business that it is diccicult to bring a corrupt Turkish Minister to Justice or punishment meerly for breach of our Capitulations or in respect to any difference or abuse offered to Christians unless the complaint be accompanied with Presents or Money which are most prevalent Arguments in the Turkish Court and in this case I really believe that had three or four thousand Dollars been offered as a reward for bringing the Customer to capital punishment the complaint had found acceptance and honourable success for default of which the Cause was starved and naked and carried no fire or heat in those aggravations with which it was represented It is likewise observable that business in the Turkish Court doth not always find that dispatch or expedition as is generally believed in Christendom unless it come accompanied with the interest of the Ministers themselves and then it is transacted in a moment which otherwise languished with delays and will never want excuses to deser it Anno 1666. Hegeira 1077. WE shall begin this Year with the strange rumour and disturbance of the Jews concerning Sabatai Sevi their pretended Messiah which for being most principally acted in Turkey may properly belong to the History of this time and place which therefore for delight of the Readers I shall here insert for though it may have been elsewhere published yet being an issue of my Pen I may lawfully now own it and annex it to this History in respect of that near coherence it may have therewith and that many other particulars have been added thereunto which succeeded until the Death of this Sabatai According to the Predictions of several Christian Writers especially of such who comment upon the Apocalypie or Revelations this year of 1666. was to prove a year of Wonders of strange Revolutions in the World and particularly of blessing to the Jews either in respect of their Conversion to the Christian Faith. or of their Restoration to their Temporal Kingdom This opinion was so dilated and fixt in the Countries of the Reformed Religion and in the heads of Fanatical Enthusiasts who dreamed of Fifth Monarchies the down fall of the hope and Antichrist and the greatness of the Jews insomuch that this subtil people judged this Year the time to stir and to fit their Motion according to the season of the Modern Prophecies Whereupon strange reports flew from place to place of the March of multitudes of People from unknown parts into the remote deserts of Arabia supposed to be the Ten Tribes and a half lost for so many Ages That a Ship was arrived in the Northern parts of Scotland with her Sails and Cordage of Silk navigated by Marriners who spoke nothing but Hebrew and with this Motto on their Sails The Twelve Tribes of Israel These reports agreeing thus near to former Predictions put the wild sort of the World into an expectation of strange accidents this Year should produce in reference to the Jewish Monarchy In this manner Millions of people were possessed when Sabatai Sevi first appeared at Smyrna and published himself to the Jews for their Messiah relating the greatness of their approaching Kingdom the strong hand whereby God was about to deliver them from Bondage and gather them from all the parts of the World. It was strange to see how this fancy took and how fast the report of Sabatai and his Doctrine flew through all parts where Jews inhabited and so deeply possessed them with a belief of their new Kingdom and Riches and many of them with promotion to Offices of Government renown and greatness that in all places from Constantinople to Buda which it was my fortune that Year to travel I perceived a strange transport in the Jews none of them attending to any business unless to wind up former Negotiations and to prepare themselves and Families for a Journey to Jerusalem all their Discourses their Dreams and disposal of their affairs tended to no other design but a re-establishment in the Land of Promise to Greatness and Glory Wisdom and Doctrine of the Messiah whose Original Birth and Education is first to be recounted 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 sound not favour in his eyes she was divorced from 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 Jerusalem and by the way picked up a Ligornese Lady whom he made his third Wife the Daughter of some Polonian or German her Original and Country not being very well known And being now at Jerusalem he began to reform their Law and to abolish the Fast of Tamuz which they keep in the month of June and meeting there with a certain Jew 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 Jews 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. John 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 Jews in Jerusalem 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 Jews to perswade them to the same belief And now the Schism being begun and many Jews really believing what they so much desired Nathan took the courage and boldness to prophesie That one year from the 27th of * June Kislau which is the Month of July the Messiah was to appear before the Grand
the Seraglio And now Sultan Ibrahim losing all Courage at this third attempt fled into the Arms of his Mother begging her Assistance and Protection She being a bold and subtle Woman employed all her Rhetorick and Eloquence to perswade the Souldlery not to offer Violence to the Person of their Lord and Master promising that he should relinquish the Government and retire himself with a Guard into his old Lodgings Ibrahim comforted a little that he should save his Life shrunk himself willingly into his old Shell wherein he had so long conserved his Life In the mean time the Conspirators taking forth his eldest Son Sultan Mahomet set him on the Throne of his Father and planting the Sargouch or Imperial Feathers on his Head saluted him for Emperor with loud Acclamations Ibrahim continued his Imprisonment for some days with great patience but at length growing desperate and furious often beat his Head against the Wall until at length he was on the 17th strangled by four Mutes In this manner Sultan Ibrahim ended his Days which puts me in mind of the saying of a wiser and a better King than he That there is little distance between the Prisons and the Graves of Princes And this Example made a great Officer understand how King Charles the Glorious Martyr was put to Death For he I think it was the Great Vizier falling into Discourse with the Chief English Interpreter at Constantinople not then calling to mind the Fate of Sultan Ibrahim demanded How and when King Charles was put to Death Sure said he Your King must have no Power or your People must be more Rebellious and Mutinous than other Nations of the World who durst commit an Act so horrid and vile as this See said he How our Emperor is revered and observed and how submissive and obedient half the World is to the Nod of our Great Monarch To which the Interpreter replyed that to recount unto him the History and Occasion of this prodigious fact would be too long and tedious for him to hear but that the time it happened was some Months after the Death or Murder of Sultan Ibrahim which was an Item sufficient to give him a perfect understanding of what he required Sultan Ibrahim having in this manner ended his Days the Government was committed into the hands of the Grand Vizier and the old Queen-Mother which is she whom we call Kiosem in the Ottoman State and of twelve Pashaws who were to manage all Affairs with supream Power during the Minority of Sultan Mahomet who now Reigns Ibrahim was the 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 and 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 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 desperater 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
Faint yielded himself to a common Souldier who promised him Quarter but afterwards having him in his power he strangled him with his Match and cut off his Head and his little Finger on which he wore his Seal-Ring And is strangled and so presented both to the Pasha But this proud Conquerour refused to accept this Present without Ceremony until first the head had been perfumed with Sweet Waters the Beard combed out and covered with a rich Turbant and having kept this Trophy for some days by him he sent it afterwards to Constantinople But before the News of this Defeat reached the Ears of old Facardin the Captain-Pasha with his Fleet of Gallies arrived at the Port of Tripoli to whom Facardin being desirous to shew all Friendship and profess Loyalty to the Grand Signior he caused his Army to retire into the Parts of Mount Libanus whilst he himself with about three thousand Men between Domestick Servants and his Guards went to Seida from whence he sent two * A sort of Vessel or Ship so called by the Turks Caramosauis laden with Provisions and Refreshment to the Captain-Pasha for a Present assuring him that he was an humble Vassal to the Grand Signior and was ready to obey all his Commands and because the Sultan may probably have received sinister Reports relating to the Arms he had taken up he assured him that they were no otherwise designed than to suppress the Robberies of the Arabs and the Incursions of their Kings and that he was ready to conduct his Army to any Place where his Master the Grand Signior should think fit to employ them But these fair words could not divert the Captain-Pasha from his Resolution to enter the Port of Seida nor from his Instructions of demanding and upon refusal of forcing possession of the Castle which as it was the most considerable Fortress and the most pleasant Seat of all his Dominions so he could not without much regret and sorrow hearken to such a Proposition wherefore that the Pasha might not persist in this Demand he secretly proffered him an hundred thousand Zechins as a Bribe to himself and his Son Mansour to be carried for a Hostage and Earnest of his Faithfulness to the Grand Signior The Captain-Pasha liked well the hundred thousand Zechins and the Hostages but still required the Surrender of the Castle with them on which whilst Facardin deliberated News came of the Death of his Son Ali and the Destruction of his Army with which losing all Courage he yielded his Castle of Seida to the Captain-Pasha retiring himself to his City of Barut nor could he rest quietly at that Place for being pursued he was forced to quit it and retire with his Maronites and Druzes into the Mountains lest being inclosed within the Walls of a City he should fall alive into the Hands of his Enemies And now all good Fortune forsaking unhappy Facardin the Maronites and Druzes his Subjects revolt to the Pasha of Damascus his Palaces of Gardens of Pleasure were all ruined his Friends forsook him his two remaining Sons were lost one carried to Constantinople for a Hostage and the other slain in Fight his Towns of Gazir Saphet St. John d' Acria and others were surrendred to the Pasha of Damascus only some few strong Places in the Mountains remained to him where living in League with Reba a King of the Arabs he committed all the Spoils he was able on the Lands belonging to the Pasha of Damascus But being hunted from one Mountain to another and from one Cave to another he was at length forced to surrender upon Conditions that he should have liberty to proceed unto the Grand Signior with his own Equipage of three hundred Men and Trumpets sounding and that he might carry with him all his Treasure consisting of a Million of Zechins all in Gold together with other Riches which were carried by fourteen Camels and that he should not be conducted as a Prisoner in Triumph but that he should with freedom approach the Presence of the Sultan like other Pasha's who are in Grace and Favour These Proposals being granted Facardin with his two young Sons began his Journey to Constantinople and being about two days journey from thence he dispatched eight Chests of Gold before him to prepare and make his way to the Grand Signior who being pleased with the Gold and greatly rejoyced to receive the Submission and Homage of one who had so long stood out in Rebellion he went out in a Disguise and Habit of a Pasha to see and discourse with that Person of whom there had been so general a Rumor and having accordingly encountred with the Emir he sate down in his Tent with him desiring him to relate the Story of his Life with the several Particulars of his late Misfortunes Emir Facardin well knew the Person of the Grand Signior but feigning as if he was unacquainted with whom he discoursed and that he took him for some Pasha began to recount the Course of his Life the Reasons why his Enemies falsely suggested evil Reports of him to the Grand Signior how he was forced for defence of his Life to take up Arms and what ill Success accompanied his Affairs all which he represented with such Quickness and Eloquence that the Grand Signior pitying his Misfortunes promised to be his Advocate and mediate with the Grand Signior in his behalf The day following Facardin made his Entry in a Triumphant manner and received a most favourable Audience from the Grand Signior and all the Pasha's and great Men in conformity to their Master and in hopes of sharing some part of his Gold shewed him a like kind favourable Countenance and Aspect But finding afterwards that Facardin increased daily in the esteem of the Grand Signior and that the old Rebel was become a new Favourite and that he was likely to over-top and out them they generally conspired together taking the Mufti on their side to accuse him of many Crimes and more particularly that he was a Christian and an Apostate from the Mahometan Faith. This Point of Religion so sensibly touched the Grand Signior that he resolved to condemn him in a manner Solemn and Extraordinary for mounting one Day on his Throne he commanded Facardin to be brought in and placed on a low Chair where ordering his Crimes whereof he was accused to be recited he passed a formal Sentence of Death upon him but Facardin arising to justifie himself was not permitted to speak only he obtained a quarter of an hours reprieve to make his Prayers and afterwards was strangled by the hands of two Mutes Morat growing now into Years took into his own Hands the Reins of Government resolving to rule Singly and Absolutely and to make himself rather Feared than Beloved He degraded four Viziers at once and banished them into Cyprus confiscating their Estates for no other Reason than because they had denied him the use of their Mules and Camels on occasion of his
Service He became extremely severe against the Souldiery crushing them with all imaginable Rigour on the least appearance of Reluctancy to his Commands declaring Morat exercises several Acts of Tyranny That he expected Blind and Silent Obedience from all but especially from his Souldiery He imposed a great Tax upon Copper and because he had several Warthouses filled with that Mettal which had for many Years lain by he forced the People to buy it at his own Rates At which Aggrievance the Commonalty growing desperate began to Mutiny and Rebel but Morat put a speedy stop thereunto by cutting off the Heads of fifty of the most Seditious and so passed to Prusa with the Attendance of six Gallies He caused a Kadi to be hanged to the great Displeasure and universal Resentment of the Ulemah who are Students in the Law who to make known their Aggrievance and Consult a a Remedy assembled in great Numbers at the House of the Mufti The Queen-Mother being acquainted with this Meeting and fearing the ill Consequences thereof gave immediate Advice to the Sultan who with like Expedition dispatched a Boat to bring over the Mufti and his Son to Prusa who were no sooner arrived than they were strangled not being permitted to speak for themselves or to alledge any Plea or Excuse for their Lives This Act of Cruelty beyond the Example of former Ages and never practised by the most tyrannical of his Predecessors struck a Terror on the whole Empire for Men observing the unjust Rigour which was executed on the Head and Chief of their Law the Oracle and Moâ—th which resolved their difficult Problems and whom the World so reverenced and honoured that few Examples have been of Capital Punishment executed on his reverend Head feared that Innocence was not sufficient to secure their own less considerable Estates from his Fury and Violence There is a particular Death allotted for Mufties which is by braying them in a Mortar which is kept in the seven Towers at Constantinople and there shewed to Strangers which Instrument hath been seldom made use of Morat being greatly addicted to Wine Morat destroys the Taverns was sensible of the ill Effects of it in himself and that the heat of debauchery inclined him to Violence and Cruelty and from hence collecting how dangerous this Humour of Drunkenness was in his People especially in his Souldiery for that much of the late Seditions might be attributed thereunto he published a most severe Edict against Wine commanding all Taverns to be demolished the Butts to be broken and the Wine spilt It was the common Custom of the Grand Signior to walk the Streets in disguise when meeting with any drunken Person he would imprison him and almost drub him to Death It was his fortune to meet a Deaf Man one day in the Streets who not hearing the Noise of the People nor the Rumor of his Approach did not so readily shift out of the way as was consistent with the fear and dread of so awful an Emperor for which default he was strangled immediately and his Body thrown into the Streets All People feared and trembled at these Practices and were as careful to look out abroad for the Grand Signior lest they should be surprised with the bluster of his presence as Mariners are of being taken unprovided by some sudden Gust or Hurricane for there was scarce a Day that one Innocent or other was not sacrificed to his Fury and tyrannical Fancy One Thomas Zanetti a Venetian Merchant who had built a lofty Jardac or a high Room of Prospective on the top of his House was accused to the Grand Signior to have designed that Place for no other end than that he might with a long Glass oversee the Chambers of the Ladies and the Gardens Hangs a Venetian Merchant and Walks of the Seraglio For which Reason without farther inquiry he was hanged in his Shirt on the top of his Jardac with a red Streamer in his Hand that so the Grand Signior might be sure that the Sentence was executed The Estate of Zanetti whether belonging to himself or Principals was confiscated but in regard the Goods for security were privately conveyed to the Ware-houses of several Frank Merchants strict search was made for them but in regard the Marks and Numbers were altered they could not be distinguished wherefore the Graud Signior concluding that all the Frank Merchants had combined together to deceive him he Imprisoned every Man of them nor would he release them until they had paid forty thousand Dollars for their Ransom and Liberty After which upon pretence of a Plot or Agreement of the Franks to defend themselves from the leviation of this Tax the Turks searched their Houses for Arms in taking of which they were so rigorous that they spared not so much as a Birding-piece nor yet the Sword of Sir Peter Wych then Ambassador for England though he alledged that it was the very Sword with which his Majesty and conferred the Honour of Knighthood upon him But from these Transactions at Home let us pass to the Wars in Poland and Persia That Invincible Princes Vladislaus King of Poland had gained such good Success against the Czar of Muscovy that the Czar was forced to demand Assistance from the Turks The Grand Signior though he had lately made a Peace with Poland and sworn to maintain the Articles of Chocin concluded by his Predecessor Sultan Osman yet the continual Depredations which the Cossacks made did always administer reasonable Pretences for a War To which Abassa one of his chief Counsellors a valiant and presumptuous Captain did much incite him for promising to himself the Conduct of that Army designed against Poland did much flatter the Sultan and himself with the Fancy of mighty Success The War being thus resolved upon The Turks make War on the Poles the Turk who commonly strikes before he Quarrels gave Orders to Abassa to make Levies of Men in Moldavia and Valachia and to put the Tartars in Arms and the Militia of Buda and of the Parts along the Danube into a warlike Posture and with all Expedition to enter Poland Abassa who had with wonderful diligence put his Troops in readiness ordered the Tartars with a Body of fifteen thousand Men to enter Poland which they performed with such celerity that passing the River of Tyre above Chocin and Rinczug they in a few hours laid waste for the space of ten Leagues round Kemenitz and so retired with their Booty into Moldavia howsoever their haste was not attended with such good speed but that they were overtaken on the 4th of July by Stanislaus Konispolzki General of the Polish Army with no greater Force than two thousand five hundred Horse howsoever surprising them whilst they were feeding their Horses he put them into such Confusion and Disorder that he easily recovered all their Booty and took five of their chief Men Prisoners of which the Son-in-Law of the Cantemir was one But this
Chinski laboured to diminish the Dignity of an English Ambassadour at Constantinople by alledging that he was elected by the Company of Merchants for Conservation of their Trade only and afterwards confirmed and honoured by the King yet this Argument was in no wise prevalent with the Turks who esteeming the Commission of the Prince and the Charge of an Office the only Qualification to ennoble a Person made no Difficulty to determine the Point in behalf of the English And though some Italian Writers say that the English Ambassadour gave fifteen Purses of Mony or seven thousand five hundred Dollars to the Chimacam for this Favour yet those who understand how unwillingly the Turky-Merchants part with their Mony on defence of such Punctillio's and Niceties especially where the Ambassadour might have avoided the bringing them into Dispute will more readily believe that the Turks from free motives of their own Justice and Reason judged this Honour due to the Ambassador than that he should purchase this indisputable Point by the disgraceful means of Mony. All matters being now determined between the Turks and Persia and the black Clouds blown over from the Venetians The Turkish Counsels uncertain about a War. the Grand Signior studied how and where he might turn his Arms with most Advantage he had conceived an irreconcileable pique against Ragotski and Matthew for the Causes before related but having an intention to make use of their Force against Poland or Germany or against them both together he dissembled the Passion he conceived against them and rather deferred his Revenge than pardoned the Liberty which they had exercised without his Licence or Assent Sometimes he resolved to recover Asac out of the hands of the Cossacks sometimes he thought of making War upon Poland judging himself much affronted by that King for not sending an Ambassadour to congratulate his late Successes Then he supposed that a War in Germany would be more easie and the Conquest more profitable by reason of the Riches of the People and the Fertility of the Soil to which pretences could never be wanting on the score of those Differences which always arise amongst the People of the Frontiers During these Debates and Counsels Preparations were made for War both by Sea and Land as yet uncertain where they should be imployed The Vizier returns from Persia To command them the Great Vizier was ordered to hasten his Journey from Persia whose Arrival was celebrated at Constantinople with a solemn Entry and for a particular and distinguishing Honour the Grand Signior sent him a Vest from his own Back to wear on the day of his Triumph This Vizier was a Person very austere in his Behaviour bold and valiant as he evidenced by his Actions in taking Bagdat zealous for his Master's Interest and what is rare in a Turk not much addicted to his own He had acquired a great share in the Esteem of his Master and his Authority increased as the daily Decay of the Grand Signior's Health rendred him less able for Government For now the strong Complexion of Morat began to grow feeble by excesses of frequent Debauchery his Stomach was become cold and weak not able to digest the lightest Meats his hand shook and a paralytical Distemper seized him in every part so that his Mother and the Physicians perswaded him to forsake the use of Wine as Poyson and Destruction to his Health and he whilst he was sensible of his languishing Condition like a true Penitent made many Protestations and Vows against it forbidding the accursed Poyson to be received within the Walls of the Seraglio Howsoever his kind Heart could not possibly withstand the Temptation of a Banquet to which his Pot-companions did sometimes invite him amongst which the Great Vizier would not be wanting also to please and cajole the Humour of his Master with the Liquor that he loved But his chief and constant Camerades in drinking were his Persian Favourite and Mustapha Pasha of Bosna one educated in the Seraglio promoted to the place of Selictar Aga to whom he gave the stately Palace of Ibrahim Pasha on the Hippodrome together with his eldest Daughter in Marriage These two stout Sons of Bacchus perswaded the Grand Signior to appoint one solemn Drinking-day in time of the Biram which is the great Festival of the Year and introduced by their Prophet in imitation of our Easter Morat being at this time possessed with the Spirit of Debauchery accepted the Motion and invited the two Drunkards to dinner with him The Persian provoked his Pleasure of drinking by salt Meats and by peppered and spiced Dishes the sort of Wine they most used was a sweet Malvoisia sometimes twisted and encouraged with the strong Waters called Rosa Solis of which they sucked so long and with such Excess that falling under the force of it they were insensibly carried away to their several Beds This dissolute Repast became fatal to the Grand Signior for a Fire being kindled in his Veins and Bowels he fell into a violent and continued Feaver The Physicians being called were fearful to administer Remedies lest proving unsuccessful their Lives should pay for the ineffectual Operation At length they agreed to let him blood The death of Sultan Morat but this hastened his Death For he died the fourth Day of his Feaver being the 8th of February in the seventeenth Year of his Reign and the one and thirtieth of his Age having ruled in the height of all Disorders and irregular Excesses which his youthful Years enabled him to support With his Death all his thoughts and Designs of making a War against Christendom perished having sworn after his Return from Persia to reduce all his neighbouring Countries to the Mahometan Law. His Character He was of a most cruel and implacable Disposition having amongst his other Acts of Tyranny imbrued his Hands in the Blood of his two Brothers Orchan and Bajazet as also strangled his Uncle Mustapha whose innocent Weakness had been sufficient to secure his Life against any but the most horrid Monster of human Tyranny He left no Son for though he had divers they died in their Infancy notwithstanding which his Kingred were so detested by him that he envied the Descendence of Monarchy on his Brother Ibrahim who was preserved by a strange Providence from his Fury Often saying that he wished that he might be the last of the Ottoman Line that the Empire of that Family might end with him and devolve unto the Tartar. He was certainly the most absolute Prince that ever swayed the Ottoman Empire but of no Religion seldom fasting in the Month of Ramasan contemning and laughing at the Santones and others of their Religious Orders He was very inquisitive into all Actions of the City for which he maintained his Spies and oftentimes took his Rules and Measures from Discourses of People concerning his Government He was a great Dissembler ready active and revengeful covetous to Extremity having left fiteen
in all appearance made of the War the Vizier returned to Belgrade The Vizier sends for his Mother to Belgrade designing to remain there until the German Ambassadour had entered the Turkish borders and in the mean time sent for his Mother thither pretending that in an uncertain and changeable estate the Maternal Blessing is of highest Consolation it being esteemed pious amongst the Turks for a man to dye at the Feet of his Mother This Mother of his was esteemed a cunning or wise Woman by whose Charms and Incantations his Father and he were supposed long to have conserved the Office of Vizier and as my own Ears can witness the common Souldiers Discourse That his Mothers Art consisted much in Philtrums and Charms reconciling affection and friendship and had a power over the Grand Signiors Inclinations and Understanding rendring all things and actions the Vizier had performed in this War full of merit and admiration This I say was the Discourse of some common Soldiers In the Month of December The Blazing Star. that Blazing-star which appeared formidably to most parts of the known World was also seen within the Turkish Empire not without a general terrour of all as prognosticating disasters of Sword Pestilence and Famine and set the Turkish Astrologers at work to find out the mystery it portended from whose Art most commonly was divined the death of some great Person in the Empire which some would have to be the Grand Signior othes the Visier others both as they desired alteration and change of Government The Grand Signior continued all this time at Adrianople The Sultans hatred to Constantinople increases taken up with an extraordinary delight and pleasure in his Court there with which his aversion to Constantinople so much increased that he could not endure so much as the name of the place and if accidentally in his Hunting as it reported he chanced to fall into the road which led thither and remembring himself thereof would immediately turn thence as one that corrects himself of some desperate errour or avoids a path which tends to an evitable destruction The Kadelescher and the other grave Judges of the Law observing this unreasonable hatred of their Prince to his Imperial Seat considered how prejudicial it was to him and his People to have a City of that renown antiquity and commodiousness of living despised and abandoned and that perhaps the Souldiery now upon their March from the War might be impatient of returning home as all the Dependants on the Divan and Personages of great Quality desired to injoy their Habitations and Gardens at Constantinople from which discontents on all sides it was concluded That there might result dangerous Seditions and Mutinies and therefore resolved and as some say also at the instigation of the Vizier to prostrate themselves before the Grand Signior and tender him their opinions and sence in that particular which they accordingly performing and assigning the Kadelescher or the Chief Justice with all humility to be their Mouth in this Petition their counsel was received with that indignation that they were chased from the Grand Signiors presence with fury and high displeasure and the Kadelescher at that moment deprived of his Office. To these other extravagances the Grand Signior would have added another of a higher nature and cruelty by causelesly putting to death his Brother Solyman The Sultan seeks to destroy his Brother whom all the time of his Reign together with another Brother he had kept Prisoner in the Seraglio for now having a Son of his own he conceived it more secure to remove all competition that might be for the Government according to the example and custom of the Ottoman Princes but suffering some remorse of conscience in the thoughts of imbruing his hands in the blood of his guiltless Brother conceived it more justifiable to perform the Fact by process of Law and to that end sent to the Mufti for his Fetfa or Sentence viz. That in such a case where there is a sufficient provision for continuance of the true Lineage of the Ottoman Family whether it may be lawful according to their Law and ancient Presidents to take off some as superfluous Suckers that draw not only nourishment from the root but endanger also the life of the Tree But the Mufti was not so cruel or unjust as to pass this Sentence but rather supplicated the Grand Signior to deser this resolution for having but one Son and that a Child which was subject to the common chances of mortality the Ottoman Family was not so sufficiently provided of Heirs that he could pass his Sentence for taking away one who was so necessary a reserve and member of it with which reply the Grand Signior suffered himself to be overcome having some touches of Conscience and perhaps not being naturally cruel some sence of compassion towards his innocent Brother But returning now to the Great Vizier we find him in his Winter quarters at Belgrade where having taken an affection to the elder Son of the Tartar Chan or else having conceived some hatred or displeasure against the Father The Vizier offers to depose the Tartar Chan. frankly proffered to depose the Father and confer the Government upon him who was the Son. But it seems this young Tartar though barbarous had yet so much of filial obedience and reverence instamped on him by nature that he modestly refused the proffer and immediatly dispatched a Messenger with secret Advices to his Father The Tartar Chan received this Intelligence with great indignation and purposing to play that game in reallity with the Vizier which he had passed on him only by way of overture wrote a Letter to the Pasha of Buda a man of great abilities and courage advertising him that hearing a true and worthy character of his prowess and wisdom he could not but desire to be his friend and that he might make demonstrations of his being such he proffered all the interest he had at the Ottoman Court to promote him to the supreme Office of first Vizier What Fate soever accompanied this matter either from the Confidents of the Tartars or of the Pasha the substance of the Message came to the knowledge of the Vizier who obtaining a private Commission immediately from the Grand Signior therein sent for the Pasha and without farther process or evidence of proof or accusation struck off his Head. Anno Christi 1665. Hegeira 1076. THE Peace thus happily concluded with Germany was a subject of singular contentment to the People and not less readily embraced by the Grandees who hastened so much the consummation thereof that in the beginning of January one Mahomet Beigh The Turkish Ambassadour departs of the Order of the Mutafaracaes who are those that attend the Services of the Divan and are of a Degree somewhat above the Chaouses a man of considerable Richess was designed Ambassadour for Vienna and qualified with the Title of the Pasha of Romelia In
from Adrinaople with a numerous Army and was already arrived at Thebes The Great Vizier arrives at Thebes where a general Rendezvous was appointed of the whole Army with resolution to be transported from Malvoisin to that Island the Venetian Generals and Commanders in chief concluded in necessary if possible to hinder their passage and rather to fight them at Sea which was their more propitious Element than to attend their Landing where they would be forced to dispute with unequal numbers and on disadvantageous terms Accordingly the Captain-General reinforced his Fleet with two thousand Foot and a thousand Horse under the Command of Count Licinio Martinoni appointing the Rendezvous to be at Argentiera to which place also Marquess Villa repaired touching by the way at Milo for refreshment of his Horse it being an Island abounding with Herbage the Captain General being for some days detained at Standia by contrary Winds a Consultation was held for the more advantageous management of the War after which the whole Fleet making Sail was on August the ninth scattered by a furious storm and not being able to recover Santoxini they by good fortune setched Stampalia an Island abounding with generous Wines excellent Fruit Partridges and other Provisions at length after various fortunes arriving at Andra which is a great and populous Island another Council of War was held where it was again concluded That all care was to be taken to intercept the Succours which the Enemy daily sent to Candia to which end the Cavalier Grimani Captain of the Galleons was ordered to cruise about the Coast and hearing that twelve Turkish Ships were lading Provisions in the Gulf of Volo he repaired thither and had the good fortune to take them with all their lading Twelve Turkish Vessels taken but the other Squadrons missed of the like success for notwithstanding the care and vigilance which was used all matters seemed to succeed prosperous for the Turks and adverse to the Christians the designs of the first having an issue agreeable to their intentions whilst those of the latter were always disappointed either by Nature or by Fortune or rather by that secret hand of Providence which had allotted that Island for a Prize to the Ottoman Arms. By this time the Turkish Army being at their Rendezvous at Thebes the Great Vizier prepared to imbark and considering the difficulty of the passage thought it prudent first to make new Propositions to Signior Ballarino before he entred on this hazardous attempt supposing perhaps that the rumour of this March might have affrighted the Venetians to a Surrender of that Kingdom that they might spare the blood and charge of that War which afterwards ensued Wherefore Ballarino being called from his House at Constantinople began his Journey towards Thebes on the twentyfifth of August accompanied by a Capugibashee and three Janizaries and in twenty three days arriving at Thessalonica now called Salonica he fell sick of a violent Feaver caused by that agitation of body in his Travels to which he was unaccustomed and for want of that sleep which he used to take after his slender dinner passing the rest of the day and night in continual watchings at first he felt only some little alterations which he hoping might pass over resolved to proceed on his Journey notwithstanding the perswasions to the contrary of Signior Patavino his Secretary with whom I was well acquainted and ever esteemed for an honest and a worthy Person but he continued resolute to proceed fearing lest his delays by the way should lose him the opportunity of that moment of Treaty which was impossible afterward to be retrieved for in his Journey he would often reason in this manner If I should stop here what censure would the World pass on me I may possibly excuse my self but in the mean time the Vizier may ingage too far in his design and frustrate all those methods and foundations which I have laid towards a Peace and then if I live I shall be over-burdened with the reproaches of the World for having abandoned the grand incumbance in its ultimate necessity which is charged upon me which will be a more sensible affliction than the agony of death My sickness will be esteemed by many to be rather dissembled than real The dead man lives in the memory of his faithfulness and constancy and the living man dies in the indelible characters of his cowardise and misfortune These were his own words And thus travelling forward his Feaver daily increased to that excess that on the sixth day he was forced to stop at a City called Isdino where having instructed Signior Patavino in what manner he ought to manage affairs and recommending his services and children to the favour and protection of the Senate he passed to the other World being honoured by a solemn Funeral at the publick Expence and Interred in the Church of St. Mark his Son Domenico Ballarino succeeding into the Office and Inheritance of his Father The Senate understanding by advices from Signior Padavino That the Vizier desired another Envoy qualified with the Character of a publick Minister to reside with him in Candia dispatched the Secretary Girolamo Giavarina a Person of good abilities to that place And at the same time the Captain-General Andrea Cornaro pressing the Senate for license to return to his own Country his request was granted and Francesco Morosini was appointed to succeed him in that important Charge and was accompanied at a time of so great emergency with powerful Convoys and with Recruits of Men Provisions and Ammunition fitting to carry on so pressing a War. On the Month of October the Great Vizier in person imbarking himself and Army at Malvoisia with many Pasha's The Vizier passes over into Candia and men expert and active in the War passed over to the Isle of Candia resolving by strength and dint of Sword to force that strong City to obedience the main Bulwark of Christendom situated at the Entrance of the Archipelago of the success of which famous Siege we shall have occasion to discourse more at large and more particularly hereafter in order unto which the Great Vizier on the last day of this Year went in Person to take a view of this City and having surveyed all sides of it apprehended that the Siege would be long and tedious and therefore returned again to Canea to take those measures which were requisite for an Enterprise of that weight and consideration In the mean time the Princes of Christendom being for the most part either in that discord amongst themselves of which the Turks have always made their advantage or else living in parts remote did not consider Candia as a Pulwaik to their Dominions and therefore rendred little other assistance to the Venetians than good words and vain wishes for their success and Victory The Popes Forces only under Command of Muzeo Mattei which were in Dalmatia were transported to Candia and five hundred Foot belonging to the
Affairs at present that would not permit him time to perfect all matters with the Ambassadour whom they should assure that at his return with Glory and Victory from the Enterprizes in hand those requests should be granted and his promises performed and in the mean time his Nation should remain secure in these Dominions as in former times and the League and Friendship continued and maintained The Ambassador was strangely surprised at this last Farewel but being a Gentleman of great Morality and Vertue knew no doubt how to bear such a disappointment with an equality of mind agreeable to the greatness of his Soul and therefore with a due resentment of the injury received he returned to Constantinople whilst the Sultan and his Vizier proceeded in their March towards the Confines of Poland But before I enter into a relation of the motives of that War and the success thereof which is the Subject of the following Year let us return to the place from whence we have digressed and observe in this Year of Peace and repose of this Empire what the Sultan contrived for security of himself by the death of his Brothers We acquainted you formerly in what manner the Sultan was disappointed in his designs against his Brothers by means of his Mother to whom the Janisaries had committed the care of their safety which she according to her promise had maintained and tendered equally with her own But now the Vizier being returned from the Wars and the most seditious amongst the Janisaries withdrawn from Constantinople it was thought fit to make a new attempt on the Princes still residing in the old Seraglio which was performed with those duc preparations and secrecy that it took effect on Sultan Orchan the eldest of the two who in the Month of September 1671. Sultan Orchan put to death by his Brother dyed by a draught of poyson which was administred to him as a Present from his courteous Brother some say he was strangled and that before he submitted his neck to the Bow-string he killed one of the Executioners with his Hanjarre This Prince was reported by the people to be a comely Person of a strong and robustious body of large and black eyes like Sultan Morat his death was lamented by all and presaged as fatal to the Empire in regard that that very night that he was murthered the Moon suffered a greater Eclipse than it had done for many years before which happening out in this conjuncture was interpreted as ominous and served to increase the maledictions and evil speeches which the Turks in all places cast out upon those who gave this counsel to the Sultan About this time the State of Genoua desirous to change their Officers in Turkie sent a new Resident to Constantinople A new Resident sent from Genoua and a Consul to Smyrna which change was prinicipally obtained at the request of the old Ministers who weary of an employment so tedious without a benefit corresponding to their melancholy life and perceiving their Trade decline before it was arrived to any tolerable state or degree of reputation by the assistance and mediation of friends sollicited their Letters of Revocation For the Trade of Genoua being cheifly founded on hopes of those advantages which they expected from a coarse or base alloy of mony did instantly decay so soon as the Turks discovered themselves to be abused by the vast quantities of Temins imported as we have before related after which their profit failing the Consulage consequently decayed which is the only subsistence and encouragement of such Officers as are necessary to reside for the continuance of that Peace which but a few years before they unadvisedly made with the Turk The new Resident had no sooner arrived at Constantinople and considered the poor and mean estate and ill foundation of their Trade the growing charge of the Residency and the great debts thereof that were to devolve upon him from his Predecessor but he perceived into what a Labyrinth of troubles he had ingulfed himself instead of being preferred according to his hopes into a place of Honour and happy retirement In which confusion of thoughts arising one morning before day from his bed and sitting on his Close-stool as the servants of the house report reached at a Towel which being intangled within the Lock of a Carbine that hanged always charged near his bed unfortunately drew the Trigger too hard which with that gave fire and shot the poor Gentleman into the belly with a brace of Bullets of which being mortally wounded after Confession and some Prayers in a few hours he passed to another life unhappy mischance if it may be called a chance for I have understood from a sober person of that Nation that the anguish of mind which he conceived at the evil condition of his Affairs wrought in him a deepness of melancholy and despair under which languishing some days did at last most miserably lay violent hands upon himself And now it is time to recal to mind the Conspiracy of Count Serini The Conspiracy of Serini Frangipani and Nadasti Marquess Frangipani and Count Nadasti Persons of Quality and of great Power in Croatia and Hungary who as we said before had sent their Messengers to the Great Vizier then remaining in the Leagure of Candia with overtures of submission to the Ottoman Power It was strange News to the World to hear that the House of Serini should abandon the Christian Party and those renowned Defenders of their Country should apostatize though not from Christianity yet from that Cause and Liberty which their Ancestors and themselves had defended with Blood Treasure Valour and Constancy But dissentions and animosities sown by Satan the Enemy of the Christian Church did strangely corrupt the minds of those famous Persons and raise in them a Spirit resolved to avenge the neglect and injuries put upon them by the Ministers of the Imperial Court though at the expence and hazard of their fortunes and lives and ruine and shiprack of their Honour and Consciences For the neglects and affronts undeservedly cast on Nicholas Serini during the late War as before related and the contempt and scorn put on the Croatian and Hungarian Nobility was supposed to have fired the hot and ambitious Spirit of these Persons who could more easily endure the slavery of the Turkish yoke than condescend to the Government and prevalency of a contrary Party Wherefore in prosecution of their design the complices of Serini being resolved to submit to the Turk dispatched two other Gentlemen to the Ottoman Court besides those which were sent the year before to Salonica who arrived at Adrianople the 11th of February 1670 / 1 demanding the protection of the Sultan for which they promised a Tribute of thirty Purses or fifteen thousand Dollars every year for those Lands they held in Croatia To make Answer hereunto a Divan or Council was called in which were weighed all the Arguments and Reasons on one side
their Country The Turks seclude their Conquest but being Masters of the Field and having the choice of acting according to their own pleasure resolved to secure the places they already possessed esteeming it more wisdom to make sure their late acquisitions than to add thereunto new conquests which they could not maintain And therefore considering the inconstancy of the Cosacks who having abandoned their subjection to Poland had submitted themselves to their yoke and also how unable Dorosenzko their Governour was either to keep them in obedience or else to defend them from the Polonian Incursions they resolved for prevention of these inconveniences and for a secure remedy against any sinister accidents of this nature to make seisure of that Party of the Cosacks who had not submitted to them and transport them into other parts which they accordingly put into execution and sweeping all the Countries as they passed carried away men women and children into Captivity part of which such as belonged to the Grand Signior had some Lands assigned them along the Coast near the Black Sea the Armenians who were a Trading people and lived at Kemenitz were transported to Philipopoli of the Jews some were carried to Adrianople and others to Constantinople but the younger sort of both Sexes were permitted to the Souldiery to carry them for Slaves to their own homes and were in great numbers dispersed through all parts of the Empire a Policy anciently used by Pharaoh to his Egyptian Subjects who having bought their Lands of them did afterwards transport them from one end of the Land unto the other that so he might keep them in the greater servitude and subjection Gen. 47.21 And as for the people he moved them from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other And in this manner the success concluding the year without any great Enterprise or Feats of Arms the Sultan returned to his Court at Adrianople about the end of November licensing all the Asian Horse and Souldiers of remotest parts to return to their own Countries with liberty to appropriate the the following year to their repose and care for their peculiar concernments To these Wars amongst secular Persons and men of Arms were added Differences and never to be decided Controversies between the Religious of the Roman and Greek Churches at Jerusalem The difference between the Latines and Greeks at Jerusalem who contending for the possession of the Holy Sepulchre of the King of Peace rent that seamless Coat of Christ and managed their Controversie with more malice and rancour each against other than Princes do who invade one the other with Fire and Sword. For the Franks or Western Christians subjected to the Popes Dominion had possessed for several Ages a right to the Holy Sepulchre and enjoyed the honour of the custody thereof notwithstanding the pretences of the Greeks thereunto who for many years in vain attempted at the Ottoman Court to obtain that Priviledge for the Franks being ever more powerful by charitable contributions brought from Christendom besides large Sums of Money from the King of Spain and always outbid the Market of the Greeks and consequently made use of stronger arguments than the adverse Party could produce in defence of their cause Until such time that one Panaioti a Greek born in the Island of Scio having by his parts and excellent address arrived to the honour of being Interpreter for the Western Tongues to the Great Vizier at length obtained that favour with his Master that he seldom refused whatsoever he with reason and modesty requested and being a great Zelot in his Religion and esteemed the chief Patron and Support of the Greek Church he secretly begged in behalf of his Country the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem out of the hands of the Franks which the Vizier would not deny him both to reward him for some services already performed and likewise because he knew that a concession of this nature would again raise the spirits and animosities of Christians the allaying and appeasing of which being an office solely in the power of himself and the supreme Authority would certainly prove beneficial to the Ottoman Court. Panaioti having obtained this Command and considering that the defence thereof would be a trouble to him for that thereby he should create Enemies which were no less than Kings and Princes to contend with and perhaps should live to see it reversed wisely laid it by him there to remain dormant until the time of his death which happening the year past the Command was produced and brought to light and was before the Easter of this year set on foot at Jerusalem and by virtue thereof the custody of the Sepulchre sentenced by the Pasha and Kadi of that place to belong unto the Greeks the which was occasion of so great trouble and confusion as disturbed the Holy Feast and polluted the Sacrifices with the blood of one or two persons who most earnestly contended for the Priviledge of their Nation and Religion Nor could this difference be decided here but both sides appealed to the Court above which being heard and debated in publick Divan the possession of the Sepulchre was adjudged in favour of the Greeks the Franks being only to injoy a precarious the thereof as Pilgrims and Strangers to the Country Howsoever the Fryers of Jerusalem would not tamely yield up their Right but again resolved to try their Fortune at the Court having by means of F. Canisaries their Commissario with expence of a great Sum of Money obtained a review of the case but without success for all these endeavours and charge proved fruitless the former sentence being confirmed in favour of the Greeks and the Franks having no other Expedient applied themselves to the assistance of the French Ambassadour to whose protection the Holy places are assigned by Capitulations But neither the power of the French Ambassadour nor of any other Christian Representative was available for the Vizier either mindful of his promise to Panaioti or being resolute to maintain the Command he had given would on no terms be perswaded to revoke it the which intention of the Vizier being made known to the Greeks their Patriarch earnestly pressed a hearing of the case but the Fryars not willing to abide the shock retired to Constantinople lest the Greeks forcing them to Justice they should be condemned in Judicio contradictorio and a Hoget or Sentence passing they should be condemned in Law as well as by Authority of the Hattesheriff Which to put in execution the Patriarch took out a Command whereunto was added That the Fryers in token of their subjection should pay a Drachm of Silver a head to the Patriarch and hold all their places of them This was the issue of the present controversies which is certainly determined for the time of the Vizier without revocation yet perhaps in the time of another it may admit of a review for money especially being received when as yet the new
Mony Goods and Slaves to the aforesaid Sir John Narbrough Knight And moreover we do engage our selves and successors That if any Injuries for the future be done contrary to these Articles by the Government and People of Tripoly to the King of Great Britain and his Subjects if upon demand of satisfaction from the Government and people of Tripoly We or they refuse or deny to give satisfaction therefore so that a War be occasioned thereby between the King of Great Britain and the Government and people of Tripoly We do engage our selves and successors to make restitution for the Injuries done and likewise to make satisfaction to the King of Great Britain for the full charge and damage of that War. XX. That no Subject of the King of Great Britain c. shall be permitted to turn Turk or Moor in the City and Kingdom of Tripoly being induced thereunto by any surprizal whatsoever unless he voluntarily appear before the Dei or Governor with the English Consuls Druggerman three times in twenty four hours space and every time Declare his Resolution to turn Turk or Moor. XXI That at all times when any Ship of War of the King of Great Britain c. carrying his said Majesties Flag at the main-top-mast-head appear before the City of Tripoly and come to Anchor in the Road That immediately after notice thereof given by his said Majesties Consul or Officer from the Ship unto the Dei and Government of Tripoly They shall in honour to his Majesty cause a Salute of one and twenty Cannons to be shot off from the Castles and Forts of the City and that the said Ship shall return an Answer by shooting of the same Number of Cannons XXII That presently after the Signing and Sealing of these Articles by us Halil Bassa Ibraim Dei Aga Divan and Governors of the Noble Kingdoms and City of Tripoly all Injuries and Damages sustained on either part shall be quiet taken away and forgotten and this Peace shall be in full force and vertue and continue for ever And for all Depredations and Damages that shall hereafter be Committed or done by either side before Notice can be given of this Peace full satisfaction be immediately made And whatsoever remains in kind shall instantly be restored XXIII That whatsoever shall happen hereafter that any thing is done or committed by the Ships or Subjects of either side contrary to any of these Articles Satisfaction being Demanded therefore shall be made to the full and without any manner of Delay and that it shall not be Lawful to break this Peace unless such satisfaction be denyed and our Faith shall be our Faith and our word our word and whosoever shall be the Cause of the breaking of this Peace shall assuredly be punished with present Death Confirmed and Sealed in the Presents of Almighty God the fifth day of March Old Stile and in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand six hundred seventy five Being the last day of the Moon Zelheldga and the year of the Hegeira on thousand and eighty six WHereas there were several Articles of Peace and Commerce between the most Serene and Mighty Prince Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of Great-Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Christian Faith c. And the most Illustrious Lords Halil Bassa Ibraim Dei Aga Divan and Governors of the Noble City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary lately made and concluded by the said Lords on the one part And by Sir John Narbrough Knight Admiral of his said Serene Majesties Fleet in the Mediterranean Seas on the other part and by them confirmed and Sealed in the Presence of Almighty God the fifth day of March Old Stile And in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 1675 / 6 being the last day of the Moon Zelhedga And the year of the Hegeira 1086. Since which time of Confirming and Sealing the aforesaid Articles of Peace and Commerce The aforesaid Lord Ibraim Dei being fled away from the Government of the City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary Now we Halil Bassa Aga Divan Governors Souldiers and People of the aforesaid City and Kingdom of Tripoly have Choosen and Elected Vice Admiral Mustapha Grande to be Dei of the aforesaid City and Kingdom of Tripoly to succeed Ibraim Dei in the aforesaid Government And now we Halil Bassa Aga Divan and Governors Souldiers and People of Tripoly aforesaid having seen the aforesaid Articles of Peace and Commerce which were lately made and concluded as aforesaid And having seriously perus'd and fully considered all particulars therein mentioned Do fully approve of all and every the aforesaid Articles of Peace and we and every one of us do now by these presents consent and agree to and with Sir John Narbrough Knight aforesaid for the just and exact keeping and performing of the said Articles And do accept approve ratifie and confirm all and every of them in the same manner and form as they are incerted and repeated in the preceding Articles aforesaid hereby firmly engaging our selves and successors assuring on our faith sacredly to maintain and strictly to observe perform and keep inviolably all and every the aforesaid Article and Articles of Peace and Agreements for ever And to cause and require all our Subjects and people of what degree or quality whatsoever within the City or Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary or Dominions thereunto belonging both by Sea and Land punctually inviolably carefully and duly to observe keep and perform all and every the aforesaid Article and Articles thereof for ever And our Faith shall be our Faith and our word our word and whosoever shall at any time violate and break any part of the said Article or Articles of Peace they shall be assuredly punished with greatest severity and his or their heads shall be immediately cut off and forthwith be presented unto any Officer whom the most Serene King of Great Britain c. shall Authorize to make Demand thereof It is further agreed that the Subjects belonging unto the most serene King of Great Britain c. Trading unto the Port of the City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary aforesaid or to any Port or Place of the Dominions thereunto belonging in any Merchants Ship or other Vessel belonging to the said Serene Kings Subjects shall not pay so much Custom by one per Cent. for whatsoever Goods or Merchandize they sell or buy as other Nations do for the Customs of the like Goods or Merchandize notwithstanding whatsoever is Specified in the Second Article aforesaid to the contrary And that the most Serene King of Great Britains Consul residing in Tripoly aforesaid shall have Liberty at all times when he pleaseth to put up his said Serene Majesties Flag on the Flag-staff on the Top of his House and thereto continue it spread as long time as he pleaseth likewise the said Consul to have the same Liberty of putting up and spreading the said Flag in his Boat when he
renown unto the City to have their Emperour so near though it was rumoured as if the Court towards the approach of Winter intended again to return unto Adrianople In the mean time the Grand Signior took his chief delight and divertisement on the Water passing in his Gallies and Pleasure-Boats up the Bosphorus to the mouth of the Black Sea and thence returning much frequented the Gardens and Houses of Delight upon the Banks of the River and visiting all places a Country House called Therapea belonging to the Dutch Resident received the honour of his Presence which he liked so well that he took it from the Proprietor and conferred it without any consideration of money onone of his Courtiers giving out a Proclamation That no Christian Minister should possess any Seat or Habitation on the side of the Bosphorus A strange thing and what is not to be paralleled in any part of the World. About the beginning of this Year the Captain Pasha died and Zaid Ahmet Pash-ogli then at the Camp succeeded him his Father was a famous Man and in the same Charge but cut off by old Kuperlee Soon after Ibrahim Pasha General of the Army at Keminitz likewise died and his Office was conferred on Ibrahim Pasha that was Pasha of Candia of whom we have had often occasion to speak being a great friend to the English Nation The Great Vizier also was not far remote from the Confines of Death being now fallen by reason of immoderate drinking of Wine and chiefly of hot Cinamon Waters into a formed Dropsie and Jaundice In the preceding year we touched on the removal of the Tefterdar or Treasurer from his Office to the Government of Grand Cairo and the reasons for it which though it might be a preferment being the richest and most important Charge of the Empire to which the esteem the Sultan had of his parts and abilites might probably advance him yet the imploying of him at a distance so remote was certainly an effect of some displeasure whereby he or his Favourites judged him a Person not fit to remain longer near the Royal Presence Wherefore having commenced his Journey as before mentioned he arrived at Grand Cairo where he had not long continued before he began according to the natural acuteness of his mind and hugstering manner to pierce with a narrow inspection into all Affairs of that Government and particularly into the Revenue and Treasure of the Country contriving with himself by what means the disorders might be corrected and the Revenue and Tribute improved for he had an excellent Genius or Spirit in the matters of Money nothing in advantage of Interest could ever escape him so that he began to lay a new foundation in all proceedings he would not be contented with the old Taxes and Impositions and where he found Lands improved or the Customs augmented he would put in for a share of the Benefits and would reform every thing wherein he judged his Master to have been abused But though he was acute and sharp-sighted in such matters as these yet he wanted experience in the Government of Egypt for these great Beghs of this Country being alarmed with the innovations began to stand upon their Guard and to enter into private Consultations in what manner to oppose themselves to this new way of Government which looked like slavery and designs of bringing them into servitude and a subjection unknown to them and their Fore-fathers For indeed the Government of Egypt if well considered is rather Aristocratical than Monarchical for though they acknowledge the Sultan to be their Head and accept his Pasha for Ruler and pay a yearly Tribute yet the Beghs which are great Lords in their respective Countries carry the sway and Dominion in all other matters and will endure nothing with favours of oppression or innovation so that these persons grown jealous by the proceedings of the new Pasha flew into open Sedition and immediately to Arms with force of which they assaulted the Pasha's Palace took him and threw him into Prison The News whereof flying with all haste to the Ottoman Court appeared at the first apprehension or surprise as if all Egypt had revolted and gave the World occasion to discourse That the Wars were to be carried Eastward and that the sudden resolution of removing the Court to Constantinople was in order to a farther March into those parts But frequent Messages with time making the business to be better understood caused the Grand Signior to dispeed with all haste another Pasha with Commission to remove the former and to continue all the ancient Customs and Priviledges from the beginning indulged to the Beghs of Egypt with which Message and gentle words of grace and favour from the Sultan all discontents being pacified the former Pasha was released from his Imprisonment and suffered to depart and thence proceâ—ed to the Island of Candia where he entred on that Pashaluck succeeding Ibrahim Pasha in Charge who as before related was sent to Kemenitz to be General of the Army in place of the Pasha lately deceased But here I must not forget a story which happened during the time of this Summer whilst the Grand Signior had his abode and injoyed his Recreations in the circumjacent parts of Constantinople there was a certain Sultana which had been a cast Wench of Sultan Ibrahim who after his death having been married to some Pasha obtained her release from the old Seraglio and being also a Widow by the death of this Husband had liberty to take her habitation on the Banks of the Bosphorus or where she thought fit This Lady was called Soltana Sporcha in Turkish Modar The History of Soltana Sporcha how she came to be so nominated I cannot tell perhaps some Italian Pages of the Court might in respect to her way of living impose this Name upon her for she was no other than a Bawd or something worse making it her Profession to buy young Girls and to educate them in singing dancing and in all the ways which best accomplish Courtisans Amongst this Train of Scholars she had one more brisk and aery than the others which could sing and dance and prate incomparably and was so quick in her Reparties that she greatly delighted the Pasha's and Lords whose pleasures she atended bringing from them considerable Gifts and Presents to the enriching of her self and Mistress and became so much the talk of the Court that at length the report of her arrived the cars of the Grand Signior who being also desirous to injoy some divertisements by the pranks of this witty Girl sent to the Sultana one of the black Eunuchs for her which Imperial Command she not daring to disobey consigned her with great submission into the hands of the Messenger but with this caution that she humbly desired the Sultan not to make any attempt on her Chastity in regard she was both a Virgin and Free-woman The grand Signior having pleased himself with the wantonness of this
or Oywar and laid thereunto a considerable part of Hungary which to this day continues subject and pays contribution to the Turk He concluded the War with Venice after twenty seven years continuance by an intire and total subjection of the Island of Candia having subdued that impregnable Fortress which by the rest of the World was esteemed invincible He won Kemenitz the Key of Poland where the Turks had been frequently baffled and laid Vkrania to the Empire reducing the Cosacks those mortal Enemies to subjection and to a desire of taking on them the Ottoman Yoke and finally he imposed a new Tribute on all Poland After all which Glories he dyed in the 47th year of his Age and 15th year and 8th day of his Government a short time if we consider it for such great actions howsoever if we measure his triumphs rather than count his years though he might seem to have lived but little to his Prince and People yet certainly to himself he could not dye more seasonable nor in a greater height and eminency of Glory Vtcunque Principi Reipublicae parum sibi certè satis suaeque Gloriae vixisse videbitur The Great Vizier having in this manner expired his last breath the Seal was immediately carried by his Brother to the Grand Signior who upon Receipt thereof according to common expectation conferred the same on Kara Mustapha Pasha who had for so many years formerly exercised the Office of Chimacam Kara Mustapha made Vizier which is as much as Deputy to the Great Vizier of whom in other places we gave a Character of being a wise and experienced Person of a smooth behaviour and a great Courtier agreeable to which temper of mind so soon as he attained this promotion he sent an obliging and courteous Message to the Servants of the deceased Vizier condoling with them the death of their Master promising to take them and their Concernments into his Care and Protection according whereunto he advanced Solyman Kahya who was the late Vizier's Substitute and for some years had managed all Affairs to the Office of Embrahore which is chief Master of the Grand Signiors horse and is a place not only of honour but of great security He that was his own Kahya he made a Vizier of the Bench and Chimacam in the same manner as he was to Achmet Vizier by which point of policy he seemed to have strengthened himself against all Enemies for having two Creatures of his own so well disposed one near the Person of his Prince who would be able to do him all good Offices and the other whensoever the Wars or other occasions should cause him to be absent from the Royal Presence might supply his place without attempting to supplant him The Kapisler-Kahyasee or Master of the Ceremonies to the late Vizier he made his own Kahya and all the other Agas which depended on that Court he received into his own service so that in effect there seemed by this great chance of Mortality to be little other alteration in the Court than of the single person of the deceased Vizier of whose Memory that the Grand Signior might evidence the love and esteem that he retained he did not intermeddle or appropriate unto himself any part of his Estate or disanulled his Testament but resigned all into the hands of his Relations challenging no share or proportion thereof And whereas the Vizier lest no Children the Estate fell to his Brother and Sisters who to evidence their Devotion to Religion and good will to the Publick and to please the eyes of the envious World conferred on Mecha the Rent of the new Custom house the Besasteen and new Chan built at Smyrna and finished in the year 1677. At this first change there were rumors that the new Vizier had begun his Government in blood having cut off several heads lately in Authority but all was false and only grounded on a displeasure which he was known to have conceived against certain persons Only one act he performed rather of justice than severity having cut off one of the Pay-masters of the Exchequer for false Money The occasion was this Certain Muletiers having received mony from the Exchequer in Venetian Zechins and finding several of them false returned them again but could not previal to have them changed whereupon having made their Memorial thereof they carried them to the Vizier and upon examination the Pay-master declared That he received them from the Great Ibrahim Han-ogli who being for that Cause sent for and accused was put into a fear which proved as dangerous to him as a Disease the apprehensions of Death being worse than the reality but the Great Tefterdar soon cleared him of this Accusation having attested That to his knowledge the mony received from him was good and disposed on other occasions so that the whole blame lying now on the Pay-master and upon farther search more of the same stamp being found in his hands he deservedly suffered the punishment of Death the which had likewise been inflicted on another Officer of the same rank but not being found so culpable as the other he was permitted to redeem his life with forty Purses of Mony or twenty thousand Dollars Thus far we have seen the gentle and smooth behaviour of the present Vizier towards the Friends Relations and Servants of the Deceased Aheratiens with the new Vizier and with what Acts of Justice he began his Government But behold on a sudden the face of the whole Court was changed every Officer thereof putting on a Countenance of fierceness pride and arrogance beyond the manner and custom lately practised For the Great Visier took on himself the State and Grandeur of the Sultan the access being as difficult to him as to his Master his Kahya that of the Visier and so every inferior Officer advanced himself into a fancy of possessing the next and immediate Degree above him This haughty behaviour had a more particular influence on the Ministers and Representatives of Foreign Princes whose Interpreters were not admitted as formerly to private Audiences or Conferences about their Affairs but only at the Publick Divan where their Arzes or Memorials were to be preferred in the same manner as was practised by the Subjects of the Country and those of conquered Nations who petition for Justice The which abasement was not only cast on the Interpreters but on the Persons of the Representatives themselves an example of which we have in the French Ambassador who coming at the time appointed to receive his Audience of the Visier was forced to expect a long time before he could have admittance and then entering into the Chamber of Audience was rudely crouded and rushed upon by a Crew of unmannerly Chaouses who no otherwise regarded the Person of the Ambassador than if he had been one of the Grooms or Lacquies Being come to the Seat of Audience the Ambaslador observed That the Stool for the Great Visier was set upon the Soffrá and
continually employed to render their Cannon serviceable and fortifie the Places the most exposed to the Enemies Fire which cost many of them their Lives The Turks moved to see that the Christians were Masters of the Bridges made an attempt to force Conte Schultz who had the guard of them This General seeing his forlorn and advanced Guards pressed he sent other Troops to sustain them but the Infidels having already a great body in the Isle of Tabor the Christians were forced to fly over the Bridge The Enemy planted their Standards there but the Cannon loaden with Cartrages flanking that place and the swift firing of the Dragoons ranged along that Arm of the Danube constrained them to retire though themselves were exposed to the Enemies great and small shot The Dragoons pressed them with so much violence in their retreat that they took their Colours The Turks upon this occasion lost a Bassa and many of their Janizaries General Schultz himself was wounded here as also the Conte of Salsburg and a Polish Major slain In the mean time the Turks having possessed themselves of St. Leopold's Isle shut up the City on all sides They made Bridges upon that Arm of the Danube which runs next the City not only to communicate with their Camp but to hinder the descent of Boats They burnt the Favorite and reduced all the Palaces of the Grandees to Ashes As soon as the heat of firing began to cease in the Suburbs the Turks filled them with Janizaries so that none could enter or go out of the City which much troubled the Duke of Lorrain who could no more give or receive Intelligence from the besieged though so near and in sight of them The Camp of twelve thousand Men which the Grand Visier had left near Raab to favour the Convoys continued there still under the command of the Bassa of Buda but he was relieved by Prince Abaffi being himself obliged to go to the Siege of Vienna There was also a Camp almost always betwixt Fickem and Altembourg upon the same account that is to keep open and assist the Passage of Convoys which came from Buda and the Neighbouring Parts The Turks being posted in St. Vlrick's Suburbs run their Trenches within fifty paces of the Counterscharp and Batteries They also advanced their Cannon there but before they discharged them they caused a little Bag of Linnen carried upon the Spur by two Spahies to be thrown into the Counterscharp This contained a Letter from the Grand Vizier written in the Latin and Turkish Languages the Explication whereof follows TO You Generals Governours and Noble Citizens of Vienna We make known by these Presents according to the Orders we have received from the most Serene most Mighty most Redoubted and the Mightiest Emperour of the Vniverse our Master the true Image of God upon Earth who by the Grace of the most High in imitation of our holy Prophet Mahomet Mustapha to whom be Honour Glory and Benediction hath render'd himself by the multitude of his Miracles the greatest of all the Sovereigns of the one and th' other World and most August of Emperours who having caused our innumerable Armies protected always by Divine Providence to come hither We are resolved to take Vienna and establish there the Cult of our Divine Religion 't is therefore that before we draw our fatal Cymetars as our chief End is the Propagation of the Musselman Faith and that is expresly commanded us by the Laws of our Holy Prophet first and before all things to exhort you to embrace our Holy Religion we do hereby advertise you that if you will cause your selves to be instructed in our Mysteries you will find the Salvation of your Souls therein If you will deliver up your City without fighting whether you are young or more advanced in years Rich or Poor we assure you that you may all live there peaceably If any desire to quit the place and go live elsewhere no harm shall be done him in his Person or Goods and he shall be conducted with his Family and Children whither he pleases For such as will rather stay they shall live in the City as they did before But if you suffer us by your Obstinacy to take the City by force we shall then spare no Body and we swear by the Creator of Heaven and Earth who neither hath nor never will have his equal that we shall put all to the Sword as is ordained by our Law. Your Goods will be pillaged and your Wives and Children will be carried away Slaves We shall pardon only such who shall obey the Divine Orders Given at the Emperours Camp before Vienna the 8th of the Moon Regeb in the year of the transmigration of the Prophet 1094. The Turks continued to deepen their Trenches to four foot and shot many Bombs but without any considerable effect most of them bursting in the Air except some few which falling near the Walls burnt an old Play-house which being of Wood it was feared lest the Flames should reach the Convent and Church of the Augustines which occasion'd its sudden demolishing There happened also another Accident but more dangerous The Fire having seized upon the Scots Church consumed that stately Building as also the House of Frendorf lately perfectioned by the Bishop of Heliopolis Suffragan to the Arch-bishop of Vienna The flame proceeded to the Arsenal full of Powder and Munitions of War which would have proved fatally ruinous if Conte Serin had not caused the Gate which they had in vain attempted to unlock to be broken open and immediately removed the Powder which a few moments delay would have rendred impossible But on the other side they could not hinder the Fire to consume the Palaces of Aversberg Traun and Palsi which were reduced to Ashes A Boy of sixteen years old habited like a Girl was accused as guilty of this burning being found thereabouts who was by the enraged People immediately pull'd in pieces so that the truth by this precipitated death could not be made known This Fire continued three days which if it had feised the Powder in the Arsenal as in the year 1629 the Turks might easily have entred that way into the City Since this Accident the Infidels shot that way that they saw the flame appear and endeavoured to ruine the Court and the Lyon Bastions with the Ravelin betwixt both but the Besieged bravely opposed them with their Sallies and Countermines They wanted good Engineers in the City insomuch that Hasner a Captain of the Garrison who from a private Souldier was by his Virtue come to that degree being observed to note all the faults the Miners committed in their Works the conduct of them was committed to him wherein he acquitted himself with good Success Count Starenberg who was Governour General was all this while busie in repairing the Walls deepning and palizadoing the Ditches and in raising the Earth which was drawn out of the Ramparts and Retreats to cover themselves when the