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justice_n	chief_a	lord_n	treasurer_n	2,704	5	10.8093	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57997	The history of the Turkish Empire, from the year 1623, to the year 1677 Containing the reigns of the three last emperors, viz. Sultan Morat, or Amurat IV. Sultan Ibrahim, and Sultan Mahomet IV, his son, the thirteenth emperor, now reigning. By Sir Paul Rycaut, late consul of Smyrna.	Rycaut, Paul, Sir, 1628-1700.; Knolles, Richard, 1550?-1610. Generall historie of the Turkes. aut; Manley, Roger, Sir, 1626?-1688. History of the Turkish Empire continued. aut; Rycaut, Paul, Sir, 1628-1700. Memoirs. aut; White, Robert, 1645-1703,	1687 (1687)	Wing R2407; ESTC R8667	720,857	331

sixth day of February Audience with the Grand Signior being Pay-day of the Janisaries the Lord Ambassador had Audience of the Grand Signior which was performed in this manner His Excellency with Sir Thomas Bendysh departing from his House with his retinue on Horse-back by break of day in the Morning was met on Constantinople side by the Chaous-Bashee and his Chaouses and by them conducted to the Seraglio We rode through the first Court which was very spacious and then we alighted from our Horses and walked through another Court leading to the Divan or place of Judicature at the upper end of which the Great Vizier was seated on his right Hand sate Five Viziers of the Bench of which the Captain-Pasha or Admiral of the Seas was one on the left were the Two Kadileschers or Chief Justices one of Anatolia and the other of Romelia and by them the Tefterdar Pasha or Lord Treasurer with Three other Pasha's The floar of the Divan was covered with Carpets and on them a richer covering of Bags of Money for payment of the Janisaries The Two Ambassadors with about Six or Seven of their retinue amongst which I was one being admitted in and placed at the lower end their Excellencies approached toward the Vizier and were seated near unto him on Two stools covered with Crimson Velvet and some Discourse and Complement having passed between them they retired to another part of the Room that they might give way to Business In the mean time the payment of the Soldiers went forward every Churbagee or Captain taking from the heaps the Pay of his Soldiers and laying the Bags on their Shoulders made up to the Vizier and having kissed the Hem of his Vest on his Knees he retired with great Humility and hast from him passing away with his side towards him it being very unseemly amongst them to turn their backs to Personages of that Dignity The Payment being over Three small Tables were brought in the first of which was covered with a silver Voyder at which the Two Ambassadors sate with the chief Ministers but the Great Vizier by reason of his Age and Weakness retired into another Room The other Two Tables were covered with a mixed Mettal which served in the place of a Table-Cloth at which the others sate We had no Knives Forks nor Plate but only Wooden Spoons were laid for us which was sufficient in that manner of eating for their Meats are most boyled and conveniently received by the Spoon or are so well roasted that they are easily parted with the Fingers The dishes were served in by one at a time but so fast that we had scarce tasted of one before it was snatched away to make place for another and I think there might be about Twenty several changes in this manner at the end of all to conclude our Feast a great Bowl of Sherbet was brought in and we drank of it as large draughts as we pleased Being risen from the Table Eighteen Coftans or Vests being the usual number given to the English Ambassadour with one extraordinary in favour to the New Ambassador were brought forth and bestowed and in the mean time the Present from our King to the Grand Signior provided at the expence of the Turky Company consisting of Fifty Vests viz. Ten of Velvet Ten of Sattin Ten of Cloth of Gold Ten of Tabbies and Ten of fine English Cloth were brought forth and displayed in the open Court by Fifty men which carried them and Four English Mastiffs which were more acceptable to this Grand Signoir than all the rest The whole body of Janisaries then payed consisting of about Five thousand were drawn up in a body and ranged on one side of the Court-yard amongst them there was that silence that the least whisper noise or motion was not heard and as their Janisar Aga and other Commanders passed the bowings they made in salute were so regular and at the same time as may well testify the exactness of their Discipline and admirable obedience which hath in a great measure contributed towards their Conquests and Enlargement of their Empire Being thus Vested and ranked in Order the Great Vizier entered into the Presence of the Grand Signior and then Two Capugi-bashes or Chief of the Porters of the Gate with long Silver Staves took the New Ambassador under each Arm to conduct him to the Chamber of Audience those permitted to accompany him were Sir Thomas Bendysh the Earl of Winchelsea's Brother Sir Thomas Allen Captain of the Plymouth Frigat the Interpreter and my self who then being Secretary carried the Credential Letters made up in a Purse of Cloth of Gold. We gently knocked at the first Gate which was immediately set wide open to us in the Porch whereof Forty white Eunuchs attended clothed in Vests of Sattin and Cloth of Gold of divers colours and stood with their Hands before them with marvellous silence and modesty Coming near to the Presence-door where the Kapi-Aga or Chief of the white Eunuchs attended we made a pause in the Porch and trod very softly so as not to disturb with the least motion the greatness of that Majesty and so profound was the silence that nothing was heard besides the murmurings of a Fountain adjoining hereunto Just at the entrance of the Chamber hung a gilded Ball studded with divers precious Stones the Floar was covered with Crimson Velvet embroidered with Golden-wyre The Grand Signior himself sate in a Throne raised a small heigth from the ground supported with Four Pillars plated with Gold from the top hung several gilded Balls twined with Masses of Pearl the Cushions he sate upon and those also that lay by were richly embroidered and beset with Jewels and on his right hand stood the Great Vizier And having made a considerable stop at the Door the Two Capugibashees who held his Excellence under each Arm brought him to the middle of the Room and laying their Hands upon his Head made him bow until he touched the Carpets with his forehead and then raising him again they retired backward with him unto the farthest part of the Room and in like manner they took all the others singly and in order placing them behind the Ambassadors The Credential Letters from our King were then presented and appointed that they should be delivered to the hands of the Reis-Efendi or Secretary of State. Then the Druggerman or Interpreter by Order of the Lord Ambassador read a Paper in the Turkish Language to this Effect First Declaring how the King of Great Britain our Soveraign Lord and Master was restored to the Throne of his Ancestors without War or any Conditions And the great Clemency of His Majesty in pardoning all but those who had a hand in the Murder of his Father Secondly Recommending the Merchants and their Interest to the continuance of his usual Favour and Protection Thirdly Begging the freedom of all English Slaves as a particular Testimony of Favour and Grace to this New Ambassador

by the Imperial Decree forbidden under pain of Death and a thousand Execrations and Curses was now the common Drink and divertisement in fashion used immoderately by all excepting the Grand Signior the Mufti and Reis Effendi the Vizier himself having been excessively intemperate therein had extinguished the natural heat of his stomach which could be warmed by no less heat than what proceeds from Aqua Vitae by which debauchery and indisposition all Businesses were slowly and negligently dispatched and according to his example the Officer and Ministers acted in their Affairs which in former times being always dispatched by nine a Clock in the Morning that became now the time and hour of rising The Grand Signior himself though not taught by his Attendants to drink Wine lest it should perhaps betray him to some actions dangerous to them gave himself to Amours for falling in love with a Polish Woman lately captivated at Kemenitz he made her his Second Hasakee or Sultaness for having had the good fortune to bring him a Son that honour was the reward of her fruitfulness and that he might give other testimonies of his favour he cast his eyes on a poor Chinganee or Gipsy Boy who with singing and dancing so pleased him that he gave him six purses of money containing three thousand Dollars with Horses and Servants and took him into the Seraglio Amidst these Delights the Grand Signior gave order to the Vizier not to speak to him of three things Neither of returning to Constantinople nor against his Favourite nor against his Hunting in other matters he might use freedom Another alteration of a better nature with reference to Learning and Knowledge seems also remarkable in this Court for the Grand Signior having been some years past presented by the Dutch Resident with twelves large Volumes of the new Atlas upon an accidental sight thereof was so pleased that he commanded it should speedily be translated into Turkish to which Work Dr. Alexandro Mauro Cordato the Viziers Interpreter who succeeded in the place of Panaioti deceased was nominated but he finding it too unweildy for him desired the assistance of a French Jesuit then at Scio skilful in the Turkish and Arabick Languages who was immediately sent for and therein employed and though it is thought that this business is above their Element and that it will soon cool and be neglected yet it seems to be the first step which the Turks have made unto Learning and therefore is the more observable And now the Festivals beginning on the 16th of May The great Festivals in what manner celebrated at the Turkish Court. we must for some days lay aside all business and observe with what order and form these Solemnities were performed In the first place On this day the Grand Signior with the young Prince his Son went to their Tents which were pitched very sumptuously in the Plain near the City and indeed were truly stately and magnificent all the great men as the Vizier Mufti and others having their Pavilions erected amongst which was raised a very stately Throne with a Canopy of Cloth of Gold extended under the shady leaviness of two tall Elms which set off with many Lamps in the Night represented a very pleasant and glorious Scene On this Seat of State the Sultan placed himself in the morning being accompanied thither by all the Pashaws then present and by the Rrepresentatives of those who were absent who according to their Degree in order kissing his Vest delivered in a Silk Purse a Note or Schedule of their Presents which were afterwards put into the Tefterdar's or Lord Treasurers hands to see and compare them with the particulars received which were so great and considerable that they far surpassed the Charges and Disbursments of the Solemnity Opposite to the Tents were several poles fixed between which at Night were hung Lamps of several shapes which being varied every Night made a very pleasing and magnificent Object by light of which in the Evening were exercised several tricks of Activity as Wrestlings Dancing and Singing and sometimes were acted Turkish Comedies which consist only of Farces and some ridiculous Dialogues and at last the divertisements of the night concluded with Fire-works which were so many that as reported 240 men were employed for four months time in the main Christendom only one seemed to excel the rest being a sort of Rocket which went up very high without any tail of fire like the common ones carrying only a small compacted Globe of red fire like a Star and making to noise in mounting but raised to its height breaks These were the pastimes of the Night in the day time all the several Arts and Trades some one day and some another passed before the Tents every one offering their Presents as they passed representing by some kind of Pageant and Procession their diversities of Trade this continued for fifteen days On the 25th of this instant May was a solemn Cavalcade in which marched the Janisaries with all their chief Officers Chiauses and Mutafaracas c. And of the Great Men the Vizier Mufti and Kul-ogli the Favourite the first on the right hand and the second in the middle after them followed the young Prince who was to be circumcised extraodinary rich in the Furniture of his Horse and the number and largeness of the Diamonds which were on his Tulbant and Breast In this Cavalcade were carried twenty four small Nachils and two large ones as high as the Mast of a Ship which were carried by a hundred Slaves and set before the Seraglio which are in form of triumphant Pyramids adorned with Tinsils in thirteen Divisions according to this following Form or Description A Turkish Pageant High 27 Menar Pikes Each Almost as Long as a yard 32 Spanns about att The Bottome The forme of a Nachil Vests of Cloth Silke On the 27th being the day of Mahomet's Birth the Grand Signior rode publickly to the Mosch of Sultan Selim having no other attendance than the Retinue of his own Court his Pages were very rich in Cloth of Gold each carrying a Feather studded with a rich Jewel on his Head after the Grand Signior rode the young Prince who that Night was circumcised During this Festival a vast number of people was fed at the charge of the Grand Signior and about two thousand circumcised every one of which had a Quilt given him with a small pay of three Asper a day for his Life The manner of the Marriage of the Grand Signior's Daughter This Solemnity for the Circumcision being ended on the 10th of June began the Feast for the Marriage The Kuzlir Aga who is the black Eunuch of the Women was Bridegroom or Comparé to the young Princess and the Tefterdar or Lord Treasurer to Kul-ogli both which in the name of the Bride and Bridegroom went before the Lord Chief Justice called the Kadelescher and by him had the Articles of Marriage wrote and passed into publick

the Father as the Mouth and Oracle of the Law or to the simple and foolish innocence of the Maid and therefore ordered the Great Vizier to cause a Watch to be set on the Girl either going in or coming out of the Bath and without farther Ceremony to bring her unto him This Order being executed accordingly and the Maid hurried to the Seraglio Ibrahim possessed and enjoyed her for some days but with those Tears Reluctancy and Sullenness as tood off from the edg and appetite of Enjoyment so that he returned her back again with scorn and contempt unto her Father who at first dissembled the injury with the same Countenance as he did before when he was interdicted the Sultan's Presence suppressing his revenge like a concealed Fire which bursts out afterwards with more violent Flames But though the sense of Obedience and Duty towards his Prince allayed much of the choler he conceived against him for the Rape of his Daughter yet he knew not how to pardon the Great Vizier whom he termed no other than a Ruffian or Pandor the Minister of his Master's Lusts and not of his Laws and of Justice Thus full of indignation he applyed himself and made his complaint unto one Mahomet Pasha a principal Member of the Divan one of great Wisdom and Practice in the Conduct of Affairs and one with whom he had a particular Friendship and Intimacy Nor less interest had he with Janisar-Aga or General of the Janizaries to both whom with tears in his Eyes and with such words as the sense of his injuries suggested he railed at the Vizier and aggravated the Ravishment of his Daughter with all the circumstances of Villany and Violence These two Friends heard the Story with a sensible remorse and immediately concluded That for the Honour and Security of the Empire it was necessary to depose Sultan Ibrahim and for the same Reason to cut off the first Vizier agreeing amongst themselves that Mahomet Pasha should receive the Seal and the Office. To effect which they deemed it necessary to draw the Qneen-Mother into the Conspiracy being a Woman of great Authority and having as it were the Reins of Government in her Hands by reason of the weak Judgment of her Son. But because it was difficult to perswade the tenderness of a Mother to the ruin of her Son the wise Mufti resolved first to sound her Inclinations and disposition towards this Design and being well informed of her fierce Circassian Nature and the Jealousy and Anger she conceived against Shechir Para obtained Licence to be heard by her as if he would beg her Intercession with her Son in his behalf and being admitted to discourse with her he thereby plainly discovered her most inveterate hatred and displeasure against her Son not only for this but for many other Actions of like nature This discovery which the Queen had made gave him the boldnesd to propose the confinement again of Ibrahim to his old Prison not that he should be absolutely laid aside and deposed but only corrected awhile and being put in remembrance of his past Condition might be tanght Wisdom and instructed for the future what moderation and justice Sultans are obliged to exercise in the Administration of Government and so subtilly did he insinuate his Discourse that the Queen-Mother assented to the Proposal and that the Seal should beconferred on Mahomet Pasha for she had conceived an irreconcileable hatred against Achmet the Grand Vizier by whose Counsel she was sent to the old Seraglio and was united in Confederacy with the detested Shechir Para. The Mufti greatly satisfied to have gained so considerable a Conspirator to the Party communicated the whole Business with the Progress of it to the two Kadileschers or Lord Chief Justices of Romelia and Anatolia who approving thereof and promising their utmost assistance the 7th of Angust was the Day appointed for the Insurrection of the Janizaries who being all in a readiness on that day went in a tumultuary way to call the Mufti the Kadileschers and other Officers and Ministers of the Law whom they seemingly forced to accompany them to the presence of the Grand Signior of whom they demanded that the present Vizier Achmet should be deprived of his Office and that Mahomet Pasha should be constituted in his place The Grand Signior at first refused their Demand but being perswaded by his Mother that it was necessary to content the Militia in that tumult he consented thereunto and having called Achment he took from him the Seal and conferred it on Mahomet Pasha and therewith the Office of Grand Vizier Achmet trembling at the consequences hereof resolved to commit himself to the Mercy of the Mufti and therefore hastned to his House to attend his return hoping to find him his Protector under whose Shadow and Roof he fled for Sanctuary The Souldiery having thus obtained the first-fruits of their Insurrection accompanied the Mufti unto his Home where finding the deposed Vizier Achmet the Janisar-Aga immediately Commanded him out of Doors from whence he had no sooner drawn his Foot than that he was seized upon and strangled and his Body thrown before the Gate of the new Mosch The next day being the 8th of August 1648 the Janizaries again arising in the like Tumult as before came to demand of the Mufti Whether that according to their Law Sultan ibrahim as a fool and a Tyrant and unfit for Government ought not to be deposed To which the Mufti giving Answer in the Affirmative sent to cite Sultan Ibrahim the day following to appear in the Divan to administer Justice to his Souldiers and Subjects who expected it from him But Ibrahim supposing that he had sufficiently satisfied the Souldiery by putting the Vizer out of Office laughed at the Summons which the Mufti made him which being seconded by a Fetfa which is a point of Law resolved by the Mufti who is the Mouth or Oracle thereof viz. That the Grand Signior being called to account is obliged to appear before the Justice the Sultan in high disdain tore the Paper threatning the Head of the Mufti but it was now too late he having already sufficiently fortified himself with the Power and Strength of his Rebellious Companions This Fetfa was immediately seconded by another of a higher nature which declared That whosoever obeyed not the Law of God was not a true Mussulman or Believer and though that Person were the Emperor himself yet being become by his fithy Actions a Kafir or Infidel was ipso facto fallen from his Throne and no farther capable of Authority and Government This Fetfa being seen by Ibrahim he tore it in pieces commanding the Grand Vizier instantly to put the Mufti to Death as guilty of Treason against his Prince but having now lost his Authority his Commands were not longer regarded nor any reverence had of his person For the Janizaries being again assembled about five a Clock in the Afternoon came with their usual tumult to the Gates of

since which having received from him no occasion of breach he could not with any Justice engage so soon against him in a War. The Cossacks being thus disappointed of their principal Hopes The Inhabitants abandon Asac resolved to abandon their City but to make the best advantage of their flight they carried with them all their Moveables and demolished their salls and ruined their Houses leaving the Place a notorious Spectacle of Despair and Ruin and no other Possession to their Enemies than the compass of so much ground pestered with Rubbish and rude heaps of Stones The Pasha howsoever abundantly contented that his very Name was sufficient to affright his Enemies entred the City with Triumph where he began to repair the Walls and invite the Inhabitants to return with all assurance of Security and Protection This gentle Treatment recalled many back to their Homes so hardly are Men weaned from their Native Country and in a short time the City beginning to fill all Matters seemed to return to their pristine State and Condition About this time the Persian The Persian renews his League by his Ambassador renewed his League with the Turk and confirmed it in the Name of the new king which was performed on condition that the Soft should demolish the Fortress of Fortrina which he had contrary to Articles built on the Frontiers not far from the Caspian Sea which that it might assuredly be performed a Capugibathee was dispatched to see it effected And in this manner Asac being subdued and a Peace secured with the Persian The Turks who can neither live in quiet with their Neighbours nor observe Capitulations longer than they turn to their advantage contrived to take Giavarine aliàs Rab a strong Fortress on the Confines of Hungary by a Stratagem which they designed in this manner Certain souldiers habited like Peasants The Turks seek to take Rah by Stratagem were crouded into several Carts covered with Hay which being entered within the Walls were immediatly to leap forth and surprise the Centinels and Guards at the Gates which might easily be executed on Men whom twenty Years before of Peace had made secure these were to be seconded by four thousand Souldiers which lay ready in a Neighbouring Vally but it happened That an Officer of the Garrison returning from Hunting had by chance discovered this strong Party of Turks which caused him to quicken his pace towards the Town and overtaking in his way certain Carts of Straw which appearing to be laden in a form different to what was usual increased in him a farther suspicion of Treachery how soever he proceeded forward with the more haste yet without any appearance of Jealousy until being entred into the Town he declared what he had seen at which the Garison was immediately in Arms and having permitted the Carts to enter the Bridg was drawn up and the Carts being searched the shole Fraud and Treachery was discovered and having made the Turks Prisoners and armed the Walls with Souldiers the whole Design was disappointed so that those who lay in Ambush returned to their own Cities The Emperor hereupon resolved to send an Ambassador to Constantinople complain of this Treachery whereof the Turks being ashamed and the more because it did not succeed resufed to admit the Ambassador unless the Emperor would first agree to pay a yearly Charge of an hundred thousand Ris-Dollars to the Port not by way of Tribute but of present in which unreasonable Demand they took more confidence in regard they perceived that the Emperor was engaged in a War against the Swede Upon this dishonourable Demand the Emperor deferr'd the Embassy intended supposing it less perilous to adventure a War in Hungary than dishonourable to condescend unto a Proposition so derogatory to the Majesty of his Cesarean Greatness This Year 1643 being entered the Prince of Transylvania conveyed his Annual Tribute being ten thousand Zechins to the Port which when the Agents of that Prince presented before the Vizier he seemingly refused it pretending that the compleat Tribute was to be fifteen thousand according to Agreement but the Agents replied that five thousand had been remitted unto Bethlem Gabor not by way of Gratuity or Recompence for his Service but in Exchange or as the price of two Cities which the Prince had yielded to the Sultan out of his own proper Estate in Hungary With which Answer the Vizier remained satisfied being jealous of the Turbulent and active Spirit of that Prince During all these Wars and Revolutions in Kingdoms and States Sultan Ibrahim contained and contented himself within the Precincts of his Seraglio where becoming a faithful and valiant Soldier of Venus he consumed more Treasure in that War than his Brother Morat did in Foreign Conquests and being as it were entered into the Mahometan Paradise where the Company of fair Women is the chiefest Felicity promised he laboured to increase the Ottoman Family and to acquit his People of the apprehension they had of wanting an Heir to succeed in the Throne so that on the 15th of February he had a second Son born and a third on the 12th of March following which absolutely took away the Reproach of his Frigidity or Impotence proving afterwards the most lascivious and devout Sultan that ever aspired to the Mahometan Heaven This Year the Turks armed out twenty Gallies more than usual besides thirty Sail of Ships and Gally-Grosses in the beginning of June riding at the Seraglio Point where the Commanders in Chief came to take their leave of Sultan Ibrahim they divided into two Squadrons one of which consisting of twenty Gallies under the Command of Beker Pasha took their Voyage into the Black Sea the remainder under the Captain Pasha sailed for Cyprus with intention to do Justice on the Pasha of that Island whose Riches gained by Oppression had debauched him from due Obedience towards his Prince and being arrived there without Rumor or Noise giving signs of good Will and Respects towards the Pasha one day he sent to invite him Aboard to banquet with him where the Pasha foolishly coming and having well eaten and drank with him his Entertainment had not time time to digest before he breathed his Last for being on his departure the Slaves assaulted him and strangled him by Order of the Captain-Pasha No other Matters remarkable did the Turkish Fleet perform this Year at Sea before they returned again to their Winter-Quarters Howsoever this Year proved savourable to many poor Christians in Slavery for there happening a most miserable Plague in Alexandria which relaxed the Spirits of Men and rendered every one so negligent in his Office that about four-thousand Slaves taking advantage of such Remisness in their Guardians seized a Ship in Port and crouding themselves therein set Sail and landed some of their People at Candia others at Malta the rest at Marseillia by which means they happily regained their Liberty on which incouragement eight hundred more adventuring to perform the like

Asia with thirty in his Company and in a short time arrived at Grand Cairo where with fair terms and Restitution of some Money from the Pasha all matters were reduced to an amicable composure only the punishment of the chief Mutiners with a fair Coutenance deferred for a Season was afterwards according to the Turkish Fashion when time and opportunity presented remunerated to those factious Spirits with a severe Interest and Satisfaction to Justice Not long after Ibrahim Pasha having obtained his Liberty returned from his Government of Cairo to Constantinople where refreshing himself some time with the Embraces of his young Sultana an Imperial Command for immediate payment of four hundred Purses of Money to the Grand Signiors Treasury disturbed his delightful quiet Ibrahim Pasha fined The Pasha made a present payment of one half but desired time for the Remainder either for want of that instant supply or else in hopes of ease of his Fine But the Sultan who is impatient of any delay in his Slaves which savours of obstinacy or disobedience tho never so reasonable dispatched another Command enjoining present Compliance and as a Penalty for the late Neglect raised the Demand from four hundred to six hundred Purses which if not as readily payed as required the Kimacham of Constantinople was impowered to commit him Prisoner within the four Gates of the Seraglio the fatal Prison from whence few find other Release than by Death The Pasha not being able to comply was there restrained of his Liberty and imprisoned and yet had the good fortune in a few days to obtain his freedom by the endeavours as some suppose to the Great V●zier who having by this Act weakened his Power and Treasure did afterwards as an instrument of his Deliverance conserve his Life and obtain for him the Government of Darbiquier where being remote and obscure at so far a distance could never be capable to shadow or by his great popularity and affable comportment endanger the present happy state of the V●ziers Office. Matters growing now towards Action by return of the Spring the Grand Signior to incourage his Vizier in a continuance of his duty sent him a Horse and a Sword as a Testimony of his favour and good esteem of his Person and Orders were issued out through all the Empire for publick Prayers to be made some days before the Vizier began his March towards the Enemy This appointment of publick Devotions occasioned matter of argument and dispute between the Mufti and a Shegh or Preacher one that was always near the Grand Signiors Person and therefore on Confidence of his familiar Access to the Presence of the Sultan and on Presumption of his Sanctity and Priviledg of his Office took Liberty to oppose and contradict the Oracle of the Ottoman Law. A Dispute between the Mufti and a Shegh The Problem in question was Whether Prayers appointed for success of the Ottoman Arms according to the Law of their Prophet were to be made privately and in every Mosch or Oratory apart or in a general Assembly of the whole City The Mufti maintained the last Position citing in favour of his Opinion the Testimony of divers Arabick Doctors and the customs of the present and past times The Shegh on the contrary was for Devotions to be performed in every Mosch declaring That the Assembly of all the People of a City into one Body did nothing avail or inforce the Power of Prayer for they being true believers were all illuminated and had no need of helps to make their Prayers more fervent or more acceptable The Argument was hot on both sides and tho the Mufti had got another Shegh on his part who might pretend to as much of Illumination as the other and j●yned to the Mufti 's Opinion who is the Mo●th and undoubted Interpreter of the Law might seem able not only to resolve the knottiest difficulties but to impose an Assent on them with greater Authority yet the Shegh having the Grand Signor on his side presently got most of Reason and forced the Mufti to recant his former Opinion as Erroneous and to banish the other Shegh his Companion pretending that he was now convinced and had sooner discovered the truth had not the Imp●st●r the false Preacher deceived him by his ●e gned Illuminations This Victory gained the Shegh much applause and esteem with the Grand Signior so that he vented what Doctrine he pleased and all he said was taken for Divine Ruies and Precepts He was born abou● Van on the Confi es of Persia so that he is called Vanni Efendi and is of the A●m●nian Race he preached every Friday at Adrianople in one Mosch or other where the Grand Signior was for the most part present and tho the greatest part of his Sermons were stuffed up with Praises of the M●bomeian Religion and Invectives against Christians sentencing all polluted and profane who ass●ciate with them and exclaiming against the Abomination of Wine yet it is confidently reported that he is no strict Observer of the Law he pro●esses the which his Disciples and Familiars are ready to excuse in him saying That it may be lawful for him to dispense with such matters in regard his Illuminations and high Prerogatives of Sanctity have infranchised him from observance of the meaner and less substantial points of their Law. The Turks Predictions amongst the Turks who are as much given to Predictions and Interpretations of old Prophecies as ever the Egyptians were busied themselves this year more than ever to know the Event of this War. Some who had studied ancient Arabick Predictions had extracted certain Astrological Figures and from thence framed strange Fancies according to the humour or melancholly of the Astrologer one whereof coming to the Grand Signiors ears mentioning divers things obscurely and in general of the great Effusion of Blood but that at last the Advantage and Victory should remain to the Tu●k and that the Grand Signior himself should shortly make a Journey the Grand Signior troubled here●t as much as ever Pharaoh was about the Interpretation of his ●ream sent for one of the Chief Just ces of the Law called the Kadilescher and with him con●eried concerning this Prediction all things Pleased him well but only the latter part of making a Journey Whither that Journey should be he could not imagine his Arms were so prosperous in Hungary that he conceived the Vizier had no need of his Presence either to animate or recruit his Army and to any other part he knew not what could move him from his delightful and beloved City of Adrianople I he Kadilescher supposing that he might put that Interpretation thereon which might not be ungrateful replied Perhaps O Emperour he may mean that you shall again return to your sublime and happy Port of Constantinople The Grand Signior suddenly touched herewith The Grand Signiors aversion to Constantinople burst into choler How said he to Constantinople what joy what

in all appearance made of the War the Vizier returned to Belgrade The Vizier sends for his Mother to Belgrade designing to remain there until the German Ambassadour had entered the Turkish borders and in the mean time sent for his Mother thither pretending that in an uncertain and changeable estate the Maternal Blessing is of highest Consolation it being esteemed pious amongst the Turks for a man to dye at the Feet of his Mother This Mother of his was esteemed a cunning or wise Woman by whose Charms and Incantations his Father and he were supposed long to have conserved the Office of Vizier and as my own Ears can witness the common Souldiers Discourse That his Mothers Art consisted much in Philtrums and Charms reconciling affection and friendship and had a power over the Grand Signiors Inclinations and Understanding rendring all things and actions the Vizier had performed in this War full of merit and admiration This I say was the Discourse of some common Soldiers In the Month of December The Blazing Star. that Blazing-star which appeared formidably to most parts of the known World was also seen within the Turkish Empire not without a general terrour of all as prognosticating disasters of Sword Pestilence and Famine and set the Turkish Astrologers at work to find out the mystery it portended from whose Art most commonly was divined the death of some great Person in the Empire which some would have to be the Grand Signior othes the Visier others both as they desired alteration and change of Government The Grand Signior continued all this time at Adrianople The Sultans hatred to Constantinople increases taken up with an extraordinary delight and pleasure in his Court there with which his aversion to Constantinople so much increased that he could not endure so much as the name of the place and if accidentally in his Hunting as it reported he chanced to fall into the road which led thither and remembring himself thereof would immediately turn thence as one that corrects himself of some desperate errour or avoids a path which tends to an evitable destruction The Kadelescher and the other grave Judges of the Law observing this unreasonable hatred of their Prince to his Imperial Seat considered how prejudicial it was to him and his People to have a City of that renown antiquity and commodiousness of living despised and abandoned and that perhaps the Souldiery now upon their March from the War might be impatient of returning home as all the Dependants on the Divan and Personages of great Quality desired to injoy their Habitations and Gardens at Constantinople from which discontents on all sides it was concluded That there might result dangerous Seditions and Mutinies and therefore resolved and as some say also at the instigation of the Vizier to prostrate themselves before the Grand Signior and tender him their opinions and sence in that particular which they accordingly performing and assigning the Kadelescher or the Chief Justice with all humility to be their Mouth in this Petition their counsel was received with that indignation that they were chased from the Grand Signiors presence with fury and high displeasure and the Kadelescher at that moment deprived of his Office. To these other extravagances the Grand Signior would have added another of a higher nature and cruelty by causelesly putting to death his Brother Solyman The Sultan seeks to destroy his Brother whom all the time of his Reign together with another Brother he had kept Prisoner in the Seraglio for now having a Son of his own he conceived it more secure to remove all competition that might be for the Government according to the example and custom of the Ottoman Princes but suffering some remorse of conscience in the thoughts of imbruing his hands in the blood of his guiltless Brother conceived it more justifiable to perform the Fact by process of Law and to that end sent to the Mufti for his Fetfa or Sentence viz. That in such a case where there is a sufficient provision for continuance of the true Lineage of the Ottoman Family whether it may be lawful according to their Law and ancient Presidents to take off some as superfluous Suckers that draw not only nourishment from the root but endanger also the life of the Tree But the Mufti was not so cruel or unjust as to pass this Sentence but rather supplicated the Grand Signior to deser this resolution for having but one Son and that a Child which was subject to the common chances of mortality the Ottoman Family was not so sufficiently provided of Heirs that he could pass his Sentence for taking away one who was so necessary a reserve and member of it with which reply the Grand Signior suffered himself to be overcome having some touches of Conscience and perhaps not being naturally cruel some sence of compassion towards his innocent Brother But returning now to the Great Vizier we find him in his Winter quarters at Belgrade where having taken an affection to the elder Son of the Tartar Chan or else having conceived some hatred or displeasure against the Father The Vizier offers to depose the Tartar Chan. frankly proffered to depose the Father and confer the Government upon him who was the Son. But it seems this young Tartar though barbarous had yet so much of filial obedience and reverence instamped on him by nature that he modestly refused the proffer and immediatly dispatched a Messenger with secret Advices to his Father The Tartar Chan received this Intelligence with great indignation and purposing to play that game in reallity with the Vizier which he had passed on him only by way of overture wrote a Letter to the Pasha of Buda a man of great abilities and courage advertising him that hearing a true and worthy character of his prowess and wisdom he could not but desire to be his friend and that he might make demonstrations of his being such he proffered all the interest he had at the Ottoman Court to promote him to the supreme Office of first Vizier What Fate soever accompanied this matter either from the Confidents of the Tartars or of the Pasha the substance of the Message came to the knowledge of the Vizier who obtaining a private Commission immediately from the Grand Signior therein sent for the Pasha and without farther process or evidence of proof or accusation struck off his Head. Anno Christi 1665. Hegeira 1076. THE Peace thus happily concluded with Germany was a subject of singular contentment to the People and not less readily embraced by the Grandees who hastened so much the consummation thereof that in the beginning of January one Mahomet Beigh The Turkish Ambassadour departs of the Order of the Mutafaracaes who are those that attend the Services of the Divan and are of a Degree somewhat above the Chaouses a man of considerable Richess was designed Ambassadour for Vienna and qualified with the Title of the Pasha of Romelia In