of holy Jesus which follow the Popes Religion may build Temples in our Realms there to say divine Service after their manner and read the Gospel We will yield them all favour and will not suffer any one to disturb thâ—m contrary to Law and Equity 8. It shall be lawful for the Inhabitants born in the Realm of Hungary of either part to re-edifie the Villages ruined and laid waste and after they are inhabited they shall pay Tribute to the one and the other if they be such Villages as have been accustomed to pay to both 9. Merchants shall have free leave to traffick passing from our Port into those Countries and the transport of Merchandise shall be free to such as shall take Letters from the Governours of the Frontiers or from the Receivers of the thirties the which they shall represent in passing and the Lord of the Place or the Receiver shall attest the said Letters by his manual sign or seal for the which they shall not take any thing of the Merchant If the Merchant be to pass by any dangerous Place they shall give him a sufficient Convoy to conduct him in safety and after that the Merchant hath paied of either side the thirtieth which is the full due no man shall molest him nor hinder him to go where he pleaseth 10. The Merchants which would pass from the Realms and Seigniories of the Emperor of the Romans and the House of Austria into our Kingdoms with Merchandise or Money shall come under the Ensign of the Emperour of Romans and shall have his Letters patents to us without the which they shall not be suffered to pass And if they enter without Ensign or the said Patents the Agents and Consuls of the Roman Emperour may seise upon their Vessels Merchandise and Money and shall give advice thereof unto their Emperour wherefore all the Merchants of the Emperours Countries of the House of Austria and of the King of Spain both as well those of the Low-Countries as his other Realms may come with all assurance into our Realms with their Ships Money and Merchandise paying three in the hundred And as for the Agents and Consuls of the Roman Emperour they shall pay unto them two Aspers for the hundred and in doing so the said Agents and Consuls of the Roman Emperour shall have a care of the Merchants Affairs If any Merchant chance to die the Emperours Agent and Consul shall cause his Goods to be sealed up and shall take them into their Possession to the which our Treasurer shall have no colour or pretension And when as the Merchants have paid the Custom of three for the hundred in one place they shall not be bound to pay it in another for the same Merchandise If the Merchants have any Controversie amongst themselves or with others the Cadi or Iudge of that Place may take knowledge of the cause if it exceed not the value of 4000 Aspers but it shall be judged by the Cadi of our Port. 11. As long as this holy Peace shall continue the Posts which shall be sent with Letters by the Bassaes Begues Lords and Agents or by the Visiers on our behalf to the Emperour of the Romans and respectively from him to our Court shall be honourably entertained by our Officers and if the way be dangerous they shall give them assistance to conduct them into a place of safety with their Letters And if the Agent which is with us desire to write any particular Letter unto the Emperour and not send an express Messenger that this Letter shall be carried by the post and delivered safely where it is directed That the Messengers of the Bassaes and Begues shall go no more into the Villages but the Iudges shall bring the Tribute and deliver it where they ought An Accord for the Execution of the Articles touching the Villages in Controversie and the raising of Fortifications TO conclude all Differences touching the division of Villages and demolition of Fortifications made in prejudice of the Peace of Situa Torok We the Commissaries deputed had agreed upon the time of four Months But for that all Controversies cannot be decided within that time by a common consent we have concluded the time of twelve Months for the Expedition of all that shall remain undecided all things remaining in the same Estate during the time For the ending of these Affairs on the behalf of the Majesty of the Roman Emperour shall be sent the Noble Lord Adolph of Althen Earl of the sacred Empire with others according to his Maâ—esties good Pleasure And on the behalf of the Othoman Emperour hath been named the Noble Lord Ali Visier Bassa For the greater assurance of these things we the said Commissioners have caused six Copies of this Treaty to be dispatch'd in the Italian Hungarian and Turkish Tongues And we the Director or President of the Privy Council to his Imperial Maâ—esty and Cardinal with other Counsellors of his Privy Council and Commissioners having full Power and Authority have confirmed these Presents under our Hands and the Seals of our Arms. As also We Ali Bassa of Buda Visier to the most powerful Sultan Achmat Tyhaia Mutafaraga and Gasper Gratiani Ambassadors to the Turkish Emperour with the Imperial Majesty of the Roman Emperour having full Power and Authority to conclude this Treaty have signed it with our Hands and sealed it with our ordinary Seals whereof there were three Copies delivered to either party Given at Vienna the first of March 1616. This new Declaration of the Othoman Emperour upon the first Articles concluded at Situa Torok shews plainly how much the Turks are of late days refined from their antient barbarism and rudeness having made themselves capable of great Affairs And these frequent meetings betwixt the Emperour of the Romans and the Sultan by their Ambassadors as a holy watering of the Olive Tree of Peace seems to make it so flourishing as the sweet savour may pierce further and make us hope that God will make use of this peaceful Union to prepare unto himself some means to a new Harvest or a healthful Conquest of Souls wandering amidst the falshoods of the Alchoran Alexandrina Wife to Prince Coreskie having been taken at that unfortunate overthrow of the Polonian Princes in Moldavia by Skinder Bassa and Prince Michna she was carried away as you have formerly heard by a Tartarian Captain and led Captive unknown to Bialigrot where she received many Indignities being with Child yea during the time of her lying in which was five or six Months after her taking all which time she bethought her self of a means to hasten her own Delivery and withal to free a Polonian Souldier called Iaques who had carried Arms under Prince Coreskie This man although he knew the Princess well and might by her discovery have purchased his own Liberty yet he would not do it wherefore the Princess having tried his Fidelity taught him a means how to work his own Liberty and hers in
after the Hungarian fashion a Sword and Pole-Axe and some of them carry a Pistol at their Girdle This sort of people being naturally more faithfull than the Turks and more inclinable to the Visier Kupriuli for being of the same Country he maintained 2000 of them for his Guard which was so great a curb to the Ianizaries and the other Militia that they were never able to execute any Conspiracy against him The same course his Son the present Visier follows and is doubtless next the Grand Signior's favour his principal security Of the Segbans and Sarigias It is not to be omitted that the Beglerbegs and Pashaws maintain always a Militia called Segbans to whose custody the charge of the Baggage belonging to the Horse is committed and a select number called Sarigias to whose care the Baggage of the Infantry is entrusted these serve on foot with Muskets like Ianizaries and the others on Horse-back like Dragoons in Christendom their Pay besides their Meat is 3 or 4 Dollars a Month. The Beglerbegs have oftentimes on occasion of their Rebellions enrolled many of this sort of Militia to encounter the Ianizaries the which was practised in these late times by Ipchir Pashaw Hasan Pashaw and Murteza Pashaw who having lifted great numbers to fight under this denomination the Visier Kupriuli for terrour and more easie destruction of this people proclaimed through all Asia that strict inquisition should be made after the Segbans and Sarigias and that it might be lawfull for any one to kill and destroy them without mercy by which means many were butchered in several places and 30000 of them revolted to the Sofi of Persia. The Muhlagi and Besli Are the Servants of Beglerbegs and Pashaws the first make profession of a principal art in Horsemanship and exercise themselves in throwing the Gilid which is a Dart much used amongst the Turks in the true management of which there is a great dexterity and because there are considerable rewards bestowed on those who are expert herein the Turks practise it on Horseback as their onely exercise and study very much delight herein the Grand Signiors have always taken and to be Spectatours of the Combats between the servants of several Pashaws born in different Countries and Nations who from a Principle of honour to their Nation and hopes of Preferment contend with that heat and malice one against another as surpass the cruelty of the ancient Gladiators and not onely limbs or eyes are lost in the skirmish but oftentimes sacrifice their bloud and life for the pastime of their Prince Such as are observed to be bold active and dextrous at this Game are preferred to the degree and benefit of a Zaim or Timariot The Beslees are Footment who for their great abilities in walking and running attain oftentimes to be made Ianizaries And thus we have now with as much brevity as may be run through the several Degrees Numbers Institutions Laws and Discipline of the Turkish Militia by Land whose father progress into Christendom and damage to the Christian Cause may the Almighty Providence so disappoint that his Church corrected and grown more pious by this chastisement may at length he relieved from the Rod and Yoke of this great Oppressour CHAP. XI Certain Observations on the Turkish Camp and the Success of the last Battel against the Christians IN the year of our Lord 1665. the Earl of Winchelsea our Lord Ambassadour for certain Affairs of His Majesty and the Company of Merchants having commanded me to meet the great Visier in his return from the Wars in Hungary through ill or rather uncertain information of the Visier's motion I was forced to proceed as far as Belgrade in Servia on the Confines of Hungary 23 days Journey from Constantinople where finding a good part of the Turkish Army encamped near that City for better convenience and expedition of my business I entred within the Quarters of the Spahees and pitched my Tent as near the Visier's and the other principal Officers as consisted with due respect in which place I remained seven days untill the Army removed towards Adrianople and not having fully compleated my business there I marched and remained other 13 days together with the Army in which time I had leisure to make some reflexions on the Order of the Turkish Camp. In the front of the Camp are quartered the Ianizaries and all others destin'd for Foot-service whose Tents encompass their Aga or General In the body of the Camp are erected the stately Pavilions of the Visier of his Kabiia or chief Steward or Counsellour the Reis effendi or Lord Chancellour the Tefterdar Pascha or Lord Treasurer and the Kapisler Kahiasee or Master of the Ceremonies which five Pavilions take up a large extent of ground leaving a spacious Field in the midst in the centre of which is raised a lofty Canopy under which Offenders are corrected or executed and serves to shelter from the Sun or Rain such as attend to the Divan or other business with the Officers of State. Within the same space of ground also is the Hasua or Treasury in small Chests one piled on the other in form of a Circle for guard of which 15 Spahees every night keep watch with their Arms in their hands Near these quarters are the Tents of Pashaws Beghs Agaes and Persons of Quality who with their Retinue solely make up a considerable part of the Turkish Army In the Rere are the quarters of the Spahees and others that attend the Horse service as Segbans Sarigias and others On the right hand of the Visier without the Camp are placed the Artillery and Ammunition which in the time I was there was inconsiderable the great Cannon remaining in Buda and in the City of Belgrade onely 40 or 45 small Field-pieces of Brass as I reckoned them each drawn by four Horses marched with the Visier more at that time for state and ostentation than for real service The Pavilions of the great Visier and other Persons of principal Office and Quality may rather be called Palaces than Tents being of a large extent richly wrought within adorned beyond their Houses accommodated with stately Furniture with all the convenience of the City and Countrey and in my opinion far exceed the magnificence of the best of their Buildings for being but for few years continuance the maintenance of them is beyond the expence of Marble and Porphyry or the perpetual Edifices of Italy durable to many Olympiads and Myriads of years With these Houses and movable Habitations which with the Posts that support them are of that great weight and bulk the Turkish Army marches daily four five and sometimes six hours Journey all which Baggage is carried on Horses Mules and Camels The great Persons are furnished with two sets of Tents one of which as the Visier rises is advanced the Conack or days Journey beyond so that in the morning leaving one Tent another is found at noon ready furnished and provided at arrival which
observantiae vinculum accipiet inducet cum omnia singula quae de Confiniis suprà recensito modo ultrò citroque promissa acceptata sunt tam de distinctionibus limitum quà m de evacuationibus demolitionibus plenarie in effectum executionem deducta fuerint ita ut absolutae designatione limitum in unoquoque Consinio statim subsequatur demolitio aut evacuatio quod ut quam câ—lerrimè succedat designentur ad limites terminos Confiniorum ponendos distinguendos ex utraque parte Commissarii qui die Aequinoctii scilicet 22. mensis Martii aut 12 secundum veterem Stylum Anni Millesimi Sexcentesimi Nonagesimi noni in locis inter Commissarios consensu Gubernatorum utriusque Confinii determinandis mediocri pacifico Comitatu conveniant atque intra spatium dúorum Mensium si possibile sit aut etiam citius ubi fieri poterit Confinia limitibus terminis manifestis per superiores articulos constitutis distinguant separent determinent Statuta inter legatos Plenipotentiarios utriusque imperii accuratissimè citissime exequantur XIX Has vero conditiones articulos ad formam hic mutuò placitam à Majestatibus utriusque Imperatoris ratihabitum iri atque ut solennia ratificationis Diplomata intra spatium triginta dierum à die Subscriptionis vel citius in Confiniis per Illustrissimos Excellentissimos legatos Plenipotentiarios Mediatores reciprocè recteque commutentur legati Plenipotentiarii utriusque imperii sese infallibiliter obligant atque praestituros compromittunt XX. Duret Armistitium hocce extendatur favente Deo ad viginti quinque Annos continuè sequentes à die qua ejusdem subscriptio facta fuerit quo Annorum numero elapso vel etiam medio tempore priusquam elabatur liberum esto utrique partium si ità placuerit Pacem hanc ad plures adhuc Annos prorogare Itaque mutuo libero consensu quaecunque stabilita sunt Pacta inter Majestatem Serenissimi Potentissimi Ramanorum Imperatoris Majestatem Serenissimi Potentissimi Ottommannorum Imperatoris Haeredes eorundem imperia quoque Regna ipsorum Terrâ item marique sitas Regiones civitates urbes subditos clientes observentur sanctè religiose ac inviolabiliter demandâ—tur seriò omnibus utriusque partis Gubernatoribus Praefectis Ducibus Exercituum atque Militiis quibusvis in eorundem clientela obedientiae subjectioni existentibus ut illi quoque praedeclaratis conditionibus clausulis pactis articulis sese adaequatè conformantes omnibus modis caveant ne contra Pacem amicitiam hanc sub quocunque nomine aut praetextu se invicem offendant aut damnificent sed quolibet prorsus inimicitiae genere abstinendo bonam colant vicinitatem certò scientes quod si eatenus admoniti morem non gesserint severrisimis in se poenis animadvertendum fore Ipse quoque Crimensis Chanus omnes Tartarorum Gentes quovis nomine vocitatae ad Pacis hujus bonae vicinitatis reconciliationis Jura ritè observanda adstricti sint nec iisdem contraveniendo hostilitates qualescunque exerceant erga quasvis Caesareas Provincias earumque Subditos aut Clientes Porro sive ex aliis Exercituum generibus sive ex Nationibus Tartarorum si quis contra Sacras Imperatorias hasce Capitulationes contra Pacta Articulos earum quidpiam ausus fuerit is poenis rigorosissimis coerceatur Incipiat verò modo dicta Pax Quies Securitas subditorum utriusque Imperii à supradata die Subscriptionis cessent exinde atque sustollantur omnes utrinque inimicitiae Subditi utriusque partis securitate tranquillitate fruantur Eoque fine quò magis per summam curam ac sedulitatem hostilitates inhiberi possint transmittantur quà m celerrimè Mandata Edicta publicandae Pacis ad omnes confiniorum Praefectos cumque spatium aliquod temporis requiratur intra quod officiales in remotioribus praesertim Confiniis istam conclusae Pacis notitiam obtinere valeant statuuntur viginti dies pro â—ermino post quem si quis hostiâ—e â—uidpiaâ—â— alterutra ex parte admittere praesumpserit poenis superius declaratis irremissibiliter subjaceat Ut demum Pacis Conditiones Viginti hisce articulis conclusae utrinque acceptatae debito summòque cum respâ—ctu inviolatae observentur Si quidem Domini Plenipotentiarii Ottomannici vi concessae iisdem facultatis Imperatoriae instâ—umentum Turcico sermone exaratum subscriptum legitimum validum nobis exhibuerint Nos quoque vi Mandati Plenipotentia nostra propriis manibus propriis Sigillis Subscriptas Signatas haâ—ce Pactorum literas in Latino Idiomate tanquam legitimum validum vicissim Instrumentum extradidimus THE INSTRUMENT OF THE Treaty of Peace BETWIXT THE GERMAN and OTTOMAN Empires Subscrib'd Ianuary 26. 1699. FOR the perpetual Memory of the Thing Be it known to all whom it may Concern That after a cruel and pernicious War had for 17 years been carried on with the Effusion of much Blood and Desolation of many Provinces between the most Serene and most Potent Prince and Lord Leopold Elect of the Romans and Emperor of Germany always August King of Hungaria Bohemia Dalmatia Croatia Sclavonia Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy Brabant Styria Carinthia Carniola Marquis of Moravia Duke of Luxemburgh of the Upper and Lower Silâ—sia of Wirtemberg and Tecka Prince of Swevia Count of Hâ—bsburgh of Tyrol Kyburgh and Goritia Marquis of the Sacred Roman Empire of Burgovia of the Upper and Lâ—wer Lusatia Lord of the Marquisate of Sclavinia of the Port of Naon and the Salt Mines on one part And between the most Serene and most Potent Prince and Lord Sultan Muâ—â—apha Han Emperor of the Ottâ—mans and of Asia and Greece and his Glorious Predecessors on the other Part. These two most Potent Emperors out of a just Sense of Compassion towards their afflicted Subjects at length resolving to put an End to these Mischiefs every Day encreasing with Destruction to Mankind the Divine Goodness brought it to pass that by the Endeavours and Mediation of the most Serene and most Potent Prince and Lord William III. King of Great Britain France and Ireland and the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Belgic Provinces that Solemn Treaties of Peace were set on foot at Carlowitz in Sirmium upon the Confines of both Empires and there brought to a Conclusion There Meeting at the said place on the part of his Sacred Caesarean and Imperial Majesty of the Romans as his Plenipotentiaries the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords Wolfang Count d'Ottingen of the Sacred Roman Empire Chamberlain of his Sacred Caesarean Majesty and Privy-Counsellor and President of the Imperiaâ— Aulic Council and the Lord Leopold Schlik Count in Passaun and Weiskirchen of the Sacred Roman Empire Chamberlain of his said Caesarean Majesty Captain General of the Guards and Colonel of the
common good and liberty of the Emperor By which means he had drawn unto him a wonderful number of the rude Country People by the way as he came But coming into Bythinia he was by Iohn Ducas Governour of the great City of Nice shut ouâ— as an Enemy to the State and so at Nicomedia also Nevertheless passing by those Cities he held still on his way until at length he was near unto a Castel called Charace encountred by Andronicus Angelus sent with a great power against him by the great President Alexius who otherwise as an effeminate man given over to his pleasure spending the greatest part of the night in rioting by candle light and most part of the day in his bed with curtains close drawn as if it had been night yet doubtful now of the coming of his Enemy left nothing undone which he thought might help for the assuring of his State. Many of the Nobility of whom he stood in doubt he gained unto him by means of the Emperors Mother who by her rare Beauty sweet Words and gracious Behaviour as with a Line drew all men to her Other some he overcame with Gifts and great sums of Mony whereof he now made no spare And so wrought the matter that no man of any account or mark went over to Andronicus Who nevertheless with such followers as he had joyning battel with Angelus sent against him as is before said overthrew him and put him to flight Wherewith Alexius much troubled in great displeasure and without reason called Angelus now fled to Constantinople to an account for the Mony delivered unto him for the defraying of the Charges of that unfortunate War who seeing his misfortune to be so taken as if he had framed it himself and of purpose betrayed the Army committed to his charge by the Counsel of his six Sâ—â—s being all men of great Valour and Wisdom first took the refuge of his own house but finding himselfe there in no safety with his Wife and his said Sons two of which came afterwards to be Emperors presently fled over the Straight to Andronicus who seeing of him coming towards him is reported to have used this Text of Scripture Behold I will send mine Angel before thy face to prepare thy ways alluding to his name of Angelus as the Presage of his good Success Wherefore incouraged with the coming of these Noblemen his Kinsmen he without longer stay marched directly unto the Sea-side and there a little above Chalcedon encamped almost right over against Constantinople causing many great fires more than needed to be made in his Army to make it seem unto them of the City greater than indeed it was and with the sight thereof to keep the Citizens in suspence with the doubtfull expectation of some great matter to ensue Wherein he was no whit deceived for they having him now as it were in fight leaving their work ran some to the Sea-side some up to the Hills and high Towers to behold his Army a far off willing with their friendly looks if it had been possible to have drawn him over the Straight into the City Alexius knowing himself not able by Land to encounter with so strong an Enemy for now some which on foot could not go over to Andronicus were secretly in heart already with him othersome thought themselves sufficiently to shew their fidelity to the Emperor if sitting still at home they should take part with neither for so have subtil heads and aspiring minds for the furtherance of their desires taught the common people both to say and think thought it best by Sea to avert the present danger and therefore comanded all the Emperors Gallies being before rigged up and ready to be strongly manned and put to Sea for the keeping of Propontis and the Straight of Bosphorus that Andronicus should not that way pass Now had he determined to have made especial choice of some assured Friend of his own to be General oâ— this Fleet as he had done of the Captains and Masters being all of his own Kinsmen and Domestical Servants but as he was about to have so done Contostephanus sirnamed the great Captain opposed himself against it challenging that place as due to himself before all others so that overcome by his Authority which it was no time for Alexius now to dispute he was glad to commit the charge and trust of the whole Fleet unto him as General Thus having as he thought made the Sea sure he sent over unto Andronicus as from the Emperor for all was done in his name one George Xiphilinus with Letters and other Instructions whereof the effect was To command him forthwith in peace to return to the place from whence he came and not farther to trouble the State promising him in so doing the Emperors Favour with many great Honours and Preferments to be afterwards bestowed upon him which otherwise might turn to his utter destruction Which Letters Xiphilinus having delivered and done his Message is reported to have secretly advised Andronicus to proceed in his purpose and not in any case to yield to that which was of him required wherewith Andronicus encouraged proudly rejected the graces offered and willed the Messenger to tell them that sent him that if they would have him to return unto the place from whence he came they should first displace the proud President Alexius and call him to an account for the Villanies he had done then the Emperors Mother they should deprive of her honours and shut her up as a Nun into some Cloyster there to learn to amend her life and last of all that the Emperor according to his Fathers Will should take upon himself the Government and not be overtopt by others by whose too much Authority his Majesty and Honour was as he said too much impaired But within a few days after Contostephanus the great Captain and General carried over all the Gallies to Andronicus leaving nothing but their names for the President in his Rolls to look upon whose revolt above all other things encouraged Andronicus and cast Alexius even into the bottom of despair For now Andronicus his Friends flockt together in the City not secretly as before but openly in all places and such as wisht a change in the State impudently scoffing at Alexius passed over the Straight to Chalcedon in great numbers to Andronicus where having filled their Eyes with beholding of his goodly Person his chearful Countenance and reverent Age and their Ears with his sweet words and great Promises returned home merry and joyful as if they had been in some terrestrial Paradice filling the City with his praises After that Andronicus his two Sons Iohn and Manuel with divers others whom the President had cast in prison were set a liberty and other of his chief Favourites laid fast in their rooms As for Alexius the President himself with all his Friends and Faction in the Court they were taken and committed to
person nor am I to be esteemed as possessed with affection or partiality to any side which is a point of sobriety and good temper necessary for all Historians For we who lived in those parts were little concerned for the House of Kuperlee or for the Favourites of the Court nor was it of any moment to us whether the Faction of the Spahees or Janizaries prevailed or whether the Courtiers or the Soldiers ruled the Empire only we esteemed it our duty to speak best of that Government under which our Trade thrived most And tho the times of Sultan Ibrahim were the golden days for Merchants which employed our Navigation beyond the memory of any times either before or since and consumed of our Manufactories tho not in greater quantities yet perhaps with better advantage and profit to our Nation Yet I ought not to be so injurious or ungrateful to Sultan Mahomet the Fourth as to accuse his Government of Oppression or Violence towards us or of any breach of Articles and Priviledges which he had granted to his Majesties Subjects but shall rather applaud and be ready to own that Iustice which our Complaints have found and met at the Ottoman Court under the protection of those worthy Ambassadors sent by his Majesty to stand Centinel on the Guard of their Country For whereas in the time of Sultan Morat when the Military men bore the sway Injustice and Violence which mingled in all the actions of Rule had an influence also on the English affairs And when in the time of Sultan Ibrahim that the Female Court had gained the predominancy and that vast Treasures were expended in Riot and Luxury the prodigality of great persons made it necessary to be rapacious and unjust But in these more moderate times of this present Sultan when neither excessive Wars abroad nor Luxury nor immoderate expence at home exhausted the Coffers We may easily imagine that the disorders of State did not drive the Rulers to a necessity of exercising unjust Arts which are always most certain Symptoms either of a bad Government or a vicious inclination in the Prince The English Trade according to the Chronicles of Sir Richard Baker was first introduced into the Country of the Turks in the Year 1579. but Sagredo an Italian Writer accounts only from the Year 1583. perhaps before that time Overtures were only made for a Trade which might be so inconsiderable as that until then it was not esteemed worthy to be adorned with an Ambassador or to be opposed by the Ministers of Foreign Princes For so soon as an Ambassador from England appeared at the Ottoman Court with Credential Letters from Queen Eâ—izabeth the French and Venetian Ministers took the Alarm and opposed his reception especially the French who as Sagredo reports in his History of thâ— Turks represented unto the G. Vizier how much this new Friendship with the English would obstruct that ancient Alliance which was made with his King and would impeach and lâ—â—sen the Priviledges and Trade which they enjoyed in those parts To which the Vizier answered according to their usual phrase and stile That the happy Imperial Seat where his Master resided was called the Port because it was free and open to all such who desired to take refuge and sanctuary therein and therefore the English without just reason ought not to be excluded That the Sultan ought not to be denied that freedom of love and hatred which was common to all Mankind and that he was as well resolved to chuse and cherish his Friends as to prosecute and destroy his Enemies Whereunto the French Ambassador urged That since it was the pleasure of the Grand Signior to admit the English that at least they should be obliged to enter Constantinople under the French Colours But the English Ambassador replied that his Mistress who was so potent scorned all Dependencies on other Nations and would rather abandon the Friendship of the Sultan than admit the least diminution of her own honour And embellishing his Discourses as Sagredo proceeds with the representation of that advantage and profit which the English Trade would bring to the Ottoman Empire he so ensnared the hearts of the Turks that they preferred the admittance of new Guests before the Alliance of ancient Friends Since which time our Commerce and Trade with the Turk hath been in its increase and being governed by a Wise and Grave Company of Experienced Merchants hath by Gods blessing brought an inestimable Treasure and advantage to the English Nation which that it may still continue increase and flourish in all Ages and times to come is the hearty desire and Prayer of him who is a true and faithful Servant to that worthy Society and a sincere Wellwisher to his Country Farewel THE HISTORY OF Sultan Mahomet IV. THE XIII EMPEROUR OF THE TURKS Beginning in the NINTH YEAR OF HIS REIGN The First BOOK Anno Christi 1661. Hegeira 1072. IT was now the beginning of this Year when the Earl of Winchelsea arrived at Constantinople the first Embassadour sent abroad from His Majesty of Great Britain Charles the Second after his happy Return to the Glorious Throne of his Ancestors to Sultan Mahomet the Thirteenth Emperour of the Turks it being judged fit that amongst other Alliances which were to be contracted with Foreign Princes and States this of Turkey should not be omitted but rather in the first place considered In regard that as the flourishing Estate and Prosperity of England's richess depends absolutely on her Foreign Trade so on none more particularly than on that of Turkey which consumes great quantities of her most staple and substantial Manufactures and makes returns in whatsoever Employs and gives Bread to the poor and industrious of the Nation But before we come to treat of the Successes of this Ambassador and the various Transactions in the Turkish Affairs we shall relate some accidents which befel us in our Voyage by Sea to Constantinople The Earl of Winchelsea and his Lady with a numerous Retinue being embarked on the Plymouth Frigat commanded by Sir Thomas Allen and accompanied with a Catch and two Merchants Ships the Prosperous and Smyrna Factor for Turkey set sail from the Downs on the Twentieth of Octob. 1660. And proceeding with a favourable Gale and fair Weather until we were come to the heighth of the Norward Cape or Cape Finisterre we then contended with so severe a storm that we were forced to bring our Ship under a main course to fasten our Helm and lye and drive In the Twenty nineth about Five in the Morning our main Tack flew which shook and strained our Mass so violently that it was shivered in two places between Decks The danger hereof might have proved of ill consequence had the Mast gone by the Board for in all probability it would have carried up our Decks unfixed both our Pumps and laid us open to the Sea but the Providence of God and the diligence of our Seamen was such year 1661.
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
the Table Eighteen Coâ—â—ans or Vests being the usual number given to the English Ambassadour with one extraordinary in favour to the New Ambassador were brought forth and bestowed and in the mean time the Present from our King to the Grand Signior provided at the expence of the Turky Company consisting of Fifty Vests viz. Ten of Velvet Ten of Saâ—tin Ten of Cloth of Gold Ten of Tabbies and Ten of fine English Cloth were brought forth and displayed in the open Court by Fifty men which carried them and Four English Mastiffs which were more acceptable to this Grand Signoir than all the rest The whole body of Janisaries then payed consisting of about Five thousand were drawn up in a body and ranged on one side of the Court-yard amongst them there was that silence that the least whisper noise or motion was not heard and as their Janisar Aga and other Commanders passed the bowings they made in salute were so regular and at the same time as may well testify the exactness of their Discipline and admirable obedience which hath in a great measure contributed towards their Conquests and Enlargement of their Empire Being thus Vested and ranked in Order the Great Vizier entered into the Presence of the Grand Signior and then Two Capâ—gi-bashes or Chief of the Porters of the Gate with long Silver Staves took the New Ambassador under each Arm to conduct him to the Chamber of Audience those permitted to accompany him were Sir Thomas Bendysh the Earl of Winchelsea's Brother Sir Thomas Allen Captain of the Plymouth Frigat the Interpreter and my self who then being Secretary carried the Credential Letters made up in a Purse of Cloth of Gold. We gently knocked at the first Gate which was immediately set wide open to us in the Porch whereof Forty white Eunuchs attended clothed in Vests of Sattin and Cloth of Gold of divers colours and stood with their Hands before them with marvellous silence and modesty Coming near to the Presence door where the Kapi-Aga or Chief of the white Eunuchs attended we made a pause in the Porch and trod very softly so as not to disturb with the least motion the greatness of that Majesty and so profound was the silence that nothing was heard besides the murmurings of a Fountain adjoining hereunto Just at the entrance of the Chamber hung a gilded Ball studded with divers precious Stones the Floar was covered with Crimson Velvet embroidered with Golden-wyre The Grand Signior himself sate in a Throne raised a small heigth from the ground supported with Four Pillars plated with Gold from the top hung several gilded Balls twined with Masses of Pearl the Cushions he sate upon and those also that lay by were richly embroidered and beset with Jewels and on his right hand stood the Great Vizier And having made a considerable stop at the Door the Two Capugibashees who held his Excellence under each Arm brought him to the middle of the Room and laying their Hands upon his Head made him bow until he touched the Carpets with his forehead and then raising him again they retired backward with him unto the farthest part of the Room and in like manner they took all the others singly and in order placing them behind the Ambassadors The Credential Letters from our King were then presenâ—ed and appointed that they should be delivered to the hands of the Reis-Efendi or Secretary of State. Then the Druggerman or Interpreter by Order of the Lord Ambassador read a Paper in the Turkish Language to this Effect First Declaring how the King of Great Britain our Soveraign Lord and Master was restored to the Throne of his Ancestors without War or any Conditions And the great Clemency of His Majesty in pardoning all but those who had a hand in the Murder of his Father Secondly Recommending the Merchants and their Interest to the continuance of his usual Favour and Protection Thirdly Begging the freedom of all English Slaves as a particular Testimony of Favour and Grace to this New Ambassador These Ceremonies being performed and the Paper read we immediately departed passing to our Horses by the same way which we came And being mounted we drew up a little out of the passage to see the Soldiers march by us which indeed appeared to be a very flourishing Militia of young Men robust and well clothed many of them running with Bags of Money on their Shoulders and all of them chearful and glad of the charge they carried with them after them followed their Commanders exceedingly well mounted And last of all came the Great Vizier attended with many Pashaes and a goodly Equipage And then his Excellency with Sir Thomas Bendysh and attendance proceeded forwards and returned to their home After this Two visits were made Namely to the Captain-Pasha or Admiral of the Seas and the other to the Muftee at the first Six Vests were presented and at the latter Five and both were performed and accepted with such mutual kindness that never did the Turkish Ministers cast more serene countenances on the Trade and Concernments of England than on this conjuncture And thus the Earl of Winchelsea being very successfully and with signal Demonstrations of Honour and a good correspondence seated in the usual residence of Ambassadors the Grand Signior as a particular Note and mark of his favour presented him with Three English Slaves and returned a kind and friendly answer to his Majesties Letters by Sir Thomas Bendysh who embarked on the Plimouth Frigat and departed the Eleventh of March. And thus having given the Reader a Relation of the State of the English concernments in Turky Let us view and consider the Condition of the Turkish Affairs amongst themselves At the arrival of this Ambassador the important affairs of this vast and still growing Empire were governed by the Great Vizier Kuperlee a Person decrepit and infirm in body by reason of his great Age but of a solid and subtle judgment by Nature cruel and by Years froward which disposition was singularly well fitted to do service to his Master against the impetuous storms of the Faction of those times in which the Pashaws and Chiefs of the Soldiery as often it happens in Empires whose Body is grown too vast to be ruled by a weak Head became rich and powerful and by the long Vacations of Peace insolent and wanton for as then the Wars with Venice were carried on faintly only by sending forth an Armata of Gallies in the Spring and the preparations became rather accustomary returning with the Year and made for exercise of the Arsenal and amusement of the People than designed with any probable expectation of success or Victory proportionable to that Treasure and Trouble which maintained them So that to encounter so many difficulties and predominancy of Ambition and Avarice the Prince himself being young the Fortune of his Empire had more than urgent necessity of such a rough and cruel disposition as was found in Kuperlee who so seasonably made
his Life so long as he acted nothing contrary unto his which he confirmed by Vows and all imaginable Protestations encouraging him to proceed forward to his Government with those cheerful Words and Assurances that Solyman Pasha taking his farewel with more ease of mind and confidence of Life departed Adrianople in three days after his designment to the new Office But not many days Journey had he advanced into Asia before the Grand Signiors and Viziers Commands overtook him altering his design for Damascus and instead thereof ordered him a Pilgrimage unto Mecha and exile into the remote and desert parts of Arabia until he should be thought worthy to be recalled by that power which banished him In like manner some few days after the Mufti being on a Friday seated in his place in the Mosch of Sultan Selim a very noble and famous Fabrick and attending there the Grand Signiors entrance that he might begin his Prayers was unexpectedly whispered in the Ear that he should retire and give place to another Mufti which immediately he obeyed and in four hours departed Adrianople being banished to Gallipoli for his Friendship as was supposed to Solyman Pasha and for not passing the Fetfa for his Death according to the will and desire of the Grand Signior During the Transaction of these affairs in divers parts the Wars against the Venetians were carried on faintly the Gallies had no other design or employment than to transport recruits of Men and Ammunition to Canea that so the Turks might rather keep the ground that they had gained in that Island than add thereunto by new Conquests until such time as that being freed from other Wars they might have leisure and opportunity to attend unto that alone Accordingly the Captain Pasha set forth at the usual Season from Constantinople and arrived at Scio with twenty three Gallies besides his own called the Bastard-Gally or Admiral the advice of which coming to the Captain-General of the Venetians he hastned thither with all his Fleet to besiege him in the Port but this seeming after some days a tedious work and what might lose too much time he resolved to depart from thence and so leaving a sufficient Guard before the Port he set Sail with two Galleasses thirteen light Gallies and seven Auxiliaries for the Coast of Rhodes where his Brigaâ—tiâ—es advised that the remainder of the Turkish Fleet were Anchored and were taking aboard two thousand Soldiers for reinforcing Canea but before the Venetians could arrive intelligence was given them by the way that the Turks were loosed from Rhodes and were Anchored under the Island of Patmos wherefore altering their course they steered for Nio and there watering their Vessels sailed near to Nixia where the Van-guard discovered five and thirty Gallies of the Enemy which had made prize of a Tartana laden with Provisions designed for the Venetian Fleet and having taken out her lading had set her on fire The Venetians having their Enemy in their Eye gave them chase until the Evening when the Night coming on put an end to the pursuit but keeping their course towards Candia they had sight again of them the next Morning and coming nearer the Turkish Admiral put forth his Flag of Defiance as if he intended to come to a Battel but the Wind blowing hard and the Sea increasing both Fleets were separated until the Morning when the Venetians discovered certain of the Enemies Gallies to Leeward of Milo where bearing down before the Wind upon them five of them ran ashore one was sunk and four were taken by the Venetian and Maltese Gallies three of which fighting with great Courage and Valour killed divers brave Cavaliers of one and the other Country The men which ran the Gallies ashore at Milo did it with design to secure themselves in that small Fort which the Turks possessed in that Island but they were not able to withsâ—and the valour of the Venetians who having first recovered the Cannon of the Gallies which were ran ashore with their rigging and what else was useful they set the Hulls on Fire and immediately entering the Port the Captain-General landed two hundred select men and veterane Soldiers to besiege the Fortress giving Orders to one Manolacchi Macchiotti who was well acquainted with the Turkish Language to summon them to a Treaty the which they readily accepted and were received to quarter at discretion of the General the next Morning they were brought down to the Sea-Coast to the number of about nine hundred amongst which there was a Janizar-Aga a Bey of Rhodes and three of Constantinople besides Captains and other persons of condition and quality These Prisoners being divided into several Gallies and Ships the Venetians departed and cruising about the Coast of Candia to hinder the importation of all succours they encountered with Antonio Priuli with a good Squadron of Vessels under his Command THE HISTORY OF Sultan Mahomet IV. THE XIII EMPEROUR OF THE TURKS The Second BOOK Anno Christi 1662. Hegeira 1073. AT the beginning of this Year the People of Algiâ—r sent Messengers and Presents to the Grand Signiors Court then at Adrianople complaining against the Actions His Majesties Fleeâ— under the Command of the Earl of Sandwich had done against their Town and Castles pretending those Forts to be the Grand Signiors and the Affront offered to him as willing to interest him in thier Quarrels and Piracies And that thier Addresses might be more graciously received they brought with them certain Presents which tho in former times were Yearly were now only as their Affairs required and on this occasion were doubled for besides their Presents to the Ministers and Officers of State they brought to the Grand Signior a Ship made in Silver beset with Emrods Rubies and other Stones fourteen young and hansom Boys and a Neger Eunuch for the Seraglio But the Earl of Winchelsea His Majesties Embassador there Resident being then at Court had so well prepossessed the Vizier with the Ground and Reasons for the War that the complaints of Algier were judged in no wise touching the Ottoman Interest or the breach of Peace any Impeachment of the good Correspondence and Friendship which then intervened between the King of England and the Grand Signior But their Presumption to search English Ships and take out Strangers Goods was objected as an Argument of their Disobedience and Rebellion contrary to the Grand Signiors Capitulations which also was aggravated by their ill Treatment of the Grand Signiors Pasha whom they had beaten imprisoned and cast out of all Power and Authority which severe Reprehensions so terrified and discouraged them that they not only desisted from their Pretensions against the English but began to fear lest the Power and Interest of the Ambassador at Court should contrive some mischief to their own Persons Soon after this the Vizier esteeming it necessary towards his better establishment to gratifie the City of Constantinople and the Grandees of the Empire by the
blood to men as well as sap and moisture unto Vegetables These Reasons being represented with all humility to the Grand Signior he seemed to rest satisfied and his heat of visiting Adrianople for the present allayed And in the mean time that the design against Germany might be the more covertly carried it was given out that the preparations were intended against the Venetian Territories in Dalmatia viz. Zara Sebenico and Cataro and Proclamation was made that all Souldiers should prepare themselves for the Wars against the next Spring In which Interim no accident intervening which might bring matters to an accommodation and better understanding the daily Skirmishes on the Frontiers made the Controversie every day more difficult to be reconciled and the breach the wider The Count Serini also proceeded in finishing the Fortification he had lately raised near Canisia and the other Commanders of the Cesarean Army seeing the great progress of the Turks in Transilvania secured Claudiopolis Somoswar Sechilhid Clewar alias Coloswar and Betlem with some other Towns and Fortresses The Turks on the other side under the Command of Ali Pasha penetrate into the very Center of Transilvania and conceiving a jealousie of War from the passages before mentioned lost no time to take their advantages so that the Pasha of Varadin not contenting himself with that Country and limits formerly prescribed for maintenance of his Fortress adjoined to his Jurisdiction what Villages and Towns he thought fit the whilst the poor Prince Michael Apafi though made by the Turks durst not lift a hand or interpose the least Obstacle or Impediment to his quiet progress or peaceable possession which so harrassed the People of the Country and wrought that misery and destruction therein that the Prince deprived of his power in Government and disabled by oppression to pay his Annual Tribute had no hopes of redress but from the assistance of Divine Providence governing the hearts of Christians and Turks to compassionate the misery of his Country Wherefore he craved the assistance of the Emperor and of the King of Poland acquainting other Christian Princes more remote of the sad estate of the Christian Cause he sent also his Ambassadors to the Port with most submissive Letters to the Vizier complaining against the Pasha of Varadin and craving his Commands for retirement of his Army within their due and ancient bounds Letters were also directed to the Publick Representatives of Christian Princes residing at Constantinople one of which was directed to the Earl of Winchelsea his Majesties Ambassador which being that which may conduce to the more full understanding of the present deplorable Condition of Transilvania I thought fit to be here mentioned Excellentissime Domine Amice observandissime AFflictiones Regni Transilvaniae quibus per complures annos justo Dei Iudicio castigatur toti Orbi Christiano manifestae sunt nec possumus non fateri inter duos Potentissimos Monarchas adeo indies hoc Regâ—um coangustari ut nisi extraordinaria Dei clementia aliquod subsequatur levamen vix immo ne vix quidem diu duraturum credamâ—s Sed ut ad rem proximius collimemus Potentissimus Imperator per Legatos Regni nostros nunc reduces Clementissimum suum patrocinium pollicetur interim autem Passa Varadinensis non contentus Villis ac Pagis ad dictam Arcem pertinentibus usque ad meditullium plane Transilvaniae metu Mortis integras ad deditionem cogit Regiones quae nunquam eidem Arci applicatae fuerant nec possible est Principatum Transilvaniae iis ademptis ulterius persistere Tributumque annuum persolvere posse Qua de re tam Potentissimum Imperatorem quam Supremum Vezirium denuo requirere cogimur vestram quocirca Excellentissimam Dominationem confidenter rogamus eo quo convenientius putaverit modo continuo nostro Oratori opitulari eaque qua pollet Authoritate Caâ—sam promovere ne gravetur rem non saltem Transilvaniae verum quoque Christianitati perutilem factura nosque ad vincula amicitiae arctissâ—me devinctura cui felicem vitam precamur manemus indubitati Datum in Castris ad Pagum Koozard positis die 26 Septembris An. Dom. 1662. Excellentissimae Dominationis vestrae Amicus Benevolus Michael Apafi In English thus Most Excâ—llent Lord and most worthy Friend THe Miseries of Transilvania with which for many years by the just Judgment of God we have been afflicted are manifest to all the Christian World nor can we but confess how between two most Potent Monarchs our Principality is so daily straitned that unless through the extraordinary Mercy of God we obtain some relief we believe not our selves longer able to subsist But to come nearer to our Business The Most Potent Emperor by his own Ambassadors and ours now lately returned hath promised us his most Gracious Protection yet notwithstanding the Pasha of Varadin not content with the Towns and Villages appropriated unto his Castle hath entered into the very middle of Transilvania and hath compelled for fear of death those Provinces entirely to yield themselves which never before were belonging to his Fortresses which being taken away it is impossible for the Principality of Transilvania longer to subsist and pay its annual Tribute wherefore we are constrained again to beseech the most Potent Emperor and the Supream Vizier as also we confidently desire your Excellency in that manner which your Excellency judges most convenient to be assistant to our Agent and with your Authority to countenance our Cause in which your Excelleney will not only perform a matter beneficial to Transilvania but to all Christendom and oblige us for ever with the Bonds of friendship and praying for all happiness of Life and Prosperity to your Excellency we remain your undoubted Friend Given in our Camp at the Village Koczard the five and twentieth day of September 1662. Your Excellencies Loving Friend Michael Apafi This Letter was received by His Majesties Ambassador with that humanity as was agreeable to his Noble Nature and with that sense of the Christian Cause as became a Religious Minister of the Faith's Defender and an Answer returned thereunto full of affectionate Piety and Compassion But it was feared that the time was elapsed and the Disease proceeded too far to admit a gentle Cure for it could not probably be expected that the Vizier should upon fair words or perswasions or by the force of passionate and Rhetorical expressions be induced to let slip the fair opportunity of an intire and total subjection of Transilvania And the truth is herein lay the ground of the great Quarral between these two Emperors for ever since the Defeat of Chimianus or as the Transilvanians call him Kemenius the Turk swallowing in his thoughts the intire subjection of that Country designed to reduce it to the Government of a Pasha rather than of a Christian Prince though elected at the Ottomon Port and in order thereunto advanced beyond the Limits of the ancient bounds and
confidence in their own Strength I reproach my self for not having been able to make it sufficiently understood how one stroke of adverse Fortune is capable to put all into Danger who are imbarked in the same Vessel And as little able am I to inculcate into the minds of Men that whilst the Waves of the vast Sea are smooth and calm the nearer is the raging of the Waters and the fury of a Tempest It was therefore necessary that there should have been some more skilful Pilot than my self to conduct this Vessel I was long since acquainted with my Imperfections and therefore called aloud for the assistance of an abler Pilot to direct me in this tempestuous Region but since I was not heard I gloried at least to be alone in this Gulf that being swallowed up by a final Ruin my Martyrdom may be a means to save the rest Rains and Lightnings do not affright me but rather serve to quench that fire of Disdain which I conceive against my self for not knowing how to perform better and serve to enlighten me daily to find out that Compass or Cart which may direct me to a course or path of Security I fear Thunders and Tempests because the violence of one and the hardness of the other is able to render a cold Sweat mixed with Blood altogether unprofitable This miserable School tho of eleven Years continuance constrains me to study the Disposition of the Stars the Signs in the Air the Ebbings and Flowings of the Waters concealed Rocks the Dangers of a long Voyage and the necessity of recovering a Port. I have studied indeed but I fear I have not well learned this profound Discipline for where there is the greatest urgency there I have gathered the least Fruit for since the Aspect of the Spheres are become more inauspicious I am doubtful that I shall see the Ship beaten with swelling Surges nnd being full of Water it will be so far from being eased by those opportune Remedies which I bring that it will rather be encreased by my Tears God grant by his miraculous Providence the Tranquillity which we desire and which by humune means will be difficult to obtain I had not the understanding to take Opportunity by the Foretop when She presented her self unto me with gentle and benign Appearance showing me the means to save this floating Vessel and spare our insidiâ—us rewards For this Reason my dejected but not conquered mind makes my very Bowels feel an unusual anguish of an over-troubled Estate May it please the Divine pity that these my Afflictions may prove the Off-spring of my own vileness but not the means of my Ruin. I trust therein I confess and yet frail hope amidst this Gulf of Sin induces me to expect doubtful Successes Yet certainly I will endeavour to avoid a shipwrack on those Rocks of Despair And so imploring the Patronage of your Excellency here on Earth I confirm my self From Pera of Constantinople the 19 of December 1662. This Letter seems to be wrote in the stile of a despairing Person yet if it be well considered the meaning is no other than what the Issue of Affairs some years afterwards did evidence and his Intentions were no other than to describe the ill nature of the Turkish Ministers and their obstinacy of continuing a War until they had wearied out the Venetians into an Humour of surrendring the whole Island of Candia unto them I had the Honour to be well acquainted with the Person of Signior Ballarino and I always esteemed him in his external Behaviour accomplished with the Excesses of Italian Civility he was endued with great fluency of Language both in Discourse and Writing he was Jealous Acute and Wary and in short was a proper Minister for that Republick well practiced and versed in the manner of Treaty with the Turkish Court. He at first was sent from Venice to Constantinople in quality of Secretary to the Excellentissimo Capello Procurator of St. Mark a Person eminent for his Office and the several great employments which he had exercised in that State he was sincere and of a generous Soul his comely Looks and grave Habit spoke him to be a Gentleman and a Senator In short he was so well esteemed of at Venice that he was thought worthy to be imployed in this Embassy to the Grand Signior which is commonly granted to Persons after they have run through all Services of the Commonwealth as a Consummation of their Honours and Richess This Gentleman then had the misfortune to be invested in this Honour in the worst of Times when the War was broke forth and being thereby exposed to their cruelty he was put into Prison where passing for some time a Life of Sorrow and Sadness he fell into a Melancholly which represented all things to him in the blackest manner so that I know not why his fancy suggested to him that he was not only miserable in his Imprisonment and Restraint amongst the Turks but that he was fallen also into disgrace and displeasure of his Prince at home I will not say that Signior Ballarino did nourish the Operation of this black humour in him but I have heard that he did not administer that comfort to him as might serve to dispel the thickness of that Vapour which obscured the generous temper of his Soul. In short he gave such way to this melancholly that he laid violent hands upon himself as we have said before but afterwards by the Care of his Friends and Servants being cured of his wounds he lived some years after by his Sorrows and Repentance for it to give Satisfaction to God and the World. Howsoever the Senate being informed thereof and judging this Act to be the effect of a violent Phrensy appointed Ballarino to take on himself the intire management of Affairs reserving only the Title and Honour to Signior Capello Ballarino now manageing all Affairs Capello looked on himself as neglected and laid aside howsoever comported his Condition with Submission and Gentleness never openly resenting the Honours of Ballarino or to see him preferred before himself Howsoever secretly nourishing an inward Discontent his robustious Nature upwards of eighty years of Age was forced to give way to its final Dissolution and falling Sick he sent to the Earl of Winchelsea then Ambassador for his Majesty at Constantinople to acquaint him of his Distemper desiring him to send me who was then his Secretary unto him At these Summons I was easily perswaded to go having always had his Person in geat Reverence and being come to his Bed side he raised himself upon his Pillows and embracing me in his Arms I fancied my self to receive the Benediction of one of the Ancient Patriarchs He began with a weak Voice to say to me Sir I am near my end expecting every Minute to render up my last Breath and therefore as a dying man I desire of your Master the Ambassador that so soon as I am dead he would be pleased to
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
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
not to be disjoyned they therefore offer'd them Concessions they durst not have hoped for at the beginning of the War. They would yield to the Emperor all Hungary as far as the Drave to the King of Poland Caminiec and all Podolia and restore to the Venetians the Kingdom of Candia on condition they would part with what they had gained in Morea FINIS THE PRESENT STATE OF THE Ottoman Empire CONTAINING THE MAXIMS OF THE Turkish Polity The most Material POINTS of the MAHOMETAN RELIGION Their SECTS and HERESIES Their Convents and Religious Votaries Their MILITARY DISCIPLINE With an exact Computation of their Forces both by Sea and Land. In Three Books By Sir PAVL RYCAVT late Consul of Smyrna and Fellow of the Royal Society LONDON Printed by I. D. Anno MDCLXXXVII To the Right Honourable HENRY Lord Arlington His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State. MY LORD AFTER five Years residence at Constantinople in Service of the Embassie of the Earl of Winchelsea my ever honoured Lord and this my second Journey from thence by Land into my own Country I judged it a Point of my Duty and of my Religion too to dedicate this following Treatise as the Fruits of my Travels Negotiations and Leisure in those remote Parts to the Noble Person of your Lordship as that Votiva Tabula which many both in Ancient and Modern Times after some signal Deliverance or happy Arrival at their desired Port use to offer to their Gods their Saints or their Patrons And truly my Lord this Discourse treating chiefly of the Turkish Polity Government and Maxims of State seems naturally to appertain to the Patronage of your Lordship whose Faculties of Wisdom and Vertue have given you the Blessing of your Prince's Favour and the Reputation as well Abroad as at Home of an Eminent and Dexterous Minister of State. It were a great presumption in me to offer any Observations of my own in the Courts of Christian Princes to the Test of your Lordship's Experience and Judgment who not only is acquainted with the Customs and Manners but penetrates into the Designs and knows the Cabinet-Councils of Neighbouring Principalities with whom our divided World may possibly be concerned but perhaps without disparagement to your Lordship's profound Wisdom or over-value of my own Abilities I may confidently draw a rude Scheme before your Lordship of the Turkish Government Policies and Customs a Subject which Travellers have rather represented to their Country-men to supply them with Discourse and Admiration than as a Matter worthy the Consideration or Concernment of our Kings or our Governors It hath been the happy Fortune of the Turk to be accounted Barbarous and Ignorant for upon this Perswasion Christian Princes have laid themselves open and unguarded to their greatest Danger contending together for one Palm of Land whilst this Puissant Enemy hath made himself Master of whole Provinces and largely shared in the rich and pleasant Possessions of Europe This Contempt of the Turk on one side caused the Emperor to be so backward in opposing that Torrent of the Ottoman Force which in the first Year of the late War broke in upon him and the suspicion of Designs from France on the other altered the Resolutions and Councils of the Emperor for prosecution of the War which then running favourably on the Christians part was no less than with the astonishment of the whole World and of the Turks themselves on a sudden understood to be clapt up with Articles of a disadvantagious Peace admiring to see the Emperor give a stop to the Current of his Victories and relinquish the Game with a lucky Hand But this will seem no Riddle to those who penetrate Affairs with the same Judgment that your Lordship doth and consider the unfirm Condition the House of Austria was in by a daily expectation of the Death or fall of so main a Basis of it as the King of Spain and the Division amongst the Princes of the Empire the League of the Rhine the Freneh Practices to make the Duke of Enguyen King of Poland and the extravagant Demands of the French and Rhinish League for Winter-quarters and places of Strength not only in Hungary but also in Styria and the adjacent Places and at the same time look on the Factions in Hungary and a considerable Army of French in the Bowels of Germany who were supposed in those Parts to have rather come with Design to overawe the next Diet and force the German Princes to elect the French King for King of the Romans than with sincere and simple Intentions of opposing themselves to the Enemy of the Faith For then it will appear that the best use the Emperor could make of his good Success was Moderation in Victory and Reconciliation with his powerful Enemy And hereupon Earl Lisle being dispatched for Extraordinary Ambassador from his Imperial Majesty to the Grand Signior though the Turk was elevated with the thoughts of the Necessity the Christians had of a Peace did yet so happily manage his Charge and Employment as created in the Turks an extraordinary Reverence towards his Person and obtained such Honours and Treatments from them as the Turkish Court never bestowed before on the Emperor's or an other Christian Ambassador extorting this Complement from the Great Vizier That he was more satisfied the Emperor had sent so brave and illustrious a Person than if he had sought to reconcile his Affections with an hundred thousand Dollars more of Present And to do justice to this worthy Person he hath brought a Reputation to the British Nation above any in our Age whose Vertues and Industry have acquired the highest Trusts and Preferments in Foreign Parts and done the same Honour to his King under whom he was born a Subject as to the present Emperor and his Ancestors under whom he is and hath always been a faithful Minister having deserved so eminently for saving the whole German Empire from the Treason of Wallestein by hiw own single Act of Bravery a Story notoriously known to all the World as can never in gratitude be forgot by that Nation nor want its due Record and Place in the History of that Country The Speculation of what is contained in this following Discourse may seem unworthy of your Lordship's precious Hours in regard of that Notion of Barbarity with which this Empire is stiled yet the knowledg hereof will be like a Turquoise or some other Jewels set within the Rose of those many Gems of your Lordship's Wisdom and Vertues This Present which I humbly consecrate to your Lordship may be termed Barbarous as all things are which are differenced from us by diversity of Manners and Custom and are not dressed in the Mode and Fashion of our Times and Countries for we contract Prejudice from Ignorance and want of Familiarity But your Lordship who exactly ponderates the Weight of Humane Actions acknowledges Reason in all its Habits and draws not the Measures of Oeconomy or Policy from Eternal Appearances or
Effects but from the Fundamental and Original Constitutions so that your Lorship will conclude that a People as the Turks are Men of the same Composition with us cannot be so Savage and Rude as they are generally described for Ignorance and Grossness is the Effect of Poverty not incident to happy Men whose Spirits are elevated with Spoils and Trophies of so many Nations Knowing my Lord that this Work which I have undertaken is liable to common Censure I have chosen to shrowd my Name under the Patronage of your Lordship to protect me from the ill-understanding and mis-conceptions of our Country-men both at Home and Abroad against which I doubt not but to be sufficiently armed in all parts where I travel when the Countenance your Lordship affords me is joined to the Authority of his Excellency the Earl of Winchelsea His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary now actually Resident at Constantinople my ever honoured Lord to whom I read a long time before published to the World the greatest part of this following Treatise and as I received his favourable Approbation and Assent to the Verity of most Matters herein contained so I must ingenuously confess to have been beholden to that quick and refin'd Genius of his who often rectified my Mistakes supplied me with Matter and remembred me of many material Points which I might otherwise have most unadvisedly omitted And his Excellency knowing that in his absence this Book might want a favourable Patron left me to my self to seek out one who might concur with him in the same Innocent Defence And as my Lord you are a Publick Person and under our Gracious Sovereign are one of those Generous Spirits which have espoused the common Interest of the Nation so I presume on this present Occasion not to want your Protection also in a single Capacity For which excess of Favours I shall ever pray for the Exaltation of the greater Glory of your Lordship and for ever acknowledg my self My Lord Your Lordship 's most Humble most Faithful and most devoted Servant PAVL RICAVT TO THE READER Courteous Reader I Present thee here with a true System or Model of the Turkish Government and Religion not in the same manner as certain ingenious Travellers have done who have set down their Observations as they have obviously occured in their Iourneys which being collected for the most part from Relations and Discourses of such who casually intervene in Company of Passengers are consequently subject to many Errors and Mistakes But having been an Inhabitant my self at the Imperial City for the space of five Years and assisted by the advantage of considerable Iourneys I have made through divers parts of Turky and qualified by the Office I hold of Secretary to the Earl of Winchelsea Lord Ambassador I had opportunity by the constant access and practice with the chief Ministers of State and variety of Negotations which pased through my hands in the Turkish Court to penetrate farther into the Mysteries of this Polity which appear so strange and barbarous to us than hasty Travellers could do who are forced to content themselves with a Superficial Knowledg The Computations I have made of the Value of their Offices of the Strength and Number of their Souldiery according as every City and Country is rated are deduced from their own Registers and Records The Observations I have made of their Polity are either Maxims received from the Mouth and Argument of considerable Ministers or Conclusions arising from my own Experience and Considerations The Articles of their Faith and Constitutions of Religion I have set down as pronounced from the Mouth of some of the most learned Doctors and Preachers of their Law with whom for Mony or Presents I gained a familiarity and appearance of friendship The Relation of the Seraglio and Education of their Youth with divers other matters of Custom and Rule where transmitted to me by several sober Persons trained up in the best Education of the Turkish Learning and particularly by an understanding Polonian who had spent nineteen Years in the Ottoman Court. If Reader the Superstition Vanity and ill foundation of the Mahometan Religion seem fabulous as a Dream or the Fancies of a distracted and wild Brain thank God that thou wert born a Christian and within the Pale of an Holy and an Orthodox Church If the Tyranny Oppression and Cruelty of that State wherein Reason stands in no competition with the Pride and Lust of an unreasonable Minister seem strange to thy Liberty and Happiness thank God that thou art born in a Country the most free and just in all the World and a Subject to the most indulgent the most gratious of all the Princes of the Vniverse That thy Wife thy Children and the Fruits of thy Labour can be called thine own and protected by the valiant Arm of thy fortunate King And thus learn to know and prize thy own freedom by comparison with Foreign Servitude that thou mayst ever bless God and thy King and make thy Happiness breed thy Content without degenerating into Wantonness or desire of Revolution Farewel THE MAXIMS OF THE Turkish Polity BOOK I. CHAP. I. The Constitution of the Turkish Government being different from most others in the World hath need of peculiar Maxims and Rules whereon to establish and confirm it self I Have begun a Work which seems very full of Difficulty and Labour for to trace the Footsteps of Government in the best formed and moulded Common-Wealths such as are supported with Reason and with Religion is no less than to unriddle and resolve a Mystery For as a Common-Wealth by many Authors hath not been unaptly compared to a Ship in divers respects and proper Allegories so principally the small Impression or Sign of Track the floating Habitation leaves behind it on the Sea in all the Traverses it makes according to the different Winds to attain its Port is a lively Emblem of the various Motions of good Government which by reason of Circumstances Times and multiplicity of Changes and Events leaves little or no Path in all the Ocean of Humane Affairs But there must be yet certain Rules in every Government which are the Foundations and Pillars of it not subject to the Alteration of Time or any other Accident and so essential to it that they admit of no change until the whole Model of Polity suffer a Convulsion and be shaken into some other Form which is either effected by the new Laws of a Conqueror or by intestine and civil Revolutions Of such Maxims as these obvious to all who have had any practice in the Ottoman Court I have made a Collection subjoining to every Head some Reflexions and Considerations of my own which at my leisure Hours I have weighed and examined bâ—â—nging them according to the proportion of my weak Judgment and Ability to the Measure and Test of Reason and Vertue as also to a Similitude and Congruity with the Maxims of other Empires to which God hath given
Ambassador and other Personages amongst the Turks of chief Note and Quality the Dishes are served in by one at a time which as soon as touched or tasted are taken off to make room for another and thus there is a succession of threescore or forescore Services all the Dishes being of China worth about an hundred and fifty Dollars a piece which are reported to have a virtue contrary to Poison and to break with the least infusion thereof and for that reason esteemed more useful for the Service of the Grand Signior Nam nulla aconita bibuntur Fictilibâ—s c. Juvenal The Banquet being ended the Chaousbashee or chief of the Pursivants conducts the Ambassador with some of his Retinue to a place apart where several gay Vests or long Garments made of Silk with divers Figures are presented them as a sign of the Grand Signior's Favour which the Ambassador first putting on and then the others to the number of eighteen or nineteen attended with two Capugibashees or chief of the Porters Persons of good esteem in that Court with Silver Staves in their Hands he is conducted nearer towards the Grand Signior's Presence then follow the Presents brought by the Ambassador which are carried to the best advantage for appearance and are delivered to Officers appointed to receive them The Courts without are filled with Janisaries amongst whom is observed so profound a silence that there is not the least noise or whisper understood and the Salutation they give their principal Officers as they pass bowing altogether at the same time is warlike and yet courtly and savours of good Discipline and Obedience The Ambassador is then brought to a great Gate near the Audience the Porch of which is filled with white Eunuchs clothed in Silks and Cloth of Gold farther than this none is suffered to proceed besides the Secretary Interpreter and some other Persons of best Quality at the door of the Chamber of Audience is a deep silence and the murmuring of a Fountain near by adds to the melancholy and no other Guard is there but a white Eunuch and here a pause is made and they tread softly in token of fear and reverence so as not to disturb with the least noise the Majesty of the Sultan for access to the Eastern Princes was always difficult and not permitted with the same familiarity as hath been practised amongst the Romans and at present with us where the sight of the King is his own Glory and the Satisfaction of his Subjects For it is with the Turks as it was with the Parthians when they received Vonones their King educated in the Roman Court who conforming to those manners saith Tacitus Irridebantur Graeci Comites prompti aditus obvia comitas ignota Parthis virtutes the affability and easiness of address to their Prince was a scandal to the Nation At the entrance of the Chamber of Audience hangs a Ball of Gold studded with pretious Stones and about it great Chains of rich Pearl the Floor is covered with Carpets of Crimson-velvet embroidered with Gold-Wire in many places beset with Seed-pearl The Throne where the Grand Sigâ—ior sits is raised a small height from the ground supported with four Pillars plated with Gold the Roof is richly gilded from which hang Balls that seem to be of Gold the Cushions he leaned upon as also those which lay by were richly embroidered with Gold and Jewels In this Chamber with this occasion remains no other Attendance besides the first Vizier who stands at the right Hand of the Grand Signior with modesty and reverence When the Ambassador comes to appear before the Grand Signior he is led in and supported under the Arms by the two Capugibashees before-mentioned who bringing him to a convenient distance laying their hands upon his Neck make him bow until his Forehead almost touches the Ground and then raising him again retire backwards to the farther parts of the Room The like Ceremony is used with all the others who attend the Ambassador only that they make them bow somewhat lower than him The Reason of this Custom as Busbequius saith was because that a Croat being admitted near to Amurath to communicate something to him made use of that opportunity to kill him in revenge of the Death of his Master Marcus but the Turkish History saith That this was done by one Miles Corbelitz who after the defeat given Lazarus the Despot of Servia rising from amongst the Dead had near access to the presence of Amurath The Ambassador at this Audience hath no Chair set him but standing informs the Grand Signior by his Interpreter the several Demands of his Master and the Business he comes upon which is all penned first in Writing which when read is with the Letter of Credence consigned into the Hands of the Great Vizier from whom the Answer and farther Treaty is to be received This was the manner of the Audience given to the Earl of Winchelsea when Ambassador there for his Majesty and is as is there said the Form used to others who come from a Prince equally honoured and respected But though the Turks make these outward Demonstrations of all due Reverence and Religious Care to preserve the Persons of Ambassadors Sacred and free from Violence yet it is apparent by their Treatment and Usage towards them in all Emergencies and Differences between the Prince they come from and themselves that they have no esteem of the Law of Nations or place any Religion in the maintenance of their Faith. For when a War is proclaimed the Ambassador immediately is either committed to close Imprisonment or at least to the custody of a careful Guard confined within the Limits of his own House In this manner the Representative of Venice called there the Bailo by name Sorâ—nzo in a strait Chamber of a Castle situated on the Bosphorus endured a severe Imprisonment having his Interpreter strangled for no other cause than performing his Office in the true Interpretation of his Master's Sense Afterwards this Bailo for so they call there the Ambassors from Venice was removed to another Prison at Adrianople where he continued some Years and in fine by force of Presents mollifying the Turks with Mony with which their Nature is easily made gentle and pliable he obtained liberty to remain in the House appropriated to the Representatives of Venice but under a Guard whose Office was to secure him from escape and observe his Actionâ—â— and yet with Liberality and Presents whiâ—h overcome the Turks more than any Consideration in the World he enjoyed as he pleased licence for his Health to take the fresh Air and use what freedom was reasonable Nor less injurious to the Law of Nations have been the Examples of Violence and Rage acted on the Persons of the French Ambassadors first on the Sieur Sensi accused upon suspicion of having contrived the escape of Konispolski General of the Polish Army taken Captive in a Fight and sent Prisoner to the above-said
VIII In the Town of Maromaruss and in the places round about it private Men have forbidden the whole exercise of Religion charging with Beat of Drums all the Evangelicks to go and exercise their Religion out of that Frontier under pain of Imprisonment and other severe Punishments After the same manner the King's Commissioners in Carpen and the Deputies in Tokai have forbidden the exercise of Religion and seiz'd upon the Churches although both these places be particularly named in the Articles Against the IX The said Commissioners or their Deputies have appointed places for Churches Schools and Parishes out of Trenschin Modra Cremnicz and Novizolium and none at all in the rest of the Towns of Lower Hungary now why should the Case of some be worse than that of others since all have the same Priviledge of Liberty in Upper Hungary They have likewise appointed some places for Churches Schools and Parishes not in but out of the Cities against the true meaning of the opposite part of the Article which most evidently declareth that those places must be appointed within and not without the Walls of the Cities or else they could not be such as are appointed Fig. 6. i.e. convenient and fit to be consecrated for the publiek service of God. Against the X. In many Counties and particularly in that of Sachsag and the Town of Gyongyos the King's Commissioners have taken such Churches together with their Appendages as were possessed by the Evangelicks when the Article was made which we have hinted in the foregoing fifth Grievance Moreover in the aforesaid Town of Gyongyos many private Persons have taken all the Ecclesiastical Revenues and Pious Legacies from the Evangelicks forbidding them withal to Bury their Dead in the usual places which has made many keep Corps in Cellars a long time rather than Bury them in Carfax and Cross-ways as they were appointed The Commissioners have also deprived the Evangelicks of the use of the Bells almost every where the Officials have done the like in the County of Semlin and particularly in these Towns of the aforesaid Dominion of Tokai Thalia Mod Zantho Kerethur Tarezal Liszka Benny Tolezva Patak Veyelly Borzi and Tokai seizing upon all the Churches Schools and Parishes which at the time of and after the Treaty were possessed by the Evangelicks and left to the same by the said Article together with the Revenues that have been given to them by the Evangelicks forbidding with most severe threatnings the free exercise of our Religion even in private Houses and hindering the Evangelicks from the common use of Burials and Bells though made at their own care and charge Likewise the Magistrates and Clergy Men of the Town of Cassovia and Epperies have taken by force all the pious Legacies left to our Churches and forbidden absolutely the common use of Bells and Burials Threatning with the most severe Punishments those that would make publick Burials within the Walls with the usual Singing and decent Ceremonies Against the XI Every where in the Counties the Commissioners have adjudged all the Payments to the Catholick Curates and Ordered in the Cities that they should be paid out of the common Purse wherein the Chatholicks could contribute but little they being but few in number in comparison of the Evangelicks thus they have forced us maugre our selves to be at extraordinary Charges out of our own States for the maintaining of our Ministers and School-masters not only against the right intention of the aforesaid Articles but also against the plain Sense of the Holy Scripture which allows a Salary for such as Labour and even nothing to Eat for such as Labour not After the like manner the Official of the abovementioned Dominion of Tokai in Upper Hungary do all their endeavours to make both Noble and Ignoble Evangelicks pay without distinction the Chatholick Curates Against the XII In many Counties viz. in that of Lypcz of Turocz of Zolnock of Arva c. the said Commissioners have suppressed and forbidden under pain of Military Execution the exercise of Religion which is granted to Noblemen in their places of Residence and which they had enjoy'd long since the Churches were seized accordingly in the County of Lypcze the Clergy Men have caused some such Noblemen's Houses to be assaulted and plunder'd by the Garrison of Likavia and in the County of Trenschin the Noble Family of Nosdrovisky which did keep a Minister for the Exercise of Religion in its place of Residence has been much damnified also by the Soldiers of Mersia's Regiment and the Ministers put into the Prison of the Fort of Ledniche where he is kept to this day likewise the Noblemen of Hodossia of the places round about in the Isle of Shut have been deprived of the free exercise of Religion in their places of Residence and the Ministers that lived there then have been Plunder'd of all their Goods which Injustice the Evangelick Noblemen of Lower Hungary do also complain of Would to God that this Conclusion were observed and the Punishment hinted in the Article inflicted upon the Opposers thereof then we might promise our selves to enjoy quietly and undisturbedly the free exercise of our Religion and then the fewel of Divisions would be extinguished and taken away for fear of being Punish'd which that it may be done is our Hearty Prayer and Desire Now having lay'd before Your Sacred Majesty the Articles of Sopron and the Abuses committed in the executing of them it is as clear as the Sun that we require nothing but what is granted in them We humbly beseech Your most Sacr'd Majesty through Christ's Precious Death and Glorious Resurrection that having known and laid up in Your Royal Heart our lawful Requests Your Sacred Majesty suffer no longer the same to be hinder'd by any Person whatsoever but rather since after so long time they have been Reported before Your most Sacred Majesty and before Your Privy Council together with some Treatises of the appointed Commission Nay being inform'd that a certain Point of the said Treatises that doth not concern us has been examin'd by the Lords of the Privy Council it makes us fear lest something else be taken into consideration whereby an Answer to our Requests may be occasion'd and we yet longer detain'd here under the inconveniency of Doubt of Delay and of continuance of the vast Charges we have already been at according to Your most Sacred Majesty's Gracious Consent given to the most High Prince President of the Court and intimated to us by his Highness to dispatch first the Business of Religion that Your Sacred Majesty be graciously pleased to appoint and commit our Requests which so narrowly concern the Salvation of our Souls to be consider'd again and determin'd by the Lords of â—he Privy Council so to Establish us in the Liberty of Religion to the Immortal Fame of Your Royal Government after the Example of Your Glorious Predecessors that being reliev'd We may speedily Return to our Principals and God will
thousand of Stephano's Horse defeated Prince Visnouisky incourageth his Souldidiers The disposition of the two Armies The Battel betwixt Prince Alexander and the Vayvod Stephano Stephano's Army defeated The flight of Stephano Alexander proclaimed Prince of Moldavia Ambassadors sent by Prince Alexander to the Grand Seignior Prince Alexander's Ambassadors put to Death by Stephano Stephano returns into Moldavia The Inhabitants of Horreova defeated with the Tartarians Stephano defeated the second time A false Alarm given to Alexander An Ambassador from Prince Alexander to Prince Michna Alexander's Ambassador put in Prison by the Bassa Prince Alexander sends an Ambassador to Bethlem Gabor Prince Visâ—â—uisky poisoned by a Priest. Skinder Bassa comes with an Army against Prince Alexander Stephano's men defeated by the Cossacks A Defeat of Turks at Vassâ—lloy The Bassa's Kinsman taken Eight hundred of Prince Alexander's men slain by their Hosts for their Insolencies Prince Alexander retires to Cochina Succours come to Prince Alexander Some of them defeated Jesuits at Constantinople accused They are imprisoned The Turk commands all the Christians to be slain A Tumulâ— at Pera. The Jesuits set at Liberty Michna fears to fight with the Polonians The Bassa and Stephano defeated at Cochina Flight of the Bassa and Stephano Prince Coresky marries with the Princess Alexandrina A Defeat of 400 of Michna's men Prince Michna and Stephano fly from Bonza Prince Alexander refuseth the Estate of Valachia Michna sends an Ambassador to Prince Alexander Fifteen hundred Tartarians defeated by Troianoâ—key The Inhabitants of Horreova revolt the second time Hebraim Bassa writes to Prince Alexander Stephano in disgrace with the Sultan Stephano carried to Constantinople and turns Turk Michna proclaimed Prince of Moldavia The Treachery of the General of Polonia The Cossacks mutiny and leave Prince Alexander Bicho General of Prince Alexander's Army forsakes him treacherously Prince Alexander's Answer to Prince Michna A Challenge sent to Prince Coresky from the Turks General A Combat betwixt Tischeuich and the General of the Turks Army The Princes of Polonia environed by their Enemies The Princes Army summoned to yield A brave retreat made by Tischevich The Princes taken Prisoners and carried to Constantinople Prince Coreskie being disguised is discovered The courses of the Florentine Gallies The Turkish Gallies taken by the Florentines Deputies meet at Vienna to confirm the Peace betwixt the Emperour and the Turk Articles touching the differences of the Peace Prince Coreskie's Wife carried into Tartaria Iaques seeks out Coreskie He returns into Tartary Prince Coreskie's Wife redeemed from the Tartarians A Chiaus sent from Constantinople to Paris The cause of the Voyage The Estate of the Turks Empire this Year He entertains four Armies The Turks complain to the Venetians of the Vscoques Spoils The beginning of the Vscoques Enemies to all Art and Industry They rob the Turks and Jews trafficking to Venice They spoil the Turks Country and the Venetians Death of Achmat. The Disposition of Sultan Achmat. Mustapha advanced to the Empire Deposed again The generous Resolution of Prince Coreskie A Device to free Prince Coreskie from Prison Prince Coreskie escapes out of Prison The French Ambassador's men tortured by the Turks The French Ambassador imprisoned by the Turks The Ambassador set at liberty Prince Coreskie escapes from Constantinople The French King sends to Constantinople The Turk sends an Ambassador into France His Letter to the French King. A Battel betwixt the Turks and the Persians A Peace concluded betwixt them A Comet seen over Constantinople * Hutbeh is a Prayer only for the Prosperity of the King. Bethlem Gaboâ— undertakes to succour the Bohemians with the Turks consent Bethlem Gabor takes many Towns in Hungary Propositions made by the Transilvanians and Hungarians to the Bohemians A League betwixt the Prince of Transilvania Bohemians and Hungarians An Assembly of the Estates of Hungary at Neuheusal Bethlem Gabor proclaimed King of Hungary A Vision seen at Medina Talnabi A Deruice Speech unto the Turks The Dervice put to death for his Speech Casparo made Vayvod of Moldavia He is in disgrace and flies into Polonia The Turks preparation to Arms. Manfredonia taken by the Turks Iuisa taken by the Turks The greatness of the Turks Empire A Turkish Prophecy The Exposition of their Prophecy Description of Constantinople Attendants upon the Grand Seignior The chief Officers of his House The Sultan's dumb Men. A Seraglio of young Men. They that carry his Lance. The Sultan's Eunuchs The Sultan's Seraglio of Women The estate of his Concubines His Guard Foot-men and Porters The Turks Government The Turks Iustice. The Grand Visier The Beglerbergs and Sanzacks The Great Turks Forces The Timariots The Spahi The Caripices and Spachoglans The Salichtari The Olofagi The Ianizaries and their Breeding The Aiamoglani The Ich-Oglâ—ni The Ianizaries Acovizes Azapi Topagi and Iebegi The Chiaus The Turks Discipline in their Armies The Turks Revenues The Laws whereby the Turks are governed The Mufâ—i The Cadilesquiri The Mulli Nuderisi and Cadi The Naipi The Hogi Calfi and Sosti The Turks Religion The disposition of the Turks The cause of the War between the King of Poland and the Grand Seignior The preparation of the Grand Seignior for the War with the King of Poland The beginning of the War with the King of Poland The losses in the Turkish and Polish Armies The Grand Seignior inraged that the Emperour had sent Aids to the Pole. The Grand Seignior changeth his Mind of making War against the Emperour The Grand Seignior married Secret order to make War upon the Emperour His Majesty of Great Britains Ambassador arrived at the Port. His Majesties Letter to the Grand Seignior The Grand Seigniors Answer The Polish Ambassador expected at the Port. The Grand Seigniors Letter to his Majesty of great Britain (a) Viceroys (b) Presidents (c) Judges The Grand Seignior desirous of Peace with the Polack The Janizaries mutiny against the Grand Seignior The great Visier slain by the Janizaries The Janizaries demand Mustapha Daout Bassa strangleth Sultan Osman in Prison * Morat The Grand Seignior's Design to conquer Europe â—â—sâ—rvatiâ—â—â— upon 〈◊〉 an â—sman The English Ambassadors Advice to Delauir Bassa The Bassa's Reply A practise to murther the Brethren of Sultan Osman The Polish Ambassador approcheth upon the Confines and writeth to the dead Visier The Prince Coreskie strangled in Prison The Visier attempteth to set up Morat the Brother of Osman and to depose Mustapha The Prince of Transilvania's Ambassador arrived at the Port. The Poland Ambassador arriveth at the Port. The Janizaries assault the Houses of the Christian Consuls at Smirna The Grand Seigniors Treasure exhausted An Ambassador from the Great Duke of Muscovy arrived at the Port. The Great Visier practiseth to put Daout Bassa to Death 1623 Some of the Capitulations of Peace altered by the Turks The Souldiers still continue in their Fury The Ambassadors of the Prince of Transilvania departed from the Port. The Bassa of Arzirum in Rebellion Constantinople the Seat of the