and all the chief Commanders of the Souldiers of the Sacred War appointed him Governor of the Kingdom reserving unto himself only the Title of a King with the City of Ierusalem and a yearly Pension of ten thousand Ducats all which was done to the great disgrace and discontentment of the Count of Tripolis the old Governor It was not long but that Saladin having breathed himself a little after so great Labours came again into the Holy Land where he took many Castles and did infinite harm insomuch that the Country people were glad for fear to forsake their Houses and to fly into Cities The Christian Army in the mean time lying fast by at Sephor not once moving although many a fair occasion were offered for the chief Commanders affectionated unto the Count of Tripolis and envying the Preferment of Guy the new Governor were unwilling to fight but finding one excuse or other suffered the Enemy at his pleasure to spoil the Country and so in safety to depart which he had never before done in those Quarters Within less than a month after Saladin with a great Army well appointed with all the Habiliments of War needful for the besieging of a City or strong Castle came again into the Land of Palestine and passing through the Country beyond Iordan sate down at last before Petra in hope by the taking thereof to have made his passage between Egypt and Damasco more safe Of which his purpose King Baldwin having knowledge and taught by the evil success of late to what small purpose it was to commit the managing of his Wars unto a General so evil beloved and less regarded as way Guy his Brother in law sent against him with his Army Raymund the Count of Tripolis the old Governor whom he had again restored unto the Government and displaced Guy Of whose coming Saladin hearing raised his Siege after he had lien there a month and so departed A little before this Expedition the King still growing sicker and sicker his foul Disease still increasing by the common consent of the Nobility appointed Baldwin his Nephew by his Sister Sybilla a Child but of five years old to succeed him in the Kingdom and the Count of Tripolis to have the Government of the State during the time of his Minority This Sybilla the Kings Sister was first married to William the younger Marquiss of Mont-Ferrat who dying within three months after left her with child with this his Posthumus Son Baldwin now by his Uncle deputed unto the hope of the Kingdom After whose death she was married to Guy Lusignan Count of Ioppa and Ascalon the late Governor who taking in evil part this the Kings designment especially for the Government of the Kingdom by the Count of Tripolis departed from the Court as a man discontented unto his City of Ascalon whereof the Patriarch and the Princes of the Sacred War fearing and that not without cause great danger to ensue came to the King then holding a Parliament in the City of Acon most humbly requesting him for avoiding of further danger and the safety of his Kingdom to receive again into his Favour the Count Guy his Brother in law and to make an atonement betwixt him and the Count of Tripolis But this their request sorted to no purpose so that the Parliament was dissolved without any thing for the good of the Common-weal in that point concluded After that time the Kindgom of Ierusalem began still more and more to decline In the old King Baldwin sick both in body and mind was almost no hope in the young King yet unfit for so great a burthen much less and the dissention betwixt the two Counts Guy and Raymund with their Favorites was like enough to bring great harm unto the State. Besides that the Count of Tripolis fearing the Power of Guy his Enemy was thought to have secret Intelligence with Saladin the Turk insomuch as the King was almost in purpose to have proclaimed him Traytor Wherefore the King now rested only upon the Counsel of William Archbisâ—op of Tyre and the Masters of the Knights of the Sacred War by whose advice he sent Hâ—raclius Patriarch of Ierusalem Roger Molins Master of the Knights of St. Iohns and Arnold Master of the Templars Embassadors unto Lucius the Third then Pope unto Frederick the Emperor Philip the French King and Henry the Second King of England to declare unto them the dangerous State of that Christian Kingdom and to crave their Aid against the Infidels These Embassadors coming to the Council then holden at Vâ—rona with great gravity and diligence in the presence of the Pope and of the Emperor declared the hard estate of the Christians of the East with their humble Request unto them for Aid in such sort that they moved them with all the Princes there present to Compassion From thence they were by the Pope directed unto Philip the French King with whom having dispatched their Affairs they from him passed over into England and afterward into Germany and had at length brought their Negotiation to so good pass that in every place great preparation was made for a great Expedition to be made against the Turks for the Relief of the Christians in the East with which good News the Embassadors returning to Ierusalem filled the sick King with the hope of great matters But greater Quarrels shortly after arising betwixt the Pope and the Emperor and sharp War likewise betwixt the French King and the King of England and the other Christian Princes also being at no better quiet the notable Expedition that had with the expectation thereof so filled the World was again laid aside and quite dashed Whereof King Baldwin understanding both by Messengers and Letters from his Friends oppressed with grief and heaviness more than with the force of his Disease a man for his prowess and painfulness not inferiour to any his Predecessors died without Issue the 16 th day of May Anno 1185. being but five and twenty years old year 1185. whereof he had reigned twelve His Body was afterward with the general mourning of his Subjects solemnly buried in the Temple near unto the Mount Calvary together with his Predecessors the Kings of Ierusalem King Baldwin thus buried Baldwin the Fifth of that name yet but a Boy was Crowned King. But then began the Sparks which had of long lien raked up and hidden in the ashes to break out into a great fire for Raymund Count of Tripolis contended the whole Government of the Kingdom and tuition of the King to be due unto him by the appointment of the late King and consent of the Nobility and did so much that he had almost obtained it to have been confirmed unto him in open Parliament But Sybilla a woman of a most haughty spirit Sister unto the late King and Mother unto the young King yet living prickt forward her Husband Guy in no case to give place unto his Competitor Raymund and so animated
the Soveraignty of so great an Empire howsoever it was got caused the young Princes Eyes to be most cruelly put out the usual practise of the Tyrants of the East upon such as they are loath or fear to kill and yet would make them unfit for Government Of which barbarous cruelty his Sister Theodora married to Constantinus Prince of Bulgaria hearing ceased not with tears and prayers and all other womanly perswasions to stir up her Husband in revenge thereof whereunto also Iathatines the Turks Sultan gave no small furtherance who weary of Exile and to be so in a corner confined as into a Prison from whence he might not start by secret Messengers intreated the Bulgarian Prince to make War upon the usurping Emperor promising him a great summ of Mony if by his help he might recover his former Liberty Wherewith he the rather moved with a great power of his own and above twenty thousand Tartars which then lay by the River Isther suddenly brake into the Emperors Territories and in shorter time than was to have been thought overran all the Country of Thracia even unto the Sea side leaving neither man nor beast in all that Country as he went in good hope also to have by the way surprised the Emperor himself even then returning from his Wars against the Despot in Thessaly who hearing of his speedy coming being got unto the Sea side and having no way left to have escaped by Land shipped himself into a Gally of the Latines which with another her consort bound for Constantinople by good hap put in there for to water and so in two days arrived safe at the Imperial City Thus disappointed of the Emperor all his care was for the delivery of the Turks Sultan Wherefore marching in hast to Aenum he so terrified the Citizens with his coming that they without farther delay delivered him into his hands so to redeem their own Peace In his return you might have seen the Souldiers especially the Tartars driving before them infinite numbers both of Men and Cattel in such sort as that in the open Country of Thracia for a space was hardly to be seen either Countryman or Beast it was so clean swept both of Inhabitants and likewise of Cattel Iathatines the Sultan by the Tartars carried over Ister and so by them set at liberty shortly after died In whose Kingdom succeeded not his Son Melicke as some write but two others as the Turks themselves report the one called Mesoot the Son of Kei-Cubades and the other Kei-Cubades the Son of Ferameine born also of the Selzucâ—ian Family as were all the other Turks Sultans but how near of blood unto the late Sultan Iathatines they say not Betwixt which two as his Vassals Gaza the great Tartar Cham by whom they were so preferred for the payment of a yearly Tribute divided the Turks Kingdom apportioning unto Mesoot the Cities of Amida in antient time called Amisus and Aminsus in Galatia Melatia otherwise called Melesine in the lesser Armenia Sivaste in antient time Sebastia and Harbarie before Satabrea both in Cappadocia with all the Country about them And unto Kei-Cubades Iconium the antient seat of the Turkish Sultans with all Rumilia Asiatica or the Countries of the lesser Asia alongst the Sea-coast which these two Princes held as the Tartars Tributaries as had the late Sultan Iathatines before them until such time as he was by the same Tartars again expulsed So that the Turks Kingdom which had of long time flourished in the Selzuccian Family in Persia in Syria Palestine and Egypt there quite overthrown by the Mamalukes and Tartars as is before declared and now brought underfoot in the lesser Asia also where only rested all the hope of that Nation was now at a low Ebb divided betwixt two weak Princes reigning but at the devotion of the Tartar. In which confusion of the Turkish Empire so rent not only divers men of greater Power and Authority amongst them shared unto themselves some one corner of the declining Kingdom and some another but many of the obscure and basest People also bearing with them nothing but their Bows and Arrows took the straight passages of the Mountains and from thence with their dayly Incursions did much harm in the Countries of the Christians joyning upon them which was no great matter for them to do the Garrisons which were wont to defend the same being for want of pay quite disbanded and the Castles upon the Frontiers by them abandoned which at the first as a thing of small importance neglected was at length unto the Greeks a great cause of the ruin and decay of the greatest part of their estate in Asia These mischiefs unregarded grew dayly more and more the Turks still gaining upon the Greeks what they lost unto the Tartars Whose invasions the Glory of their Kingdom only excepted was not so hurtful unto them as the cause of their much greater felicity afterwards At length it fortuned that a great power of these adventurous Turks meeting together in Paphlagonia were about to have invaded the Territories of the Christians against whom Michael Paleologus the Emperor sent out a strong and puissant Army to stay their further coming on lest breaking in that way they should without resistance at their pleasure forrage the Country before them Which Army conducted by unskilful Captains encountring with the Turks was by them in a great Battel overthrown and utterly defeated few or none of all that great multitude escaping for whilst the Greeks unadvisedly pursued the Turks retiring of purpose before them they were by them drawn into the danger of a greater Power lying in ambush for them and so entraped were slain with an exceeding great Slaughter After which so great a Victory the beginning of the misery of the Christians in the lesser Asia the Turks without let or stay overran all the Country unto the River Sangarius upon the Banks whereof the Greek Emperor was glad to fortifie divers Towns and Forts to keep them out of Bithynia Nevertheless they in short time after subdued all the Countries from Poâ—ntus and Galatia unto the Lycian and Carian Sea and the River Eurymedon which they divided amongst them into divers Toparchies little or nothing acknowledging the Soveraignty either of Mesoot or Kei-Cubades Whilst the Turks in the lesser Asia thus win from the Christians on the one side and lose to the Tartars on the other many an hard conflict in the mean time passed betwixt the Egyptian Sultans with their Mamalukes and the Tartars for the Soveraignty of Syria The poor remainder of the Christians all that while there in doubt both of the one and of the other from whom and from the Armenians then also much infested with the Mamalukes divers Embassadors were sent unto the Pope and the Christian Princes of the West to crave their aid and help in that their hard Estate whose prayers little prevailing with the rest yet so moved Lewis the French King
noble Progenitors of happy Memory whose Graves the Almighty lighten should also give the Aid and Succour of our magnificent State as did they unto all such as had recourse unto their high Courts and Pallaces for relief In brief all these things with many others which your aforesaid Orator hath at large declared unto our Imperial Throne we have well understood and laid them up in our deep remembrance But forasmuch as we have for many years past made Wars in Persia with a full Resolution and intent utterly to conquer and subdue the Kingdom of that accursed Persian Heretick and to joyn the same unto our antient Dominions and now by the Grace of God and help of our great Prophet are now upon the point for the satisfying of our desire that once done due Provision shall be assigned unto all such things as you have of us requested or desired Wherefore if you shall sincerely and purely continue the bond of Amity and Friendship with our high Court you shall find no more secure Refuge or safer Harbour of good Will or Love. So at length all things shall go well and according to your Hearts desire in your Wars with Spain under the shadow of our happy Throne And forasmuch as the King of Spain hath by Fraud and Deceit got whatsoever he holdeth without doubt these deceitful Deceivers shall by the Power of God in short time be dispatched and taken out of the way In the mean time we exhort you not to lose any Opportunity or Time but to be always vigilant and according to the Conventions betwixt us favourable unto our Friends and unto our Enemies a Foe And give notice here to our high Court of all the new Wars which you shall understand of concerning the said King of Spain for the behoof both of your self and us To be brief your Ambassador after he had with all care and diligence dispatched his Ambassage and here left in his place one Edward Bardon his Deputy and Agent now by our leave maketh his return towards your Kingdom being for the good and faithful Service he here did worthy to be of you esteemed honoured and before others promoted who when he hath obtained of you all those his deserved Honours and Preferments let him or some other principal Ambassador without delay be appointed to our Imperial Court to continue this Office of Legation This we thought good to have you certified of under our most honourable Seal whereunto you may give undoubted Credence From our Imperial Palace at Constantinople the 15th of this blessed Month Ramazan 1589. Yet for all these fair shews it may seem unto him that looketh more near into the state of the Turkish Affairs at those times and that which hath ensued since that Amurath glad of the Discord of these two so great Christian Princes and not well assured of his new Conquests in Persia had no great mind to the Invasion of Spain as too far from the strength of his Empire an Enterprise not to be so easily managed by Sea as were the Wars he shortly after undertook against the Christian Emperour Rodolph by Land wherewith for all that God be thanked he found his hands full all the remainder of his Life as did also his Son Mahomet that reigned after him About this time also the Polonian Borderers whom they call Cossacks a rough and warlike kind of People after their wonted manner making an inrode upon the Turks and Tartarians upon the sudden surprised Koslaw a Port Town within a days Journey of Caffa where they had the spoil of many rich Warehouses of the Turks Merchants and the rifling of certain Ships lying there in Harbour and having taken their Pleasure burnt the rest and so with a great booty returned to their lurking Places With which Injury the Tartars provoked and set on by the Turks to the number of forty thousand brake into Podolia and the Provinces near unto Polonia and resting in no place but burning the Country before them sâ—ew the poor Country People without Mercy and making havock of all that they light upon besides the spoil carried away with them many thousands of most miserable Captives the greatest part whereof for all that the Polonians rescued with the notable slaughter of the Enemy surprised in their return Whereupon such unkindness rise between the Turkish Emperour and Sigismund the Polonian King that it was thought it would have broken out into open Wars had not the Polonian by his Ambassadors and the Mediation of the Queen of England wisely appeased the angry Turk and so again renewed his League Amurath now at Peace with the World from which he by Nature abhorred not year 1590 and sitting idle and melancholy at home was perswaded by the Bassaes his Counsellors to take some new War in hand for that great Empires as they said could not without the continual use of Arms long stand or continue as appeared by the Roman State which so long as it was at Wars with Carthage or their great Captains and Commanders occupied in arms against their Neighbour Princes still remained triumphant and commanded over a great part of the World but giving it self to Ease and Pleasure and the Martial Men not after their wonted manner imployed it in short time by Civil Discord fell and of the Mistress of the World became it self a Prey even unto the basest Nations Which old Cato in his great Wisdom foreseeing cryed out in the Senate That the Souldiers and Men of War were to be kept still busied in Arms far from home for that in so doing all should go well with the State and the Glory thereof increase Whereunto the Othoman Emperours his noble Progenitors having respect propounded not Peace as the end of their Wars as do other weak Princes having their own Forces in distrust but as invincible Conquerours still sowed Wars upon Wars making one Victory the beginning of another whereby they not only brought that their Empire unto that greatness it was now of but by such continual Imployment made their Souldiers more courageous and ready and also kept them from Rebellions and Tumults whereunto in time of Peace and living at ease these Martial men are most commonly inclined learning as all others do by doing nothing to do that is evil and naught Every thing as they said was by the same means to be maintained whereby it was at the first increased and that therefore great Empires as they were by Wars begun and augmented so were they by continual Wars also to be from time to time established whereas otherwise the Souldiers living in Peace and forgetting their Martial Prowess would for most part grow cowardly as giving themselves over to the Love of their own Dwellings of their Wives and of their Children and other Pleasures or else converting their Studies to Merchandise or other profitable Trades would in time forget the use of Arms and be thereunto again hardly drawn unto the great weakning of his
and being come to the foot of the Tower with his Chamber-Fellow he found the Greek Priest attending for them who told him that he had charge from Martine to conduct them to a certain Cave which was in a great Rock a League from thence where they must remain all the day and that in the Evening he would not fail to come unto them and bring them Habits like unto his own that being so disguised he might conduct them to his Lodging in Constantinople and there conceal them as long as they should think fit This Device pleased them well and so they went all three unto the said Cave whereas the two Cameradoes hid themselves and the Priest returned to his House At the break of day it being the three and twentieth of November 1617 some of the Guards entering the Prisoners Chamber saw that they were escaped and found the Ladder of Ropes which they had used tied to the Window whereat they were much amazed knowing well that they should smart for it notwithstanding he who had charge of the Prisons sent speedily to Constantinople to give notice of their Escapes As soon as this was known they sent Posts speedily to all parts to make inquiry of these Fugitives especially at the ports and passages giving them special charge to observe all men that passed if there were not one who had the little finger of his right hand shrunk up as Prince Coresky had by a Wound which he had received Within few days after the Turk seised upon the Servants of the Baron of Sancy or Mole Ambassador for the French torturing two of them after their manner which is to lay the Party upon a Table on his Belly and to give him three or four hundred blows with a staff upon the soles of their Feet the calves of their Legs and their Buttocks yet could they not make them say any thing that might charge their Master as these Turkish Tormentors did hope Not content herewith they did as much to a poor Turk who was a Weaver by his Trade and dwelt near unto the Ambassador thinking to force him by this cruel torture to depose falsly that he had seen the Secretary Martine going and coming to his Master's Lodging untill the time of the Prisoner's Escape but God would not suffer the Weaver to depose any thing but the Truth notwithstanding all the miserable and cruel Torments which he had suffered The which is worthy the Observation for that the Turks do generally hate Christians mortally and do greatly rejoyce at their Disasters As for the Guards of the Towers some of them were empailed and some were pounded or beaten to pieces in great Mortars of Iron wherein they do usually pound their Rice to reduce it to Meal Three days after the Chiaus Bassa had charge to seise upon the Person of the French Ambassador the which he performed very severely and uncivilly without any respect unto his quality Having taken him the said Chiaus led him unto the Visier's House where having been examined upon many Circumstances touching the Escape of Prince Coresky they left him as a Prisoner in the hands of the said Chiaus where he continued for the space of three days during the which the said Ambassador desiring to write to some of his Friends and also to speak with the Mufti which is the Turks High-priest to acquaint him with his just grievances he could not obtain leave but by giving two thousand Crowns unto his Jaylor True it is that this Present made the Chiaus tell the Ambassador that if he would obtain any favour from the Mufti he must procure it by Money according to which Advice he gave three or four thousand Crowns whereupon the Mufti became tractable acquainting the Grand Seignior Mustapha with the Ambassador's just Complaints and of what Importance his Detention was seeing there was nothing found to charge him That he had favoured the Escape of Prince Coresky as it was suspected and that his Secretary who had practised it for his own private profit had left his Master above ten or twelve days before the said Escape with an intent as he said to return into France Finally That all the World would tax him to have violated the Law of Nations and that no Christian Prince nor other would hereafter put any confidence in him and it was to be feared that they would all joyn together and make War against him and in truth the Ambassadors both the King of England's and the Low Countries were much discontented at this unworthy usage of the French protesting openly That if he were not speedily fet at liberty they would retire themselves into their Countries All which Considerations represented by the Mufti moved the Grand Seignior to command that the said Baron of Mole or Sancy should be sent back to his House without any farther Displeasure But all this could not free his Houshold Servants from their Imprisonment but he was forced to pay two or three and twenty thousand Crowns for their Redemption for else they should have been so tormented as their Lives had been in danger for so they were threatned Soon after the Grand Visier hearing of the tyrannous Government of Sultan Mustapha returned from Persia with his whole Army towards Constantinople where he forced him to leave the Empire and to retire to his Cell having reigned but two months and some odd days But to return to Prince Coresky whom we left with Captain Rigaut in the Lodging of the Greek Priest at Constantinople whereas they lay hidden for the space of two Months untill that their good Host got leave from the Patriarch of Alexandria as well for himself as for two others who he said were of his Society to go and confine themselves in the Desarts of the Archipelagus with many Hermits which lived there after the manner of the ancient Anchorites Having gotten this leave and pasport they embarqued being disguised like Priests and arrived at Etchut where they found an English Ship ready to set sail for Messina in Cicily from whence he went by Land to Naples where he made himself known to the King of Poland's Ambassador who was wonderful glad of his Liberty leading him to the Duke of Ossuna then Viceroy of Naples who furnished him with all things necessary and a good Convoy to go to Rome where the Pope received singular content to see him and to hear of his strange Adventures From thence he past to Vienna where the Emperour entertained him according to his merits after which he retired to his own house full of Honour gotten by his Valour and Constancy in his Afflictions Our Ambassador that was lately in Constantinople saith he escaped by the black Sea and so into Polonia Osman thy gentle nature far declin'd From Turkish tyranny and pride of mind Which made heaven raise thee and extirpat them The proud Usurpers of thy Diadem O! would all Princes when their States are blest With power and empire
inviolably maintained between both our Kingdoms which on our part we shall be very loth to infringe or dissolve We do by these our Letters recommend unto your princely Favour this our said trusty Servant and Ambassador to reside and remain in your Port on our behalf to treat with you in all Affairs for the publick Weal of our Dominons and for the general Peace of us both and our Allies and Friends as also for the support and aid of all our Subjects which do live and trade within your Estates and Countries to whose good Discretion we recommend their Affairs and by whose Indâ—stry and Mediation we conceive our People may be relieved in their just and reasonable demands to the perfect maintenance and assurance of that mutual Commerce which hath so long time been continued between our Royal Progenitors And as we have great cause to profess our grateful Acknowledgement for many Favours which our former Ambassadors and all other our Subjects have and do receive from your Royal Hands so in our Princely love we do intreat you to take knowledge of and to command redress for divers Oppressions and Wrongs done unto some of our said Subjects Persons and Goods that live under the assurance of your Friendship with us which we have formerly signified to our Residents at your Port but as we verily believe they have never come unto your Ears that are open to the just Complaints of all Strangers whereof we have now given charge to our Servant and Ambassador to acquaint you with more at large unto whom we desire you to give Protection and Credit in whatsoever he shall move and propound for the establishing confirmation and inlargement in all Occasions of those Liberties and Priviledges which our Subjects have antiently enjoyed by the Benignity of your self and of your Royal Ancestors And in all other things and occasions wherein he hath or shall receive our Commands as if our self did communicate them with you which we doubt not shall redound to the great Vtility and Honour of both our Empires And so we wish you Health and true Felicity Dated at our Royal City of London the sixth day of September Anno Dom. 1621 and of our Reign of Great Britain France and Ireland the nineteenth Articles propounded by the Ambassador to the Grand Seignior FIrst his Sacred Majesty of Great Britain according to the most noble and renowned League of Amity between your Majesties and your Crowns and Dominions hath commanded me to renew the antient Capitulations and Priviledges granted by your Imperial Majesty and your Royal Ancestors and therein to move your Majesty that you will be pleased to inlarge and extend your Favour to our Nation that live under your Protection and to give Remedy to divers Injuries done unto them by the Customers of this Royal Port Aleppo Smirna Scio Patras and other Places contrary to the Justice and Honour of your Majesty and that you will be pleased to give order for several Commands to these Places in all our just Occasions that both the Fame of your Justice may be renowned and the Friendship of your Majesties confirmed and the Correspondence and Commerce between your Dominions established and increased Secondly his Majesty hath commanded me to offer himself as a Mediator of Peace to accommodate the late breach with the Kingdom of Poland the King of Poland having sent his Ambassador express into England to desire his Aid he hath thought it more agreeable to his Honour and to the antient League of Friendship to use his Credit with your Majesty to procure the general quiet and peace of the Princes of Christendom desiring your Majesty to consider his Interest in the publick cause and not to despise the Forces of so many as may partake in the quarrel which if your Majesty shall hearken unto the rather for his sake as your Royal Ancestor hath done in the like Occasion his Majesty will accept it as a respect of your Love which will assure and increase the Commerce and Friendship of your Dominions in which his Maiesty hath given me more particular and full Instructions to treat and mediate in this Business Thirdly his Majesty hath commanded me to move your Imperial Majesty for the release of divers of the Polish Nobility now your Captives and for one Scottish Gentleman a Subject of his Majesty my Royal Master Fourthly his Majesty desires that you will take some order with the Pyrats of Tunis and Algier who shelter themselves under your Royal Protection to the great Dishonour of your Majesty and do many Robberies upon the Subjects of Kings and Princes in Amity and League with your Empire and take even the Ships sent unto your Royal Port admonishing your Majesty to consider that if they be suffered to continue they will occasion the dissolution of all Commerce and Trade being common Enemies to all honest Merchants by whom the Friendship of these Kngdoms are maintained and increased And that if your Imperial Majesty please not to exercise your Royal Power and Authority to bridle or destroy them that then you will not take it in ill part that his Majesty with other Princes his Allies shall make an Army to punish both them and all others that receive and cherish them which hath hitherto been forborn in respect only of your Majesty and that the Towns where they harbor themselves are or ought to be under your Imperial Command Fifthly his Majesty hath commanded me to require Justice and Restitution of a great sum of Money taken from Arthur Garaway here imprisoned by force and Injury in the time of Achmet Bassa whereof his Majesties former Ambassadors have complained to Sultan Achmat your Majesties renowned Father and to Mehemet Bassa Visier to Hussen Bassa to the Hoja of the King and to the Mufti wherein your Majesties most noble Father gave Command for our Satisfaction All the said great Officers having heard the cause upon Examination giving their Testimonies of the great wrong done unto him Mehemet Bassa also writing a Letter by the order of your Majesties Royal Father promising Justice and Restitution which his Majesty doth yet expect and again demand And having so often written in this cause his Majesty will not believe but that in Justice and Honour this Royal Court would do right imputing the Fault to his own Ministers and Ambassadors that they never complained to your Imperial Majesty according to his Highness Command Also his Majesty hath commanded me to require and desire your Majesty to give him your Royal Answer in all these Particulars by your Letters in Writing as shall be fit for your own Honour and conformable to the antient League of Amity and Friendship between your Royal Majesties His Majesties Ambassador not many days after sent to the Visier who had promised him an answer unto these Articles who returned him this that followeth To the First he said That the Emperour his Master had given him order to renew the Capitulations and to
that we soon struck our Top Mast boared our main Yard and so fished the Mast it self where it was defective that with the help of our fore-Sail and the benefit of better Weather we safely arrived on the Thirty first in the Port of Lisbon The Match being then in Treaty between Charles the Second our Dread Soveraign and Catherine the Infanta of Portugal now our gracious Queen all the concernments of England were extreamly acceptable to the Court of Portugal and particularly the Person of the Earl of Winchelsea a Peer of England qualified with the Character of Ambassadour Extraordinary to the Ottomon Port. For at our first arrival there I being then Secretary to the said Earl was employed to carry a Letter to the King which was received by the Councel of State then sitting After the Letter had been read and considered I was called in and an answer given me by the Marquis de Nissa and D. Gasper Faria de Sevarin then Secretary of State to this purpose That they were glad so grateful an opportunity presented whereby they might Demonstrate their warm and real affections towards the King of England by serving his Ambassadour in so necessary a piece of Service as that which was required That Orders were given to furnish the Ship with a Mast and what she wanted out of the Kings Stores and that both his Excellency and Lady with all their Retinue should be welcomed a shore with due regard to their Quality and Condition The Day following his Excellency was complemented from the King by a Maestro de Campo sent to him on Ship-board and being come ashoar and lodged at the House of Mr. Maynard the English Consul he was visited by D. Francisco de Melo who had before and was afterwards employed Ambassadour into England and by D. Antonio de Saousa and others After Eight days his Excellency had Audience of the King and the Queen Mother and was received by both with many demonstrations of a hearty desire to contract a firm Alliance with England He was afterwards invited by the Conde de Odemira Governour of the young King and Chief Minister of Portugal to a Quinta or Garden-house at Bellain where were present the Duke of Calaval the Visconde de Castel Blanco and D. Francisco de Melo the entertainment was very splendid with variety of Dishes and Wine corresponding rather with the inordinate Tables of English than with the frugality and temperate Diet of Spaniards Our Ship being in this interim refitted we returned aboard on the Twelfth of November the Earl of Winchelsea being presented by the King with several Hampers of sweet-Meats Vessels of Wine and other Provisions for his Voyage and his Lady by the Queen Mother with a Jewel of considerable value and with diverse boxes filled with Purses of perfumed Leather and Amber Comfits On the Thirteenth we set Sail being design'd by Order of his Majesty for Algier to settle a Peace with that unsetled People where arriving on the Tewenty second day about Three a Clock in the Afternoon we came to an Anchor about Two Miles distant from the Town which we saluted with Twenty one Guns but received none again in answer thereunto it being the custome of that People not to acknowledge Civilities but to repay injuries and not requite benefits We found that they had already begun to break the Peace Having brought in thither an English Ship which lay between hope and fear of freedom or seizure So soon as we had dropt our Anchors a Boat came from that Ship acquainting us of the State of Algier and how near Matters were to a Rupture with them by this Boat my Lord Ambassadour sent a Letter to the Consul appointing him to come aboard who the next Day being the Twenty third appeared accordingly to whom his Excellency imparted the Instructions and Orders from his Majesty to renew the Peace on the former Articles and particularly to insert a Caution That the Algerines should on no terms search our Ships but that the Passengers and goods thereon whether of English or Strangers should be free and exempted from all seizure and Pyracy whatsoever I being appointed to assist the Consul in this Treaty accompanied him ashoar and in the first place we applyed our selves to Ramadam Bullock-bashee then the Chief of their Divan and Head of their Government whom we acquainted that on the Ship in the road was an Earl of England sent Ambassadour by his Majesty our King to the Grand Signor and in his way thither was appointed to touch at Algier and to inform the Government of that place of the happy Restoration of his Majesty to the Throne of his Father and to confirm the same Peace which was before concluded with usurped Powers and so delivered him the Letters from his Majesty which were superscribed in this manner To their Excellencies the Aga Iiabashees and rest of the Honourable Council of State and War in the City and Kingdom of Algier Ramadam answered us that he was well satisfied with the Proposal that there was a Peace already with the English and that they were Brothers that the next Day was appointed for a general Divan of great and small at which we might freely open our breasts and declare whatsoever was committed to us by our King and his Ambassadour But for the better understanding of the State of Algier at this time we must observe that for many years before this government was composed of a Divan the Chief and Head whereof was a Pasha sent every Three years to preside there and had so continued until that some few Months before this time one Halil a poor Fellow who had no better Estate than the Sixteenth part of a Vessel but bold and desperate complained one Day in open Divan against the Pasha accusing him of many miscarriages with which he so affected the Divan that he rudely threw him from his Seat drubbed him trampled on him and plucked the Hairs out of his Beard which is the greatest mark of ignominy and contempt that any Person can offer to another and having committed him to Prison and Chains he with the Divan took upon himself the unlimited Power of an Arbitrary Government And thus for the space of Six or Eight Months this Miscreant tyrannized and ruled without controul Until an obscure and contemptible Moor an ordinary Jerbin or Countryman instigated as was supposed by the Aga or General of the Souldiery approaching near him in the Streets under pretence of kissing his Vest struck him with a long Knife between the Ribs which boldness of the Moor so astonished the Attendants which were about him that none had power to lay hands on the Murderer but suffered him to depart and fly unpursued Of this wound Halil dyed in Two days in which time he nominated Ramadam his Kinsman to be the most proper and fit Person to succed him in the Government and this recommendation so prevailed on the Divan that he was elected
by His Majesty for Ambassador to the Grand Signior in the place of Sir Daniel Harvey who dyed in August 1672. at his Country-house not far from Constantinople His Excellency entred the City on the first day of Ianuary 1673 4. rejoycing the English Factory with the sight of their new Ambassador that Office having been now void for the space of sixteen months who was welcome also to people of the Country judging him fortunate for arriving at the Feast of their great Biram nor less pleasing was the News thereof to the Court especially to the late Pasha of Tunis whose Goods and Monies taken by one Dominico Franceschi out of an English Ship called the Mediterranean in her passage from Tunis to Tripoli this Ambassador had recovered from Ligorne and Malta which being an action without example was greatly admired and applauded by the Turks and esteemed an evident demonstration of that great Interest and Power which the Glory of our King hath acquired in Foreign parts and of the singular dexterity of such a Minister About the 18 th of March Sir Iohn Finch arrived at Constantinople being transported to the Dardanelli on his Majesties Fregat the Centurion and thence on a Gally hired at Smyrna for that purpose Some few days after his arrival the Grand Signior and Vizier being at Adrianople the Lord Ambassador had audience of the Chimacam whom he saluted with this speech I am come Ambassadour from Charles the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland sole Lord and Soveraign of all the Seas that environ his Kingdoms Lord and Soveraign of vast territories and possessions in the East and West-Indies Defender of the Christian Faith against all those that Worship Idols or Images To the most Powerful and mighty Emperor of the East to maintain that peace which hath been so useful and that commerce which hath been so profitable to this Empire For the continuance and encrease whereof I promise you in my station to contribute what I can and I promise to my self that you in your will do the like But to proceed to the Wars The Pâ—landers being thus prosperous made use of their success and the sharp cold of the Winter-sâ—ason to make their Incursions and Winter-quarters through all the Principalities of Moldavia for they being born in cold Countries and accustomed to the Snows and Frosts were more patient and enduring of extremity of weather than were the Turks who were brought forth from more mild and moderate Climates so that neither could the Poles be driven out from those Countries nor Keminitz be relieved by them until such time that the Sun getting high and thawing the Snows and warming the Earth prepared a season fit for return of the Turks who marching according to their custom with an Army composed of great multitudes quickly compelled the Poles to retire For the Grand Signior and Vizier having both seated their Winter-quarters on the Banks of the Danâ—be were ready at the first opening of the Summer to enter their Arms into the Enemies Countries and having called the Tartars to their assistance did according to the usual custom make Incursions for depredation of Slaves Cattel and whatsoever else was portable in a running March. The Chan or King of this People was at that time greatly indisposed in his health of which he advised the Great Vizier as if he intended thereby to obtain a release from his personal attendance that year in the War But the Vizier who either supposed this excuse to be only a pretence or that he had a kindness for his Person immediately dispatched away his own Physician called Signior Masselini an Italian born a worthy Learned man a good Christian and my intimate Friend with whom maintaining a constant correspondence by Letters he wrote me That from the Grand Signiors Quarters which were at Batadog near the Banks of the Danube he arrived after seventeen days Journey in Chrim where he said he was received with singular honour and kindness by the Great Chan whom he found to be a Prince of admirable prudence gentleness and generosity but greatly afflicted with a Hypochondriacal Melancholy which being an infirmity of some years standing was with the more difficulty removed howsoever he was so far from being uncapable to follow his Army that he advised him to divert his mind with the thoughts of War which counsel having taken after thirty days abode in the Camp he found himself much more chearful than before and greatly relieved of that pressure of Melancholy and caliginous Vapours which offended his Brain We are now said he at Vssia at the Mouth of the Boristhenes which we have passed from the other side unto this where the River is nine miles brâ—ad from hence we are marching towards Bender upon the Niester to pass into Moldavid and there to joyn with the Ottoman Army The Poles have sent to demand Peace but with condition that Kemenitz be restored to them which Proposition was with great disdain rejected and will never be granted whilst this Emperour reigns These people greatly desired a Peace with Poland which the Election of Sobieski for King may probably facilitate for not only they but the Turks also dread a March into Poland and are so inveterately bent to take revenge on the Muscovites and Cosacks who lately became their Subjects that they could accept of any reasonable Terms of Accommodation with Poland I for my part found Tartary a very pleasant Country plentiful of all Provisions and the people much more courteous and obliging to the Strangers and Christians than those Turks with whom you and I have conversed Thus far Masselini writes in commendation of the Tartars and in farther confirmation hereof I have read in some Books That as to their Morals there are very few Nations to be found less vicious they are extremely severe and faithful they have no Thieves or false Witnesses amongst them little Injustice or Violence and live in union and great tranquillity the marvellous fidelity of the Captive Tartars in Poland is every day to be observed who never fail to return at the time appointed when they are licensed upon their word to go and procure their Liberties by the exchange of Polish Prisoners which they execute punctually or return themselves not failing a minute And it is observed That the Polish Gentlemen do rather trust the young Tartars which are in their Service with the keys of their Money and Jewels than any of their Houshold The time for Armies to draw out of the Winter-quarters and take the Field being now come the Grand Signior and Vizier with great numbers both of Horse and Foot passed the Danube and prosecuting their March to the Câ—nfines of Poland they relieved Kemenitz in the first place the Poles at the News of their approach rasing the Siege Thence they proceeded to Chuâ—zim a strong Fortress on the Niester taken from them in the last year by the Christians after the defeat given to Chusaein Pasha
in his stead Mahomet Effendi Treasurer in the time when the Giurbaes governed an ill Man and of a bad Reputation Nor could the Vizier think himself secure whilst Yeghen Command his Forces so near as Sophia and was disobedient to all Commands aspiring to no less than to be Seraskier or General of the Army nor could it be thought he would stop there or at any other point until he came to be Grand Vizier Wherefore Mustapha Vizier dispatched private Orders to have Yeghen strangled who remained hovering about between Belgrade and Sophia keeping all Strangers from any near approach so that the execution of those Orders were respited until a more opportune conjuncture For he continued still in Rebellion having refused to go to Bosna declaring that he would not give up the Command of Seraskier of the Army in Hungary to Hassan Pasha or any other Whilst these things were in Agitation an Envoy arrived at Constantinople from the Emperor of Morocco with Letters of Complement to the Grand Seignior upon his Exaltion to the Throne and with Offers year 1688. that as the Christians were united together against the Musulmen so he was ready to give his Assistance to the Grand Seignior in defence of the Mahometan Faith. It being now the Spring time when the Turks always put their Horses out to Grass and Soil The Imbrahor or Master of the Horse invited the Grand Seignior into the Fields to see in what order his Horses were governed at their Pasture and there gave him a very Splendid Entertainment The Grand Seignior was so pleased with the Dinner the Air and the Fields that in two or three days afterwards he went again to the Meadows at Cat-Hanah about two English Miles at farthest from Pera where he was again feasted not without the Censure and Murmuring of the People who said That in a short time he would follow the Example of the late Sultan in his Diversions and Negligence in the Government so they should have changed as indeed they had to little purpose It began now plainly to appear That the Turks by reason of their intestine Divisions had made very inconsiderable Preparations either by Land or Sea year 1688. Howsoever something was necessary to be and therefore in the first place Eleven Gallies were sent to Guard the Black Sea against the Cosacks who as was reported were preparing to make Incursions into the Parts near Constantinople as they had usually done in former times But their chief Apprehensions and Fears were raised from a Report that the Imperialists were marching towards Belgrade And indeed they had great Reasons for it for they had nothing of Force on the Frontiers nor nothing to oppose them in case the Emperor should think fit to push forward his Conquests which nothing could obstruct besides Famine and Hunger in a March through a ruined and a desart Country The Turks in these extremities finding no safety or success and protection in their Arms had recourse to their last refuge which was if possible to obtain a Peace with the Emperor a Method which they had never practised before since they were an Empire to be the first to Sue for a Peace But now Necessity pressing them they were for dispatching an Ambassador to the Kings of France England and the States of Holland whose design substance and main drift of his Embassy was only pretended to give notice unto those Powers of the Exaltation of Sultan Solyman to the Throne of the Ottoman Empire But with private Instructions to insinuate unto those Princes severally to interpose in a Mediation of Peace and to use their endeavours to give a stop to the Career of the Imperial Arms which good Offices in order to a Peace might reasonably be expected from Kings and Princes who had for many years maintained a happy Peace and Correspondence with the Ottoman Port where their Ambassadors had been treated with Friendship and their Merchants with Security and their Trade flourished on all sides with Profit and Advantage One Achmet Aga being proposed for this Embassy he was severally treated and feasted by the three Ambassadors who by the Discourses they had entertained with him observed him to be a Person discreet and better practised in Affairs of Countries different to their own than commonly Turks are who think it an Indignity to them to look into the States of Christian Princes year 1688. which so lately the Ottoman Empire overlooked as unworthy their Consideration To Transport this Ambassador a French-ship was appointed and his Equipage prepar'd but by the Conduct of Sir William Trumbal English Ambassador then at Constantinople and the confused Affairs of the Turks this Embassy did not succeed And indeed the Turky Company could not expect to Reap any thing from thence but trouble and expence and perhaps displeasure at the Port in case his Entertainment had not equalled that which he had received at Paris Howsoever the Turks were better resolved in the Point of that Embassy designed to the Emperor And to that end they chose Hamedi Effendi one who had been bred up a Clerk and afterwards came to be first Accountant in the Treasury and Mauvro Cordato a Greek by Nation a Man of Intrigue and Business having for many years been employed for Interpreter to the Grand Vizier ever since the Death of Panaioti The Turks being ashamed as a thing below the Dignity of their Empire to Sue for Peace thought it might prove a certain consequence in Answer to a civil Letter written by the Grand Seignior to the Emperor giving notice of his Exaltation to the Ottoman Throne much after the same Tenour with that which was written to the other Powers with this Addition and Alteration year 1688. That whereas the ancient Amity and Friendship had been broken during the Reign of his Predecessor he as to his own Person had not been consenting nor instrumental thereunto and that God having punished the Authors of this War he resolved to take different Measures and considering the Emperour as his Neighbour he was desirous to enter into a League of Friendship with him and to establish a firm and lasting Peace in case the Emperor should be inclining thereunto These Ambassadors were appointed to begin their Journey towards the end of Iune towards whose expences the Grand Seignior intended to allow Six thousand Dollars which was esteemed a sufficient Provision for them until they came to the Confines whence according to the ancient Canon they are to be conducted by the Emperor's Guards and defray'd at his Expence Their Retinue consisted of 60 persons half of which was habited in the Turkish and half after the Grecian Fashion As yet they had received no Passports for them but in assurance that they would be granted the Ambassadors were posted away to Belgrade there to remain in expectation of them The New Grand Seignior during all these Combustions and Negotiations minded little or nothing of Business nor indeed was
not being to be performed until the 25th of March the Turks who had magnified so much the Grandeur of their Empire to the Persians on all Occasions were in a Bodily Fear least in the mean time some Unhappy and Dishonourable News should come from the Frontiers or that the Persians should discover the Weakness of the Ottoman Force who formerly used to boast of 2 or 300000 could now scarce bring an Army of 60000 Men into the Field howsoever the Arrival of this Ambassador did not a little trouble the Minds of some principal Turks who being affectionate to their Country and People would be very sorry to have the Nakedness thereof discovered to their Insulting Neighbours The Day of the Ambassador's Audience being come a Horse was sent out of the Grand Seignior's Stable for the Ambassador to Ride upon richly adorned with Furniture and Trappings according to the Custom likewise 47 Chiauses with their Aga were also appointed with an Oda or Chamber of Janisaries with their Ciorbagee or Captain and likewise that Aga which had been sent lately into Persia to notifie the Exaltation of Sultan Solyman Being now returned they all with the Ambassador's own Retinue attended to conduct him to his Audience with the Grand Seignior Things being put into this Posture the Ambassador in a Glorious Habit and great Pomp mounted on Horse-back the Presents were all sent before valued in Persia at 100000 Dollars but being at Constantinople might be esteemed at double the Value they were carried by Camels covered with Cloth of Gold each of them bearing two great Chests in which were Cloaths Embroidered with Gold and Cloth of Gold the finest Linen of Persia some Pieces of them were worked with Golden Thread Besides there were Persian Girdles very rich Turbants of the finest sort proper for Princes some Bows and Quivers with Arrows Richly Inlaid some great and large Pieces of Amber with a good quantity of Lignum Aloes the most Precious sort of any in India of which much is consumed in the Grand Seignior's Seraglio some Strings of large Pearl of the biggest Size with many other Gallantries and Curiosities of India Five very fine Persian Horses covered with Cloth of Gold Sixty large Camels of which 30 were laden with Persian Carpets woven with Silk and Gold-Thread with various Colours rarely mixed These Camels were sent before by 30 Persians on Horseback very richly Cloathed The Ambassador himself was Cloathed with the most Rich Tissue and Weighty Cloth of Gold that could possibly be made On his Head he had a Cap in form and Manner of a Crown with Seven Feathers the Handles of which were studded with Jewels and Precious Stones the like Habit the Vice-Ambassador wore being appointed to succeed in the Embassy in case the first should fail by any Accident and before him five Horses were led Next followed the Secretary with the Credential Letters in a Bag of Cloth of Gold which he carried in his Hand lifted up as high as his Head on which he wore a Turbant Embroidered with Gold with four Feathers On one side of the Ambassador rode the Chiaus-Bashee and on the other the Vice-Ambassador and by his side the Aga who was returned from Persia these were immediately followed by two Persians with Beards well Mounted and richly Habited who were the Masters of the Horse each carrying a Scimetar in the Scabbard richly adorned with Jewels and carried under the Arm after the Turkish Fashion Next followed the Attendance of 60 Men on Horse-back with Beards cut short after the Persian Fashion all well Habited amongst which was not one whose Beard was not grown for the Young Youths were left at Home being Scandalous to show them Abroad When the Ambassador and Vice-Ambassador were come into the Divan where the Grand Vizier was present they caused them to sit down in the Rank with the Viziers of the Bench amongst which the Chimacam of Adrianople was reckoned but he who carried the Letters stood all the time during the Lutfé or Payment of the Soldiers after which according to the usual Custom they all sate down to Dinner where the Grand Vizier was present After which they were richly Vested but without Sables and with them 60 others of the Retinue had Vests which is much more than what are given to the Ambassadors of the Emperor the Kings of England France or Holland to the first of which as I remember are given 35 Vests and to those of the two Kings 22 a piece and to that of Holland 19 by which we may observe the Value which the Turks put on the Persian before those of the Christian Powers After the Audience with the Grand Seignior was performed they returned to their Lodgings in the same manner as they came from thence This Audience being over the Turks hoped that the Persian Ambassador would immediately and without farther delay return back to his Master the King of Persia but the Ambassador had other Intentions in his Mind For being desirous to be a Spectator of the Confusions amongst the Turks at Home and the Weakness of their Army on the Frontiers he pretended to renew the Ancient Capitulations which had been made between the Persians and the Turks which was a good Excuse to delay Time And tho' notwithstanding the Report caused to be spread Abroad That the Indians had declared War against the Persians it little moved the Ambassador from his Purpose of delaying his Departure that he might the better discover the Weakness and Nakedness of the Turks whose Affairs could not go well Abroad whilst they were governed by an unable Head at Home for the Grand Vizier was Old and Cholerick and had it not been for his Son who was a Person well in Years Diligent and Considerative who Discoursed and Prepared all Matters weighed and consulted them with Persons of Experience and Understanding he could never have carried them to any Maturity or remained long in that Sublime Office. Besides he was Naturally Cruel that upon the least Suspicion or Murmurings of any Pasha or great Man he without the least noise sent the Bow-string for him and privately cut him off Amongst the rest there was one Omer Pasha who having in several Fights signalized himself by his Bravery seemed to aspire unto some high degree of Preferment whereof the Vizier growing Jealous he sent and took him off But what most confirmed him was that he promised the Militia to deliver out their Pay to them at the end of every three Months in good Gold and Silver and not in Copper-Money against which there had been such Outcries and Tumults amongst the People to perform which Promise for there was no dallying with the Licentious Soldiery the Gold and Silver-Smiths were commanded to shut up their Shops and prohibited to Work or make any Vessels of Gold or Silver but to bring the Gold and Silver which they had in their Hands into the Mint there to be Coined into good Money which
Monsieur de Chateau-neuf the present residing Ambassador at which according to the usual Custom of the French at all their Audiences their Business was to extol the Greatness and Power of their Master and to report unto the Turks That their King had furnished King Iames with a Mighty Fleet and 30000 Men to Invade England which were all ready at the time of his Departure to Embark and consisted with Men of War and Transport Ships of more than 600 Sail the which joyning in England with the contrary Party to that which then Governed would no doubt carry all before them in that Country and consequently cause great Confusions in Holland and amongst all the Allies Moreover that his King was ready to enter into the Field in Person with a most formidable Army as he had promised the Sultan against the Emperor of the Success of which they would speedily hear from their fortunate King who had ever been Prosperous in all his Enterprises Moreover he added That all these great things the King had done were to support the Ottoman Empire which would certainly have been staggering under that Mighty Power of the Allies had it not been supported by the French and their Forces diverted from the Ottoman Dominions in Hungary all which the Grand Vizier heard with Pleasure and Attention assuring the Marquis and the Ambassador that he never had any Design or Imagination of making a Peace with the Emperor without the Concurrence of the French. Howsoever the Marquis not knowing how constant and firm to their Resolutions the Turks might be in case that things should succeed ill in the Turkish Army or that the Imperialists should take Belgrade he obtained Licence from the Vizier to accompany him to the War during this Campaign where he might be ready at hand to oppose all Proposals tending to a Peace in case any Endeavours should be made therein And in this manner the Grand Vizier departed the 30th of Iune from Adrianople towards Belgrade having pointed out 32 Days March from one Place to the other besides Days of Otoâ—ack or Days of Repose But before the Vizier's Departure two Mirzes or Tartarian Noblemen with six other Tartars arrived at Adrianople bringing News That Batter Gherei one of the Sultan Tartars had entered into Volhinia a Province belonging to Poland and had carried away Captive above 30000 Souls which Rumour was spread abroad to encourage the Turks when in truth there were not above 2000 taken and farther to give Life to the Soldiery it was reported That Adil Gherei the Younger Brother was remaining within the Confines of Valachia attending his Elder Brother that they might with a joynt force March into Hungary Howsoever to secure the Tartars the Grand Vizier before his Departure from Adrianople dispatched away three Capugi-Bashees with pressing Commands to the Han of Budziack to march with all speed to Belgrade and not to delay their time as they had done the last Year and that they should have a care not to deceive him for that he depended much on their Forces but herein the Vizier was not well informed for the Budziack Tartar could not furnish more than 3000 Men and as to the Noghai Tartar they were Numerous but withal they were such a sort of Salvage Creatures Rebellious and Disgusted by the Turks that no great account could be made of them Nor yet of Sultan Galgha Prince of Crim Tartary who was engaged in a War against the Cossacks and had enough to do to defend himself against such a Stout and an Active Enemy Moreover to make the Assistance of the Tartars the less considerable this Year the Tartars rebelled against their New Han in their March towards Belgrade At first this Mutiny appeared only in some Dislikes which the Principal Tartars showed against their New Sultan the which daily increasing came to such a heighth that the whole Army forsook and left him and returned in a Body back to Budziack and were followed soon after by the Han himself with some of his Menial Servants the News hereof being brought to the Grand Seignior and Grand Vizier they knew not how to carry on the War for this Year so that all the Remedy which remained was to re-establish the Old Han Selim Gherey in his Place the which tho' it pleased the Soldiers better yet by this time the Season was so far spent that nothing of moment could be expected to be put in Action for that Year Some small Matters indeed the Turks did attempt but always with loss in Iuly they Attacked a small but a strong Fortress called Portsea near Peter-Waradin the which was so well defended by a Garrison of Rascians that the Turks were several times repulsed and at last hearing that some Imperial Heydukes and Dragoons had passed the Save and had cut down great Numbers of Turks they quitted their design on Portsea and returned back to Belgrade Howsoever upon better consideration concluding that the Place was of so high importance that they might be called into question for quitting the Siege they returned back again and on the 5th of August made another Attack upon the Place and resolved to carry it by force of Arms but News coming That a strong Body of the Imperial Troops were sent to relieve the Place and were already in their March they quitted the Siege and being Attacked in the Rear they left many Dead and Wounded Men behind them About the same time the Vice-Ban or Lieutenant-General of Croatia having got together a strong Body of 5500 Croats and Rascians made an Incursion towards Meydan in which Expedition he not only had the good fortune to release 400 Poor Christians who were Condemned to Die and should have been executed the next Day had they not been seasonably relieved by the Croatians but to return back with a considerable Booty of Cattle and Moveables together with some principal Turks of Quality and Note whose Houses and stately Buildings they Burnt and Destroyed little or nothing more remarkable farther passed all this Campaign unless it were a Matter of two considerable Convoys sent to Temeswaer the latter of which consisted of several Thousands of Turks conducting 100 Waggons and many Camels laden with all necessary Provisions and so having provided the Town for the whole Winter they returned back to Belgrade At the same time a Body of Rascians broke into the Morava and there attacked and beat another Turkish Convoy which carried 200000 Dollars to the Turkish Army which was a brave Booty for the Rascians for tho' the Grand Vizier upon the News thereof had Detached a Body of 10000 Arnauts after them yet the Prey had given them Wings and they escaped safe into their Towns and Garrisons of Refuge Some later Actions passed besides but none of great consequence expecting that the Turks having a mind to look big and put a good Face on it towards the latter end of the Campaign passed the Save to
pry into the Secrets of the Empire Hereof the Cham having had some Intimation and seeing the Disorders arising in the Court and fearing to be sent away he desired to be dismist pretending that his Presence was necessary in his own Country he took leave of the Sultan at a Solemn Audience and being richly presented he began his Journey homewards being accompanied out of Adrianople by the Grand Vizier After the Departure of the Cham the Grand Vizier's Wife who was Sister to the Grand Seignior was forbidden the Court which was an evident demonstration that her Husband was not likely to continue long in that Office. The Heer Heemskirk who had been sent to the Assistance of Monsieur Coâ—yer Ambassador for the States-General at Constantinople for management of the Peace between the Emperor and the Turks or rather for want of an English Ambassaâ—or the two former Sir William Hussey and Mr. Herbert being both Dead At that time the Turks seeming inclinable to a Peace King William thought it not fit to let pass this Opportunity for want of an Ambassador from England but rather qualified Monsieur Heemskirk then at Vienna with the Title of English Ambassador to the Grand Seignior of which we have formerly made some mention the which had currantly passed with the Turks had not the French discovered the matter and declared that this Heemskirk was no English Man nor no Minister of the King of Enland but a German and one under Notion of an Ambassador sent for a Spy to deceive the Turks Upon which Insinuation Heemskirk was not able afterwards to treat with the Turks nor would they accept of any Propositions from him or acknowledge him for a publick Minister but committed him to Custody and kept him under a strict Guaâ—d and so was detained for some Months until the Lord Paget was sent to supply the Office of a true and undoubted Ambassador at which time Heer Heemskirk was called to Audience and had his Dismission Upon Departure Heemskirk said He was sorry that his Endeavours for putting an end to this Bloody War had been unsuccessful To which the Vizier answered That Peace would be when God pleased and was not at the Pleasure and Will of Man And so without saying any thing more material Heemskirk was dismissed and began his Journey from Adrianople towards Belgrade on the 2d of March. During these Matters great were the Disorders at Court the Grand Vizier grew weary of his Office and would gladly have been rid of it could he have done it with safety and Name his Successor and in the mean time his Wife endeavoured to accommodate Matters between her Husband and the Kuzlir-Aga Notwithstanding which Differences and the great Animosities yet they slackned nothing of their Diligences to be early this Year in the Field and accordingly Commands were issued out to dispose all things thereunto And an Aga was sent to Walachia for 500 Horses to carry Flour to Belgrade The French Ambassador perswaded the Turks to open their Campaign this Year by way of Transylvania and to induce them to follow his Advice he assured them that his King would have an Army this Year in Germany of 100000 Men but the Turks never gave much Credence to the Boastings of the French whom they commonly styled with the Name of Yalangi Francos And to second this Opinion of the French the Nogay Tartars who were setled in a Part of Moldavia made an Incursion through that Province into Transylvania and took from thence about 6000 Captives and a considerable Booty These Nogay Tartars were called into those Countries by the Tartar Han to succour and assist him at the time when the Moscovites came against Crim and were then placed with their Families in good Numbers about Budziac and part of Moldavia the Prince of which made Complaint to the Grand Seignior that being deprived of a great part of his Country by his new come Guests the Provinces were entirely ruined and the People no longer able to support the Charge and pay their Tribute But this Complaint having but little Effect the whole Blame of these Miscarriages were attributed to the ill Conduct of the Grand Vizier for which cause he was Deposed and the Embrahor or Master of the Horse was sent to demand and receive the Seals from him and the Chimacam of Adrianople employed to Seal up his House Hereupon the Deposed Vizier obtained by the assistance of Friends a Hattesheriffe or Royal Command from the Grand Seignior to return towards his Government of Tripoli de Soria without molestation for which he gave the Messenger that brought it five Purses of Money Notwithstanding which a Capigi with several Bostangees were dispatched after him to bring him back and having overtaken him he was committed Prisoner between the Ports from whence very few escape with their Lives nor did he long survive his Estate being all seized and confiscated to the Use of the Sultan Another Capigi-Basha was likewise sent to fetch the Head of Ali Pasha who was Great Vizier before this last Deposed Vizier Likewise about the same time the Kahya of Osman Pasha the lately deceased Chimacam of Adrianople was put under Arrest and his Master's Money Jewels and Goods with his own were demanded to bring Money into the Seraglio But before we proceed any farther it may not be from our Purpose to deâ—lare an Action which happened in the Port of Smyrna in the Month of March a follows One Capt. Hely Commander of a Merchant's Ship of 30 Guns having brought some Goods to Smyrna from Legorne and finding no Goods that presented for a Voyage back again he resolved to seek his Fortune in some other Port The same Morning Captain Marine a French Merchant-Man and Captain Teissere another French Man weighed also and accompanied the English Ship half way to the Castle where they remained a Back-stays for several Hours and seeing Captain Hely turning out watched an Opportunity to bear down upon him which Hely endeavouring to avoid all that was possible could not yet hinder the French Man from falling foul of him by which he broke his Sprit-sail Yard and Jack-staff and presented many Musquets and Pistols at the Men to provoke them to Fight or commit some rash Action to the Breach of the Peace in the Grand Seignior's Port but Captain Hely managed his Business with such Moderation and Courage that he saved the King's Jack and took it in and then hoisted it again and the French cutting some of their own Mizen-Shrouds Hely got clear and Sailed away towards the Castle with a good part of the French Man's Colours being foul of a Block That Night Hely having procured Materials to repair his Damage sailed away and the next Day got within five Miles of Murine Rowing to come up to him which he did near Cape Caraborno and there engaged him and after four Hours Fight in which Hely fired above 200 of his Cannon he took the French Ship which was
17th the Moscovite delivered into the Hands of my Lord Paget the Articles which he had promised to consign to the Mediation And accordingly on the 6 16th he sent a Supplement thereunto which did not answer expectation so that Business remained for some time undetermined The next Day 9 19 the Polish Ambassador had another Conference with the Turks at which the remaining Points of the Treaty were agreed upon so that in a manner that whole Peace was agreed and finished The 10 20th of December the Venetian Ambassador communicated a new Commission and Project which he had received from the State of Venice to the Mediators And in the Afternoon the Moscovite Ambassador entertained a Discourse with the Mediators and Mauro Cordato but at that Meeting they cleared no Business With these frequent Conferences on all sides much time passed away until Christmas approached and then was the Season that Labours should give place to Devotion and Mirth and to the Solemnities of that Festival which continued until the Twelve Days were over and then all sides began again after the Plenipotentiary Ambassadors had passed their time very Jovially to renew again their Treaties Only the Turkish Ambassadors having little to do with the Christian Rites wished heartily that the Feasts were over and pressed heartily for an end thereof alledging That their Presence was required at the Port and that the Sultan would no longer allow of their Absence The first that betook himself to Business which was strange was the Moscovite Ambassador who on the 14 24th of Ianuary 1699 was the first who Subscribed the Instrument of Amnesty and the Treaties of the Peace of the Emperor and Poland with the Port were Signed on the 16 26th by their Ambassadors And the Venetian Treaty being very well adjusted and perfected all Parties appeared to be very well satisfied and the Venetian Ambassador as well as the others tho' for want of sufficient Power he could not then Sign his Instrument but supposed that Orders would come to him for doing the same before the Imperial Ratifications which were to be exchanged on the Line of Limits between Peter Waradin and Belgrade could be dispatched in which case the Mediators had Power to receive it Monday the 16 26 of Ianuary was appointed for the Solemn Day of Signature Monday the 16 26th of Ianuary was the Solemn Day of Signature the which having been passed in the Morning all the Ambassadors Turks as well as Christians with all their Attendants Guards c. with many Persons of Quality out of the Country making about 5000 Persons Dined at my Lord Paget's Quarters at whose Table the King of England's Health was the â—irst that was drank then the Emperor's and the lasting Continuance of the Peace which was Signed that very Day And then we may believe and fansie that most People there present were all heartily Merry with as much Solemnity as that Place could afford And amongst other things of Mirth it was observed That my Lord Paget had an Oxe Roasted whole for the Soldiers a thing never known before in those Parts On the 17 27th the Mediators Dined with the Emperor's Ambassadors where they were entertained with the like Rejoycings and in the Evening with Fire-Works Fountains of Wine Drums Trumpets Musick and with the Discharge of Great and Small Guns The 18 28th the Moscovite Ambassador took his leave of my Lord Paget with many Lofty Expressions of Civility and Acknowledgments The 19 29th my Lord Paget Visited the Imperial Ambassadors as he did the Turks on the 20 30th and 21 31st which was in return of that Compliment which the Turks had made to him some time after the first Conferences The 21st of Ianuary or the first of February the Turks were to visit the Imperial Ambassadors and to take their leaves of them On the 24 3th the Imperialists were to take their Leaves of the Turks and return their Visit. And on the 24 4th or 23 â—th in the Morning the Mediators and Turks designed to take their Journey towards Belgrade where the Mediators were to continue until the Exchange of the Ratifications The 26th at Night O. S. the Polish Ambassador departed by the Post after having passed many high Complements on my Lord Pagett expressing the Transport he was in for the Successful Assistances he had received from His Excellency in the Management and Conclusion of his Business The Muscovite Ambassador also declared That he would leave Peter Waradin on the 2 12th of February and in three or four Days after which the Mediators declared That the Place of Congress was likely to be quite cleared The House of Conference was bestowed by Count Ottingen on the Franciscan Fryars who at the same time declared That their Intentions were to make a Church thereof in memory of that Peace which had been there transacted For which God be praised which being of a High Concernment to all Christendom and to which the knowledge of the particular Articles may be useful to all Nations we have thought fit to add them hereunto in Latin and English as here followeth INSTRUMENTUM PACIS Caesareo-Ottomanicum Subscriptum Januarii 26. 1699. AD perpetuam rei memoriam Notum sit omnibus singulis quorum interest posteaquam per sedecim hucusque annos saevum exitiale multâ humani Sanguinis effufione cruentum adeò bellum cum plurimarum Provinciarum desolatione gestum esset inter Serenissimum Potentissimum Principem Dominum Leopoldum Electum Romanorum Imperatorem semper Augustum Germaniae Hungariae Bohemiae Dalmatiae Croatiae Sclavoniae Regem Archiducem Austriae Ducem Burgundiae Brabantiae Styriae Carinthiae Carniolae Marchionem Moraviae Ducem Luxemburgiae Superioris Inferioris Silesiae Wirtembergae Teckae Principem Sueviae Comitem Habspurgi Tyrolis Kyburgi Goritiae Marchionem Sacri Romani Imperii Burgoviae ac Superioris Inferioris Lusatiae Dominum Marchiae Sclavinicae Portus Naonis Salinarum c. ab una Et Serenissimâ—m atque Potentissimum Principem Dominum Sultanum Mustapha Han Ottomannorum Imperatorem ac Asiae Graeciae ejusque gloriosos Praedecessores ab altera parte misertique tandem afflictae Subditorum Sortis summè dicti ambo Potentissimi Imperatores finem tantis in perniciem Generis Humani indies augescentibus malis ponere seriò in animum induxissent factum Divinâ bonitate esse ut annitentibus Conciliantibus Serenissimo Potentissimo Principe Domino Guillielmo Tertio Magnae Britanniae Franciae Hiberniae Rege uti Celsis ac Praepotentibus Dominis Ordinibus Generalibus Unitarum Belgii Provinciarum Solennes ea de causa Tractatus Carlovizii in Sirmio propè Confinia utriusque Imperii instituti atque ad finem perducti fuerint Comparentes quippe dicto loco utrinque legitimè constituti Plenipotentiarii nomine quidem Sacrae Caesareae Romanorum Imperatoriae Majestatis Illustrissimi Excellentissimi Domini Dominus Wolffgangus Sacri Romani Imperii Comes ab Oettingen Sacrae
to do at their next general Assembly Botscay dyeth at Cassovia The Emperour not to be blamed for making Peace with the Turks Sigismund Ragotsie chosen Prince of Transilvania afterward yieldeth up the same Principality again Newhuse again delivered unto the Emperour The Janizaries in Mutiny against the Bassa of Buda The effect of the Letters of the Bassa of Buda to the Archduke Matthias The Rebels in the lesser Asia by the Visier Bassa appeased The Bassa of Aleppo after three notable encounters with the Visier flyeth The Bassa of Aleppo pardoned by the Great Sultan and received again into favour The great Sultan feeketh in vain by the means of the Tartar to make peace with the Persian The Letters of the Persian King unto the King of Spain The States of Hungary about to depart from Presburg by the persuasion of the Arch-bishop there staid The Turks in great numbers repair to Buda The States of Hungary depart from Presburg without any thing doing The Haiducks go about to raise new stirs in Hungary The Bassa of Buda forbidden to make Wars upon the Christians An Assembly of the States of the upper Hungary and the decrees by them there made The Haiducks conspire against the Germans The Turks further the insolent attempts of the Haiducks Six hundred Haiducks intercepted by Humanoius The Haiducks in their Rebellionsupported by the Turks A great Fire at Constantinople An Assembly of the States of Austria and the Emperors demands therein The Assembly broken up and nothing concluded A Diet of the Empire by the Emperour appointed at Ratisbone The Articles by the Emperour propounded to be considered of in the Diet of the Empire at Ratisbone The Deputies for the States of the Empire in the Assembly at Ratisbone at variance among themselves The Diet of the States of the Empire at Ratisbone broken off and nothing concluded Matthias the Arch-duke cometh to Presburg Commissioners appointed for the appeasing of the new Troubles in Hungary Letters of Confederation betwixt the States of Austria and Hungary for the maintaining of the Articles of Pacification agreed upon at Vienna The States of Enseric commanded by the Archduke Matthias to be always in a readiness against the Haiducks The Prince of Valachia dieth whose Widow notably preserveth the Country for her Son. 〈◊〉 Duke 〈…〉 by 〈◊〉 Turks 〈◊〉 â—pare 〈…〉 The Haiâ—uâ—ks refuse to admit of the Pacification made at Vienna The States of Austria warned by the Arch-duke to prepare themselves for an Expedition to be made into Moravia The Arch-duke Matthias prepareth himself for his Expeditition into Moravia The Nobility of Bohemia are by the Emperor commanded to be ready in Arms. The Arch-duke Matthias with an Army cometh to Zname in Moravia The Emperour sendeth Ambassadours to the Arch-duke Matthias at Zname The Tartar Cham dieth The seditious Turks raise new strises in the lesser Asia and spoil Smyrna with the Countrey thereabouts Ambassadours sent from the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg for the appeasing of the troubles betwixt the Emperour and Matthias Matthias the Arch-duke marcheth towards Prague An Assembly of the States of Bohemia holden at Prague in the Presence of the Emperour The Requests of the Nobility and States of Bohemia unto the Emperor Matthias the Arch-dukes Ambassadors come to Prague Commissioners appointed for the ending of the Troubles betwixt the Emperour and Matthias the Arch-duke The Articles of Pacification betwixt the Emperour and the Arch-duke Matthias The Crown of Hungary delivered unto the Arch-duke Matthias King Matthias departeth with his Army ouâ— of Bohemia The Hungarians and Haiducks by Cotouiâ—s slain King Matthias entereth into Hungary and is royally received into Vienna The Protestant States in Austria require to have the free Exercise of their Religion granted unto them The Protestant States of Austria refuse to take their Oath of Allegeance unto the King until they might be secured of the free Exercise of their Religion Presents sent unto the Great Sultan from King Matthias Matthias sendeth unto the Protestant States at Horne The Catholick States take the Oath of Allegeance unto King Matthias King Matthias goeth to Presburg Articles by the Hungarians preferred unto King Matthias at Presburg The Protestant States of Austria crave Aid of the Nobility and States of Hungary The Protestant States of Austria by the Hungarians advised to lay down Arms and to submit themselves unto the King. Illishaschius chosen Palatine of Hungary Matthias at Presburg crowned King of Hungaâ—y Illishascius and others in vain intreat for the Sâ—ates of Austria The States prepare themselves for War. An hot Skirmish The States of Moravia make Intercession for the Protestant States of Austria The Articles of the Pacification in Austria The States of the reformed Religion in Austria take the Oath of Obediencâ— unto King Matthias The Turks seek secretly to encroach upon the Christians and the Christians seek again to annoy them Illishascius the Palatine of Hungary dieth New Troubles for Religion arise in Bohemia The States of the Religion appoint an Assembly of themselves to be holden in the new Court at Prague The Emperour maketh fair weather with the States of the Religion in Bohemia The States of Bohemia by writing declare unto the Emperour their purpose for the defence of their Religion Ambassadors from the Duke of Saxony in the behalf of the States The States of Bohemia raise their Forces The Emperours Letters unto the States of the Religion in Bohemia for the free Exercise of their Religion The Turks Ambassadour cometh to Vienna and from thence to Prague The Persians enter into the Province of Babylon The Turks defeated The Turk makes Gambolat General of his Army He commands him to be slain Ambassadors come from the Persian to the Emperour Presents sent to the Emperor His Affairs will not suffer him to joyn with the Persian The Proceedings of Leopold in Bohemia Causes of the Troubles of Bohemia The Gallions of Malta defeated by the Turks The Gallion of the Order sets upon the Turks Caravan The Gallies of Malta go to surprise them of Biserta They sink a Gallion of Tunes The Courses of the Duke of Tuscany's Gallies They take a Turkish Ship. Bisquerre taken by the Florentines They take divers Turkish Vessels The Morisques or new Christians chased out of Spain The King of Spain's Edict War in Bâ—rbâ—ry Description of the Town of Arrache or Allarache Arrache in Barbary taken by the Spaniards A great Battel in Tartarie A great Plague in Constantinople 200000 persons died of the plague The Turks obstinate belief touching predestination Death of the French Ambassadour at Constantinople The Ceremony of Ambassadours at their first Audience Th◠〈…〉 The Sultans Chamber Troubles in Transilvania The Valachian expelled his Countrey by Battori Battori defeated by the Valachian Fortgatsie Lieutenant to King Matthias enters Transilvania Battori's Practises Fortgatsie expelled Transilvania by Battori Fortgatsie's miserable retreat Troubles in Moldavia Three Princes pretending to Moldavia The Negotiation of the Ambassador of England for one of
departure had reported the Victory and that the Enemy was in a great Battel overthrown good God how the people as Men overjoyed ran up and down the Streets doubling and redoubling the joyful name of Victory The Senators also rejoycing together gave thanks to God with publick Prayers and joyful Hymns in every Church and afterwards by ringing of Bells Peals of Ordnance Bon-Fires and other such like things shewed all the tokens of joy possible And to make this joy the more general all Prisoners were set at liberty and all Debts that exceeded not the sum of five and twenty Crowns payed out of the common Treasury which was generally done through all the Venetian Seigniory and a Decree made That that day whereon the Victory was gotten which was the seventh of October dedicated to the memorial of Iustina should for ever be kept Holy-day and for the perpetual remembrance thereof a great Mass of Mony was coyned with the impression of Iustina upon it and an Inscription declaring the Victory Many also their Neighbor Princes sent their Embassadors congratulatory to Venice namely the Dukes of Savoy Florence Ferrara Parma Mantua and Urbin and the Knights of Malta In which so publick joy no Man was seen to put on any mourning Garments or to shew any token of heaviness although many had lost their dearest Friends and nearest Kinsmen whose lives they reckoned not lost but given unto the Christian Common-weal The like rejoycing was also made in Rome in Spain Naples Sicilia and Malta especially at such time as Embassadors from their Neighbor Princes came to joy them of this Victory yea and afterwards in their Countries further off was like rejoycing and signs of joy as with us here in England This is that notable Battel commonly called the Battel of Lepanto fought near unto the Island Curzolari the seventh day of October in the year 1571. the like whereof was never fought at Sea against the Turk wherein he lost his chief strength at Sea with most of his best Sea Captains and might thereby well perceive what he and his Successors were to fear if the Christian Princes at unity amongst themselves all discord set apart should in zeal of their Religion joyn their invincible forces against them In the midst of all this joy generally conceived of the late Victory one of the chief Prisoners of the Turks hearing it compared with the loss of Cyprus for that Selymus had therein lost his Fleet his best Men of War with great store of Ordnance by a fit Comparison shewed it not to be so saying That the Battel lost was unto Selymus as if a Man should shave his Beard which would ere long grow again but that the loss of Cyprus was unto the Venetians as the loss of an Arm which once cut off could never be again recovered Declaring thereby the great inequality of the loss The rich Spoil taken from the Enemy in this most glorious Victory was thus divided amongst the Princes Confederate Unto the Pope were allotted nineteen Gallies two Galliots nine great Pieces of Ordnance two and forty lesser Pieces and fourscore and one Prisoners Unto the King of Spain eight and fifty Gallies and an half six Galliots and an half eight and fifty great Pieces and an half eight great murthring Pieces and an half an hundred twenty eight lesser Pieces and a thousand seven hundred and thirteen Prisoners Unto the Venetians were assigned for their share nine and thirty Gallies and an half four Galliots and an half nine and thirty great Pieces and an half five great murthring Pieces and an half fourscore and six lesser Pieces and a thousand one hundred threescore and two Prisoners The rest were bestowed upon such other Princes as had given aid or otherwise well deserved in that service The joy conceived of this Victory was not so great amongst the Christians but that the sorrow thereof was amongst the Turks far greater Selymus himself was then at Hadrianople where eight days after the Battel news was brought unto him That his Fleet was overthrown and almost all taken or sunk by the Christians Which so soon as he heard he was strucken with exceeding grief and overcome with melancholy would not that day suffer any Man to speak with him And the rumor of the overthrow still encreasing had in short time filled all places with fear tears mourning and heaviness some bewailing their Parents some their Children some their Husbands some their Friends or Kinsmen there lost But that which most grieved the Turkish Emperor was the loss of so many worthy and expert Captains of so many skilful Masters and notable Souldiers who brought up all their lives at Sea were not thought inferior to any then living besides the perpetual ignominy and unwonted disgrace thereby inflicted unto him and his posterity for ever Wherefore full of wrath and indignation he was about to have commanded all the Christians in his Dominions in number infinite to be put to death Doubting indeed nothing more than that they weary of the Turkish Thraldom and desirous of innovation should with Weapons put into their hands rise up against him and take part with the other Christians his Enemies But whilst the other Bassaes as Men dismaid with the cruelty of the command stood all silent Muhamet Bassa for his former deserts in great favour with the Tyrant thought it good to make proof if his fury might by reasonable perswasion be mitigated and some better course taken both for the honour of Selymus himself and the common good of the State yet well knowing how full of danger it was in that tyrannical Gevernment openly to speak any thing contrary to the good liking of the wilful Emperor he durst not apertly contradict him but leaning as it were to his opinion and pleasure by little and little to draw from himself and so before he were aware to lead him into his own device and by delay moderate the rigor of his former fury To which purpose he cunningly set upon him in this sort Your anger said he most magnificent and invincible Emperor against the Christians is most just and in this my desire exceedeth all others That they should endure and suffer such punishment as they have of right deserved Yet it behooveth us so to satisfie our wrath as Men better regarding their own good than the hot desire of revenge And forasmuch as I am for your many and undeserved favours in all Loyalty bounden unto your Highness above others I reckâ—n it in part my duty so much the more frankly to deliver my opinion such as it is in matter of so great importance Neither will I attempâ—r my Speech in any respect to the comfâ—rting of your grieved mind for how can it be that you who following the worthy examples of your noble Progenitors have always heretofore shewed your most heorical and couragious mind contemning all the chances of Fortune should not for ever after shew your self to be rather
many other Places of the Turkish Empire At which time also the Janizaries at Constantinople having received some Disgrace by some of the Great Sultan's Favourites and with great Insolency requiring to have their Heads caused their Aga well accompanied presumptuously to enter into the Seraglio to prefer this their Request whom Mahomet to the terror of the rest caused for his Presumption to be taken into the midst of the Spahi and so by them to be cut in pieces which was not done without the great Slaughter of the Spahi themselves also slain by the Janizaries Whereupon the other Janizaries arising up in Arms also and even now ready to have revenged the Death of their Captain were yet by the Wisdom of Cicala Bassa bestowing amongst them a great Sum of Money again appeased without farther harm doing Which their so great Insolency Mahomet imputing unto their excessive drinking of Wine contrary to their Law of the great Prophet by the persuasion of the Mufti commanded all such as had any Wine in their Houses in the City of Constantinople and Pera upon pain of Death to bring it out and sâ—ave it except the Ambassadors of the Queen's Majesty of England the French King and of the State of Venice so that as some report Wine for a space ran down the Channels of the Streets in Constantinople as if it had been Water after a great shower of Rain Sigismund the Transilvanian Prince now of late again possessed of Transilvania as is before declared could not yet well assure himself of the keeping thereof year 1602 for that he with the Transilvanians of his Faction alone was not able to withstand the force of Basta who still strengthened with new Supplies both of men and all things else necessary for the Wars from the Emperour was now with a great Power already entred into Transilvania the Polonians busied in the Wars of Suevia and the Turks with their other greater Affairs neither of them sending him their promised Aid the greatest hope and stay of himself in that newness of his Estate Wherefore seeing himself every day to lose one place or other and fearing also lest his Souldiers for want of Pay should in short time quite forsake him and go over to Basta he thought it best betimes and whilst he had yet something left and was not yet altogether become desperate otherwise to provide for his Estate especially having small Trust in the Turks to whom he had been before so great an Enemy Wherefore he dealt with Basta for a Truce or Cessation from Arms until Ambassadors might be sent unto the Emperour to intreat with him for some good Attonement Wherewith Basta being content and the Ambassadors sent the matter was so handled with the Emperour that Sigismund to make an end of all these Troubles was contented to the behoof of his Imperial Majesty to resign unto Basta his Lieutenant all such places as he yet held in Transilvania upon much like Conditions he had about three Years before made with him and so in all and for all to submit himself unto his Majesty Which intended Surrender of the Prince's being bruted in Transilvania Zachel Moises his Lieutenant and now in Field with the Prince's Forces not able to endure or to hear that that noble Province should again fall into the hands of the Germans encouraging his Souldiers went upon the sudden to assail Basta in hope to have found him unprovided and so discomfiting his Army to have driven the Imperials quite out of Transilvania but he an old and expert Commander perceiving even the first moving of the Transilvanians with great Celerity put his Army in good order and so joyned Battel with them wherein he with the loss of some five hundred men overthrew Moises with his Army of Transilvanians Turks and Tartars having slain above three thousand of them and put the rest to flight Moises himself with some few others being now glad to take their Refuge into the Frontiers of the Turks Territories towards Temeswar But when Sigismund understood what his Lieutenant had without his knowledge done he in token of his own Innocency went himself unto the Imperial Camp accompanied only with certain of his Gentlemen and thereunto Basta excused himself of that which was by his Lieutenant against his Will and without his Privity done frankly offering to perform whatsoever was on his part to be performed according to the Agreement made betwixt the Emperour and him And so presently calling his Garrisons out of all such strong Places as were yet for him holden he surrendred them to Basta and so forthwith honourably accompanied put himself upon his way towards the Emperour After whose Departure out of Transilvania all that Province voluntarily and without more ado yielded to Basta as to the Emperour's Lieutenant who presently called an Assembly of all the Nobility of the Country taking of them an Oath for their Obedience and Loyalty unto the Emperour Thus by the Wisdom and Prowess of this worthy Commander is the Country of Transilvania once again brought under the Emperour's Obeisance a matter of far greater Importance than to have won the strongest City the Turk holdeth in Hungary But whilst these things thus passed in Transilvania great troubles arise in Valachia the Country next adjoyning for that the People of that Province not able longer to endure the great Insolency of the Turks who after the Death of Michael had by their Power made one Ieremias Vayvod there by a general consent took up Arms and proclaiming one Radoll a favorite of the Emperours Vayvod year 1601 chased Ieremias before placed by the Turks quite out of the Country who flying unto Simon Palatine of Moldavia his Friend by his means and the help of the Turks returning unto Valachia drave out thence Radoll again who being now at this present with Basta with about ten thousand Valachians his Followers earnestly requested of him now that he was so quietly possessed of Transilvania to help him with his Forces for the recovery of Valachia And Basta well considering how much it concerned the quiet and sure keeping of the possession of Transilvania for the Emperour to have that so near a Province to friend easily yielded to his request and gave him a great Regiment of his old approved Souldiers and so sent him away to recover his Estate with whom at his entrance into Valachia the Moldavian meeting with a great Power both of his own and of the Turks come thither in the favour of Hieremias there was fought betwixt them a most terrible and bloody Battel the glory whereof fell unto Radoll he carrying away the Victory In which Battel two of the Turks Bassaes were there slain with a great number of others both of the Moldavians and Turks After which Victory Radoll recovered again the Soveraignty of Valachia for which he was beholding to Basta and shortly after with the same Aid cut in pieces a great power of the Tartars that were coming to
out in Barbary betwixt Muley Xequy King of Fez and Muley Sidan his younger Brother both Mahometans in which War the younger forced the elder to flie his Country and to come and crave Aid from Philip King of Spain But the unfortunate loss of Don Sebastian King of Portugal was a good President for the Spaniard not to trust in barbarous Kings without good assurance He treated with the Barbarian and promised him Succours with an hundred thousand Duckats to return to Alarache a place which held for him where by Money or other Practises he should draw unto him as many Souldiers as he could and that for the safety of the Succours that he should give him he should put Alarache or Arrache into his Hands This Arrache is a strong Town in the Realm of Fez in the Province of Algar seated upon the Ocean at the Mouth of the River of Lucus whereon part of it is built and the other part upon the Ocean It hath a goodly Port and hard to take for that it is defended by a Fort in the which the Kings of Fez do usually entertain a Garison of three hundred light Horse and three hundred Harquebusiers for that the Portugals and Castilians hold in a manner all the Sea Towns of the Provinces of Habat and Erif where they have great Garisons This Province is from the River of Nocor along the Mediterranean Sea unto the straight of Gibralter the other is upon the Ocean from the said straight unto the River Lucus in the which the King of Spain holdeth at this day the strong Towns of Tanger Arzilla and others According to the former accord the Barbarian returned to Arrache with his Money in one of the King of Spain's Ships to whom in a short time repaired many of his Friends and Servants The Spaniard in the mean time having prepared a Fleet of a great number of Gallies and Ships and embarqued ten thousand Souldiers therein he gave the command thereof unto the Maâ—quess of Saint Germaine who arrived on the twentieth of November in the Evening at the Port of Arrache and there rode at Anchor all the Night The next day in the Morning the Marquess calling all the Captains to a Council imparting unto them his Design for to force Arrache in case that the Moorish King did not keep his Promise they gave him assurance that they would carry themselves like unto brave and valiant Souldiers But see what happened The King of Fez having no means to go from his word seeing the Spaniard so strong as he might well force it many of his Followers and People fearing to fall under the Power of Spain they would have abandoned him but having the Governour of the Castle at his Devotion he thrust out the Garison and delivered the Keys himself unto the Marquess of Saint Germain Upon the first bruit that the Spaniards were entred into the Castle all the Inhabitants ran to Arms and thinking to resist them after that many of them had ended their days valiantly during three hours Combat they were forced to yield unto the Marquess who presently planted the Cross and Arms of Castile upon all the Towers and Steeples Thus this strong Town which the Castilians and Portugals had so long desired and whereby the Inhabitants received a great ruine is in the end fallen under the Domination of their King. The News of this Exploit being brought into Spain pleased the King much and the People made bone-fires for joy these are the Alterations of times The Moors in old time were wont to over-run Spain and now the Spaniards take their Pleasures in Mauritania About the end of this year News came to Constantinople of the great Wars which had been between the Uncle and the Nephew by the death of the Great Cham of the Tartars the Son who during his Fathers Life time had continued at Constantinople as an Hostage and was now sent back into his Country by the Sultan Achmat thinking to enjoy his Fathers Estate his Uncle Brother to the deceased Cham practised to seize upon the Crown but either of them having drawn an Army of 60000 Men together in the end they joyned battel whereas after the slaughter of 40000 Men upon the place the Son had the Victory and by that means obtained the Crown of Tartaria I will conclude this year 1610 with the Relation of a particular Business to shew the greedy desire of the Turks to get by any unjust means whatsoever and their Infidelity and Falshood to say and swear any thing for Bribes Some years before one Master Willoughby an English Gentleman having rigged up a Ship for war into the Levant he came into Algier in Barbary to sell his prize where at that time one Solyman Catania was Bassa This Ship was suddenly seised on and rifled by the command of this Bassa upon no other Subject but that the Bassa pretended this Ship had burnt a Caramousal of his which in truth the Bassa himself had caused to be set on Fire that under colour thereof he might seise upon the Ship and Goods Master Willoughby went to Constantinople and there made his complaint to Sir Henry Lilloe then Ambassador for the English but yet could get no satisfaction whereupon he returned into England and obtained Letters from his Majesty to the Grand Seignior and to Sir Thomas Glover then Ambassador residing at Constantinople which having received he went presently to the Chimacham who was Lieutenant to Murath Bassa the Grand Visier he being then imployed in the Wars against the Persian The Chimacham having read these Letters would not suffer them to be delivered to the Grand Seignior promising to do Justice upon Solyman Catania whom he discharged from his Place and sent for him to Constantinople who being come and called in question he denied the Fact Master Willoughby having no certain proof of his loss suborned one Ofish Bassa a Turk who had been at Mecha and was therefore held a very holy man who set a Brother of his to procure false Witnesses upon promise to have the tenth part of what should be recovered The Witnesses being ready to swear to his Assertion Solyman Catania hearing their Oath compounded with Master Willoughby and gave him four or five thousand Dollars so the business ended Which shews the Corruption of the Turks and that the holiest of them for Money will not stick to bear false Witness and take false Oaths This year 1610 the City of Constantinople was wonderfully afflicted with the Plague the which dispersed it self over all and crept into the Grand Seignior's Seraglio wherein one of his Sons died of that Infection whereupon the Grand Seignior was forced to retire for his safety and to paâ—s the remainder of the Summer in his Palace or Seraglio of Darut Bassa about a League and a half distant from the City this violent Contagion did so rage in Constantinople for the space of five Months as there were numbred two
whence they expelled Battori his Lieutenant with all the Garrisons This Exploit made them to hope of a continuance in the Prosperity of their Arms they entered into Transilvania whereas they pursued Battori with such diligence as they forced him to come to a Battel near unto Câ—omstat the which he lost with part of his Troops being constrained to save himself with his Horsemen in Hermstad whereas some of the chief Inhabitants seeing him receive this Disgrace attempted to submit themselves under the obedience of King Matthias but the Practice being discovered by him he did such Execution as he purchased to himself the Name of Cruel In the mean time Fortgatsie Lieutenant to King Matthias maketh use of this defeat to seise upon Transilvania he made an Accord with Andrew Nage who had drawn high Hungary into Rebellion and caused the Haiducks to revolt so as being freed from that fear he entereth into Transilvania where having taken some Towns and Castles he layd siâ—ge to Clausenburg the which he battered so furiously as the Garrison and Inhabitants seeing themselves ready to be forced yielded and took the Oath of Allegiance to King Matthias the five and twentieth of Iuly But as these Prosperities of Fortgatsie were humane so did they not long continue Battori being shut up in Hermstad conjures all his Friends to come unto him and entreated the Bassaes of Buda and Temeswar to succour him according to the commandment which they had received from the Grand Seignior he practised with Nage a man which did swim continually in the floats of Inconstancy and makes him to revolt again in high Hungary upon a surmise That Fortgatsie had not kept promise with him so as Nage took Arms again seised upon the Fort of Bayens and filled all High Hungary with Combustions so as Fortgaâ—sie could expect no Succours at his need from thence then having received some Forces from the Turks and Tartarians he went to field pursuing Fortgatsie with such heat and fury as he forced him to abandon all that he had taken in Transilvania and to retire into Valachia What Desolations did this War bring unto these Provinces by so many Prises and Reprises Battori going with a thousand Horse to surprise Tocai upon the Frontiers of Valachia whereas they then held a great Fair he found the Garrison so watchful upon their Guard as having lost part of his Horsemen he was forced to return into Transilvania On the other side Fortgatsie with his Hungarians thinking from Valachia to recover High Hungary by the Country of the Zeclerians could not effect his Design for Battori being advertised thereof stopped his Passage and in like manner the Earls of Bucheime and Dampier had passed the River of Tibisce to meet him so as Battori set such Guards in all the Passages and Streights that Fortgatsie was forced to retire towards Polonia by the steep Mountains and desart Places whereas his Army was so opprest with Famine and all other Necessities as they perished miserably there remaining few alive with the which he ended his Passage into Polonia and from thence soon after he returned into Hungary but with a very poor Equipage Thus the storm ceasing in Transilvania by the restraint of Fortgatsie a more violent Tempest riseth in Moldavia to the end that these unfortunate Regions should never be without some touch of Misery For the Turk having understood That Constantine Prince of that Country had relieved the Valachian against Battori his Allie or rather his Tributary he sends a new Prince into Moldavia the supposed Son of one Thomas or Aaron as some write who had in former time commanded there and with him fifteen hundred Souldiers with Letters of command to the Turks and Tartarians thereabouts to assist him with their Forces This new Prince was sometime in France and afterwards detained Prisoner in the Fort of Iaques in Spain within the Pyrenean Mountains Thus two Princes contend for Moldadavia the one supported by the Polonian and the other by the Turk But behold a third Prince cometh in and pretends a Title being Son to one Ianicolo who had commanded there This Man had been a Prisoner in the black Tower at Constantinople to which he was committed by the Sultan Amurath for that he had lost a Battel in the year 1601 against Michael who then possest Moldavia who escaping from thence wandred through divers Countries and at last coming into England his Majesty of Great Britain pitying his miserable Estate recommended him by Letters to Sir Thomas Glover his Majesties Ambassador then residing at Constantinople with commandment to assist him and to sollicite his Restitution with the Grand Seignior Upon the receipt of which Letters he retired this wandering Prince into his House at Pera where he entertained him with many of his Friends and Followers which repaired unto him for a long time and in the mean time he sollicited the Grand Seignior for his Restitution having good Access unto him by reason that he spake the Turkish Tongue perfectly and needed no Dragoman or Interpreter To whom the Sultan still gave good Answers but with Delays that it was not yet time but he should have satisfaction His Competitor who was in Possession of Moldavia hearing of this Practice made Friends at the Great Turk's Court and corrupted some of the Bassaes by Bribes they being all by Nature very covetous to the end he might cross his design and make him away if it were possible and among the rest he had won Murath Bassa the Grand Visier a Man of great Power and Authority who practised many means to get the Moldavian into his Hands First he sent word unto the Ambassador That the Sultan having a meaning to restore him desired to see the man if he were capable of the place or no but being advertised of their intent and well acquainted with their Practices he refused to send him After which he wrote unto him That it was the Grand Seignior's Pleasure he should send the Moldavian unto him that he might confer with him To whom the Ambassador made answer That unless he might see a Warrant under the Grand Seignior's own Hand he would not deliver him Murath Bassa seeing that none of these Practices could prevail resolved to fetch him out by force For the effecting whereof he drew together two thousand Janizaries The Ambassador hearing of his intent fortified his House and armed his People with the Moldavians which were with their Prince meaning to stand upon his defence Murath Basa desirous to know what the Ambassador did in his Lodging disguised a Janizary like unto a Greekish Shepheard who entering into the Ambassadors House found them all in Arms then returning unto the Bassa he told him that he had to do with a mad Man and if he proceeded in his Enterprise he would hazard the loss of many Janizaries whereupon he gave it over After which the Ambassador being called home into England the Moldavian
Bassa of Tauris and that the Magistrate and Judge of that City called the Cady should be sent from Constantinople We shall see in the following year the Effects of these Propositions by the Ambassadour of Persia whom Nassuff shall bring to Constantinople in the mean time let us return to the Mediterranean Sea to take a survey of the valiant Exploits of the Knights of Malta against the Turks On the twenty sixth day of April a Turk having lent a good Sum of Money to a Christian to be paid at a certain day he came before the appointed day with another Turk and willed the Christian to pay the Money to that other Turk when the day came which the Christian promised to do and performed it accordingly but the Turk denied the receit thereof whereupon he to whom the Money was properly due came and demanded it to whom the Christian answered that he had paid it to that Patty to whom he had assign'd it whereunto the Turk replied that if it were so he was satisfied but yet the other Turk denied it whereupon the matter was brought before the Judge and the Turk who had received the Money taking an Oath to the contrary the Christian according to the Turkish Justice was enforced to pay the Money again the which he did but withal he praid God to shew some publick sign which of them had done the wrong And thereupon the Turk going forth to repair home to his House fell down dead in the Street The Great Master Vignancourt continuing his generous Designs to ruine the Turk had an Enterprise against Navarrin a place importing this common Enemy of Christians for the Execution whereof he sent the five Gallies of his Order under the charge of Vaqueras great Commander of the Order and chief of the Nation of Provence They came within some miles of the Shore but found their landing very difficult for that they had been discovered by one of the Castles of Navarrin which had given the alarm unto the whole Country so as they were forced to pass on to some more easie Conquest to the end their Voyage might not prove unprofitable wherefore they sailed into the Archipelague and came near to the Coast of Morea ten Leagues from Corinth where in the Night they landed 800 Men under the Conduct of the Commander of Cremeaux General at Land this Troop marched towards Corinth and an hour before day were at the Town Gates to force them Some Turks took Arms but their weak resistance could not stay the Knights from entering with their Troops they sack'd the Town and having taken what spoil was portable they carried away with them 500 Slaves After this Triumph the Christians made a happy retreat and in good order notwithstanding all the attempts of the Turks Horse and Foot who were drawn together in great numbers making 10000 Souldiers for the Country is very populous in view of whom they imbarked their Spoil and Slaves Hereby it appears that this was one of the most desperate Enterprises that hath been of long time seen For to attempt a Place so far from their retreat in so populous a Country which upon the least alarm may draw together ten or twelve thousand Turks and to make their retreat with so small a number against such great Troops which pursued them doubtless we must confess that as they shewed great Valour and had good Fortune so they undertook a very dangerous Enterprise Thus the Knights of Malta vanquished whom we might term the Masters of the Mediterranean Sea if the Revenues of their Order would suffer them to set forth Shipping and Forces equal to their Valour But to follow the variable course of the History let us observe the different Occupations of Christians At Prague the Germans entertained themselves with the consideration of a Crown which appeared in the Firmament over that City about the midst of October giving a very great Light and about it Armies of Men fighting who should have it At that time the Emperour Rodulphus was upon the West or declining of his days and Matthias who succeeded him in the Empire then King of Hungary was upon the Sun-rising of his Triumphs Many expounded this heavenly Apparition as a Presage of Happiness and good Fortune to Matthias he enjoyed the Crown of Hungary already and by Designation that of Bohemia and now they did prognosticate unto him that of the Romans Doubtless men which aspire after great Fortunes do rather adorn the Sun-rising than the setting and Mans Life when it declines tasts of the Lees. The flourishing Glory of Matthias his Age and his Actions in the Wars did add nothing to the Authority of other Men in the Country but did mightily settle his own Three Suns which were seen in the Firmament over Vienna the chief City of Austria confirmed the Germans more in this their hope that he should have the third Crown of the Romans This last Apparition happened the year following About the end of the year some of the English Ambassadors Men entering into quarrel with certain Iamoglans of the next Serail from words they fell to blows during which tumult one of the Ambassadors Men threw a Stone and smote a Iamoglan on the Fore-head whereof he died within few hours after The Aga of the Serail complained hereof to the Grand Visier who presently sent the Subbasâ—a of Galata to make inquiry of the Fact the Ambassador went himself to the Serail and sent for his Men which had been in the quarrel willing the Turks to design the party which had thrown the Stone who all with one shout ran upon one Simon Dibbius a man that was newly come from Candy where he had served in the Venetian Garrisons and was now entertained into the Ambassadors Service This Simon was not he that threw the Stone notwithstanding the Turks would none but him on him they laid hands and dragged him away The Ambassador interposing himself and offering to pledge for him was thrust away by them his Men Beaten and one of his Pages wounded whereupon he complained to the Grand Visier but prevailed little for to Prison they dragged this Simon and there kept him a whole Month neither could he be released albeit the English Nation offered great Sums to ransom his Life for the Turks would needs have Blood for Blood The day of Execution being appointed the Ambassador sent his Chaplain to the Prison where this Simon was to prepare him for Death unto whom examining him how he had formerly lived he confessed that in England some few years before he had killed a Man for which fact he fled thence into Candy from whence he came to Constantinople where he was to suffer for that which he did not the just Judgment of God pursuing him to the shedding of his Blood in Constantinople among Turks undeservedly for the Blood which he had shed in England wilfully He was hanged at the Ambassadors Gates his Head and Heels the next Night were stolen
be published That no man should go out of his House nor keep any Light in it after the ordinary Cry which is made an hour within night when as the Talismans crying from the tops of their Mosques invite the People to make the Sala or Prayer After the Publication of this Ordinance he sent certain Chaoux to intreat all the Ambassadors residing at the Port not to suffer their People to go out by night to the end that their liberty might not serve as a dangerous Example to others But notwithstanding all the Bassa's Entreaties and Prohibitions three English-men of the Ambassador's Train went out by night into the Street where they were met by the Provost of Pera who took them and presently without respect of the quality caused either of them to have an hundred and fifty blows with a Cudgel and then committed them to Prison the doors whereof are never opened but with a silver Key so strictly do they observe in Turkey the orders of the Princes Lieutenants without exception of Persons About the end of the Year the Patriarch of Constantinople by reason of divers Complaints made against him was deprived by the Grand Visier and one Cyrillus Patriarch of Alexandria a learned and religious Bishop was much against his Will preferred to the place The former Patriarch hereupon excommunicated all such as had wrought his Overthrow but he himself was banished into the Isle of Rhodes In his Passage the Bark wherein he went was cast upon Mytilene in which Place he renounced all Right and Claim to the Patriarchship before the Bishop of that Place and resigned it to the Bishop of Patras whereupon the Bishop came from Patras to Constantinople and laboured with the Visier Nassuf for the place who upon promise to pay him fifteen thousand Chequines which is ten thousand more than they were wont to pay made him a Grant thereof which Cyrillus the late elected Patriarch understanding he came with all the Grecians to expostulate the Business with the Grand Visier who answered That he was to do what he could for the Emperour's Profit and nothing against it wherefore if they would give so much as the other had promised Cyrillus should continue in the Place which the People were very willing to perform but Cyrillus refused it and so the other was made Patriarch who presently sent for the old Patriarch to come from Rhodes to make Peace with him for that they held not his Excommunication just being not deprived by a Council but only by the King. About the same time Nassuf the Grand Visier sent for the four Ambassadors of England France Venice and the States of the Low-Countries and the reason why he sent for them was to raise their Custom One in the Hundred more than the Merchants had formerly paid Whilst that the Sultan Achmat's Army drew near to Transilvania and fortified the Places which he held in those Countries Cosmo de Medicis Great Duke of Tuscany bent his generous Designs against the Fort of Agliman in Caramania in old time called Cilicia a Province which in the Writings of Antients hath been honoured with two famous Cities that is to say Tharsis the Country of St. Paul and Seleucia the Fort and Port whereof is called Agliman a Haven which in old time hath contained within its bosome the fearful Forces of the Pyrates of those days from thence in former times hath come forth a powerful Army of Pyrates with a thousand Sail so proudly rigged as many of them had their Sails of Purple the Tackling of Gold Thread and the Oars garnished with Silver marks of the Spoils of above four hundred Cities ruined by those Pyrates who struck a terror even to the Romans and forced them to avoid their Fury to set to Sea that great Fleet whereof Pompey the Great was General The Trophy year 1613. erected â—pon the Walls of Agliman of the Heads of forty Florentines lost in a Ship called the Prosper by the ignorance of the Captain which commanded in it made the Great Duke to study to have his Revenge for this Affront and his desire to abate the Pride of the common Enemy elevated his Mind to generous Enterprises In the end of March this present Year 1613 he armed six Gallies under the Command of the Admiral Inghirami the which he manned with six Companies of Foot commanded by Iulio de Conty called Montano General at Land besides forty Knights of the Order of S. Stephen and a good number of Gentlemen Adventurers among the which was Don Petro de Medicis This Fleet parted from Ligorne and came to Civita Vecchia In the beginning of April they took in many Noblemen and Gentlemen of France which attended them and would be Partakers in the Enterprise the which were the Earl of Candale eldest Son to the Duke of Espernon Cipierre Themines De Vic Monterrault De la Tour and his Brother Boissiere Villandre Vernegue Du plessis De la Motte magnus Avenes Del Tour Sainct Cyre Monplaisir and Loyres About mid April the Gallies landed in the night near unto a little Town in Asia the Less called Ieronda held for that Geronda of the Antients but their Descent was fruitless they found it desart by the flight of the Inhabitants who had prevented all Surprises They returned again to their Gallies and sailing towards the East they encountred three Vessels like unto their Caramousals the which they set upon and took and about the Fifteenth of May having scoured the Levant Seas they resolved to attempt Agliman Upon the way they took a Vessel called Grippe which instructed them of the Estate of the Fortress They understood there were two Gallies of Cyprus in the Port that the Place was well furnished with all things necessary and guarded without by a good number of Horse-men and that within few days after one of the said Gallies should come out of the Port of Agliman and go to the Island of Pappadula to fetch a new Mast. Inghirami thought to prevent it carrying his whole Fleet thither the which he laid close in the Island to surprise the Turkish Galley but it having discovered his Fleet put out to Sea and with speed returned to the Port of Agliman to give the alarm unto the Country Notwithstanding the Christians resolved to assault it they went with their Fleet to the Port Cavalier twelve miles from Agliman from whence they sent a Long-boat to discover the which brings them word that the whole Country was in Arms. These News might well have daunted the Courages of some that had been less generous yet they pass on and about three of the Clock in the Morning they came near the Shore being covered with the silence of the Night so as before six of the Clock they had made their Landing about a mile and a half from the Port. The Seignior of Montano and the Earl of Candale with some few choice men landed first to discover a mile from
is a Prediction of some great Troubles and Alterations For either the opening of this Book in the Womans hand doth foretel our falling away from the first intent of our Law whereat these armed Men departed as confounded with the guilt of their own Consciences or else it signifies some other Book in which we have not yet read and against which no power shall prevail so as I fear our Religion will be proved corrupt and our Prophet an Impostor and then this Christ whom they talk of shall shine like the Sun and set up his Name everlastingly Hitherto the Company was silent but hearing him speak so boldly they charged him with Blasphemy and knowing their Law which makes all Blasphemy capital they presently condemned him and having the Beglerbegs consent and Warrant they put him to death As their Rage against him was violent so their Execution was extraordinary for they neither cut off his Head nor strangled him as they usually do to Malefactors but they tortured him by degrees for stripping him first naked they gave him an hundred blows on the soles of his Feet with a flat Cudgel until the Blood issued forth the poor Priest crying continually on the Woman that opened the Book After which they took a Bull 's Pizzle and beat all his body until the Sinews crack'd and in the end they laid him upon a Wheel and with an Indian Sword made of Sinews they brake his Bones to pieces the poor Man crying to the last gasp O thou Woman with the Book save me and so he dyed At which time there was a fearful Tempest The Beglerbeg sent certain Spahies to the Port of Sidon to imbark for Constantinople to the end they might advertise the Emperour of these Tidings Sultan Osman from the first entrance into his Reign was freed from all Cares of foreign War or intestine Combustions for he had that happiness being himself very young and not able to Govern so potent an Estate as by the Counsel and Assistance of Halil Bassa his Grand Visier he had forced the King of Persia to demand a Peace and to pay the Tribute which had been formerly promised His Rebels in Asia were all pacified and the Truce with the Emperour which had been somewhat interrupted by misinterpretation or the practise of bad Ministers was newly confirmed a little before his coming to the Crown onely Moldavia had been the Theatre of War for some years where his Father had exercised his Arms and imployed his Forces to advance whom he pleased to be Vayvod of that Countrey against another party that was supported by the Polonians as you have formerly heard Michna Prince of Valachia being made Vayvod of Moldavia by Achmat and the Polonian party wholly overthrown in the Year 1616 he enjoyed it not long but whether he dyed of a natural Death or fell into disgrace with the Grand Seignior I do not read yet I find that after him there was another Vayvod or Prince of Moldavia who is yet living but in disgrace with the Sultan his Name is Casparo Gratsiani and to the end you may understand that the Turks never respect the Birth and Quality of any Man in their Advancements I will relate what this Man was from the mouth of him that knew him very well This Casparo was born at Gretz a Town of great strength belonging unto the Arch-dukes of Austria by the which a Branch of that House is distinguished from the rest and whereof the Emperour now reigning is the head but being a Man of small Fortune and little expectance in his own Countrey he went to Constantinople and put himself in Service with Sir Thomas Glover before that he was Ambassador for his Majesty to the Grand Siegnior under whom he learned both to write and read the Turkish Tongue After which he came with him into England and there by his recommendation was imployed to Constantinople for the redeeming of young Sir Thomas Sherley who was then a Prisoner among the Turks Having performed his Charge orderly and being come to Venice with the young Knight hearing that Sir Thomas Glover was sent Ambassador to the Grand Seignior he left Sir Thomas Sherley and went to Constantinople to his old Master where he was imployed yearly to buy or exchange Christians for Turks carrying the Christians into Italy and so returning Turks for them About the end of Achmat's Reign arriving at Constantinople with a Ship full of Turks which he had exchanged he acquainted the Bassa Visier with the good Service he had done unto the Grand Seignior who demanding of what Countrey he was and his Breeding asked him if he would undertake a Service which should be for his Advancement which was to go unto the Emperour to reconcile all Difficulties concerning the Peace wherein he carried himself so discreetly as Commissioners were appointed who concluded all Difficulties as you have heard But before his return home the Grand Seignior was dead yet he pressed the Bassa for the performance of his Promise desiring him that he might be made Vayvod of Moldavia which the Bassa effected but the Presents he gave advanced him more than his Merits Since he grew into some disgrace so as the Grand Seignior making choice of another Vayvod gave Charge to certain Capigies to go into Moldavia to strangle Casparo and that they should take four hundred Turks upon the Frontiers to assist them But Casparo having good Spies at Constantinople who advertised him of their Design resolved to prevent them wherefore taking some Troops with him he met them upon the way and cut them all in pieces then returning to Yas he slew one thousand Turks After which he fled into Poland with two thousand Horse from whence they write that he hath made divers Incursions into Moldavia and committed great Spoils upon the Turks being assisted by the Cossacks and keeps possession of the Countrey although there be another Vayvod made by the Turk Sultan Osman seems to be much incensed against the Polonians as well for this support as for former quarrels making it his colour for the levying of the greatest Army that hath been seen since that Solyman went unto the Siege of Agria consisting as it is said of three hundred thousand Men having drawn down all his Forces out of Asia God knows where he will imploy it but it is much to be feared that he will make use of this division betwixt Christian Princes who should unite their Wills and Forces to oppose them against the common Enemy of Christendom who watcheth only to get an Advantage little regarding his Word and Promise The Turk having no imployment for his Forces by Land sent threescore Gallies to Sea to make some Enterprise upon the Christians They came into the Mediterranean Sea and having coasted the Island of Sicily they sent twenty Gallies to land in the Kingdom of Naples where they surprised the Town of Manfredonia and spoiled it carrying away fourteen or fifteen
Janisaries he commanded to march to the Confines of Persia and caused many others of them to be killed by Night and by various other Means greatly weakned the Chambers both by diminishing the Numbers and taking off such who were the Men of best Courage and Conduct many Bodies were found swimming in the Bosphorus and known to be Spahees great part of the Lands belonging to the Timariots was taken away and the Pay of the Spahees was abated and divers Offices of Profit and Honour were taken from the Militia that so Men might be made sensible of the Indignation of their Prince and that there is no Sport or Jesting with the Anger of a provoked King who knows no other mean of his Passion than the total evaporation of his Choler and Vengeance To maintain and make good these several Acts of Just Punishment young Morat growing in Courage with his Years mounted on Horse-back well Armed and like a Souldier attended with a select Party of Cavalry passed through the most publick Streets of the City in a huffing manner and casting a stern Eye upon the Souldiery and People as he went and making a hundred Passes through the midst of them struck them with an awe of his Majesty and admiration of his Warlike and Martial appearance with which Severity and Gallantry the Souldiery being affrighted began to consider that they were not longer to be governed by a Woman or a Child but by the most brave Prince that ever swayed the Ottoman Scepter and thereupon for the future resolved upon an impartial Submission and Obedience unto him To encourage them in which and to reconcile their Spirits and Affections to him Morat oftentimes assembled his Souldiery at Ackmeidan where he exercised with them shooting with the Bow at Marks and at Rovers rewarding those who shot best with adding an Asper a day to their Pay besides which he distributed six thousand Hungars amongst them to demonstrate that wife Princes are used to mix Lenitives with their Rigour These Mutinies and Seditions in the Capital City encouraged Rebellious Spirits in divers other places so that a certain Bold and Audacious Fellow drawing a number of Miscreants after him possessed himself of the City of Prusa another of the same Temper called Elia Pasha made himself Master of Magnesia where he committed all the Outrages which Enemies inflict on a Conquered People and bâ—ing about twenty four miles distant from Smyrna so afrighted the People of that Place who were Merchants and such as lived by Trade that they fled with their Wealth and such Things as were portable lest they should be exposed to the Robbery and Spoil of Thieves and Rebels But the Beglerbey of Anatolia suffered not Elia to reign long in his lust but giving him Battel in those Plains wholly defeated him and sent twenty of the Heads of the chief Commanders to the Sultan for a Present and pursuing Elia and the rest of his Army to Magnesia besieged him in that City The Grand Signior bâ—ing advised hereof and fearing lest the Siege should take up too much time and move other ill Humors in that Country dispatched Orders to offer Terms and Conditions of Accommodation with Elia which were secretly treated and great Promises made him of Favour and Rewards from the Grand Signior The easie Fool accepted the Conditions and embraced the Promises and leaving his City of Magnesia proceeded confidently to Constantinople to receive the gracious Rewards of the Sultan for his past Services At his Entry into the Seraglio in place of the Kapiflar-Kahyasee or Master of the Ceremonies he was received by Officers with a Cord in their Hands who bestowed on him the gracious Reward of his Masters ultimate Favour These Rebellions were no sooner suppressed in Asia but that other Mutinies of the Janisaries for want of Pay began at Buda in Hungary where they threw Stones at their Aga and pursued him to the very Palace of the Pasha electing another into his place They also cut in pieces the Governour of Pest and bestowed his Office upon his Lieutenant To remedy these Disorders and extinguish the Mutiny the Grand Signior sent Commissioners to examine the Matter and to render him an account of the Grievances and Demands of the Souldiers but they fearing to be surprised with some severe Acts of Justice prevented or forestalled the Inquiries of the Commissioners by acknowledging their Fault and demanding Pardon with surrender of four of the Ring-leaders to Punishment declaring That by their seducement and evil perswasions they were debauched into that disorderly course of Proceedings the Sultan accepted the Sumission and all things were quieted in Hungary Howsoever new Troubles arose in Moldavia for that People being oppressed over-much by their Prince Alexander made an Insurrection against him and drove him out of the Country who for refuge fled to Constantinople And the People desirous that one Bernoschi a Polonian by Nation might be put into his Place To obtain his Confirmation he came to the Port and offered himself before the Grand Signior but Morat suspecting that to obtain the Principality for himself he had secretly instigated and nourished the late popular Commotions caused his Head to be cut off in the Publick Divan Amurat had now born to him a seventh Daughter by his Slave called the Shining Star and though he was much troubled that she had not brought him forth a Son and Heir yet so much was she beloved by him that he resolved to create her Queen had not his Mother declared against it as a thing not usual for any Woman to be honoured with that Title before she had supplied the Inheritance by the Birth of a Male Child And that he might now totally extinguish the Fire of Sedition amongst the Souldiery he caused Ferdum Efendi and Saluc Aga two prime Chiefs of the Spahees with eight principal Janisaries to be put to Death after which severity fearing another Insurrection he passed the Water and retired to his Seraglio at Scutari where he fortified himself It happened about that time that a Turkish Woman a Slave was found aboard a French Ship ready to sail from Constantinople which the Turks highly resented and aggravated the Crime so much against the French Ambassadour that they imprisoned his Son then embarqued and would have confiscated the Vessel and her Lading In those days the Christian Ambassadors resident at that Court kept better Union and Correspondence among themselves than they do at present so that all of them as concerned joined together to represent before the chief Ministers that such a Fault merited not so grand a Forfeiture for that it was most probable to have been committed without the privacy either of the Ambassador or Commander of the Ship. The Ambassadors then resident were Sir Peter Wych for England the Sieur Marcheville for France and Pietro Foscarini for Venice at whose warm and urgent Instances the Turks condescended to release the Vessel and the Goods laden upon her
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 year 1634. 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 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 Warehouses 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 Mouth 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 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 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 Grand 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 had 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 Prince 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 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
the Year 1638 Sir Sackvile Crow was with the Consent and Approbation of the Turky Company dignified by his Majesty with the Title and Authority of his Ambassador to the Grand Signior For Maintenance and Support of which the said Company were to pay him the yearly Sum of five thousand Zechins in four equal Proportions which is above the value of two thousand Pounds Sterling And farther before his departure from England paid him six hundred Pounds Sterling towards the Furniture of his House Plate and other Necessaries defraying all the Charges expended for Transportation of his Lady Followers and Provisions to Constantinople Sir Sackvile Crow from the time of his arrival at the Ottoman Court until the end of the Year 1645 managed the Affairs of the Company to their general Satisfaction and with the Esteem and Honour of the Turkish Ministers who considered him as a Person of Courage and Resolution and in every way qualified for that Employment At length Differences arose between this Ambassador and the Company touching the Right and Title to that Beneâ—it which is called Strangers Consulage the first pretending to the same on a Grant made to him thereof by his Majesty and the Custom of Sir Peter Wych and other preceding Ambassadors The others challenging the same as the chief and principal Means they had to ease the vast Expences they were at for maintenance of their Trade and Government for which they had always contended and strugled with the Power of preceding Ambassadors and which Sir Sackvile Crow himself seems by an Article which he had made with the Company to have relinquished to them in these words That during the time of his Employment as Ambassador he would content himself with such Allowance from the said Company for his Pains and Câ—re to be taken in their Business as is specified in the said Articles being 5000 Zechins per Annum This Right of Strangers Consulage is now confirmed to the Turky Company by virtue of their Charter which his Majesty was pleased in the Year of his Happy Restauration graciously to Renew Confirm and Amplify to them the which was more easily granted by the concurrent Assistance of the Right Honourable the Earl of Winchelsea then designed for Ambassador to Constantinople who on some Considerations offered from the said Company assented thereunto But Matters of a higher Nature than this inflamed the Accounts and Differences between the Ambassador and Company For first one Iohn Wolfe at that time Treasurer at Constantinople becoming Insolvent for great Sums of Mony Sir Sackvile Crow alledged that those Debts were National arising from the late Changes of State Officers their extravagant Exactions and Avanious Practices and therefore to extinguish this Publick Debt he made a Leviation of one hundred and ten thousand nine hundred and fifty Dollars on the English Estates at Constantinople and Smyrna detaining the Companies Ships in those Ports until the aforesaid Debt was satisfied and cleared The Ground and Cause of which will more plainly appear by this following Warrant Sir Sackvile Crow his Order dated in Pera of Constantinople the 26th of Ianuary 1645. Directed to all Captains Commanders of Ships c. Prohibiting the lading of any Goods or Estate on their Ships WHereas by the unhappy failings of some of our Nations here and at Smyrna and through the many late Changes of this State 's Officers and their extravagant Exactions on us in those Difficulties and by sundry other avanious ways our Nation is brought into a great Debt For which We or those and that Estate which shall remain on the Place who and whatever in case of Exigent and force of Paiment when-ever that shall happen must if not otherwise provided for in all probability and according to the rude Customs of this State in like case look to be made liable unto There being at present a full and competent Estate of the Levant Companies arrived here and at Smyrna which as well by the Obligations of their Charter as by the Laws of England the said Companies own Institutions and Customs in cases of like Nature ought as well to bear the said extraordinary as ordinary Charges and so pay those Debts which either are or shall be adjudged and declared to belong unto them We having taken pains in drawing the said Accompts to a Head and for discovery of the Truth thereof and after a Certificate being directed thereon for the more formal Satisfaction only of the said Company being advertised that some of those who with us have had the view and been present at the Examination of the said Accompts whom it concerns on the Companies behalf to make such Certificate on our Order for some private Respects make scruple to certify the said Debts as they appeared before us and them And hearing also that the General Ships here in Port and that at Smyrna prepare and make haste to be gone In Providence as well for own safety in the Premisses as for that due regard we owe to his Majesty's Honour and the Publick Interest for the future We find it requisite and hereby order and require that until the said Debts shall be fully declared and their paiment setled by Leviation and the same paid or undertaken in and by some such fitting and secure way or ways as in such case is requisite and by us shall be determined and so declared That none of the Factors of this Scale or that of Smyrna by themselves or others whoever after publication hereof here and there respectively lade on Board either of the General Ships or other Ships whatever any Goods Faculty or Estate whatever for themselves or other whoever And that the Captains and Commanders of the said Ships in the mean time and until Our father Order in this behalf not only forbear to take in and lade aboard either of their Ships any such Goods or Faculties for any of his Majesty's Subjects or other Strangers whoever but also that they abide and depart not either this Port or that of Smyrna Respectively until our farther Order and Licence in that behalf Whereof not only the Merchants Factors Masters and Commanders aforementioned but our Druggermen and other Vnder-Ministers here or there are to take notice and observe accordingly as they and every of them concerned herein will answer the contrary at his or their Peril Dated in Pera of Constantinople this 26th of January 1645. To all Captains Commanders of Ships Merchants Factors Druggermen and all other his Majesty's Subjects and Ministers whoever in the Ports of Constantinople and Smyrna SACKVILE CROW The Turkie Company was altogether unsatisfied with this Leviation alledging that a great part of this Debt arose from Monies lent by Sir Sackvile Crow himself to Wolfe at a high Interest for securing of which and of his Principal he had in this manner taxed and charged their Estates But Troubles and Differences ended not with this Paiment for still the Controversy about Strangers Consulage was depending which
with other Matters caused great Heats and Animosities on both sides So that some of the Turkie Company Men of the better Principles thought it most advisable to Petition his Majesty to constitute another Ambassador with Letters of Revocation to recal this but others who were the zealous Men of those Times who had tasted the sweetness of Sequestrations and proved it to be the Grand Catholicon of all Remedies perswaded that his Estate should be Sequestred This I say may perhaps have been the attempt of some few though the generality of the Company have so far disavowed the Seizure of his Lands and Estate in England that they declared themselves ignorant of any Estate he had there Howsoever this Apprehension being fixed in the Mind of Sir Sackvile Crow he proceeded to strange Extremities against the Company For he not only caused all the Goods and Monies belonging to them within the Grand Signior's Dominions to be sequestred and seized by his Agents but also imprisoned the Persons of all the English Merchants and Factors which were considerable either at Constantinople or Smyrna The Particulars of all which will appear with more clearness by this following Warrant Sir Sackvile Crow his Second Warrant dated in Pera of Constantinople the 30 th of April 1646 directed to Iohn Hetherington Lorenzo Zuma Enordering upon false Pretences the Sequestration of the Merchants Estates at Smyrna according to a Schedule WHereas the Levant Company sometime before our coming to this Place by a Court of their Assistants thereunto especially authorized treated with Vs touching a yearly Allowance for our Care and Pains during our residence here as his Majesty's Ambassador to be had and taken in such Particulars as might have relation to their Trade and Occasions And for a conclusion of such Treaty as aforesaid did offer unto us the election of any one of their Agreements formerly made with any of our Predecessors in like occasion And for a further manifestation of their sincerity in their said Offer upon our accord thereunto did at the Court aforesaid in publick give into our Hands and Possession the Copies of five of their Agreements made with our said Predecessors with Power to chuse which of them we should best like of to be a Rule and Pattern for an absolute Conclusion and Condition to be drawn up between us and them thereon also promising that they would make grant and confirm the like unto us And whereas we thereon and to the Purposes and Ends aforementioned chose and fixed upon that Agreement which the said Company had made with Sir Thomas Glover formerly Ambassador Resident for the Crown of England with this State And his Majesty by his Favour did assure the same unto us graciously promising to make his Employment of us here as good and beneficial in all the Allowances and Perquisites thereof as it had been to any of our Predecessors whoever and we expected no less The said Company finding themselves mistaken in their Offer as they pretended first retired from the same denying their said Agreement though sufficiently proved before his Majesty and then by force of Presents and Mony given under-hand to the Officers of that Time so prevailed against us that we could not only not obtain that Right which since hath appeared unto us and as well by their own Agreement as by his Majesty's Iudgment then Custom and their former Contracts was due unto us but were forced after to other Agreements with the said Company by which over and above all such Rights Priviledges and Perquifites as then were and should be granted unto us by his Majesty's Capitulations and besides all other Gratifications and Allowances accustomed to be given to his Majesty's Ambassador which in Houshold Provisions only the said Company assured us were to the value of 800 l. per Annum Sterling at least and over and above such Plate and Houshold-Stuff as they assured us we should find of theirs here and hold to our use during our Residence of which we found not the value of an Asper the said Company did covenant with us for and in respect of our Pains and Care only therein agreed to be taken by us in their Affairs and Occasions as aforesaid for and during all our time as his Majesty's Ambassador with this State they would pay or cause to be paid unto us the Sum of 5000 Chickeens per An. to be paid by equal Proportions quarterly before-hand by their failing wherein besides our other Engagements for them to a very good Value twenty and five thousand Dollars or thereabouts rests at this day due and unpaid unto us And whereas also after the Agreements aforesaid upon several Arguments held before his Majesty concerning the Rights of that Consulage which amongst other things is granted by the Grand Signior and payable by his Capitulations to his Majesty's Ambassador Resident at this Imperial Port from Strangers to which the said Company could shew no likely or probable Title the said Company were adjudged to relinquish their Pretences to the said Consulage and a Grant thereof under his Majesty's Royal Hand and Signet was thereon made and given to us for our better support during the time of our Residence here The said Company upon Conditions between them and us agreed did also promise to give us Content therefore with intent nevertheless thereby to get advantage of our credulity and absence and to draw us out of suspect of their evil Intentions towards us which hath since as well by their several interruptions and hinderances here in the Collection thereof as their practices and endeavours at Council Table before his Majesty and by their other Appeals to the Courts of Parliament where in these Times of Distractions they presumed of some better advantage hath appeared unto us Whereby and by suggesting several Vntruths against us and by other false ways they have endeavoured not only to deprive us of the Strangers Consulage and benefit thereof but under that colour also and these their Pretences to keep themselves from paying as us from taking such other Consulage as was and is as much our right and due unto us from themselves by the said Capitulations and the Grand Signior's Grant thereon for all their own Goods traded in And now of late but suspecting our just Intentions of making a claim thereto for until this present day we never made any demand thereof or publick pretence therein to prevent what they suppose we might justly do in our own Right for we take God to Witness we knew no other cause under like unjust and scandalous Pretences we are certitified that they not only go about to get us removed from our Employment here but upon false Suggestions loose and bare Suspicions only have gotten Order for the seizure of all our Lands and other Estates in England into their power as some of their own Servants and Factors here have the confidence to report and affirm and as we are assured from thence without hearing
person nor am I to be esteemed as possessed with affection or partiality to any side which is a point of sobriety and good temper necessary for all Historians For we who lived in those parts were little concerned for the House of Kuperlee or for the Favourites of the Court nor was it of any moment to us whether the Faction of the Spahees or Janizaries prevailed or whether the Courtiers or the Soldiers ruled the Empire only we esteemed it our duty to speak best of that Government under which our Trade thrived most And tho the times of Sultan Ibrahim were the golden days for Merchants which employed our Navigation beyond the memory of any times either before or since and consumed of our Manufactories tho not in greater quantities yet perhaps with better advantage and profit to our Nation Yet I ought not to be so injurious or ungrateful to Sultan Mahomet the Fourth as to accuse his Government of Oppression or Violence towards us or of any breach of Articles and Priviledges which he had granted to his Majesties Subjects but shall rather applaud and be ready to own that Iustice which our Complaints have found and met at the Ottoman Court under the protection of those worthy Ambassadors sent by his Majesty to stand Centinel on the Guard of their Country For whereas in the time of Sultan Morat when the Military men bore the sway Injustice and Violence which mingled in all the actions of Rule had an influence also on the English affairs And when in the time of Sultan Ibrahim that the Female Court had gained the predominancy and that vast Treasures were expended in Riot and Luxury the prodigality of great persons made it necessary to be rapacious and unjust But in these more moderate times of this present Sultan when neither excessive Wars abroad nor Luxury nor immoderate expence at home exhausted the Coffers We may easily imagine that the disorders of State did not drive the Rulers to a necessity of exercising unjust Arts which are always most certain Symptoms either of a bad Government or a vicious inclination in the Prince The English Trade according to the Chronicles of Sir Richard Baker was first introduced into the Country of the Turks in the Year 1579. but Sagredo an Italian Writer accounts only from the Year 1583. perhaps before that time Overtures were only made for a Trade which might be so inconsiderable as that until then it was not esteemed worthy to be adorned with an Ambassador or to be opposed by the Ministers of Foreign Princes For so soon as an Ambassador from England appeared at the Ottoman Court with Credential Letters from Queen Eâ—izabeth the French and Venetian Ministers took the Alarm and opposed his reception especially the French who as Sagredo reports in his History of thâ— Turks represented unto the G. Vizier how much this new Friendship with the English would obstruct that ancient Alliance which was made with his King and would impeach and lâ—â—sen the Priviledges and Trade which they enjoyed in those parts To which the Vizier answered according to their usual phrase and stile That the happy Imperial Seat where his Master resided was called the Port because it was free and open to all such who desired to take refuge and sanctuary therein and therefore the English without just reason ought not to be excluded That the Sultan ought not to be denied that freedom of love and hatred which was common to all Mankind and that he was as well resolved to chuse and cherish his Friends as to prosecute and destroy his Enemies Whereunto the French Ambassador urged That since it was the pleasure of the Grand Signior to admit the English that at least they should be obliged to enter Constantinople under the French Colours But the English Ambassador replied that his Mistress who was so potent scorned all Dependencies on other Nations and would rather abandon the Friendship of the Sultan than admit the least diminution of her own honour And embellishing his Discourses as Sagredo proceeds with the representation of that advantage and profit which the English Trade would bring to the Ottoman Empire he so ensnared the hearts of the Turks that they preferred the admittance of new Guests before the Alliance of ancient Friends Since which time our Commerce and Trade with the Turk hath been in its increase and being governed by a Wise and Grave Company of Experienced Merchants hath by Gods blessing brought an inestimable Treasure and advantage to the English Nation which that it may still continue increase and flourish in all Ages and times to come is the hearty desire and Prayer of him who is a true and faithful Servant to that worthy Society and a sincere Wellwisher to his Country Farewel THE HISTORY OF Sultan Mahomet IV. THE XIII EMPEROUR OF THE TURKS Beginning in the NINTH YEAR OF HIS REIGN The First BOOK Anno Christi 1661. Hegeira 1072. IT was now the beginning of this Year when the Earl of Winchelsea arrived at Constantinople the first Embassadour sent abroad from His Majesty of Great Britain Charles the Second after his happy Return to the Glorious Throne of his Ancestors to Sultan Mahomet the Thirteenth Emperour of the Turks it being judged fit that amongst other Alliances which were to be contracted with Foreign Princes and States this of Turkey should not be omitted but rather in the first place considered In regard that as the flourishing Estate and Prosperity of England's richess depends absolutely on her Foreign Trade so on none more particularly than on that of Turkey which consumes great quantities of her most staple and substantial Manufactures and makes returns in whatsoever Employs and gives Bread to the poor and industrious of the Nation But before we come to treat of the Successes of this Ambassador and the various Transactions in the Turkish Affairs we shall relate some accidents which befel us in our Voyage by Sea to Constantinople The Earl of Winchelsea and his Lady with a numerous Retinue being embarked on the Plymouth Frigat commanded by Sir Thomas Allen and accompanied with a Catch and two Merchants Ships the Prosperous and Smyrna Factor for Turkey set sail from the Downs on the Twentieth of Octob. 1660. And proceeding with a favourable Gale and fair Weather until we were come to the heighth of the Norward Cape or Cape Finisterre we then contended with so severe a storm that we were forced to bring our Ship under a main course to fasten our Helm and lye and drive In the Twenty nineth about Five in the Morning our main Tack flew which shook and strained our Mass so violently that it was shivered in two places between Decks The danger hereof might have proved of ill consequence had the Mast gone by the Board for in all probability it would have carried up our Decks unfixed both our Pumps and laid us open to the Sea but the Providence of God and the diligence of our Seamen was such year 1661.
having given Two hours space for to carry the intelligence we weighed our Anchors and stood in for the Port of Constantinople At this time a Bostangee one belonging to the Grand Signior's Garden came aboard sent by the Bostangee-bashee or Head of the Gardeners to discover and know what Ship it was of such Equipage and greatness advising us also that the Grand Signior was seated in a Chiosk or Summer-house on the corner Wall of the Seraglio Having thus our Anchor aboard with a fresh and favourablegale our Flags and Ensigns displayed and a Streamer at every Yard-arm our Guns and Wast-clothes out and being near the Wall of the Seraglio the same Bostangee came again aboard acquainting us that it was the Grand Signior's pleasure that we should rejoyce with Guns which was his expression the Ship having her Sails swelled out with a gentle Gale and the swiâ—tness of her motion retarded by the current gave the Turks an opportunity to take a full prospect of her the decks being full of men we fired Sixty one Guns as we passed and with that order that the Vessel could never appear with better advantage had she been described by the Hand of the most skilful Painter And thus we came to an Anchor on Toppennau side where Sir Thomas Bendysh came immediately aboard to congratulate the safe arrival of this new Ambassador And now here it may be enquired whether the Seraglio returned any answer to this salute by those Guns which lye under the Garden-wall of which most or all are dismounted I answer noâ— for this having been the first Man of War or first Royal ship that ever carried up an English Ambassador to Constantinople it having been the custom formerly to have them transported thither on some goodly Merchant-ship laden with the rich Commodities of our Country a return of Guns was never demanded or expected and perhaps it was a matter not then thought of which if it had and been required it is probable in that conjuncture if ever it would have been granted both because old Kuperlâ—e the Father then governed who was a great friend to the English and Enemy to the French whose Ambassador was then under restraint would have in meer opposition and hatred to them bestowed those honours on our Nation which at another time could not have been extorâ—ed for a great Sum of Money and so much I collect from the very words of Kuperlee who after our Lord Ambassador had made his Entrance in a more splendid manner than usual as we shall understand by the sequel he demanded of our Chief Druggerman how the French resented this treatment He answered not well but with an envious Eye as he supposed let them burst with malice replied the Vizier Of late years since the glory and greatness of France their Ambassadors have been always transported up to Constantinople in the Kings Ships Monsieur la Haye the younger came on a Man of War of the Kings and a Fireship Monsieur de Nointel with Two men of War and a Fireship and now lately Monsieur de Guilleragues with no less an Equipage than the former All which before they entered Constantinople made a stop about the Seven Towers capitulating first to have a re-salute from the Seraglio before they would pass their Complement to that place which being denied as a thing never practised the French Men of War have of late passed with silence without giving or receiving a salute Howsoever as things stand now I should scarce advise that English Men of War should insist upon the like for we having once done it a custom may be pretended and that may give a beginning to such a dispute which a new Ambassador ought studiously to avoid the present circumstances of France not suiting exactly with the sole Interest of Trade which is exercised by England Against the next Day being the Eighteenth things were provided for the entrance of his Excellency and indeed with that state and handsome Equipage that neither any Embassador from England nor yet from the Emperor passed with greater Splendor and Honour than this For when his Excellency first descended from the Ship into his Boat the Ship fired Fifty one Guns so leisurely that they so continued until he set his Foot on the shoar where mounting on Horse-back covered with a rich Velvet Foot-cloth the whole Equipage marched in this Order on Horse-back also First the Vayvod of Galata and his Men. 2. The Captain of the Janisaries with his Janisaries 3. The Chaous-bashee with his Chaouses 4. The English Trumpeters 5. The English Horsemen Merchants of Constantinople and those of Smyrna which came to attend his Excellency by order of the Factory being in number Six with their Servants 6. The Embassadors Druggermen and Janisaries 7. His Excellency with St. Thomas Bendysh attended with their Pages and Footmen 8. The Secretary and Gentlemen 9. The Countess of Winchelsea in her Coach and Three other Coaches following with her Women covered with Red-cloth made after the fashion of Waggons lying on the carriages unhung 10. Which were followed by some Officers and Reformadoes of the Ship. Such an appearance as this being Extraordinary the Streets were crouded with People and all Windows filled with Spectators and that which made the passage more uneasy was the Rabble scrambling for Five Sol-pieces of which sort of Money 500 were by Order of the Lord Ambassador scattered amongst the People who regarded not the danger of being trampled under foot whilst they had the Silver in their Eye His Excellency being thus lodged at his House at Pera he was immediately saluted from the Emperors Resident by his Secretary and soon after by Signor Padavino Secretary to their Excellencies Balarino and Capello of whom we shall hereafter have occasion to name being those who negotiated the Affairs of the Venetian Republick And the next Day following the like Complement was passed from the French Ambassador and the Dutch Agent Three days after the Grand Signior sent a Present to his Excellency of Ten Sheep Fifty Hens a Hundred Loaves of Bread Twenty Sugar-loaves Twenty Wax candles Ten whereof were white and Ten yellow This we mention particularly because it was a Gift anciently bestowed in the times of the first Ambassadors and though it had not been of late years practised yet being found in the Old Registers the custom was again revived because the Turks were in an humour to gratifie and shew all the Honour they could to the English Ambassador On the Twenty eighth of this Month of Ianuary his Exellency had his first Audience of the Great Vizier and being attended thither and met by the Turkish Officers on Constantinople side in the same manner as when he first landed he was conducted to the Viziers Palace and being held up under the Arm by Two of his Gentlemen that being the fashion of great men amongst the Turks he was introduced to the Presence of the Vizier who being aged and decrepit
capable of receiving other Customs and Laws and neither remembring nor concerned in former Mutinies will adventure to follow the seditious practices of their Predecessours for men are commonly modest at their first entrance into any condition and unless debauched by corruption and Government are easily contained within the bounds of reasonable moderation And yet notwithstanding that the pride of the Turkish Religion is reduced to so low an abatement of their power and to a condition easily for the future with with good management to be ruled yet this present Sultan Mahomet still retaining the memory and impression of the amazement he suffered in his infancy on occasion of a dangerous combination and conspiracy of the Ianizaries will never confide himself to their guard nor be reconciled to Constantinople in consideration of the many Chambers it contains of that loathed Militia which have been so many Nurseries and Seminaries of Treasons complotted against himself and his other Progenitors CHAP. IX Of the Chiauses THESE having both offensive and defensive Arms assigned them may be reckoned in the number of the Militia though their Office being chiefly in relation to Civil Processes and Laws they may deserve rather the name of Pursuivants or Serjeants They are in number about 5 or 600 their pay is from 12 to 40 Aspers a day and chief Officer is called Chiaus Baschee to whose custody Prisoners of Quality are committed their place of Attendance is the Palace of the Prime Visier to be ready on all occasions to carry Letters and Commands to any part of the Empire such Christian Renegadoes as become Turks they most commonly for their Incouragement and subsistence in the Mahometan Superstition admit into this Rank because having commonly an endowment of other Languages besides the Turkish are most serviceable on messages into foreign Countries and sometimes are sent with the Title of Ambassadours as one was once into England France and Holland Their Arms are a Scimetar a Bow and Arrows and a Truncheon with a knob at the end called in Turkish Topous those of these Officers that are Servants to the Visier or Beglerbegs carry this Truncheon covered with Silver called in Turkish Tcheugbian but the Chianses of simple Pashaws onely of Wood their Harvest they make upon the occasions of Law Suits and Differences between one party and another being Apparitors or Serjeants to call the guilty person to justice or if the business comes to composition they commonly are in the midst to persuade both sides to reason in which action they want not their Fees or acknowledgment of labour from both Parties CHAP. X. Of the other parts of the Turkish Militia the Toptchi THESE are Gunners called so from the word Tope which in Turkish signifies a Cannon and are in number about 1200 distributed in 52 Chambers their Quarters are at Tophana on the place of Guns in the Suburbs of Constantinople few of these are expert in their art and are ill practised in the Proportions and Mathematical part of the Gunners Mystery for were they as skilfull as many Ingeneers in the World they might doubtless with that vast Train of Artillery they either march with in their Camp or found in their Trenches give much more annoyance to the Christian Forces And therefore knowing their own imperfections in this exercise when Christian Gunners are taken in the War they entertain them with better usage than other Captives quartering them in the Chambers appropriated to that Profession allotting them with others a pay from 8 to 12 Aspers a day but because this is too inconsiderable a maintenance to allure men who are otherwise principled most of them as occasion offers desert the service of the Turk and fly to their own Countrey Their Officers are 1. The Topgibaschi or General of the Ordinance 2. The Dukigibaschi or the Chief of them that found the great Guns 3. The Odabaschi the Chief of all the Chambers of the Gunners in the Suburbs of Constantinople 4. Is the Kiatib of their Muster-Master who is always a Spahee Their Guns are the biggest and as well cast and moulded as any in the World for the last Expedition in Hungary there were 40 Pieces of new Cannon cast and transported by way of the Black Sea and thence by the Danube unto Belgrade and Buda Their Gunpowder is made but in small quantities about Constantinople but comes from divers places of Europe but that from Damascus is most esteemed The biggest size of their Bullets are from 36 to 40 Inches Diamiter but these are most commonly of Stone which they make use of in the Castles or Block-houses situate on the Sea as at the Castles upon the Hellespont called anciently Sestos and Abidos and at the Forts at entrance of the Black Sea. Once an English Man Gunner of a Ship which lay at Constantinople had the curiosity and confidence to measure the dimensions of these Bullets but being apprehended in the very act was imprisoned for a Spy but by the intercession of our Ambassadour then Resident with much labour and some expence was at length released Of the Gebegees These are Armourers so called from the word Gebees which signifies in Turkish as much as Arms of Back and Breast they are in number 630 distributed into 60 Chambers and have their Quarters near the Church of Santa Sophia in Constantinople their Office is to conserve the Arms of ancient times from rust by cleaning and oyling them so as to remain as Trophies for ever of the Turkish Conquests Their pay is from 8 to 12 Aspers a day their Officers are first the Gebegibaschi who is their Commander in chief 2. The Odobashees who are so many Masters of the Chambers On all expeditions these Armourers are necessary Officers and oftentimes in days of Battel distribute forth the antique Arms of which they have a care into the hands of the Ianizaries but of these men that are indifferently rich and have favour and friends enjoy their pay with ease at their own homes and like other Ogiacks are capable of being made Oturacbs or retaining their Pension with a dispensation from the War. Of the Delees Delee signifies as much as a mad fellow or a Hector these are the Prime Visier's Life-guard and are in number from 100 to 400 more or less according as the Visier is more or less rich and splendid in his Retinue their Pay is from 12 to 15 Aspers a day they are by Nation of Bosna or Albania their Habit is very ridiculous according to this Picture they are men chosen for their great stature and stomachs they speak big talk of nothing but kâ—lling and adventurous exploits but in reality their heart and courage is not esteemed proportionable to their bulk and bodies in the City they march before the Visier on foot and make way for him to the Divan oâ— journies they are too heavy and lazy not to be well mounted they have a Captain over them called the Delibaschi their Arms are a Lance
Venice is so greatly esteemed by the Turks that they seem not to desire the conquest of that place for any other reason more than the benefit of the Arsenal as a person of great quality amongst them said once that had they made a Conquest of Venice they would not inhabit there but leave it to the Venetians in regard that the City affords not fresh Water which is necessary for the use of their Moschâ— and their Washing before Prayer but that the Arsenal and a Tribute would satisfie the desires of the Grand Signior But the Turks are not likely to be Masters of this Sea of Neptune whilst they so unwillingly apply their minds to Maritime Affairs who being conscious of their former ill success at Sea and how little use they make of those advantages they have for shipping acknowledge their Inabilities in Sea Affairs and say That God hath given the Sea to the Christians but the Land to them And no doubt the large Possessions and Riches they enjoy on the staple Element of the Earth is that which takes off their minds the deep attention to matters of the Sea which is almost solely managed by Renegadoes amongst them who have abandoned their Faith and their Countrey And it is happy for Christendom that this faintness remains on the Spirits of the Turks an aversion from all Naval Employment whose numbers and power the Great God of Hosts hath restrained by the bounds of the Ocean as he hath limited the Ocean by the Sands of the Sea-shoar THE CONCLUSION BY the Discourse made in the three foregoing Books it will evidently appear what sort of Government is exercised amongst the Turâ—s what their Religion is and how formidable their Force which ought to make the Christian World tremble to see so great a part of it subjected to the Mahometan Power and yet no Mean thought of to unite our Interests and compose our Dissensions which lay us open to the inundation of this flowing Empire To which I shall add this one thing very observable That the Grand Signior wages his War by Land without any charge to himself an advantage not to be parallel'd by the Policy of any Government I ever heard or read of before for his Spahees and Ianizaries are always in Pay both in War and Peace his Zaims and Timariots have their Lands to maintain them and other Militia's enjoy the fixed Revenue from their respective Countries and yet notwithstanding through the expence of the Naval Forces the building Gallies and the like matters not provided for those who laid the first foundation of this Government the Revenue of the Empire hath been bankrupted and by the corruption of the Officers or ill management been sold for 3 years to come until all was redeemed and restored again by the wisedom of that famous Visâ—er Kuprinli whom we have occasion so often to mention in the foregoing Treatise We cannot now but pity those poor Borderers in Hungary Styria Croatia and other parts subject to the Incursions of this cruel Enemy since we know in the last War not three English miles from Vienna many poor people have been surprized and fallen into the hands of the Tartar and Turk and sold afterwards into perpetual slavery this consideration ought to move us who are barricado'd and fortifi'd by the Seas from the violence of our Enemies to bless God we are born in so happy and so secure a Countrey subject to no dangers but from our selves nor other miseries but what arise from our own freedom and two much felicity we ought to consider it is a blessing that we never have felt any smart of the rod of this great Oppressour of Christianity and yet have tasted of the good and benefit which hath proceeded from a free and open Trade and amicable Correspondence and Friendship with this People which have been maintained for the space of eighty years begun in the Reign of Queen ELIZABETH of blessed memory preserved by the Prudence and admirable Discretion of a series of worthy Ambassadours and daily emproved both in business and reputation by the excellent Conduct and Direction of that Right Worshipfull Company of the Levant Merchants hath brought a considerable benefit to this Kingdom and gives employment and livelihood to many thousands of people in England by which also His Majesty without any expence gains a very considerable increase of His Customs The sense of this benefit and advantage to my own Countrey without any private considerations I have as a Servant to that Embassie or the obligations I have to that worthy Company cause me to move with the greatest sedulity and devotion possible to promote and advance the Interest of that Trade And as some study several ways and prescribe Rules by which a War may be most advantagiously managed against the Turk I on the contrary am moâ—e inclinable to give my judgment in what manner our Peace and Trade may best be secured and maintained knowing that so considerable a welfare of our Nation depends upon it that a few years of Trades interruption in Turkey will make all sorts of people sensible of the want of so great a vent of the commodities of our Countrey And therefore as I am obliged to pray for the glory and prosperity of His Majesty our gratious Sovereign so likewise as that which conduces to it for the continuance of the Honour of this Embassie in Turkey and the profitable returns of the Levant Company FINIS THE CONTENTS Of the several CHAPTERS The First Book Chap. I. THE Constitution of the Turkish Government being different from most others in the World hath need of peculiar Maxims and Rules whereon to establish and confirm it self Page 1 Chap. II. The absoluteness of the Emperor is a great support of the Turkish Empire 2 Chap. III. The Lesson of Obedience to their Emperor is taught by the Turks as a Principle of Religion rather than of State 4 Chap. IV. A True Relation of the Designs managed by the old Queen Wife of Sultan Ahmet and Mother of Sultan Morat and Sultan Ibrahim against her Grand-Child Sultan Mahomet who now Reigns and of the Death of the said Queen and her Complices 6 Chap. V. The Education of Young Men in the Seraglio out of which those who are to discharge the great offices of the Empire are elected it being a Maxim of the Turkish Polity To have the Prince served by such whom he can raise without envy and destroy without danger 12 Chap. VI. Of the Method in the Turkish Studies and Learning in the Seraglio 15 Chap. VII Of the Platonick Affection and Friendship the Pages in the Seraglio bear each to other 16 Chap. VIII Of the Mutes and Dwarfs 17 Chap. IX Of the Eunuchs ibid. Of the black Eunuchs and Apartments of the Women 17 18 Chap. X. Of the Agiamoglans 19 Chap. XI Of the Visier Azem or Prime Visier his office the other six Visiers of the Bench and of the Divan or place of Iudicature 20
a Veterane Army The Vizier finding himself disappointed in this Contrivance and sensible of the present Disadvantages propoâ—ed that the War should be managed on the defensive part rather than to adventure the whole Concernment of the Empire on the Hazards and Chances of War which seemed to be governed by some evil Influences of the Stars which at that time were not very propitious to the Ottoman Cause This Council being generally well approved it produced two Resolutious one was to divert the intended Design of the Grand Seignior's going in Person to the War for in that Case nothing could become the awful presence and appearance of the Sultan but Fire and Slaughter and direful Vengeance wheresoever his terrible Sword was drawn it being agreeable to the Opinion which the Turks fancy and conceive of their Emperor That he is Omnipotent and that in one Hand he carries all the Riches and Honours of the World and in the other Victory and all sorts of Delights for ever But to draw this Case a little nearer to the Person of the Vizier himself it was farther resolved That in case a defensive War were to be managed it were neither consistent with the Reputation of the Grand Vizier who was the Sultan's Deputy and Representative but more becoming a Sardar with Title of Seraskier or General to wage a War in which the chief Art is to decline a Battel and all Engagements Thus had this old and politick Vizier obtained his Point by sitting at Home and seeing others play the Game which he could approve or disapprove without danger according to the Successes The Person appointed to be Seraskier or General was Kara Oglou Chiamacam of Constantinople who had formerly been Captain Pasha or Admiral of the Seas The Grand Vizier remaining at home had time to consider and reflect That the cause of the general Toleration of almâ—st all Christendom against them did proceed from the Neglect Contempt and ill Usage which the late Vizier had put upon all the publick Representatives of Christian Princes some Instances of which we have given at the beginning of this History To redress which it was thought fit to cajole and soften a little the Foreign Ministers from Christian Princes whom the late Vizier had so contemptuously used and treated with Disgrace as had raised all Christendom about their Ears and so with much Complement the Ambassadors of England and France were invited to Adrianople by the Vizier to sit with him upon the Soffraw according to the usual Custom and Priviledge of Ambassadors which the Pride of the late Vizier would not allow them The Lord Chandos then Ambassador from his Majesty of Great Britain to the Ottoman Port being at that time Sick excused his going and perhaps also was desirous to spare the Mony of the Turky Company and not lavish it out in an empty and fruitless Journey But the French Ambassador Monsieur de Guilleragues for the Glory as he thought of his Master made splendid Preparations at the Cost of the Merchants to enter Adrianople where being arrived he was in a short time received to Audience on the Soffraw which Priviledge hath been restored to all other Ambassadors since that time That which hastned this Favour and Indulgence to Foreign Ministers was the apprehension of a War just then breaking out with the Venetians for the Doge of Venice being newly dead and his Place supplied by Seignior Marco Antonio Gustiniani the Senate sent Orders to their Secretary at the Ottoman Port called Seignior Capello to declare War against the Turk and their League and Alliance with the Emperor and Poland and having so done to make his Escape in the best manner he was able Seignior Capello having complied with these Instructions conveyed himself away in the Habit of a Seaman upon a French Man of War called the Faithful which was come to Constantinople for Convoy to some other Ships The Moscovites who had for a long time plaid fast and loose as we have formerly mentioned in their Treaties of Peace with the Turks became now more fixed and resolved on a War being animated thereto by the strong Alliance and Confederacies made against them and the cross Fortune of the Turks which seemed every day to decline This Union and strong Combination as it made the Turks tremble so the Sense thereof softned their Minds and rendred them much more plyable and gentle to those Christian Ambassadors who remained in Peace and Amity with them and gave just occasion to the English and others trading in their Dominions to applaud and own the Justice Moderation and easy Access of the Turks much different from that which they practised in the time of their Prosperity so that thô our English Merchants in all their Letters complained of the badness of Trade and ill Markets yet they praised and commended the present Security in which they lived and the readiness of the Turkish Ministers to afford them redress upon all Complaints The Treaty of Confederacy and Alliance being vigorously carried on at Vienna by Seignior Contarini the Venetian Ambassador to his Imperial Majesty by and with the Consent and Assistance of the Pope's Nuncio these following Articles were agreed between the Emperor the King of Poland and the Republick of Venice and afterwards Sworn unto at Rome at the Feet of the Pope by Cardinal Pio in Behalf of the Emperor by Cardinal Barbarini in the Name of the King of Poland and by Cardinal Ottoboni for the Venetians The Articles are these THat a League offensive and defensive be concluded between the Emperor the King and Republick of Poland and Republick of Venice the which shall continue until the end of this War and to be defensive for ever The Protector and Guarantie whereof shall be this Pope Innocent the XI and his Successors and the Apostolical See shall ever be Moderator to judge and determine which of these Parties falls from his Faith and fails in a due Performance That during the time that this League continues in Force none of the Parties shall enter into Treaty or accept of any Condition thô never so advantagious without the Consent Privity and Concurrence of the other Allies That his Imperial Majesty shall enter into this League as King of Hungary Bohemia and Arch-Duke of Austria as doth also the King as King of Poland and Great Duke of Lituania binding these their Dominions and Inheritances as doth also the Republick of Venice bind and oblige their Dominions and Territories to the performance of these Covenants By this League is understood only a War against the Turks and against no other Prince or Potentate whatsoever The Emperor for his part and the King of Poland for his do promise to wage War against the Turks with very powerful Armies by Land and the Venetians with a powerful Fleet at Sea and with their Troops in Dalmatia to the utmost of their Force until a Peace be concluded That
any other place appertaining to the Dominion of the Czars That then the King of Poland shall send an Army for the Relief and Succour of such place Besieged And in like manner in case the Turks shall Besiege Leopolis or any other City in Poland the Moscovites shall endeavour the Relief and Succour thereof Twelfthly That the Czars shall forthwith give Advices to the Ottoman Port of the League concluded with Poland and their Intentions to make War upon the Grand Seignior And tho' the Turks upon such intimation shall offer to give satisfaction to either or both Parties yet no heed shall be given thereunto or Conclusion made without the Approbation and Consent of all the Confederate Christians Thirteenthly The Moscovites engaged to send their Ambassadours into divers parts of Christendom as England Denmark Holland and other Princes to crave their Assistance and Union against the Mahometan Armies Fourteenthly That after a Peace shall be concluded by common Consent of the Confederates with the Turks And that afterwards one of them shall be desirous to commence a new War That then the other Confederates shall not be obliged to joyn therein Fifteenthly That whereas some Disputes remain still undecided touching the Limits and Bounds of Poland and Moscovy That Commissioners shall forthwith be authorized and dispatched for accommodation of that Matter especially about the Dependencies on Kiovia Sixteenthly That Security of Trade and Commerce be established between the two Kingdoms Seventeenthly That the Debts which are owing from the Subjects of one Kingdom to those of another shall mutually be accounted for and satisfied by one to the other And that what Suits do or shall arise between the Subjects of either Kingdom shall be determined by the ordinary Courts of Iustice where the Defendant abides Eighteenthly Those Points which remain undecided and cannot be agreed by the Commissioners the same shall be remitted to the Determination of the Sovereigns Nineteenhly That the People on each side who live on the Borders shall pass friendly and peaceably one with the other and in case of Differences arising between them the smaller Causes shall be determined by the Palatines and the greater by Commissioners Twentiethly Neither side shall give Succour or Assistance to the common Enemy nor entertain any of their Subjects in the War or in any Office or Employment One and twentieth That their Majesties the Czars shall Swear to the Observation of these Articles in presence of the Polish Ambassadours And the like shall be performed by the King of Poland at a meeting of the Diet in presence of the Ambassadours from the Czars and in the mean time the Ambassadours shall mutually engage that all these Articles shall be observed and maintained Two and twentieth That whilst these Articles are interchanging and before the Ratifications are made It shall be lawful for the Merchants of each Country and Nation to Trade and Traffick without any trouble or interruption of Commerce Only Tobacco and Brandy shall not be brought into Moscovy but remain Contrabanda as by ancient Articles Three and twentieth In case the Poles or Moscovites shall have occasion to dispatch Messengers to Persia or other Parts no molestation let or hindrance shall be given them nor Passports denied Four and twentieth And in regard a good Understanding and Communication is necessary in this War the King of Poland obliges himself to maintain and defend the Confines and Country of the Dukedom of Solensko and the Czars so far as Kohzin And that private Letters shall pay Postage on both sides but the Publick and Royal Letters shall go free without Charge Five and twentieth That both Parties shall give Advices to all the Allies and Confederates of this happy League and Agreement Six and twentieth That this Contract shall as well oblige the Heirs and Successors as the Princes who are Parties thereunto And in case this Original Instrument of Accord should be lost or embezled in the Chancery or Paper-Office of either side yet the Agreement shall not be Rescinded thereby but stand in full Vertue and Force The League being in this manner agreed signed and ratified on both sides the News thereof soon spread it self over all Europe and was particularly received at Vienna and in the Confederate Camp with as much Joy and Triumph as it was at Constantinople with Trouble and Confusion And now it was expected by all the World that this Agreement should be executed and that the Moscovites should in the first place to give a beginning have made Incursions into the Enemies Country and without farther delay have invested those Places which lay upon the Frontiers but instead thereof their first Exploit was to take Possession of the Dukedom of Smolenzko and of Kiovia and of about Fifty Leagues of Country which lies along by the Banks of the Niester but as to other Acts of Hostility unless it were by some ranging and confused Incursions made by their own Cosacks with design rather to Pilfer and Pillage than to Offend and Damage the Enemy nothing of Moment was performed by which means the Tartars against whom the Moscovites were obliged to oppose their Arms found an opportunity to joyn with the Cosacks of Poland who with united Forces not only disputed the Passes with the Polanders but likewise recruited and reinforced the Grand Vizier's Army in Hungary After this Agreement was finished the next Treaty in hand was to deal with Apafi Prince of Transilvania to draw him off from his Adherence to the Turk This Prince finding himself between two great Powers the least of which was able to crush him to nothing kept and maintained his Agents at both Courts only to protract time and divert a Storm Count Caraffa quartering with a strong Party of Horse and Foot on the Confines of that Principality was appointed by the Emperor to treat with Apafi and to joyn Menaces and Force to fair Words but little Satisfaction could be extorted from him more than a Desire to live in a kind of Neutality for thô the Imperial Forces were not far distant from him yet the Turks were not as yet beaten out of the Field nor their Garrisons taken but all things seemed to remain in a doubtful state and change of War. Thus Apafi feared both and demanded Protection and Assistance from both sides hoping that whilst he was wavering and seemed unfixt he should preserve both his Friends or at least not provoke them to be his Enemies But what Count Caraffa could not obtain by Treaty he forced by two Regiments which procured the Contributions which were then exacted to which Apafi more easily yielded because such a Compliance seemed rather an effect of Violence and Necessity than of Choice Howsoever the Turks were not so very well assured of the Constancy of the Transilvanias but that just cause of Jealousie remained of their Inclinations towards the Emperor to prevent which the Turks order'd a strong Body of Men to march and quarter on their Confines
the Soldiers Pay and Donative they were forced to Coin out of Plate and Silver and Gold taken off from the Horses Furniture belonging to the Seraglio Two hundred Purses in Gold and Sixty in Silver with which every one being satisfied all was quiet and calm again and the Spahees returned to their own Homes leaving six of the Chief Mutiniers to remain behind a◠Constantinople That is to say one Chief with two Assistants for the white Colours and the like for the red and Four hundred Captains called Bolucbashees Two hundred for each Colour or Ensign and these were appointed to hold the power in their Hands which their Mutinies and late Rebellions had gained for them About this time the Turks proposed at the instigation of the French Ambassador to send a Chiaus into France England and Holland to acquaint those Princes with the advancement of Sultan Solyman to the Throne of the Ottoman Emperors The which Embassy thô little desired by the other Ministers being a Complement insignificant in it self and which would only cost Money and Trouble was yet much pressed by the French who were then contriving to do something extraordinary to engage the Turk in a strict Alliance with them being at that time resolved to disoblige and enter into a War against the Emperor and all the Princes of Germany But by Troubles afterwards amongst the Turks themselves and by the revived Spirits of Mutiny amongst the Soldiery their thoughts were so taken up with their Seditions Forreign Enemies and other Misfortunes that they thought it not so seasonable to send such triumphant Messages in the declension of their Affairs as might have been in more happy and prosperous times Howsoever the French Ambassador and Merchants at Constantinople to evidence their good Affection to the Port freely supplied the late Selictar Aga now appointed Pasha of Grand Cairo with two Ships to Transport him and his Equipage to Alexandria and farther to oblige him lent him in Money and Goods to the value of One hundred and fifty Purses for security of which Pawns were given to remain aboard until the Debt was satisfied And now the Grand Vizier began to appear in publick with the usual Pomp and Equipage he made his Visit with great State to the Mufti and daily held the Divans in the Seraglio besides those at his own House The new Sultan had been so little a while in the Government that he could not as yet give many Indications of his Temper but as to what appeared of him at first he seemed very devout a strict observer of his Law and much addicted to reading so that he could not shake off his habitual retiredness nor enjoy the pleasures of a Court and of such a Throne as anciently cast off all the Cares of it on the Vizier and other Ministers for he neither conversed with Women nor took any publick Diversion In the mean time his deposed Brother Sultan Mahomet who had always used much Exercise began by an unaccustomed Confinement to be tainted with the Scurvy his Legs swelled and gave Symptoms of the Dropsy Wherefore he sent to his Brother the present Sultan desiring that some Physitians might be permitted to come to him for his Cure. But grave Solyman returned him answer That in case he should allow that and he miscarry the World would say that he was an occasion of his Death so that in lieu of the Physitians he would pray to God for him and he who sent the Sickness could give him a Cure. These civil Commotions and Mutinies amongst the Soldiers were more dangerous to the Ottoman State than all the Ruins Defeats and Losses they had received from the Enemy and gave the Imperialists an opportunity to act and succeed in all their Enterprizes in Hungary and march and rove with their Parties through the whole Country without opposition or controule But the Season of the year being too much advanced it was thought time to draw the Armies into Winter-quarters and to lodge them in the conquered Countries Thus Count Dunewalt after he had fortified and secured the Castles and Places which he had taken quartered his Army at Possega Valkovar and other places bordering upon Croatia Likewise the two Regiments of Palfy and Staremberg which had lately been detached from the Duke of Lorain's Army to attend the Emperor's service at Possonium on occasion of the Coronation of Ioseph King of the Romans joyned with some other Hungarian Troops near Buda attacked in their way thither the Fortresses of Ciocca and Palotta and took them by which the Garrison of Alba Regalis was much streightned and disabled from making Incursions so far as the Danube The Duke of Loraine marching as we have said towards Transilvania resolved to take Quarters for his Army in that fruitful Principality as yet not much wasted with the War and the better to prepare them dispatched away the Baron Huntschin with full Commission to Prince Apafi to Treat about the places which might be assigned with most convenience for the Soldiery and ease to the People Huntschin speedily returned with advice that he had been favourably received by Apafi who having assembled several of his Boyars or Noblemen together had resolved to send Deputies to the Duke of Loraine giving him to understand the great joy and satisfaction they had received by the happy Successes of the Imperial Arms by which they flattered themselves so far as to believe that they should now be freed from the Tyranny and oppression of the Ottoman Yoak and that as a Testimony thereof they had readily consented to afford all the succour and subsistence they were able to the maintenance of the Christian Troops during the whole Winter season But as to assign them places for Quarters within the Principality of Transilvania they instantly desired to be acquitted in regard that such a Concession would greatly offend the Port and lay them open to the Incursions and to the Fire and Sword both of the Turks and Tartars To this Message the Duke of Loraine made Answer in obliging but yet in general Terms and in the mean time the Army still advanced without farther Treaty it being well known that neither the Turkish Troops nor those of the Country were in a capacity to Dispute their Passage so that on the 11 th of October the Army arrived at Salone the first Town of Transilvania year 1687. where after having without many questions or complements put a Garrison of about a Hundred Men into the place they marched forward towards Clausembourg But on their way thither the Duke of Loraine was met by three Deputies from the Prince and States who repeated the same Offers which had been related by Baron Huntschin touching the Ammunition and Provisions with which they would furnish the Troops to which they added also an offer of some Money but as to assigning places for Winter-quarters it was a matter impossible and of the most dangerous consequence
enraged hereat drew up into a Body before the Vizier's House and some of them ran upon the Walls and drew from thence two Pieces of Cannon intending therewith to batter down the Vizier's Palace which was ready for Execution when the Renegado Wrebeck a Fellow very dear to the People came with Tears in his Eyes to dissuade them from so violent an Attempt and having used many very pungent Arguments to them he prevailed so far that the Tumult was appeased During this interval or suspension of Arms I who was as it were the Tribune of the People was called again and desired to appease the Multitude promising to answer their desires But they having been so often deluded refused to give any Credit to their Words unless they would solemnly swear on the Alchoran to yield the City nor yet would they draw off and return the Cannon unto the Walls until such time as they had begun to make some steps towards the execution of their desires Hereupon the three Commanders with some of the Citizens assembled in the great Moseh as if they intended to agree upon the Propositions which were to be offer'd to the Enemies but in reality they intended nothing less labouring all that Day to appease the Tumults with Mony and Provisions The Vizier made large distributions to the Spahees and the Aga to the Janisaries and the Pasha to the Citizens and Soldiers of the Country and by these means they took an Oath of the People patiently to endure until St. George's Day being the 23d of April which is a Day regardby the Turks But howsoever they would esteem themselves absolved from this Oath in case an Enemy should in the mean time appear before their Walls and streighten them yet farther by a Siege Colonel Riccardi having by this Relation been rightly informed of the true State of the Town he thought fit to make Tryal of another Appearance before the Walls and came with more than One hundred Horse within Cannon-shot of the place which had he done the preceeding Day before the People had taken an Oath to hold out until St. George's Day the City had most certainly been yielded But now instead thereof they made several Shots from the Bastions and sallied out both Horse and Foot without any other execution on either side than the taking of one Turk whose Head they cut off in sight of his Companions Thus the Colonel having sufficiently been informed of the State of the matter on which he was employed he departed from Palotta with his Troops on the 31 st of March year 1688. and Lodging that Night within a League of Alba Regalis a certain Ianisary well armed and clothed came to them in the Morning and gave an Account that he was fled from the City with some other Companions amongst which was an Odabashee or Captain of the Ianisaries who having been over active and forward in the late Mutiny feared in cooler Blood to be called to question by the angred Officers After which Colonel Riccardi finding little farther to be done marched back to Buda as Colonel Bisterzi did with his Forces to Palotta The obstinate Defence which Alba Regalis made gave some trouble to the Court at Vienna both because it was necessary to have it subjected before the beginning of the Campaign and because the Captive Turks and Deserters were so numerous in those parts and in the Towns and Redoubts over all those Qarters as might give just occasion of Jealousie and fear of Danger in case any design of Massacre or Assassination should be plotted by them But so vile and mean were the Turks esteemed and their price and value so low that a lusty Fellow was sold for a Dollar and a Woman for a quarter But we must here take our leave of Alba Regalis for a while and return to Constantinople where we shall find the Seditions and Military Mutinies broken out again with more Fury and Danger even to the very shaking of the Foundations of the Empire than at the latter end of the last year For the Cabals daily increased amongst the mutinous Soldiers They had lately received their pay and were satisfied in all they could demand their Officers had some of them been displaced and others strangled as they were pleased to bestow their Heads and Offices but not being herewith contented unless every one of them could be made a Vizier or Pasha they were emboldned to proceed to farther Outrages There had been a kind of a cessation of these intestine Troubles for about the space of two Months during which time the new Sultan was persuaded as a thing accustomary to send an Ambassador to France England and Holland to give notice of his happy exaltation to the Sublime Throne of his Ancestors but whilst this was meditating and preparations making for carrying on the Wars of the ensuing Summer which was designed most vigorously to be acted in the Morea and in a defensive manner only in Hungary the Thoughts of sending an Ambassador into Christendom as lately designed were laid aside which was not unpleasing either to Sir William Trumbal who was then Ambassador for his Majesty of Great Britain at Constantinople nor yet to the English Company of Merchants at London trading into the Levant Seas who could expect to reap nothing but trouble and expence from such an Embassy And indeed all things were at a stand by the Insolencies of the Soldiers the Officers both Civil and Military being discouraged and at a stop and full Period in the Grand Seignior's Service had work enough to contrive how to guard their own Persons against the violence of the Soldiers and provide for the safety of their own Lives The daily Cabals of Mutinous Soldiers having been held in several places of the City were adjourned at length to the Vizier's own House where with Menaces and greater Insolencies than formerly they demanded the removal of Kuperlee the Chimacam from his Office saying That he was as bad a Man as his Father who had spilt Rivers of Blood and ruined the Empire It was an unusual Piece of Favour and Mercy in this People to deal thus gently with him who were accustomed formerly to be Executioners of their own Sentence upon those whom they suspected to be no good Wishers to their Side and Faction To oppose them herein had been to no purpose and to expostulate with them had been equally dangerous wherefore the Vizier being sensible of their Outragious and Irrational Humour not patient of the least Contradiction seemed to concur with them in all they asked and ordered a Gally immediately to Transport Kuperlee to the Castles on the Hellespont or Dardanelli There was no need of Commands or Force to drive Kuperlee away for he was affrighted and readily leapt into the Gally thinking it a happy occasion to save his Life and escape out of their Hands The Vizier also at their instance discharged several Officers which they had nominated putting the Chief
which he became Dey and Captain which having carried the usual Present to the Sultan was some time afterwards Captain-Pasha of the Grand Seignior's Fleet. Now returning back to Algier and unhappily meeting with these two Ships in their way six of them invested the St. Iseppâ— and the other four undertook the St. Marcâ— a Ship of 60 Brass Guns After some Hours Fight an unlucky Shot from the Enemy entered the Powder-Room of the St. Mark with which the Ship blew up and thereby the Soldiers and Seamen with all the Equipage were lost and that brave Ship entirely perished Hereupon the whole Number of the 10 Ships uniting together fell upon the St. Iâ—eppo which suâ—â—ined the Conflict valiantly for the whole Day and making a running Fight was in hopes by the sound of the Guns to call out some help from the Fleet which lay then at Napoli di Malvasia but no Succour coming Admiral Valier entered the Line into the midst of the Enemies where by some unlucky Shots the Masts and Helm or Rudder were shot away In this distressed Condition was Admiral Valier when still fighting with his Sword in his Hand upon the Quarter-Deck he called to him his Lieutenant Captain Petrina and made him swear That whensoever he was dead he would blow up the Ship rather then render it up into the Hands of the Turks then he threw Overboard all his Publick Letters Orders and Instructions as also all the Flags and Colours in which the Lion and Arms of St. Mark were described that nothing which belonged to the Republick might fall into the Hands of the Enemy and consequently he caused both the Pumps to be unfixed that the Vessel might sink and not fall into the Hands of the Turks And afterwards seeing two of the Enemies Ships preparing to come Aboard he called to those few of his Men who were left alive and coming on the Quarter-Deck animated them to stand by him and whensoever those two Ships were aboard to give Fire to the Powder and perish with the Enemies on either hand But whilst Valier was giving these Instructions he was taken off by a Cannon-Bullet and immediately as he had ordered his Body was cast into the Sea having protested That neither Alive nor Dead would he fall into the Hands of the Enemy Valier being dead and his Lieutenant Captain Petrina grievously wounded and very few Soldiers and Seamen remaining alive or unwounded and the Ship after a whole Days fight entirely disabled to make any longer resistance the Turks howsoever durst not adventure to come near the Ship but at length displaying White Colours they adventured to lay the Ship aboard with their Long-Boat where being entered they enqured first for the Admiral and his Lieutenant and being informed that the first was killed and his Corps thrown Overboard and the latter mortally wounded they made Prisoners of all those remaining alive in the Ship and having demanded of Petrina the reason why he had with such obstinacy fought against 10 Ships He answered That it was not accustomary to suffer the Ships belonging to the Republick to fall into the Hands of the Enemy and that in case he had not been wounded he would have blown the Ship up rather than have seen the Turks become Masters of her In fine whilst the Turks were Aboard Pillaging and Plundering what they could find about four Hours in the Night the Ship sunk with all the Cannon only some few Seamen and Soldiers getting the Skiff when it was very Dark made their way for Milo where finding a French Tartana they were thence transported to the Armata This Fight tho' unfortunate was yet Glorious to the Venetians and for that reason tho' it happened at the beginning of the Year we shall yet in honour to that Republick conclude their Campaign with this glorious Action and proceed to the next Year in which we shall find the Imperial Forces much more fortunate and crowned with Glory and Success than in the preceeding Year Anno 1691. year 1691. THE Turks having the last Year regained Nissa Widin and Belgrade with some other Advantages began to recover their Courages which before were sunk very low and would gladly have accepted any tolerable Conditions of Peace whatsoever but now as there was no speaking thereof on less Terms than a Surrender of all that the Emperor had conquered and gained from the Turks in Hungary so this Resolution was heightned and confirmed in them by the Mediation which the Ambassadors of England and Holland had offered and pressed upon them wherefore the War going forward the Grand Seignior returned to pass his Winter at Constantinople where and in the Black-Sea six or eight great Ships were put on the Stocks to serve the next Summer against the Venetians on the Coast of Morea with which addition to their Naval Force they hoped to over-match the Venetian Fleet and do great Feats on the Coast of Morea In the mean time the English Trade in Turkey was in a most unhappy and unfortunate Condition for it had not been long since the terrible and affrighting Earthquake which had about two Years before as we have already related destroyed the whole City of Smyrna and by an irruption of Fire consumed vast quantities of Goods belonging to the English Levant Company and what was of great Consideration the Books Accounts and Papers of the Merchants perished with them After this amazing Judgment of God the War breaking out between England and France the Navigation for Merchant-Ships both in the Mediterranean Seas and in the Ocean became very hazardous especially for Ships of so great a value as those from Turkey which were sufficient to open the Eyes and tempt the Avarice of the French at the Expence of a strong Fleet to lie in wait and watch for them of which the Interested were so sensible that some of the Ships lay two Years at Smyrna before they could take the Courage and Resolution to adventure on so hazardous a Voyage but Necessity having no Law for they must either perish in Port or proceed in which doubtful case they chose the latter and with the Blessing of God arrived safe at Leghorn where having joyned a strong Squadron of 16 Men of War commanded by Sâ—r Francis Wheeler they proceeded for England and some of the Merchant-men being stout Ships and of considerable defence they esteemed themselves equal to any force the French could send against them But whilst they sailed forward without fear of any danger from their Enemies the French having had Advice of all their Motions and of that great Treasure they carried thought it a Prize fit for their Royal Navy and accordingly dis-speeded Monsieur Tourville with all their great Ships out of Brest to cruise upon them and so well timed their Affair that they had certainly taken sight of them had it not pleased God to cover them with a thick Mist which lasted until such time as they were
That such were the Ancient Customs of the Ottoman Empire which they were resolved to observe and abolish the Abuses introduced by the late Grand Seignior and his Prime Vizier Mustapha Then the Seraskier with much earnestness did exaggerate the Unjust Oppression which was practised by Christians to those of the same Faith who Inhabited the Country called Syrmium situate between the Drave Save and Danube who were barbarously spoil'd of their Cloaths robb'd of their Cattle and obliged to pay excessive Impositions against all Laws of Humanity and a regulated Government whereas on the contrary their Sultan sent Money to be distributed among the Poor Subjects to buy them Cattle and Seed thereby shewing himself a Father of the Miserable and not a Tyrant and this Charity continued he which ought to be natural to you Christians towards one another need not hinder the Hostility of Soldiers when they meet and encounter leaving the poor Country-Men in Peace who labour only for the Publick Good and the Service of that Prince whom God shall place over them I answered with applauding such Pious Maxims and that I hoped so good Dispositions would incline them more favourably to hearken to what I was to propose in the Name of my King towards the ending this Bloody War between the two Empires and that as to the Particulars he mentioned I being a Stranger knew nothing of them He then proceeded to charge Count Chizzâ—ola Commandant of Esseck to have deceived him on several Occasions after his Word given a Crime says he which will be punished by God and if the Charity of my Emperor towards the Poor Subjects and Country-men had not restrained me what wou'd have hindred me this Winter to have made Excursions even to Buda But all I shou'd have gained wou'd have been only the Tears and Curses of the Miserable I answer'd with commending the generous Clemency and Mercy of the present Government and our Conference ended with the usual Ceremonies of Coffee Sherbet and Perfumes In the Afternoon I was call'd for by the Seraskier to a Private Audience at which only his Effendi and my Secretary who was instead of an Interpreter were present I represented to him that this perillous Journey I had undertaken and by a way so unusual to Ambassadors from England was a Mark of the high Friendship and Affection which the King my Master bore to the two Empires of Germany and Turkey who resenting sensibly the fatal Consequences of so long and bloody a War commanded me to pass by Vienna there to receive the Orders and Instructions of the Emperor of the Romans towards the amicable ending of it to which good Work shou'd not the Grand Sultan and His Ministers likewise correspond it might be justly feared that the Mischiefs and Desolations hereafter ensuing wou'd call down Vengeance from God upon the Musselmen The Seraskier applauding the King 's Generous Design took notice that there never yet was between England and the Ottoman Empire either War or any alienation of Affection but always perfect Friendship which he beg'd God wou'd continue He commended the Wisdom of the present Vizier his Humanity and Treatableness and approved my Solicitous Earnestness to continue my Voyage leaving it to my Choice either to go by Land or Water I told him I resolved to go by Water as far as Rusgiuk a Days Journey below Nicopolis and to Travel thence by Land He again renew'd the Complaints made in the Divan in behalf of the Poor Inhabitants of Syrmium and press'd me to Write to your Excellency to forbid the Plundering of Villages and Excursions of the Heâ—dukes who behave themselves more like Thieves than Soldiers and that your Excellency wou'd order that they who are Peaceable and Disarm'd may continue not only in Repose but also be protected to the Benefit of that Prince to whom God shall give the Government He assured me further That whatsoever Expedient shall be proposed by the Imperialists towards the preventing such Violences he will readily agree to and cause it to be rigorously observed and in this so Christian a Cause intreated me to interpose the good Offices of my King. I do therefore beseech your Excellency to Correspond herein with Amet Passa either by Letter or by Deputies on both sides to meet on the Confines and to be pleased to inform me of your Resolution herein by an open Letter sent to the Seraskier with whom I also leave a Copy of this as I will likewise do with the Grand Vizier not designing to expose the Confidence they have in my King to the Hazards of any Accidents which might prove equally prejudicial to both Empires I took this Opportunity to shew my self equally Charitable towards the Poor Christians taken in Orsoâ—a and made Slaves as was reported after they had Capitulated to have safe Conduct into the Emperor's Territories I was answer'd That they had Surrendred themselves with condition That if Belgrade were lost they would be Prisoners of War and that the Grand Vizier was not capable of violating the Publick Faith so shamefully I demanded concerning some other Prisoners recommended to me by their Friends but was answer'd That they were all the Grand Seignior's Captives and without his express Order they could not treat either for their Ransom or Exchange He told me That all Officers were well treated and kept without Irons in a Chamber apart with their Servants at the Expence of the Grand Seignior I left 100 Ducats of Gold to be distributed by Capt. Runkel to the Poorest of them which was all the Service I could do them and of which I intreat your Excellency to give their Friends an Account A Courier being dispatched to Constantinople I have had Permission to Write to the Grand Vizier and Sir William Trumbal giving Information of my Arrival I purpose suddenly to continue my Voyage with full intention to do all the Service I can to both Empires in execution of the Commands of my King in whose Name I continue to press as desired your Excellency that some Means may be found out to prevent the Rapines daily practised upon the Poor Country People The inclosed short Letter for my Lord Pagett I intreat your Excellency wou'd transmit to him as also this Original that his Lordship being sufficiently informed may better know what to sollicite from the Emperor and what to acquaint the King my Master I am Belgrade April 30. May 10. 1691. Sir William Hussey's Letters to the Lord Pagett at Vienna Adrianople May 25. 1691. My Lord I Sent a full Account of our Arrival at Belgrade April 30. S. N. From thence we came by Water to Rustick two Days lower than Nicopolis and thence in eight Days Land-Iourney hither whence we advanced forwards two Days but met there by my Secretary and Interpreter from Constantinople with Letters and Advice from Sir William Trumbal that the Vizier was upon departure and ordered us to stay his Arrival at Adrianople We returned back two Days past
after the other The Cause of which is evident from the Succession of the Three Sultans one after the other namely Solyman Achmet and Mustapha who now Reigns to every one of which as it is the constant Custom for the Persians to send an Ambassador so on the other side on the same Occasion it is for the Turks to send unto the Persians Towards the end of this Month the Elector of Saxony returned to Vienna which was an evident Demonstration that there would be no farther Action in Hungary for this Year and at the same time the Turkish Fleet retired to a Bay near Salankement without having done any great Damage The Persians as we have said being departed and on their way homewards the Sultan considered in what manner he might most conveniently and readily pay his Army both of Horse and Foot for which important Service Money did not readily offer wherefore to supply that Want the Grand Seignior sent for the Tefterdar or Treasurer to come to his Presence but he not being able to appear with ready Money in Hand the Tefterdar could scarce make a shift to save his Head tho' with great labour and difficulty he satisfied the Spahee's charging them to return timely at the beginning of the next Year to follow him to the Wars And in the mean time Commissaries were sent from all Parts to collect and gather all the Taxes which had been laid on the People in all parts whether in Europe or Asia within the Ottoman Empire as likewise what Revenue was arising to the Grand Seignior from Offices Customs Taxes c. which are usually sold every Month especially in the Month of March over all the Empire which commonly brings in several Millions So that the Tefterdar or Treasurer was forced to employ Spies to advise him where the Money was and in whose Coffers which yielded great Sums for supply of the Grand Seignior's Occasions These things being over great Preparations were making for the following Campaign both by Sea and Land several half Gallies were already built for the Black-Sea Commanded by Dervish Ogli Bei of Smyrna The Fleet under the Command of Mezzo Morto who was Captain-Pasha consisted of 25 Sail of Men of War all of them being the Grand Seignior's own Ships and such as being joyned with those of Barbary would be too strong a Match for the Venetians This whole Winter the Grand Seignior passed at Adrianople where after the Example of his Father he delighted much in Hunting Howsoever as the Year came on he neglected not the thoughts of War nor the Preparations for the ensuing Year but as yet the Scheme for the War was not designed nor laid Anno 1697. THE Embroils in Asia with the beginning of this Year seemed to be a little quieted year 1697. gave hopes to the Turks that Basora would shortly be restored to them 'T was thought at this time that the Marquis de Lore making little or no show at Adrianople being then in Quality of Envoy Extraordinary would follow the Camp for the ensuing Campaign but as to the Ambassador Castelneuf he resolved to remain at Adrianople acting for the Affairs of their King and Nation between whom and the Marquis appeared no good understanding The Friendship still continued and seemed to increase between the French and the Turks till the latter began to be something doubtful of them upon the Reports and Rumours which flew about That the French were busied in making a General Peace with all the Allies tho' they at first confidently denied it to the Turks who notwithstanding grew Jealous of them and from that time their Mutual Friendship began much to abate The Tumults in Asia still continued to quiet which and to carry on the War in Hungary the Turks prepared to enter into Transylvania to which end they daily Listed and Enrolled New Spahee's and Janisaries in all the Provinces of Asia issuing forth very rigorous Orders That the Militia in all those Parts should this Year appear early in the Field and greater Preparations were making for this Year than for a long time before by reason that the Sultan out of his Glory and Pride resolved to make his utmost Effort this Year on Hungary and Transylvania and accordingly to win all back again and if not to put an end to the War to come to an Honourable Accommodation of Peace which the Turks were sensible could not be avoided in case they should receive any Blow or suddain Foyl the next Year from the Christians This the Ambassadors of England and Holland so plainly foresaw that they lay upon the watch to observe all the Inclinations and Motions of the Turks and both sides now esteeming themselves upon the Crisis laboured all that was possible to bring things to their desired Issue when daily Spahees and Commissaries were employed to gather and collect Sums of Money in all the Asiatick Provinces were observed to pass the Bosphorus and other Seas for Service of the War of which the Tartars being informed wrote to the Sultan to send them Money to supply their Occasions against the Moscovites of whom they were more affraid than of the Polanders Howsoever the Turks being Headed by so Brave a Sultan as this present Grand Seignior as they thought did not seem to fear any thing but to carry all before them which so elevated them to such a heighth of Pride and Insolence that the Mediators were of an Opinion That until a considerable Blow were given to the Turks it would be impossible to reduce them to any Terms of Reason and Moderation In which Humour they made Preparations for the following Year both by Sea and Land That for the Sea designed for the Euxine was chiefly provided at a Port called Sinap in the Country of Trabesonda where they also were casting many great and heavy Cannon And into the Arsenal of Constantinople were in this Month of Ianuary 120 Cannon more brought in and lodged there But what other Sultans have not done this hath had the Ambition to perform that is under his own Name all the Pieces of Gold and Silver should pass within his Empire the like of which was never known in any other Country unless in England under the Reign of King William III and the Great I cannot say that all the Gold and Silver within the Turkish Dominions was brought into the Mint to be new Coined but it is certainly reported that a great part thereof was to which the five Sol Pieces made by the French Italians and other Nations greatly helped and contributed of which there had been many Millions Imported in 15 Years from 65 to 80 which were very beneficial to the Coynage of those Countries It was also farther commanded That all those who had any Venetian Zechins should bring them to the Mint there to be new stamped with the Letters of this Sultan's Name and there to be changed with the old ones of Venice or otherwise changed for Silver at the
known to the Turks and other Nations of the World. It being now resolved on all sides to make the Peace the Mediators who were to manage the Treaty were nominated and appointed and the most proper Persons esteemed to be the Ambassadors from England and Holland both of which having never been Engaged in the War on any of the sides but had always been true and ancient Friends to the Port the Turks could have no Objections to alledge against either nor had the Christian Princes any cause to suspect the Faith and Friendship of two such Ambassadors whose Offices and Persons were acceptable to the Turks and not displeasing to the Christians The Names of these Ambassadors designed to this so Necessary and Most Honourable Employment were the Lord Paget Ambassador for William King of Great-Britain and the Heer Colyer Ambassador for the Lords the States of the United Provinces All Matters being now ripe for Action and a willing mind for Execution the Turks moved with their Camp on the 11th of Iune 1698. commanded by the Grand Vizier the Grand Seignior still remaining behind in his Tent and with them also moved the two Ambassadors with their Equipages And to put every thing into a good posture and a way of Dispatch the Lord Ambassador's Secretary was dispatched away a second time as he had been the first on the 10th of May for Vienna from whence he returned on the 5th of Iuly to Sophia where on the same Day he there met with the Lord Ambassador Paget to whom he Communicated the good News of the Happy Inclinations of the Emperor and that Court towards the Peace But that no delay should be made therein the same Secretary was again dispatched away to hasten the Emperor's Ambassadors to the Place appointed and agreed upon for the Treaty and to procure and bring with him Passes and safe Conducts for the Turkish Plenipotentiaries who were the Reis Effendi Chief Chancellor or Secretary and Maurocordato who was the principal and first Interpreter to the Grand Seignior These two Persons together with the Lord Paget and the Dutch Ambassador set out from Sophia before the Camp on the 15th of Iuly and on the 24th they had passed 10 Hours beyond Nissa and on the 31st they arrived happily at Belgrade The Ambassadors remained at this place for the space of two Months that is of August and September the which passed soon away in regard that the Expectations of Peace had so filled Mens Hearts that nothing was heard in all Places but the Voices of Peace and Joy in all their Quarters At length the Month of October being entered the Proclamation of Neutrality was first published at Peter Waradin to the great Pleasure and Satisfaction of all People both Christians and Turks and afterwards at Belgrade On the 9 19th of October the Lord Paget and the Dutch Ambassador left their Camp near the City raised on an Eminence where was a good Air and a good Prospect over the Countries round about and upon the same Day early in the Morning they passed the Save a River which runs from Bosnia and falls into the Danube at Belgrade where it loses its Name In passing this River this Order was observed First went an Allai-Bey or the Marshal of the Show with about 50 Horse Then 60 Chiauses on Horseback A Guard of Janisaries being about 330 Men all on Foot. An Aga belonging to the Ambassadors with his own Servants and six Domestick Janisaries After which followed two Flags one with the English Coat of Arms and the other was a large Red Cross in a White Field Thenfollowed the English Ambassador's 6 led Horses covered with very richFurniture followed by the Gentleman of the Horse to my Lord Ambassador attended by a Giovane di Lingua or a young Druggerman or Interpreter Then came up the two Interpreters attending His Excellency the Lord Ambassador on each side of his Horse and they attended with two Heydukes in their own Country Habit and on both sides 10 Chiohadars or Servants who carry the Cloaks or Vests of the Great Men in White Vests with their Carbines on their Shoulders The Brother to the Lord Ambassador road afterwards with six Chiohadars Then followed the Secretary and Doctor with two English Gentlemen one from Aleppo and the other from Tripoli Also six Pages with the Lord Ambassador's Coach with a Turkish one which went before the Common Servants who marched all on Horseback two and two At their Passage over the Bridge of the Save which was lined with Janisaries three Guns were fired from the Castle and the Gallies Saicks and the Frigats as they passed fired each a Gun. About half the way to Semblin the Chiaus and others whom the Vizier had sent along with them made a Halt and having wished a good Journey to those whom they conducted returned back About an Hour after these Matters had passed the Dutch Ambassador followed and was used with the same Civility as those preceding The Emperor's Ambassadors because they sent Passports to the Turkish Ambassadors Signed by the Emperor's Hand desired to have others Signed by the Sultan But because it was considered that this exchange of Passports would take up a great deal of time the Mediators found out and agreed upon this Expedient That the Proclamation being made in both the Emperors Names no Passports should be delivered either from the Germans to the Turks or from the Turks to the Germans but that a Pleni-power should be given to the Midiators to grant Passports to People who were going up and down within the Limits of Neutrality agreed on both sides So the German Ambassadors resolved to go to Carlowitz within three Days time tho' their Wooden Houses were not arrived as yet The Mediators also agreed upon the same and to place themselves so that their Doors might be over against each other at a good distance whereby the Turks remained wholly on the Belgrade side and the Germans towards Peter Waradin The 11 21st the Venetian Ambassador arrived at Futack but the Muscovite Ambassador after their unthinking manner came directly the same Day to Peter Waradin without giving the Governour Notice of his coming by which Neglect of the Moscovite no Salutes were passed on him of which he complained to the Governour but that was easily answered by saying That he knew nothing of his coming down the River and therefore hoped to be excused In fine To Accommodate this Matter it was agreed That the Boats of the Moscovites should remove from the place where they first Landed and by a Signal given by the Ambassador's Trumpets the Guns should be fired which was done both from the Castle the Town and the Fleet. On the 15 25th of this Month of October the Turkish Ambassadors arrived at two Hours distance from the Tents of the Mediators but both sides having considered that the Days being short and that at such a distance from the Quarters of the Plenipotentiaries much time would be spent and lost in
His Character 299. Defeated 377. Hoffkirchen Count makes an Excursion as far as Esseck 249. Attack'd by Topal Pasha 306. Defeats him ibid. His Letter to the Duke of Croy 510. Holstein Prince of Commands the German Army 353. Hungarians complain to the Emperor 21 22. Their Deputies return dissatisfied 22. Treat with the Turks 23. Their Agents dismist from Candia by the Grand Vizier ibid. The Loyal part of them Petition the Emperor 27. They meet at Leusch and require the maintenance of their Privileges 30. Their Grievances 35. Zealous for their Religion 37. Hungary the Original of the Troubles there 15 and seq The Clergy disturb its quiet 34. A War breaks out ibid. Hussey Sir Will. chosen Ambassador from England to Turkey 397. His Death 412. I. JAnisaries demand the Head of the Grand Vizier 133. Chuse a new Aga 258. Assault their Officers 259. Jazlowitz taken 155. Ibrahim Pasha put to Death at Rhodes 255. Illock abandoned by the Turks 304. Imperialists revenge themselves on the Hungarians 34. Fight with the Poles Tartars and Hungarians 41. Overthrown 42. Fifteen hundred revolt ibid. Fall on the Pasha of Newhausel 44. Successful 53. Possess themselves of Bridges and a Fort built by the Turks 239. Defeated near Dragoman 352. Ill Conduct of their Army 532. Inclinations of the Turks towards a Peace 553. Instances of Peace promote the War between the two Empires 436. Job St. invested by Caprara is obliged to surrender 191. Joshua Col. revenges himself upon Strazoldo 49. Falls off to the Emperor ibid. His Death ib. Irrick surprized by the Christians and much Booty taken 395. Ismael made Vizier 286. Excuses himself from going to the War 288. K. KAlo besieged by Tekeli 92. Kanisia straitned 305. Kaposwar taken 220. Kara Kaia made Vizier 134. Proposes Peace which is disliked by the Grand Seignior 135. Lingers under a Distemper 186. Banish'd to Constantinople 188. His Estate seized ib. Kara Kiaja his Character 5. Karakowar taken 395. Kara Mustapha Vizier his Character 1. Marries his Daughter to the Grand Seignior's Hazna Kajasee 6. Treats the Christian Ministers contemptuously 7. Cuts off his Kaja and why 13 14. Meditates a War with the Emperor 15. Resolves upon it 39. His Death 134. Kops his Cruelty blamed 42. Kremnitz taken by Tekeli 48. Kuperlee Pasha sent for and kindly received at Constantinople 253. Laid aside 284. Sent to Canea 287. Kupriglioli the Grand Vizier dies 39. Kuzlir Aga's Counsel against Regeb 252. L. LAgos yields to the Germans 301. League concluded between the Emperor and King of Poland 96. Leslie Count Sen. sent to Krembs 105. Attends the Motion of the Seraskier 165. Expedition to the Bridge of Esseck 171. Leslie Count Iun. slain 108. Leventz taken 131. Liberachi encamp'd 357. Purposes to join with Bossina ibid. Alarms the Venetians 358 A Plot against him ib. Excuses his coming over to the Venetians ib. His Compliment and Advice sent to the Doge 359. Threatens the Villages near Salona 362. Fights and is defeated ib. Lippa taken 301. Surrendred to Gen. Veterani 426. List of such as were put to Death for a Conspiracy at Adrianople 527. Lists of the Imperial and Turkish Armies in the Plains of Salankemen 237. Lithuania the Forces thereof come to the Duke of Lorain 131. Loradin Marq. of arrives at Constantinople from France 442. Permitted to go to Belgrade ib. Lorain Duke of Feasts the Emperor and his Courtiers 98. He puts all his Foot into Vienna 103. Secures Presburg 106. Receives Letters from Vienna 110. Meets with the King of Poland 114. Marches after the Seraskier 150. False Letters deliver'd to him 163. Sick 211. Passes the Danube 247. Possesses himself of Alba Julia 262. His Character 299. Sick 300. Lubkovitz suspected and his Estate seized 36. Lugos taken 394. M. MAhomet Sultan goes to Constantinople 195. Is frighted at the tumultuous Meetings of the Turks and sends to them 221. Endeavours to appease his Army 255. Seeks to cut off his Brothers and Sons 256. Is prevented and loses his Authority ib. Is deposed 257. Mahomet Pasha put to flight 268. Betakes himself to Salona 269. Maina describ'd 223. Malecontents of Hungary assemble at Kivar 22. Chief of them cited to Newsol 25. Offer their Grievances to the Emperor ib. They fly into Moldavia 29. Repent too late 33. Their Obstinacy 35. Hold a Conference 37. Refuse to treat 39. Successful ib. and grow proud therewith ib. New Overtures made them 40. Obstinâ—te ib. Ioin'd by the Poles 42. Take a Convoy of Money and Provisions ib. Encrease in their Forces ib. The Emperor sends to treat with them ib. Propose to elect a King of their own 43. New Offers made them 49. They and the Turks intercept a great Convoy belonging to the Emperor 92. Put to flight 106. Some of them fall off to the Emperor 137. Maltese Gallies join the Venetian Fleet 361. Separate from them again 365. Malvasia block'd up 357. Particulars of the State thereof 360. Surrenders 389. Mamut Pasha flies upon a Report that the Christians were marching against him 352. Mantua Duke of comes to the Camp at Salankemen 243. March of the Christian Troops to the Rendezvous 400. Marsigli Count Secretary to Sir Will. Hussey 400. Himself and a Chiaus at Great Waradin 427. Marzamama takes the Command of the Turkish Fleet 184. Megara burnt 272. Memoirs of Sir Will. Hussey's Reception and Negotiation at Belgrade from 409 to 423. Mines sprung fired c. 111 112 115 c. Mitra surrenders to the Venetians 271. Modon attack'd surrenders 225. Mongatz block'd up 189. Besieged and tâ—â— Siege raised 192. Monticuculi his Counsel to the Emperor 53. Attack'd by the Tartars he makes his Escape with some Loss 367. Morlaques and Mainotes described 175. The latter worst the Turks 176. Morosini Gen draws into Winter Quarâ—â—â—â— 183. Elected Doge of Venice 313. His notable Exploits 388. Moscovites send an Ambassador into Poland and to Constantinople 49. Make Peace with the Poles 50. Fall from it and agree with the Turk ib. Send other Ambassadors to the Port 51. Inclinable to a League with the Venetians 136. Treat with the Turks 195. Moscovy Czar of sends Ambassadors to Poland 230. Mufti 's Letter to the Scheriff 520. Muran yielded to the Imperialists 29. Mustapha Sultan His Beginning Character and Humour 522 523. His Severities 529 530. Gains great Honour 532 Gives Orders for his return to Adrianople 533. Marches to Constantinople 534. He with the Queen-Mother leave Constantinople 538. Mustapha Aga arrives at the Imperial Court to renew the Treaty of Peace 353. Mustapha Pasha his good Qualities 521. Mutability of the Turkish Court 134. Mutinies at Constantinople 284. Mutiny against the Grand Vizier 128. One prevented in the Turkish Camp 340. N. NAdasti Count contrives how to poison the Emperor 22. Betrays Serini 28. Discover'd to be in the Plot 29. His Pardon deny'd 30. Try'd and Executed ib. His Estate forfeited to the Emperor 3â— Nagiferents a Confident of Wesselini seised 29. Napoli di Romania describ'd
225. Navarin New attack'd 224. Capitulates and Surrenders 225. Navarin Old Invested by the Venetians 223. The Inhabitants treat and surrende◠〈◊〉 Negropont the City describ'd 315. When â—aken by the Turks ib. Preparations by the Venetians to besiege it ib. Strength of the Turks in it 316. The Country and Inhabitants describ'd 318. Neutra demolish'd 100. Newburg Prince of his Character 299. Newhausel a Plague there 49. Besieg'd 98. Blockade 159. Streightned 162. Siege resolv'd on 164. and describ'd ib. Its Situation 165. Town on Fire ib. Taken and its dismal Condition 170. Newstadt the Treasure of the Bishop thereof 103. Nissa in want of Provisions 368. Provided 371. Invested 377. Straitly besieged 378 Surrendred to the Turks 382. Nogay Tartars describ'd 514. Novi deliver'd to the Turks 394. Novigrad Pasha of strangled 160. It s description 163. Noviporto a design upon it discover'd 373. O. OEdemburg the Emperor holds a Dieâ— there 75. Dissolved 79. Officers chang'd in the Turkish Court 168. Oke a Turkish Measure what 12. Olasch Battle of 539. Orlick Baron of defeats a Party of Turks 234. Orovitza quitted by the Turks 249. Orsoua taken by Tekeli 338. Burnt 348. Surrendred to the Turks 387. Ottoman Port in great disorder 234. Overtures of Peace made by the Emperor from 55 to 73. P. PAget Lord arrives at Adrianople with the Character of Ambassador from England to the Port 498. Has an Audience 499. His Letter to a Friend 500. His Letter to a Person of Quality at Vienna 512. Continues at Adrianople 523. Palanca of Boscoua capitulates 504. Palfi Count his Character 299. Particulars of the great Battle of Salankemen from 401 to 408. Pasha of Hungary ordered to assist the Malecontents 40. Passage a remarkable one 320. Patras taken 268. Peace Offers of it from the Turks 347. The Instrument of that between the Emperor and the Turk in Latin from 567 to 573. The same in English from 574 to 580. The Instrument of that between the Turk and Moscovite in Latin from 581 to 582. That between the Moscovite and Turk in Latin from 583 to 584. The first in English 585 586. The second 587 588. The Instrument of that between the Republick of Poland and the Turk from 589 to 592. in Latin. The same in English from 593 to 596. The Instrument of that between the Republick of Venice and the Turk in the Venetian Tongue from 597. to 599. The same in English from 600 to 602. Pedipol procures a Commission to be Prince of Transilvania but is opposed by Apafi and overcome 43. Pentlow Sam. an English Merchant at Smyrna his ill Treatment by Kara Mustapha Grand Vizier 2. His last Will ib. Percilia routs a Body of Tartars 395. Pernick storm'd and taken by the Christians 374. Persian Ambassador at Adrianople 433. Has Audience ibid. Continues there against the Inclinations of the Turks 434. Takes his Congee 442. Another arrives at Constantinople 541. Has an Audience ibid. Departs 543. Pest set on Fire by the Turks 142. Abandon'd again by them 201. Peterhasi relieves Cassovia 174. Peter Waradin fortified 401. Piccolomini Gen. his Character 299. Dispatch'd to Vienna 319. Reinforc'd he marches toward Pristina and Clin 351. Retires to Nazianech 352. Sick yet marches toward Prisseren ibid. After to Panni ib. Dies 353. Plague a miserable one 159. Plot discover'd in Hungary against the Emperor 24. Plots contrived by Tekeli discovered 233. Of the French Discover'd 337. Poland a League perpetual between it and Moscovy 196. A sham Envoy from thence 513. sent away with disgrace ib. Poland King of gives leave to some of his Troops to serve the Male-contents 41. Marches into Transilvania ib. Enters the Turkish Camp 120. His Elogium 121. Declines the Siege of Gran 129. Returns home with his Army 132. Recals his Forces 138. His Actions in the Year 1684 155. Poles press to have the Treaty signed 52. Charge the Turks 119. Put to flight 126. Deliberate again about fighting ib. Fight again 127. Two Polish Gentlemen revolt 41. Their Treachery discovered ibid. Pope assists the Emperor 157. Possega quitted by the Turks 250. Seasonably relieved 281. Prattick given to the Doge 366. Preparations for a Battle 401. For the Turkish Fleet 545. Presburg a Diet held there 32. Another 36 37. Debates about relieving the Town Secured by the Duke of Lorrain 106. Presents sent by the Grand Seignior to the Emperor 604. Presents sent by the Emperor to the Turk 605. Preveza surrendred 146. Principal Men in Asia put to Death 399. Proposals sent to the Turkish Army are by them refused 254. Propositions for a lasting Peace offer'd at Constantinople by Mr. Herbert the English Ambassador from 445 to 496. Protestants guilty of a bloody Outrage 35. Present their Grievances and Address to the Emperor from 79 to 92. Pyroth Commander thereof defeats a Party of 1500 Turks 352. Taken 377. Q. QUeen-Mother dead 133. Quinque Ecclesiae taken 220. R. RAbata Gen. his Character 298. Radimir abandon'd by the Turks 373. Ragotski endeavours to reconcile himself to the Emperor 27. Is pardon'd 28. Conditions made with him 32. Ragusean Ambassador imprison'd 3. Rascians in Arms against the Turks 314. Submit to the Emperor 317. Take two Places and defeat the Turks ib. Faithful to the Emperor 368. Take more Booties 443. Ratza taken from the Turks 281. Rebellion in Asia 333. Reflections on the Death of the English Ambassador 496. Regeb gives Counsel but not taken 252. Seized but escapes ibid. Taken 254. Strangled 258. Rejoicings at Venice for their Victories over the Turks 268. Relation of a Mutiny at Alba Regalis 283. Riccardi Col. examines the State of Alba-Regalis 282. Desires a Parly with the Pasha ib. Leaves the Place 284. Retardments to the Motion of War 529. Roman Clergy seize on the Protestant Churches in Hungary 35 36. Rome obstructs the Peace between the two Empires 355. S. SAlm Prince of his Character 298. Salona surrendred to the Venetians 270. Santa Maura describ'd 144. Besieged and surrenders ib. Saponara sent to Belgrade 94. Treats privately with Tekeli 95. Save Consultations to pass it 305. The Heydukes pass it ib. Savoy Prince of his Charactâ—r 299. Carries the News of Victory to Vienna 244 His Bravery ib. Saxony Elector of returns home 122. Schaffenburg Count his Character 299. Killed 311. Schlict defeats a Party from Great Waradin 426. Schonot it's Cruelty 193. Relieved by the Turks 194. Schultz Isle of the Christian Infantry there 100. Schultz Gen. forc'd to leave Ungwar 162. Sits down before Esperies 172. Takes it on Conditions ib. Watches the Motions of the Seraskier 208. Scio taken by the Venetians 518. Regained by the Turks 525. Sea-fight 392. Secretary of Holland drubb'd 4. Sedition in the Turkish Camp 248. Seditious Preacher 519. Segedin besieged 220. Taken ib. The Garrison thereof surprize Chonad 395. Semendria taken by Storm 382. Seraglio the Pleasures thereof 5. Seraskier his Original 135. Comes to Belgrade 139. Assaults the Christians 142. Is repulsed and flies 143.
The main Castle surrenders The Turks endeavour to take Singh Singh assaulted by the Turks They are repulsed The Siege raised 1687 The Emperor prepares for the next Camâ—aign The States of Austria convened They promise Money As do also the States of Stiria Alba Regalis in distress Messengers sent to Belgrade Are taken Valkowar Confession of Achmet The Turks of Alba Regalis Sâ—ize four Waggons with Provisions They are encouraged Means taken to hinder the Succours from Alba Regalâ—s Tekeli writes to his Princess Febr. 1688. He wasts the Countries Tekeli defeated General Carafa at Hermanstadt The Soldiers Allowance in Winter-Quarters increased Halmet yielded Felsiat surrenders 1688. March. The Despot of Valachia submits Alba Regalis in Mutiny Denies to surrender The Blocade closely watched Marquess of Baden at Ratisbon C. Caprara commands in Hungary The designs of the Turks defeated in Sclavonia Ratza taken from the Turks and burnt Baron Amanzaga defeats the Pasha of Gradisca The Garrison of Possega seasonably relieved Colonel Riâ—cardi made enquiry into the State of Alba Regalis Colonel Riccardi desires a parâ—y with the Pasha Iealousies in the Town A Skirmish near the Gates An Uproar in the Town A Relation of the Mutiny in the Town of Alba Regalis Colonel Ricceâ—rdi leavâ—s Alba Regalis Mutinies begin again at Constantinople Kuperlee laid aside He is sent in a Gally to the Castles The Vizier forced to dissemble A Zechin is about 9 â— 6 d. The Grand Seignior's Command read to the Soldiers Tesfagee refuses to obey And is killâ—d Hadgi Ali another Muâ—inous Fellow Kills the Aga of the Janisaries The Tumult increaâ—es The Vizâ—er gives up the Seale He is killed Hâ—s Wâ—fe House c. ransacked Great conâ—usion The ruin of the Mutiniers from whence Mahomet's Standard spread The Sedition suppressed Divers punished The Sultan takes upon him to govern Ismael made Vizierr by Chance March 1688. The Vizier â—ndâ—avourâ— to settle himself Kuperlee sent to Canea Several Imprisoned and Fined Yeghen Bei commits some outrages Pasha of Bâ—snia strangled The Grand Vizier makes excuse for not going to the War. Yeghen intrusted with the Army He demands Money The Vizier answers not Yeghen demands the Grand Seignior's Seals But is degraded New fears in the City from Yeghen Ismael the Vizier undermined Mustapha Pasâ—a sent for Muâ—tapha made Vizier Yeghen writâ—s to Ismael and the Mufti Mustapha Vizier answers Yeghens Letter Ismael blamed Ismael Fined May Fears and terrible Reports at Constantinople Deputies sent from Grand Cairo They are dispatched back again Robbers in Asia trouble the Country Mutinies in Candia Ismael banished Yedic was to be suppressed Yeghen câ—â—â—â—nues in Rebellion Tâ—â— Pâ—â—ple 〈…〉 with the â—â—w Sultâ—n The Turks make small Preparaâ—ions Thâ—â— seek fâ—r Peaâ—e An Ambassador designed â—â—r England The Embassy put off Ambassadors designed to the Emperor The Humour of Sultan Solyman Yeghen made Saraskier His Complices encouraged An Aga sent to Transilvania Alba Regalis straightned May. The Turks make a Sally They Capitulate The Articles are agreed and Messengers sent to Vienna May. The Garrison of Alâ—a Regalis Marches out Counsels of War at Viennâ— The Commanders on either side compared The Christian Generals and Officers Character of the Duke of Loraine Charactâ—r of the the Elector of Bâ—vâ—ria Character of Prince Lewis of Baden Count Caraffa Count Staremberg The Prince of Salm. Count Rabata Dunewald Count Palfi Count Serien P. of Croy. Gondola Count Taff. Souches Schaffenberg Neuburg P. of Savoy Veterani Heusler Piccolomini Result of the Couâ—sels of War at Vienna The Duke of Loraine Sick. The City of Stephanopolis refusâ—s to receive a Germâ—n Garrison The City Surrendered Lippa attacked Lippa yielded Lagos yielded The Elector of Bavaria made General An Earthquake at Smyrna A Fire breaks out Seditions in the Army A Conspiracy against the Vizier plotted and discovered The Methods of the Plot. How prevented Yeghen suspected to have been in the Conspiracy The Viziers respect to Yeghen Money come â—rom Grand Cairo Four nâ—w Vâ—ziers of the Benâ—h made Yeghen in Mutiny He returns to Belgrade Seizes on Hassan Pasha The Turks seek for Peace Their Messengers are suspected Illock abandoned by the Turks 1688. Iuly The E. of Bavaria at Vienna and hastens to the Camp. Sigeth and Kanisia straitned Consultations to pass the Save Five hundrâ—d pass the River Hâ—ffâ—irâ—hâ—n attâ—câ—ed by Topal Pasâ—a Wâ—o is 〈◊〉 Tâ—â— Tuâ—ks endâ—avour to â—e at Hoffâ—â—rchen out of Proot Are repulsed With great loss Proot demolished Iuly Piccolomini sent in quest of Hoffkirchen He retreats He Retreats with much Art and good Conduct Prince Lewis Marches towards Gradâ—ska The Elector of Bavaria prepares his March for Belgrade August 1688. The Cannon c. joyns the Army Resolved to pass the River Attempts to pass the Save The Christian Army passes thâ— Save The Tuâ—ks discourageâ— August The Tuâ—ks Fly. The Citizens of Belgrade abandon their Dwellings August A Fire consumes the Suburbs The Trenches open'd August 1688. Batteries raised The Turks Sue for Peace The Turks throw Bombs and Carcasses Theâ— make a sally and are beaten back The Duke of Loraine câ—mes to the Camp. Is received by the Elector of Bavaria The Turks spring another Mine and make a sally August 1688. Septem 1688. An Attack intended Belgrade Stormed Count Scherffemberg killed The Elector stands on the Breach The Turks Capitulate The P. of Commercy enters on the other side â— Heusâ—er forces a Gate Massacre and slaughter of the Turks The Pasha and other Officers made Prisoners The Cruelty of the Soldiers Sept. 7. Te Deum sung The Turkish Ambassador comeâ— to the Camp. It Feasted with the Generals Topal signifie Lume 1688. Septem P. Lewis passes the Save The Turks assault the Germanâ— The Turkish Horsâ— put to Flight And the Foot exposed to danger P. Lewis returns to Proot News sent to Vienna The French K. obstructs the Wars against the Turks The Rascians in Arms against the Turks The Elector of Bavaria returns to Vienna A Solemn Day of Thanksgiving The French obstructs the War against the Turk The Cruelty of the French in Germany The Elector returns to Monaco The German Troops recalled from Hungary The Pasha of Belgrade Prisoner Capâ—ara commands at Belgrade The Works about Belgâ—ade negligently repaired Caprara seizes on Semandria The Rascians submit to the Emperor They take two places and defeat the Turks Caprará returns to Belgrade Yeghen Pasha commits great Spoils Piccolomini dispatched to Vienna P. Lewis recalled to Vienna The Turks desire Peace The Emperor unhappily reâ—uses it The Turkish Ambassadors in Prison F. Morosini Elected Doge Troublâ—s amongst the Turks in Candiâ— Thâ— Turkish Fleâ—t very weak The Veâ—etian A 〈◊〉 joyned Cornaro in Dalmatia Solyman Pasha troubles the Christians His Kaja beaten by the Cutzi Succours sent to the Cutzi Part of the Venetian Fleet 〈◊〉 to the Dardanelli They stop the Captain Pasha from coming 〈◊〉 The Description of the City of Negropont Negropont when taken by the Turks
and Henry the Third then reigning in England that they both promised them aid Whereupon Lewis a man of a great devotion and always forward in that service against the Infidels took upon him the Cross the cognisance of the sacred War causing his three Sons Philip that succeeded him in the Kingdom sirnamed the Fair Peter Count of Alangon and Iohn Count of Nevers sirnamed Tristan for that his Mother was in her greatest heaviness for the taking of her Husband delivered of him in Egypt and most of the Nobility of France to do the like unto whom also Theobald King of Navar his Son-in-Law Alphonsus his Brother and Guydo Earl of Flanders joyned themselves And so having put all things in readiness took his way to Marselleis and from thence embarking himself with his Army in the Genoway Ships hired for that purpose set forward the first of March in the year 1270. But being at Sea he was by force of Weather constrained to land in Sardinia year 1270. and there to stay a while departing thence he at length arrived at Carthage the place by him desired where in the entrance of the Haven he surprised certain of the Enemies Ships but landing his men and assaulting the Town he was there notably repulsed This is not that antient great and famous City which sometime mightily strove with the proud Mistress of the World for Soveraignty but another built long after in the ruins or at least not far from the ruins of the same In the besieging whereof the Frenchmen found such resistance as well put them in remembrance of the antient glory of the Carthaginians One day it fortuned as the King thus lay at the Siege that the Defendants made a great and fierce Sally out upon the Frenchmen who before commanded so to do by little and little retired to draw their Enemies further on betwixt whom and the City the Constable with a great power coming in and charging them behind and they which before retired now standing close unto them they were on both sides hardly beset who for all that as became valiant men worthily defended themselves and made there a great fight though not without extreme peril which they in the City beholding gave out a most hideous and piteous cry a certain sign of their hard estate within astonying with the suddenness thereof both their Friends and Enemies But whilst they of the Town betwixt hope and despair stood thus beholding the fight at Land the Frenchmen by Sea approaching a Bulwark on that side of the Town took it without resistance which so dismaied them without that they began forthwith to flie of whom the greatest part casting away their Weapons were by the Kings commandment taken to mercy and they likewise of the Town upon promise of their lives yielded the same unto the King. Carthage thus won the King laid Siege to Tunes the chief City of that Kingdom being not far off where by the way he was encountred by the King of the Countrey who having there lost ten thousand of his Moors betook himself to flight with the rest Who thus overthrown resolved no more to tempt Fortune but to keep himself safe within the Walls of the City if happily so he might as it oftentimes falleth out more weaken his Enemies by lying still and protracting the time than by open Force and Valour Which their purpose King Lewis perceiving resolved not to stir from thence until that he were become Master of the City which as it seemed could not hold out for want of Victuals considering the multitude of People that were got into it Nevertheless thus besieged both by Sea and Land and so straightly hemmed in on every side as that no relief could possibly be brought unto it yet held it out by the space of six Months After which time Wants daily more and more increasing amongst the besieged Embassadors were sent out to the King to intreat with him of peace But whilst these Embassadors go to and fro and reason upon the capitulations of the desired peace behold a great and furious Plague arose in the French Camp which began to cut them down by heaps there dyed Iohn Tristan Count of Nevers the Kings youngest Son born in the first expedition that the said King his Father made into the Holy Land even at such time as he was taken Prisoner which Tristan died the five and twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord 1270. The good King having yet scarcely performed the Obsequies of his Son fell sick of the bloody Flix whereof he there shortly after died also About which time arrived there Charles King of Sicily the French Kings Brother with a great number of fresh Souldiers whose coming lightned somewhat the Frenchmens hearts heavy for the death of their King and daunted the Moors before brag of the same Shortly after whom arrived there also Prince Edward King Henry the Third his Eldest Son who travelling through France and taking shipping at Aquesmort not far from Marseilles was now in ten days with a brave Company of Englishmen come to Tunes and thereof the other Christian Princes namely of Philip the French King his Father Lewis being now dead of Charles King of Sicily and of the two Kings of Navar and Aragon joyfully received But these Princes had a little before his arrival concluded a Peace with the Moors King and the Infidels upon condition that he should pay a yearly Tribute of forty thousand Crowns unto the King of Sicilia and to suffer the Christian Religion to be freely preached in his Dominions by such devout persons as should be there left for that purpose and that unto such as should by their preaching be converted unto the Faith in Christ Jesus it should be lawful for them to be baptized and to profess the Christian Religion Of which Peace Prince Edward understanding did what he might to have disswaded them from the same saying that the War was by them all taken in hand against the Infidels as Enemies to the Cross of Christ with whom they were not to have Peace and for the recovery of the Holy City But say what he would and do what he could the Peace to his great discontentment was now concluded which they might not as they said again break and thereupon with the first fair Wind hoised sail and returned towards Sicilia with purpose the next Spring to have gone into Syria which their determination was shortly after by the hand of God disappointed For being come upon the Coast of the Island not far from Drepanum most of the great Princes and other Nobility in their long Boats went on Land the rest of the Fleet lying at Anker about a League off for that being for the most part Ships of great burthen they were not able to put into the Harbor But as they so lay by force of a sudden and violent Tempest then arising some were eaten up with the rough Sea some falling foul one on