Require of my heart all the Esteem that is due to a Prince of extraordinary Merit 'T is your due and I pay it freely But require not a Love from a heart that is not at Liberty and which it would be therefore in vain to importune Though this same mildness that Abra shew'd was only an effect of her Prudence and Discretion yet Soliman who easily flatter'd himself in his pleasures vainly imagin'd that the reason why she so willingly consented by her silence to conceal an Attempt so criminal was only because his Love and his Character had made the first Impressions in her heart and judging that he had done enough for the first meeting in having shewn himself in person and declar'd his Love he wittily turn'd the Discourse upon other things more general and after he had stay'd sometime in the Cabinet he took his leave So soon as he was gone Marama who had the same thoughts as he presently began to put Abra upon a new Discourse of the Prince's love imagining that she would open her Mind with more freedom to her But she was soon convinc'd by the Reproaches of her Infidelity and the smart Answers which she made her that that there was nothing less in her heart then those Inclinations wherewith Soliman flatter'd himself and that if she intended to make any farther progresses toward the vanquishing her Indifferency or to preserve the familiarity she had with her it behov'd her either not to say a word more of that Amour or else to make use of Artifices more nice and delicate While this Intreague which in the Conclussion prov'd so fatal to Mahomet was taking root in the Serraglio the end of an Unsuccessful Campaign redoubl'd the Sultan's Anxieties Prince Charles of Lorrain had the year before undertaken the siege of Buda but the jealousie of his Enemies which he had in the Emperor's Council and who envy'd those Honours which ecclips'd their own caus'd the Miscarriage of that Enterprize by maliciously keeping from him those Supplies which were most necessary for the Attacque of so important a Place and the subsistance of his Men. So that wanting every thing and not being able to hinder Cheitan Basha Serakeire of the Armies in Hungary from releiving it he was forc'd to raise his siege Enrag'd at the Success of his Enemies Malice the next year he took more certain Measures to the end he might not be expos'd to the same Inconveniencies and open'd a Glorious Campaign with the siege of Neuhansel The Vizir Karah Ibrahim who rather chose to employ the Valour of other men then to act himself and who from Belgrade issu'd forth all his Orders to all the Armies in hopes to make a Diversion laid siege to Gran. But in regard the Turks found more resistance there then they expected after they had wasted twelve days in vain they rais'd their siege and joyn'd all their Forces under Cheitan Serakier to oppose Prince Charles who without discontinuing the siege Newhansel march'd directly with the Body of his Army to decide the destiny of the Campaign by the fate of a Battel The Armies came in view of each other within three Leagues of Gran there being nothing between 'em but a Morass which could not be cross'd but through narrow Passes at a distance one from the other besides that the Cheitan had sixty thousand Men so that Prince Charles who had not above forty five thought it would be a rash attempt to pass the Morass in view of the Enemy and within the reach of their shot to attacque 'em in their Entrenchemnt He therefore try'd whether he could engage 'em to pass it first themselves which it was not difficult to do by two Stratagemes The one by spreading a false report that his Army was reduc'd to forty thousand Men and the other by faining a precipitate and false retreat This double Stratagem succeeded to a wonder for the Turks observing the motion of that faign'd retreat pass'd the Morass in the night time But then Prince Charles who march'd slowly understanding they were got over fac'd about Embattell'd his Army and having given the left wing to the Elector of Bavaria and taking the right himself advanc'd toward the Enemy The Onset was Vigorous on the Turks side who thought they had been marching to a Victory not to a Combat They charg'd the two Wings three times and the Principal weight of their Strength falling upon the Right Wing where the Princes of Conti and Roche sur Yon fought as Volunteers at the Head of Lanthiers's Squadron the immoveable steadiness of these Princes render'd ineffectual the Enemie's Efforts and their undaunted Valour contributed not a little to the winning of the Battel The sight was long and Obstinate on the Turks side who gave ground and rally'd as often as they were broken and returning to the Charge endeavour'd still to Flank the right Wing where lay the main strength of the Battel but at length the Elector of Bavaria after he had first broken and dispers'd all that stood before him fell with his left Wing upon the Turks and put 'em into such a general Confusion that being every where Broken they betook themselves to flight and repass'd the Morass beyond which they were still pursu'd with the Loss of Ten thousand men and not daring to stay in their Entrenchments never thought themselves safe till they were got under the Cannon of Buda After this great Victory Newhansel was taken by Storm and the Emperour carry'd his Victorious Arms as far as the Drave ruining the Bridge of Esseck and by taking a good Number of other Places put the Divan into such a Consternation that upon the false Information of Karah Ibrahim whose ill Conduct and Cowardise had not a little contributed to the Misfortunes of this Campaign and who was a Mortal Enemy to the famous Count Tekeli they blindly took a Resolution to seize upon that Count at Waradin and to have him carry'd laden with Fetters to Adrianople Which compleated the Ruin of the Turks affairs in Hungary Karah Ibrahim soon after attended upon the Sultan and finding him incens'd at the Misfortunes of the Campaign that he might turn the Effects of his Anger upon some other Head so dextrously lay'd the Cause of all the Summers ill success upon the ill Conduct of the Seraskier Cheitan that Mahomet who was naturally ungrateful forgetting the Signal Services which he had done him both in Poland and the Relief of Buda order'd him to lose his head which was publickly put in Execution By his Death the Employment of Seraskier of the Hungarian Armies became Vacant and for the supplying it the Sultan cast his Eyes upon the Seraskier Soliman whom we left upon the Frontiers of Poland and who had promis'd the fair Abra that after the end of the Campaign he would be at Adrianople He had perform'd his Duty with so much conduct and valour that all the Efforts of the Polanders prov'd abortive and that notwithstanding all
forty foot wide and a double Rank of Palisado's So that he forc'd Prince Charles after some Rude Encounters to retreat for want of Provision But he made his Retreat in so good Order that he repass'd the Drave in view of the Enemy without the least disturbance and Encampt within a league of Mohatz The Visir flatter'd with this first Advantage and desirous to make the best of it past the Drave and being posted between Esseck and Darda sent out numerous detachments to harrass the Christian Army As for his own Camp he had entrench'd it with a Palisado'd moat which secur'd his Front he had Esseck in his rear from whence he was plentifully supply'd with Provisions the Danaw and Impassable Morasses secur'd his Right Wing and his Left was cover'd with a Wood by the side of which lay a long Morass so that it was a difficult thing for Prince Charles to venture the forcing his Camp without hazarding the loss of his whole Army Therefore he made use of all manner of stratagems and motions to try whether he could draw the Visir from his Post and bring him to a General Battel But he who found himself better supply'd with Provisions then the Imperialists sought to ruin 'em by frequent Skirmishes and therefore keeping close in his Camp sent out Parties continually to disturb the Enemies Forragers or to attack 'em in their Movements But all this while he was ignorant of what Siaous was plotting in his Camp in Conjunction with Basha Yeghen a Man Daring of a Turbulent and Seditious Spirit and the Visir's particular Enemy insolent in his language but Eloquent gifted in persuasion and who by his familiar deportment had gain'd great Credit with the Souldiery Their Design was to force the Visir to a Battel and so to order their Affairs that he might lose it that it might serve for a pretence for the Souldiers to revolt All things being thus concluded upon the 12th of August Prince Charles faigning a Retreat pass'd a narrow Lane full of Hedges that cover'd his March and gave order's for his Army to embattel in the Plain of Siclos The Visir having Intelligence of this General motion of the Christian Army sent away some considerable Bodies to follow 'em and fall upon their Rear commanded by the Elector of Bavaria The Basha of Arabia also was order'd with one part of the Army to second the Detachments But Siaous who judg'd the Opportunity proper for his design presently put the Souldiers into such a fit of Murmuring as if their General had depriv'd 'em of a certain Victory that the Visir finding that the Basha acting beyond his Orders march'd on with the Detachments and not being able to restrain the Heat of the Souldiers drew his whole Army out of their Entrenchments and advanc'd directly toward the Impeâ—ialists in Battel array The Vanguard of the Turk's overtook the Rear of the Christians before they had pass'd the narrow Lane so that the whole stress of the first Charge fell upon the Elector of Bavaria However having gain'd the rising Ground design'd him for his Post in despite of all the Enemies Efforts he stood firm and Prince Charles reinforc'd him with the second Line of the Vanguard to prevent the Enemies Charging him either in Flank or Rear The Turks charg'd him with great fury and he withstood 'em with no less prudence then undaunted Bravery and venturing in the hottest of the Enemies firing he was wounded in the left hand with a Musket Bullet In the mean time Prince Charles who was advanc'd a great way farther thought it convenient to draw the Enemy into the Plain where they might have more Roome for Action and succour one another with more Freedom This caus'd the Elector to quit his Ground tho' Skirmishing all the while so that his Rear-guard made the Left Wing equal with the Right which Prince Charles Commanded Presently the whole Army of the Turks appear'd in Battell array and the Princes who had now what they wish'd for charg'd 'em on all sides The Insidels also fell on with great Fury and at first had some considerable Advantage having routed the Croates and almost cut in pieces Comercy's Regiment and the success of the BaÌ„ttel had been very dubious had not the Spahi's by the contrivance and treachery of Siaous Yeghen and the Basha of Arabia left the Janisaries that fought against the Duke of Bavaria who taking his advantage of that disorder fell upon the Infantry opposite to him with an extraordinary fury However the Janisaries instead of being brok'n retir'd in good order as far as their Entrenchments where at first they fell a firing at a prodigious rate but not being seconded by the Horse they betook themselves to flight and this Rout of the Turks Right Wing striking a Terrour into the Left the Disorder became General the whole Army was denfeated and the Camp taken and pilladg'd at what time the Vizir retreating of Esseck and having rally'd his scatter'd Troops found he had lost above Twenty thousand Men. Siaous would not let this Opportunity slip which he had taken so much pains to bring about so that the Mutiny began with the Quarrels between the Spahi's and the Janisaries but they being soon reunited vented all their fury in Murmurs against the Visir who not understanding whence the mischief proceeded thought to have appeas'd 'em by distributing among 'em all the Money he had But the poison was too well prepar'd and had spread it self too far so that the minds of the Souldiers being more and more envenom'd their Clamours augmented while the Imperialists prosecuting their Victory made themselves Masters of Esseck and the Passage of Drave Nor was Siaous contented with stirring up the Souldiers to murmur but incensing them to an open Revolt put himself at the Head of 'em and Yeghen had the boldness to enter the Visir's Tent and demand in the Name of the Army the Seals of the Empire and Mahomet's Standard declaring they were resolv'd no longer to obey him This Insolence producing a great Uproar the Visir made his escape got by water to Belgrade and thence posted to Constantinople to give the Sultan an Account of the Campaign Siaous's Treacheries and the Condition of the Army The Visir having thus withdrawn himself Siaous became Master of the Army and deputed six Officers to demand in the Name of the Souldiers the Heads of the Vizir and of all his principal Friends of which they drew up a List The Vizir being inform'd of these furious Proceedings sent the Seals of the Empire to the Grand Teffterdar for him to deliver 'em into the Sultan's hands and with only one slave stole privately into Constantinople and went to the Kiamakan's House where the Kisler came to him and assur'd him in the Sultan's Name that neither his Misfortunes nor the Mutinies of the Souldiers had shaken his Favour that he lov'd him that he pitty'd him and that he was not only resolv'd to see him but to
Opinion of the Sultan and that the Dignity wherewith he has honour'd him may prove as fatal to him as to those that preceded him Unite you Friends and Siaous's to the end they may concurr in a Design which will secure me from a Death which otherwise I certainly foresee and which will remove the Obstacle to the Fortune you deserve What you say reply'd Cuproli is conformable to the Inclinations of my heart but 't is no easy thing to bring this Enterprize to pass nor is there any way to succeed in it but by Contrivances manag'd at a distance So soon as I have sounded Siaous I le give ye an Accompt what Course is to be follow'd Soliman thought it sufficient to incense Cuproli with the consideration of his fortune and the concern he had for the Life of a Prince his friend and that there was no need of imparting to him the secret of his Amour which would have only serv'd to have render'd his Proposals more suspected as proceeding more from Interest Cuproli conferr'd with Siaous and they both concluded that 't was not possible directly to attack the Visir by any open Attempts to exclude him from the Grand Seignior's Affection for he lov'd him too well and therefore that would be to ruin themselves but that it behov'd 'em so to order it during the whole Campaign as to frustrate all his Designs and to render all his Undertakings so successless that his Misfortunes might work him into Disgrace That every thing seem'd to favour 'em in this Contrivance seeing the Visir had propos'd Cuproli to Command the Armies in Hungary for which reason it was that Mahomet had sent for him from Chio and that for his part he could not be dispens'd with because he Commanded all the Spahi's which render'd him absolute Arbitrator of the success of all such Battels as should happen to be fought Things being thus resolv'd between Siaous and Cuproli and the time for entring into the Field approaching the Sultan hasten'd and indeed anticipated the Departure of the Visir and oblig'd him to be with all speed at Belgrade that he might issue forth all requisite Orders for drawing the Army together In the mean time the Fever that seiz'd Abra prov'd to be of long continuance and dangerous The Visir also not having receiv'd any Answer of the Letter which he had written began more and more to suspect the worst He was therefore desirous to be better satisfy'd by Sarai who inform'd him that never any such Billet was brought to Abra's Appartiment Upon that the Eunuch was sent for who affirm'd that he gave it to Sohema but Sohema denying the matter it was judg'd that the Letter had been intercepted and Sarai charg'd Marama with the Treachery But because the Visir would not that the Kisler should be inform'd of Soliman's being in Love with Abra for fear it should come to the Sultan 's Ear he thought it sufficient to obtain that Favour from the Master of the Eunuchs that Marama should be remov'd to an Appartiment out of the way The Kisler also did him the kindness to introduce him a second time into Abra's chamber disguis'd in a Physician 's habit to the end he might obtain his satisfaction from her self which absolutely dissipated all his Jealousies and which much more conduc'd to the Recovery of her Health then if he had been a real Artist 'T was the next day after he had receiv'd this Satisfaction that the Sultan Commanded him to depart for Belgrade and to draw together the most powerful Army that possibly he could to oppose the Enemies Designs and Resolutions as Fame had given it out to besiege Buda 'T is well known that the Visir did all he could to perswade the Sultan to go in Person into Hungary and take upon him the Command of the Army insomuch that 't was the wonder of the whole Port that he should desire the presence of a Person who would but lessen and ecclipse his Power But it was the effect of Jealousy and his fear least Mahomet during his Absence should happen to cast his Eyes upon Abra the Consequences of which might prove fatal to his Love Whereas the Sultan carrying his Brothers along with him it would have deliver'd him from that disquiet which Prince Soliman's Passion caus'd within him But Mahomet thought it not convenient to hazard his Person considering the Condition of his Affairs So that the Visir being oblig'd to a hasty departure could not have the pleasure of bidding his dear Muscovite farewel and therefore instead of taking his personal leave he was forc'd to content himself with writing the following Letter to pay her that Homage SOLIMAN Visir to his Dear ABRA A Hasty Order forces my Departure and I am going to endeavour to render my self as worthy of your Esteem as I am perswaded of your Love How tedious does this Campaign seem to me already and with what Unwillingness should I act did I not know that you would Love me less if I had less a Love for Honour If you keep your word no Rival will be the better for my Absence Afford me the Consolation of frequent understanding the Condition of your Heart and be assur'd that nothing shall ever abate the Love of Soliman Visir The care for the safe delivery of this Letter was the last which he took at Adrianople and being thus departed in order perform his Duty within a few days after the Sultan remov'd to Constantinople with his two Brothers and all the Train of his Serraglio The End of the First Part. Abra-Mulè OR THE HISTORY Of the Deposition of MAHOMET IV. EMPEROR of the TURKS The Second Part. THE Vizir march'd long marches directly to Belgrade and the farther his Marches remov'd him from her the more he felt his heart oppress'd with the burthen of his sighs What ever Confidence he had in the Assurances that Abra had giv'n him of an inviolable Fidelity Prince Soliman's Love gall'd him and the great difficulty always to conceal that Beauty from the Sultan's Eyes made his Love tremble On the other side Prince Soliman whose Passion was no less violent then unfortunate found himself o're whelm'd with an infinite number of threatning Difficulties He saw that Abra's heart was no way touch'd with his Love that it was prepossess'd with the Merits of a belov'd Rival that this Rival was in great Power and the Favourite of a distrustful Brother and that the Kisler was deep in his Intreague that Marama was become suspected and for that reason all access to the fair Muscovite was forbid her that the Resolutions of Siaous and Cuproli would perhaps become useless to him through the tediousness of Execution that Mahomet might fall in Love with Abra and in the midst of these Reflexions he saw nothing but grounds of Fear and Dispair 'T was at the beginning of May that Mahomet with all his Court arriv'd within sight of Constantinople The weather was the most lovely in the world and
defend him against the fury of the Revolters However nothstanding all the weight of these Misfortunes with which the Vizer seem'd to be overwhelm'd he had still his thoughts fix'd upon the fair Muscovite We gave an Account how some few days before the departurte of the Vizir for Belgrade she fell into the Hands of the Sultaness Asseki but the Vizir was so far from being able to get to her in the place where she was kept conceal'd and under another Name that he could hardly procure the delivery of a Letter to her nor had he receiv'd any from her though the Kisler had had credit enough to keep Sarai about her still However he understood by a Eunuch that the Sultan knew very well that she was not burnt in the fire and that he had private Intelligence that she had made her escape out of the Serraglio of Looking-Glasses nevertheless that he knew not who had contributed to her escape and that all the Diligence he had us'd to find out the Place of her Retirement had prov'd fruitless That Prince Soliman had been better inform'd for that Marama who held her Correspondencies every where had div'd into the Secret out of a Conceit she had that her escape was a stroke of the Sultaness's jealousy and that upon that discovery she was negotiatiog with the Sultaness Asseki with whom she had intrusted the secret of Prince Soliman's Love and had put it into her head that the only way to deprive Mahomet of her was to deliver her up to his Brother This drove the Visir to his Wits end to see the utter Ruin of his Fortune and his Love both at one time However the Kisler carry'd him privately to the Sultan who receiv'd him tenderly and assur'd him not only of the continuance of his favour but of his Protection against the Fury of his Enemies In the mean time the Commanders from the Army arriv'd and Mutaferaka the chief of 'em an intimate friend of Siaous's after he had privately conferr'd with Soliman hautily demanded an Audience which the Sultan would fain have refus'd him He declar'd that the Souldiers having found that the Visir Soliman was not able to command 'em would no longer obey him that they demanded him Head and the Heads of the Kaymakan Redgeb the Grand Teftarder the Kisler Agasi with the heads of several Others of which he deliver'd a List in writing That while they receiv'd his Highnesses Orders they had made choice of Siaous for their Captain a person of accomplish'd Experience and Zeal for the good of the Empire that they hop'd the Sultan would approve their Choice and would send him the Ensigns of an Employment which he merited by his Services and his Fidelity But this Insolence of the Army which went about to give Laws to their Soveraign shook not Mahomet's Resolutions as yet for he thought by distributing Money among the Souldiers to appease their fury and they who either shar'd in his growing Troubles or fear'd the Consequences of the mutiny readily contributed to the raising a considerable Summ. The Sultaness Asseki gave two Thousand Purses of five hundred Crowns each the Kisler Agasi furnish'd almost as much and others proportionably But the minds of the Souldiers were too much exasperated they took the Money indeed but it was all thrown away to no purpose The Mutiny therefore growing more outragious and Siaous and Yeghen being Masters of the Army and in Constantinople where Soliman caus'd the Directors of the Mosquees to act their Parts and the Sultan remaining Obstinate and resolving rather to lose all then deliver up the Visir to the Mercy of his Enemies bethought himself of taking another Course which was to degrade the Visir and the Caimacan and to conferr the Employment of the first upon Siaous and upon Cuproli his Brother in Law the place which the latter held imagining that the Ambition of the Ringleaders being satisfy'd the tumults would cease With these hopes he sent for Cuproli from the Dardanells and made him Caimacan instead of Redgeb and dispatch'd away the Seal of the Empire and Mahoment's Standar'd to Siaous but he declar'd he would never consent to the death of Officers whom he esteem'd both Loyal and faithful So soon as Cuproli saw himself advanc'd to the second place in the Empire he had a private Conference with Soliman and then it was that the Prince descover'd to him his design to make himself Master of the Empire which till then he had always kept conceal'd in his Breast Now in regard it was the Interest of this New Caimacan and Siaous who found the power in their hands to attempt what they pleas'd to correspond with the ambitious Designs of Prince Soliman he found Cuproli inclin'd to second his desires and undertook for Siaous that he should concurr with 'em in the Accomplishment of their wishes Things being in this Confusion and Mahomet still resolv'd not to abandon the Visir to the Rage of the mutinous Souldiers had caus'd him to resolve upon a safe Course which was to withdraw himself from the impetuosity of their Hatred by retiring to the Prontiers of Persia and there to stay till Affairs might recover a new face and furnish him with a favourable Opportunity to regain his Reputation This was concluded between 'em and ready to have been put in Execution But the Visir who in the midst of his Misfortunes could not forget his Dearest Abra desir'd the Kisler that he would engage himself to procure the delivery of but one more short Letter to her and afford that last comfort to a Friend whom perhaps he might never see again The Kisler mov'd with compassion of his Friends overwhelming Misfortunes would not refuse him that last favour so that being entrusted with the Letter he gave it into the hands of an Eunuch who was wont to carry others of the same nature to Sarai But a most cruel Destiny and unexpected accident hinder'd it from falling into the hands of that beloved Confident For the Eunuch gave the Letter to another slave who seeing Sarai in the arms of Death and believing there was some secret in the Gold Box wherein the Letter was enclos'd her curiosity made her open it and understanding by the reading of it that the unknown person whom she serv'd was that Abra for whose loss the Sultan was so extreamly troubled she thought the discovery of such a secret would raise her Fortune and therefore being introduc'd into Mahomet's presence she deliver'd the Box into his Hands at what time the Sultan having open'd it read the following words Soliman Visir to the Faithful Abra. HEaven has overwhelm'd me with misfortunes it only rais'd me to the highest Pinnacle of Honour to precipitate me thence But my dear Abra all my Afflictions would signifie little to me in comparison of the loss of your heart If you continue faithful to the most unfortunate of Men or if you withstand the Sultan's Power from whose Embraces I have so luckily