pressing necessities adding that it was requisite to re-establish the ancient Taxes without oppressing the people who had suffered so much in the last Emperors time that they must not think of laying new imposts on them She protested to them that she would wholly resign her self up to their counsel in the sovereign administration which the Divan had conferr'd on her an honour that had not been done to any Sultana before her especially since it was composed of persons so well able to govern as they were At last she concluded her discourse with a command to them to give their votes for him whom they thought fittest to be her partner in power and Lieutenant General of the Empire She foresaw that by this means she should make the Visiers and Bassa's so jealous of one another that they would not resolve to choose any particular man which was the thing she wished and it fell out according to her expectation for all those who aspired to the place being ashamed to ask it were unwilling to give their votes for another and when she pressed them to declare themselves they very submissively desired her to make the choice her self since whatever liberty she had given them of electing a Grand Visier yet there could be none but such a one as she should approve which inclined them rather to deserve her favour by their obedience The Grand Sultana who understood their meaning was glad to see her designs succeed so well She assured them she would not abuse the trust they reposed in her and that she would make such a choice as should be to their satisfaction and to ingage them the more she told them it was necessary to supply those Governments which were vacant and to examine the accusations of those Bassa's Beys and Sangiacks whom Ibrahim had imprison'd before his death some for Rapine others for imbezelling the Publick Treasure that the innocent might be freed and the guilty punished This was a nice proposition and sensibly touched those Visiers and Bassa's who protected the prisoners and had contributed to Ibrahim's destruction But the Sultana was glad to find this means to reproach them with the death of her Husband and to oblige them to give her some satisfaction Since the love of your Country and the interest of State said she caused you to remedy the disorders of the Government by summoning my Lord and your Emperour to the Tribunal you ought to continue your justice to all the world by relieving the innocent who indure those pains which are only due to the criminal and it were of odious example if they should escape that punishment to which you condemned an Emperor who certainly was not faulty if you think those whose Sentence you defer innocent As she said these words she let fall some tears which she presently wiped away for fear of provoking those whom she intended to mannage to her advantage She
their cruelty and avarice who have robbed so many innocent people are at last stripped themselves and have rendred that money of which they have defrauded you This proceeding seemed a little bloody and made it feared that his administration would be very severe but he regulated his actions with so much Justice that he never put any man to death unless he certainly knew that he deserved it The chief scope of this Grand Visier was to raise his Princes Authority weaken'd of late by the frequent Seditions of the Janizaries whose insolence he endeavoured to curb for the establishment of his own fortune too He told them they were unworthy of being inrolled and receiving pay if they were not in condition to serve and ready to obey the Emperors orders But they instead of being satisfied with the death of Ibrahim thought to take the advantage of Sultan Mahomet's youth and believing that the Grand Visier was as weak and timorous as his Predecessors whom they had either murthered or deposed they slighted his commands and refused to pass into Candy alledging that the Janizaries were priviledged from making War by Sea that they were not to march any where without the Emperor whom they would not leave for fear of some innovation against him in their absence The Sultana Kiozem furnished them with this pretence the better to compass a design which she had contrived This Sultana who had still the title of Valide was Grandmother to Mahomet the Fourth She had contributed to the death of her Son Ibrahim because he took away the Authority which she had usurped She fancied that since she had a share in the Government in three Emperors Reigns she should have been made Regent of the Empire during her Grandsons minority but the Grandees of the Port and the Divan having conferred the Sovereign Power on the Grand Signiors Mother she was extremely offended to see the affairs of the Ottoman Empire mannaged by a woman who owed her fortune and greatness to her She hoped that Zaime would surrender her Authority to her but this being too unreasonable and improbable a wish to succeed Ambition which considers the extent of the desires more than of duty made her think of revenge She thought of nothing but how to execute her projects and despaired not yet to make her self absolute Mistress of the Empire To this purpose she imparted her design to the Kislar Agazi who had always been her confident but he could not so much as hear her Treason without horror How Madam said he to her in disorder is it possible that you would destroy a Princess who honours you as her Queen and respects you as her Mother could you be so cruel as to kill young Sultan Mahomet because he is her Son is he not yours too does not nature it self speak in his behalf No continued he I will rather lose my life than be an assistant in so foul an enterprise Well well Vglan replied the malicious Princess who perceiving how coldly the Eunuch entertained her proposition bethought her self of counterfeiting repentance lest he should betray her endeavour then to restore my Authority and dispose Zaime to take me along with her in the Regency my advice will be very advantagious to her and I will always behave my self like a good Mother towards her The Kislar Agazi promised her more than she asked and swore never to speak of what she had imparted to him neither had he any time to do it he spoke with her in the beginning of the night and the next morning he was found dead in his bed No body could tell how it came to pass but since that time it has been discovered that a Slave whom she had gained had blown poison into his Nose when he was asleep The death of this Eunuch was exceedingly deplored by the Great Sultana who reflected on all the good Offices he had done for her and she would have been more afflicted if she could have comprehended the greatness of her loss in him who would have done her a more important service than ever if death had not prevented him The Grand Visier who owed his fortune to him and looked on him as his Father was inexpressibly grieved and suspected somewhat of the truth but could not guess at it all In the mean time the Sultana Valide lost no time she had by great promises ingaged the Aga of the Janizaries to the Aga of the white Eunuchs the Bostangibachi the Governour of the Pages called Iâ—hoglans who are six hundred of the handsomest young men in the Empire the Captain General of the Seas and some of the most considerable Bassa's She had so disposed every thing that her design would infallibly have succeeded if Heaven which takes a particular care of crowned heads had not put it into the Visier Azems mind to go out of his Seraglio at the beginning of the night and to pass through the quarters of the Town in disguise with one Slave only whom he trusted most to see what the Janizaries did of whom he had some apprehension as not being well affected either to him or the Emperors service He was much surprised to find them all in the Hippodrome with their Muskets on their shoulders and their Matches lighted and Sentinels placed at all avenues He was presently stopt his looks betrayed his intention of not being known but he wanted not courage and on this occasion manifested the presence of his mind He asked with a great deal of confidence for Bactas the Aga of the Janizaries and being led to his Oda was astonished at his arrogance in not rising to salute him though he knew him very well when at another time he would have prostrated himself before the Grand Visier who never goes to see any body but the Grand Signior and when he receives a Visit never rises to any body but the Mufti However he dissembled his thoughts at present knowing himself certainly lost if he did not make use of some subtilty to disingage himself from the danger he was in The Aga in the mean time having made him sit down on his left hand which is the most honourable place among the Turkish Souldiers was just going to ask him the cause of his disguise when Mahomet preventing him Bactas said he I was informed that you assembled your Troops to night for some great enterprise I received this notice from the Seraglio from persons whom you know to be your chiefest friends and I disguised my self for fear of being known to come and learn of you what I should do for your security and my own Bactas was struck speechless to hear that the Grand Visier was informed of all the Plot he easily believed that he was come on purpose to him to endeavour his own preservation and imagining it would be a great advantage to ingage this first Minister in the Conspiracy he examin'd him a little and then discovered the whole design to him telling him that he was to
abated that he could not have taken a fuller revenge of them who had been so bold as to undertake to dethrone their Emperor He deliberated a while whether he should re-establish this Militia or no which is accounted the best of the Ottoman Empire whose strength and support it is said to be And this presumption is the reason of the liberty it so often takes of being seditious It was in this Ministers power to abolish them but considering that then the Spahies who take themselves to be the only Gentlemen among the Turks would grow so potent that they would be no less dangerous to the Emperor and the State He concluded it would be better to maintain two sorts of Militia in the Empire whose emulation and jealousie would keep them in obedience Therefore he made a levy of men fit to bear Arms out of whom he chose fifteen thousand of the best to be Janizaries These he Disciplined for some time often taking reviews of them and exercising them before the Grand Signior To accustom them to be obedient he gave them Captains that were at his devotion who conducted them into Candia where he resolved to continue the War though it was very toilsome and expensive The Generals who had been sent to the Conquest of this Island since the beginning of the War made use of the command they had over the Army to raise their authority so that they would hardly submit to the Port. They pretended at least to be equal to the Grand Visier whom they no longer looked on as their Superior The exigency of affairs and the troubles that hapned in the State had hindred the Divan from repressing their insolence But Mahomet Coprogli thought it high time to oppose the growth of an authority that destroyed his and prevent the ill consequences which the ambition of Bassa Delle Vssain General of the Army in Candia might have who took a great deal of state upon him contemned the Grand Visier would receive no orders from the Port but such as pleased him and used threats when he had not every thing he asked He craftily got this proud General to Constantinople to make a memorable example of him to posterity and to maintain the honour of his Master and the authority of his Charge Vssain Bassa was no sooner arrived at the Port whither his own presumption fortified by the Visier Azems splendid promises had unhappily brought him but he was thrown into the bottom of a prison with a great many Christian Officers whom he had brought along with him in triumph and whom swelled with pride and rashness he still abused in the Dungeon where not long after he was strangled before them which afflicted him more than death it self By this exact Justice Mahomet Coprogli kept the Souldiers and all the Officers of the Empire in obedience The resolution of this great Minister was admirable in this bold action of putting to death so famous and so important a man who thought his Authority secure and much more his Life having gained an absolute power over the Souldiers and engaged the chief of the Empire to his side But the apprehension of the consequence of this blow hindred not the Visier Azem from giving it to prevent the Bassa's intrigues which must needs have been prejudicial to the Emperor and his Subjects He foresaw how much he should expose himself but his zeal to serve the State and his Master made him pass by such considerations and slight all dangers He was not at all concerned that his enemies blamed this action being certain that those who were of Vssain Bassa's party would impute his death to his jealousie but he knew that there is no station at Court free from censure and no behaviour so prudent as to prevent all accidents and that the Ministers of Princes are most exposed to the wounds of envy This consideration kept him from punishing the chief of the Port among whom was the Mufti The Sultana Valide was Regent of the Empire she knew the fidelity and wonderful genius of Mahomet Coprogli she had an intire confidence in him relied on his care communicated all things to him and was not ashamed to testifie her gratitude to him to whom she owed her life and her Son his life and Empire Those who envied the greatness and desert of the Visier Azem found fault with the Sultana Valide's kindness to him which when this wise Politician perceived that he might prefer the good of the State before his own interest he was so generous as to desire the Sultana to moderate her affection which perhaps was but the pure effect of her gratitude And she did it in conformity to the prudence of this great man who established his fortune with so much modesty and discretion that it was never subject to the least difgraces and he sustained the affaults of his Enemies with so much constancy and steddiness that they were forced at last to beg his pardon which the generous Coprogli easily granted them besides many other favours In the mean time the Recruits which he had sent into Candia and the Troops which Ali Bassa had led into Dalmatia gave hopes of great advantages over the Venetians who seeing themselves attaqued by two powerful Armies at once thought it their best way to make a League with some Prince that was able to divert the Ottoman Forces To this purpose they sent to their Agent whom they usually maintain in the Persian Court to treat an Alliance out of hand with the Sophy to oblige him to take Arms in behalf of the Republick The Resident succeeded in his Negotiation as well as the Signiory could wish And Achab Acmes Sophi newly newly come to the Throne by the Death of the King his Father took occasion to demand of Sultan Mahomet the restitution of Bagdet which has ever been the Domain of the Kings of Persia and in case of denial declared War against him Babylon now Bagdet is not only one of the best flowers of the Ottoman Crown but is a place of such importance that the Turkish Emperor could not restore it to the Persian without opening him the way to Constantinople The Grand Visier thought it not convenient to facilitate the means of so dangerous an Enemies visiting his Master when he should have a mind to it therefore he sent back the Persian Embassador with a refusal which made the Sophy endeavour to reduce Babylon with a powerful Army The Grand Duke of Muscovy had pretensions to the Provinces that border'd his Dominions he listned favourably to the Complaints and Propositions of the Venetian Embassador and received his presents with the offers which the Common-wealth made him of a very considerable sum in case he would invade the Turks He sent an Embassador to Venice to assure the Senate of his assistance At the same time the Cham or Emperor of the Tartars thought of revenging the death of his Father who was murthered by Sultan Ibrahim The alliance that has always been
deserves to be known He was the Son of Sultan Amurath the Fourth and that Rachima of whom we spake in his reign Though this Sultana had abundance of wit yet she was very superstitious so that she believed the predictions of an Almasairis so are the followers of Hali called whom the Persians and Arabians own as a great Prophet fancying that all his race have the gift of Prophesie Rachima consulted this man upon all occasions as soon as she found her self with child she would needs know the success of her lying in The Almasairis after some consideration answered That she should bring forth a Prince who would be one day Emperor of the Turks if he could avoid the cruelty of his nearest kindred and that if Heaven did free him from a misfortune that was to happen to him in the capital City of the Empire which he was to avoid dwelling in he would surpass the greatness of all the Ottomans his Predecessors Rachima received this answer as an Oracle she desired Amurath who prepared to return to Constantinople notwithstanding a Prediction of the Almasairis which forbad it to leave her at Damas. Sir said she lying at his feet if I deserve any grace of your Highness shew that your faithful Slave is not displeasing to you at this time by granting her one favour You know Sir that I never importuned you it is true your magnificence has loaded me with all sorts of benefits but the favour I now implore will be more welcome to me than any I have already received because your Highness is concerned in it it is to suffer me to stay here till you return I know no greater unhappiness than such a separation it would kill me with sorrow Sir but I had rather lose my life than expose you to the misfortunes that threaten you if I follow you to the Seraglio where my presence would cause too much disorder Sultan Amurath was at first more surprized at this request which he expected not than unwilling to grant it whether he apprehended the effect of the Almasairis's Prophesie or that his passion for Rachima was abated or that he would not expose her to the resentments and jealousie of the Sultana Roxana whose love was increased more than ever by his absence He bestowed rich Presents on Rachima commanding the Bassa of Damas to have a care of her and to pay her a very considerable Pension He assigned her besides the Tribute which the King of Arabia paid him and took leave of her with great marks of affection A little while after Amurath's departure Rachima was brought to bed of a Son whom she named Soliman Amurath She observed the circumstances of the Prediction and brought him up secretly lest Roxana being informed of his birth should order him to be put to death She knew that this great Sultana was no less dangerous than powerful and that only her distance from her freed her from her cruelty The news of her death was the more welcome to her because she hoped to have supplied her place And she was preparing to let the Sultan know the birth of his Son when Amurath's death spoiled her design and she thought it not fit to discover the young Prince Soliman Amurath not having power enough to place him on the Throne On the contrary she was careful to keep him from being known to Ibrahim who succeeded Amurath lest he who came not to the Empire but for want of an heir and was thought incapable of leaving any should follow the cruel policy of his Ancestors by sacrificing Prince Soliman who alone would dispute the Crown with him Rachima therefore stood upon her guard and contented her self with the Revenue that Sultan Amurath left her But Sinan Bassa Governour of Damas who always had honoured her in the life of the deceased Grand Signior and paid her Pension exactly discontinued his respect to her in the new Emperors time and threatned to send her to the old Seraglio at Constantinople The Sultana mistrusting the Bassa resolved to retire into Persia where she was born or to some Prince whose Authority might protect her and her Son from her enemies To colour her retreat she gave out that she had made a Vow to visit the Tomb of the great Prophet Mahomet and having begun her journey under this pretence she went to Reba King of the Arabians the same who was to pay his tribute to her This Prince not being so barbarous as usually those of his Nation are received Rachima with a great deal of kindness This young Sultana who was not above two and twenty years old appeared so handsome to him that he not only promised her his protection but also offered her his Crown and his Heart Rachima was no less pleased with King Rabas person than his generosity He had so many good qualities that he easily made himself be beloved The Sultana sought a Protector and thought it not fit to neglect the Arabian King They found they had inclination enough to one another she received so many marks of sincere good will from him that she made no great difficulty to bestow her heart on him He took a particular care of the young Prince Soliman Amurath being glad of having such a Subject as might revenge the persecution he had suffered from the Port in the Reign of Amurath who reduced him to pay Tribute from which he would have freed himself by joyning with Emir Ficardin Prince of Dus his Kinsman whom Bassa Giaphar overcame and sent to Constantinople where he was ignominiously put to death King Reba preserved his resentment only waiting an occasion to shew it and impatiently suffered the obedience and homage which he was bound to render to the Grand Signior To shake off this yoke he armed Prince Soliman whhm he educated as his own Son and negotiated secretly with the Bassa of Aleppo and some other Governors of Provinces in Asia who revolted from Sultan Mahomet when his Empire was invaded on all sides with intention to drive him from the Throne and place Prince Soliman Amurath on it in his stead We have seen how their enterprize succeeded and the King of Arabia was slain with his arms in his hand performing the part of a brave Souldier and a great Captain in the Battle that Soliman lost Rachima who followed him in this War died a little while after of grief that she had destroyed her Son by endeavouring to bring him to the Throne according to the Prediction of the Almasairis This Prince had something extraordinary in his air and Person The Turks affirmed that he perfectly resembled Sultan Amurath his Father who was the handsomest man in his Empire After the death of Soliman Amurath Orcan Ogli and the Bassa's and Governours who followed his Fortune the retreat of the Persian Sophy left Asia in a peaceable condition which made the Grand Visier apply himself to oppose the other Wars that menaced the Ottoman Empire He ordered all his Troops
to be in the Field by March in the mean time he continued his negotiations with the Great Duke of Moscovy to divert him from invading the Grand Signior in favour of the Venetians He expected the arrival of his Deputies at the Port who were to explain the Dukes intentions and not finding it so easie to appease the Emperor of the Tartars whom he dreaded more than all the rest of the Sultans enemies he secretly engaged the Cham of the petty Tartars to joyn himself with the chief of the Great Chams Subjects who were revolted so that when this Prince prepared vast Forces to invade the Grand Signiors Provinces he was obliged to make use of his preparations to defend his own Estate and was glad to send an Embassador to the Sultan to make him reparation and offer him all his Forces when he had appeased the Troubles which the petty Cham and his own Grandees had raised This Embassy secured the Grand Visier and freed him from a very dangerous enemy However he left not off his warlike preparations both by Sea and Land and continually endeavoured to render his Master the most formidable and powerful Prince in the world While he waited for a proper season to make some expedition he dispatched a Chiaux to the Emperor to demand passage through his Dominions for the Sultan's Army into Friuli The Chiaux was sent back with a refusal dishonourable to the Grand Signior but the Visier Azem thought it not time to shew his resentment or to send any Troops into Dalmatia till the Sophy were quite determined either to Peace or War He feared lest he should agree with the Mogol seeing the Ottoman Arms imployed in another place and defer the sending his Embassadors to Constantinople to renew the Peace which he had broken The Venetians in the mean time being informed that the Troubles of the Port were accommodated and that Embassadors were arrived there from those Princes of Asia who had given them hopes of diverting the Ottoman Forces were afraid of having them all turned upon them in a short time and though they had obtained great advantages over Sultan Mahomet's Fleet they resolved to send and implore peace of him But this Prince being swayed by his first Minister received their Agents very coldly and told them that the Signiory of Venice had no other way to end the War but to yield the Kingdom of Candia to him and the Town of Clissa the most considerable place in Dalmatia and to pay him three Millions of Gold for the charges he had been at since the beginning of the War These conditions were too hard to be accepted and the War it self could not be more disadvantagious to the Venetians and it was the Visier Azem's design to continue it he had private reasons not to make Peace with the enemies of the Empire He knew by experience that after such considerable preparations it was dangerous to dismiss the Souldiers without abating their heat and impetuosity by the toils of War He had a mind to imploy the Janizaries to avoid the Seditions they commonly raise in Peace So that the Venetians seeing themselves rejected implored the assistance of all the Princes of Christendom The Grand Visier who foresaw they would have this refuge prepared to resist all their attempts and obstinately pursued the getting of Candia accounting it the most glorious and beneficial conquest the Emperor could ever make He sent great refreshments to the Troops that were there and all provisions necessary to continue the Siege of the chief City of the Island Now the Sultan was more desirous than ever of commanding his own Army threatning if they continued to with-hold him that he would steal away privately to go to the Camp and discover himself to his Souldiers Mahomet Coprogli imployed all his art to moderate his ardor without incurring his hatred making use of all his prudence on so nice an occasion The Grand Signior honoured him as his Father and had intire confidence in his conduct but he listned to the flatteries and partial perswasions of a great many young men and Bassa's who would have drawn him out of the Seraglio that they might with more ease insinuate into his favour and diminish the authority of the Grand Visier This Minister foreseeing the consequences desired the Sultana Valide to joyn her endeavours with his to convince the Emperor that he ought by no means to expose himself to those disgraces that might be followed by the loss of his Estate and life too The Sultan would not disoblige the Sultana his Mother or the Visier Azem he permitted him to send an Army into Dalmatia under the conduct of Mahomet Coprogli who had order to besiege Clissa and Zara but his Valor was not seconded by his Souldiers and with all his attempts he could not carry these two places This young Captain shewed a fierceness that astonished the most resolute he desired nothing but a Battle to end that War Those who wondered at this vehemence knew not that the desire of glory was not the only passion that animated his courage but it is not yet time to discover the cause and interrupt the relation of Mahomet Coprogli's Ministry to treat of his Sons loves which we will speak of at length in the sequel of this History While brave Achmet pressed the Siege of the Capital City of Dalmatia and the Army in Candia endeavoured to conquer that Island in spight of all the Venetians resistance the Grand Visier who applied himself to the particular Affairs of the Empire and to provide for the subsistance of the Armies found himself at the same time obliged to extinguish a Civil War which began to break out by the factiousness of some discontented persons The frequency of these kind of disgraces had so confirmed Mahomet's soul and courage that nothing surprised him nevertheless he stopt not this flame without difficulty and bloodshed It cost young Morat the Author of the Revolt his life who was the Son of Vssain Captain General of the Sea whom the Grand Visier caused to be beheaded for favouring Soliman Amurath and the Bey of Togor suffered the same punishment for having committed some fault contrary to his duty These troubles were no sooner quieted but the death of Ragotski Prince of Transylvania gave the Visier Azem an opportunity of extending the Grand Signiors Dominions This Province had been the seat of a long War which was ended by the submission of the deceased Prince who paid great sums to the Port. The Grand Visier pretended this was a Tribute and that this Province holding of the Turkish Empire the right of nominating a Prince belonged to the Sultan The States of Transylvania not giving way to this pretence were assembled after Ragotski's death to elect another Prince Chimin Ianos and Count Barelay were Competitors at this Election The first who was the most considerable put himself into the Emperors protection promising never to have any thing to do with the Grand
Signior The other on the contrary relied on the Sultan and promised to own him for his Sovereign These two pretenders divided the Estate by their Factions Count Barelays submission was accepted of at the Port and in his behalf the Grand Signior ordered Ali Bassa to enter Transylvania with fifty thousand men who presently took a strong place called Waradin which refused to acknowledge Count Barelay The Emperor on the other â—ide sent an Army to defend Chimin Ianos and to keep the Turks from breaking into his Territories Ali Bassa was no sooner informed of this but he sent to Count Souches the General of the Imperial Troops to pay the Sultan Homage for the places which the Emperor possessed on the Frontiers of Hungary and in case of refusal denounced War and threatned his Highnesses own coming with an Army of an hundred thousand men The Emperor having received this news put twelve thousand men under the conduct of Count Montecuculi to guard the Frontiers and sent to demand aid of all the Princes of the Empire fearing the Grand Signior would break the Peace But the arrival of a Chiaux whom the Sultan dispatched to him by the advice of the Visier Azem who was not yet fully prepared to make War on the Emperor secured him a little The Sultan sent him word that he desired to maintain the Peace with him and that he disapproved the proceedings of Ali Bassa whom he had only ordered to support the Prince of Transylvania who put himself under his protection But the Emperor finding that without any regard to the assurances of this Envoy the General of the Turkish Army continued his Conquest in Transylvania he stood on his guard and recalling Count Souches to face the Enemy and enter into the Ottoman Dominions he sent Count Serini to command his Troops So that these two parties provok'd one another by little and little without coming to an open War The Grand Visier was unwilling to declare yet he would not lose the opportunity of wholly reducing Transylvania or atâ— least of making its Prince hold directly of the Grand Signior To this purpose he solicited Chimin Ianos whom the Estates owned as their lawful Prince and who in spight of the Ottoman Army had possessed himself of the best places to submit himself to the Port giving him hopes of a favourable protection but the Prince rejected his propositions which so provoked him who had set his heart upon joyning this Province to the Sultans Dominions that he could no longer contain his displeasure against the Emperor resolving to have satisfaction from him for hindering his projects and to revenge himself more speedily and obtain that by force which he could not get fairly he put the Cham of the Tartars in mind of his promises to the Grand Signior and received thirty thousand men from him with which he augmented Ali Bassa's Army This General being thus re-inforced divided his Troops to make several attaques at once at the same time besieging Zeiklit Callo and Zatmar three places that belonged to the Emperor but he found so much resistance that with all his attempts he could take none of them but Callo and was forced to raise the other Sieges and retire to avoid fighting with the Imperial General who offered him Battel This War hindred not the Grand Visier from pressing that of Candia and sending continual refreshments to the Army which held Canea against the Venetians and after he had put all the Affairs of the Ottoman Empire to a good posture he designed to go in person to carry on the Transylvanian War not being satisfied with the General Ali. He mistrusted the great power which this Bassa had gained among the Souldiers and feared he would be very troublesome to him on the least discontent he could not take away his command or revoke him without a specious pretence for fear of reducing him to make use of his present reputation to maintain himself in his charge This consideration made him resolve to command the Army himself finding no better expedient to take away all suspicion from Ali Bassa who would be obliged to give place to him without complaining because the Souldiers always look upon the Grand Visier when he is in the Camp as their only General He had a mind besides to establish his Son among the Souldiers who already knew how to gain their kindness and he flattered himself with the hopes that he should one day be able to repose part of his cares on him He knew his valour and conduct and believed him capable of filling up that place in the Army which was not fit for himself and which he could not securely trust another with but death prevented this great mans design He was no sooner gone from Constantinople with the Grand Signior who removed from thence because of the Plague but he found himself attaqued by a violent Feaver which forced him to stay at Adrianople whither he sent for his Son to give him his last instructions foreseeing that he should not recover At this time he imparted to Achmet Coprogli all the politick maximes which his long experience and penetrating wit had taught him He charged him never to do any injustice to sacrifice his own interests and particular inclinations to the good of the State to be always faithful to the Sultan and to advise him to undertake no new War till those of Candia and Transylvania were ended Remember my Son said he to observe the Laws and that to serve your Prince is to accomplish the greatest part of the Law After these Remonstrances he called Fatima his Wife who was infinitely afflicted to see this great man die without leaving any authority to his Son but Mahomet Coprogli having somewhat recovered his spirits resolved to do something before he died worthy of his subtilty and prudence He contrived with Fatima and his Son all that was necessary to make his last designs succeed and he writ a Letter to the Grand Signior in which he told him that finding himself at the point to die nothing troubled him more than that he died before he had finished the Wars which his Highness had with two powerful Enemies but he hoped that he would happily put an end to them if he made use of the counsel which he had given his Son Achmet to whom he had delivered the Seal of the Empire to give it to his Highness if he judged him unworthy to keep it yet if the Sultan had any respect to his passed services or gave any credit to the last words of the faithfullest of his Slaves he protested to him that he could not choose a man worthier to be Grand Visier than Achmet Coprogli of whose ability he was assured and whom he had furnished with all instructions necessary to acquit himself perfectly of that great charge He added that he knew well enough this choice was unusual but that the Sultans interest ought to make him neglect a piece of Policy that was not so
useful to him as it had been to his Ancestors and that besides his Highness should consider that Empires would perish if the Laws were not often subjected to necessity When he had written this Letter with a great deal of pain he commanded Fatima to send it to the Grand Signior by the Visiers who would come to receive his last words but he charged her not to give them the Seal ordering Achmet to keep it and to deliver it to none but the Emperor At last finding himself grow very weak he left off speaking for fear of being surprized by the Deputies of the Divan When he saw them he made as if he had lost his speech and to let them see that he understood what they said he pointed to his Son who was by his bed-side The Visiers that they might know his meaning looked on Fatima as if they would learn it of her This cunning Woman bursting out into tears told them that his meaning was that the Sultan might know by Achmet what he would have learned of him that he had intrusted him with the secrets of the Empire by giving him the Seal and discovering to him some particulars very important to the State of which she was ignorant but perhaps that Letter which she gave them might clear all that they should carry it to the Emperor and inform him in what condition they left the Grand Visier She spake these words so naturally that the Deputies suspected nothing they were indeed concerned that they did not carry the Seal of the Empire back with them but they never imagined that the Visier Azems Son should keep it They were hardly gone from him when he expired and his death was no less deplored than it was particular to a man of his condition for it is not usual for a Minister of the Ottoman Empire to die a natural death Almost all his Predecessors either through the Grand Signiors jealousie or for their evil administration or their injustices died by the hands of Executioners The important services Mahomet Coprogli had done the State and his great integrity deserved a better end which happened in the seven and fiftieth year of his age Those who envied the glory of this great man did all they could to obscure it They reproached him with too much gravity which they ascribed to his pride but it was rather the effect of his temper it is true he knew the advantage he had over others by his experience and was very careful to preserve it often handling those very roughly who contradicted his opinion which he never ventured to declare but when he was well assured of the consequence The Divan which he always governed taxed him of referring nothing to them and invading the Sovereign Authority The success of his Ministry manifested that he had reason to act so and that he had no need of any bodies assistance but how unjust soever his enemies are they cannot affirm that since the beginning of the Turkish Monarchy there were ever so many troubles as during the administration of this Grand Visier Never was any Prince more disturbed in his minority than Sultan Mahomet or more vigorously defended and when he was ready to sink under the weight of so many Civil and Forein Wars in his most tender age he made three parts of the world tremble He has increased his Empire by the conquest of a part of Transylvania and by the wonderful prudence of this great Minister constrained the mightiest Potentates to sue for Peace His readiness to punish those who were seditious was accounted cruelty yet he never exercised this rigour but to prevent combinations which are ever fatal and destructive to the people He knew that the first strokes of Justice and Revenge are the best and that the way to quiet a Sedition was to strike at the authors of it He had several other Maxims and when he was forced to raise money to defray the charges of the War he was wont to say that Peace was not to be obtained without Arms or War carried on without money So he exacted Tribute without rendring his Administration odious to the people who yet honour his memory in the person of Achmet Coprogli the Successor of so worthy a Father The Visiers whom the Grand Signior and the Sultana Valide had deputed to receive the Seal of the Empire and the Visier Azem's last words having discharged their Commission brought the first news of his death which was extremely lamented by the Sultan and the Sultana his Mother but when they had learned the particulars that Fatima informed them of by the Letter which she delivered to the Visiers they suspended their sorrow to consult how they should proceed in the choice of another Minister Achmet Coprogli's youth who was not yet thirty years old out-weighed his desert and seemed an invincible obstacle to the Grand Signior's design of complying with the Sultana Valide who had a mind to confirm the deceased Visier Azem's choice of his Son to succeed him and she alledged such strong reasons that the Sultan who referred all things to her at last gave his consent The Visiers represented to him that to give the first Charge of the Empire to his Son who had possessed it before was a contradiction to the Laws and Maxims of State that the Divan the Militia and the People would repine to see a young man raised to a Dignity that was fit for none but a Bassa of extraordinary desert and consummate experience However he was swayed by the Sultana his Mother who on the other side represented to him that he could not sufficiently reward Mahomet's services but by putting Achmet into his place This was not the only consideration that made the Sultana favourable to him she held her self obliged to endeavour the preferment of a man who had married a person that was so nearly related to her This is a story that deserves to be treated of at length therefore I will return to those things which I before only touched at the better to clear those adventures that have hitherto been obscure the most secret particulars of which are come to my knowledge THE HISTORY of the Grand VISIERS The third Book WHen Fatima had received the Princess Iohaime the Daughter of the Sultana Zaime she brought her up as her own child in the house of Mahomet Coprogli her Husband who was then Governour of Aleppo Her Son Achmet was yet so young that he easily believed Iohaime was his Sister he accustomed himself to love her and as much a child as he was conceived a stronger friendship for her than usually that tender age is capable of This kindness ness increased with the beauty of Iohaime who grew every day more and more amiable Achmet always drooped when he saw her not and Iohaime was equally affected with his absence their mutual inclination grew with them and never was there a stronger sympathy of two hearts they were bred up together with a Politene
on their children and then brought him to the Court of the Sultan who at the very first took a kindness to him and the Sultana Valide perceiving his good qualities would have him always be with her Son Mahomet into whose favour he so insinuated himself in a short time that he could not indure to be one moment without him but the Grand Visier had no mind to let his Sons courage decay among the soft pleasures of the Seraglio intending him for a man of business and the power he had over the Sultan who minded nothing but his diversions prevailed with him to consent that Achmet should go and make his first Campagna where he came off with so much success that he gained the esteem of all the Captains who seeing him begin so well doubted not but he would be one of the greatest men in the Ottoman Empire When he parted from the Princess Iohaime he left her in inexpressible sorrow Achmet would have discovered his love to his Mother Fatima but Iohaime opposed it so strongly that he durst not do it for fear of displeasing her besides he was afraid his Mother would reproach him with his weakness and indiscretion which might produce an effect contrary to his wishes therefore he took leave of her after a thousand protestations of loving one another eternally Yet the kindness of these two Lovers at parting was not so secret but that Fatima perceived it who whether she already suspected the truth or feared the effect of so long a conversation interrupted it as soon as she could She knew somewhat of her Sons love and apprehended the consequence not being assured that the Sultana Valide would approve of Achmets passion for Iohaime She thought it convenient to make use of the opportunity of her Sons absence to return the Princess to her Mother knowing that when she was in the Seraglio her Son could not so easily see her and hold correspondence with her besides that it would be more decent for her to be with her true Parents than in Mahomet Coprogli's house whose Daughter she was thought to be Therefore Fatima perswaded the Sultana Valide to have Iohaime near her but the Sultana having some secret reasons why she would not yet own her for her Daughter ordered Fatima to present her to her as the Visier Azem's own Daughter which was done without acquainting Iohaime who was brought to the Seraglio to live with the Sultana Valide This young Princess who was not suffered to know her Mother foreseeing the difficulty she should have to see Achmet and how grievous this separation which was contrived without his knowledge would be to him was so sensibly touched at it that a great while she pined away at last she fell sick and had no body about her that she could trust to give Achmet notice of their misfortune She was in a place where she was watched very nearly She mistrusted Fatima whom she still called Mother being thought to be so by every body Seeing her very often she resolved at last to give her a Letter which she said the Sultan had delivered to her to send to her Brother so she called her Achmet Fatima suspected nothing taking it to be a mark of the Grand Signiors affection to her Son with whom he was sometimes very familiar therefore she sent the Letter to him who received it just as he was going to fight and opening it found it written to this purpose As if your being exposed to the dangers of War and my continual apprehensions of losing you were not sufficient to afflict me that I may quite despair I am shut up in the Seraglio I can accuse no body of it but your Mooher I still pass for your Sister and I fear lest Fatima believes I love you and that for that reason she has shut me up in a place where your absence is not the only thing I dread but return quickly and free me from this mortal disquiet I am in Write not back to me lest your Letter discover the trick I used to conveigh this to you which your Mother sent you as from the Sultan Achmet was thunder-strook with this news at first despair seized on his soul but his hope of dying in the Battel did a little allay the misfortunes of his love The fight drew near and he was impatient to be ingaged at the first incounter he rushed in among the thickest and fought as one that sought not victory but death but his good luck had the better of despair he was not so much as hurt and his desire of dying which made him face the greatest dangers passed for the effect of an undaunted courage and gained him the reputation of one of the bravest men in the Army The Campagna being ended he returned to Constantinople where his valour received the applauses of all the Grandees of the Port who studied to make themselves acceptable to the Grand Visier his Father and the Sultan whose Favorite he was but all their praises which perhaps would have satisfied a more vain or an ambitious man did not move him at all His love wholly imployed his thoughts and he was already weary of those troublesome complements that hindred him from contriving a way to see his Mistriss He was warned by her Letter to mistrust his Mother and he employed all his subtilty to know why she had delivered Iohaime to the Sultana Valide but Fatima found out his drift She loved him too well to give any cause to be angry or complain of her therefore she told him that the Sultana had asked for the Princess and that she was forced to obey her against her will I know added she that it makes you melancholy and I know the friendship you have for one another I would have you always preserve the same thoughts and should be glad you could give Iohaime assurances of them your self but since it is impossible I will do it for you Achmet was vexed at this discourse but he dissembled his grief as well as he could and went to pay his respects to the Sultan who received him very kindly After he had given his Highness an account of his Campagna the Grand Signior in requital told him what he had done in his absence and ended his relation with the praise of Achmet's Sister who was come a little before to be with the Sultana Valide his Mother If the Sultan had taken notice of the disturbance that appeared then in his Favourites countenance he had perhaps suspected something of his love but he did not perceive it and Achmet then discovered part of his unhappiness he knew not that the Emperor Mahomet was Iohaime's Brother and saw nothing that could hinder him from being her Lover The thoughts of this wounded his heart and he had almost betrayed himself by shewing his jealousie yet at last he forced himself and summoned all his reason to assist him to beg the Sultan's permission to see his Sister None but Achmet who
advancing his Conquests so far as he might have done if he had taken less heed to their counsel which he rather chose to follow and proceed slowly than to hazard any thing upon his own account Being informed of all Count Serini's exploits who nearly distressed Canisia and as valiantly repulsed Sultan Mahomet's Forces as his Grandfather did those of the Emperor Soliman he took the Field to prevent him from joyning Canisia to the other conquests he had made during the Winter but the death of Ali Bassa obliged him to suspend his intention of repulsing the enemy to allow him those Funeral Ceremonies which his great services to the state deserved Ali was one of the greatest and most expert Captains of the Ottoman Empire he bore Arms first under Sultan Amurath and behaved himself so well in the Persian War that the Emperor in recompence gave him one of his Sisters in marriage and made him Bassa-General of his Armies He had gained such reputation that his power made the Grand Visier Mahomet Coprogli jealous of him and resolve to take away his command of the Army in Transylvania as we have already mentioned and he advised his Son to take heed of him as one that might well be his Competitor for the charge of Grand Visier but equitable Achmet perceiving the extraordinary merit of this brave man respected his virtue and age which was threescore and ten and instead of following the politic cautions of his Father submitted often to his advice and extremely deplored his death which was also lamented by the Grand Signior After he had rendered him all the Offices that the Mahometan Law required he pursued his march to Canisia His Army consisted of seventy thousand men whose approach forced Count Serini Count Hohelac and Strozzi who were joyned with him to raise the Siege and retire into the Isle of Serin Their retreat was but just time enough for as soon as they were gone the Turks arrived and posted themselves in the same places that the Christians quitted The Grand Visier having put sufficient relief into Canisia sent Ismael Bassa with twenty thousand men to pass the River Mur at the place where it joyns with the Dravus that by getting that passage he might have free entry into Stiria Carinthia and Croatia but Count Strozzi valiantly defended the Pass and performing the part of a gallant Souldier was slain with a Musquet Bullet In the mean time the Emperor impatiently expected the Succors he had desired of the Christian Princes The Pope the Princes of Italy and the King of Spain had promised him large sums of money for which he had great occasion but they made no haste to send them Sweden and Lorain gave him hopes of men but he heard nothing of their coming so that he despaired of receiving any of the Succors he looked for time enough except those of France The King on this occasion as on a thousand others shewed himself to be the most Christian and the most zealous of all Princes for the good of Christendom for when Count Strozzi whom we spoke of who was sent from his Imperial to his Most Christian Majesty had represented the necessity the Emperor was in the King granted all that he desired and not at all satisfied that they should limit the Succors to two thousand Horse and four thousand Foot that they should think to bound his liberality and hinder him from giving more splendid marks of his extraordinary generosity and zeal for Religion This incomparable Monarch could not keep himself from telling his Courtiers that he had rather they were in Hungary than at the Louvre and that if the Dauphin his only Son were old enough he would send him to this War The chief of the Court and Kingdom were ambitious of serving as Volunteers under Count Coligni whom the King chose to be General making the Duke of Feuillade his Mareschal de Camp The Duke of Bouillon great Chamberlain of France was the first that begg'd leave of his Majesty to make this Campagna his example was followed by his Brother the Count d' Auvergn◠the Chevaliers de Lorain and de Rohan the Dukes of Saubieze and Brisac the Marquess de Guitery Master of the Wardrobe the Marquises de Ragny Villery Castelnau Seneçay Bethune and Estrade the Counts de Saux and Canaples the Chevaliers de St. Agnan and Coaslin and several others who prepared themselves to signalize their valour on the bank of Raab where by and by we shall see them defeating the most formidable Enemy of Christendom The news of the Troops that were to come to the Emperors assistance being brought to the Grand Visier he resolved to advance his Conquests before their arrival Ismael Bassa whom he commanded to gain the passage over the River Mur having been repulsed as we said before by Count Strozzi sought a more favourable place and besieged the Fort of Serin which commanded all the Country about it Count Nicolas Serini did all he could to make the Enemy retire and perhaps had effected it and forced them to give over their enterprize if Achmet Coprogli who earnestly sought an opportunity of disputing the glory of a victory with this General whose reputation was so great that the Turks trembled at his very name had not arrived in the Camp with the Bassa's of Bossina and Albania followed by a body of twenty thousand men having made another body of the rest of his Army which was employed in another place His presence animated the Souldiers who were discouraged by the stout resistance of their Enemy and the toils they indured in the Siege They were ashamed not to follow their General who exposed himself to the greatest dangers and would have gone to the assault himself if the crowd of the Officers of the Army had afforded him any room They strove who should first take the Fort and having at last carried it they put two thousand men whom they found there in Garrison to the Sword inraged that such an handful should presume to resist an Army of forty thousand men The Grand Visier caused this Fort to be razed the demolition of which he had before in vain demanded of the Emperor because it awed the Ottoman Garrison in Canisia Afterwards he marched against little Comora and took it by Composition and hearing that Count Souches one of the Imperial Generals had defeated the twenty thousand Tartars Moldavians and Valachians whom he sent into the high Hungary at Sernevers He determined to extend his vengeance to the very Gates of Vienna to waste all Austria and to besiege the Emperor in the Capital City of his Empire To this purpose he approached Sarvar a considerable place on the River Raab but seeing no likelihood of forcing it suddenly and being informed that the imperial Army advanced to hinder his passage he resolved to prevent it and marched in haste to possess himself of the Bridge of Kermen a Town on the same River and in his march took the Town
command to the Sultana Valide to strangle his Brothers but this order being discovered to the Ianizaries was immediately spread over all the Town where the people joyned with the Souldiers to besiege the Seraglio threatning the Sultana terribly if she executed the Grand Signiors command This wise Princess had much ado to appease them by letting them see Soliman Bajazet and Orchanes and shewed themselves very sensible of her kindness to them especially Soliman who still respects her as much as if she were his own Mother and not without reason for she has saved his life twice She abhorred her Sons inhumanity and sent him word that her affection to him and care of his preservation and glory kept her from obeying his orders â—ince it was certain that if she should put his Brothers to death the Ianizaries would endeavour to revenge their murthers on his own person She put him in mind of his Father Ibrahim and his other Ancestors who perished in the Factions of the Militia and the people and conjured him not to occasion his own ruine by that of his Brothers whom she desired him to look upon as innocent and not to think that the honour they had to be allied to him rendred them criminal or engaged them in any seditious tumults Moreover she upbraided him severely for his cruelty which was so contrary to the education she had given him and that good nature which had hitherto made him detest the barbarous Maxims of his Predecessors In the mean time the Grand Visier knowing that the Grand Signioâ—s displeasure proceeded rather from the ill condition of his affairs at Constantinople than from any real anger and that the Selictar his Favourite had to satisfie his hatred caused him to send this injurious order He was no more concerned at it than at such another which he received before and only let the Sultan know by Iacup Bassa that he had still fifty thousand men left to finish his Expedition and that he understood himself better than to give over the conquest of a place which he hoped to reduce into his Highnesses power in a little time notwithstanding the malice of his enemies who hindered him from sending the Succors he demanded and that he was ready to deliver the Golden Seal to whom soever he should judge worthy of it as soon as he pleased to give him further notice After this he endeavoured to hinder the besieged from receiving any relief but in vain for the Duke of Beaufort arrived at the Island with a Fleet of fourscore Ships and landed an Army of twelve thousand men which our invincible Monarch sent to Candia moved by his own generosity and the request of Pope Clement the Ninth and the Venetians when their Embassador came to demand the Marquess of St. Andrâ— Montbrun of his Most Christian Majesty to succeed the Marquess de Ville whom the Duke of Savoy had recalled in the command of the Venetian Infantry The Duke of Navailles who was General of the Army had no sooner landed his men but he gave order to attack the Grand Visier in his Trenches he was followed by the Duke of Beaufort and his Nephew the Chevalier de Vendosme who at the head of a great many Officers and illustrious Volunteers marched in good order to charge the Enemies who prepared to resist them as vigorously as they had before defended themselves from the attempts of Monsieur de la Feuillade but the Turks found this last encounter much more violent than the former They could not withstand the Kings Musqueteers commanded by Monsieur Colbert de Maulevrier and the Count de Montbrun with the rest of the French Troops and they began to give ground when the Grand Visier perceiving their disorder went from rank to rank encouraging them to continue the Combat which they were ready to have quitted On the other side the Duke of Navailles behaved himself like a great Captain and an experienced General The Admiral the Duke of Beaufort exposed himself to the greatest dangers without any care of his person The Chevalier de Vendosme though not above fourteen years old signalized his courage in the formost ranks The Duke of Chasleau Thierry did wonders at the head of his Regiment and his Brother the Chevalier de Bouillon following his example received a bruise in his Belly which forced him to leave the Fight These brave men and the rest of the Volunteers animated the Souldiers to fight like Lions insomuch that the Ottoman General seeing his men yield to the French who advanced to drive the Ianizaries from their Post caused the Mines to be sprung which he had made to stop the progress of the Christian Army The horrid noise and fire which rose all at once in the midst of the French Troops surprised and scattered them Their General and the Duke of Beaufort did all they could to rally them but not being seconded as they were promised by the Town they were oppressed with numbers and forced to retreat and reimbarque after the death of the Duke of Beaufort who had performed all that could be expected from a Hero Many Officers and Gentlemen of Quality perished in this engagement but none was so deplored as this great man The Grand Visier seeing these dangerous enemies retreat doubted not but that the besieged who wholly relied on the French Succors were infinitely discouraged He chose out ten thousand of his best Souldiers to make an assault at noon-day and to let the Venetians see that he was perfectly informed of the condition of the Town He spoke so resolutely to his men and promised them success with so much confidence that they behaved themselves at this time more couragiously than ever but they were entertained so warmly by the Christians and so bravely repulsed that their General interpreted their vigorous defence to be the effect of the gallantry of those French who staid to see the event of the Siege and to hold the place to the very last However he renewed his assaults so often and the Forces of the besieged diminished so fast that the Generalissimo Morosini seeing there was no probability of preserving the City was constrained to capitulate and surrender on very advantagious conditions considering the miserable state the Town was reduced to It was agreed on that the City and all the Island of Candia should be delivered to the Visier Azem that the principal Forts together with the little adjacent Islands which were in the Venetians possession and all their other Islands in the Archipelago and the other Seas should remain in the Commonwealths power that they should keep the Fort of Clissa and the other places they had conquered in Dalmatia and Albania that neither party should be obliged to give the other any sum of money upon any private pretence or title whatever that the Generalissimo of the Venetian Troops might carry from thence three hundred pieces of Cannon with all the warlike Ammunition and Provisions that were there that the
between the Chams and the Sultans makes those Princes be thought to hold in some sort of the Turkish Empire because they receive great sums of mony to maintain the vast Armies which they have always on foot to furnish the Grand Signior with Troops when he undertakes any War which causes a continual commerce between them therefore the Grand Cham is not treated at the Port like other Forein Princes but is looked on as the presumptive Heir of the Ottoman Empire in case the Race of the Sultans comes to fail for want of Males And this was it that caused the Cham to send an Embassador at Mahomets coming to the Empire to desire that he might be named Tutor to the young Prince believing that it belonged to him before any other by the right which the laws of the Musulmans and the Turkish Constitutions give him to the Crown But the Divan having rejected this Demand he did not openly shew his displeasure waiting an occasion to make it appear and to require satisfaction as well for that as for the murther of his Father This conjuncture of affairs seeming favourable to his design he declared the cause of his discontent by denouncing War against the Grand Signior and sending his Forces to spoil his Dominions This Enemy was very considerable the Sophy was no less formidable the Moscovite was not to be slighted and the Venetians on their side made great preparations but beside there sprung up a domestick dissension which was no less dangerous The Spahies and the Janizaries who are the two strongest nerves of the Grand Signior's Forces and are in continual enmity by reason of their jealousie of one another hapned to quarrel and proceeded so far as to fortifie themselves one against the other so that they became intractable and could not be brought to march to the place where they were ordered They kept Constantinople in perpetual fears no body durst stir abroad into the streets nothing was heard of but Murthers and Robberies and apprehensions of Fire the desolation was general and the Seraglio was in the greater consternation because it seemed impossible to provide against so many mischiefs at once But as if fate had raised all these disorders together on purpose to set forth the prudence of the Visier Azem by his prodigious conduct he found means to appease the domestick tumults and to stop the torrent of so many Potentates who seemed to have united their Forces in order to the Sultans ruine However Mahomet Coprogli preserved his constancy in the midst of their misfortunes shewing how advantagious it is both to a Prince and his people to have a Minister whose steady courage no revolutions can shake He judged it necessary to resist the greatest danger first The Persian War seemed the most important therefore he resolved to discontinue that of Candia that he might not be obliged by so many diversions to encounter so many enemies at once It was requisite to unite the Ottoman Forces to repulse the Sophy who had made a furious irruption into the Sultans Dominions but though he withdrew some of his Troops out of Candia and Dalmatia he left enought behind to let the Venetians see that he did not abandon his design The Garrisons were sufficient to preserve the conquered places and the Works that were begun which were furnished with provisions enough to subsist till he should be in a condition to supply them with new Forces to continue his Conquests These Troops being formed into the body of an Army were sent towards Transylvania under the conduct of Ali Bassa At the same time he caused a mighty Fleet to be rigged with which the Bassa of the Sea was to oppose the Venetians He ordered the Governors of Syria and Mesopotamia and the Provinces bordering on Persia to send all the Provisions they could to Bagdet and to make speedy Levies to reinforce the Garrisons whilst he prepared a numerous Army to resist the Sophy who on his side also made great preparations for the War The Divan seeing the Grand Visier had so many Armies to bring into the Field proposed to him to put the Law in execution by which all the Grand Signior's Subjects above the age of seven years are obliged to take Arms for the defence of the State But Mahomet Coprogli would not suffer it to be published though they reproached him of rashly exposing the Sultan's Honour and Power and the liberty of his people who were invaded on all sides and had not forces enough to repulse so many Enemies at once He answered that it was true the summoning of all the Grand Signior's Subjects might compose vast Armies but that he did not think it fit to come to those extremities besides that among such multitudes a thousand disorders would happen more prejudicial than their assistance would be useful that it was the way to expose the Emperors and the Nations glory that the Enemies would believe the Empire was reduced to the utmost straits and would make their advantage of it and lastly that the people whom they advised him to arm not being disciplined would make a tumultuous Army and would confound the other Troops and that he hoped the Sultan might face his Enemies and finish the War without this last refuge But as if Fortune had a mind to punish his presumption and put his courage and constancy to the highest proofs she raised him up a new enemy whom he never dreamt of This Orcan Ogli Bassa of Aleppo who having made use of the Grand Visier's orders to raise an Army of forty thousand men caused them to march towards Constantinople without declaring his design Mahomet Coprogli was advertised of his march at that time when he was busied in raising of men to provide against the most pressing necessities He was much surprized when he understood that he had taken the Field without his order not thinking at first that he was revolted but he soon found that this Bassa who had succeeded him in the Government of Aleppo and was Nephew to Delli Vssain Pacha whom he had put to death some time before was resolved to make use of this conjunction of time to revenge his Unkle and some private grudges of his own He had drawn to his side several Captains and abundance of Souldierr who had served under this famous Bassa Dalli Vssain Pacha whose memory was dear to them and to make his revenge the more remarkable and give the enterprize more weight he pretended to establish one Soliman Amurath on the Ottoman Throne who said he was the Son of the Emperour Amurat and joyned himself to him with an Army of twenty thousand Arabians Drus and Armenians Orcan Ogli acknowledged him and made his Army own him to be the lawful Successor to the Empire This news was quickly spread over all the Provinces and met with so much credit that several Bassa's came to pay homage to the new Prince who already behaved himself as Emperor The Provinces of Asia made