more could not haue beene done not required at his hands concerning his charge And to conclude such a personage as hee in the Superlatiue degree is fit to be an Ambassadour in such sort that all the Lord Visiers my fellowes and the rest of the Lords of the Emperours Court wondred thereat and said that such a man that should deale in publike affaires ought to be such a one as he shewed himselfe vnto vs to be being altogether in great admiration to see his manner of proceedings in all his affaires and for that cause being so well pleased and contented with his behauiour were well content that hee should haue daily accesse vnto his Maiesties Court. Your Honours shall doe well to esteeme much of him for that a man of his deserts and qualities meriteth to be preferred Thus hauing at this time no more to say hauing made a true relation of all that hath here beene done and past but onely to wish health and long prosperitie vnto your Honours wee leaue to trouble you Written in the beginning of the Moneth Giamati Elebla in the yeare 1021. in the Citie of Constantinople which GOD preserue The Copie of a Letter written by the Lord Mufti Effendi chiefe Iudge of the Turkish Empire vnto the generall States of the vnited Prouinces of the NETHERLANDS PVisant Lords of the Christian Law and the honour of the Nations vnder the MESSIAS my Lords the generall states of the vnited netherland-Netherland-Prouinces and most Noble Lord Prince MAVRICE May it please you to vnderstand that this yeere was sent vnto the Imperiall Palace of the most Puisant King highly magnified and exalted the Executioner of the Commandements giuen to the World in the Temples the furtherer of Iustice and the Vpholder or Restorer of Townes and Cities the greatest and mightiest King and Monarch of the World whose honour I beseech God alwayes to continue and that his Kingdome may flowrish vntill the day of doome your Honours Letters and Ambassadour to treate of Amitie and Peace with great reuerence and respect vnto the high Court of his Maiesties Dominions wherein your Honours haue done a thing worthy commendations and exceeding well accepted of for that all those that desire to make Friendship and to haue Peace with the King of the Noble House of OTTOMAN whom God encrease in Honour Power and Maiestie vnto the Worlds end vntill this day haue not by any meanes endured any losse or hinderance whatsoeuer but haue thereby attained to great profit and aduantage which is manifestly knowne vnto all the World and among all Nations and all those vnto whom or with whom the most Puisant King whom God preserue doth make peace and contracteth Amitie or that for their parts doe endeuour themselues to obserue and hold peace and Friendship with him haue well experienced and tryed his great Fauours to whom his Maiestie hath continually doubled and shewed his speciall grace and benignitie which is a certaine signe and token that in time to come your Friendship proffered and obtained shall more and more increase and be so well ratified and established that nothing whatsoeuer shall be cause to breake or infringe the same For that the great Turke will shew your Honours such friendship that in his Empire of Turky neyther you nor any of your Ships shall neede to feare any hurt or harme to be done vnto you in any thing whatsoeuer To conclude wee all together will continue your perfect friends and be friends to your friends and foes to your foes and the further that you proceede therein so much the more shall the benefit of his Maiesties fauours be seene and your aduantage procured thereby and in this matter which by you hath beene sought all fauour and Friendship afford vnto you although that in this point it is not vnknowne vnto you how many aduersaries you haue had who by all meanes and wayes possible haue sought to hinder your proceedings herein and to diuert it that it might take no effect Therefore as I haue said seeing that your enemies haue wrought thus secretly against you it is great reason that this League and Contract should be surely made and according to your Letters the Articles haue beene set downe certifying you that all shall be done as you desire and with all wee thinke that it was great reason that this peace should be established and therefore our most puisant Emperour hath beene content gratiously to accept of your Friendship and according to your Letters the afore-said Priuiledges haue beene granted vnto vs and that in all things whatsoeuer past concerning them there hath nothing beene omitted that was requisite to be put in according to your desires And for your Ambassadour Cornelius Haga whom your Honours sent hither hee hath performed his charge in that respect in the Superlatiue degree and with great grace and honour gone through therewith and hath executed the same with as much diligence as possible he might Wherefore I must needes say that such a man as he is deserueth as well to be made an Ambassadour as any one whatsoeuer of his degree being of that Iudgement that hee is the reason is for that whatsoeuer hee hath done concerning this businesse of yours hee hath done it effectually and therefore it is requisite that you take care that no scandall may hereafter be procured thereby vnto you and before all things to doe your endeuours that this Peace may continue firme and stable for that it is euery way profitable and good for your Honours and your townes And vpon condition that your Honors shall keepe and firmely hold this Treatie wee also will endeuour our selues to maintaine and vphold the same for euer for our great and most Puisant Emperour whom God preserue is a courteous Prince and exceeding gratious and sheweth all the grace and fauour that he can vnto his friends being an Emperour of great Honour and Maiestie whose custome is alwayes to doe well The Conclusion therefore of our Letter is that whatsoeuer hath beene concluded touching this peace you will take care to performe it to your powers Moses Ierusalmi a Iew hath beene a great furtherer of your affaires as much as in him lay and hath made mee acquainted with all your proceedings Peace be with you all THE SVBSCRIPTION By him that executeth the Commandements that are sent forth to be done for the honor and authoritie of the Puisant and most Princely house of Ottomans Mehemet the Sonne of G. Saalteldin God haue mercy vpon vs all FINIS
A TRVE DECLARATION of the arriuall of Cornelius Haga with others that accompanied him Ambassadour for the generall States of the vnited Netherlands at the great Citie of CONSTANTINOPLE TOGETHER WITH the Entertainement vnto them giuen by the Turke when they came to his Palace and what Priuiledges were by him granted vnto the said vnited Prouinces AND ALSO The Copie of certaine Letters sent vnto the said States of the Netherlands from Constantinople Faithfully translated out of the Dutch Copie LONDON Printed for Thomas Archer and are to be solde at his Shop in Popes-head-Palace 1613. Winter and hauing past them at last after he had trauelled sixe Moneths together he arriued safely at Constantinople Where vpon the first day of May 1612 he had audience giuen him by the great Emperour of the Turkes to the great honour and reputation of the Netherland Prouinces and of the States generall of the same The Solemnitie whereof was in this manner performed The Ambassadour was conuayed vnto the great Turkes Court by Saphiler Aga the chiefe Commander of all the Turkes Horse-men and Siaus Bassa principall of all the Gentlemen in the Turkes Court accompanied with an hundred Siausers all on Horse-backe in such and the same manner as they vse to fetch and conuay the Ambassadours of the greatest Monarches and Kings that are vnto his Court. The Ambassadour hauing encreased his Traine with some Netherlanders as then resident in Constantinople by reason that at the same time there lay diuers Netherland-ships before the towne and besides them with some that were his good friends both inhabitants and others of other Nations whom he before had knowne whereby the honour of the Netherlands was preserued to the great contentment not onely of the Turke himselfe but also of all the Bassas of his Court. The olde Captaine Bassa for a signe and token of great affection and honour caused the Ambassadour to ride vpon his owne best Horse which was most sumptuously sadled brideled wherin the Turkes aboue all other Nations doe specially shew their pride power And so in great solemnitie the aforesaid Siausers or the great Turkes Gentlemen richly clad and apparelled in Cassockes of cloath of Gold Veluet and Sattin tode two and two before him after them followed their Seruants and some Ianitsers afoote with two Dragomans or Interpreters on horse-backe after them followed the Ambassadour accompanied on each side by the afore-said Saphiler Aga and Siaus Bassa and his owne followers who as Gentlemen after the manner there doe also kisse the great Turkes hand and in that manner rode with a great applause and concourse of people to the Serralio or Palace of the great Turke In this manner entering into the first gate of the Serralio Siaus Bassa left the Ambassadour and rode forward before him to certifie the Bassas of his comming In this first Gate there stood about 60. Capitsers or great Turkes Porters with their Captaine for a watch Then approching to the second gate of the Serralio the Ambassadour lighted from his horse and was led in thereat by the arme by Peichijs Bassa principal of the Pages apparelled all in gold whose office is to conduct all Ambassadours vnto the presence of the great Turke before this Gate there stood about 100. Capitsers with 4. Captaines for a Guard within the gate were about 300. Soubassas which are Captaines of the Ianitsaries each hauing a long white feather like a Peacocks feather on their heads There all the Bassas lighted off from their horses and went on foote to the Diuano which is the Counsell-Chamber wherein all the Bassas with the principall Visier representing the great Turkes Person foure dayes euery weeke giue open audience to all sutors and determine all causes of the whole Empyre Hauing past through this Gate on the one side of two long Galleries supported with Marble Pillars there stood Ianitsarie Aga the chiefe Commander of all the Ianitsaries and of all the foot-men of Turky with 10000. Ianitsaries and on the other side Saphiler Agas the chiefe Commander of the horse-men with 2000. Saphers or horsemen who altogether bowing downe their heads after the Turkish manner with great reuerence saluted the Ambassadour he doing the like vnto them There met him the Kihaia or Commander of all the Capitsers and Siaus Bassa both of them being great Personages they two led him into the Diuano going before him with two long staues or wands of siluer and gilt ouer richly apparelled in cloath of Gold which is the greatest honour that can there be done to any man in the great Turkes Court In the Diuano sate the Cahimachan with all the Vesier Bassas who are chiefe and principall Counsellers to the great Turke Opposite ouer against the Cahimachan there was a stoole set for the Ambassadour On his right side which by the Turkes is held to be the vnworthiest as being vnder the sword of another sate Mahomet Bassa Admirall of Turky betrothed to the great Turkes eldest Daughter Dahut Bassa marryed to the great Turkes Aunt Ioseph Bassa Chelil Bassa and Nischanzi Bassa marryed to the great Turkes Niece whose office is to set the great Turkes name to all Letters Pattents and publike Instruments that are granted and sent out by him On the other side of Cahimachan a resonable or indifferent space being left sate the two Cadileschers or chiefe Iudges of the whole Realme of Turky and on a seate alone the great Treasoror being a Vesier also Ouer against him in a chamber apart there sate about 300. Secretaries or Clarkes of the Tresory each of them being Auditors of a seuerall Prouince and vnder them their Clarkes The Ambassadour hauing for a while spoken and conferred with the Bassas there was foure round siluer tables brought in whereof one was set between the Ambassadour and the Cahimachan the second before the other Bassas the third before the Cadileschers and the Treasoror and the fourth before the Nischanzi Bassa and his company and there they were feasted in sumptuous manner with many sorts of meate serued in great porceline dishes setting but one dish downe at once after the Dutch manner The Ambassadour eating with the Cahimachan Captaine Bassa and Dahut Bassa In the middle of dinner each of the Bassas and the Ambassadour dranke Sorbetta in dishes of gold which is a kinde of drinke made of Water Suger and iuyce of Lemonds mixed with Amber and Muske whereof they dranke but once no more for the Turkes are very sober drinkers and the great Lords vse to drinke no wine The Mutpac Emini or the great Turkes chiefe Cooke hauing vnder him aboue 2000. Cookes and officers in the Kitchin stood to serue at the table and below him stood about 100. Teschnegers or waiters all with Cassockes of cloath of golde setting the meate vpon the tables and seruing at them Of them the Beies that is the Gouernors of townes and Barons are made The Cahimachan gaue the Ambassadour the first cut of euery dish of meate meane time
Friendship at Our Imperiall hands and to shew and declare your good affections vnto Vs in like sort and in the same manner as other Kings haue done which with Vs haue entered into League and Friendship desiring to be holden and accounted among the numher of those Kings that are Our Friends and that Wee would grant vnto you Our Letters of agreement and consent therein in such manner as Wee haue giuen the same to other Kings of Christendome Which that it may be done with sinceritie and truth together with other things which you further desire and require at Our hands whereof the Contents being imparted vnto Our Royall Councill and hauing fully and wholy vnderstood your wils and meanings We ef our Imperiall Grace and Fauour haue abundantly granted and giuen vnto you by Our Letters Pattents not onely the same Priuiledges and Liberties which Wee haue in times past imparted to the Kings afore-said according to your owne desires but ouer and besides the same much more then you eyther haue sought or desired by your Letters of Vs which with Our owne hands Wee haue by Our Letters Pattens confirmed and giuen commandement from Our Maiestie that in all places and Countries of Our Empyre wherein any of your Country-men and Subiects shall be knowne and found to be Slaues they shall be freely set at libertie according to the Contents of Our said Letters Pattents of Amitie Peace and Friendship Further Wee giue you to vnderstand that your aforesaid Ambassadour hath with great honour and modestie as also with great care and diligence performed and done his dutie and seruice in his said Ambassage whereof hee was sent by you in all things hauing obtained the benefit of Our Friendship and in good manner and fashion hath performed the same and when he came before Vs was permitted by word of mouth to speake and pronounce the Message and Commission by you giuen vnto him to be deliuered vnto Vs which Wee hauing vnderstood as also well liked allowed and accepted of together with the Presents by you sent and deliuered by him vnto Vs and which We will keepe in Our owne presence and continuall sight hauing receiued the same as also the said Ambassadour with great Loue and Friendship The auncient custome of Our Maiestie is that all Our gates of grace fauour and good will shall stand continually open for all and vnto all men and at all times but especially to those that come vnto Vs with so great a desire of faithfull Friendship to whom it is requisite to shew and impart all honour and good will that possible may be Therefore Wee say that you hauing receiued these Our Letters from thence-forth as it is requisite Wee looke and desire that you shall hold and obserue the Treatie and Friendship made by you with Vs perpetually according to your owne Letters and Offers sent vnto Vs and in the like manner and forme as the Kings of England and France Our Friends long time vnto this day haue held and maintained the like Friendship and Amitie Which Wee hope you will doe in all points according to your Promises and that our Friendship may continue and hold firme and stable Our desire is that you should from time to time eertifie vs by Letters of your estates and healths and Wee for Our part will not faile to fulfill and accomplish all whatsoeuer shall tend vnto your good and welfare with all fauour and grace as neare as Wee can and promise you further that our good will and friendship shall not cease continually to encrease towards you for your good and from good to better whereof We would not haue you to doubt Written in the middle of the Month of Gematil Elebla in the yeare 1021 in the Imperiall Citie of Constantinople which GOD preserue from all hurt and misfortune The Copie of a Letter sent by the Noble Lord Cahimachan called Mahomet Bassa Commissarie generall of Turkie dated according to the Calculation of Christendome in the beginning of the Month of Iuly 1612. THE SVPERSCRIPTION To the Honour and greatnesse of Christendome Princes of the great Gouernment of the Law of the Messias Gouernors of the state of the people of Christendome Patrons of curtesie and of the Honour and Power of Princes The Lords and States generall of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands and of all other places subiect vnto them a good end and the Grace and Fauour of GOD. ACcording to the Friendship which is conuenient to be shewed vnto Lords of your degree and the accustomed fauour and amitie of the great and mightie Emperour of Turkie which at this time is giuen and granted vnto your Honours In signe of loue and assurance of Friendship I giue you to vnderstand by the grace and helpe of God almightie whom I beseech to preserue and defend the King and by the fauour and power of our holy Prophet who is in glory and resteth in peace with God protect and saue the King of all Lands and Seas Dominator from the East vnto the West Commander ouer Mecha and Ierusalem the most Noble Prince of the whole Common-wealth of the Inhabiter of the World with grace and fauour the most righteous King whom GOD long prosper and preserue vpon earth his Kingdome and Greatnesse with Honour who therein is an vpholder in pouertie and miserie of all creatures the refuge of all poore oppressed people an aduancer of the Banner of the holy Law King of Arabia and Asia Dominator ouer the most mightiest Monarchie in the World Vpholder by the power of God wherein he is King of all Kings and who hath his trust and confidence in the fauour and promise of the true and onely GOD the great and most puissant Emperour our gratious and mightie King Sultan Achomat Châ—m Protecter of the Alcoran whom GOD Almightie preserue and maintaine in all power and Imperiall Maiestie and suffer him to command ouer the whole world for his welfare and good c. that there was brought vnto his Imperiall Palace which is the vpholding and preseruation of Honour and the light of the world shining aboue all the Powers and Maiesties of Kings a Letter signifying your great and kinde Friendship and good â—â—is by your Ambassadour CORNELIVS HAHA one of the chiefe Commanders amongst you in the Law of Christendome and of Noble bloud whose Honour God long preserue who being arriued in this Imperiall Palace hath declared and fully signified your Honours great good wils and meanings as also the entire affections which your said Honours beare vnto his Maiestie VVhich done your said Ambassadour tooke his rest for certaine dayes after his long weary and troublesome iourney as being not well at ease and after certaine daies of rest communicated his intent vnto mee thereby to giue mee to vnderstand the effect and meaning of your affaires according to your Commission to whom in the behalfe of our great Emperour wee shewed that fauour respect and honour which hee well merited and deserued and therewithall