great Spirit and yet exceeding proud which was the cause that he was both the less beloved and feared of his Subjects in general but especially of the Janizaries and other his Souldiers and men of War who scorning his loose Government and griev'd to see even the greatest Affairs of his State not only imparted to Women but by them managed and over-ruled also as by his Mother the Sultaness his Wife and others not only rebelled against him but were oftentimes in their Rages about to have deposed him He was altogether given to sensuality and voluptuous pleasure the marks whereof he still carried about with him a foul swoln unwealdy and overgrown Body unfit for any Princely Office or Function and a Mind thereto answerable wholly given over unto Idleness Pleasure and Excess no small means for the shortning of his days which he ended with Obloquy unregarded of his Subjects and but of few or none of them lamented He had Issue four Sons and three Daughters married unto three of the great Bassaes. His first and eldest Son was called Mahomet after his own Name whom he caused to be strangled in his own sight upon suspicion of aspiring to the Empire and conspiring with the Rebels in Asia but afterward finding him guiltless caused his Body to be buried in his own Sepulchre and hanged the Bassa that had misinformed him His second Son died a natural Death being yet very young His third Son was Sultan Achmat who succeeded his Father and came to the Empire by the untimely Death of Mahomet his eldest Brother His fourth Son being then a Youth of about sixteen Years old was carefully kept within the Seraglio with such a strait Guard set over him as that his Name was not to be learned even by a good understanding Friend of mine of late lying above three Months together at Constantinople who most curiously enquired after the same having very good means to have learned it He was reported to have been long since murthered howbeit that he of late lived but looking every day to be by his Brothers cruel Commandment strangled which is accounted but a matter of course and a Death hereditary to all the younger male Children of the Othoman Emperours the Policy for the maintenance of their great Empire entire and whole so requiring His dead Body lieth buried at Constantinople in a fair Chappel of white Marble near unto the most famous and beautiful Church of S. Sophia for that only purpose by himself most sumptuously built about fifty foot square with four high small round Towers about the which are certain small round Galleries of Stone from which the Turkish Priests and Church-men at certain hours use to call the People every day to Church for they use no Bells themselves neither will they suffer the Christians to use any But the top of this Chappel is built round like unto the ancient Temples of the Heathen Gods in Rome In the midst of this Chappel being indeed nothing else but this great Sultan's Sepulchre standeth his Tomb which is nothing else but a great Urn or Coffin of fair white Marble wherein lieth his Body covered with a great covering of the same Stone over it made rising in the midst and stooping on each sidâ— not much unlike to the Coffins of the ancient Tombs of the Saxon Kings which are to be seen on the North side of the Quire of S. Paul's Church and in other Places of this Land but that this Coffin of the Great Sultan is much greater and more stately than are those of the Saxon Kings it being above five foot high at the end thereof and by little and little falling toward the feet covered with a rich Hearse of Cloth of Gold down to the ground his Turbant standing at his Head and two exceeding great Candles of white Wax about three or four Yards long standing in great brass or silver Candlesticks gilded the one at his Head the other at his Feet which never burn but there stand for shew only all the Floor of the Chappel being covered with Mats and fair Turky Carpets upon them And round about this his Tomb even in the same Chappel are the like Tombs for his Wives and Children but nothing so great and fair Into this Chappel or any other the Turks Churches or Chappels it is not lawful for either Turk or Christian to enter but first he must put off his Shoes leaving them at the Church or Chappel Gate or carrying them in his hand Near unto this Chappel and the great Temple of Sophia are divers other Chappels of the other great Turks as of Sultan Selim this Man 's Grand father with his seven and thirty Children about him of Sultan Amurath this Man's Father with his five and forty Children entombed about him Anâ— in other places not far from them are the Chappels and Sepulchres of the rest of the Great Sultans as of Sultan Mahomet the Great of Sultan Bajazet Sultan Selim the first Sultan Solyman all by these great Mahometan Emperours built whose Names they bear And being all of almost one form and fashion have every one of them a fair Hospital adjoyning unto them wherein a great multitude of poor People are daily still relieved Some others of the great Bassaes have their Chappels and Sepulchres with their great and stately Alms-houses also not much inferiour unto those of the great Sultans as namely Ibrahim Bassa of all the Bassaes that ever were amongst the Turks the most magnificent hath his stately Chappel Sepulchre and Alms-Houses near both in Place and Beauty unto that of Solyman's The Turks bury not at all within their Churches neither are any at all buried within the Walls of the City but the great Turkish Emperours themselves with their Wives and Children about them and some few other of their great Bassaes and those only in Chappels by themselves built for that purpose All the rest of the Turks are buried in the Fields some of the better sort in Tombs of Marble but the rest with Tomb-stones laid upon them or with two great Stones the one set up at the head and the other at the feet of every Grave the greatest part of them being of white Marble brought from the Isle of Marmora They will not bury any man where another hath been buried accounting it Impiety to dig up another man's Bones by reason whereof they cover all the best Ground about the City with such great white Stones which for the infinite number of them are thought sufficient to make another Wall about the City But not to stand longer upon the manner of the Turks Burials leaving this great Sultan to rest with his Ancestors let us now prosecute the course of our History Christian Princes of the same time with Mahomet the Third Emperours of Germany Rodolph the Second 1577. Kings Of England Queen Elizabeth 1558. 47. Of France Henry the Fourth 1589. Of Scotland James the Sixth 1567. Bishops of Rome Clement the
part Mariners able Bodies who in the time of the Siege did great service encouraged by their Sea Captains the Island People which repaired into the City served to little other purpose but to dig and carry Earth unto the Rampiers and the Citizens except it were some few of the better sort were for the most part weak and of small Courage not able to indure any labour or pains and yet hardly to be kept in order and governed great speakers but small doers greater in shew than in deed The Great Master having carefully provided and ordered all things needful for the defence of the City and fearing nothing more than the faint Hearts of the Citizens caused them all to be called together for incouragement of whom he spake unto them as followeth Valiant Gentlemen and worthy Citizens we hear that the Turk our mortal Enemy is coming against us with a huge Army raised of divers Nations from whose natural cruelty and wonted perjury except we defend our selves by force one and the self same danger is like to befal me my Knights and you all For we have with common consent and hand grievously spoiled him both by Sea and Land and you are by booties taken by strong hand out of his Dominions inriched and at this day we keep his People in grievous servitude and he ours but he injuriously and we most justly For his Ancestors weary of the dark Dens and Caves of the Mountain Caucasus their natural Dwelling without Right Title or Cause incited only with Covetousness Ambition and the hatred of our most sacred Religion have driven the Christians out of Syria and afterwards oppressed the Grecians in Grecia where not contâ—nted to have destroyed the People with one simple kind of death as Barbarism is ever cruel and merciless they have with most exquisite and horrible Torments butchered many thousands of that Nation All whom this wicked proud youth whose mischief exceedeth his years an evil Neighbour to all men not contented with the Dominions of Arabia Syria Egypt the greatest part of Asia and of many other places more seeketh in Tyranny Murther Spoil Perjury and Hatred against Christ and Christians far to excel and forceth himself to the uttermost of his power to take from us our Islands and to subdue the Christian Countries that so at length being Lord of all and Commander of the World he may at his pleasure overthrow the Christian Cities kill the Christians and utterly root out the Christian name which he so much hateth For the repulsing of which intollerable injury we have especially chosen this Island of the Rhodes for our dwelling place because the same seemed more commodious than any other for the annoying of this barbarous Nation We have done what in us lay holpen by you we know by proof your great Valour and Fidelity which we now have not in any distrust Wherefore I will not use many words to perswade you to continue in your Fidelity and Loyalty neither long circumstances to encourage you to play the men sithence worthy minds are not with words either encouraged or dismayed But concerning my self and my Knights of the Order I will speak a few words I with them with whom as I hope the Christian Princes and other my Knights of the West will in good time joyn their Forces are most ready and prest to defend your selves your Children your Wives your Goods the Monuments of your Ancestors and sacred Temples dedicated to the service of our God. Which opinion that it may remain firm and fixt in your minds if nothing else my Faithfulness in your Wars my Body not yet altogether spent but able enough to endure pains and travel the Nobility of these worthy Knights of the Order their Love towards you and their Hatred towards your Enemies were sufficient to confirm but beside this the strength of this City which this noble Order hath with infinite charges so notably fortified with Ditches Walls Towers and Bulwarks against all the force and fury of Artillery is such as that no City may worthily be compared much less preferred before the same It is wonderfully stored with all kind of Weapons and Warlike Provision we have laid up plenty of Wine Flesh and Corn in vaults so that neither wet Weather nor Worms can attaint the same of Wood and wholesome Water not to be taken from us things necessary for men besieged we have plenty and able men enough for the defence of the City All which things promise unto us assured Victory and such end of the War as we wish for Besides this Necessity which giveth Courage even unto Cowards will enforce us to fight Yet standeth on our side true Religion Faith Conscience Devotion Constancy the Love of our Country the Love of our Liberty the Love of our Parents Wives Children and whatsoever else we hold dear Whereas they bring with them the proud command of their Captains Infidelity Impiety Unconstancy a wicked desire of your Bondage of your Blood and the Blood of your Parents Wives and Children Out of doubt beloved Citizens our good God will not suffer so many good vertues to be overcome by their foul vices Wherefore be you in mind quiet and secure and trouble not your selves with forboding fear of your Enemies only continue in the Fidelity and Loyalty which you have always kept inviolate and unspotted toward this sacred and honourable Fellowship in most dangerous Wars and hardest chances of Fortune and if need shall so require with couragious band shew your Valour against your Enemies and make it known unto the Spaniards French Italians Hungarians and English That the Rhodians are of power to daunt the Turkish Pride and to avert their Fleets and Armies from Italy which they have so many years threatned with Fire and Sword and will no doubt thither with all speed hasten and come if that which my mind abhorreth to speak they should here prevail Neither will his ambitious youth in Courage Falshood and cruelty exceeding Hannibal imitate him in that that having overthrown the Romans in the great Battel at Cannas knew not to use his Victory but he will presently with more than Caesars celerity bring forth the Treasures his Father got in Egypt and with great Fleets and huge Armies invade Apulia Calabria and Scicilia from whence he will forthwith break into France and afterwards into Spain and other Christian Countries raging through them with all kind of cruelty But I am carried away further than I purposed and than need is For your Fidelity and Valour most worthy Citizens to endure the Siege and repulse the Enemy is such as needeth not my perswasion and of greater resolution than that it can be shaken with the dangers incident to men besieged yet the greatest and most forcible miseries of all which is Hunger and Thirst I assure you you shall never feel which pinching calamities for all that some People in Faithfulness Courage and Valor nothing comparable to you have nevertheless most
upon another Mans weakness and necessity have encreased his insatiable desire and not granted them Peace being brought low and forsaken except they would deliver unto him the Islands of Cephalenia Zacinthus and Corcyra a matter no less grievous than the destruction of the very City of Venice it self So that the great Embassadors Vastius and Hanebald who came of purpose to have hindred the League with the Turk by their great diligence wrought nothing more effectually than that the Venetians the better foresâ—eing the danger of their State should as they did make haste to conclude the same for it falleth out in Mens purposes and Actions That a good and happy success otherwise well hoped for is oftentimes marred with too much diligence and care Neither was it any doubt but that Hanebald was sent by the French King but for fashion sake and secretly underhand by Pellicerius the old Embassador perswaded the Venetians to hasten the conclusion of Peace with Solyman Which as Badoerius their Embassador was carefully soliciting the matter at Constantinople and being loath to yield the strong Cities which Solyman required offering unto him in stead of them a great sum of Mony Solyman took him up with threatning words as a shameless Dissâ—mbler earnestly protesting That he would never grant him Peace without the yielding of those Cities rehearsing unto him the most secret points of his Embassage and how that he was authorized from the Decem-Viri to yield them unto him which thing the Embassador little thought Solyman had known year 1540. Wherefore Badoâ—rius so shamefully reproved and standing in doubt of his life seeing the greatest secrets of his Embassage revealed to Solyman and his Bassaes was glad to accept of Peace by yielding unto him Nauplium and Epidaurus two Cities in Peloponnesus and with them Nadinum and Labrania two Castles of Dalmatia to the great grief of the whole Senate for granting whereof the Common people ignorant of the secret Decree of the Decem-Viri and supposing that Badoerius had given away that which he had no authority to give were so inraged against him at his return that there was much ado to save the guiltless Man from exile and his Goods from confiscation although the Traitors were then known which had discovered the Secrets of the State unto the Turks These were Mapheus Leonius a Senator and Constantinus Cobatius Secretary to the Colledge of the Decem-Viri and Franciscus Valerius one of the Senators base Sons the Traiterous disperser of the Turks Mony for the corruption of others who with other his Complices were for the same Fact hanged in the Market-place when as Leonius and Cobatius were a little before fled into France About the same time which was in the Year of our Lord 1540 died Ioannes Sepusius King of Hungary Solymans Tributary after whose death ensued great Wars in Hungary and the lamentable subversion of that flourishing Kingdom for the better conceiving whereof it shall not be amiss with as much brevity as the plainness of the History will permit to open the causes and grounds of the endless calamities which afterwards ensued and never took end until that warlike Kingdom was to the great weakning of of Christendom utterly subverted King Ferdinand and this tributary King Iohn had with like desire of Peace and quietness made between them a League profitable to them both as their Estates then stood rather than honourable yet most welcome to the Hungarians who divided into Faction and having followed some the one King and some the other enjoyed nevertheless their Lands and Goods by the benefit of this Peace the Towns and Castles being still kept by them in whose possession they then were at the making of the Peace In the capitulations of which Peace it was comprised That Ferdinand should from thenceforth call Iohn by the Name of a King whereas before he had both in his common Talk and Letters called him by the Name of the Vayvod only It was also expresly set down in the same Articles of Peace and subscribed by the Hands of divers of the Nobility of Hungary That if King Iohn should die King Ferdinand should succeed him in the whole Kingdom of Hungary which condition was suppressed and kept very secret for fear of Solyman who accounted of that Kingdom as of his own gotten by Law of Arms and bestowed upon King Iohn as upon his Vassal neither was it to have been thought that if he should have known thereof being of a haughty mind by nature and not able to endure an injury he would have suffered that Kingdom got and defended with so great danger and cost to be by the Will of an unthankful Man transferred unto his Enemy This matter of so great importance was as it is reported by Hieronimus Lascus Embassador for King Ferdinand to Constantinople revealed unto Solyman and the Bassaes to bring King Iohn into hatred So much did this noble Gentleman for his rare Vertues otherwise greatly to have been commended yield unto his grief and desire of revenge when after the death of Aloysius Grittus he fell from the friendship of King Iohn being as is before declared by him committed to Prison and hardly afterwards enlarged at the request of King Sigismund Whereupon Solyman being exceedingly angry with King Iohn called him unthankful Churl and turning himself about to Luâ—zis Bassa his Brother in Law said How unworthily do these two Christian Kings wear their Crowns upon their faithless Heads who as shameful deceivers are not afraid either for worldly shame or fear of God for their profit to falsifie their Faith But King Iohn understanding thereof and wonderfully fearing his own Estate did by good Friends and rich Presents pacifie Solyman again laying all the blame upon King Ferdinand as better able to bear it Not long after King Iohn having set his Kingdom in good order and strongly fortified the City of Buda being now far stricken in years at the earnest request of most of the Nobility of Hungary and other his best Friends married Isablla the Daughter of Sigismund King of Polonia a gracious Lady and of great Spirit which King Sigismund had long before married Barbara King Iohns Sister after whose death he married the Lady Bona Sfortia the Daughter of Ioannes Galâ—acius Duke of Millain by whom he had this Lady Isabella whom King Iohn now married Which Marriage Solyman liked well of having many times by way of talk before condemned the single life of the King but King Ferdinand liked thereof nothing at all plainly foreseeing that the Hungarians if the King should chance to have a Son would forthwith look upon him as their natural King and reject himself as but a Stranger This young Queen in short time as he had feared conceived with Child and was now very big when King Iohn was enforced to make an expedition in person himself against Maylat famous for the death of Aloysius Grittus and Balas both Governours of Transylvania whereof
the Relief thereof he raised his Siege and retired as he did also next year after having in vain attempted the strong Castle of Mont-Royal on the further side of Iordan In like manner also the third year he came again into the Holy Land and spoiled the Country beyond Iordan but hearing of the Kings coming against him he forthwith returned again into Egypt All these light Expeditions this politique Prince made not so much for hope of Victory or to prove his Enemies strength as to train his Souldiers especially the effeminate Egyptians and to make them fitter to serve him in his greater designs year 1173. Shortly after died Noradin Sultan of Damasco and in his time a most notable Champion of the Turks after he had reigned nine and twenty years Upon whose death Almericus forthwith besieged the City of Paneale in hope to have again recovered the same but he was by the Widow of the late dead Sultan for a great sum of money and the delivery of certain noble Prisoners intreated to raise his Siege and depart So having sent away his Army and traveling with his ordinary Retinue to Tyberias where he had the Summer before been sick of the Flux feeling himself not well he returned on Horse-back by Nazareth and Neapolis to Ierusalem where his old Disease increasing upon him he was also taken with a Fever wherewith after he had been some few days grievously tormented he requested his Physitians with some gentle potion to loose his Belly which was now somewhat stayed which they refusing to do he commanded the potion to be given him upon his own peril hap thereon what hap should which being given him and his Belly again loosed he seemed therewith to have been at the first well eased but his wonted Fever with great vehemency returning before his weak and spent Body could be with convenient meats refreshed he suddenly died the tenth of Iuly in the year 1173. when he had reigned about ten years His dead Body was with the great lamentation of all his Subjects solemnly buried by his Brothers He was a most wise Prince and withall right valiant amongst many most fit for the Government and Defence of that troublesome Kingdom so hardly beset with the Infidels if it had pleased God to have given him longer life Four days after the death of Almericus was Baldwin his Son then a Youth about thirteen years old by the general consent of the Nobility chosen King and by Almericus the Patriarch in the Temple with great Solemnity Crowned in the year 1173. unto whom as not yet by reason of his tender age fit himself to manage the weighty Affairs of the Kingdom Raymond Count of Tripolis was by the whole consent of the Nobility appointed Tutor to supply what was wanting in the young King. Noradin Sultan of Damasco dead as is aforesaid left behind him Melechsala his Son yet but a Youth to succeed him in his Kingdom Whose Government the Nobility disdaining sent secretly for Saladin Sultan of Egypt unto whom at his coming they betrayed the City of Damasco the Regal Seat of the Turks in Syria Whereof Saladin possessed and entring into Coelosiria without Resistance took Heliopolis Emissa with the great City of Caesarea and in fine all the whole Kingdom of Damasco the City of Arethusa only excepted But thus to suffer Melechsala the young Prince to be wronged and the Kingdom of Damasco to be joyned to the Kingdom of Egypt was of the wiser sort thought not to stand with the safety of the Kingdom of Ierusalem lying in the middle betwixt them both Wherefore the Count of Tripolis Governor of that Kingdom made out certain Forces to have hindred his proceedings At which time also Cotobed Prince of Parthia and Melechsala Uncle sent certain Troops of Parthian Horse-men to have aided his distressed Nephew who were by Saladin overthrown and almost all slain near unto Aleppo where Melechsala lay As for the Count of Tripolis and the other Christian Princes with whom Saladin in the newness of his Kingdom had no desire to fall out he appeased them with fair Intreaty and Rewards unto the Count he sent freely the Hostages which yet lay for his Ransome at Emissa unto the other Princes he sent rich Presents and therewith so contented them all that they returned without any thing doing against him After which time three or four years passed in great quietness to the great strengthening of him in those new gotten Kingdoms At length upon the coming over of Philip Earl of Flanders the Christian Princes of Syria encouraged consulted of an Expedition to be made into Egypt whereof Saladin having Intelligence drew down into that Country the greatest part of his strength But Philip disliking of that Expedition and the rather for that he saw no great chearfulness in the Count of Tripolis and the rest thereunto they with one consent changed their Purpose for Egypt and turning their Forces a quite contrary way miserably and without resistance wasted the Country about Emissa and Caesarea Whilst the Christians wâ—re thus busied in Coelosiria Saladin on the other side took occasion out of Egypt to invade the Kingdom of Ierusalem of whose coming King Baldwin having intelligence with such small Forces as he had left hastned himself to Ascalon In the mean time Saladin with a great Army was entred into the Holy Land where burning the Country before him and raging in the blood of the poor Christians he came and encamped not far from Ascalon and struck such a fear upon the whole Country that they which dwelt in Ierusalem were about to have forsaken the City as for the King himself he lay close within the City of Ascalon not daring to adventure upon so strong an Enemy Wherewith Saladin encouraged and out of fear of his Enemies dispersed his Army some one way some another to forrage the Country Which the King perceiving secretly with all his Power issued out of the City if happily so he might overtake the Sultan unawares neither was he deceived in his expectation for coming suddenly upon him and secretly charging him he had with him for a good space an hard and doubtful battel until that the Victory by the Power of God at length inclining to the Christians Saladin with his Turks fled overthrown with a great slaughter most part of his great Army being either there slain or lost afterward with hunger and cold This Victory fell unto the Christians the 25 th day of November in the year 1177. not without the Almighty Hand of God year 1177. the Turk having in his Army above six and twenty thousand Horse-men and the King not past four hundred Horse with some few Foot-men After which Victory Baldwin in great Triumph returned to Ierusalem and there shortly after with great care and diligence repaired the decayed Walls of the City Saladin in revenge of this Overthrow made divers Incursions into the Frontiers of the Christians and did great harm specially in
forward by his Companions to affect the whole Empire happily could and would have contented himself with the former pacification for being now sent for he came first to Rhegium and there visited his Mother now set at liberty and sent thither for the furtherance of the desired pacification where he with her and by her Counsel did whatsoever was there done So within a few days the matter was brought into so good terms that an Attonement was made and he himself went and met the Emperor his Grandfather before the Gatâ—s of the City the old Emperor sitting then upon his Hoâ—se and the Prince lighting from his a good furlong before he came at him and although his Grandfather was very unwilling and forbad him so to do yet he came to him on foot and kissed his Hand and Foot as he sate on horseback and afterward taking horse embraced him and there kissed one another to the great contentment of the Beholders and so having talked some few words departed the old man into the City and the young man into his Camp which then lay near unto Pega where staying certain days he came divers times into Constantinople and so went out again for as then his Mother partly for her health partly for the love of her Son lay at Pega But Syrgiannes nothing glad of the agreement made betwixt the Emperor and his Nephew walked up and down sick in mind with a heavy countenance especially for that in time of Peace his busie head stood the Common-weal in no stead Wherefore in all Meetings and Assemblies he willingly conversed with them which most disliked of the present State and spake hardly as well of the Emperor as of his Nephew wronged as he thought by them both whereas in the time of their greatest distress he had as he said stood them in good stead But seeing one Asanes Andronicus walking melancholy up and down as a man with heaviness oppressed who having done good service for the young Prince and not of him regarded had fled to the old Emperor and there found no such thing as he expected for the ease of his grief although he were a man honourably born and otherwaies endued with many good parts with him Syrgiannes acquainted himself as grieved with the like grief that he himself was with whom as with his Friend without any dissimulation he plainly discoursed of all such things as his grief desired But Asanes handling him with great wisdom did himself with like words speak hardly both of the Emperor and his Nephew but yet curiously noted whatsoever Syrgiannes said for he had before hated him for his Ambition and as then took it in displeasure that he was Enemy unto Catacuzanus his Son-in-Law who was all in all with the young Prince and did oftentimes comfort him But the song being throughly set Asanes came secretly unto the old Emperor and told him the whole matter and in fine that except he betime laid hold on Syrgiannes affecting the Empire he should in short time be by him brought to his end Whereupon Syrgiannes was forthwith clapt fast in Prison whose House with all his Wealth the common People took the Spoil of and not contented to have rased it down to the ground converted the Site thereof together with the pleasant Vineyards adjoyning unto the same into a place to feed Goats and Sheep in a worthy reward for his manifold Treacheries The young Prince shortly after going to Constantinople was there crowned Emperor as fellow in the Empire with his Grandfather unto which solemnity in the great Temple of Sophia both the Emperors riding it fortuned the old Emperor by the stumbling of his Horse to be overthrown and fouly beraied in the mire the Streets being then very foul by reason of much rain but a little before fallen which many took as ominous and portending the evil fortune which shortly after befel him During the time of this Peace it fortuned that as the young Prince was a hunting in Chersonesus seventy Turks adventurers were by force of weather driven on shore who before they would yield themselves Prisoners made a great Fight with the Emperors men and slew divers of them in which conflict the young Emperor himself was wounded in the Foot wherewith he was a great while after exceedingly tormented Andronicus the late Prince and now Fellow in the Empire with his aged Grandfather held not himself long so contented but after the manner of ambitious Men and continually prickt forward by his aspiring Favourites longed to have the whole Government to himself which hardly brooketh any Partner and therefore weary to see his Grandfather live so long resolved no longer to expect his natural death although it could not by course of Nature be far off but by one device or other to thrust him from the Government or if that might not be wrought at once to dispatch him both of life and state together And the surer to lay the Plot whereon so foul and horrible a Treason was to be built he by the Council of his Mother and others by whom he was most directed sent for Michael the Prince of Bulgaria his Brother-in-Law though before to him unknown as was his Wife his Sister also to make with him a firm League to the intent by him to provide that if the Prince of Servia who had but lately married the old Emperors nigh Kinswoman and so to him much devoted should take part with him he should by the Bulgarian his Neighbour be intangled Who so sent for with his Wife the old Emperors Daughter came to Dydymotichum where they were many days most honourably entertained both by the young Emperor and his Mother for why this meeting plotted upon great Treason was finely coloured with the desire the young Emperor had to see his Sister and her Husband as before unto him unknown and the Empress her Daughter whom she had not seen in three and twenty years before But the secret conclusion betwixt them was that the Bulgarian Prince should to the uttermost of his power aid the young Emperor against his Grandfather and he likewise him against the Servian as he should have need and further that if his Grandfather being deposed he should recover the whole Empire then to give him a great sum of Mony with certain special Cities and Provinces confining upon him as in Dowry to his kind Brother-in-law and Companion in his labours So Michael the Bulgarian Prince honourably entertained by the young Emperor and the old Empress his Mother-in-Law loaded with rewards and promises of greater returned home into his Country This matter thus dispatched the young Emperor therewith encouraged and knowing also the Constantinopolitans besides the other Cities of Thracia exceedingly to favour him and his proceedings by whom also he was secretly invited to hasten his coming thither as weary of the long life and laziness as he termed it of his Grandfather thought it best cunningly to go about the matter that so his
by the Turks Horsemen and brought back to the Bassa Techellis thus put to flight Ionuses caused strait inquisition to be made through all the Cities of the lesser Asia for all such as had professed the Persian Religion and them whom he found to have born Arms in the late Rebellion he caused to be put to death with most exquisit Torments and the rest to be burnt in their Foreheads with an hot Iron thereby for ever to be known whom together with the Kinsfolks and Friends of them that were executed or fled with Techellis he caused to be transported into Europe and to be dispersed through Macedonia Epirus and Peloponnesus for fear lest if Techellis now fled into the Persian Kingdom should from thence return with new Forces they should also again repair unto him and raise a new Rebellion This was the beginning course and ending of one of the most dangerous Rebellions that ever troubled the Turkish Empire wherein all or at leastwise the greatest part of their Dominions in Asia might have been easily surprised by the Persian King if he would throughly have prosecuted the occasion and opportunity then offered The remainder of Techellis his Followers flying into Persia by the way lightning upon a Caravan of Merchants laden with Silks and other rich Merchandize took the Spoil thereof for which outrage coming to Tauris the Captains were all by the commandment of Hysmael executed and Techellis himself to the terror of others burnt alive year 1509. The next year which was the year 1509. the fourteenth day of September chanced a great and terrible Earthquake in the City of Constantinople and the Countries thereabouts by the violence whereof a great part of the Walls of that imperial City with many stately Buildings both publick and private were quite overthrown and thirteen thousand People overwhelmed and slain The terror whereof was so great that the People generally forsook their Houses and lay abroad in the Fields yea Bajazet himself then very aged and sore troubled with the Gout for fear thereof removed from Constantinople to Hadrianople but finding himself in no more safety than before he left the City and lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. This Earthquake indured by the space of eighteen days or as the Turks Histories report a month with very little intermission which was then accounted ominous as portending the miserable calamities which shortly after hapned in the Othoman Family After this Earthquake ensued a great Plague wherewith the City was grievously visited and for the most part unpeopled But after that the Earthquake was ceased and the Mortality asswaged Bajazet caused the imperial City to be with all speed repaired and to that purpose gave out commissions into all parts of his Dominions for the taking up of Workmen so that there were at once in work eighty thousand Workmen who in most beautiful manner in the space of four months again repaired the ruins of that great City Bajazet had by his many Wives eight Sons and six Daughters which lived to be Men and Women grown and the Sons all Governors in divers Provinces of his large Empire whom the Turkish Histories reckon up in this order Abdullah Zelebi Alem Scach Tzihan Scach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Muhamet Yet Antonius Utrius a Genoway who long time lived in Bajazet his Court and as he of himself writeth waited in his Chamber at the time of his death reckoning up the Sons of Bajazet maketh mention but of these six Sciemscia Alemscia Achomates Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus naming the forenamed by names something differing from the other Sciemscia the eldest Governor of Caramania for his towardliness most dearly beloved of his Father died a natural death before him and was of him and his Subjects greatly lamented Alemscia died in like manner of whose death as soon as he was advertised by mourning Letters written in black paper with white Characters as their manner of writing is in certifying of heavy news he cast from him his Scepter with all other tokens of Honour and caused general mourning to be made for him in the Court and through all the City of Constantinople by the space of three days during which time all Shops were shut up all trading forbidden and no sign of mirth to be seen and for a certain space after the manner of their Superstition caused solemn Sacrifices to be made for the health of his Soul and seven thousand Aspers to be given weekly unto the Poor His dead body was afterward with all Princely Pomp conveyed to Prusa and there with great solemnity buried Tzihan Governor of Caria and Muhamet Governor of Capha upon their Fathers heavy displeasure were by his commandment both strangled Of his other four Sons Achmet otherwise called Achomates Machmut or Mahometes Corcut or Corcutus and Selymus the second namely Mahometes was of greatest hope and expectation not given to sensuality or voluptuous pleasure as Achomates his eldest Brother neither altogether bookish as was Corcutus nor yet of so fierce and cruel a Disposition as Selymus but of such a lively Spirit sharp Wit bountiful Disposition and Princely Carriage of himself that in the judgment of most men he seemed already worthy of a Kingdom Which immoderate favour of the People caused his elder Brother Achomates yea and Bajazet also himself to have him in no small jealousie as if he had affected the Empire and was in short time the cause of his untimely death which thing he nothing doubting hastened as fatal things are by such means as he lest feared might have procured any such mortal distrust or danger Most of Bajazet his Children were by divers Women yet Achomates and this Mahometes were by one and the same Mother for which cause Mahometes took greater pleasure in him than in any his other Brethren although it were not answered with like love again Achomates was Lord and Governor of Amasia and this Mahometes of Magnesia who desirous to see the manner of his Brothers Life and Government disguised himself with two of his familiar and faithful Friends as if they had been religious men of that Order which the Turks call Imâ—lier These men are for the most part comely Personages born of good Houses who in cleanly Attire made after an homely fashion do at their pleasure wander up and down from Town to Town and Country to Country noting the disposition and manners of the People whereof as fitteth best their purpose they make large Discourses afterwards to others they commonly carry about with them silver Cymbals whereon they play most cunningly and thereunto sing pleasant and wanton Ditties for which idle delight they receive Mony of the People as an Alms given them of Devotion These are the common corrupters of youth and defilers of other mens beds men altogether given to ease and pleasure and are of the Turks called The religious Brethren of Love but might of right better be termed Epicurus his Hogs than any
two or three days in a place Whilst he was thus travelling Selymus no less careful of the keeping of his Estate than he had before been for the obtaining of the same began now to doubt That if he should depart from Constantinople and with all his Forces pass over into Asia against his Brother Achomates Bajazet in the mean time might in his absence return to Constantinople and so again possess himself both of the City and Empire Wherefore to rid himself of that fear he resolved most Viper like before his going to kill his Father and so most unnaturally to deprive him of life of whom he had received life such is the cruel and accursed Nature of Ambition that it knoweth neither Father Mother Brother Wife Kindred or Friend no sometimes not her own Children the fury whereof was never in any one more pregnant than in this most monstrous and cruel Tyrant Selymus The readiest and most secret way he could devise for the effecting of this his damnable device which without great impiety could not be so much as once by him thought upon was to work it by poyson upon which resolution he secretly compacted with Haman a Jew his Fathers chief Physitian to poyson him promising him for his reward a Pension of ten Ducats a day during his life And for that men are oftentimes with terror and fear as well as with reward enforced to be the ministers of mischief he to be the more sure of this Jew prone enough for gain to do evil threatned him with most cruel death if he did not both secretly and speedily work this feat commanding him so soon as he had done it to return unto him to Constantinople The deceitful Jew moved both with the fear of death and hope of reward two great motives coming shortly after to Bajazet and finding him very weak seeming to be very careful of him told him That he would prepare for him a portion which should both restore to him his health and also strengthen his weak body if it would please him to take it the next morning early lying in his bed Bajazet nothing distrusting his old Physitian whom he had so often and so long trusted said he would gladly take it Early the next morning cometh the Jew with the deadly poyson in a Cup of Gold Bajazet yet sleeping which he set down in the Chair of State and so stood waiting untill the aged Prince should of himself awake But Bajazet sleeping soundly as oftentimes it chanceth when men sleep their last and withal somewhat longer than stood with the Jews purpose he presuming of his wonted practice awaked him and told him That the time to take the portion was almost past and asked him if it were his pleasure then to take it Bajazet doubting no Treafon willed him to bring it whereof when the Jew had taken the essay having before himself taken a preservative against that poyson he gave it to Bajazet to drink who chearfully drank it up the Physitian commanding them that waited in his Bed-Chamber and attended on his person to keep him well covered with warm clothes and not to give him any thing to drink until he had well sweat This cursed Jew having thus poysoned the aged Prince to avoid the danger of the Fact and to carry the first news thereof to Selymus secretly conveyed himself away and in hast fled to Constantinople But Bajazet attainted with the force of the Poyso began first to feel most grievous gripings in his Stomach the strong pain whereof appeared by his miserable complaining and heavy groaning in the midst of which torments he gave up the Ghost in the year 1512 when he had reigned thirty years The Turks report that he died a natural death but Antonius Utrius a Genoway who at that time served in Bajazet his Chamber and was present at his death reporteth That upon his dead Body the evident tokens of Poyson were to be seen His dead Body with all his Treasures were presently brought back again to Constantinople and delivered to Selymus who caused the Body of his Father to be with the greatest solemnity that might be buried in a most sumptuous Tomb in a Chappel near unto the great Mahometan Temple which he had before built for himself at Constantinople which Monument there remaineth this day to be seen His Servants were all by Selymus restored to their places which they before held in the Court in the time of their old Master excepting five of the Pages of his Chamber who lamenting the death of their Master above the rest had attired themselves all in mourning Apparel for which cause they were by the commandment of Selymus cast into prison where two of them were put to death the other three at the suit of Solyman Selymus his Son and of other two Bassaes were saved but being stript of their rich Apparel and whatsoever else they had gotten under Bajazet they were inrolled for Common Souldiers under Sullustares Bassa Of these three Antonius Utrius the Genoway before spoken of was one who after ten years miserable Captivity amongst the Turks at last escaped at such time as Selymus was by the Persian discomfited and with much ado returning again into Italy wrote the History of all such things as he himself had there seen with the calamities of Bajazet his House and a great part of the tyrannous Reign of Selymus Haman the false Jew as the same Author reporteth coming to Constantinople and expecting some great reward for his foul Treason by the commandmet of Selymus had his head presently struck off with this exprobration of his Treachery That opportunity serving he would not stick for reward to do the like against Selymus himself Of this Bajazet Ianus Vitalis writeth this Elogium Dum rerum exquiris causas dum procul Hunnes Carmannos Cilices Sauromatasque domas Bajazethe domi proles tua te petit armis Et te per fraudes amovet imperio Adjicit inde novum sceleri scelus tibi miscet Pocula lethiferis illita graminibus Intempestivos crudelis vipera foetus Per sua sic tandem funera rupta parit Quid tutum est cui sint ingentia regna Tyranno Si timant natos progeniemque suam In English thus Whilst that thou Bajazethes seeks of things the hidden cause And fain wouldst bring the Hunne and Russ under thy Turkish Laws Thy Son at home steps up in Arms against thy Royal Crown And by false Treason and Deceit finds means to pluck thee down Whereto he addeth mischief more and straight without delay By Poyson strong in glittering Bowl doth take thy life away The cruel Viper so brings forth her foul untimely Brood Who eat and gnaw her Belly out their first and poisoned Food Which things may Princes hold for safe that do great Kingdoms sway If of their Children they must stand in dread and fear alway Christian Princes of the same time with Bajazet the Second Emperors of
if it had been but to look to his charge when he was come as near as he could to Alis without mistrust thought good to assay if he could by policy bring that to pass which he was otherwise with great danger to attempt by force Wherefore feigning himself to be extream sick he sent Embassadors to Alis requesting him as a friend to vouchsafe to come unto him being at the point of death unto whom he had many things of importance from the great Emperor to impart and would if he should die leave with him all his charge until Solyman should otherwise dispose thereof Alis who from his youth had always honoured the Turkish Emperors and faithfully served them mistrusting no harm came to the Bassa accompanied with his four Sons whom the faithless Bassa without regard of infamy caused presently to be put to death with their Father and so reducing all that Country into the manner of a Province under Solymans obeisance came to him with twenty thousand Men about the time that the City of the Rhodes was yielded up This is the faithless dealing of the Turks not with the Christians only but with them of their own superstition also using it as no small policy utterly to extinguish the Nobility of all Countries subject to their servile Tyranny Solyman after he had thus subdued the Rhodes and disposed of the Island as he liked best returning to Constantinople brake up his Army and for the space of three years after followed his pleasure not doing any thing worthy of remembrance During which time and many years after the rich and flourishing Country of Italy sometime Mistress of the World was miserably afflicted and rent in pieces by Charles the Fifth then Emperor and Francis the French King the one envying unto the other the glory of the Empire and he not content therewith seeking with immoderate ambition to make himself Lord of all Italy most of the other Christian Princes and States being at the same time either by the one or by the other drawn into the fellowship of that War to the great trouble and sore weakning of the Christian Common-weal Whereupon Solyman waiting all occasions that might serve for the enlarging of his Empire and annoying of the Christians thought it not a fit time for him to set his foot into Hungary whereunto he had already laied open a way by the taking of Belgrade He knew right well that Lewis then King of Hungary was but young altogether unacquainted with the Wars commanding over his headstrong Subjects especially his rich Prelates and Nobility no otherwise than pleased themselves being himself rather by them altogether overruled besides that he was in good hope that the other Christian Princes near unto him either carried away with regard of their own Estate would not or else before unto himself by League fast bound could not afford unto him any great aid or succour the Germans he knew would make small hast unto such Wars as should yield them much danger and but small pay As for the Princes of the House of Austria Charles the Emperor and Ferdinand his Brother although they were joyned unto the young King with the nearest bonds of Alliance Lewis having Married Mary their youngest Sister and Ferdinand Ann King Lewis his Sister yet was there as he thought small help to be expected from them Charles having his hands full in Italy and Ferdinand altogether careful of himself and that Sigismund King of Polonia would for the young Kings sake break the ancient League he had with the Turkish Emperors he could hardly be perswaded As for other Christian Princes farther off he stood not in any great doubt year 1526. Thus having with himself singled out this young Prince the Hungarian King whom he had in his greedy mind already devoured he set forward from Constantinople and was come on his way as far as Sophiâ— in Servia with a mighty Army of two hundred thousand men before that the Hungarians had any knowledge of his coming so blind and senseless was that State which now sleeping in security had long before lost those Eies which ever watcht and never spared cost or pains to keep the same in safety in stead of whom were others come in place sharp of sight and too too provident for that concerned their own advancement but blind as Beetles in foreseeing this great and common danger wherewith they were shortly after all quite overwhelmed until it was now brought home unto their own Doors The young King of himself but weak by reason of his youthful years and nothing strengthned by them for whom he had most done and should have been his greatest stay was wonderfully dismaied with the fame of the approach of so mighty an Enemy yet the better to withstand him he sent Embassadors with all speed unto the Christian Princes his Neighbours requesting their Aid against the common Enemy but all in vain In the mean time after the ancient manner of his Country he gave out general Summons for the Assembly of his Counsel for the Wars whether his great stipendary Prelates of duty bound to appear came with their Troops of evil appointed Horsemen and not half full who also delivered in less sums of Mony by far than of right they should have done towards the maintenance of the charge of that common War. And the temporal Nobility forgetting the warlike Discipline of their famous Ancestors as fresh-water Souldiers which had seen the Turkish Emperor in his strength and but little acquainted with some light skirmishes or small invasions in their vain bravery made light account of the Turks proudly vaunting That although they were in number but few yet they would easily overthrow the great numbers of them if ever they came to handy strokes But above all the rest one Paulus Tomoreus Archbishop of Colossa sometimes a Minorite who had before been in divers light skirmishes against the Turks with great insolency did so confidently brag and boast of the Victory he vainly dreamed of that in his Sermons unto the Souldiers and in open talk with the Nobility if he could have done so much as he vaunted of it should seem that he himself had been enough to have overthrown the Turks whole Army But when all the Kings Army was assembled and a general muster taken there was hardly found five and twenty thousand men in all horse and foot So that the foolish hardiness of Tomoreus and others so forwards to give the Turks battel was of most wise men disliked The old Souldiers and men of great experience said plainly That it was meer folly and madness with such a handful of men to give battel unto the Enemy who would bring eight times so many more into the Field as they were Wherefore some wished that the young King should be withdrawn from the eminent danger among whom Stephanus Verbetius a noble Captain of all the rest best acquainted with the Turkish Wars gave Counsel
great men had met together in the open Fields and there dined more like Enemies than Friends without any shew of friendship or good will Grittus inwardly chasing at his bare entertainment covertly threatned to be revenged upon all such as should make so light account of his Authority and immediately as he departed from the Banquet taking his Cap from his Head which was after the Turkish manner made of a high fashion of rich Sables and opening it with both his Hands said This Cup will not hold two Heads and therefore it must be fitted to one and so put it on again Iohn Docia one of the Hungarian Captains his Followers who deadly hated the Vayvod for that he had long time before for his malepert Speech in a great Assembly given him a blow with his Fist took hold of that Speech of Grittus as a fit occasion for him to work his revenge and said Your honour maketh a fit comparison neither can this Province contain two equal Governors or Commanders nor you ever enjoy your Power and Authority except you do this day with speedy and manly resolution defend both Solymans credit and your own You know not this proud Beast Americus whose Pride and Insolency if you but say the word I will quickly put down for he hateth Solyman he regardeth not the King and of you he maketh no account at all for why he aspireth unto the Majesty of a King and saith that the Vayvodship of Transylvania well beseemeth a King for that in this Country Decebaldus the Dacian sometime reigned whom the warlike Emperor Trajan with all the force of the Roman Empire hardly subdued No man can more proudly or arrogantly set himself forth than he neither more craftily or cunningly dissemble to serve his turn Indeed he hath for fashion sake presented your honour with a few simple Presents and given you his Hand also better known for his Falshood than his Faith to the intent that when you are once past his Country he may scoff and jeast at your Decrees verily he deadly envieth at your Honour and Felicity and grudgeth in his heart that you should set down the Laws of Peace and War in Hungary and whereas he doth manifestly aspire unto a Kingdom he feareth you above all others lest you should trouble his designs abate his credit and chastise his insolency Verily he that thus maligneth your happyness and contemneth your Authority is not to be suffered but by good reason to be taken away thereby at this your first entrance to defend the credit of your Commission and honour of your Name For nothing is more dangerous than a faithless Companion and a secret Enemy especially when you shall leave him at your back behind you for when he shall as occasion serves shew forth his hidden malice he shall so much the more slily and desperately endanger your Person Grittus enraged with his Speech more than before thought it best to make hast and to use his Authority to the full he commended Docia and promised him in short time to requite his good will towards him especially if he would by some notable attempt abate the Bishops Pride It is reported that Grittus gave him no other charge but to take the Bishop that so he might after the Turkish manner have sent him in Chains to Constantinople and bestowed the honour of the Vayvod upon Hieronimus Lascus the Polonian who in hope of that honourable Preferment unto him promised by King Iohn had done unto him great and faithful service as his Embassador both unto Solyman and also unto the French King. But when King Iohn perceived that he could not conveniently without manifest danger place him being a Polonian who could scarcely speak the Hungarian Language Governor over such warlike People he as it were enforced by necessity preferred this Americus the Bishop of Veradium a man of them both reverenced and feared Which so grieved Lascus a man of great Stomach and Experience and thereunto excellently learned that he would never admit of any excuse of the Kings but alwaies after complained that he was by the King deluded Yet for all that he kept himself within the bounds of Loyalty and enjoyed certain Lands and Towns which the King had given him in the Borders of Polmia and estranged nevertheless from him in mind was now become one of Grittus his Followers hoping of his better Preferment by his means unto Solyman and for that cause was not so forward to do the King such service as he had in times past Now by the commandment of Grittus a strong Company of Turkish Horsemen and certain Troops of Hungarians were delivered to Docia who secretly departing that night from Baxovia came suddenly to the Vayvods Camp having a little before by his Hungarian Spies learned that he lay in the open Fields in his Tent by reason of the great heat without any watch or guard attended on only with his Pages and Houshold Servants as a man without fear and that all the rest of his retinue lay dispersed in the Country Villages round about All which served so well for Docia his purpose that the Vayvod ignorant of his death so nigh at hand who rather contemned than feared his Enemies was suddainly oppressed by Docia his Souldiers so that whilst he was yet lying in his Bed and scarcely well awaked by his Chamberlains and the noise of the Enemy Docia breaking into his Tent cut off his Head as he lay All they which lay near amazed with the suddainness of the matter fled away for fear and left their Horses and other things for a Prey to the Turks and other of Docia his Followers Docia having done so great an outrage returned to Grittus presenting unto him the Vayvods Head which he brought in his Hand by the Ear. Lascus was then present but altogether ignorant of the murder who as a man moved with a natural compassion in so suddain and horrible a Fact and forgetting all former grudges as in like case it oftentimes chanceth stood as one dismaid nothing rejoicing at the unworthy death of his Enemy To whom Grittus turning himself said Lascus Dost thou not know this shaven Pate truly it is a great Mans Head but of such an one as was very ambitious rebellious and proud To whom Lascus replied Truly though I loved him not yet I thought it not so whilst it stood upon his Shoulders disallowing therein the Cruelty of the Fact. Which thing Grittus perceiving began to repent him of that was done and said openly that although he was worthily slain yet he could have wished rather to have had him taken Prisoner The report of this horrible murder once bruted abroad the Bishops Kinsmen and Friends yea almost all the People of that Province rise up in Arms against Grittus to revenge the death of the reverend Bishop whom living they had both loved and feared Never did any People in revenge of a common wrong enter
understand that nothing evil should happen thereunto thro their default or negligence The Siege of Buda for fear of the Tartars thus given over and the Imperials departed and gone the Turks forthwith came down out of the higher City into the lower declaring their Joy for the recovery thereof by the often thundring of their great Ordnance with divers other Signs of Triumph But whilst in their Jollity they spared not by the mouth of the Cannon to send commendation to them of Pesth they from them again received the like but in such rude manner that the Turks wearied with such Greetings requested them to spare their Shot and Powder and quietly to live by them as became Neighbours for that Winter until the next Spring at which time it was to be thought that this Strife should be ended by their Emperours the weaker yielding unto the stronger either the one or the other City Yet for all this their great Joy their cheer in Buda was not great Victuals by this Siege being become so scarce that it was by the Turks feared that if the Christians had there longer lain they should for very want have been inforced to have yielded the City of which their need their Friends not ignorant and having made what Provision they were able for their Relief were with a great Convoy bringing the same towards Buda whereof the Garrisons of Komara and Strigonium having Intelligence went presently out and meeting with the Turks in the mid-way betwixt Alba-Regalis and Buda overthrew the Convoy and carried away all that Provision of Victuals like unbidden Guests making themselves merry with that which was never provided for them These doubtful Wars of Hungary with the general Revolt of Transilvania much troubled Mahomet the great Sultan but nothing like unto the Wars he had in Asia against the Scrivano and the Rebels his Followers the evil Success whereof as most dangerous to his State so much tormented his haughty mind as that it would scarce suffer him to think of any thing else For the Rebel encouraged with the success of the last years Wars and still growing stronger and stronger by reason of the great number which allured with the sweet name of Liberty hope of Prey or the good Entertainment by him given daily more and more resorted unto his Camp had this Year over-run a great part of the Turks Dominions in Asia putting all to Fire and Sword that stood in his way ransacking also divers walled and fenced Cities by the way as he went. Which he might the more easily do for that the Janizaries of Aleppo and Damasco with many other their Partakers and Favourites which might greatly have hindered his Proceedings were at the same time also up in Arms and together by the Ears amongst themselves to the great benefit of the Scrivano who in the midst of the course of these his desired Fortunes fell sick of a natural Disease and so died By whose Death the Rebellion was no whit appeased as commonly in like case it falleth out and as was then of many expected but in short time grew to be both far greater and more dangerous than before for the Scrivano was no sooner dead but that a younger Brother of his no less warlike and courageous than himself to the great contentment of the Rebellious step'd up in his place fiercely prosecuting the Wars his Brother had before him taken in hand Against whom Hassan Bassa by Commandment from the Grand Seignior with a great Army setting forward with hope in that newness of his Command to have oppressed him and so to have quenched that so spreading a fire at length met with him that was easie enough to be found and joyning Battel with him was by him in a great and bloody Fight overthrown and slain together with his whole Army except such as by speedy flight saved themselves from the fury of their fierce Enemies So that Mahomet the Great Sultan now inforced to employ his best Commanders and Souldiers into those Parts for the subduing of him for that cause called Mahomet the Visier Bassa out of Hungary to serve against this new Rebel who in the mean time following the course of his Victory made havock of all as he went taking unto his own use all such Tribute as was in those Countries and others also farther off due unto the great Sultan having of late exacted only of the City of Ancyra and the Country thereabout 300000 Duckats so by exacting of great sums of Money from the Country People such as be his Enemies heaping up great Treasures for the maintenance of his Wars Now tho Mahomet the Turkish Emperour had called home Mahomet the Visier Bassa out of Hungary to go against the Rebels in Asia as is aforesaid yet had he before provided that for the better assurance of his Towns and Territories in Hungary the Tartar Han with a great Power of his Crim Tartars should even against that time come down into that Country Which rough and needy People dwelling near unto the Fens of Meotis for Pay or Prey always ready to do the Othoman Emperours Service setting forward under the leading of their great Han himself and of his two Sons and by plain force breaking through Valachia though not without great loss of their men being fought with by the Valachians and free Haiducks a whole day were now in the latter end of December with their huge Companies come into Hungary the Han himself with forty thousand to Quinque Ecclesiae and his Sons with twenty thousand more into Possega a fertile Country lying between the great Rivers Sauus and Drauus where they spoiled all as well the Turks as the other poor Christians pretending all that frontier Country with the whole Command thereof to be given unto them by Mahomet the Turkish Emperour in reward of their good Service But long they lay not there quiet but that to shew for what they came they inforced the Christians thereabout to victual Canisia for the Turks and so breaking into Stiria not far from Caramant the nearest Fortress of the Christians towards Canisia carried away above two thousand Christians Captives and shortly after surprising Keschemet a great and populous Town slew most part of the Inhabitants and carried away the rest Prisoners Other some of them also at the same time making an Inroad to Sharvar and having burnt twenty Villages down to the ground carried away thence about a thousand Souls into most miserable Captivity and Thraldom They also at their first coming relieved them of Buda the Lord Nadasti with his Hussars who before kept them from Victuals not being able for the great number of them now longer so to do By them also the Turks encouraged took and burnt certain places possessed by the Christians near unto Buda putting them all to the Sword that they found therein So that the poor Country of Hungary never to be sufficiently pittied with the rest of the Countries and Provinces
believe that the great Sultan himself was desirous of Peace and that his Captains well affected thereunto were willing to further the same Which done the Bassa presented unto Collonel Althem two Cases full of Turks Arms of all manner of Fashions very rich and cunningly wrought both carried by a Mule with Furniture for an Horse embroidered with Gold and Pearl very sumptuous and rich as a Present from the great Sultan his Lord and Master to the Emperour And for the Archduke Matthias he presented unto the Collonel a Robe of purple Velvet with Sleeves cunningly embroidered with Gold and Pearl embossed with fine and curious Figures cunningly wrought with the Needle for the rareness thereof as admirable to behold as for the richness thereof to have been desired which was by every man wondered at when as shortly after it was by Althem presented unto the Arch-duke together with other Presents from the Turks Besides that the same Bassa in token of Friendship presented unto Althem himself another very fair and rich Robe all the rest of the Commissioners receiving also from the Bassa other Robes of less Value but yet all very rich and sumptuous This business for this time thus ended and the Truce for twelve days concluded the Christian Commissioners loaded with Presents took their leave of the Turks with the shews of their good Wills and so returned back again to Pesth Howbeit these the Enemies fair Presents still favoured but of Enmity being indeed but like to the Presents of Hector and Ajax tending rather to War than to Peace Now the Death of the most valiant and renowned Lord Nadasti which at this time happened was another evil Presage of the bad Success of this Treaty of Peace now at hand who having of long been a bar unto the Turks Rage in that part of Hungary where he dwelt they now after his Death with the violence of their Forces as with an heady stream bare down before them all our good Fortune in that Province This worthy man of great Fame and Desert had spent both his Years and Fortune in the most honourable Wars against the Turks wherein he was so skilful and expert that he was of them feared as another Huniades and of the Christians honoured as another Matthias He had a thousand times most valiantly fought against these Miscreants and as many times foiled them to the great benefit of the Christian Commonweal the advancement of the Emperour's Service and the relief of his distressed Country These his heroical deeds of Arms were engraven upon the Gates of the Towns and Cities of Hungary and within the Rocks of Transilvania having both in the one Country and the other right happily defeated these Infidels He had the Honour to have received the first Incursions and Attempts of the Turks at such time as Amurath the Third having perfidiously broken the League made with Maximilian the Emperour with his Forces invaded Hungary and was the first of all the Christian Chieâ—tains that made head against them and being by their sudden coming in by them almost surprised performed yet great and worthy Exploits and Service against these faithless men It should seem that good Fortune favoured the Country of Hungary but only in respect of him for he being dead it died also burying it self as it were in his Grave and him in Glory not suffering him to grow old and so to languish in the Ruines of his native Country He died of a natural Death about fifty and four Years old most part whereof he lived in Arms still charged with the burthen of his Armour and even at the yielding up of the Ghost yet breathing Wars against these the Enemies of the Christian Faith. His Death was much lamented of many faithful Christians but especially of his own Tenants and Subjects whom he had always kept and preserved in Safety and still maintained them in all Peace and Tranquility during all these former Wars the Turks not daring once to assail them nor to enter into their Territory being staid from so doing by the Bulwark of his Valour right dreadful to their Attempts Never Turk was buried in his Territory no more than were the Barbarians upon the Banks of the River Eurotas his Wisdom had so wisely provided for the Preservation of his People and his Valour so worthily assured them of their Health and Safety He was for his Country another Epaminondas who made his Town not only free from the Arms and Invasions of their Enemies but also dreadful to their Forces so long as he lived The Turks on the contrary part no less rejoyced for his Death but accounting his Country now rich and plentiful for that it had never been by them spoiled for their most assured Prey came now thither on all sides to have taken the Spoil thereof and therewith to have enriched themselves But as they were about so to have done the valiant Collonitz honouring the Remembrance of the Lord Nadasti his late Fellow and Companion in Arms and holding that for his own which he had left opposed himself with his Forces against these ravening Wolves so that they were no sooner entered into this his Territory but that contrary to their Expectation they were encountered by this new Nadasti and by him so overthrown and cut in pieces that for a good while after they durst no more attempt the like This so great a loss of so worthy a man was a little â—ased by the Victory about the same time gained by the Vayvod of Valachia against the Tuâ—ks spoiling of his Country This valiant Champion not able longer to endure the proud Insolency and Tyranny of those barbarous People gathered together his Troops of Horse-men with such other small Forces as he had whereof the Turks having made small reckoning and therefore without order pillaging and ransacking his Country were when they least feared by him upon the sudden surprised and overthrown many of them being cut in pieces a number more taken Prisoners with all the Spoils they had got and the rest with such fear chased out of his Country as that being glad to have escaped they took no pleasure for a great while after to look into that his Province again But to return again to the Commissioners for the Peace to be made betwixt the Great Sultan and the Emperour The Bassa of Buda to the end that the Captains and Governours of the Turks and Castles belonging to the Turks being ignorant of the Truce should not continue their war-like Actions to the prejudice of his Faith given immediately after the departure of the Christian Commissioners from Buda dispatched divers Courriers towards them to give them knowledge thereof and especially the Governour of Agria commanding them from thenceforth to abstain from their ordinary Incursions into their Enemies Territories and from all other Actions of Hostility and so to keep themselves quiet until they were from him otherwise commanded This little time of respite and
is a Prediction of some great Troubles and Alterations For either the opening of this Book in the Womans hand doth foretel our falling away from the first intent of our Law whereat these armed Men departed as confounded with the guilt of their own Consciences or else it signifies some other Book in which we have not yet read and against which no power shall prevail so as I fear our Religion will be proved corrupt and our Prophet an Impostor and then this Christ whom they talk of shall shine like the Sun and set up his Name everlastingly Hitherto the Company was silent but hearing him speak so boldly they charged him with Blasphemy and knowing their Law which makes all Blasphemy capital they presently condemned him and having the Beglerbegs consent and Warrant they put him to death As their Rage against him was violent so their Execution was extraordinary for they neither cut off his Head nor strangled him as they usually do to Malefactors but they tortured him by degrees for stripping him first naked they gave him an hundred blows on the soles of his Feet with a flat Cudgel until the Blood issued forth the poor Priest crying continually on the Woman that opened the Book After which they took a Bull 's Pizzle and beat all his body until the Sinews crack'd and in the end they laid him upon a Wheel and with an Indian Sword made of Sinews they brake his Bones to pieces the poor Man crying to the last gasp O thou Woman with the Book save me and so he dyed At which time there was a fearful Tempest The Beglerbeg sent certain Spahies to the Port of Sidon to imbark for Constantinople to the end they might advertise the Emperour of these Tidings Sultan Osman from the first entrance into his Reign was freed from all Cares of foreign War or intestine Combustions for he had that happiness being himself very young and not able to Govern so potent an Estate as by the Counsel and Assistance of Halil Bassa his Grand Visier he had forced the King of Persia to demand a Peace and to pay the Tribute which had been formerly promised His Rebels in Asia were all pacified and the Truce with the Emperour which had been somewhat interrupted by misinterpretation or the practise of bad Ministers was newly confirmed a little before his coming to the Crown onely Moldavia had been the Theatre of War for some years where his Father had exercised his Arms and imployed his Forces to advance whom he pleased to be Vayvod of that Countrey against another party that was supported by the Polonians as you have formerly heard Michna Prince of Valachia being made Vayvod of Moldavia by Achmat and the Polonian party wholly overthrown in the Year 1616 he enjoyed it not long but whether he dyed of a natural Death or fell into disgrace with the Grand Seignior I do not read yet I find that after him there was another Vayvod or Prince of Moldavia who is yet living but in disgrace with the Sultan his Name is Casparo Gratsiani and to the end you may understand that the Turks never respect the Birth and Quality of any Man in their Advancements I will relate what this Man was from the mouth of him that knew him very well This Casparo was born at Gretz a Town of great strength belonging unto the Arch-dukes of Austria by the which a Branch of that House is distinguished from the rest and whereof the Emperour now reigning is the head but being a Man of small Fortune and little expectance in his own Countrey he went to Constantinople and put himself in Service with Sir Thomas Glover before that he was Ambassador for his Majesty to the Grand Siegnior under whom he learned both to write and read the Turkish Tongue After which he came with him into England and there by his recommendation was imployed to Constantinople for the redeeming of young Sir Thomas Sherley who was then a Prisoner among the Turks Having performed his Charge orderly and being come to Venice with the young Knight hearing that Sir Thomas Glover was sent Ambassador to the Grand Seignior he left Sir Thomas Sherley and went to Constantinople to his old Master where he was imployed yearly to buy or exchange Christians for Turks carrying the Christians into Italy and so returning Turks for them About the end of Achmat's Reign arriving at Constantinople with a Ship full of Turks which he had exchanged he acquainted the Bassa Visier with the good Service he had done unto the Grand Seignior who demanding of what Countrey he was and his Breeding asked him if he would undertake a Service which should be for his Advancement which was to go unto the Emperour to reconcile all Difficulties concerning the Peace wherein he carried himself so discreetly as Commissioners were appointed who concluded all Difficulties as you have heard But before his return home the Grand Seignior was dead yet he pressed the Bassa for the performance of his Promise desiring him that he might be made Vayvod of Moldavia which the Bassa effected but the Presents he gave advanced him more than his Merits Since he grew into some disgrace so as the Grand Seignior making choice of another Vayvod gave Charge to certain Capigies to go into Moldavia to strangle Casparo and that they should take four hundred Turks upon the Frontiers to assist them But Casparo having good Spies at Constantinople who advertised him of their Design resolved to prevent them wherefore taking some Troops with him he met them upon the way and cut them all in pieces then returning to Yas he slew one thousand Turks After which he fled into Poland with two thousand Horse from whence they write that he hath made divers Incursions into Moldavia and committed great Spoils upon the Turks being assisted by the Cossacks and keeps possession of the Countrey although there be another Vayvod made by the Turk Sultan Osman seems to be much incensed against the Polonians as well for this support as for former quarrels making it his colour for the levying of the greatest Army that hath been seen since that Solyman went unto the Siege of Agria consisting as it is said of three hundred thousand Men having drawn down all his Forces out of Asia God knows where he will imploy it but it is much to be feared that he will make use of this division betwixt Christian Princes who should unite their Wills and Forces to oppose them against the common Enemy of Christendom who watcheth only to get an Advantage little regarding his Word and Promise The Turk having no imployment for his Forces by Land sent threescore Gallies to Sea to make some Enterprise upon the Christians They came into the Mediterranean Sea and having coasted the Island of Sicily they sent twenty Gallies to land in the Kingdom of Naples where they surprised the Town of Manfredonia and spoiled it carrying away fourteen or fifteen
Days where he was honoured with a Visit of the Sultan News also came at the same time that Tauris or Ecbatan on the Borders of Persia was miserably ruin'd by an Earthquake and what was worse the Sultan himself was seized with an Apoplexy which turned to a Paralytical Distemper the Cause whereof was attributed to his excessive use of Women to whom he was so immoderately addicted that he consumed his Days and Nights in their Apartments This Disease which is raâ—ely or never cured being joined to a Report given out by his Ladies that notwithstanding his Venereal Heat he was yet Impotent as to Women created a Belief or at least a strong probability that he might die without Issue which caused high Confusion in the Counsels of the Grandees that no Design could make any chearful Progress until Provision was first made for Supply of the Ottoman House for the Succession of the Tartar was in no manner convenient or secure but rather that the Throne should be furnished with the Son of a Sister or of a Niece than to subject themselves to the Rule and Passions of a Foreign Prince And though the Sultan did afterwards recover his Health yet all suspected and feared that by the immoderate Heat of his Venerial Inclination he would die without Children every one discoursing as moved by his Passion or his Interest About this time arrived an Ambassador at Constantinople from the Softa of Persia bringing a Ratification of the Peace who was so much the more welcome by how much more the present Conjuncture rendred it advantagious and being ushered in with exceeding rich Presents raviâ—hed the Hearts of the Turks whose good Nature melts and dissolves with the sight or hopes of Gifts In Dalmatia near the Confines of Zara the Turks made Incursions on the Venetian Territories and caused some Disturbances but being chastised by an Ambush laid for them whereby about two hundred of them perished all Matters were again reconciled and the Peace renewed And now one would imagine that the Design against Asac by such diversity of Obstructions were absolutely laid aside which though they were of that Importance and especially the fear of Ibrahims's Death to detain the Vizier at Home yet he thought fit to prosecute the Design under the Command of the Pasha of Silistria to whom he had committed the Conduct of this War. The Pasha proud of his Charge rejoiced to be imployed in a War wherein he apprehended so little difficulty and prognosticated to himself nothing but Glory and Victory esteemed the Defendants for no other than Fishermen and better experienced to sail their Boats and govern their Saiks in the Black Seas than to draw up an Army in the â—ield or defend their Walls This Confidence was farther increased by an Embassy at the same time from the Moscovite who not only renounced all Assistance or Concernment for that Town but renewed with them his Friendship and Articles of ancient Agreement The Ottoman Army besides Janisaries and other Turks consisted of Moldavians and Walachians and a great number of Tartars which at first entred into their Trenches and besieged the Town but here they rested not securely by reason of the frequent Sallies the Besieged made upon them and more especially by the Mines which they sprang to the terror and damage of their Enemies The Turks moved hereat made furious Assaults but were as valiantly repulsed by the Defendants who threw scalding Water and Pitch and burning Sulphur upon the Assailants so that not being able to take the Town by Force they retired to their Trenches and deliberated in what manner by fair Promises and Mony they might invite them to Surrender Hereupon the Captain-Pasha the Tartar Han and others tried the Efficacy of large Proffers of Priviledges to the Town their Country and Inhabitants with a Gratuity of twelve thousand Hungers of Gold But these Promises could make no more entrance into their Hearts than the Turks could do into their Walls which they seemed resolute to defend wanting neither Provision nor Ammunition nor courage for the War but on the contrary side all these were wanting in the Turkish Camp so that fifteen days passed without any Action until they were supplied by the arrival of certain Brigantines and light Vessels dispatched with all expedition with the necessaries of War At the coming of which the Turks prepared for another Assault which they continued uncessantly for the space of seven days but were received with that â—igour by the Besieged that they could not gain one palm or inch of ground So that at length with disgrace and discouragement they were forced to give over their Attempt despairing to gain the Town in the time and with the Force which was allotted for this Enterprize With this ill Success Extremity and Famine pinched the Turks in their Trenches so much that an Ox was sold for fifteen Zechins a Lamb for three and a Measure of Barley which served a Horse for one time for a Dollar so that at length they were forced to raise the Siege and the Captain Pasha by tempestuous Weather was constrained to shelter his Fleet in the Port of Caffa In their return Home the General was fearful of having forfeited his Head the Commanders were silent and ashamed of their Success and the Souldiers discouraged famished and poor for they had lost three thousand Spahees seven thousand Janisaries and eight hundred other Souldiers besides Moldavians Walachians and Tartars those that survived of the Foot were naked and many sick the Spahees were without Horses with which they were supplied by the Tartars and in fine so unsuccessful were all Matâ—ers that the Veteran Souldiery avouched that they never endured a more cruel nor a more miserable War. And now we shall end this Year 1641 with the ruin of Emir Guimir a Persian by Birth a Favourite and yet Traitor to his Natural Prince This Emir in the last Wars which Sultay Morat waged against Persia was entrusted with an Embassy and with Conduct of part of his Army but he betrayed both to the Turk under whose Protection he took Sanctuary and obtained great Gifts and Preferments for a Reward and Price of his Treachery Sultan Morat afterwards bestowed a magnificent Seraglio upon him situated on the Bosphorus enriched him with a vast Treasury and what is more with his Favour making him his Companion in his Pastimes and his Confident in his serious Counsels It waâ— he that first perswaded the Sultan to drink Wine in which both of them were beastly intemperate and mighty and valiant to bear until the heat thereof having extinguished the natural heat of their Stomachs it became too cold and crude unless corrected or fortified with Rach or distilled Spirits The Fumes of such strong Drinks were the cause of the extravagant Actions which Morat practised in his Life and afterwards became the means to hasten his Death whose days being ended it was time also for prosperous Wickedness to expire and to
fifth Son of Sultan Achmet born of the same Mother with Sultan Morat Educated like the other younger Sons of the Ottoman Family within the Walls of an obscure and unhappy Prison so that 't is no wonder if wanting the advantages of seeing and practising in the World he should neither have studied Men nor been experienced in the Art of Government Nor less strange is it being natural to humane Infirmity for Men who have lived under Restraint Affliction and fear of Death to become licentious and immoderate in all kind of Pleasures whensoever they pass on a sudden from the depth of Misery to some transcendent degree of Happiness and Prosperity which as I say all Men are naturally subject unto so more especially those whose Religion indulges them all kind of sensual Carnality in this Life Ibrahim was in his own Nature of a gentle and easy Temper of a large Forehead of a quick and lively Eye and ruddy Complexion and of a good Proportion in the Features of his Face but yet had something in the Air of his Countenance that promised no great Abilities of Mind And giving himself up to all kind of Effeminacy and Softness attended not unto the Government of his Affairs and therefore it was his greatest misfortune to be served by wicked and faithless Officers to whom he trusted and to whom he gave Credence wanting in himself the Talents of Wisdom and Discretion to discern their Malice The continual apprehensions that he entertained of Death during his Imprisonment had so frozen his Constitution with a strange frigidity towards Women that all the dalliance and warm Embraces of the most inflaming Ladies in the Seraglio could not in a whole Years time thaw his Coldness which was the occasion at first of that Report which spoke him to be impotent towards Women during which time he attended to his Ministers of Justice and to a management of the Affairs of his Empire which in the beginning of his Reign gained him a Credit and Reputation and raised a great expectation of his goodness and Care of his Subjects Welfare an evidence of which he gave in his Charge to the Great Vizier that he should put no Man to Death unless for Capital and Enormous Crimes But at length losing himself in Lusts and Sensualities he forsook the Helm of his Regency committing the guidance of his Empire to other Hands and as he was ignorant of War so he foolishly sported in the Calms of Peace and suffering himself to be guided only by Fortune felt the Stroke thereof in his last Unhappy Fate year 1649. THE REIGN OF Sultan MEHMET OR MAHOMET IV. THIRTEENTH EMPEROR OF THE TURKS ANNO 1649. SUltan Ibrahim perishing in this manner by the mutinous Violence of the Souldiery his Son Mehmet or Mahomet being a Child of seven Years of Age succeeded in the Throne During whose Minority which was to continue for the space of ten Years longer his Mother who was the first Sultana assisted with the Counsel of twelve Pashaws took upon her self the Regency and in the first place resolved to continue the War against the Venetians which Ibrahim intended to conclude having engaged himself far in a Treaty of Peace with the Bailo or Ambassador which resided at the Port for that Republick Whilst these Matters were transacting and Preparations making to prosecute the War the Malignant Humours of the Empire began to ferment unto that degree as affected the Body Politick at first with unnatural Heats which soon afterwards proceeded to a Feaver and then to a dangerous Convulsion The ill-affected Part was the Militia which is the Heart and Principal of the Life of that Government For the Spahees and the Janisaries being the Horse and Foot entred into a desperate Controversie The first judged it their Duty to revenge the Death of their Soveraign Sultan Ibrahim and in order thereunto demanded the Head of the Great Vizier as the Chief Author and Contriver of the Death of his Lord and Master The others being conscious to themselves of having by their Arms carried on the Conspiracy not only declared their Resolutions to defend the Vizier but owned that what he had acted was by their Order and at their Request and Instigation The Spahees being highly provoked with this Declaration swelled with Anger and Malice against the Janisaries and both sides being equally proud and rich could not bear each others Reproaches The Spahees being Men of Estates in Land looked on themselves as the Gentry and to have the greatest Share in the concernment of the Empire The Janisaries living regularly in their Chambers or Martial Colledges looked on themselves as the better Souldiers and the more formidable Party and the truth is both of them were proceeded to that height of Command and Authority in Government that had they not been suppressed by the cruel Hand and bloody Disposition of Kuperlee as shall be more largely related hereafter this Empire was then in danger of falling into as many Divisions as there were at that time Pashaws or great Captains The cause hereof proceeded from the warlike disposition of Sultan Morat who being the most Martial Man of his Age preferred none but Men of great Courage and such as had signalized their Valour by undoubted proofs And such Men as these he loaded with Honour and raised them to the highest aâ—d most eminent Charges in the Government But Morat dying soon afterwards these Great Men had time to enrich themselves during the gentle and easie Reign of Sultan Ibrahim which being seconded by the Minority of this Young Sultan their Pride knew no bounds either of Modesty towards their Commanders or Reverence towards their Sultan Hence it was that the Souldiery dividing so great a Sedition arose amongst them that at last they came to Blows resolving to decide the Controversy by the Sword. But the Quarrels of Turks amongst themselves not being commonly of long durance the Care and Vigilance of the Magistrates prevented all open defiance in the Field but yet could not so pacifie their Animosities but that several Skirmishes or Rencounters passed between them in the Streets wherein the Spahees were always worsted and at length were forced to abandon the City scarce daring for some time to own the Name of Spahee within the Walls of Constantinople These Disturbances gave the Venetians some hopes to accommodate their Peace with better Advantage but the Reply to this Proposition was more fierce and positive than ever and so ill resented that the Bailo going from his Audience was on the 27 th of April seized on and with all his Retinue clapped into Prison and Chains being sent to those Castles which are scituate on the Bosphorus in the middle way between Constantinople and the Black Sea. But this furious severity by the intercession of other Christian Ministers continued not long before the Bailo received more gentle Treatment by the Sacrifice which the Turks made unto themselves of Grillo his Interpeter who being called down from the
Sabatai Sevi was Son of Mordecai Sevi an Inhabitant and Natural of Smyrna who gained his Livelihood by being Broker to an English Merchant in that place a person who before his Death was very decrepit in his Body and full of the Gout and other infirmities But his Son Sabatai Sevi addicting himself to study and learning became a notable Proficient in the Hebrew and Arabick Languages and especially in Divinity and Metaphysicks he was so cunning a Sophister that he vented a new Doctrine in their Law and drew to the profession of it so many Disciples as raised one day a tumult in the Synagogue for which afterwards he was by censure of the Kockhams who are the Expounders of the Law banished out of the City During the time of his Exile he travelled to Thessalonica now called Salonica where he married a very handsom Woman but either not having that part of Oeconomy as to govern a Wife or being impotent as to Women as was pretended or that she found not favour in his eyes she was divorced â—rom him Again he took a second Wife more beautiful than the former but the same causes of discontent raising a difference between them he obtained another Divorce from this Wife also And being now free from the incumbrances of a Family his wandring head moved him to travel through the Morea thence to Tripoli in Syria Gaza and Ierusalem and by the way picked up a Ligornese Lady whom he made his third Wife the Daughter of some Polonian or German her Originaâ— and Country not being very well known And being now at Ierusalem he began to reform their Law and to abolish the Fast of Tamuz which they keep in the month of Iune and meeting there wâ—th a certain Iew called Nathan a proper Instrument to promote his design he communicated to him his condition his course of life and intentions to declare himself the Messiah of the World so long expected and desired by the Iews This design took wonderfully with Nathan and because it was thought necessary according to Scripture and ancient Prophecies that Elias was to precede the Messiah as St. Iohn Baptist was the Fore-runner of Christ Nathan thought no man so proper to act the part of the Prophet as himself and so no sooner had Sabatai declared himself the Messiah but Nathan discovers himself to be his Prophet forbidding all the Fasts of the Iews in Ierusalem and declaring that the Bridegroom being come nothing but joy and triumph ought to dwell in their habitations writing to all the Assemblies of the Iews to perswade them to the same belief And now the Schism being begun and many Iews really believing what they so much desired Nathan took the courage and boldness to prophesie That one year from the 27 th of Kislau which is the Month of Iuly the Messiah was to appear before the Grand Signior and to take from him his Crown and lead him in chains like a Captive Sabatai also at Gaza preached Repentance to the Iews and Obedience to himself and Doctrine for that the Coming of the Messiah was at hand Which novelties so affected the Iews Inhabitants of those parts that they gave up themselves wholly to their Prayers Alms and Devotions and to confirm this belief the more it happened that at the same time that news hereof with all particulars were dispatched from Gaza to acquaint the Brethren in foreign parts the rumour of the Messiah had flown so swift and gained such reception that Intelligence came from all Countries where the Iews sojourn by Letters to Gaza and Ierusalem congratulating the happiness of their deliverance and expiration of their time of servitude by the appearance of the Messiah To which they adjoyned other Prophecies relating to that Dominion the Messiah was to have over all the World that for nine Months after he was to disappear during which time the Iews were to suffer and several of them to undergo Martyrdom but then returning again mounted on a Coelestial Lion with his Bridle made of Serpents with seven heads accompanied with his Brethren the Iews who inhabited on the other side of the River Sabation he should be acknowledged for the sole Monarch of the Universe and then the Holy Temple should descend from Heaven already built framed and beautified wherein they should offer Sacrifices for ever And here I leave the Reader to consider how strangely this deceived People was amused when these confident and vain reports and dreams of Power and Kingdoms had wholly transported them from the ordinary course of their trade and interest This noise and ruâ—our of the Messiah having begun to fill all places Sabaâ—ai Sevi resolved to travel towards Smyrna the Country of his Nativity and thence to Constantinople the capital City where the principal work of preaching was to be performed Nathan thought it not fit to be long after him and therefore travels by way of Damascus where resolving to continue some time for better propagation of this new Doctrine in the mean while writes this Letter to Sabatai Sevi as followeth 22. Kesvan of this Year TO the King our King Lord of our Lords who gathers the dispersed of Israel who redeems our Captivity the Man elevated to the height of all sublimity the Messiah of the God of Jacob the true Messiah the Coelestial Lion Sabatai Sevi whose Honour be exalted and his Dominion raised in a short time and for ever Amen After having kissed your hands and swept the dust from your feet as my duty is to the King of Kings whose Majesty be exalted and his Empire enlarged These are to make known to the Supreme Excellency of that place which is adorned with the beauty of your â—anctity that the Word of the King and of his Law hath inlightned our faces that day hath been a solemn daâ— unto Israel and a day of light unto our Rulers fâ—r immediately we applied our selves to perform â—our Command as our duty is And though we have heard of many strange things yet we are couragious and our heart is as the heart of a Lion nor ought we to inquire a reason of your dâ—ings for your works are marvelâ—ous and past finding out and we are confirmed in our fidelity without all exception resigning up our very â—ouls for the Holiness of your Name And now we are come as far as Damascus intending shortly to proceed in our Iourney to Scanderoon according as you have commanded us that so we may ascend and see the face of God in light as the light of the face of the King of life and we servants of your servants shall cleanse the dâ—st from your feet beseeching the Majesty of your Excellency and Glory to vouchsafe from your habitation to have a care of us and help us with the force of your right hand of strength and shorten our way which is before us And we have our eyes towards Iah Iah who will make haste to help us and save us that the children of
Marquess Villa presented him with a Bason of Gold valued at six thousand Ducats together with a Patent recounting at large the many famous Exploits which he had performed in their Service which they expressed with a stile so generous and obliging as may serve for a Record to transmit the Fame of his Merits to all Posterity Marquess Villa being departed from Candia the Captain-General recalled all his Forces from divers parts of the Archipelago which he had sent thither with the Soldiers wounded in the last Battle and being returned they brought with them great numbers of Pioniers and Workmen to labour in the Fortifications and Mines at the same time also the Captain-Pasha arrived at Canea bringing two thousand Janisaries withhim The Marquess St. Andrea Montbrun a Gentleman of the French Nation was transported to Candia by the General Proveditor Cornaro where being entred into the Charge and Office of Marquess Villa wanted nothing of the vigilance and circumspection of his Predecessour And therefore in the first place having visited all the Forts Out-works and Retrenchments of the Town ordered what was necessary for repair of the breaches and amended what was deficient in the most distressed Fortifications And though the Turks fired a Mine the 22 th of August at the point of the Fort St. Andrea which made a most dangerous breach yet it was so valiantly defended and so speedily repaired that the Enemy gained little or no advantage and all by the extraordinary diligence of this Marquess St. Andrea who passed whole months without uncloathing himself and as his nights were without sleep so his days consumed without repose applying himself personally to all places where was most of danger especially at the Fort of St. Andrea where he took up his constant Quarters The Turks now daily pressing the Town more nearly than before Skirmishes and Sallies were more frequent and more bloody so that about this time the Proveditor General Bernardo Nani applying himself with all earnestness in the performance of his Charge was slain by a Musket-shot in his head his death was much lamented by all being a Gentleman who was born as may be said in the Fleet having had his Education there and passed his youth in Wars and dangers for the safety and honour of his Country Girolamo Bataglia was elected by the Republick to succeed him in the Office whose death was also seconded by that of Francesco Bataglia Brother of the Duke of Candia being shot in the breast with a Musket-bullet and though he was sent thither to administer Justice to the People yet his zeal and courage carrying him to Martial Acts beyond his duty made a grave for him amongst the other Heroes and Worthies of that place The Turk approaching daily nearer with their Works infested very much the passage of Vessels to the Town and shot so directly into the Port that no Ship Galley or Bark could remain in any security from their Cannon to remedy which a small Redoubt was raised at Tramata which being well and strongly fortified served for a small Port under the shelter of which the lesser Vessels found some protection and was of great relief to the distressed City About this time the Popes Gallies with those of Malta arrived commanded by Fra. Vincenzo Rospigliosi the Popes Nephew who having not brought a greater number of people than what served to man their Gallies they were not able to spare many for defence of the Town The long continuance of this Siege and the same thereof noised through the whole World moved the heroick and gallant Spirits of our Age to descend into this Campus Martius this Field of War and give proofs of their Prowess and Valour in defence of the Christan Cause some being moved by a principle of vain-glory proceeding from the briskness of a youthful and aery Spirit and others from the sense of Devotion and fervour towards Religion amongst which none were more forward than some Gentleman of the French Nation as namely Monsieur La Fueillade alias Duke of Roanez with the Count St. Paul a young Cavalier to forward which design taking first the Licence and Benediction of their King they appointed their Rendezvous at Tolon where they listed two hundred Gentleman Cadets or younger Brothers who went in quest of Honour and not of Pay with four hundred ordinary Souldiers who expected their maintenance from the bounty of their Leaders The chief of whom was Monsieur La Fueillade and his Lieutenant the Chevalier De Tresmes Their whole Body was divided into four Bridgades The first commanded by Count St. Paul. The second by the Duke Dâ— Cardâ—â—ousse The third by the Count De Villa Maur. And the fourth by the Duke De Cheateau Tiery When these Persons of Honour and Courage arrived at Candia they found the City hardly beset and reduced to a strait and difficult condition for the Turks were advanced so near to the Fort of St. Andrea that the Souldiers within and without could cross their Muskets and reach Tobaco one to the other howsoever this breach was so well repaired with a good Palissado fortified with several Bonnets and a double Retrenchment on the Bastion it self and a third Retrenchment of squared stone withal that the courage of the Besieged being nothing abated by the many and furious assaults of the Enemy the Town still remained in a defensible posture and still capable with good Succours and Supplies to yield matter of imployment for several years to the Ottoman Forces These worthy Champions as I said being arrived moved with the sense of Religion and desire of glory to themselves challenged the priviledge of mounting the Guard of St. Andrea but that being already prepossessed by the Knights of Malta and other Officers of the place was refused to them Howsoever the Captain-General Morosini was pleased to gratifie them with the Guard of a small Chapel over that Bastion on the right hand of the breach a place of no less danger and therefore of no less honour than the other with which the Cavaliers being satisfied Monsieur St. Paul mounted the Guard one day at six a clock in the morning and continued there â—â—til the same hour of the day following during which time he lost his Major Dupre and Monâ—ieur De Marenval the latter of which had his brains knocked out with so violent a blow of a great shot that some pieces of his skull dangerously wounded the Sieurs De Chamilly and De Lare who were near to him and more maliciously did the Turks ply the stations of these new-come Guests than any others throwing Bomboes Granadoes Stink-pots and other sorts of artificial Fire without cessation into their Quarters notwithstandiug which this young Prince and Monsieur La Fueillade exposed themselves like common Souldiers animating their men more with their example than their words And now by this time by so many Works and removals of Earth by so many Traverses and Mines under ground and throwing up the
last with much importunity he told what great Abuse there was in the Butchery that the Shambles were ill served that he had missed the usual proportion of Flesh that morning for his Janisaries Chamber and what Punishment he was likely to suffer for having come short only one moment of his due time He added further That the Vizier and other Officers were negligent in rectifying these mean and low Disorders being wholly taken up in enriching themselves and intent to their own Interest But if I were first Vizier I would not only cause great plenty of Flesh in this City but at all times of the day it should be found by those who wanted it And now what benefit have either you said he by hearing this Story or what release am I like to have of Punishment by repeating it to you The Grand Signior afterwards returning Home and considering of the Discourse the Janisaries Cook had made him whether to prove the Abilities of the Man or because he conceived Providence had offered this Encounter or that Princes delight to exercise their Power in creating great Men from Nothing he sent immediatly for the Dervise who being come into his Presence and sensible of the familiar Discourse he had made him trembling cast himself down at his Feet supposing that the free Language he used of the Vizier and the Government was the cause he was now to lose his Life But it happened quite contrary for the Grand Signior encouraging him to lay aside his fear told him he was resolved to make him first Vizier to try an Experiment whether he was able to amend those Abuses he complained of And that herein he might not transgress the Degrees whereby he was gradually to pass he first made him chief of his Chamber the next day Captain the day following Aga or General of the Janisaries and thence with one step to be great Vizier who not only remedied the Abuse in the Shambles according to his promise but proved a famous and excellent Minister of State. And though Examples of the like nature are frequent among the Turks yet this may serve at present to shew in part the Fortune and Fate by which Men are raised and the unconstancy of Greatness and Glory amongst the Turks above any other part of the World besides It was a hard Problem in the Turkish Policy which as a wise Prime Vizier proposed to certain Pashaes amongst other Questions What courses were possible to be found out for a first Vizier to maintain and continue his Office and acquit this so dangerous Charge from the hazard and uncertainty to which it is liable For you see Brothers said he how few enjoy or grow Old herein their Vertue their Care and their Innocence are no protection some remain a Day a Week a Month others protract the Thred to a Year or two but at length they are to use our own Proverb like the Aâ—t to whom God gives Wings for their speedier destruction The Pashaes were for a while all silent not knowing what Reply to make or how to resolve so difficult and knotty a Point until Kuperli who was then the most ancient and perhaps the wisest Pasha as the Actions of his following Life have sufficiently testified first replied That in his Opinion the only and most probable Means for a tottering Vizier to fecure himself is to divert the Mind of the Grand Signior and other working Brains upon some Foreign War for Peace is that which corrupts the Dispositions of Men and sets them on work to raise themselves with Intestine and Civil Evils when War busies their Spirits and employs them to gain Renown and Glory by Martial Actions by which means Plots and Treachery are droven from our own Homes Consiliis astu res externas moliri arma procul habere Tacit. Lib. 6. And it is possible that Achmet the Son of Kuperli who began the last War with Germany might go upon this Maxim of his Fathers for in all Matters of his Government he is observed to walk by the same Rules and Directions which were bequeathed to him as well as his Inheritance And yet for all this doubful Estate of the Prime Viziers some have been known to manage this Office eighteen or nineteen Years and afterwards wearied with Care and Pains to acquit it by a natural Death from whence this Question may arise Whether the Favour or Displeasure of the Prince depends on the Destiny or Fortune we are born to or whether humane Counsel can assign a way between Contumaciousness and Flattery wherein to steer free from Danger and Ambition Vnde dubitare cogor fato sorte nascendi ut caetera ita Principum inclinatio in hos offensio in illos an sit aliquid in nostris consiliis lice atque inter abruptam contumaciam deforme obsequium pergere iter ambitione periculis vacuum Tacit. Lib. 4. But we find but few Examples of this kind for if Viziers have been Evil their own Cruelty and Covetousness have hastned their Fate if Good their Merits have been their Ruin lest the great Benefits their Merits have procured to their Prince should seem to want Reward or be dangerous or difficult to requite Beneficia eousque laeta dum videntur exsolvi posse ubi maltum antevenere pro gratia odium redditur Tacit. Lib. 4. The Revenues of the first Vizier which issue immediately from the Crown and are certain appendages to the Office are not great being not above 20000 Dollars yearly which arise from certain Villages in Romelia the rest of the Immense Riches which accrues to this Charge so full of Cares and Danger flows from all the Quarters of the Empire For no Bâ—shaw or Minister of Trust enters his place without his Present and Offering to the first Vizier to obtain his Consent and purchasea continuance of his Favour Those that have Governments abroad have always their Agents at Court who with Gifts continually mollify the Vizier's Mind entreating him to represent their Service to the Grand Signior in an acceptable and grateful manner And though at the Equinoctial in the Spring all Pashaes and any that have Governments of note are obliged to make their Presents to the Grand Signior of considerable value at which time the first Vizier neither will not want his own acknowledgments he is yet farther treated by all Persons with Sums of Mony as the Nature of their Business is which is not secretly but boldly and confidently demanded and the Bargain beaten as in matters of Merchandize and Trade and Justice and Favours made as vendible and set as publick to sale as Wares and Commodities are in the Shops and Places of common Mart so that if the first Vizier proves covetous as commonly they do who are raised from nothing and used always to thrift and resolves to lose nothing of what he may get his Income is incredible and may equal that which is the Rent of the Grand Signior and in a few Years amass
The number of the Zaims and Timariots in the Governments of the Beglerbegs of Buda Temswar and Bosna I find not particularly described in Ottoman Books but however according to the best information that Militia on the Confines of the Empire called Serhadly amount to the number of about 70000 fighting men paid out of the Rents of the Sangiacks of that Countrey But though the Militia of Buda be not set down in the Registers of more ancient date at Constantinople because it is as it were a principality independent both for its Eminency Revenue and large extent of Dominions yet in that City it self is strict order observed and the Rolls of their force most exactly known and computed to which the Turks have a strict eye it being a frontier Garison of much importance and the Key of Hungary the Militia of which as I leaâ—ned from Officers of Note during my residence in that place was according to this precise Account Of Ianizaries 12000 Spahees 1500 Zaims and Timariots 2200 Azaps which are the meanest sort of Souldiery 1800 Belonging to the Castle of Buda 1200 Iebeges or Armourers 1900 The Guard of the Gate called Cuchuc Cappe 500 Topgees or Gunners 500 Martoloes a sort of Foot Souldiers 300 Souldiers belonging to the Powder-house 280 The Souldiery who are Servants to the Pashaw 3000 In all 22180 to which adding the Militia of Bosna and other parts of Selavonia and all along the Frontier Countries which extend for above 800 English miles the number may amount to no less than 70000 fighting Men. But we here discourse onely of the number of the Zaims and Timariots which whole sum amounts to of Zaims 10948 and of Timariots 72436 which makes in all 83380 but this is calculated at the lowest rate they may very well be reckoned to be one third more beâ—ides other Militia's of Cairo or other Orders of Souldiery to be treated of in the following Chapters These Partitions or Divisions were â—irst made by Solyman â—he Magnificent as the best Rule and Method for an orderly disposition of his Militia and as the strongest nerve of the Ottoman Force but as with time in the most exact compositions of Discipline coâ—ruptions through covetousness and ambition of Officers are introduced so also in the just disposal of these Rents according to the ancient Institutions for the Beglerbegs Pashaws Treasurers and other Officers instead of bestowing this maintenance to the Souldiers according to their merits of Valour or long Seâ—vice reserve it to prefer and gratifie their Servants and Pages obligâ—ng them in recompence thereof under various Services some that live at Constantinople or near the Sea to defray the Charges of all Boats and Vessels which carry their Houshold Provisions others that live in the Inland Countries agreeing with the Teasurer of the Souldiery without regard to the true Heirs or any other consideration set to sale these Rents to them who profer most so that in time of Harvest the Pashaw sends abroad his Officers to gather his Profits from the poor Timariots with that oppression and violence as causes disturbances differences and Law-Suits amongst them which being to be decided by Judges partly interessed in the quarrel the Sentence is certainly determined on their side who have most Power and most Money The foregoing account of Zaims and Timariots is the most reasonable one can be given And because we have reckoned them at the lowest rate making some allowance to the 83380 this Militia may amount to an hundred thousand Men which as I have heard is the utmost number of this sort of Soldiery CHAP. IV. Of certain Customs and Laws observed amongst the Zaimets and Timariots AMongst these Forces of Ziamets and Timariots are in time of War and Action mixed certain Voluntiers or Adventurers call'd by the Turks Gionulli who maintain themselves upon their own expence in hopes by some signal Actions of Valour to obtain the succession into a Zaims or Timariots Lands as places are made void by the slaughter of the War. These Men are often very hardy and ready to attempt the most desperate Exploits moved by a desire of the Reward and by the Persuasion that at worst dying in a War against Christians they become Martyrs for the Mahometan Faith. It is reported that in one day upon the assaults given to Sorinswar or the new Fort of Count Serini one Timariots Farm was bestowed eight times one being slain it was conferred on another and so on a third and so the rest all which had the misfortune to fall untill it rested on the eighth the others dying with the Title onely of Timariots The Zaims or Timariots being aged or impotent have in their life-time power to resign up the Right of their Estates to their Sons or other Relations It is not lawfull for a Peasant or Clown to mount his Horse or girt his Sword like a Spahee untill first he hath had part of his Education in the Service or Family of some Pashaw or person of Quality unless it be on the Confines of the Empire where having given evident testimonies of his Courage he may then become Competitour for the vacant Farms of a Zaim or Timariot It is the Custome of Romania that a Zaim or Timariot dying in the Wars his Zaims Rents are divided into as many Timariots Farms as he hath Sons but if a Timariot hath no more than 3000 Aspers Rent it descends entirely to his eldest Son but if it be more it is proportionably divided amongst the rest of his Children But if they die of a naâ—ural death at their own homes the Lands fall to the disposal of the Beglerbeg of the Countrey either to confer them on the Heirs of the deceased on any of hâ—s Servants or sell them at the best advantage But in Anatolia there are many Zaims and Timariots whose Estates are Hereditary to them and their Heirs and are not obliged to serve in Person in the War but onely to send their Gâ—bâ—lues or number of Servants according to the value of their Estates of which duty if they fail in the time of War the years Rent is confiscated to the Exchequer and this Estate descends to the next of Kin whether derived from the Male or Female Line CHAP. V. The state of the Militia in Grand Cairo and Egypt THE guard and protection of the Kingdom of Egypt is committed to the charge of twelve Begs some of which are of the ancient Race of the Mamalukes confirm'd by Sultan Selin upon the taking of Cairo these have the command of the whole Militia in their hands whereby they are grown proud powerfull and ready upon every discontent to rise in Rebellion every one of these maintains 500 fighting men well appointed for War and exercised in Arms which serve but as their Guard and for Servants of their Court with which they go attended in Journies in their Huntings and publick Appearances under the command of these twelve Captains are 20000 Horse paid at the charge of
Militia is called Ianizar Agasi and is always elected from the Royal Chamber of the Seraglio because it being an Office of great charge it is thought necessary to be intrusted to one whose Education and Preferment hath made a Creature of the Court which Policy hath been the suppression of divers Mutinies amongst the Ianizaries the discovery of their Combination and an engagement to a stronger dependency on the favour of the Seraglio When this General either dies by a natural death or the Sword of the Grand Signior's Justice or Authority his Riches like that of other Pashaws is not confiscated to the Sultan's Exchequer but the Inheritance accrues to the publick Treasury of the Ianizaries which how dangerous it is to a State to have a Militia endowed with Revenues appropriated to their Officers as already we have declared they possess in some parts of Anatolia and a Bank of Wealth united to the maintenance of a licentious Sword the Ottoman Princes have by sad effects rather felt than able by virtue of their absolute Power to remedy The second chief Officer is the Kirbaia Begh Lieutenant-General The third is Seghban baschi the Overseer of the Carriage of the Soldiers Baggage The fourth is the Turnagi Bashee or Guardian of the Grand Signior's Cranes The fifth is the Samsongi Bashee chief Master of the Grand Signior's Mastives The sixth is the Zagargi Bashee Master of the Spaniels The seventh is the Solack Bashee Captain of the Archers or of such of the Ianizaries who go armed with Bow and Arrows The eighth is Subashi and Assasbashi who are chief of the Sergeants and Bailiffs and attend always at the Grand Signior's Stirrop when at any time on solemn occasions he shews himself to the people The ninth is the Peikbashi or Commander of that sort of Pages which are called Peiks who wear Caps of beaten Gold of which there are 60 in number who march at Solemnities together with the Solacks near the person of the Grand Signior The tenth is Mezurga or the head Baily of the Ianizaries These eight last arise from the order of the Ianizaries and have their several Commands in the Army though the Grand Signior to augment their Power and Honour the more bestows on them Titles and Wealth in other Offices The Ianizaries Chambers of which there are no others but in Constantinople are in number 162 of which 80 are of ancient Foundation and are called Eskai Odalar and 82 called Ieni Odalar or of the new Chambers over most of which is a Tchorbagi or Captain In these Chambers those that are not married enjoy their Lodgings and Habitation and twice a day find their Repast as we have before-mentioned And thus instead of Monasteries of Fryars the Turk maintains Convents and Societies of Soldiers who are trained up with all modesty and severity of Discipline The principal Officers of these Chambers are First the Odabashee or Master of the Chamber who in the Wars serve as Lieutenants of the Company Second is Wekilbarg or Expenditour for maintenance of the Chamber The third is Bairackter or Ensign-bearer Fourth is Ashgee or the Cook of the Chamber Fifth is Karakullukgee or the under-Cook Sixth is the Saka or the Water-carrier The Cook is not onely an Officer to dress the Diet and Provision of the Ianizaries but is also a Monitor or Observer of their good behaviour so that when any one of them commits a Crime the Cook is the Officer that executes the punishment The under Cook serves also for an Apparitor and is he who summons the married Ianizaries at their several Dwellings in Constantinople when their Officers command their attendance The greatest part of the Ianizaries consists of Batchellours or single Men for though Marriage cannot be denied to any of them yet it is that which determines their Preferments and renders their Seniority uncapable of claiming a right to Offices or Military Advancement for being incumbred with Wife and other Dependencies they are judged in a condition not capable to attend the Discipline of the War or service of the Grand Signior and therefore as to other duty in the times of Peace besides their appearance every Friday in their Chambers and presence of their Officers they wholly are dispensed with In the Wars this Militia is considered as the most valiant and best Disciplined Soldiery of the Turkish Camp and therefore are kept as a Reserve or march in the main Body of the Army In times of Peace their Quarters are many times changed to keep them in employment from one Castle or Garison to another as to Buda Kanisia Temeswar to Rhodes Canea and other parts some of them are appointed to keep Courts of Guard at all Gates and Avenues of Constantinople to prevent the Insolencies and Injuries their Companions are apt to offer to Christians Jews and others in the Streets who at some times being heated with Wine have in open Market forced Women whilst their Comrades have with their Daggers drawn stood over them to defend them from the people to prevent which disorders the Ianizar Agasi accustoms to ride the Streets attended with about 40 Mumigies or Bailiffs of the Ianizaries where meeting any guilty of such like Crimes or other Enormities he seizes them and carries them to his Court where after examination of their fault he orders them to be beaten or if their Crime be great to be strangled or sowed in a Sack and thrown into the Sea but always their punishment is inflicted privately perhaps because they are jealous of a Mutiny In every Province the Ianizaries have their Serdars who are Colonel or chief of all the Ianizaries within that Jurisdiction who greatly abuse their Office by taking into their protection any that present or pay them for this Privilege by which means they have grown so powerfull and rich that some time past the Command of the whole Ottoman Empire hath reposed in the hands of this Militia Their Arms are Musquets and Swords they fight confusedly in the Field and with no more order than the Spahees onely sometimes they draw themselves up into Cunei oberved amongst the Romans And thus much shall serve to have spoken of the Institution and Discipline of the Ianizaries We shall now proceed to declare how this Militia is decayed and upon what grounds it is not maintained in its ancient honour and flourishing Estate CHAP. VIII Whether the maintenance of an Army of Janizaries according to the Original Institution be now agreeable to the Rules of Polity amongst the Turks THIS Problem I find first moved by Busbequius once the German Emperour's Ambassadour to Constantinople who pretends to speak the Grand Signior's sense in this particular on occasions of difference which the insolent rudeness of the Ianizaries had caused between themselves and his Family For Rusan Pashaw then Prime Visier admonished him friendly to condescend to any terms of composition for that Law could not avail where
the Workmen yet nothing hinder'd to perfect the Allodgment which was made wide and extreamly well fortified on all sides The City of Newhausel is Situate on a Plain with some little rising Hills about it and on the Banks of the River Neutra it is not far from Comorra and about a Days Journey from Strigonium it is encompassed by six Bastions according to the manner of the modern Fortifications the distance of the Curtains and of the Flankers are of an exact equality and the Form is a Sex-Agon or Six-Angles After the Turks had taken it in the Year 1663 they brought the Neutra round the Town and filled the Ditch with Water and made it so Deep that it was almost impossible to form any Mine under it The presence of the Duke of Loraine who was always an Overseer and director in making the Trenches in which he for the most part remain'd until after Midnight did very much contribute to the dispatch of that Work So that between the 14 th and 21 th all matters requisite for the Siege were finished the Allodgment on the brink of the Ditch was more enlarged than before the Water whereof being Fathomed was found to be seventeen or eighteen Foot in Depth and sometime increased notwithstanding the Drain by the excessive Rains which not only supplied it with Water but much incommoded the Soldiers in their Trenches The Batteries continually plaid with good Success and not only had beaten down a great part of the Parapet but had made a considerable Breach in the Bastion it self which they intended to widen and open yet more by the help of another Battery newly raised consisting of eighteen Pieces of Cannon but whilst these things were in agitation News was brought to the Duke of Loraine that the Turkish Army began to march towards Buda and Alba Regalis and that Six thousand Turks and Tartars were advanced towards Vicegrade Upon this intelligence General Lesly who was appointed to watch the Motion of the Enemy was Order'd to endeavour unto the utmost of his power to hinder and obstruct the Passage of the Seraskier over the River Sava and Drave and Colonel Heusler with Two thousand Horse was dispeeded towards Pest to get intelligence of the Designs of the Vizier Soon after this Advices came That the Seraskier was advancing with all his Forces towards Buda and had made a Bridge not far from thence over the Danube but that it was not yet known whether he intended to attempt the raising of the Siege or to Sit down before some Town whereby to make a diversion But to be better provided and in a readiness either to meet the Seraskier in the Field or to defeat his Attempt against any fortified Place The Duke of Loraine order'd a Detachment of a Regiment of Savoiard Dragoons to joyn with some of the Bavarian and Lunenburg Troops to the number of Three thousand Men and therewith to Reinforce those Regiments which guarded the Bridge of Comorra During the time that a considerable Force was employ'd to observe the Motion of the Seraskier the Siege was carried on with all imaginable Courage and Resolution the Cannon continually fired from the several Batteries and the Bombs and Carcasses were thrown into the Fortress with such good Success that on the 22 d the Town appear'd to Smoak and Flame in three several places which continued all Night to the great Terrour and Labour of the Defendants But at length by the great Rains which fell the Fires were not only extinguished but the Christians very much incommoded in their Trenches and the Waters of the Ditch increased as fast almost as they were sunk by the Drain So that it seeming a long and tedious Work before the Ditch could be emptied of it's Water a contrivance was made to pass a Miner over the Ditch in a Boat and fix it to the Breach in the Wall but the Boat receiving a Shot from the Town was ready to sink and those therein were so incommoded with showers of Stones from the smaller Guns and Petreras planted on the Walls that they were forced to Retire and give over that Design On the 24 th the Defendants made a Sally on that side where a Guard was appointed of Swedes and Suabians to defend the Drain which was made to sink the Water of the Ditch and surprized them at a time when they were overcharged with Wine which they had unfortunatly gotten and laid for the most part in so profound a Sleep without so much as a Match lighted that a Hundred of them with their Lieutenant Colonel two Captains and two Lieutenants did never awake from their natural Sleep but insensibly passed from it into the last Sleep of Death The Turks return'd back again into the Town without much harm but with great Joy and Triumph which they testified by the Musick which was heard from the Walls into the Trenches But on the 25 th greater care was taken with the Guards on that side and endeavours used to enlarge the Channel which being perform'd the Water in the Ditch sunk eight Foot so that the Faggots Stones and Rubbish were prepar'd to fill it up and that Labour so closely followed that in one Night the Ditch was half filled up on that side where the Imperialists were lodged But on that of the Bavarians they advanced little by Reason that the Defendants fired so continually from the Parapet of the Bastion which was opposite to them as disturbed the Work and hinder'd them very much in carrying Faggots and Rubbish so freely as was done on the other side The Work was now to fill the Ditch on each side as well where the Imperialists as where the Bavarians were Quarter'd To prevent which the Turks on the 27 th about Noon made a Sally by the Port of Strigonium and stopped the Channel by which the Water vented it self out of the Ditch and ran into the River but being opposed by Three hundred Bavarians they received a Repulse and made their Retreat back into the Town the Bank being again opened the Water fell so low that the Imperialists discover'd a secret Passage by which the wet and moorish Ground kept a Correspondence with the Ditch and supplied it with some Waters from thence the Christians endeavour'd to stop this Conveyance and the Turks to open it so that what one did by Day the other destroy'd by the Night The increase of the Waters in the Ditch caused the Besiegers to despair of being able to effect any thing by their Mines but finding that their Batteries opened the Breach more and more they resolved to perform their work by the two Attacks on the right and on the left Hand The two Galleries were in a short time advanced that to the right went drawing near to the Wall being well cover'd and flanked with Baskets Barrels and Gabions filled with Earth in which Action the Lieutenant Colonel of Count Souches was killed The
at Adrianople the Turks knew not in what manner to be rid of him they wished for his Departure not so much to save the daily Charge which they bestowed upon him as to be quit of a Spy who looked as if he came to see the Nakedness of the Land. It was not seemly to order him to be gone but it was thought that he would not stay long after the Horse-Tail was set out which is a Sign that the Grand Vizier resolves in 40 Days to take the Field upon which it was given out That he was to be at Sophia about the 7th or 8th of May whence in a few Days he was to proceed and to expect the Forces of Asia at Belgrade In order hereunto all Preparations possible were made for the War the Grand Vizier designing to be in the Field before the Christians several Brigantines were dispatched for the Danube by way of the Black-Sea with Saicks for Asack laden with Ammunition and Provisions for the War most of which Vessels were designed up as high as Belgrade But for all this haste which the Turks made the Factions amongst themselves retarded their Expeditions and caused every thing to move slowly We have already given a Character of the Grand Vizier as a Man infirm both in Body and Mind and endued with no other Abilities to conserve himself and his Government besides a Cruelty natural to him by which he conserved himself by the destruction of others he had as we have said put many of the Chief Officers to Death and had caused the Mufti to be displaced and banished he also proceeded so far as to take the Kusliâ— Aga from the daily Service of the Sultan and in despight of his great Power in the Seraglio to send him into Banishment After which there remained but one Person of whom he conceived any Fear or Jealousie and that was the Chimacam of Adrianople and until he was taken off he could conceive no Quiet within his own Breast nor could he think himself secure after his departure to the War unless he first saw his Competitor under the same Fate with his other Enemies and his Son placed in his Stead and Office With these Thoughts this wretched Vizier went boldly to the Sultan to demand license to give the Fatal Blow to the Chimacam the which recoiled upon himself for he being much in Favour and in Esteem with the Grand Seignior for his Prudence and Dexterity in Affairs and for the Truth which he had always told him The Sultan no sooner heard him speak against the Chimacam but putting himself into a Violent Passion called immediately for his Band of Black Eunuchs to remove him away out of his Presence and to strangle him as a Faithless and an Unworthy Minister But it seems the Eunuchs contrary to their Natural Temper taking Compassion of an Aged and Decrepid Person fell down at the Feet of the Sultan imploring his Mercy and Commiseration towards an old Servant whose Years might plead for his Pardon The Sultan being a Prince of an Easie Temper hearkened to their Petitions and causing him to be put into an inward Room for a while sent immediately to call for the Chimacam to come to him who all Pale and Wan fearing least his Enemy the Vizier had prevailed with the Grand Seignior against his Life came all Trembling and cast himself down at the Feet of the Sultan but he was soon put out of his Fears by the comfortable Words of the Grand Seignior declaring him Vizier and therewith a Vest of Sables was thrown over him and the Seals delivered to him But he being a Person of Prudence and Experience of the uncertainty of that Sublime Office in such a Conjuncture of Time as was at present began before the Grand Seignior much to bewail his hard Fate which hurried him into an Honour too high and weighty for him to support declaring That he only desired to live in the Degree of Chimacam that he might never depart from the side of his Lord and Master With these and such like Words as these he moved the Sultan to Compassionate his Case and to grant his Request And in his Place was named Haâ—il Pasha at that time Pasha of Diarbekir in Mesopotamia who had been Chief Chamberlain to Kara Mustapha when he lay in the Siege before Vienna To execute this Great Affair two Aga's were dispatched immediately away by the Post to bring this Halil Pasha to Adrianople and in the mean time all the Affairs of the War remained at a stand which was very strange at such a Season when the Armies were ready to take the Field and that all things must give way to the Consideration of a single Man who was to be fetched at the distance of above 1000 English Miles from Adrianople as if no Man could be found like him equal to that great and heavy Charge In the mean time the Deposed Vizier was Banished to the Castles of the Dardanelli the which proved not all his Punishment for his Estate according to the Custom of the Turks was Arrested 500 Purses of Money with half a Million of Dollars were seized for Service of the Sultan with about 18000 Soltanini or Gold Ducats belonging to the Vizier's Son the Kahya also was put into Prison of whom nothing more having been heard it was believed that he had been put to Death Upon the News hereof the Soldiery at Belgrade Conspired together to present before the Grand Seignior Halil Pasha their Seraskier or General at that time of their Army as the fittest Person for the Office of Grand Vizier and the most able of any to contend with those great Difficulties which oppressed the Empire But in regard that Post was already filled the Port refused to hearken thereunto and least such a Denial should cause any disturbance year 1692. Halil Pasha was sent to Negropont where he formerly had shown great Bravery and good Conduct and thus all things remained at a stand until the Arrival of the New Vizier till which time also the Persian Ambassador could not be dispatched nor did he hastily desire it being taken up with Admiration and Pleasure to see so many Tragical Changes and Confusions far different from those Days when the Ottoman Union and absolute uncontrouled Power gave a Terrour to Persia and all the Eastern World. In the mean time for want of the Grand Vizier all things were at a stand for the Tartars refused to move until they received Instructions from the New Grand Vizier and the Asiatick Troops which were upon their March at this tiâ—e and ready to pass into Europe retarded and slackned their Pace until they knew what new Orders this Vizier would give them Howsoever the Officers both of Horse and Foot which were already in Europe were hastned on their March with all speed that at the Arrival of the Grand Vizier the whole Army might be found in a good