not be from our purpose nor tedious to the Reader to record what befel this year most remarkable to the English Nation and their Trade in Turky which also may be beneficial by instruction of past examples to such who shall for the future be concerned in the Traffick and Business of the Levant What Remarkable accidents befel the ENGLISH Nation and their Trade this Year in TURKEY THE Messengers from Algier as before related having promised better Obedience for the future to the Commands of the Grand Signior obtained a new Pasha for their City and Country thereunto belonging who before his departure was enjoyned by the Grand Signior to dispose Affairs with the Earl of Winchelsea his Majesties Ambassador at Constantinople as might demonstrate his dispositions towards a Peace and his desire that the Algerines should do the like and accept of that Clause in the Articles prohibiting the search of English Ships either for their own or Strangers Goods The place appointed for the meeting between the Embassador and the Pasha was a certain Chiosk or Garden house belonging to an Eunuch the Aga of a Seraglio at Pera where both parties being met the Pasha declared that the Grand Signiors desires were That a Peace should be concluded on the Ancient Capitulations and that by him these Orders were to be carried unto Algier from whence he was advised that the Algerines were ready to accept those Articles if one of his Majesties Ships singly appeared about the Treaty so that the World might not esteem their condescension to proceed from Force and Compulsion Hereof Advices being sent into England a Peace ensued in some Months after but what faith these Infidels kept will be related in the Sequel of this Story the Memory of which is engraven with the Point of a Diamond and the Losses which ensued thereupon to the â—xchange at London deserve a particular Treatise which in the mean time many Families retain in a sad remembrance In May Advice was brought to the Lord Ambassador how that the Ann a Frigat of his Majesties Royal Navy commanded by Captain Ionas Pool which had convoyed the general Ships to Symrna in her passage homewards stopped at the Morea and came to an Anchor near a place in that Country called the Black Mountain commodious to Wood and Water in to which end were landed threescore men armed with Swords and Firelocks these made havock of the Woods an all sides loading their Boats away as fast as they could and not only so but set great Trees on Fire which in that dry Season of the Year dispersed it self far and wide which being seen at a distance in the Night alarmed the People of the Country so that the Begh or Governor came down with some Force to discover the matter supposing that some Mâ—lteses or Venetians might be landed At the approach of this Body of Turks our Men quitted the Woods and shifted away as fast as they could to their Boats of which Thirty eight escaped the rest falling short were intercepted by the Turks and Eleven of them were killed and Eleven taken Captives and of the Turks two Aga's and Two or Three others had the fortune to fall by some Musket-shot from our men whilst in this confusion they endeavoured to defend themselves On the news hereof our Lord Ambassador represented the whole matter to the Vizier declaring That it was lawful according to our Capitulations to take refreshments and supply our wants in any part of the Grand Signiors Dominions and that therefore he demanded Justice on the Begh of the Morea and restitution of the Captives But the Vizier understanding that some Turks were killed in the skirmish lent not so ready an ear to these Complaints howsoever to be acquitted of the Ambassadors solicitations referred the business to the Examination and Justice of the Captain Pasha But it falling out that at that time the Consul and Merchants at Smyrna had an unhappy difference with the Captain Pasha which shall in the next place be related was the Cause that all Applications to his Favour and Justice were suspended and a slow progress made towards obtaining the liberty of those poor unfortunate men Howsoever some months after it happened that the Begh of the Morea being removed from that Government and coming to Constantinople with his whole Estate brought with him the Eleven Englishmen which he had taken and offered them to sale unto the Ambassador who considering that they were Englishmen and such as had been enslaved in actual Service of their King he esteemed himself obliged both in Charity and Honour to redeem them But the Case appeared too foul to demand their Liberty by strength of the Capitulations for besides that the cutting Wood in places inhabited without permission is a Robbery and a Crime in its self not to be maintained by the Law of Nations the killing of a principal Aga and wounding others might sufficiently warrant the Turks without any Breach of Peâ—ce to detain these men as lawful Captives Wherefore the Lord Ambassador deeming it unseemly that those who had served in his Majesties Navy should be condemned to the Turkish Gallies disbursed Fourteen hundred Lion Dollars which was demanded for them which was afterwards repay'd him by his Majesty and having cloathed and provided them with necessaries for their Voyage conveyed them with the first occasions into England The difference between the English Nation and the Captain Pasha which impeded the Liberty for some time of these Captives had its Original at Smyrna where some English Mâ—â—câ—ants making Collation one Evening in a Gardeâ— were assaulted and beaten by certain drunken Levents belonging to a Gally then in Port in whose Company was a Portuguez Slave The News hereof flying to the Frank Street put all the Neighbourhood into an uproar so that divers People with such Weapons as came next to hand in a fury went in pursuit of the Levents and unhappily meeting one drew him into the English Consuls house where they treated him with such blows as abated much of the heat and fumes of his Wine during which disturbance and conâ—usion the Portuguez Slave found an opportunity to make his escape The Consul knowing it some advantage in Turky to complain firâ—t sent to the Kadi giving him to understand the ill usage of Four of his Merchants whose names he gave in writing by the unruly â—events whilâ—t they innocently and without injury to any diverâ—ised themselves in a Garden to which for the present little more was given in answer than that on a farther examination of the Business the Consul should receive Justice In the mean time the Turk who had been beaten in the Consuls House resolved not to leave the Gaâ—e tâ—ll he had received satisfaction for his blows and the others that were his Comrades demanded their Slave from the English which was lost by whose means and assistance as they preâ—end he had made his Escape The matter came now to high Demands on both sides
Emanuel himself being long before dead yet was he still desirous to have it of some one of the Greek Emperors whosoever he were Unto the Pope and the Italians both he and the Noblemen with him had before promised that the Greek Church should ever acknowledge the Supremacy of the Church of Rome and from thenceforth submit it self thereunto as unto the Soveraign Judge of all the Christian Churches which caused the Pope Innocentius by Letters by Legates by Embassadors and by all other means possible to further the Cause of the young Prince Alexius so combined with his own alledging the diversity of Opinions in matters of Religion betwixt the Greeks and the Latines to have been the chief cause that the Mahometans had not been long ago by their United Forces subdued or utterly rooted out In brief the young Prince spared not to promise most bountiful Rewards in general to all that should take his part against his Uncle the usurping Emperor By this means the devout War taken in hand for the Relief of the poor Christians in Syria was laid aside and the same Forces that should have been therein imploy'd now converted against the Greek Empire to the great weakning of that side of the Christian Common-weal and advantage of the Common Enemy who might then easily have been oppressed had he with the United Forces of the Christians been on this side charged home as he was on the farther by the Tartars The Grecian War thus resolved upon it seemed best unto the great Commanders of the Army to march directly to Constantinople as to the head of the Grecian State and place where the Tyrant whom they sought after was resiant In the mean time it was by them given out through all the Greek Cities which the Emperor had strongly manned and fortified for the staying of their passage that their purpose was not to make War against the Grecians their Friends but only to restore their lawful Emperor unto his former State and Honour And that forasmuch as every City and Town in ancient Greece had appointed Rewards and almost divine Honours unto such as had delivered them from Tyrants they should now more favourably receive and intreat them that came to restore unto every City and to every man in general their former Liberty and Honour And so upon the Resolution for Constantinople imbarking their Army and passing through the Ionian-Sea into the Aegeum and so without let through the Straits of Helespontus into Propontis and entring the Straits of Bosphorus Thracius which divide Europe from Asia they came to an Anchor even in the face of the City In this Fleet were two hundred and forty Sail of tall Ships sixty Gallies seventy Ships for burden and one hundred and twenty Sail of Victuallers which all together made a most brave shew covering that Strait in such sort as that it seemed rather a Wood than a part of the Sea. Thus for a space they lay facing the City attending if happily upon the coming and sight of so great a Fleet and the report of so puissant an Army as the young Prince Alexius had brought with him any Tumult or Sedition might arise in the City But the wary Tyrant had so well provided therefore before hand that the Citizens although they in heart favoured the young Prince and wished him well yet durst they not once move or stir in his Quarrel Whilst the Fleet thus lay Embassadors came from the Isle of Creet in two great Gallies with three banks of Oars yielding unto the young Prince that goodly Island with all the Towns and Cities therein which he forthwith gave unto the Marquess of Mont-Ferrat General of the Army thereby to encourage the other great Commanders of the Army to do the uttermost of their devoir in hope of Recompence and Rewards answerable to their deserts and valour Before the arrival of this Fleet Alexius the Emperor had with a great Chain made fast the entrance of the Haven betwixt Constantinople and Pera and appointed twenty great Gallies well manned for the keeping thereof but a great gale of Wind arising the General sent out the greatest and strongest Ship in the Fleet for her greatness and swiftness called the Eagle which with all her Sails up carried with a full gale of Wind by main force brake the Chain and made a way for the rest of the Fleet to enter which the Greeks in the Gallies seeing for fear fled leaving the Gallies for a spoil unto the Venetians by whom they were all taken but not a man found in them The Haven thus gained Theodorus Lascaris the Emperors Son in law was presently ready upon the shore with a select Company of the bravest Gallants of the City and of the Court to have hindred the Latines from landing who running their Ships aground landed with such chearfulness and courage and with such hast that in one moment you might have seen them leap out of their Ships take land enter into the battel and lay about them like mad men This hot skirmish endured a great while for that they were only Foot-men that sustained this brunt for the Horses could not so soon be landed and the Greeks were bravely mounted All this great fight the Constantinopolitans beheld with doubtful hearts expecting what should be the event thereof There were in the City six thousand of the Flower of Greece which bravely sallying out made the battel much more doubtful yet such was the valour and resolution of the Latines that in fine the Greeks discomfited were glad to retire themselves again into the City but with what loss was not certainly known easie it were to guess that it was right great for that the old Tyrant Alexius discouraged therewith and doubtful of his own estate with Theodorus Lascaris his Son in law and some few others of his trusty Friends hard to be found in so dangerous a case the next night following secretly fled out of the City carrying away with him a wonderful mass of Treasure which he against all such events had caused to be secretly hidden by his Daughter Irene in a Monastery of Nuns within the City whereof she was the Abbess and so saved himself The flight of the Tyrant once bruted the next morning the Constantinopolitans taking the old Emperor Isaac out of Prison saluted him again for their Emperor rejoycing greatly for his deliverance and the safeguard of his life and after that opened the Gates of the City to the Latines calling and saluting them by the names of the Revengers and Saviours of the Liberty of the Greeks as also of the Life and Majesty of their Emperor they requested them that they might see and salute Alexius their young Prince whom they had so long desired and so was the City of Constantinople by the submission of the Citizens for that time saved from saccage and spoil The old Emperor thus delivered and together with his Son Alexius again placed in the Imperial Seat
things he was above all others both beloved and honoured of all the People of Epirus next to Scanderbeg himself At his first coming to Mahomet he filled not his Ears with great Promises and vain Praises of himself as had Moses but only excusing his own revolt laboured to perswade him That he had for just causes left his Uncle with a desire now faithfully to serve him And to that purpose spake unto him as followeth If it should please thee most noble Mahomet to call to remembrance the old injuries and antient displeasures by us committed against thine imperial Majesty we might seem now rather to have come hither to receive the just guerdon of our evil deserts than upon any hope of honour or preferment For what could have been done more in disgrace of the Othoman Empire than that you have seen long since done by us in the most dangerous time of the Hungarian War rather of a malicious and set purpose than for that we were just Enemies Whenas in the same perfideous course I my self being a helper and partaker therein for now no excuse is to be pretended for our doings more than repentance your Fathers Army was betrayed at Morava and the Kingdom of Epirus by great Treachery wrested out of your Fathers Hands the only cause of so many Calamities and of so much bloodshed But vain is this fear and our suspition needless with so wise and merciful a Prince especially for that my years then green and youth prone unto the harm of it self and a mind not resting upon his own resolutions deceived me I believed mine Uncle for the ignorant believe many things and allured with the desire of Soveraignty the proper disease of that age and too much credulous I forsook you and followed his promises but discretion growing with years I have by little and little perceived both the slie perfideous dealing of mine Uncle as also that my revolt from you was more hurtful unto my self than to any other Scanderbeg recovered and also enlarged the Kingdom of Epirus but not without my great labour and help I expected long time that he should have given me if not my Fathers whole Inheritance yet at least some part thereof as a small reward of my so great travel and danger Not long after he married a Wife and hath begot a young Heir a new Successor in his Kingdom unto me for shame of the World because I should not altogether lead a private life he hath assigned a base corner of Epirus where he enjoying the rest I might lead a poor and contemptible life In this case I had much ado to bridle my affections and could never digest that injury yet the iniquity of the time with the insolent disposition of the man compelled me to smother up my thoughts and to make fair weather lest finding some suspition he should craftily have intrapped me as he did of late George Stresie his Sisters Son whom wrongfully charged with feigned surmises he hath almost deprived of all his Possessions I would willingly have fled unto the Feet of your Highness I would gladly have forsaken my ingrateful Uncle with the stains of his infamous Kingdom but that the remembrance of the old Rebellion and many Injuries siththence done did make me afraid until that now God I think so appointing it I came most gladly following your most Royal Faith and Promise You had scarcely beckned unto me you had scarcely invited me having of long intentively waited every occasion but straight way I came with such speed as if I would have flown I lingred not I expected not either Scanderbeg or his evil hap or your more prosperous success as of late did Moses lest I might thereby justly seem either for fear or regard of some eminent danger rather to have provided for mine own safety than to have embraced your magnificence Neither have I left any thing for you in me to suspect nor any cause wherefore I should desire to return again into Epirus here are present most sure bonds of my love and faithful Pledges of my Loialty Behold worthy Mahomet you have whasoever is dear unto me yea whatsoever Nature could give pleasing unto men in the course of mans life These have I brought unto thee which should with violence have been taken from an Enemy such Pawns as might assure thee of the Faith of a most doubtful man. More than this I have brought nothing for in so great speed and secret departure I could not have regard of my Substance And if I might have had time to have trussed up my trash at leisure yet I know not how I should have thought it a kind of baseness to have brought with me any part of the poor reliques of mine old Fortune especially unto thee of all other the richest Only my Fidelity I lay down before thee for any thing greater I have not and if thou desire of me any other Bond for more assurance I refuse not whatsoever your Highness shall appoint for I came not hither to set down Covenants and Agreements of my self but to receive them from you I dare not promise to vanquish mine Uncle and to subdue Epirus with an Army of fifteen thousand men the misfortune of Haly-Bassa and other your Generals yea and the late and rare Victory of Sebalias with great bloodshed gained may serve for examples In me you shall neither want diligence nor faithful service as for other things concerning the event of this War and for the revenge of the injuries by you received you being a Prince of power invincible and of a most deep judgment are not to be advised by me your unskilful Vassal This Speech of Amesa seemed unto Mahomet free from all dissimulation forasmuch as he knew most part thereof to be true and his Wife and Children brought unto his presence confirmed the rest Wherefore commending his good affection he appointed him honourable entertainment referring other matters unto a further time Upon the approach of the Spring Mahomet desiring nothing more than to be revenged upon Scanderbeg entred into consultation with his great Bassaes concerning the invasion of Epirus unto which Counsel Amesa was by Mahomet admitted and his wicked device for the destruction of his Country of all others best liked After the matter had been long too and fro debated it was concluded That Isaac the great Bassa of Constantinople should with an Army of fifteen thousand be sent against Scanderbeg and Amesa with him having the charge of five thousand Horsemen and the Bassa to proclaim Amesa King of Epirus thereby to perswade the Epirots that Mahomet invaded Epirus rather for the displeasure he bare against Scanderbeg and for the advancement of Amesa than for any ambitious desire he had to take unto himself that Kingdom Great was the preparation for this War and the expectation thereof greater Flying Fame had in short time filled every corner of Epirus with the report of these News adding thereunto as the manner
Emperour accepted Beside that he knew right well how that Castaldo in like case before in the year 1551 sent into Transilvania with 8000 Almains left behind him his Army and without any precedent courtesie went privately to Alba-Iulia where Queen Isabel had for her defence assembled a Dyet of all the States and there by well handling of the matter got to Ferdinand the Emperour that Kingdom which he could not by the fear of his Forces have gained for which doing Writers attribute unto him the name of great Wisdom notwithstanding that the year following he was forced to abandon his Conquest but yet not through any default in himself But it is truly said That men pleasured according to the occasion change their manners as doth the Camelion his colour according to the place nothing being by nature so short nothing of less Life than the remembrance of a benefit with the unthankful which the greater it is the more it is repaired with Ungratitude either by making it to have been of little worth or to have proceeded not of Courtesie but from some other more private and proper Considerations of the Giver The diet aforesaid being assembled divers broils were there raised by the male Contents as usually it cometh to pass where the People have to do with the Government apt to be moved with every Rumour always ready to change their Opinion as straight glutted therewith head-strong faithless all in words to no end some of them in that assembly cryed out that the Almains might be paid discharged and thanked for the pains they had taken for them as their Neighbours with offering to do them the like Pleasure as their Occasions should require otherwise cryed to have them put all to the Sword so much they were devoid of Reason others cryed out as fast that they were not by any means to endure the Government of Maximilian the Arch-duke but by some nominated unto them would needs have a Prince of their own Country and such an one as the great Turk should well like of as the Chancellour had perswaded them Basta for all that not dismaid with so unexpected an encounter albeit that he began to suspect that he had lost all his Labour if he were not in short time with greater Forces relieved at such time as the Chiaki with other the chief men amongst the People came as their manner was every other day to visit him with couragious Speech and unappalled Countenance told him plainly That he well perceived their drift and purpose and yet doubted not either of their Oath of Obedience given unto his Imperial Majesty either of the fresh remembrance of the great benefit they had from him so lately received and in case it might happen them little to esteem of those things greater than which could not happen amongst men that yet they should well know that he was not a man to be feared with words but fully resolved not to stir one foot thence with his Forces but rather to lose his Life which he would for all that sell as dear as he could Whereunto answer was given with much courteous speech That he should not give ear unto any the Speeches of the light vulgar people but to content himself that the Nobility in whose hands the chief power of that Province was had not done any thing not beseeming themselves So after much dispute were appointed three Persons according to the three estates the Nobility the Commons and the State in general to go unto the Emperour to request of him Maximilian the Arch-duke of their Governour with special request also that it would please him not to overcharge with foreign Souldiers that Province already so impoverished especially having in it self People sufficient for the defence thereof and more nimble to encounter with the Turks than the heavy and slow Almains and they also of double charge These difficulties with much ado thus appeased by such as stood fast for the Emperour Basta thought it not good again to call any such assembly hoping that time and the Emperours great Wisdom would for all these matters find convenient remedy Yet saw he plainly the mind of the People was to resolve to remain for ever free if they should have come to a second Consultation and in them a princely desire to command rather than to be commanded yea in that self same Diet the Chiaki was declared Governour on the behalf of the People with Authority in many things of himself to determine without calling together of any assembly of the rest of the States which they said they did only until they were by his Imperial Majesty provided of a Governour Nevertheless Basta well perceived more than a Tribunal Power to be now joyned by the People unto the Emperour's Commissioners knowing that this Chiaki was in great hope to have been proclaimed Prince of the Confederates in case they had not been presently relieved against the Vayvod and having in him yet noted still his great ambition for that marching from Torda toward the Vayvod he caused to be carried before him a Spear with an Hungarian Cap and a Plume of Feathers upon a Lance in token of his chief command albeit that afterwards at the Complaint of Basta pretending therein a wrong to be done unto his Regiment marching under the Imperial Standard he took it down neither was he then a little suspected to have suffered his Souldiers to have sacked Alba-Iulia as also to have surprised Fogaras and to have used divers other means all tending unto popularity and ambitious aspiring wherein he deemed it yet better to dissemble than to proceed farther and then to do it indeed when he had power sufficient The next day following came all the Counsel of that Province with the Deputies appointed to have gone unto the Emperour and the People unto the House of Basta requesting him although such their manner of coming might seem to exceed the bounds of request that he would send his Germans out of the Country and so after so many troubles to give it leave a little to breath as for himself that he might stay at Alba-Iulia until the men deputed to that purpose might go unto his Majesty with their requests Basta not a a little troubled with such an Imperious Request and now but not before perceiving the occasion of this great discontentment saw himself much deceived in a most material point and the ground of all this action by trusting too much unto his own too small Forces too weak for the defence of his own Person much less to keep under so populous a Province such as before in the year 1552 under the leading of Castaldo had of it self sent out 70000 fighting men for the besieging of Lippa and now upon the sudden 12000 with a few Noblemen in the face of a mighty and armed Enemy where they now held an armed Consultation with him the Nobility meeting together with their great Retinues and so much the greater by
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
Minister or Bailo then resident at Constantinople called Soranço alledging that contrary to the Articles of Peace they had afforded Provisions and Entertainment to his Enemies in Candia and at a time when having made Prize of his own Ship and Domestiques of his Seraglio they seemed with more extraordinary demonstrations of Hospitality than usual to receive them into their Harbours To which the Bailo made Answer That his Majesty was ill informed of the true state of those Matters for that the Port to which the Malteses came had neither Castle nor Fortress belonging to it but was an open wide and unfortified place for if the Grand Signior is not able to defend thâ—se Ships from careening as they have oâ—ten done before Rhodes it self how was it possible for the Venetians to drive them from the Seas and deny them the use of that Salt Water which hath neither Fort nor Castle to reach and command them With which Answer Ibrahim seemed to remain satisfied and Matters appeared so appeased on the side of the Venetians that Soranço though a Person of a most acute and penetrating Judgment imagined nothing less than a War and though he was assured otherwise by something that the English Ambassador had discovered in that Matter yet because it came not first from the Report of one of his own Interpreters he would not seem to believe or give credit thereunto notwithstanding the strong Probabilities that might perswade it Indeed Christian Ministers must necessarily with much Difficulties and less Inspection govern and penetrate Affairs in the Turkish Court than in any other because access to the great Ministers is seldom privately or familiarly admitted from whence wise Men most commonly take their Measures and Observations but on the contrary are forced to act all by the Negotiation of their Druggermen or Interpreters and as they hear with their Ears so are they often-times beholden to their Reflections which how subject they may be to Error is best known to those Ministers who have practised much and long in that Court. And in this manner Ibrahim covered his Design against Candia by pretence of making War upon Malta to which he had lately received so just a provocation To this Enterprize none instigated him more than a certain Hagia or Tutor which had accompanied him in the time of his Solitude and had instructed him in the first Principles of the Mahometan Doctrine he was a subtil and understanding Man and one who kept a secret Correspondence in the Christian Courts for being Master of what Gold he pleased he paid for his Intelligence with Liberality and Secresy and though he was no Prophet yet he pretended to be a Magician or Conjurer or one that had a Command or Soveraignty over Familiar Spirits an Excellency greatly admired and reverenced by the Turks This Man had for a long Season attended an opportunity to promote a War against Venice esteeming their Territories very convenient to be laid to the Turkish Dominions and their Force an under-Match for the Puissance of the Ottoman Empire And now this Accident provoking the Desire of the Turks to this War and the Opportunity appearing commodious to cover the Design under pretence of Assailing Malta it was secretly resolved to attempt the Island of Candia for as its Strength and Situation made it the Key to all the other Isles of the Archipelago so it would be the Bullwark of the Maritime Countries from whence the Passage would be short and easy into Africa from whence the Gallies might advantagiously relieve Cyprus and guard the Fleet from Egypt and from thence might be opened a Door to invade Sicily and the other parts of Italy On these Considerations War being resolved against Candia Reports divulged the Design only against Malta and for that end Orders were issued for building and fitting an hâ—ndred Gallies and as many Ships of War and Commands sent into Barbary for assistance of all their Naval Forceâ— and the Day appointed for Rendezvous and Departure all which time the Enterprize was kept secret and by no more Symptoms suspected unless by the unusual Caresses the Turks at that time over-acted in their officious kindness towards the Venetian Bailo The Report of these great Preparations flying over all Parts of Europe was entertained at Malta with some Apprehension as being the Place on which all the Storm was to refund its Fury Whereupon the Cavaliers or Knights of that Place summoning a Council resolved to cite all the Fraternity to repair to the Defence of their Capital Seat and of their Order and Patrimony Likewise Letters were directed to the several Officers to prepare and send Powder Match and Lead Iron Buckets and Timber to make Carriages for Cannon and for other Uses as also Corn Bisket Salt Flesh and Fish Vinegar Wine and all other sorts of Ammunition They likewise instituted some Officers over the Waters to see that the â—ountains and Conduits should be made clear which were to serve the City and that those without that were to remain in the possession of the Enemy should be carefully and artificially poisoned all the Mills remaining in the Fields were transported into the Town the Doors and Windows of Wood belonging to the Peasants Houses were taken down and carried into the City with all their Utensils and what else was portable so that nothing remained but the wide Fields and an open Air to breath in In the mean time the Venetians being a wise and jealous State suspected the worst of all Events and feared what their Minister at Constantinople could not discover which caused them to make some Preparations but yet with that dexterity and secresy as not to render them diffident of the Turks Proceedings For to be jealous of a Friend is sometimes to make him an Enemy and Distrust always argue Disaffection which Prudence teaches to conceal from those who are more powerful than our selves Some were notwithstanding of Opinion that the Complaints of Ibrahim were only Artifices to extract the Blood of Gold which they judged fit to administer if it were possible to satisfy the Appetite of those Leeches Others were of a contrary sense and would by no means admit it for good Counsel or Policy to buy their Peace of the Turk for besides that it was disagreeable to the Grandeur of Venice it was but a Shadow that they purchased since their Enemies could on every slight Occasion reassume what they had sold and make the Menaces of War and the Sale of Peace serve them for a perpetual Fountain and Mine of Gold and Treasure and that since it was necessary at one time or other to cast off this Yoke of Tyranny the sooner it was done the Advantage would be the greater and the Honour more apparent to the World seeming to make War rather their Choice than their last Remedy Howsoever Orders were given to the Bailo with all Prudence and Art to touch gently the Pulse of the Turks to discover if Mony would redeem the present
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
any ill The French and many others pretend Debts of many of those People that are gone up and would know who shall pay them and pretend to be paid out of their Estates but we have put them off telling them we believe your Lordship will hardly let your Estate go to pay their Debts nevertheless shall advise your Lordship of it so have secured none only to one Huzoone Amet Aga one of the chief Men in the Town here Mr. Lancelott having given him a Bill of Exchange for 475 Dollars and the Bill returned unpaid we were forced to deliver into the Hangee's Hands for his Security 10 Cloathes We have given the Ships liberty to lade by reason of their continual grumbling but fear our Design on the Ionas will not take for the Caddie seeing the stubbornness of Terrick will not assist us as he promised We have not ought to inlarge at present but to subscribe our selves Your Honours Iohn Hetherington Lorenzo Zuma Matters running thus high and the Breach made so wide there remained little hopes of an Accommodation For now the Merchants at Galata having obtained their Liberty from the Ambassador's House by the Vizier's Command entred into a Consultation in what manner to govern their Affairs electing some particular Men to that Employment which they called by the Name of the Sealed Knot which much provoked the Anger of Sir Sackvile Crow and more because that deserting his Protection they made Applications to the Heer Coppes Agent for the States of Holland who readily embraced the defence of their Cause and willingly represented to the Grand Vizier the Aggrievances and ill Treatment of which they complained The French Ambassador on the other side being a great Favourer of Sir Sackvile Crow and his Proceedings assisted him both at Smyrna and Constantinople All which will more particularly appear by the following Letters The Factors General Letter to the Levant Company dated the 28th of June 1646 in Constantinople Right Worshipful SIrs at present we have our Heads and Hands full and all little enough to preserve your Estates from devouring and our selves from that Evil Consequence might ensue upon such unheard-of Proceedings and Intentions as have been long in private agitation but when the Monster came to the Birth there wanted strength to bring forth so in a good hour we may say the Snare is broken and doubt not the Devices of the Crafty is frustrate by him whose Almightiness shews it self most when we Mortals are least capable to help our selves We shall according to our Obligation give your Worships some account of the last Progressions of his Lorship Sir Sackvile Crow whom his Majesty sent hither Ambassador and to be a Protector of your Estates and our Persons how he hath performed this Charge and Duty formerly your Lorships have in part heard what hath happened of late we shall now chiefly insist upon After his Lordship had caused the stay of the Ships in this Port and at Smyrna under pretence of this State 's requiring it in respect of their Wars with the Venetians the Sampson and Smyrna Merchant having been here almost seven Months to the great loss and damage of Ships and Goods he picks a quarrel with the Factory of Smyrna for not complying according to his Order in the paiment of their Parts of the last Leviation-Mony and hereupon sends down Iohn Hetherington one of his Servants a most lewd debaucht prophane riotous Fellow yet his Lordship's Kinsman accompanied with two Chiouzes two Druggermen a Janizary and other Servants to proceed with those who should refuse to pay their Leviation according to the Instructions he had given the said Hetherington and Lorenzo Zuma Druggerman But before the arrival of these Agents the Nation there had undertaken the paiment by an Obligatory Letter to his Lordship this would not satisfy nor deposition of Goods for Security until Answer should come from hence of the paiment of their Bills of Exchange which was tendred buâ— the second day after their arrival Hetherington and his Retinue goes to the Caddie's and thither causes the Consul and all the Nation to come where it was pretended they had laden the William and Thomas with Corn and sent her away and therefore by virtue of an Imperial Command very privately here procured the Consul and six more of the Nation were delivered into the Hands of the Chiouz and so brought up hither not being suffered to return to their own Houses but put a day and a night into an offensive dark place the Doors and Windows not only shut but nailed upon them not suffering either their Friends or Servants to come at them or a Window open till the evening for which also they paid Dollars 100. In this disgraceful manner they were brought hither where they have been since the 22 d of the last Month Prisoners in his Lordship's House to the 21 st present notwithstanding they had complied in paying the Leviation Monies in less than a Week after their arrivals and by fair Promises put off from day to day for their dispatch to their Business at Smyrna which could not but much suffer by their absence Their Magazines and Counting-houses continued sealed from the time of their Attachments the Ships not permitted to lade or depart though empty and no Debts due to them would be paid in this their Absence and time of Distraction The Leviation Monies being satisfied of which Dollars 31000 his Lordship forced into Cancellaria and we of Smyrna expecting no more rubs in the way his Lordship the 16 th Instant calls a Court and there declared That of what Monies had been collected there would not remain much on the old Accompt therefore provision must be made for the future growing Charge for so much as upon this pretended Imbargo no Ships would come in haste and he and his must be maintained which he would provide for Hereupon when we could not do otherwise Dollars 25000 was promised half by this Factory for which his Lordship caused us to enter into Bond as he did those of Smyrna for the other half this being effected which we should not neither altogether have been so ready to have complied in but thereby to put a period to all other Demands and enable our selves to proceed in our Business for your Worships better Service The 18 th present his Lordship calls another Court and after arguing of some General Matters with a seeming sadness tells us how that he had been wronged by false Information from hence and Smyrna but he was so far from proving it as that he would not discover so much as whom he suspected and thereupon the Levant Company at Home had by means of the Parliament procured Sequestration of his Estate and Lands in England and endeavoured to surprize his Person and therefore according to Religion Reason and common Policy he ought to secure himself and his Hostages and thereupon he departed from us requiring the Nation speedily to resolve of some present
for that Presents and Purses of Mony came not in so plentifully as at first and on the contrary feeling the Spring of the Levant Companies Treasury still to run fresh and quick their Inclinations towards the Ambassador grew more cold and faint his Agents were not admitted so readily to Audience as formerly nor his Petitions and Addresses received with that candor as when Mony and Interest made their entrance easy in the mean time the Merchants were heard with great patience their Cause and Complaints esteemed reasonable and in short Sir Sackvile Crow was dismissed from Constantinople in a manner not usual for Ambassadors nor agreeable to that Quality and Character and was succeeded by Sir Thomas Bendysh who was Authorized and constituted in that Embassy by Commission from his Majesty King Charles the First of ever blessed and glorious Memory year 1647. Gio Capello being constituted General in the place of Molino as we mentioned at the end of the preceding Year departed from Venice early in the Spring having under his Command fifty Gallies six Galleasses and forty Ships of War and four Fire-ships besides other Vessels which are necessary Attendants on so great an Armata which grand Preparations raised the Minds of the Christian World to expect the abatement of the Ottoman Pride and other Effects equal to the magnificent Ostentation and triumphing Glory of this mighty Power But God who gives not always Success to the Powerful nor the Battel to the Strong was not it seems so well satisfied for the Sins of Christendom as to judge it worthy to be delivered from the Scourges of its Grand Oppressor Whilst Capello remained with the best part of the Fleet at Candia Tomaso Morosini Admiral of the Ships shewed himself in a Bravado with twenty two Sail before the Castles of the Helleâ—â—ont called the Dardanelli defying the whole Turkish Power with Colours flying and Drums beating nor did they dare to answer the bold Challenge until in a dead Calm some few light Gallies presented themselves in a seeming Battel with whom for want of Wind the Ships were on the disadvantage and rather received Prejudice than gave it so that both sides were contented with the Action Morosini withdrew from that Station and returned to his General at Candia to whom having joined his Forces he earnestly perswadâ—d him together with the Proveditor Grimani to engage the Turkish Fleet which they assured him was much inferior to them both in number of Vessels and in Skill and Courage of the Combatants and that the Success of this Year consisted in the cutting off the Enemies Succours which was their sole Relief and Dependance without which they could not longer maintain the Ground they possessed but must deliver up that and themselves to their pleasure But the cautious General would not assent to this Resolution judging it over-rash and precipitate for that the Fortune of Candia and other Isles of the Archipelago was not to be hazarded on the Success of one Battel During which Dispute and irresolution of Affairs the Turkish Fleet consisting of three hundred Sail arrived at Canea where they landed forty thousand fighting Men which turned the Scale of the War and rendred the Turks so powerful as not ever more to be expelled or their Off-spring extirpated from the Confines of that Island By this time the Pope's and Malta Gallies were come to their Assistance and united with the Venetians so that Capello setting sail from the Port of Suda resolved to engage the Enemy at St. Theodoro which was effected accordingly though with little Success for the Turks had fortified themselves and secured their Gallies with that advantage that they could not be assaulted without great hazard of the Christians and when they endeavoured to burn them their four Fire-ships took fire too soon and proved of more fear and astonishment to the Turks to whom this Invention was as yet unknown than of real dammage After this the Venetians returned again to Suda where having intelligence that thirty Turkish Gallies with Men and Provision which they had collected in several parts of the Archipelago were on their Voyage to Canea Capello preparing to intercept them with a Force of Galleasses and Gallies and leaving Grimani and Morosini to command the main Body of the Fleet he in Person bent hiâ— Course towards Cerigo In the mean time Mustapha Pasha departed from Canea in order to his return to Constantinople with fifty seven light Gallies two Ships two Galleasses and many Saiks but meeting in his Passage with a hard storm of Northerly Winds he lost seven of his Gallies and several other Vessels so that he resolved to divide his Fleet and send part of them to Scio and himself with the other part to make for Negropont This Fleet was followed by some other Vessels under the Command of Mahomet Celebee Brother of the Pasha of Algier who being as far in his way as the narrow Streights of Andra he was there stopped by the Fury of the Northern Winds which are the Master-Winds of those Seas and by the impetuous rage thereof was carried to the Island of Zia where having given Licence to the greatest part of his Souldiery to Land they carelesly strayed abroad and without suspicion of Surprize merrily passed their time in eating and drinking In the interim advice hereof being carried to Tomaso Mororosini then with some Ships in the Port of Milo he immediately without loss of time applied himself to assault the Turks and being followed by the Proveditor Grimani he took two of their Ships whilst Mehmet Celebee with about two hundred of his Men betook themselves to the weak shelter of an old demolished Fort and afterwards surrendred themselves to the discretion of the Conqueror Morosini and Grimani encouraged with this Success resolved to pursue the Enemies Fleet in order unto which Morosini first putting out to Sea was instantly carried away by a fierce gale of Wind towards Ambro and separated from the rest of his Fleet and thence again was tossed by the impetuosity of the Storms unto Rafti of which Mustapha Pasha having Intelligence made haste to attack this single Vessel with forty Gallies giving order to the Bey of Rhodes to lay him aboard with fifteen Gallies the strongest and best armed of all their Squadron Morosini nothing dismayed bearing the same constancy of Mind in the midst of his Enemies as at a distance boldly shewed himself on the Quarter Deck encouraging his Men with his words and by his Example to Actions worthy their Religion Faith and Country for which they contended The Turks continued for some time to batter the Ship at a distance with their Cannon but with little dammage to the Christians who returned their Shot to better advantage Hereby the Turks perceiving that Blows given so far off did little Execution resolved to Board the Vessel and subdue Her by force of Arms and being come to the side of the Ship the Souldiers were fearful to enter suspecting
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
to keep the business in suspence than to come to an open rupture with them and rather than to use long discourse to them or perswasions to little purpose to write them this short Letter the superscription of which was to Ramadam their Governour in Chief and to the rest of the Divan WE are sorry that there should be still one difference in our Treaty relating to the search of Shipâ— and delivering up Merchants Forreigners and Strangerâ— goods This is an Article which the King my Master did not think you would have insisted upon because it was granted to others who were Uâ—uâ—pâ—rs and his Subjects and therefore did not impower me to conclude with you in it Howsoever I shall acquainâ— the King my Master of your earnest Desiâ—es and Resolves in this Business and doubt not but what is Iust and Reasonable will be assented unto Wherefore in the mean time we must desire you whilst his Royal assent is expecting to your proposals that the Peace may continue on the same Terms that it now stands Let your Friend and Kinsmâ—n comâ— abâ—ard as is desired and he shall be welcome and we shall protect him to the uttermost of our power And on this Promise and word of ours yâ—u may rely on as of a Christian and a true Englishman Our desire also farther is that the Lord Obryan may remain in the Consuls House until such time as his Ransom comes And so we wish that a hearty and long Peace may be continued between the two Nations Given aboard the Plymouth Frigat November 25 1660. Winchelsea Upon delivery of this Letter it was concluded that the former Articles should stand in force only that difference about searching our Ships should remain in suspence and be specified as not fully agreed on Howsoever they would search our Ships and it should not be accounted a breach of our Capitulations until the King should intimaâ—e his dislâ—ke thereof And that when Notâ—ce should come from his Majesty to Algier that he approved not thereof then it should be lawful for both sides to break into Acts of Hostility This moderate course we thought to be less prejudicial to us for the present than an open and sudden War For by this means we gained the releasement of two small English Ships which their Men carried in thither and had time to give notice to our Merchants in all Ports and places of the true state of our business with Algier On the Twenty-seventh of November we departed from the bay of Algier with a prosperous and steddy Gale steering N.E. and N. N. E. for Messiâ—â— from whence we intended to dâ—spatch Letters unto all places rendring advices to his Majesty and the Merchants of the State and Condition of our Affairs and Negotiation at Algier And whilst we pleasantly sail'd with a prosperous wind on a sudden a cry was made of Fire in the Ship which astonished us all with a great amazement For the Cooper it seems going into the Steward's Room to stave a Cask which formerly had some Brandy in it by chance a Snuff of the Candle fell in at the bung which put the whole Vessel into a Flame But the same Man immediately stopping the Bung soon smothered the Fire and therewith extinguish'd thatand our fears As to other Matters our Voyage to Messina was speedy and happy for we arrived there on the Second of December Some Days passed before we could get pratick for having touched at Algier a place always suspected for the Plague great scruple was made of admitting us to free converse in the Town Until the Lord Ambassadour gave under his Hand and Seal an assurance of the Health of our Ship on confidence of which we received Pratick and the Palace called Paradise where commonly the Vice-Kings are lodged was appointed to receive his Excellency and his Retinue and the Furniture thereof ordered by D. Francisco de la Villa Padierna a Spaniard who was Stratago which is as much as Commander in chief of all the Castles and Forts in and about Messina So soon as his Excellency landed this Stratago made him a Visit and at his departure left his Guard with him in a Complement but in the mean time the Iurati who were six in number chose as I think every year or every third year by the Citizens for Government of the City were wanting in the like civility towards our Ambassador four of which are chosen out of the Burgers and two out of the Gentry for they took no notice of him nor sent him any message until the hour that he was about to depart when his Excellency refused to receive their visits excusing his neglect of attendance to matters of Ceremony at a time when business urged his departure whence this omission on the Jurats side proceeded may in probability be deriv'd from the antipathy they have to the Spaniards and their Government always running contrary to that unto which they find the Spanish Ministers most inclined During our abode at this place his Excellency having returned his Visit to the Stratago accompanied with D. Ioseppe de Luna a Cavalier of Maltha and having wrote a Letter to the Conde de Ayala then Vice-King of Sicily residing at Palermo he gave advices unto all places of the doubtful state of our affairs with Algiers that so Ships might be cautious of that people and how they adventured themselves abroad without Convoy and having compleated these Dispatches we again returned aboard on the ninth of this Month when the Stratago abounding in all points of civility sent an honourable present of all sorts of fresh provisions aboard Ship and soon after came himself in person to bid Farewel to his Excellency At his coming aboard we gave him nine Guns and at his going off fifteen and so soon as our Anchors were away and our Fore-top-Sail filled we bid adieu to the Town with twenty one Guns more which they returned by firing all the Guns of the five Castles under command of the Stratago which is an honour they seldom pay to any other than the Generalissimo of Spain the Vice-King and the Popes Admiral We had so fair a Wind and so prosperous a passage that we arrived at Smyrna on the 14 th of December where we found the Prosperous and Smyrna Factor the Merchants Ships which we had lost in the Storm happily arrived Here we remained for some days to order and settle several affairs according to Instructions given by the Turky Company And on the sixth of Ianuary being Sunday and Twelfth-day we returned aboard to prosecute this Ultimate stage of our Voyage to Constantinople our Frigat the Plymouth Anchored near the Town within the very Port of Smyrna from whence sailing with a fresh Easterly Wind from the shore we were carried without the Port and out of command of the Castle where the wind sailing and being wholly calm we Anchored until the next morning when with a gentle gale at South-East we proceeded forward and
Pasha to whom notwitstanding they allowed twelve thousand Dollars a Year for his Maintenance so as to carry the fair and specious outside at the Ottoman Court of receiving a Pasha from thence but were so far from permitting him to intermeddle in the Government that they confined him like a Prisoner not suffering him to stir Abroad without Permission and Consent of the Livan and that very seldom tho he often pleaded his Health was much impaired by his Restraint and craved Enlargement rather for necessity than his Pleasure The Day of the great Divans Assembly being come the Confirmations of the Peace was again read and well approved and so laid up in the Repository of their Writings and promise made us for Releasement of our Ships But let us now observe the levity and unsteadiness of this popular Government for being the day following appointed to receive our dispatches and discharge of the three Ships there arose unexpectedly at the Divan certain Scruples and Jealousies amongst them which immediately quashed all our Negotiations and instead of confirming the Peace produced a War. For the Divan being met they were afraid to release the Ships lest the Soldiers who had sent them in being then abroad should call them to question for it at their return and not to release them might be an occasion of a War which not succeeding according to their desire the causeâ—s thereof might be called into question and punished for it of which still remained the fresh memory of late Examples In this Dilemma of their Affairs they resolved to make the Act herein to be of general and publick Assent and to that end they Assembled a Grand Divan calling the Captains of Ships and Gallies then in Port unto their Council who without Hesitation or questioning other Matters declared that the three English Ships were lawful Prize and that it was no longer requisite to maintain the second Article of freeing Strangers Goods on English Vessels it neither being the design nor interest of Algier to benefit all Christendom by their Peace with England this Sentence was followed by the whole Rabble of the Divan with cry and noise to which the wiser sort notwithstanding our Plea and Reasons to the contrary which laâ—ted for full two hours were forced to condescend and concur in the same Vote Howsoever by Importunity and something of the force of Reason which in the most blind and obscure minds of Men hath something of forcible Violence we obtained the release of the three Ships upon discharge of the Strangers Goods and payment of their Freight But the second Article of Peace forbidding the search of English Ships for Strangers Estates or their Persons was declared null and no longer to be maintained nor the Peace likewise unless His Majesty would accept it upon that Condition to which end they wrote this following Letter The Letter of the Government of Algier to His Majesty GReat and Christian Prince King of England After Health and Peace c. Since we have made Peace with You unto this day there have nâ— Injuries nor Damages been offered by Vs. Your Ships that have been as Prizes for Your sake we have let free not offering them the least Injury nâ—r diminishing any thing from them in the least until such time as Your Consul gave Vs Couâ—ter-passes that what Ships were found with them to be let free and those that are without them to be brought in And we have found divers without them which for Friendship sake which is between Vs We have let go free Now from henceforth if that we find any of our Enemies Goods or Men in Your Ships we shall take the Goods and Men paying the Freight to their Port. And we shall desire yâ—u as soon as you shall receive this our Letter that you will send your answer hereunto for we shall think it long until we receive it from You and for the future what Ships shall be brought in without a Pass-port we shall take them and detain them here until such time as we have an answer from You which pray send without delay The end of the Month Sefar 1074. which was then in the Month of September 1663. In this manner a second War broke forth in the space of two Years by which a Person may judg of the inconstancy and unsteady humour of this People who but three days before gave us all the evidence of fair Correspondence and Friendship and it is probable that when they entered the Divan they came not with Resolutions or Thoughts of War however accidents and occasional Discourses each with other following the cry and humour of some rude Savage Person which leads the rest carried all things with Violence towards a Breach So that by what preceded and from these following Reasons it may be concluded impossible to maintain a firm and lasting Peace with this People First Because these People are composed of the worst Sort or Scum of the Turks and worst of Christians which are Renegadoes who have renounced God and their Country and a Generation of People who have no Religion nor Honour Peace cannot be longer expected or maintained than fear or interest enjoins them to compliance Secondly The Government of Algier being popular and in the hands of a vile Commonalty who are ignorant Persons guided by no Rules or Principales unsteady in all their Councils not resolving or consulting any thing before they enter the Divan do commonly follow that Resolution which they perceive to be carried on with the greatest noise and therefore are a People not capable of Peace or Friendship Thirdly This irrational Commonalty is over-awed by a heady Soldiery who are only then affrighted into a Peace whilst a stronger force compels them into good Manners But when that Power and Punishment is withdrawn they again harden their hearts like Pharaoh and then when the Temptation of rich Merchant-men presents it self their natural Inclination to Piracy returns and their Covetousness again prevails and then they curse the Peace and the makers of it and without remorse break their Articles and their Faith having neither Honour nor Conscience to restrain them Wherefore unless the Heads of the chief Cauâ—ers of the War be given in satisfaction or Money paid for the expence and Hostages given for security of it it can never be expected that a lasting Peace should be maintained with this People the proof of which hath been mâ—de appear by the sequel of affairs and by those Wars which have ensued since this time And nâ—w let us return to the Wars in Hungary and â—ecome Spectators of those Transactions which were â—hen the general concernment of the Eastern and Western World. The Proceedings of the War in HUNGARY WE lest the Grand Vizier on his March towards the parts of Hungary with an Army as computed to consist of Eighty Thousand fighting men and of about Seventy Thousand designed for Pioniers and other necessary services of the Army In this march the Vizier
began to move the prosecution of the War in Candia desiring to obtain the glory of subjâ—cting totally that Island which for the space of Twenty five years had been the principal subject of the Ottoman design and exercise and acquire to himself the Fame in History of being Conquerour of Candia and Concluder of the Venetian War. Wherefore the Vizier with several other principal Persons assembled in a Garden near the City of Adrianople sent for the Signior Ballarino Representative for the Republik of Venice where being come at the first word demanded of him the Surrender of the whole Island of Candia To which he modestly replied That so great a gift was not in his power to give and that his office was only to be assistant to that happy hour wherein all matters might concur towards Peace and that his Mediation might contribute towards a conclusion of this long and tedious War. In the mean time he should acquaint his Prince with the demand the Vizier was pleased to make To which the Turks added menaces with high and insolent words designing to bend their whole force and power against Candia the effect of which will hereafter be a material subject of our History And thus much to my best remembrance I received from the mouth of that Venetian Minister In the mean time the Grand â—ignior though he continued his Sports and Hunting without regard to the violent heats of the Summer yet he began to entertain something more of warm affection towards his Women and to be reconciled to that Sex in contemplation of hiâ— little Son who beginning now to play and prattle afforded him matter of entertainment in the Apartments of his Women so that he affectionately doting on his Queen gave order for increase of her Revenue and Attendance and appointed the best Artisans of Adrianople to make her a Crown studded with very precious Stones to adorn her Head of which he was so impatient that he ordered the Goldsmiths to work in the Seraglio permitting them scarce time to eat or sleep until it was finished In recompence of which aâ—fection of her Sultan this Lady so corresponded that she appeared passionately in love practising certain pretty tricks of swooning and of an uneasie condition in his absence which so endeared him in all respects to her that it was said the Sultan kept himself constant to this Queen only and contrary to the custom oâ— other Emperors and permission of the Turkish Laws made use of the multitude of his other Women only for Slaves or Attendants to the greater state and adoration of his beloved Queen And now the Grand Signior at the perswasion of the Vizier and others of his Council resolving to winter at Constantinâ—ple certain Women of the lower rank were diâ—patched before as fore-runners of the removal of the Court And being in the Seraglio at large without observance and awe of their usual Spies two of the boldest Wenches finding a Cradle wherein the Royal Infants were usually laid adventured to pick out the best Jewels of which some were very good Stones and afterwards laid it up again in a private place where it was not easily found Not many days after the Queen-Mother wanting the Cradle of so much value and antiquity where many of the young Sultans had lain sent to the Seraglio at Constantinople to fetch it thence But it not being found inquisition was made into all secret corners the Wardrobes were searched but nothing appear'd to the great fear of those to whose care it was committed one accusing the other to acquit himself In fine the matter was so traced that some whispers there were concerning 〈◊〉 in whose hands the Cradle not long 〈◊〉 was seen to remain The Women having 〈◊〉 consciences were amazed in being so closeâ—â—â—â—llâ—wed and fearing the matter should be 〈◊〉 diâ—covered entred into consultation what course they should take to save their lives and their honour In fine they both concluded thâ—â— in such an extremity desperate remedies ought to be used than which none was better than to set â—iâ—e to the â—eraglio by which means either the thing sought for would be esteemed for burnt and consumed by the fire or in so great a loss it mâ—ghâ— be hoped that matters of smaller moment wâ—â—ld not be remembred Wherefore the bold Wenches without other consideration gave fire wiâ—h their Candle to the roof of Cedâ—r of which wood most of the Womens rooms in the Seraglio are made which in a moment made such a flâ—me as with the help of a little wind was carried through all the quarters of the Womens Aparâ—ments and thence took its way to the 〈◊〉 Châ—mber and other considerable parts of the Court where many Records and Registers of Law were consâ—med to afâ—es together with one of the lesser Treasuries where much richess which endured not the test of â—ire perished And the whole Seâ—agâ—io had run an evident hazard 〈…〉 the Bâ—â—tâ—ngâ—es and other Servants of the Court ventured far into the slames in which many of tâ—em miserably perished The fire being quenched and the Women afterwards I know not how detected to have been the Autâ—ors thereof were sent to Adrianople and being â—heâ—e accused were strangled by the immediate 〈…〉 the Grand Signior 〈◊〉 the destruction of that considerable part 〈…〉 Seraglio was no impediment to the Grand 〈◊〉 return to Constantinople being rebuilt 〈◊〉 that speed and industry equal or excelling 〈◊〉 mâ—â—nificence of the former that the day 〈…〉 the Journey thither was not prolonged 〈…〉 â—heâ—eof Howâ—oever the Grand 〈◊〉 aversion to the place made the wheels of 〈…〉 move sâ—ow and the quickness of his 〈◊〉 grew slack and cold observing so 〈…〉 pleasure in their Emperor to the place 〈◊〉 For though he was pressed by the Vizier to 〈…〉 and could not handsomly refuse 〈…〉 with the time appointed yet to defer 〈◊〉 resolution as long as was possible he contriv'd a â—ong way of Meander towards Constantinople forming his Journey in Company with the Great Vizâ—er by way of the Dardanelli upon the Hellespont on pâ—eteâ—ce of viewing the Fortifications of the new 〈◊〉 raâ—sed at the entrance of that Streight and seâ—ding some Provisions â—rom thence for Relief 〈…〉 wherefore the Captain-Pasha was 〈◊〉 to â—ea with three Gallies and at 〈…〉 to attend the Grand Signiors arrival 〈…〉 him thence to the Castles and 〈…〉 And tâ—e design being now resolved 〈…〉 the VVar in Candia for 〈…〉 a numerous Army it was concludâ—d That the Captain-Pasha should propose to the 〈…〉 â—he Grand Signiors desire of 〈…〉 with consent of our King 〈…〉 paying what reasonable Raâ—es should â—e demanded But the Earl of 〈◊〉 then Loâ—d 〈◊〉 modeâ—â—ly replied Thâ—t â—hough â—is Majeâ—â—y of England did always enterâ—â—in a good affection and a zealous disposition 〈◊〉 the â—ffâ—irs of the Grand Signior yet at 〈◊〉 the VVar with Hâ—lland and ill underâ—tanding with France made his occasions for his own Shipping more urgent than usual and the time most
the Peace which concerned most the Interest of the Empire and not hazard it for such like Concernments of Transilvania for though it seemed strange to the World to see a Peace hastily clapt up with disadvantageous Terms on the Emperors side whilst he was victorious and fortunate in several Enterprizes yet they that penetrated farther into the State and Condition of the Empire report That there was a necessiâ—y of making a moderate use of these successes by a fair accommodation rather than to tempt Providence by a too eager and continued prosecution of the War. For it was observed that the Designs of making the Duke of Anguien Son to the Prince of Conde King of Poland proceeded forward and that there was a Combination of a dangerous League amongst thePrinces of the Rhine The Divisions between the Germans and the Hungarians encreased the latter of which are known to be an obstinate sort of People The Army also of the French was feared in the Bowels of the Empire under the Command of Monsieur la Feuvillade who under pretence of applying themselves to the assistance of Christendom were suspected to come with intentions to advance the interest of their King and force the next Diet to elect him King of the Romans in order whereunto and in consideration of farther assistance they demanded several Towns in Hungary to be delivered into their hands and made extravagant Propositions for Winter Quarters all which considered made the German Ambassadour more tender how he entred into Disputes with the Turk which might prejudice the essential points of the Peace or occasion a new War more destructive to Germany through the dangers before intimated than by the Arms and Hostility of the common Enemy These Considerations made the Ambassador less zealous in the matter of Transilvania and in all others which were not really conducing to his Masters immediate service so that having no other difficulty remaining than the liberty of the Captives on the day of his last Audience with the Vizier being the 8 th of November he urged with more earnestness their Release which was in part granted those of the Gallies were delivered from their Chains and Oars but such as were of greater Quality in the seven Towers were detained until the Emperor had on his part released the Turks of Quality in like manner and though it was agreed in the Article That Captives should on both sides be released yet the Vizier interpreted it to be in respect to Number and Quality of which I remember to have heard often Complaints and especially of those poor Gentlemen then under Irons and restraint who though afterwards received their freedom yet for the present endured more torment in their minds than if they had never been put in expectation to enjoy their hopes At the end of the Audience the Ambassadour proposed something in behalf of the Religious of Ierusalem That certain places of Devotion might be restored them which were injuriously taken from them by the Greeks and also that License might be granted for re-edification of some Churches and Monasteries destroyed in Galata by the late Fire To the first of which the Vizier answered That the Franks with the Greeks of Ierusalem should have a fair and equal Tryal at Law about the possession of those places in difference and Justice and Right should be done unto the injured but the latter Proposition he positively denied for being a matter contrary to their Law and Religion was not dispensable by his Power nor ought he to expect a Complement from him or Gratuity of that nature which was inconsistent with the honour and conscience of the Donor but that in any thing else he was ready to yield to his Desires whereby he might understand the value he put upon his Person using this Expression That he was more satisfied that the Emperor had designed so illustrious and worthy a person to this Embassy than if he had sent him a Hundred thousand Dollars more of Present and at the Conclusion of the Audience vested both the Ambassadour and Resident with Sables which ended with all imaginable satisfaction and mutual contentment On the 21 th of the Month of November arrived at Constantinople Monsieur De Ventelay Ambassadour from the French King to the Grand Signior who was Son to the Sieur De la Haye the former Ambassadour a Person much talked of before he arrived a generous and an accomplished Gentleman and one well practised in the Affairs of that Countrey To understand which story the better we must look back to the former Year at the beginning of which during the German War and that the Vizier remained in his Winter-quarters at Belgrade a Courier with Letters from his most Christian Majesty to the First Vizier arrived who concealed not the occasion of his coming nor the contents of his Letters with that secrecy but that those who were imployed in the Translation of the Papers into Turkish made it publickly known to be no other than a recital of the many provocations his most Christian Majesty had received from the Pirates of Barbary containing a List of the Ships Men and Goods they had from time to time seized and made Prize in vindication of which indignities to his Honour and in protection of his People he could not do less than make a War upon those Pirates for as yet the advice was not come that the French had deserted Gigeri in which for the foregoing reasons the Grand Signior ought not to judge himself concerned And for the Succour given the Emperor it was not afforded as King of France but as one of the Princes of the Empire in which capacity by virtue of his Tenure he was obliged to contribute such Forces on the like emergencies and distresses of the Empire And if the foregoing reasons were available with the Sultan to induce him as in reason he ought to believe he continued in perfect friendship with him without breach of Articles he was then ready to send his Ambassadour to reside at the Port provided it might be Monsieur De Ventelay Son to Monsieur De la Haye late Ambassadour there who was the Person that had some time since received indignities from the Vizier Kuperlee that so his Majesty might receive satisfaction by having the very Person of Monsieur De Ventelay honoured by extraordinary demonstrations of respect in reparation of the former affronts This Messenger having translated his Papers obtained license to ride Post to the Vizier and in the frosts and extremities of the weather in Ianuary set forward on his Journey but in his passage through Adrianople visiting the Chimacam and desiring his license in like manner to ride Post to the Vizier on publick affairs received such a lesson of scorn and disdain vented with the extremity of choler against the French Nation in publick Divan with terms undecent to be repeated And that in farther resentment if he were First Vizier he would refuse to accept
a hundred and fifty black Eunuchs in Vests of white Satten The Grand Signior also preparing for his journey to Larissa pitched his Tents without the City from whence one day viewing round the Camp from a Jardac or Tent elevated above the rest he espied with a Prospective Glass a certain person taking Tobacco in his Tent whilst a Slave rubbed his Legs His Attendants not able or willing upon his Demands to inform him who he was he sent an Officer to make Enquiry who returned with Answer that it was Ibrihim Aga the Kahya or Stâ—ward to the Chimacam and in effect Chimacam hâ—mself having a great share in the mannagement of Affairs but the smoke had like to have smothered him and all his Fortunes for this Grand Signior who is as great an Enemy to it as King Iames was or Sultan Morat would have made him the Sacrifice to that Incense had not those present interceded for him who with the Chimacam's own mediation and the cost of fifty Purses or five and twenty thousand Dollars ransomed his Life The Sultan being arrived at Larissa News came of the near approach of the Excellentissimo Alvise de Molino Ambassador from the Venetian Republick with propositions of peace But the Turks before they would admit the Embassy or the person which brought it to a nearer approach than a Days Journey from the Court would be resolved first whether he brought with him the Keys of Candia To which it was replied by the Interpreter That he was not able to give them satisfaction in that particular being but a mean and ordinary servant to whom the Secrets of State and resolutions of great men were not committed his Office being only to render faithfully the words and sence of his Masters and not to enter into the private thoughts and Cabinet of their Counsels To which the Chimacam proudly and barbarously made answer Go tell thy Master that unless he brings the Keys of Candia thy head shall pay for it And that he presume not in person to approach nearer unto this Court. So the Ambassadour remained at a distance for some weeks and at length was transferred over to the Vizier at Canâ—ia who being more ready to hearken to propositions in hopes by some overture or other to hook in Candia gave an easie Audience to the Ambassador and controverted several Articles and Propositions with all freedom and patience So that on the Venetians part the Surrender of Suda was offered and a Sum of mony in compensation of the War. The Vizier on the other side would be contented with nothing less than the Surrender of Candia and in lieu thereof to grant a Licence to rebuild Paleo-Castro an ancient Fortress But the Fortress it self of Candia being the prize and aim of both nothing could be concluded without that so that the Ambassador in fine declared plainly That the City of Candia was maintained and defended by the Arms of Foreign Princes without whose consent it could not be resigned all the rest of the Island should be the reward of their bloud and labour only Candia was capable of no Conditions but what were impoâ—ed on it by force of Arms. The Vizier whose honour could be salved and the glory of the Ottoman Empire maintained at no other rate than the subjection of Candia would hearken to no other terms or proposals so that the Treaty broke off and the Ambassadour returned to Canea there to remain until farther Overtuâ—es of an Accomodation should present It was now towards the depth of Winter wâ—en thâ—â—â— men of War and a Fire-Ship sent by the most Christian King steered up the Hellespont with words and boastings as full of Wind as their Sails and being arrived at Constantinople vaunting of their Force as if sufficient to subdue the Turkish Dominions they uttered certain rumors that they were come to revenge the late affront offered to their Merchants to cause that mony to be repaid which in late and frequent Avanias had been extorted from their Nation and to renew their Capitulations with more advantageous terms As namely That their Customs from 5 be reduced to 3 per Cent. as the English Dutch and Genoeses pay That their King be treated by the Sultan with the equal Presents and Gifts according to the Custom used with the Emperor and that at all times interchangeably Ambassadors be sent to reside in each others Dominions with other propositions which seemed as extravagant to the Turks as they appeared to others vain and to have no foundation but in the report of the Vulgar But that which was repoâ—ted by the most judicious concerning these Ships was That his most Christian Majesty being made to understand perfectly the affronts put on his Nation by the Turks and not fully satisfied as is supposed with the respect they had shown to his Ambassador at Constantinople made it the chief Design of his Ships to withdraw him from thence supposing it a less diminution to his honour to have the person of his Agent subjected to affronts than of his Ambassador to which it was imagined he might be obnoxious in consideration of those great supplies which were in the following year designed for Candia In what manner soever the Turks deemed of this appearance of Men of War to hector and brave them at their Imperial City they did yet for the present cunningly dissemble the matter giving the French fair Words and what plenty of Provisions their occasions did require In what manner this Affair was transacted I shall not adventure to relate nor is it well or certainly known Yet not long after came Orders for the Ambassador to repair to the Court at Larissa and that until the Grand Signior's pleasure was farther known the Ships of War were to be detained The Commander in chief called Monsieur d' Almeras was not a little troubled to have his Ships thus embargued and labouring in his thoughts between the time limited in his Instructions by his Master and the restraint by the Turks he once bravely resolved to hazard his passage through the Castles but protracting the execution thereof from day to day even until the end of April at length Licence came for their departure and Orders to repair unto Vola near Larissa there to take an Ambassador or Agent or Envoyé from the Sultan to their King. For it seems the Vizier had intimated to the Grand Signior That it was not time to disgust the French King and to bring him under the notion of a declared and publick Enemy or at least to irritate him so far as might provoke him to send greater Forces than perhaps he designed the next year for Candia and that he ought to comply with the present conjuncture and salve that up for a time which he might afterwards open at his pleasure This counsel seeming reasonable to the Grand Signior and agreeable to the present necessity he ordered as I was credibly informed a thousand Dollars only to adorn his
Ambassador so pitifully do the Turks esteem of Christian Princes and so highly do they value themselves as if a Message from them would be reverenced in Christendom as a favour though brought by a Porter or a Slave But the French Ambassador considering this allowance too mean a provision for a person qualified to appear before his Master did as it is said out of his own Purse and generous Soul contribute a far greater Sum with two Vests of Sables towards his better Equipage In this manner the Sultan dissembling an appearance of good correspondence with his Christian Majesty dispatched away his Envoyâ— on the Ships of War being a Person in quality of a Mutafaraca one of the same degree with a Chaous to expostulate with the King concerning several Particulars and especially his Reasons for sending for his Ambassador without sending another according to ancient custom to supply his Office wondering much at this sudden alteration of friendship without any cause given on the Ottoman side and with these smooth and fair words the Turks imagined they might charm the Spirit of the King for a while and suspend his Succours from Candia until at last it were beyond his power and wisdom to relieve In the mean time the Ambassador from the most Christian King was detained as an Hostage for the other of whose return we shall speak in its due place year 1668. Towards the end of this year Sir Daniel Harvey Lord Ambassador from His Majesty of Great Britain arrived at Constantinople succeeding in the place of the Earl of Winchelsea who could not obtain Audience with the G. Signior until the end of the following year by reason of the Sultans unsetled abode and far distance who at length coming to Salonica summoned the Ambassador thither and there conferred on him the usual Ceremonies and Honours due to the Ambassador at first Reception Candia was now hardly assailed in four places viz. on the side of Betlem Panigra St. Andrea and Sabionera These places being twice stormed in which the Turks lost thirty thousand men so many Mines and Fornâ—lli were fired that the ground lay open like a vast abyss with strange heaâ—s of confused and undigested Earth and hindred the Enemy from approaching to the Wall but Sabionera and St. Andrea being esteemed the most weak because they were not fortified by any considerable Out-works or compassed with any depth of Ditch were pressed and forced upon by the Turk with more violence than any parts of the City The Enemy having by their great number of Pioniers elevated the confused Earth they formed some Batteries fortifying them and sheltering their people with Sacks of Wool and a Labyrinth as we may say of Redoubts they advanced foot by foot upon the Revelin of St. Andrea being destitute of all Mines to stop their proceedings and having at length blown up the Revelin and with fire and earth having taken the Out-work they penetrated into the Ditch which was not deep with four Traverses and came now to the very foot of the wall of the Bulwark fortified with eighteen pieces of Cannon six of which carrying fifty pound Bullet shot into the Ditch eight flanked that side which was opposite to Panigra and four on that part towards the Revelin of St. Spirito notwithstanding which they stormed the Walls in nine places And beginning to make a breach by firing certain Mines which opened a wideness of forty two paces at the point of that Bulwark year 1669. and continuing their breaches towards the Sea breaking in their way the Front of the Fort Priulo they proceeded almost to the Gate of St. Andrea and opened forty eight paces more in all ninety paces Afterwards they ruined the remainder of the Wall and that which was called the Scotch Fort to the very Sea so that the Christians were forced to retire from their Out-works and contract their Precincts to the Walls of the City To add unto the misery of this place an unfortunate shot from the Turks Camp entred that Magazine which was near St. Peters Church where the artificial Fires were made and meeting several shells of Granadoes already charged with thirty Barrels of Powder all took fire and blew into the air and burned all the houses which were near thereunto At this unlucky accident the Besieged fearing a general assault and seeing the Turkish Horse draw into a Body near Sabionera the whole Garrison ran to the Walls but no farther Attempt being made towards evening they blew up a Lodge of the Enemy with all the people that were therein Anno Christi 1669. Hegeira 1080. TOwards the end of the last Year and at the beginning of this the Turks began to open their eyes and find themselves defrauded with the grossest cheat that ever was imposed on a people who had either reason or humanity For now three or four years had ran on that the French Dutch Italians and other Nations had introduced into all parts of the Turkish Dominions unless in those Eastward as Aleppo and farther a sort of small Mony called by some Luigini by others Ottavi and by the Turks Temins worth about five pence English which appearing pleasant and bright to the eye and commodious for change and common expences so bewitched the Commonalty that Pieces of Eight Zaichins and other merchantable Money were laid aside as neither curranâ— or valuable At first about nine years past they were of good and warrantable Silver but afterwards with time by little and little grew worse and of baser alloy at length the people doting more and more upon them they came coarser every day than other and being still currantly passable every person that was failed and of bad reputation entred into the Trade who knowing no bounds of honesty or of gain composed their Mony wholly of Copper of coarser Metals with a fair gloss and resemblance of Silver buying therewith the Commodities of the Country and at length amassed up all the Gold Silver and whatsoever came to hand was the price of their false and bastard Coin with which they filled and abused all Asia nor was this Money only of one Mint but of divers Stamps and Mottoes reproachful to the Turks and it is pity they had not wit enough to understand them as namely Voluit hanc Asia mercem De procul pretium ejus and such like which were so various that many who had the curiosity to make a collection of them found no less than an hundred and twenty several Stamps The Commonalty still enamoured with the brightness of their colour and commodiousness of their change little reflected on the ill consequence to the generality having seldom more than to supply their daily wants And the Officers of the the Customs finding a benefit extraordinary to themselves upon the vast Sums of Money imported little cared how it fared with the publick In the mean time the whole currant of Merchandise in the Levant was dispossessed of its ordinary and true
their places and a New Governor being set up he began to make a through Reâ—ormation and to alter and change every thing according to his own humor and pleasure In the first place he gave leave to all people to Arm in Corso or to set out Private Men of War as every one pleased and was able different to the practise of the former Pasha who reserved that benefit and priviledge to himself and next it was proposed to constitute a Divan after the manner of Algier in whom the supream power of all should be lodged In order hereunto they immediately set forth to Sea six Sail of Ships from forty to fifty Guns excellent Saylors and armed them with the best and stoutest of their Men together with four more from twelve to thirty Guns with these Ships they took many prizes belonging to French Venetians and other Nations and though they had long desired to taste also of the sweetness of English Estates yet not encountring a prize worthy the trouble and evil consequences of such a breach they for some time deferred the design which they had long meditated Till at length about the Month of August 1674. they unhappily encountred the Martin a rich Ship bound from Venice to Cadiz which they carried to Tripoly and on the 17 th of September following they seconded this outrage by other of the like nature committed on the Hunter Fregat Thomas Parker Commander bound from Ligâ—rne to Smyrna whom the Tripolines meeting with six Men of War at the entrance into the Arche-pelago they brought her into the Port of Tripoly where having plundered all the strangers goods laden upon her to the import of forty thousand dollars the particulars of all which were given under Oath of the Commander the Ship was dismissed and dispeeded on her Voyage to Smyrna with no other damage to the English then the embezelment of 726 dollars robbed or pilfered by the Souldiery together which such charge as the Consul of Tripoly challenged for his service therein This news being advised into England as a breach of Peace his Majesty out of his usual and gratious care of the welfare of Trade was pleased to order Sir Iohn Narbrough his Commander in chief in the Mediterranean Seas to demand satisfaction from that people who accordingly Sailing thither and requiring restitution of the goods injuriously taken received a denial and denunciation of War. Whereupon Sir Iohn Narbrough wrote to the Consul of Smyrna in this manner These are to advertise you that the people of Tripoly have broken the peace with his Majesty they are resolved to take all the English Ships they can meet and overcome I have been there with a Squadron of his Majesties Ships to demand restitution of the goods taken out of the Martin â—nd Hunter they refuse to make any so that now it is open War with those people I am now at Malta taking in water I intend to fit at Ligorne I suppose his Majesty will have a Squadron of Ships to look after these people of Tripoly this Summer Sir I pray signify this to my Lord Ambassador at Constantinople and to all others his Majesties Subjects where you converss that they may prevent falling into their hands in hast I conclude and kiss your hand and I remain Your Humble Servant Iohn Narbrough On board his Majesties Ship Henrietta at Malta March 15th 1674 5. Sir Iohn Narbrough having fitted himself at Ligorne and recruited with an additional Squadron of six or seven Men of War he departed for Tripoly taking under his Convoy the Vyner Bristol Merchant and Mediterranean for Smyrna and now appearing before the Port of Tripoly in a formidable manner the Pyrates began to repent of their late violation knowing that they must now either disgorge their ill got goods or prove the evil effects of War their hearts began now to fail them so that they unrigged all their Ships laying them up close in the harbour and with them for the present all thoughts of roving on the Seas for supposing that the English Ships could not lye alwaies in that Station but that bad weather or want of provisions would enforce them some time to retire they hoped in that interval to find an opportunity to lanch into the Seas where being clear and good Saylors they might have room enough to escape Howsoever Sir Iohn Narbrough with his Squadron continued with such diligence of the coast plying them with continual allarms standing off to sea at night and towards the land in the day that they found not the heart nor opportunity to adventure abroad until one of their Ships which had formerly been their Rere-Admiral bound with Negroes for the Morea resolved to hazard an escape but not being able to make her passage good she was forced ashoar and burnt by our Ship most of the Negroes falling into the â—nglish hands some few days after Sir Iohn Narbrough fired three of their Galeots burnt a Satee took a fisher-boat and a Sambechin with which success being encouraged and the Enemy affrighted their Ships were blocked up in Port for some months whilst ours found free passage on the Seas until that at length growing weary of so long a demorage necessity drove them to adventure abroad which two of their best Men of War successfully effected on the 8 th of September in despight of the English Squadron year 1675. being assisted with calm weather and help of their Oares four others observing the success of the former in a few days after attempted the like and escaped in the same manner And now the Commanders of English Ships in diverse Ports taking false measures on confidence that the Tripolines were blocked up in their Ports trusted themselves with unadvised security into the Seas amongst which none was so unfortunate as a Ship called the Bristol Merchant one Plummer Commander laden with eighty two Bales of Silk besides other rich commodities bound from Smyrna to Ligorne wherâ—on were several Merchants some of which having lived many years in Smyrna had acquired plentiful Estates namely Mr. Iohn Foley Mr. Thomas Laxton Mr. Iacob Turner year 1674. Mr. Phillip Gell and Mr. Tison Nephew to Mr. Foley Persons who expected a prosperous Voyage and a happy arrival in their own Country But observe here the course of humane disappointments for being imbarked on the Ship aforesaid they set Sail from Smyrna the 10 th or 11 th of September in company with the Vyner which happened to be about two or three days after the Tripolines had first broken out of their Port these two Ships by bad weather or want of due care lost company each with other in the Arche-pelago which proved a happy fortune to the Vyner for the Bristol Merchant some few days after being off of Cape Sapientia encountred the two Tripolines which first came out of Port and being Vessels of forty to fifty Guns soon made themselves Masters of a Merchant-ship laden and of mean force The Tripolines were greatly elevated with
this rich prize which they immediately carried to a place called Derno and there landing their goods and men for better security transported them over land to Tripoli The Persons we mentioned before were forced for the most part to walk all the way a foot being thirty four days journey unless some times they were favoured to mount a Camel which is such an unpleasant way of riding that walking is much more easie and travailing in a sandy dry Country water was very scarce the days journies being commonly proportioned according to the distance of the Wells of Water which they drank with better Appetites and Pleasure then they formerly rellished the most pleasant Wines Being arrived at Tripoli they were ill wellcomed by the severe looks and hard diet which they received from their Hâ—sts and the Plague raging greatly in the City added to the miseries and dread of the place The Tripolines encouraged with this prize and with the expectation of the farther success of their Ships abroad hoped to weary out the English Squadron which still continued to infest and trouble their coasts taking their Corn Boats and interrupting all Commerce which that Town had with the Sea. At length the English resolved to make an attempt on the Ships in Harbour which they resolutely performed in the night and with great success according to this relation which Sir Iohn Narbrough gave under his own hand Friday the 14th of January 1675 6. I Being before Tripoli in Barbary with his Majesties Ships under my command namely these Fregats Harwich Henrietta Portsmouth Fire ships Anne and Christopher Holmes Merchants Ships attending for Convoy Guinny Martin And seeing four of the Tripoly Ships of War in the Port of considerable force preparing to go out and cruise I fitted a fire-boat out of the fireships and commanded that all the boats of my Squadron being twelve in number should be manned armed and fitted with Fire-works also I ordered a considerable Officer to be a Commander in every boat and my Leiutenant Cloudisly Shovel to be Commander in chief of them all for being resolved by Gods permission to attack the Enemy that night in Port I gave instructions requisite for such a design About twelve a clock in the night my boats resolvedly entred the Port took and seized the guard boat and killed the people in her boarded the Ships and fired them and utterly destroyed them all some Turks and Moors slain the rest fled to save themselves These four Ships lay under the Dey's Castle Walls which was all that were in Port except a Tunis Merchant Ship which I ordered should not be medled with and so escaped firing This Action was performed in less then an hours time without sustaining the least damage on our side then the expence of some Ammunition Fire-works and Fireboat which were effectually bestowed as designed to the great astonishment of the Turks who endeavoured to impede our design by plying several great and innumerable small shot at our boats and men which were within Pistol-shot of the Dey's own Castle and Palace Such was the wonderful mercy of God towards us that not one man of ours was killed wounded or touched nor a boat any way disabled but all returned in safety bringing the Guard boat two Moors and the Turkish Colours of the four Ships in triumph along with them to my Ship. Our men employed in the boats on this occasion were one hundred fifty and seven they all behaving themselves as became Englishmen To God alone be the Glory Names of the Tripoly Ships of War that were burnt with their Guns White crowned Eagle 50 Guns Looking-Glass 34 Guns Sta Chiara 24 Guns French Petach 20 Guns Guard boat brought off with one Peterero and two Moors in her I verily believe that in case I had landed at that time with five hundred men only I might have carried the City for the Turks were so amazed that they fled out of it they fired several great and small shot all at random without hurt to any of our men God being pleased so to direct it The 26th of January I fired about one hundred shot into the City of Tripoly amongst the Inhabitants The first and third of February I took and destroyed five Corn boats twenty Leagues to the Eastward of Tripoly and landed and burned a Stack a wood and Timber which was for building their new Ship and some small Masts and Yards and some bags of bread brought off and two Guns spiked which could not be got off it beginning to blow and likely to be bad weather so I was constrained to leave them and repair on board and leave the coast The tenth of this Month the Portsmouth took a Sambechee in her ballast thirty Leagues to the Eastward of Tripoly she belonging to that Government the Moors got all ashoar but the Sambechee was brought to Malta From aboard his Majesties Ship Harwich March the 18th 1675 6. John Narbrough The Tripolines being discouraged and affrighted with this boldness and diligence of the English and apprehending that they would always infest their coast which would be an utter ruine and destruction to them and being touched in the most sensible parts of their interest and welfare they generally concluded that there was now no safety but by making a peace with the English To â—arther which and to assist in the Office of Mediation it happened that there was at the same time at Tripoly one Haffse bey a great man of Tunis who had been Dei of that Country but being droven from thence by his Nephews was come to Tripoly with an immense treasure intending aâ—terwards to Transport himself to Constantinople to make his aggreivances known at the Grand Signiors Court. Of this person we shall discourse more at large hereafter but in this place it is pertinent to relate how instrumental he was to effect this peace in which he laboured with the greater zeal that so by assistance of the English he might find a speedy and safe conveyance on their Ships of his Peâ—son Goods and Servants into the Morea from whence he designed by land to Constantinople The Treaty being thus began a peace was concluded between his Majesties of Great Britain c. and Halil Pasha Ibrahim Dey Aga Divan and Governors of the Noble City and Kingdom of Tripoly Dated the fifth of March 1675 6. Being the last day of the Moon Zelhedga and Hegeira 1â—86 By this instrument all the former Articles were again confirmed with addition of two others First that all Persons taken under English Colours should be delivered to Sir John Narbrough and set at liberty without payment of any ransom for them under which notion Mr. Foley Mr. Laxton Mr. Turner Mr. Gell and Mr. Tison with the Captain and Sea-men taken on the Bristol Merchant were freed whose ransom otherwise might have coast dear and perhaps almost the value of their private Estates Secondly That eighty thousand Dollars which was the account made of the value of
goods and Mony taken on the Martin and Hunter should be made good to Sir John Narbrough in Mony or Goods and Slaves To which was adjoyned such a submission recantation and acknowledgment for their late offence and outrage as testifyed the sorrow of their true repentance as we shall see more at large in their following Articles And now the peace being concluded Sir Iohn Narbrough returned to Malta and soon after came back to Tripoly to receive the remainder of the monies and goods agreed for the Slaves being delivered already In this interim the six Ships which had foâ—merly broken out of the harbour and sailed to the Levant hearing of the peace returned to Tripoly where great feuds and dissentions arose the Souldiery accusing Ibrahim Dei nick named Misser ogli as the beginner and Author of the War and for continuing it so long with obstinacy until they were reduced to their last extremity In fine they threatned to cut him in Peices but at length they were contented to cashier him only from his Office after which he fled into the Morea and their Vice-Admiral Mustapha Grande was made Dei in his place with whom and with the Souldiers in general now returned Sir Iohn Narbrough renewed the Articles of Peace and dated them the first of May 1676 which are these that follow Articles of Peace and Commerce between c. Articles of Peace and Commerce Between the most Serene and Mighty Prince Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Christian Faith c. And the Most Illustrious Lords Halil Bassa Ibraim Dei Aga Divan and Governors of the Noble City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary concluded by Sir Iohn Narbrough Knight Admiral of his Majesties Fleet in the Mediterranean Seas I. IN the first place It is Agreed and Concluded That from this day and for ever forward There be a true firm and Inviolable Peace between the Most Serene King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Christian Faith c. And the most Illustrious Lords The Bassa Dai Aga Divan and Governors of the City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary And between all the Dominions and Subjects of either side And that the Ships or other Vessels and the Subjects and Peace of both sides shall not from henceforth do to each other any harm offence or Injury in word or Deed But shall Treat one another with all possible respect and Friendship II. That any of the Ships or other Vessels belonging to the said King of Great Brittain or to any of his Majesties Subjects may safely come to the Port of Tripoly or to any other Port or Place of that Kingdom or Dominions thereunto belonging freely to buy and sell without the least Disturbance paying the usual Customs as in former times hath been payd for such goods as they sell And for the goods they sell not they shall have free Liberty to carry on Board their own Ships without paying any Duties for the same And when they please they shall freely Depart from thence without any stop hindrance or molestation whatsoever III. That all Ships and other Vessels as well those belonging to the King of Great Brittain or to any of his Majesties Subjects as also those belonging to the People and Kingdom of Tripoly shall freely pass the Seas and traffick where they please without any search hinderance or molestation from each other And that all Persons and Passengers of what Country whatsoever And all Monys Goods Merchandize and Moveables to whatsoever People or Nation belonging being on board any of the said Ships or Vessels shall be wholly free and shall not be stopped taken or Plundred nor receive any harm or Damage whatsoever from either Party IV. That the Tripoly Ships of War or other Vessels thereunto belonging meeting with any Merchant Ships or other Vessels of the King of Great Brittains Subjects not being in any of the Seas appertaining to his Majesties Dominions may send on board one single boat with but two Sitters besides the ordinary Crew of Rowers and no more but the two Sitters to enter any of the said Merchants Ships or any other Vessels without the Express from the Commander of every such Ship or Vessel And then upon produâ—ing them a Pass under the hand and Seal of the Lord High Admiral of England the said Boat shall presently Depart And if the Merchant Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels produce no Pass from the Lord High Admiral of England yet if the Major part of the said Ships or Vessels Company be Subjects to the said King of Great Britain The said Boat shall presently Depart And the Merchants Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels shall proceed freely on her or their Voyage And if any of the said Ships of War or other Vessels of his said Majesties meeting with any Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels belonging unto Tripoly if the Commander or Commanders of any such Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels shall produce a Pass Signed by the chief Governor of Tripoly and a Certificate from the English Consul living there Or if they have no such Pass or Certificate yet if the Major part of their Ships Company or Companies be Turks Moors or Slaves belonging to Tripoly Then the said Tripoly Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels shall proceed freely V. That no Commander or other Person of any Ship or other Vessel of Tripoly shall take out of any Ship or Vessel of his said Majesties Subjects any Person or Persons whatsoever to carry them any where to be examined or upon any other pretence nor shall use any Torture or Violence to any Person of what Nation or quality whatsoever being on Board any Ship or Vessel of his Majesties Subjects upon any pretence whatsoever VI. That no Ship-wrack belonging to the King of Great Brittain or any of his Majesties Subjects upon any part of the coast belonging unto Tripoly shall be made or become a Prize And that neither the goods thereof shall be seized nor the Men made Slaves But that all the People of Tripoly shall do their best endeavours to save the said Men and their Goods VII That no Ship or any other Vessel of Tripoly shall have permission to be Delivered up or to go to any place in Enmity with the said King of Great Brittain to be made use of as Cosairs or Sea Rovers against his said Majesties Subjects VIII That none of the Ships or other smaler Vessels of Tripoly shall remain Cruising near his Majesties City and Garrison of Tangier or in sight of it nor any other way Disturb the Peace and Commerce of that place IX That if any Ship or Vessel of Tunis Argier Tittuan or Salli or any other place being in War with the said King of Great Brittain bring any Ships or Vessels Men or Goods belonging to any of his said Majesties Subjects to Tripoly or to any Part or Place within that Kingdom The Governors there shall
not permit them to be sold within the Territories of Tripoly X. That if any of the Ships of War of the said King of Great Brittain do come to Tripoly or to any other Port or Place of that Kingdom with any Prize they may freely sell it or otherwise dispose of it at their own pleasure without being molested by any And that his Majesties said Ships of War shall not be obliged to pay Custome in any sort And that if they want Provisions Victuals or any other things they may freely buy them at the rate in the Market XI That when any of his said Majesties Ships of War shall appear before Tripoly upon Notice thereof given to the English Consul or by the Commander of the said Ships to the chief Governors of Tripoly Publick Proclamation shall be immediately made to secure the Christian Captives And if after that any Christians whatsoever make their escape on board any of the Ships of War They shall not be required back again Nor shall the said Consul or Commander or any other his Majesties Subjects be obliged to pay any thing for the said Christians XII That if any Subject of the King of Great Brittain happen to dye in Tripoly or its Territories his Goods or Monys shall not be seized by the Governors or any Ministers of Tripoly but shall all remain with the English Consul XIII That neither the English Consul nor any other Subject of the said King of Great Brittains shall be bound to pay the Debts of any other of his Majesties Subjects Except that they become surety for the same by a Publick Act. XIV That the Subjects of his said Majesty in Tripoly or its Territories in matter of Controversie shall be lyable to no other Iurisdictions but that of the Dai or Divan except they happen to be at Difference between themselves In which case they shall be lyable to no other Determination but that of the Consul only XV. That in case any Subject of his Majesty being in any part of the Kingdom of Tripoly happen to strike wound or kill a Turk or a Moor if he be taken he is to be punished in the same manner and with no greater Severity than a Turk ought to be being guilty of the same offence But if he escape Neither the said English Consul nor any other of his said Majesties Subjects shall be in any sort questioned or troubled therefore XVI That the English Consul now or at any time hereafter living in Tripoly shall be there at all times with entire freedom and safety of his Person and Estate and shall be permitted to chuse his own Druggerman and Broaker And freely to go on board any Ship in the Road as often and when he pleases And to have the Liberty of the Country and that he shall be allowed a place to pray in And that no Man shall do him any Injury in Word or Deed. XVII That not only during the Continuance of this Peace and Friendship but likewise if any Breach or War happen to be hereafter between the said King of Great Brittain and the City and Kingdom of Tripoly The said Consul and all other his said Majesties Subjects shall always and at all times both of Peace and War have full and absolute Liberty to Depart and go to their own or any other Country upon any Ship or Vessel of what Nation soever they shall think fit and to Carry with them all their Estates Goods Families and Servants although born in the Country without any Interruption or hindrance XVIII That no Subject of his said Majesty being a Passenger from or to any Port shall be any way molested or medled with although he be on Board any Ship or Vessel in Enmity with Tripoly XIX That whereas a War hath lately happened between the most Serene King of Great Brittain and the most Illustrious Lords Halil Bassa Ibraim Dai The Aga Divan and Governors of the Noble City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary by reason of the Injuries done unto the King of Great Brittain and his Subjects by the Government and People of Tripoly contrary to the Articles of Peace We Halil Bassa Ibraim Dai Aga Divan and Governors of the Noble City and Kingdom of Tripoly in Barbary do acknowledge the Injuries done And that the Breach of the Peace between his most Excellent Majesty of Great Brittain and Us of Tripoly was committed by our Subjects for which some are banished and some fled from our Iustice And for further Satisfaction to his most Excellent Majesty for the Breach of Articles we are sorry for the same and do by these engage to set at Liberty and Deliver unto the Right Honourable Sir John Narbrough Knight Admiral of his Majesties Fleet in the Mediterranian Sea All English Captives Residing in the City and Kingdom of Tripoly and Dominions thereunto belonging without paying any Ransom for them And likewise by setting at Liberty and delivering unto the said Sir John Narbrough Knight all other Persons taken under English Colours without paying any Ransom for them And by paying eighty thousand Dollars in Mony Goods and Slaves to the aforesaid Sir John Narbrough Knight And moreover we do engage our selves and successors That if any Injuries for the future be done contrary to these Articles by the Government and People of Tripoly to the King of Great Britain and his Subjects if upon demand of satisfaction from the Government and people of Tripoly We or they refuse or deny to give satisfaction therefore so that a War be occasioned thereby between the King of Great Britain and the Government and people of Tripoly We do engage our selves and successors to make restitution for the Injuries done and likewise to make satisfaction to the King of Great Britain for the full charge and damage of that War. XX. That no Subject of the King of Great Britain c. shall be permitted to turn Turk or Moor in the City and Kingdom of Tripoly being induced thereunto by any surprizal whatsoever unless he voluntarily appear before the Dei or Governor with the English Consuls Druggerman three times in twenty four hours space and every time Declare his Resolution to turn Turk or Moor. XXI That at all times when any Ship of War of the King of Great Britain c. carrying his said Majesties Flag at the main-top-â—ast-head appear before the City of Tripoly and come to Anchor in the Road That immediately after notice thereof given by his said Majesties Consul or Officer from the Ship unto the Dei and Government of Tripoly They shall in honour to his Majesty cause a Salute of one and twenty Cannons to be shot off from the Castles and Forts of the City and that the said Ship shall return an Answer by shooting of the same Number of Cannons XXII That presently after the Signing and Sealing of these Articles by us Halil Bassa Ibraim Dei Aga Divan and Governors of the Noble Kingdoms and City of Tripoly all Injuries and Damages
great measure to the ill Conduct of Fieschi and judging the greatest part of this debt to be feigned sent another Resident called Signior Spinola to succeed him in his Office who arriving at Smyrna in the month of May of this present year year 1675. on a stout Ship hired of the Venetians and under the notion of a Man of War accompanied with a Merchant Ship and a new Consul the old one dying the year before setled there such Orders as were judged necessary for the government of their Affairs But before these Genoueses arrived a report had fore-ran them from Ligorne and other parts that their Ships brought great quantities of false Gold and false Pieces of Eight the which coming to the ears of the Turks Commands were provided against their arrival to search their Ships and try their Monies to which the Genoueses not condescending Arz or testimony was made thereof by the Kadi unto the Grand Signiors Court. In the interim whilst this Arz went up and the answer expected the Genouese Resident designing to proceed forward on his Voyage to Constantinople demanded the Kadi's Moraselau or Ticket of Licence for the Man of War on which he came to pass the Castle for that Ship had entred within the Port. The Kadi judging it necessary that both the Resident and Ship should attend the arrival of the answer from above refused to grant this Licence whereupon the Resident all in a rage imbarked himself and immediately set sail and having a fair Breez out of the Port gently slided along by the side of the Castle without any stop or interruption This affront being put upon the Kadi greatly displeased him so that calling the Lieutenant and Gunner of the Castle into question and not admitting of their Plea that the Ship was a Man of War and the person thereon a Resident both which were privileged and both going up to the Grand Signiors Court were to answer there for what was laid against them but this I say not being admitted for reason the Kadi committed them both to Prison from whence with some charge afterwards they released themselves The new Resident being arrived at Constantinople the Creditors of Count Fieschi demanded payment of the debts owing to them which was given in to amount to sixty thousand Dollars and so much was to be paid before Fieschi should be permitted to depart or at least that part thereof being satisfied in hand the new Resident Spinola should give security for payment of the remainder the which he refusing to do as not owning the accounts which Fieschi had given in in regard he judged them to be composed of extravagant Interests and to arise on charges not allowable by that Republick who after the death of Giustiniano disowned Fieschi for their Minister hereupon great disturbances and commotions arose amongst the Creditors some of which being in great Power as the Janisary-Aga and others Sequestration was laid on their Man of War so that she was toaed away to the Arsenal and there laid up and attached for payment of the debt which arising on the account of the Publick the Goods of the Common-wealth was justly esteemed liable to the Sequestration during which time the Pestilence the Epidemical disease of that season at Constantinople affecting with its contagion the Ships company about eighteen or twenty of them dyed thereof and all their affairs reduced to a strange consternation In this interim many and various were the disputes and contests between the two Residents sometimes they proposed to refer their differences to the decision of the English French and Venetian Ministers sometimes again finding the distance so wide and spatious between them they resolved to have their matters determined by Turkish Sentence At length the new Resident perceiving no end of this business and that the Ship lay ingaged at a great charge and as it were captivated to the great dishonour of the Republick came to an agreement to pay thirty three thousand Dollars one third whereof was to be paid in hand and the other two thirds by equal portions in the space of one year the first payment to be made after six months and the other six months after to which not only the Resident but their Merchants also entred personally into obligation In this manner the Ship being cleared and taking such Lading as offered for Genoua at Constantinople sailed for Smyrna where taking another Ship of the same Country into her company departed with the Dutch Convoy for Christendom But having remained six months in Port subjected to much charge and trouble and not finding a Freight equal to the time and expence was no great incouragement to the Genoueses to continue this Trade which by good experience appears in no manner agreeable to their Country nor yielding success answerable to the long expectation of ten years past In this Year it was that the Grand Signior and Great Vizier at the instigation of Chusaein Aga the chief Customer whom we have before mentioned casting their eyes on Smyrna and finding it a place of a great Trade and a convenient Port for which in ancient times it was always famous and for the same cause was frequented by Merchants both from the Eastern and Western parts of the World so that it was become the only great and considerable Mart or Scale within the Precincts of the Turkish Empire considering it I say in this manner with a benign eye as bringing great profit and advantage they began to think it worthy the Ornament of some publick Edifices founded with that Magnificence as might endure long and renew the ancient Honour and Reputation of Smyrna Hereupon they erected in the first place a Besasteen which is in the nature of our Exchange where several Shops are made and variety of Goods sold and to make the better Front towards the Sea it was founded therein on vast Stones and Piles fâ—t to support a weighty Building The next Edifice erected was a Custom-house built into the Sea only on Piles of Timber with a handsom Front towards the Sea and this the Great Vizier judged to be a work not only necessary but also agreeable to the Majesty of his Master for until this time the Customer lived in a hired House not unlike the others which Merchants inhabit And now this House being compleated a Hattesheriff or Royal decree came down from the Court commanding that all Ships that came into that Port either to lade or unlade should lay their sides to that Custom-house Scale and thereon discharge their Goods and receive others And now whereas the Merchants injoyed at all times in former days the convenience of having their Goods landed on and laden from their own Keys or Scales they greatly resented this innovation and as they unwillingly quit any Priviledge so they judged this not unworthy to be contended for with singular constancy and resolution the commodiousness of which was thought so considerable that it not only caused this place in former
days to flourish and to be distinguished from all the Marts in the World but also the injoyment thereof invited the Inhabitants from the more elevated parts of Smyrna where was health and pleasure to the lower Bogs and Marishes exchanging health and chearful air for profit and convenience of Commerce Hereupon applications were made by all the Consuls of the Frank Nations to their Ambassadours and Ministers at the Grand Signiors Court. In the mean time Trade by common agreement was interdicted at least as to the lading or unlading of Ships which continued for several days and touched somewhat grievously the English and Dutch Nations the first having two Ships and the latter six Merchants-ships in Port. The English Ambassadour being then personally at Adrianople was the first who without the assistance of any other Minister moved in this affair but found great opposition in it from the Turkish Officers who with some resentment of the present reluctancy of the Merchants declared not without passion the resolution the Grand Signior had to conform the honour of the Custom-house in some semblance with those of Christian Princes and therefore did wonder that the Christian Merchants could so easily condescend to the rules of those Custom houses in their own Countries where they were Natives and yet could not support the same in these parts where they were Aliens and Strangers And as a farther evidence of the Turks resolution to maintain this point it was said by the Vizier's Kahya that the Grand Signior was resolved to blow up both Port and Town rather than not be obeyed in his own Dominions with this Answer Merchants despairing of the success began to unlade their ships at the Custom house or to give an account there of the Goods in their Boats for the Customer was become sensible there was not sufficient Water for ships to ride at the Key of the Custom house and did also indulge unto the Merchants several other particulars herein that so the innovation might sit the more lightly on them which he perceived was so ill resented and taken to heart And this was the first beginning in the Months of August and September when this priviledge was taken from the Merchants And in this Year also the Great Chan next to the Besasteen was in Building and the first Foundation thereof laid and the great Aquaduct brought from the Plains of Bogiaw and little Harchi-bonar At the end of the year 1674 we have related the beginning proceedings and conclusion of the War which our Gracious King was pleased in defence of his Subjects and Commerce to make on Tripoly which we brought down to this year 1676 when Sir Iohn Narbrough Sailing home for England touched in his way at Algiers for better understanding of the State of all matters with that Government Things had for some time remained in a doubtful condition between England and that people who having lately proved the smart effects of War with us were not very forward to make a breach Howsoever it being that time when by means of a General Peace which we enjoyed with all the World and of a War in which the rest of Christendom was involved that our navigation flourish'd and that few other Ships besides English passed the Seas the Algerines grew weary of a Peace with us And herein they seemed to have some more reason then usual because that when it was their fortune to meet with strangers they were so disguised with English Colours and Passports surreptitiously and fraudulently procured that they could not distinguish their Friends from Enemies whereof they made frequent Complaints and addresses to his Majesty The King out of a sence of Justice and a tender care of his Subjects welfare knowing that such indirect practises must necessarily produce a War was pleased by a Letter to that People to signify his care in that particular and recalling all Passports formerly given promised a better regulation of them for the future as appears by the Proclamation here following which was inclosed and seâ—t in the Letter to Algiers By the King. A PROCLAMATION Relating to the Articles concluded between His MAJESTY and the Government of Algiers CHARLES R. WHereas by the late Articles of Peace concluded between His Majesty and the Government of Algiers His Majesty out of His Royal Care of the Persons and Estates of His Subjects did agree and provide That none of His Subjects employed or trading in any English Ship or Uessel should for the future be taken and sold as Slaves or his or their Goods made Prize by any of the Subjects of the said Government of Algiers And also that any of His Majesties Subjects going in foreign Ships as Passengers only and having Authentick Passports testifying the same should have the like freedom for their Persons and Goods aboard such Foreign Ships And whereas His Majesty is informed that divers of His Subjects contrary to the effect and true meaning of the said Treaty do take upon them to colour and conceal the Ships of Foreigners with whom the said Government of Algiers is in War and to that end do either wholly Navigate the Ships of such Foreigners or otherwise serve in the same as Mariners or Souldiers Which way of proceeding as it doth for the present administer just cause of Complaint from the said Government of Algiers so will it in a short time if not prevented indanger the Security intended by the said Articles for the Ships Persons and Estates of His Majesties Subjects His Majesty doth therefore by this His Royal Proclamation strictly forbid all His Subjects that they do not for the future Navigate the Ships or Vessels of any Foreigners in War with the said Government nor presume to serve in the same either as Mariners or Souldiers And His Majesty doth hereby further Declare That if any Offenders contrary to this His Royal Proclamation shall be taken His Majesty will not require any release of their Persons or Estates from the said Government of Algiers but that they must expect to be excluded as they were intended out of the benefit of the said Articles His Majesty also strictly charging such persons as shall hereafter go as Passengers in Foreign Ships or Uessels to take care that they have Passports with them signed by His Majesties proper Ministers in England or His Ministers or Consuls abroad expressing the Names of their Persons and the Contents and Qualities of their Goods at their perils Given at our Court at Whitehall this Two and twentieth day of December 1675. in the Seven and twentieth year of Our Riegn God save the King. year 1676. This Care and just Expedient of his Majesâ—y to prevent Fraud and Abuses in this business was otherwise construed by the Algerines and made use of in a contrary sence then was intended by his Majesty For now whatsoever Ships they met with without these new Passes they began to send to Algier and make prize of their goods not considering that the meaning of the
Chancellor to the Emperor with a numerous Train to complement him and offer him a part of the booty which he had found in the Grand Visier's Tent and amongst other things the Standard which was always carried before him when he marched It was made of Horse-hair work'd with the Needle and embroidered with flowers the staff of it was guilt as also the Apple which was of brass They call it Tugh in their Language which is to say Horse Tayle The Chancellor made a very elegant Latin Speech and the Emperour answered it with Sentiments of esteem and acknowledgment for his Majesty of Poland After a quarter of an hours conversation with this Envoy and hearing Mass in our Lady of Loretto's Chappel he took Horse to ride to the Camp where he was to visit the King of Poland There was some difficulty about the upper hand This Prince pretended it and there were examples contrary to this pretension In the mean time what he had done deserved particular consideration To conclude it was resolved for the removing of these obstacles that the Emperor should go see the Troops that they should be ranged in Battalia and that these two Sovereigns should advance within twenty steps of each other which was performed in the manner following The Emperour having seen the Bavarians in Battalia continued his way to Ebersdorff where the first Squadrons of the left Wing were drawn up and thence he went to Swech where the right Wing was posted and where the King of Poland expected him Being within Pistol-shot of each other the King with the Prince his Son upon a little gallop moved forwards and then both Princes uncovered at once saluted and covered again in a moment The Emperor spoke first and told the King That he was extremely obliged to him for leaving his Country and undertaking a long and painful voyage to come and combat his Enemies and deliver Vienna that all Christendom shar'd in the obligation and that he had covered himself with glory by so generous an action The King of Poland answered him that it was to God alone that we ought to render our thanks for this Victory that he had done nothing but what every Christian Prince was obliged to do upon the like occasion and that he would endeavour for the future to do yet more for the Interest of Religion that all his displeasure was that he was not in a condition to pursue the Enemy upon their defeat but that his Troops after a march of three days required some rest especially his Cavalry the Horse being extremely tired Prince Alexander who by order of his Father was clothed that day after the German fashion kissed the Emperour's hand whothereupon returned into the City and the King further into his Camp. His Imperial Majesty in his return observed that all the Villages and Palaces were burnt around except the place where Solyman had formerly camped when he besieg'd Vienna in memory whereof the Emperour Rodolf had caused a house of pleasure to be built in that place with Towers which were covered with guilt Copper in the same symmetry or figure that the Sultans Tents were so that the Turks being informed that this building had been made after the Model of Solymans Camp would not ruine it during the Siege but had made a Magazin of it where was also found a great quantity of Bread and Bisquet The Emperour employed the rest of the time that he stayed at Vienna in visiting the Retrenchments and Fortifications which Count Starenberg had made behind the Bastions and the Walls to defend the Ground foot by foot The Prince Elector of Saxony parted the fifteenth with all his Troops His retreat seemed precipitated and supposed to be upon account of the Protestants of Hungary thinking perhaps he had done enough in saving of Vienna whereto he nobly contributed The Emperour willing to recompence Count Starenberg's Services made him Marshal General of the Field and of his Privy Council he gave him 100000 Florins and writ to the King of Spain to send him the Order of the Golden Fleece He also conferred the same Employments and Honours upon Count Capliers and having presented Prince Alexander the King of Polands Son with a Sword richly adorned with Jewels of great value He returned back to Lintz The greatest part of those who fled upon the approach of the Turks returned to the City when they knew the Siege was raised They began to rebuild the Houses that were ruined and amongst others the Emperours Palace and Scots Church During these Triumphs at Vienna the Grand Visier sensible of his misfortune and the malice of his Enemies and knowing that the Bassa of Buda would render him no good Offices at Court upon the raising of the Siege of Vienna resolved to prevent him and informed the Grand Seignior by an express he dispatch'd to him to Belgrade that he had disposed all things to check the first onset of the Christians and engage them in Battel which would undoubtedly have been accompanied with Success but that he was forced to change design because the Bassa retired with his Army the Walachians the Moldavians and the Hungarians which did so mainly abate the Courage of his Troops that it was afterwards impossible for him to bring them to fight that so he had been obliged to retire to conserve the rest of the Army and not to hazard the Person of his Highness Nevertheless the Grand Visier having well examined the Consequences which the ill Success of his Enterprise might have did scarce believe himself secure by this precaution and he perswaded himself that he must immolate the Bassa of Buda's Life to preserve his own He caused him immediately to be arrested together with the Bassaes of Erfeck and Poslega who he knew were of Intelligence with the former and caused them all three to be strangled These proceedings furnished his Enemies with Pretexts to destroy him chiefly the Kisler-Agasi a Creature of the Sultana Valide to whom she had recommended upon her Death-bed to revenge her upon this chief Minister which he also did After the Death of these three Bassaes the Grand Visier continued his march but in his Passage by Raab that Garrison fell upon his Rear-Guard and kill'd near 600 of them At Gran he was joyned by a body of 15000 Turks who were going to Belgrade The remains of the Ottoman Army were dispersed some at Gran some at Newhausel at Buda some and the rest entrenched near Altemburg On the other side the Christians discoursed of the rest of the Campania but as part of the Allies did think they had done enough in contributing to the relief of Vienna thought of returning home many Coucils were held to examine by what means they might be stayed The Duke of Saxony continued inflexible in his Resolution and was marched for his Country The Elector of Bavaria consented to leave his Troops with the Emperours but the Prince of Waldeck gave them to understand that he should want
quantity of artificial and combustible matters with that success that they pierced even to the said Planks and reduced them to ashes they also flung such a vast quantity of Granado's Stones and Arrows upon the Bavarians that they forced them to abandon this Post with the loss of twenty Souldiers Aug. 28. In the Lorrain attack they thundred with extreme violence from their Cannon upon the Flanks of the great Breach as did also the Brandenburgers to overthrow the Besieged's defences The Bavarians regained their Post and covered themselves so well in it that the Enemy would be much troubled to dislodg them Major Staben who commanded the Assailants was killed there the slain and wounded not otherwise exceeding 20. Upon the Report of some Renegado's that the Grand Visier was resolved to come this Night with all his Forces the Duke ordered all things for his reception and all the Army stood in Battalia but to no purpose for no Enemy did appear Aug. 29. Being the Decollation of St. Iohn Baptist and a day which the Turks have always superstitiously observ'd as fortunate to their Empire 1000 Spahi's and 2000 Ianizaries commanded by two Bassa's and seconded by 1500 Tartars came at break of day to make another trial on the Water side but seeing the Post too well provided on that quarter having received a discharge from the Musketâ—ers that kept the Walls they retreated and judged it easier to try the passage by the same way that the last Supplies entred they went by the Valley of St. Paul and charged fiercely with their accustomed shouts upon the Regiments of Mercy Heusler and Newburg who received them with so much bravery that they killed a great number of them whereof some of the most determined were rash enough to push through to the very Lines where they were all slain except 4 who were lucky enough to get into the City The number of the dead in this action amounted to 600 besides the Prisoners which were not many and there were taken 25 Standards and Colours which were red intimating thereby that they would enter the City or perish On the other side some 30 were killed and wounded Mercy was of the number of the last but without danger and his Adjoutant of the first During this Tentative the Besieged made a sally upon the Bavarians but the Heyducks attacking them in Flank they had much a-do to retire leaving 17 dead upon the place The Grand Visier shewed himself with his Army all day on the Bavarian side ready to engage but seeing 3 Regiments of Cuirasiers and two of Dragoons being the Avant-Guard of General Scherfenberg's Army he quickly retreated back to his Camp. Aug. 30. Scherfenberg arrived this day with the rest of his Body proper men who seem'd eager to signalize themselvs The Deserters reported that the want was great in the Grand Visier's Army and that the famished Soldiers had plundered some Barks which had brought Provisions the Officers not being able to hinder them Aug. 31. The Lorrainers took a new Post in the Ditch before the Breach in the inner Wall but 3 fadom distant from the Pallisade and the place being very deep the Turks could not much hurt them where they had but 2 Soldiers wounded This Morning the Duke of Lorrain went accompanied with most of the Generals to the Elector's quarters where they held a Council of War and having dined there the Duke returned to his Quarters after which the Works were ordered to be enlarged and deepned for the easier ascent to the Assault which was resolved upon in a day or two Sept. 1. Three thousand Turks appeared before day by Moon-light on the Bavarian side but seeing the Christians in good order and ready to receive them they retired without any Engagement The Great Chancellor Count Straatman being arrived yesterday at the Camp with a secret Commission called a Council of War in which the Duke of Lorrain the Elector of Bavaria and all theImperial and Auxiliary Generals did meet The Chancellor exposed his Commission which contained his Imperial Majestie 's desires to put an end to this bloody Siege and that they should consult on the means the most proper and expedient for the terminating of it Two points were chiefly deliberated upon whether they should go with the greatest part of the Army leaving a sufficient number to guard the Lines to force the Grand Visier or should make a General assault upon the place and that with more Forces than had hitherto been employed The latâ—r was approved by most of the Generals and it was resolved to assault the place the next day for which purpose every thing that was necessary was prepared that the enterprise might not fail and lest the Enemy might know it it was given out that they would the next day go and fight the Grand Visier which caused great joy amongst the Officers and Souldiers desirous of signalizing themselves The Cannon of all the attacks were in the mean time imployed to inlarge the Breaches and cast down the Enemies fences Sept. 2. All the Generals mounted on Horseback and the Troops put themselves in order to quit the Lines and go to their place of Arms and march towards the Grand Visiâ—r making as iâ— they would go and attack them in their Camp. The Duke of Lorrain and the Elector of Bavaria visited thâ—ir Quarters encouragaing the Officers and Souldiers to maintain the cause of God and the Glory of the Emperour The Infantry was ranged into Battalions whilst the firing in the three attacks was redoubled and a vast quantity of Bombs and chained Bullets were shot against the besiegeds deâ—ences which were for the most part thrown down and as the Troops were put in order to march towards the Grand Visier the motion oâ— the Vanguard was instantly changed and at three in the Afternoon the Infantry that composed the Rear-guard was commanded to mount to the assault which was done in the three differing attacks of Lorrain Brandenburg and Bavaria besides which there were two false attacks to divert the Enemy And however that all imaginary precautions were put in use to render the assault easie they encountred so brave a defence in the besieged that they had much ado to surmount them they defended themselves for three quarters of an hour with Halbirds Half-Pikes Partizans and threw such a vast number of Stones Arrows and Granades that they repulsed the Assailants more than once until the Christians encouraged by the presence of their Generals returning with greater force rendred themselves at length Masters of the Breach in all the three attacks The Turks defended themselves by retiring from Retrenchment to Retrenchment so that the slaughter was very bloody and to conclude the besieged being beaten from all their fences the Assailants entred by force into the City ran thro' the streets killed all they met with sparing neither Sex nor Age so that all was filled with the dead bodies of these Infidels The Bavarians in pursuit of their
yet gone to Bed who did at other times at two hours in the Night dispose her self to rest only this Evening she had entertained her self in company of her Eunuchs and Favourites with Musick Singing and other unusual Delights Wherefore after some short deliberation the Vizier Solyman Aga and others of the King's Eunuchs went to the quarters of the old Queen and offering to enter forcibly were repulsed by the Queen's Eunuchs but Solyman Aga being a stout Man drew his Dagger and struck the chief Chamberlain Bash Kapa Oglar on the Face upon which the other Eunuchs who accompanied Solyman entred furiously with their Daggers at which the Eunuchs of the Queen fâ—ying she remained alone in the Chamber where she was committed to the custody of the King's Eunuchs The fugitive Eunuchs would immediately have escaped out of the Seraglio but the Gates were first shut by order of Solyman Aga so that they with all other Favourites of the said Queen were taken and secured in safe hands This Victory was so secretly obtained that they received no Alarm in the Royal Lodgings though near adjoining so that the Vizier and Solyman Aga went to the Chamber where the King slept and lifting up the Antiport made a sign of silence to the Ladies of the Guard commanding by dumb motions that the young Queen should be awakened for it is the custom in the Grand Signior's Court to speak by signs to prevent noise and as if there were some point in it of Majesty and Decency they have practised this mute Language so fully that they are able to recount Stories in it The Ladâ—es hâ—reupon gently rubbing the Queen's Feet raised her out of her sleep and gave her to understand the Solyman Aga would speak with her whereat the Queen surprized leapt from her Bed to speak with him and was scarce informed of the Business before she became so affrighted that she could not contain her self within the Bounds of Moderation or Silence but with great Cry ran to take her Son as one distracted and catching him up in her Arms cried out O Son thou and I are dead the Grand Signior likewise as a Child bewailed himself and falling at the feet of Solyman Aga said Lala Lala Kurtar-beni which is Tutor Tutor save me He not without Tears took his Lord into his Arms and with the Vizier encouraged the Child and his Mother protesting that they would rather die than live to behold so horrid a ruine and so accompanied him some Ladies carrying before Torches lighted in their hands to the Hozoda which is the Presence Chamber or place where the principal Officers of the Court attend Upon the approach of the Torches the Guard which watched in this Chamber was amazed and walking towards the light to discover what there was perceived that the Grand Signior was coming thither and thereupon returned again with all haste to awaken their Companions and calling them immediately to repair to their due service The Grand Signior being seated on a Throne which is always remaining in the Presence Chamber the Officers hereof which are in number forty presented themselves before him desiring to know if his Majesty had any thing wherein to employ their Fidelity and Service Hereat Solyman Aga said He that eats the King's Bread should apply himself to the King's Service we suffered the Traitors to destroy Sultan Ibrahim and now they would also take this out of our hands To you it belongs who are his Majesty's Principal Servitors to afford him your utmost assistance Eigiusi Mussapha Passa Sword-bearer to the Grand Signior and chief of the Presence Chamber a Man of a Lion's Heart and undaunted Resolution understanding something formerly of the Bad inclinations of the old Queen towards the King readily replied Great Master be not troubled to morrow you shall see God willing the Heads of your Enemies at your Feet The Vizier and others in the mean time after a short Consult fell to act the exigency of their Affairs admitting no delays and in the first place Pen and Ink being brought an Order was presented to the Grand Signior to be subscribed for the arresting the Bossangi-Pasha as a Traitor for having against the rule of the night kept open the Gate of the King's Garden This was done in an instant he removed from his Office and another constituted in his place and at the same time the Oath of Allegiance was administred to him who calling together the Gardiners in number about 500 caused them also all to swear faithful Obedience to the Grand Signior and to remain all that Night keeping good Guard at the Gates and Walls of the Gardens In the next place the Ichoglans were called up who are the Grand Signior's Pages and to proceed with the more privacy and least confusion they went first to the Chamber of the Capa Agasi who by his Office is over all the Youth of the Seraglio and knocking gently at the Window the Guards came at the noise and demanded what the matter was they answered Awake the Capa Aga and let him speak to us at the Window But the Capa Aga would first know who they were that would speak with him and when it was told him that it was the Vizier and the Kuslir Aga he answered I am indisposed and cannot rise but utter what you have to say at the Window so they said By his Majesty's Order go and raise all the Ichoglans in the Seraglio upon an important occasion and yet the Capa Agasi would not stir so that some believed him confederate in the Conspiracy but the truth was he was an ancient Man of 90 Years and unhealthful in his Body Wherefore Solyman Aga cried out with a loud voice Aga raise the Ichoglans our King is ready to be taken out of our hands but the Capa Aga persisted that he would not raise the Ichoglans or Pages unless he brought a Command in writing from the King. In the interim the Servants of the Capa Aga awakened and hearing this discourse could not contain themselves but with without farther Order ran to both the greater and lesser Chamber of the Pages the Butler came to that which is called the greater Chamber it was then five hours in the night when he entred in and running to the middle of the Chamber which was 80 Paces in length he made a stop and clapped his hands together To make such a noise in the Seraglio at night was a high Misdemeanor at which some being awakened raised up their Heads and startled at such an unusual Alarm enquired the reason of it at which he again clapping his hands and crying out Arise the Grand Signior is like to be taken out of our hands the whole Chamber was raised so that you might have seen all the Ichoglans in number above 600 to arise and run in a confused manner some without Cloaths some without Arms to fight some supposing the Janisaries were already entred the Seraglio In this amaze came a Guard
big and sour of a barbarous Tyrant and it hath been known that the Ambassador hath been forced to interpose his own Person between the Fury of the Vizier and his Interpreter whose Offence was only the delivery of the words of his Master some of whom have notwithstanding been imprisoned or executed for this Cause as we have partly intimated in the foregoing Chapter The reason of which Tyranny and Presumption in these prime Officers over the Interpreters is because they are most commonly born Subjects of the Grand Signior and therefore ill support the least word mis-placed or savouring of Contest from them not distinguishing between the Sense of the Ambassador and the Explication of the Interpreter and therefore it were very useful to breed up a Seminary of young English Men of sprightly and ingenious Parts to be qualified for that Office who may with less danger to themselves Honour to their Master and Advantage to the Publick express boldly without the usual mincing and submission of other Interpreters whatsoever is commanded and declared by their Master The French Nation hath taken a very good course in breeding up Youths to make their Drugger-men or Interpreters some few Years past twelve were sent to Smyrna where being a while instructed in the Convent of Capuchins and there taught the Turkish and Vulgar Greek they are afterwards dispersed to the several Factories such as were of most pregnant Parts being placed with the Ambassador at Constantinople Such a provision of young Drugger-men at least twelve ought to be allowed for some of them die some grow weary of the Country and are desirous to return Home others not having a sufficiency of Parts nor Health answer not Expectation so that if two or three of such a Number happen to succeed well they are a great help to the Ambassador and the Consul where they serve The English Ambassador had once three Youths sent Aboard on this Design but they are now all three dead and one alone came into Employment It is certainly a good Maxim for an Ambassador in this Country not to be over-studious in prâ—curing a familiar Friendship with Turks a fair comportment towards all in a moderate way is cheap and secure for a Turk is not capable of real Friendship towards a Christian and to have him called only and thought a Friend who is in Power is an Expence without Profit for in great Emergencies and Times of Necessity when their Assistance is most useful he must be bought again and his Friendship renewed with Presents and farther Expectations howsoever this way of Negotiating by Presents and Gratuities is so much in custom amongst the Turks that to speak truly scarce any thing can be obtained without it but is the Wisdom of the Minister to dispose and place them with Honour Decency and Advantage For there are and have been always two or three powerful Persons in this Court which in all Times carry the principal sway and command of all these must necessarily be treated with Respect and often sweetned with Gratuities He that hath Mony may doubtless make Friends when he needs them and with that secure his Capitulation and his Privilege purchase Justice and if his Stock will hold out act any thing that can reasonably be imagined yet it is the most profitable and prudent way to refer something to Friendship and good Correspondence and not all to mere force and strength of Mony. CHAP. XXI How Foreign Princes in particular stand in the Esteem and Opinion of the Turks THE Turks as we have occasionally instanced before are naturally a proud and insolent People confident and conceited of their own Vertue Valour and Forces which proceeds from their ignorance of the strength and constitution of other Countries so that when the Danger which may arise from the Conjunction and Union of Christian Princes to the Mahometan Interest is discoursed of they compare the Grand Signior to the Lion and other Kings to little Dogs which may serve as they say to rouse and discompose the quiet and Majesty of the Lion but can never bite him but with their utmost peril They say farther as by an ingenuous Confession that they are unable to encounter the Christians at Sea to whom God hath given that unstable Element for Dominion and Possession but that the Earth is the Lot and Inheritance of the Turks which is demonstrable by that great Circuit of Empire obedient to the Mahometan Arms. These are the Thoughts and Apprehensions of the Commonalty concerning Christendom in general which I have heard often discoursed amongst them but the Opinion and Esteem whâ—ch knowing Men and Ministers frame of Foreign Kingdoms and States distinctly is for the most part according to these following Particulars Of all the Princes so for remote as England none amongst this People stands in better account than his Majesty of Great Britain not only for the convenience of the Trade which provides the Empire with many necessary Commodities but for the fame of His Shipping and Power at Sea which makes him though divided from all parts of the World yet a Borderer on every Countrey where the Ocean extends And this Esteem and Honour the Sultan bears towards His Majesty hath been evidenced in several Particulars and by none more than by the sâ—curity and freedom his Merchants live in in these Dominions and a readiness always in every reasonable Request to gratify His Majesty's Ambassadors As for the Emperor the Turk knows that his own proper and peculiar Force in it self is inconsiderable but that with the conjunction and assistance of the German Princes they are assured and have proved it to their experience in the Year 1664 that his Strength is equivalent to the Ottoman Power but yet they are not ignorant that the diversity of Religions and Sects in Germany abate much of that vigor and coalition amongst themselves which is requisite to the vigorous opposition of so potent an Enemy And it is evident that the Emperor 's unseasonable Severity against the Protestants in Hungary disobliging his whole Dominion there by depriving them of their Churches and exercising other courses for suppression of the Reformed Religion ripened the Turk's Design of War first laid in the Year 1663 conceiving in that conjuncture holding forth the specious pretence of Liberty in Religion and Conscience the Hungarians would either wholly desert the Emperor or very coldly and faintly apply themselves to his Succour The Effect of which was in the succeeding Wars plainly verified and known that the Hungarians were not only sparing in their Contribution and Supplies of Men in the Service of the Emperor but held secret Juntoes and Councils Whether it were not better to accept the Turk's Soveraignty on the Conditions proposed with Liberty of their Religion rather than to continue in Allegiance to the Emperor who neither afforded them freedom of Conscience which is the Destruction of their Spiritual Estate nor was able to withstand the Turk which argued insufficiency to
not exceed 5000 and that no Cannon be brought into the Camp. Such is the miserable Condition of that unfortunate Kingdom The Malecontents I say having with this pretence drawn their Forces into thâ— Field convened a Diet at Cassovia without the knowledge or authority of the Emperor where the Nobility and the Deputies of the several Towns and Cities in the lower Hungary were Assembled to the end that they might have an understanding together how to raise Money and how to manage the War. The Emperor tho' not ignorant of all these Motions and Consults yet wanting a sufficient force to suppress these first beginnings of Rebellion thought fit to temporize and use Lenity for a while tho' in the mean time he declared against the illegality of the Diet which the Malecontents excused and disguised under the colour of an Assembly in which nothing more was intended than only to raise 8000 Foot and 4000 Horse to oppose the continual Depredations and Incursions of the Turk But the Emperor saw farther into the manner of their actings than to believe their words for Princes have just cause to suspect the Loyalty of their Subjects year 1670. who take up Arms without the Privity and Consent of their Sovereigns And therefore to try and prove the Sincerity of their intentions the Emperor cited the Chief of the Malecontents to appear at Newsol there to render an account of their Actings to his Commissioners appointed to examine those matters namely the Count of Forâ—atz the Arch-Bishop of Strigonium Zitzchi who was President of the Royal Chamber and Nadasti who had not as yet declared himself of the contrary party which he under-hand encouraged and countenanced The Malecontents yielded no obedience to this Citation and refused to make their appearance and instead thereof 13 Countries entred into an Association and raised Soldiers which were commanded by Ragotski who thereunto joyn'd 2000 Men of his own whom he leavied and maintain'd at his own expence Ragotski who thought it now time to cast off his Disguise invited Count Staremberg to Dinner and in the mean time invested the City of Tokai of which he was the Governour with 8000 Hussars but the place was so well defended by the watchfulness and valour of the Lieutenant Governour that his Men were repulsed with a considerable loss Nor was he more prosperous in his attempt upon Mongatz which at the news of his approach was defended by his Mother who caused the Bridges to be drawn and the Cannon levelled against him preferring the Loyalty towards her Prince before the natural tenderness to a Son to whom she sent those Reproaches of his Treachery as became a Lady of that great and generous Vertue In the mean time the Malecontents in despight of the Emperor held their Meeting year 1670. which they called a Diet at Cassovia and having concerted all their matters and agreed on a Scheme of their Affairs they drew up a Remonstrance of their chief Aggrievances which they offered to his Imperial Majesty desiring that the Churches taken from the protestants might again be restor'd to them That all their Towns and Fortresses might be freed and eased of German Soldiers and that in place of them their Garrisons might be supplied with Hungarians And Lastly That they might have liberty to make War on the Turks with their own Men and at their own expence These Propositions were rejected by the Emperor at the instigation of his Chief Officers and Ministers of State who swallowing in their desires all the Riches and Possessions of the Hungarians hoped to force them into a Rebellion by which their Lands and Estates might be forfeited to the Emperor that they might beg them for their own benefit and enjoyment The Emperor communicated all these matters to the Diet at Ratisbon giving them to understand how necessary it was to suppress these Disturbances and Insurrections in their beginnings And immediately before he sent his Forces into the upper Hungary he thought fit to cause Major General Spankau to March into Croatia against Serini with 6000 Men. Upon the news of the approach of these Forces Serini was greatly surprized and in such a consternation that he knew not what to resolve He was disappointed of Money to pay his Army with which Ragotski had promised to supply him out of his Father's Treasury at Mongatz but that failed as we have show'd before The Valachians had likewise deserted him and adhered to Count Herberstein Governour of Carolstadt Nor was the time as yet come that the Malecontents had appointed to stir in the upper Hungary in the mean time his own Forces were weak and inconsiderable not exceeding 2000 Morlaques in his City of Chiacatorno and those ill provided either with Money Ammunition or Victuals to maintain a Seige What then was to be done Why nothing but submission to the Will and Clemency of the Emperor which being resolved Father Forstal an Augustin Friar and an intimate Friend of Serini was employ'd to Vienna to manage this Accommodation Where being arrived he apply'd himself to Prince Lubkovitz the Emperor 's principal Minister of State to whom having imparted his Message it was received by him with much kindness and joy and was the more acceptable because Serini was his Kinsman and nearly ally'd to him And therefore frankly told him That two things were expected from Serini First That he should send his Son for a Hostage to Vienna And Secondly That he should subscribe a blank Paper signifying that he would accept of such Conditions as the Emperor should be pleased to impose upon him Both which being performed as is here proposed Prince Lubkovitz did promise in behalf of the Emperor year 1670. that Serini should not only receive a General Pardon but should also conserve his Liberty Places and Offices of Trust Dignities and Privileges only in case the Emperor should think fit to remove him from the Office of Vice-King of Croatia he promised that in lieu thereof he should have the Government of Carolstadt conferr'd upon him or some other of equal importance And farther this Prince to demonstrate his concernment and respect to this Family of which he was a Member offer'd out of his own Estate to pay the Debts thereof which amounted to 400000 Florins and for ever to espouse the interest of Serini and of those related to him Farther Forstal returning with this Dispatch received at the Hands of Count Serini his only Son to be carried for an Hostage to the Emperor with a blank Paper signed promising to receive German Soldiers into all his Garrisons But before Forstal could finish his second Journey to Vienna Spankau arrived with the Imperial Army before Chiacatorno And tho' Serini sent him forth a Message acquainting him of his Accommodation with the Emperor and his Treaty now in hand negotiated by Forstal yet General Spankau haâ—ing received no such advices or directions from the Emperor pursued the Tenure of his first
Semlin Ugoza Bodrogh Tornaw Komarra Barzod Sachsag Novigrad Zolnock Hewecz Pesth Pelicz and Soldth united Chege Unghwar and Zatmar since the Protestants are in possession of almost all the Churches there the same Churches are left for the use of the actual Possessors of them And in the following Clause of the said Article Finally the Churches which are actually possessed by those of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg shall be still for their use as before together with the Parishes and Schools and their Revenues that they may live in peace and quiet Your most Sacred Majesty tending the peace and general quiet of the Kingdom has been Graciously pleas'd to Ordain that in the foregoing Counties all the Churches Parishes and Schools together with their Revenues should be left for the use of the Protestants Nevertheless the Churches standing in the Counties of Abavivar Saraz Semlin Tornaw and Unghwar which for the most part have been built from the foundation or repair'd from the lowest ruine by the Protestants as also the Schools and Parishes together with their Revenues left to them by the Protestants in their Wills and never before possess'd by the Roman Catholicks have been taken by force from the Protestants as well as the Churches Parishes and Schools standing in the Dominion of Rakocz in these Towns of the County of Semlin Zantho Thalia mod Kerethur Tarazal Liszka Benny Toleswa Ughelly Patak Borssy which at the time of the Articles of Sopron and after were possess'd by the Protestants and left to the same by the said Articles in several Towns of the Principality of Tokai and in Tokai it self altho' the Church of Tokai was left and expresly confirm'd by the Articles in the possession of the Protestants To this may be added That against the evident sense of the 25 th Article of Sopron the Protestant Noblemen and Gentlemen of the aforesaid Cities of the County of Semlin have been and are still forc'd to forbear exercising their Religion in private which Liberty they had enjoy'd since the seizing of their Churches and was granted to them by the first Article made before the Coronation in the year 1608. and confirm'd by the same 25 th Article of the Diet of Sopron Likewise the Ministers call'd back from their Exile through Your most Sacred Majesty's Favour by Virtue of the aforesaid 25 th Article of Sopron are forc'd to oblige themselves under pain of death and the forfeiture of all their Goods to go out of the same County or by strict Deeds of reversion to renounce for ever under the same Penalty to perform any Ecclesiastical Duty in the said County Moreover although the 25 th Article of Sopron evidently declareth that none of the Helvetian Confession and of that of Ausbourg shall be compell'd to any Ceremony contrary to his Religion and the 26 th that the Catholicks shall not be oblig'd to pay any thing to the Ministers of the Protestants nor the Protestants to the Curates of the Catholicks according to the intent of the 11 th Article in the year 1647. yet they are forc'd even by Military Execution to do both and especially to pay the Catholick Curates Although by vertue of the often-mention'd 26 th Article the free use of Bells and Burials is equally left to the Catholicks and to the Protestants nevertheless the Protestants are not suffer'd to bury their Dead in the usual Burying-places which is against Christianity it self they are not permitted neither to use the Bells though made through their care nay the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the aforesaid Dominion of Rakotz are threatned to be dispossess'd and exterminated out of their Estates if they do not abjure and renounce the Protestant Religion which is a down right persecution of the Protestants In the like manner the Protestants of Abavivar are forbidden by the Purveyor of that County to exercise their Religion and the Ministers are commanded under pain of Death and the forfeiture of all their Goods to go out of it or if they be willing to continue there as Secular private persons by most strict deed of reversion to renounce for ever under the same penalty to perform any Ecclesiastical Duty consequently the Protestant Churches together with all their Appurtenances have been seiz'd upon by the said Purveyor Likewise in a Town called Sepssy of the same County of Abavivar where the Church could under no pretence be taken from the Protestants the Tythes of the Territory of the said Town which us'd to belong to the Protestant Minister are seiz'd and kept in Sequestration by the of Sepssy by vertue of an Order of the Illustrious Chamber of Scepusium In the Towns of Nogymihali Vinna and Iztara in the County of Unghwar and in the Towns of Tolzeck and Asgath in the County of Saraz the Churches Schools and Parishes left by the Articles for the use of the Protestants are by force taken and kept from them by the Catholick Lords of those Mannors Lastly In the Town call'd Somogy in the County of Torna a moiety of the Revenue belonging to the Protestant Minister by a Convention made formerly is taken from him All which having been attempted against Your Majesty's Gracious Resolution and the Articles made in the behalf of the Protestants they present the same to Your most Sacred Majesty's Consideration with strong persuasion that it will be Graciously Remedied and that not only they shall be re-setled in the possession of what is taken from 'em but also that all the introduc'd abuses shall be taken away The same Protestant Inhabitants of the aforesaid Counties of Upper Hungary and of the Towns standing in the Dominion of Rakoczia The same is done by the Counties of Salawar Vesprim Saraz Moramoruss Novigrad Zolnock Hevecz Pesth and Soldth united which are all comprehended in the Articles The Grievances of all the Protestant Noblemen of the Counties of Liepze Thurocz Arva Trenschin Zolnock and Sachsag wherein are contain'd the Injuries and Troubles they have sustain'd upon the account of Religion against the Articles of Sopron together with Humble Request for the Redressing of the same SInce the Grievances and Complaints of the Counties of Liepze Thurocz Arva Trenschin and Zolnock agree in all respects for shortness sake they are put together here the same then justly complain that they have been injur'd and disturbed in that the Protestant Ministers who perform'd the Duties of their prosession in the Noblemens places of Residence where the free Exercise of Religion was transferr'd by Virtue of the 26 th Article of Sopron since the seizing of the Protestant Churches in these Counties have all been Banish'd except two left in two places named in the Articles within a fortnight out of the County and place where they liv'd or if any desir'd to continue in it he was requir'd to oblige himself by strict deed of Reversion never to perform any Ecclesiastical Duty and forbidden to remain on any other term under pain of Imprisonment No Schools are
And thus ended the Successes of this Year 1687 to the Glory of God and Confusion to the Enemies of the Christian Faith. The Victories and Triumphs in Hungary gained by the Imperial Arms were almost miraculous as is before related the successes in the Morea with the subjection of Patras Athens and other places of Greece were wonderful and the relief given to Singh and taking of Castel Nuovo were all works of the Divine Providence And when we farther consider the Tumults Seditions and Mutinies amongst the Turks themselves to the deposing of their Sultan himself and destruction of their Chief and Principal Officers by the madness and fury of the Soldiers even almost to to the total destruction of their Empire we may believe that the Hand of God was lifted up against this People to bring them to the brink of Ruin and Misery and cause them to cease and be no longer a People Let us therefore proceed to the Ensuing Year and therein relate the sequel of the wonderful works of God in whose hands are the disposal of Empires and Kingdoms year 1688. ANNO 1688. THE Emperor who had from the time of the Incoronation of the King of Hungary remained at Presburg otherwise called Possonium with all the Imperial Court returned now at the beginning of this year to Vienna and arrived there on the 26 th of Ianuary The Season was now come for making Preparations for the next Campaign against the Turks and Consultations were held not only to secure the new Conquests but to advance farther and to enlarge the Imperial Dominions at all which his Cesarean Majesty was pleased to assist in Person But in regard the Work was great and the Charges immense to Recruit the old Regiments and raise new to provide Ammunition Provisions and Forage for that vast Army which was designed for Hungary His Imperial Majesty was pleased to convene all the States of Austria and of his Hereditary Dominions who accordingly meeting and forming an August Assembly the Chancellor in the name of the Emperor declared unto them in a Florid Oration the neccessity that there was for a large supply of Money whereby to carry on the War against the Turks not only on the defensive part but also to advance forward in that way which God had opened and to enlarge the Dominions and extent of Christendom At the Conclusion of the Speech the States of Austria having with most profound Reverence and Respect returned their most humble Thanks to his Imperial Majesty for his gracious Clemency they promised in the most submissive Terms imaginable to answer the just Demands of his Majesty to the utmost of their Power The like was done by the States of Stiria the Governour of which Province called Stubemberg having offer'd to his Majesty the Sum of Three hundred thousand Florins besides the One hundred and Sixty thousand which those States annually pay for Maintenance of their own Charges both Civil and Military and of the Militia which is quarter'd on the Confines of Sclavonia Moreover Messages were sent to the several Princes of the Empire to send their respective Quotas and Contingents and numbers of Soldiers according to the ancient Constitutions of the Empire And in the mean time the Imperial Chamber took such due means and measures in order to the preparations of all things necessary that Recruits were made the Artillery mounted the Magazines filled with Ammunition and Provisions and all sorts of Carriages Pontons Boats Barges and all other appointments for War were provided in great abundance In the mean time the Garrison of Alba Regalis being reduced to great Extremities by Famine and want of all necessaries dispatched away a certain Aga called Achmet with some few Attendants to Belgrade there â—o expose to the Governours of that place the Miseries of their languishing City Achmet privately conveying himself out of the Town with his Servants found by chance a small Boat tied on the Banks of the Danube into which being enter'd they quietly passed for some Days down the Stream until they came near to a place called Erdeody which had not long before been possessed by the Christians The Heydukes perceiving the Boat from the Walls immediately suspected that the People therein were Fugitives then making their Escape to prevent which they privately went on Board a Saick or Turkish Vessel and crossing upon them cut them off in their way and firing on them with their Muskets forced them to Steer and Row to the other side but they following them made them all Prisoners Achmet only excepted who being very nimble and active and a kind of a Bog-trotter escaped over a Marsh with all his Letters and fetching a compass ouâ— of the way he came over against Valkowar which he supposing to be still a Garrison of the Turks made a Sign for a Boat to Ferry him over the River the Boat passing over rowed and manned by Heydukes seized Achmet who being surprized to see himself made a Prisoner and thinking that they were Turks and not Enemies cried out I am a Turk sent by the Pasha and Garrison of Alba Regalis with a Verbal Commission only to the Port denying to have any Letters about him but they rifling him found near Three hundred Letters which were afterwards sent to Vienna and translated by the Emperor's Interpreter And now Achmet finding it no time longer to conceal his Business openly declared with Tears in his Eyes That he was the more troubled for this misfortune because that thereby he could not answer the expectation of his Friends at Alba Regalis who had dispeeded him for Belgrade to give an Account to those Governours of their distressed Condition and according to such Answers as they should receive from thence to take a Resolution either to Defend or Surrender the Town He farther added That thô sometimes certain Hungarian Friends conveyed into the Town some Flour Pease Beans and Butter yet it was in such small Quantities that all was devoured and the People therein reduced to such Extremites that in case a small number of Germans should appear with Cannon before the City the Bodies of the Garrison and Inhabitants were become so enfeebled by Famine and their Spirits so low that without all doubt they would upon the first Summons Surrender at Discretion But to give the Reader a more evident Narration of the Misery of that place it will not be from our purpose to insert one of the Letters which were taken about Achmet subscribed by the three Pashas from Alba Regalis to the Grand Vizier in these Terms After the Complements and Ceremonious words premised which are commonly long and full of Bombastick Expressions according to the Turkish Stile they began in this manner Most happy Lord IF you enquire after the State of this City and of the Turkish Soldiers therein and in the Parts adjacent all that we can say is That we recommend theirs and our Condition to
Sally but were repulsed with some loss In like manner also the Besiegets drew another Line on the other side of the River so that the Town was now environed on every side and the Christians lodged at the Ditch of the City On the 7th the Turks made another Sally but were repulsed And on the 8th made another with much more Bravery than they had done the Day before but were repulsed with like Loss Upon which the Janisaries went to the Pasha to consult with him what was to be done in this present Exigency and all agreed To hold out some Days longer in expectation of the promised Relief during which time both sides employed themselves to ply their Cannon and throw their Bombs incessantly On the 11th some Hundreds of the Besieged shew'd themselves without the Fortress but withdrew without farther Attempt on which Day 11 Heydukes were killed and 15 wounded On the 13th the Turks made another Sally on the Heydukes but were briskly received and soon repulsed The 16th 17th and 19th little or nothing of moment was done by reason of the continual Rains but by this time the more heavy Cannon being come the Breach was made wider and larger so that General Heusler supposing that the Enemy might be terrified thereby he sent a Trumpeter to make them the last Summons threatning them in Default thereof to give no Quarter either to Man Woman or Child but as yet the Turks showed no fear of the Menaces pronounced against them and an Old Grave Turk showing himself on the Walls called to the Besiegers and admonished them to withdraw their Troops from under the Walls of the City which they should never take the Besieged being resolved to Live and Die together in the same This declared Resolution of the Turks quickned the Operations of the General so that throwing Fire into the Town and plying the great Guns continually Day and Night the Breach was made much wider than it had been some few Days before and ready for Storm which was designed for the 28th of the Month The Turks seeing the Troops in a readiness for an Attack their Hearts began to fail and thereupon a White Flag was displayed and five Deputies were sent to the Army to treat and Hostages being given on both sides these Articles were agreed on and an Instrument drawn up in this Form folâ—lowing The Pasha of Waradin His Address to the Emperor MOST Happy Caesar Emperor of the Romans in whom resides the Heighth of Majesty Honour and Glory and of highest Esteem amongst the Christian Princes We the Soldiers and Musselmen of Waradin having been streightned and oppressed by a long and tedious Siege and being at last reduced to the last Extremities by your Imperial Army Encamped against us and being not able longer to hold out do cast our selves at the Happy Feet of the Imperial Majesty And being at length constrained to yield unto Fate and Destiny we fly unto your Clemency and most Pious Benignity which is a Ray or Emanation from the Most Sublime Creator declaring that voluntarily and of our own proper Motions since God will have it so to save our Lives we have Pawned and Surrendered this our Fortress with all the Ammunition therein that is Cannon Muskets and other Arms and Military Instruments to your Commissary the Most Honourable and Most Excellent Heusler And confiding in the Grace and Favour of an Emperor who governs so many Nations that he will not permit or suffer these our Musselmen to be damnified or robbed or despoiled of their Goods or Baggage which they carry with them but be Protected Conducted and Convoyed safe from the Fortress of Waradin to the Neighbouring and Adjacent Places on the Danube that is to the Palanca called Panzova and to command That in our Way thither no Christian of what Nation soever shall take our Goods from us either by Day or by Night nor damnifie us either Privately or Secretly All which we offer to the Benignity and Clemency of the Imperial Majesty in these Sixteen Articles following The Articles of Surrender I. THAT the Turks and their Goods be taken from the Palanca's of Paimeso and Solmeso and that they may in Safety be Conducted and Convoyed to the same Place with those of Waradin II. That we may be safely Conducted through all the Passages and difficult Passes of Erdurich and Zanat until we arrive at the Palanca called Panzova III. That to this intent 1200 Carts and 200 Horses shall be given us and that five Days time shall be given us to sell our Goods and that they may have time to buy what Goods they please according to their Convenience IV. That all Men and Women Slaves who are desirous to remain in the Christian or Turkish Faith shall not be hindred V. That such Rebels or Malecontents as are taken in the Fortress shall not be detained but permitted to remain with us VI. That the Besieged may carry their Ensigns and Arms with them VII That they may carry all their Writings and Registers with them VIII That in case on the Way any Waggon should chance to break another shall be given in the place thereof and the Goods shall not be stollen or broken open IX That no Money or Charges shall be demanded on the Way for Lodgings X. That no Child or Youth Male or Female shall be taken from us nor shall Money or Expence be demanded of us on the Way but our Charges shall be Defrayed with all necessary Provisions until we come to Panzova XI That when we are proceeded out of the Fortress until we come to Belgrade neither Subjects or others shall stop or detain any of us on Pretension of Dâ—bt XII But that all of us shall be permitted to proceed freely with all safety XIII That for the more convenient Passage of the Carts into the Fortress a Bridge shall be made XIV That care be taken to punish all the Insolencies of those who shall forcibly rob our Goods XV. That the Turks who have by Order of the Grand Seignior served for Officers in the Garrison shall receive no Molestation XVI That all Strangers of different Nations who are with us shall not be Pillaged or Plundered and herein a particular care is to be had to Waggoners and other Pilfering Fellows Given the 20 th of the Moon called Ramazan in the Hegeira 1103 which is the 3 d of June 1692. Seifullah Cadi di Varadin Abdulatif Pasha and Chief Governour of Waradin Ibrahim Pasha the late preceeding Governor of Waradin Osman Agha An Inventory of what was found in the Fortress FIve Thousand Measures of Barley 1000 Measures of Wheat 300 Sacks of Rice 50 Fat 's of Flour 50 Brass Guns most of which were German 22 Mortars 70000 Pounds of good Powder And 723000 of old decayed Powder 3500 Cannon Bullets 30000 Pounds of Iron And 4300 Pounds of Wrought Iron The Articles being thus signed on the 3d of Iune the Day following the Bridge was
Regiment of Desvetorii Both these at these Treaties of Peace with the Ottoman Port Deputed Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries But on the part of his Imperial Ottomannick Majesty the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords Mehemet Effendi Supreme Chancellor of the Ottoman Empire and the Lord Alexander Mauro Cordato of the Noble Family of Scarlati Privy Counsellor and Secretary of the said Empire By the Intervention and Care of the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Lord William Paget Baron Beaudesert and the Lord Iacob Colyer Ambassadors from the most Serene King of Great Britain and the High and Mighty States General to the Ottoman Port and both of 'em Ambassadors Extraordinary for the Establishment of this Peace and both of 'em perform'd the Office of Mediator with â—ntegrity Industry and Prudence after having Invok'd the Name of GOD and Exchanged the Powers receiv'd the Twenty following Artiâ—les of Peace which were Agreed upon to the Glory of GOD and the Safety of both Empires I. THE Region of Transylvania as it is at present in the Possession and in the Power of his Caesarean Majesty so it shall remain under his Dominion Bounded by the Confines of Podolia and with the Mountains on the side of Walachia which were its Antient Limits before the present War between Transylvania on one part and Moldavia and Walachia on the other and on the side of Walachia it iâ— to extend to the River Merisch to be Circumscrib'd by the Mountains that were its Antient Boundaries and so the Antient Limits are to be observ'd by both Empires without extending or diminishing them on either side II. The Province subject to the Fortress of Temeswaer with all its Districts and Rivers shall remain in the Possession and under the Power of the Sublime Ottoman Empire and it shall remain Bounded by Transylvania on one side and by Walachia on the other to the River Merisch the Antient Boundaries of Transylvania mention'd in the former Article Then from the River Merisch to the nearer Banks of the Tibisch and from the Tibisch to the Danube to be Limited by the hither Banks of the Tibisch and as for Caransebes Lugos Lippa Csanad Kiscanisia Betche Betskerecke and Sablia which are comprehended within these prescrib'd Limits between the Merisch and the Tibisch and were before the present War belonging to the Territories of Temeswaer both these and any other place of the like Nature shall be slighted by the Imperialists so that by Virtue of this present Treaty they may not be Rebuilt and this foresaid Region of Temeswaer is to be left Free and Entire so that for the time to come neither in these Places nor on the Banks of Merisch or Tibisch shall it be lawful to Build any Places that shall carry the Appearance of Fortifications The use of the Rivers Tibisch and Merisch between the Province of Temeswaer and those subject to the Imperialists shall he left Free and Common to those Subjects of both Empires as well in relation to the Watering of their Cattle as to the Fishing and any other Conveniencies to both Subjects Ships of any Burden coming from Parts subject to the Imperialists whether it be from the Merisch into the Tibisch and from the Tibisch into the Danube are by no means to be hindred or stop'd whether they are going up or down the Streams so that the Navigation of German Ships or other Subjects of the Empire are neither going nor coming to be Incommoded but their Passage both going and coming is to be Free in both the said Rivers And because the common Convenience of mutual Friendship and Kindness requires that the Ottoman Subjects should likewise partake of the Benefits of these Rivers therefore they may freely make use of Fishermens Ships or other Boats. But Mills built on Bottoms of Ships can be only planted there where they do not Obstruct the Navigation of the Imperialists and that to be done by Communicating with and Consent of the Gâ—vernours on both sides and the Intent of this is That the Navigation of the Merisch be not rendred worse to the Imperialists whether it be by lessening the Stream for the sake of Mills or any other pretence whatsoever The Islands in both the said Rivers that are in the possession of the Imperialists are to remain so and that the Subjects on both sides may live Quietly and Peaceably is to be provided by severe Edicts forbidding all sort of Insolencies and Contraventions to the present Articles III. Considering the Region commonly call'd Batska betwixt tbe Tibisch and the Danube is in the sole Possession and under the Power of his Imperial Mâ—jâ—sty it is agreed it shall for the future continue so and Titul is not to be more Fortify'd than it is at present IV. A rigbt Line to be drawn from the Extreme Bank of the Tibisch opposite to that of Titul and to that Angle of Land made by the Conjunction of the Tibisch and Danube to the Bank on the other side the Danube and thence to be stretch'd streight to Moravitz on the hither Bank of the River Bossut and from thence to the place where the Grand Stream of the River Bossut falls into the Save and Moravitz is to remain without any Fortification and only open Villages to be built on both sides the River and the Empires shall remain separated by the foresaid Line to be mark'd out either by Ditches Stones or Pales or any other way after the following manner viz. That part of the Country within the foresaid Limits towards Belgrade shall remain Subject to the Ottoman Emperor but the Country on the other side the said Line shall continue under the Dominion and in the Possession of the most Potent Roman Emperor and according to the foresaid Boundaries the adjacent Rivers are to remain in the Possession of each Party V. Reckoning from the River Bossut flowing into the Save and likewise the Entrance of the River Unna into the same River that part of the Save adjoyning to the Imperial Country is to remain to his Imperial Majesty and the other part to the Turkish Emperor The River Save flowing betwixt both Dominions and the Islands situated in it shall be common to the Subjects of both Empires as well for the Use of Navigation up and down the River as any other sort of Conveniencies who are to enjoy a peaceable and undisturb'd Commerce That Country on the side the River Unna towards Bosnia belonging to the Turkish Empire shall be terminated by the Banks of that River Novi Dubizza Jessenovitza Doboy and Brod on the side of Bosnia are to be Evacuated and ev'ry other such like place in this Tract of Land and the Imperial Garrisons to be all withdrawn and the Country to be left Free But Castanovitz and the Islands on this side Novi towards the Save and the further Banks shall be left distinct from these Limits considering it is Agreed they should remain in the Possession of the Roman Emperor As to
the Caesarean Dignity with the usual Marks of Preference They shall have liberty of Hiring their own Interpreters and their Messengers that come to the Fulgid Port or return from it to Vienna shall have free Passage going and coming with all convenient Favour and Assistance in their Iourney XVIII This Peace tho' it now stands concluded upon the present Conditions yet it shall then only be esteem'd to have and to receive its full force of Obligation and Effect when all and singular Conditions stipulated and accepted on both sides as well concerning the Distinctions of the Borders as the Evacuations and Demolishments shall be fully executed in this manner after the Limits are settled then shall the Evacuations and Demolishments of Places follow and that all this may as soon as possible be put in practice Commissaries to settle these Distinctions shall on both sides be appointed who at the Equinoctial S. N. 22. S. V. 12 of March A. D. 1699. shall with a moderate and peaceable Attendance meet at Places to be determin'd by the Governors of the Confines and these Commissaries shall within two months or less if possible by manifest marks describ'd in the former Articles separate and set apart these Confines and shall with all exactness and expedition execute all other things that shall be Agreed by the Plenipotentiaries of both Empires XIX The Plenipotentiaries of both Empires do mutually Oblige themselves and Promise that these Conditions and Articles thus reduc'd into Form shall be mutually Ratify'd by the Majesty of each of the Emperors and that within 30 days or sooner from the time of Subscription the Ratifications shall in Solemn manner be mutually Exchang'd in the Confines by the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Plenipotentiary Mediaâ—ors XX. This Truce shall continue and God willing extend to full 25 years to be reckon'd from the day of the Subscription after the Expiration of which Term or in the middle of it it shall be in the Power of either of the Parties tâ—at so shall think fit to prolong it to a greater number of Years Therefore what things soever are here establish'd by the mutual and free Consent of the Majesty of the most Serene and most Potent Emperor of the Romans on the one part and the Majesty of the most Serene and most Potent Ottoman Emperor on the other and their Heirs shall be Religiously and Inviolably observ'd thro' all their Empires and Kingdoms by Land and Sea through all their Cities and Towns and by all their Subjects and Dependants and it is likewise Agreed that it shall on both sides be strictly enjoyn'd to all Governours Commanders Captains Generals to all the Soldiery to all under their Protection to all in Subjection and Obedience under them thaâ— they take diligent Care to Conform themselves to all the above-mention'd Conditions â—lauses Compacts and Articles that under what pretence or colour soever contrary to the Peace and Friendship thus establish'd the Subjects on either side do not offend or injure one another but abstaining from all sort of Enmity they are commanded to become good Neighbours to each other under the severest Penalties if after they are thus admonish'd they do not yield a ready Obedience The Tartar C ham likewise and all the Nations of the Tartars by whatsoever Names they are call'd stand engag'd to the Observance of this Peace Good Neighbourhood and Reconciliation nor shall it be permitted 'em in prejudice of these Agreements to commit any Hostilities in the Provinces or upon any of the Subjects or upon any under the Protection of his Caesarean Majesty Moreover if any one shall presume to Act contrary to these Sacred Imperial Capitulations Agreements or Articles whether he belongs to the Tartar Nations or to any other Forces by whatsoever Name call'd he shall be most rigorously punish'd This Peace Cessatiâ—n and Security of the Subjects on both sides shall commence from the Date of this Subscription and thence all Enmities on both sides shall cease and be extinguish'd and the Subjects on both sides shall enjoy full Security and Tranquillity and for that end and in order all Hostilities may be carefully prevented Mandates and Edicts for publishing the Peace shall as soon as possible be sent to all Governours of the Confines but considering some time will be requisite that the Officers in the remoter Confines may have notice of this Peace 20 days are for this purpose appointed after which if any one on either side presume to commit any sort of Hostility he shall without Mercy suffer the Punishments before declar'd In the last place that these Conditions of Peace contain'd in 20 Articles and accepted of on both sides may with great and due respect be inviolably observ'd The Lords the Ottoman Plenipotentiaries by Virtue of an Imperial Faculty granted to 'em for that purpose have deliver'd to us an Authentick and Instrument writ and subscrib'd in the Turkish Language are likewise by Virtue of a Special Order and by our Plenipotentiary Power have on our part deliver'd these Writings of the Articles Sign'd and Subscrib'd by our proper Hands and Seals in the Latin Tongue as a True and Authentick Instrument This Treaty between the Emperor being thus finished and agreed the next thing was to appoint Commissaries to regulate the Limits between Croatia and Bosnia as was concluded by the Treaty of Peace at Carlovitz to appear upon the said Limits on the 14 24th of March following in order to which Affair his Imperial Majesty appointed Count Marsilii for his Commissary giving him Orders to depart from Vienna in a Weeks time But the Ratifications relating to the Articles of Peace concluded on both sides were sooner dispatched for the Grand Seignior's Ratification of the Treaty arrived at Belgrade the 9th of March N. S. 1699. of which Advice was given the same day to the Secretary of the Imperial Embassy who waited at Peter-Waradin with that of the Emperors that the Exchange might be made on the same Day the which was accordingly done COPIA INSTRUMENTI TURCICI CUM MOSCOVITA Hic est Deus maxime aperiens omnia Potentissimus Firmissimus In Nomine Dei misericordis semper miserentis CAusa exarationis hujus veritate praecellentis Scripti necessitas descriptionis hujus realitate insigniti Instrumenti haec est Incorruptibilis Domini Creatoris immortalis Opificiâ— liberrimi arbitrii Domini Dei cujus Gloria extollatur extra omnem similitudinem paritatem aeternarum confirmationum ubertatis concessione gratiâ honoratissimae Meccae lucidissimae Medinae Servi Sanctae Hierusalem aliorum Locorum benedictorum Defensoris Rectoris binarum Terrarum Sultani Regis binorum Marium Dominatoris potentis Aegypti Abyssinarum Provinciarum ac Felicis Arabiae Adenensis Terrae Caesareae Africanae Tripolis Tuneti Insulae Cypri Rhodi Cretae aliarum Albi Maris Insularum atque Imperatoris Babylonis Bositrae Laxae Revani Carsiae Erzirum
the Senate should of that so honourable a Decree reap such commendation as the Event thereof should afford than which nothing is more unreasonable if things fell out well then it was wisely and worthily done if otherwise than was it like to be reputed a foolish rash and woful resolution The greater the danger was now feared from the angry Turk the more careful were the Venetians of their State wherefore they forthwith sent Messengers with Letters unto the Governors of Cyprus charging them with all carefulness and diligence to make themselves ready to withstand the Turk and to raise what power they were able in the Island not omitting any thing that might concern the good of the State and at the same time made choise of their most valiant and expert Captains both by Sea and Land unto whom they committed the defence of their dispersed Seigniory with the leading of their Forces Hieronimus Zanius was appointed Admiral Lucas Michael was sent into Crete Fransciscus Barbarus into Dalmatia Sebastianus Venerius into Corcyra all Men of great Honour Experience and Valour Other meaner Captains were also sent with less charge into the aforesaid places as Eugenius Singliticus a noble Gentlemen with a thousand Footmen into Cyprus who had also the leading of all the Horsemen in the Island after whom Count Martinengus promised to follow with two thousand Footmen more The strong Cities were now by the Venetians in all places new fortified Armor Ordnance and Victual provided and whatsoever else they thought needful for defence of their State. And forasmuch as they well knew they had to do with too mighty an Enemy they by their Embassadors sent for that purpose earnestly solicited most of the Christian Princes to joyn with them in League and to give them aid against the common Enemy who as he was too strong for any one of them so was he not able to stand against their united Forces But the Emperor Maximilian excused himself by the League he had not long before made with the Turk for eight years which he said he might not break yet he had before his Eyes a most pregnant example what small reckoning the Turk maketh of his Faith and League which he without any just cause had broken with the Venetians The like excuse used also Charles the French King and Sigismund King of Polonia who both seemed to be very sorry for that the Venetians were fallen out with the Turk but could not help them for that they were in League with the Turkish Emperor Nevertheless the French did them the Courtesie to offer himself to be a Mediator if they so pleased betwixt them and Selymus The young King of Portugal Don Sebastian pretended also for his excuse the great Plague which had but a little before raged in his Kingdom and much diminished his People as also that he was to maintain Wars by Sea against the Turks in the East-Indies to the no less benefit of the Christian Common-weal than if he should aid the Venetians in the Pope Only Pius Quintus then Pope and Philip King of Spain with certain of the Princes of Italy namely Philibert Duke of Savoy Guido Udebaldus Duke of Urbin Cosmus Medices Duke of Florence and the Knights of Malta promised them aid which they afterward most honourably performed Selymus of himself angry with the Venetians and firm in his resolution for the Conquest of Cyprus was upon the report of Cubates his Embassadors bad entertainment at Venice further enraged he deemed the Maiesty of the Turkish Emperor contemned and himself in the person of his Embassador disgraced seeing that they whom he had thought would have yielded unto any thing rather than the League should have been broken had sent him such a short answer and so contemptuously used his Embassador unto whom they had not afforded so much as common Courtesie It did not a little move him also that the Venetians had in their Letters sent by his Embassador omitted the glorious Titles usually given the Turkish Emperors wherefore in some part to satisfie his angry mood he caused Marcus Antonius Barbarus the Venetian Embassador and all the Christian Merchants of the West throughout his Empire to be clapt up in prison and their Ships staied under an arrest And setting all other things apart set himself wholly for the preparing of such things as should be needful for the intended War. But forasmuch as the Island of Cyprus was the Prey whereafter the greedy Tyrant so much gaped and for which the bloody Wars betwixt the Turk and the Venetians with their Christian Confederats presently ensued it shall not be from our purpose to spend a few words in the describing thereof as the Stage whereon the bloody Tragedy following was as it were acted as also how it came first into the hands of the Venetians and by what right of them so long possessed although it be in some part before declared until it was now by Selymus the great Turk against all right injuriously demanded and at length by strong hand by him wrested from them This Island lieth in the farthest part of the Cilician Sea it hath on the East Syria on the West Pamphilia Southward it regardeth Egypt and Northward Cilicia now called Câ—ramania It is worthyly accounted amongst the greatest Islands of the Mediterranean containing in circuit four hundred and twenty seven miles and is in length after the description of Strabo an hundred and seventy five miles and in breadth not above sixty five It aboundeth with Corn Wine Oyl Cotton-Wool Saffron Hony Rosm Turpentine Sugar-Canes and whatsoever else is needful for the sustentation of Man whereof it sends forth great abundance to other Countries of whom it craveth no help again It was in ancient time called Macaria that is to say Blessed The People therein generally lived so at ease and pleasure that thereof the Island was dedicated to Venus who was there especially worshipped and thereof cally Cypria Marcellinus to shew the Fertility thereof saith That Cyprus aboundeth with such plenty of all things that without the help of any Forraign Country it is of it self able to build a tall Ship from the Keel to the top Sail and so put it to Sea furnished of all things needful And Sextus Rufus writing thereof saith Cyprus famosa divitiis paupertatem populi Romani ut occuparetur solicitavit ita ut jus ejus Insulae avarius magis quam injustius assecuti scil Cyprus famous for Wealth allured the Poverty of the People of Rome to lay hold upon it so that we have rather covetously than justly got the rule thereof In the heart of the Island standeth Nicosia sometime the Regal and late Metropolitical City thereof And in the East end thereof Famagusta sometime called Tamassus a famous rich City the chief and only Port of all that most pleasant Island Other fair Cities there be also as Paphos Amathus now called Limisso and Cyrene This Island of it self long time maintained the
Majesty of a Kingdom as then when Richard the First King of England passing that way with his Fleet for the relief of the Christians then distressed in the Holy Land about the year 1191 was prohibited there to land and certain of his People by force of Tempest there cast on Shore were by the Cypriots either cruelly slain or taken Prisoners which barbarous violence King Richard took in so evil part that he there by force landed his Army and rested not until he had taken Isaac the King Prisoner and subdued the Island The King he sent in Chains of Silver to Tripolis there to be kept in close Prison the Kingdom he kept a while in his own hand which not long after he gave or as some say exchanged with Guido the titular King of Ierusalem for which cause the Kings of England for a certain time afterwards were honoured with the Title of the Kings of Ierusalem This Kingdom by many descents came at length to Ianus Son of King Peter who in the year 1423 was by Melechel a Sultan of Egypt taken Prisoner but afterwards for the ransom of an hundred and fifteen thousand Sultanins was set at liberty and restored to his Kingdom paying unto the Sultan and his Successors a yearly Tribute of forty thousand Crowns This Ianus left a Son called Iohn who after the death of his Father married the Daughter of the Marquis of Mont-Ferrat after whose death he married one Helena of the most noble House of the Paleologi in Grecia by whom he had one only Daughter called Carlotte but by another Woman a base Son called Iames. This King Iohn was a Man of no Courage altogether given to pleasure and according to the manner of his effeminate education shewed himself in all things more like a Woman than a Man which Helena his Wife a Woman of a great Spirit quickly perceiving took upon her the Soveraignty and whole Government of the Realm gracing and disgracing whom she pleased and promoting to the Ecclesiastical Dignities such as she best liked abolishing the Latin Ceremonies and bringing in them of the Greeks and took such further order as pleased her self in matters of State concerning both Peace and War her Husband in the mean time regarding nothing but his vain pleasure whereby it came to pass that all was brought into the power of the Greeks the Queens Friends Now the Queen her self was much ruled by the Counsel of her Nurse and the Nurse by her Daughter so that the People would commonly say The Daughter ruled the Nurse the Nurse the Queen and the Queen the King. The Nobility ashamed and weary of this manner of Government by general consent of the People sent for Iohn the King of Portugals Cousin-German whom some call the King of Portugal to whom they gave Carlotte the Kings Daughter in marriage with full power to supply that want of Government which was in King Iohn his Father in Law. He taking the Authority into his Hands quickly reformed the disordered Kingdom as well in matters concerning Religion as civil Policy The Latin Ceremonies were again restored and the Government of the Daughter the Nurse and the Queen brought to an end But the mischievous Daughter doubting the Countenance of the young King perswaded her Mother as she â—endred her own Life to poison the King. Which thing the wretched Woman by the consent of the Queen Mother as was reported in short time performed and so brought that noble Prince well worthy longer life unto his untimely end whereby the Government was again restored unto the Greek Queen who in the name of her weak Husband commanded again at her pleasure But above all the Nurse and her Daughter insulted upon the young Queen Carlotte which she not well brooking grievously complained thereof to Iames her baâ—e Brother requiring his help for redress thereof who not long after slew the Nurses Daughter not so much in revenge of the wrong by her done unto his Sister as to prepare a way for himself for the obtaining of the Kingdom grieving inwardly that she or her Husband should be preferred before himself Which thing Helena the Queen quickly perceiving perswaded the King her Husband to cause his base Son to enter into the orders of Priesthood and so to become a Churchman thereby to cut off all his hope of aspiring unto the Kingdom which the King at her instance did and made him Archbishop of Nicosia In the mean time Carlotte by the perswasion of her Mother and the Nobility of the Country married Lewis Son to the Duke of Savoy who being for that purpose sent for came with all speed to Cyprus After that the Queen-Mother and the old Nurse desiring nothing more than to revenge the death of the Nurses Daughter upon Iames now Archbishop devised first how to thrust him out of all his â—piritual Promotions which were great and afterward quite banish him the Kingdom Hereupon the Queen wrote Letters against him to the Pope to have him disgraded for that he being a Man base born with his hands imbrued with innocent Blood was unworthy of holy Orders Which Letters by chance came to Iames his hands who inraged therewith accompanied with a number of his Friends and Favorites suddenly entred the Court slew such of his Enemies as he found there divided their Goods amongst his Followers and as King possessed himself of the Regal City In this Broil the Greek Queen Helena died and shortly after her Husband also All things being thus in an hurly and out of order certain of the Nobility for redress thereof sent for Lewis the Husband of Carlotte as for him to whom that Kingdom in the right of his Wife most justly belonged who upon his arrival was of all sorts of Men joyfully received and welcomed as their King. Iames the Usurper understanding before of the coming of Lewis and perceiving the inclination of the People towards him fled with divers of his Friends to Alexandria to crave aid of the Egyptian Sultan in whose Court he found such Favour as that he was by the Sultans commandment Royally apparelled and honoured with the Title of the King of Cyprus which he promised for ever to hold of the Sultans of Egypt as their Vassal and Tributary At which time the Sultan also by his Embassadors commanded Lewis to depart the Isle who by all means sought to have pacified the Sultan declaring unto him his rightful Title yet offering to pay unto him the wonted Tribute and to allow unto Iames a yearly Pension of ten thousand Ducats during his life But all in vain for Iames still present in the Sultans Court and wisely following his own suit at last concluded with the great Sultan who thought it more honour to make a King than to confirm a King and receiving of him a great Army returned into Cyprus where in short time he so distressed Lewis that he was glad to forsake the Island with his Wife and to return into his Country
our general Assembly as to retain those who may be cause of much trouble without our Consents There is no Difficulty that I understand I am content to accept the antient and honourable Treaties made with the famous Emperour Solyman and his Successors and now lastly at Chotyn if there be any other difference I have Power and am ready to accommodate it My desire then only is That a present End and Conclusion be made of a Peace firm and perpetual and that the Emperour will be pleased according to many promises to deliver and set free the Captives taken in the last Wars as I do in his Majesties Name give my Word that all others taken on our parts shall have Liberty and Pasport to return And if there have been any Difficulty made by occasion of my pressure for the rejection of Tomsha and Cante-Emir-Emirze I do make this true Protestation That as it is the Request of his Majesty my King in Friendship so there is no other end nor cause of that desire but only to remove all occasion of offence and breach with this Imperial Port which those ill Neighbours are ever ready to minister But if that be any great Inconvenience to this Imperial Port I only then seek that better order may be taken with them for the future that they may live quietly without offence of the publick Peace I desire your Excellency to weigh and consider these my Reasons and Protestations which proceed only from a good and sincere Heart to promote and maintain an inviolable and good Friendship with this Imperial Port. Within two days after the Duke of Sbaraskie took his leave of the Emperour to the great Joy of himself and his Train who thereby saw themselves delivered out of Captivity The three great and noble Prisoners were set free and did make a publick acknowledgement of his Majesty of Great Britains Favour to whom both the Ambassador and they attributed the best part of their good Success and gave particular Thanks by Letter Articles Contracted between the Grand Seignior and the King of Poland HIS Majesty of Poland having sent into our happy Port his well deserving and famous great Ambassador the most Illustrious Duke of Sbaraskie to offer us sincere Peace loyal Friendship and good Correspondence and to seek that the antient Peace and Friendship should be of us anew confirmed and the old Capitulations renewed and that for the time to come there might be established an eternal Peace and Friendship His Kingly instance hath been most pleasing to us and the Peace and Friendship of us accepted and we have ordained That all the antient Treaties shall be renewed and at the present have given this our Capitulation with the following Articles FIrst That never upon our part nor of any of our Visiers Beglerbeghs Beghs Cadees Officers nor Souldiers any harm shall be done to the Provinces Cities Castles Towns Villages and other Places pertaining to the King and State of Poland And likewise upon the part of his Majesty of Poland that by his Princes Ministers or Cossack nor any other his Subjects there shall be no wrong done in any part of our Empire City Castle Town or Village but that both parties shall always remain Friends to Friends and Enemies to Enemies II. And seeing that the Tartars of Dobrirza Biaolograd Keil Ozu and Silistra and the People of Moldavia do enter invade and damnifie the State of Poland We command that for the time to come our Beglerbeghs of Silistra and all other Beglerbeghs of Bender shall take care to keep all those Passages and Rivers to the end that hereafter the said Nations shall have no passage by those ways to damnifie the State of Poland and whensoever it shall be known that the said Ministers have used Negligence in keeping those Passages according to the Treaty with Sultan Solyman of happy Memory that such Ministers be degraded and severely punished III. The Vayvod of Moldavia likewise shall never grant any Passage to the said Nations and whensoever it shall be known that the said Vayvod hath transgressed in this our Will he shall be degraded and severely punished IV. And whensoever the said Tartars and others contrary to this our Will shall make any Invasion or Spoil in the State of Poland all our Ministers and Governours shall apprehend and severely punish them and as it is set down in the Agreements with Sultan Solyman all the Slaves and Prisoners which shall by such Malefactors be brought into our Dominions shall be set at Liberty and their Goods restored to them again and the Malefactors punished for having transgressed our Imperial Capitulations V. And if any of our Subjects shall buy any Person or Polish Goods unjustly taken by such Malefactors and it shall be made known unto us by the King of Poland the buyers for having bought unlawful Goods their Estate shall be confiscate and they themselves severely punished VI. The Prince Chrim Tartar shall be obedient to us and all the Tartarian Nation under his Command Kalgha Sultan and other Emirs and Princes of his Blood from henceforth shall never enter into nor invade any part of the State of Poland nor ever do any Dammage either by the way of Moldavia the open Field or Desart nor shall ever enter into or invade any part or jurisdiction of the same And at all times that his Majesty of Poland shall give notive That the said Prince or others above mentioned have broken this our Will and Capitulations and entered and damnified his State for their Disobedience the said Prince as well as the others shall be by us punished and chastised and we command that never any one in any part of our Dominion shall sell either People or Goods robbed from the State of Poland and finding that there be any one that hath dared to buy Men or Goods robbed from them such shall be immediately punished with confiscation And as before mentioned the Beglerbeghs of Silistria with all Diligence shall keep the Straights of Osue and never suffer the said People to pass and if it shall be known they have transgressed they shall be punished with loss of their Charge and Office. VII And whensoever the said Prince Chrim Tartar or his Kalka Emirze or others shall by our order be called and commanded in their proper Persons to go to any part of the War in our Service if by chance they should pass by the Confines of Poland as it is set down in the Capitulations of my Father of happy Memory They shall not enter into any Village Borough Castle or City of Polonia or do any kind of dammage to the People thereof and finding that they have given any molestation or hurt they shall be corrected as is aforesaid VIII And in Conformity of my Fathers said Capitulation every time that his Majesty of Poland shall invite and call the said Prince Chrim Tartar in his Occasion of War whilst he giveth him his annual stipend the said Prince with
all his Forces and Army shall go help and assist his Majesty in every such Occasion and shew all Friendship and Sincerity to which effect we have given order that our Imperial Letters be written to the said Prince in this particular who shall observe all according to our Will and Pleasure IX And for the better establishing of this our Peace and Amity according to the antient Capitulations and Observance his Majesty of Poland promiseth to send his Great Ambassador to the said Prince of Tartars and beginning from this present the 24th of the Month of Iune to pay yearly to the said Prince his accustomed stipend in this form following Every year his Majesty shall send the said stipend into the Castle of Chotyn in Moldavia and the Vayvod thereof shall certifie the said Prince Chrim who shall presently send his Ambassador to receive the same by the hands of the Vayvod The which Prince shall always observe this form and shall be always obedient to this our Imperial Will. X. And in case that his Majesty of Poland should fail any year to send the said stipend the Prince Tartar shall not suddenly rise with his Army and invade Poland but according to the agreements of Sultan Solyman continuing still in his Obedience he shall certifie us and we will procure and recover his right XI His Majesty of Poland doth promise that from henceforward the Cossacks shall not enter nor come into any part of our Empire by the Rivers of Osue or any other nor make any spoil therein and if the said Cossacks do enter into any part of our Dominions and do any hurt we certifying his Majesty by our Imperial Letters he promiseth to correct them severely and to put to death the Maleâ—actors for breaking the Capitulations and violating the Peace and Amity XII And all our Subjects which shall be made Slaves and imprisoned by the said Cossacks shall be immediately set at liberty and the Ministers of his Majesty shall always be diligent to punish the Transgressors and wholly restorâ— those Persons and Goods which they shall have taken from our said Subjects and that never any Subject of the King of Poland shall buy any stollen Goods and if any have presumed and bought that he be severely punished and in general all that which we have promised concerning the Tartars and Moldavians so his Majesty also doth promise to us for the Cossacks and other his Subjects XIII After the Conclusion of this Peace if upon the Confines or open Fields Fishers or Hunters on either part meeting together shall happen to fall out or be at difference by their own Occasion it shall be no disturbance to this our Peace and Amity XIV Always according to the antient Agreements the Princes or Vayvods of Moldavia shall shew to his Majesty of Poland all due Reverence and respect good Amity and Neighbourhood and seeing that the said Vayvods have ever been as it were Instruments of Preservation or of the breach of the Peace therefore we command that for the time to come neither the said Vayvods nor other of our Beglerbeghs or Ministers shall build in those Confines any new Castle Fort or Bridge and that in those Castles or Forts of those Frontiers which are already built there shall never any other Garrisons be kept but Moldavians and according to the antient Capitulations the Tartars shall not inhabit dwell or till within those Confines of both Nations XV. And to the end this Peace and Amity may be always kept between us we swear by the Name of God and assure by this our Imperial Article that all the Ambassadors great or inferiour which shall be sent from us to his Majesty or those great or less which shall be sent from his Majesty to us shall always be safe and secure as well in their coming as their return and that there shall never be need of any other pasport but that they shall be of us by all ways honoured and well received XVI Concerning Merchants Passengers and other Polack Negotiators they shall always come safely and securely by Sea and Land into all the parts of our Empire and for Customs Tolls and other Duties of their Merchandise and in case of Debt Credit Suretiship and such other like Accidents concerning the course of Iustice and Law we command that it shall be always observed according to the Agreements with our Father of happy Memory Sultan Achmat. Which Articles we at this present accept and confirm ratifie and command that they be of all our Subjects for ever punctually obeyed and observed XVII Furthermore we promise and in the Name of God swear to observe and maintain for ever all those Covenants and Articles agreed upon and written in our Capitulations by our Great Grandfather Grandfather and Father and never to disannul any of them XVIII And whereas to shew greater desire of Sincerity concerning this Peace his Majesty of Poland hath sought of us by his said great Ambassador that the Subjects of Poland may safely and securely come by the River of Turla with divers Merchandise and sell buy and traffick in Ackirman which traffick being used will be of great benefit to both Estates We ordain and command from henceforward that the said Nation may come and negotiate safely and securely in the said Ackirman And to the end that this business be established and concluded in a good manner we will give order to our Ambassador whom we intend to send shortly to his Majesty for the ratification thereof XIX Which present Articles Capitulations Peace Amity League and Correspondence by the Grace of God we promise undoubtedly to maintain so long as we live in this World and do hereby conclude between us and our Posterity and the King and State of Polonia an everlasting Peace Sealing it and confirming it with these Words Friends to Friends and Enemies to Enemies Notwithstanding all this after the Duke was departed one days Journey where he stayed to receive the Treaty signed they altered some of the Articles to their own advantage without his Knowledge Which when he heard he complained anew by his Letters to the Port of the abuse offered unto him and made haste rather to escape than return But the Cossacks at the same time being stirred about the Black Sea the Visier and State having nothing more in care than to shut up that back poâ—t whereby they suffered much loss and Dishonour and could not revenge it upon a fugitive People which divided their Naval Army being forced to send a portion of Gallies to defend the Trade the best part of relief of the City of Constantinople coming from those Coasts resolved to give content to the Poles and to assure the Peace that they might with more Security attend their Affairs in Asiâ— and Hungary which Action was favoured vehemently by the present Visier To which end he sent answer into Polâ—nd with Promises of Faith and Reparation for the Injuries committed by the Tartars laying the fault of