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-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
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
tooke a true Copie of your Honors Letters and hauing imparted the same vnto the Lords Visiers of this Councill such as deale in matters of State as also vnto those that are wise and learned in the holy Law and hauing conferred and considered about the Contents and of the heartie and good affection by you therein shewed vnto his Imperiall Maiestie being the mirrour and cleare light of the world whose Noble Person and puisant Dominions God preserue and keepe from all troubles and aduersities which daily happen throughout the world And finding your request to be good and very reasonable as soone as wee were enformed of your meanings and desires wee delayed no time to impart the same vnto his Imperiall Maiestie who liking well and allowing thereof gaue commandement that all due and respectiue order should speedily be taken about the same and that it should be brought to good effect with all diligence and care and therewithall order was presently taken ex motu proprio from the Emperour mouth and by his owne consent that your Ambassadour should come vnto his Princely Palace and Presence to salute his Maiestie and thereupon your Honours said Ambassadour accompanied and attended vpon in such order as was fitting and conuenient for his Honour hauing humbly saluted his Maiestie and being apparelled both himselfe and his Traine with honourable Sutes according to the manner and custome of this Country and that Honour and due respect shewed vnto him which to his place and person was requisite to be done his Imperiall Maiestie gaue license and free permission vnto him to haue accesse vnto his Court for the execution of his Ambassage as other Ambassadours and Gouernours of the Empyre vse to doe as also to consult with the Lords Visiers the Protectors of the Law and specially the chiefe Iudge of Turkie which is a Lord of the holy Mufti Effendi together with the Lords Cadi Esquieri so the great men of the Land are named and withall other his Gouernours about the same and with his Maiesties aduice and consent your motion of Amitie and Friendship sought and propounded vnto him being well considered and aduised of by them and they hauing fully and wholy declared the same vnto the great Monarch of the World and the most mighty and vprightest King thereof whom God preserue by the helpe and assistance of God his Maiestie freely and thankefully accepted of your good wils and Friendships and hath placed the same among the number of those that are vnited vnto him in perfect Amitie and Friendship and hath determined and ordained that the same shall for euer be respected and maintained by him And therewithall his Imperiall Maiestie hath commanded that wee should set downe and record the Articles of agreement and vnite on both parts according to your desires and also to make and send you a Letter in his owne Name And I also for my part as your good friend haue written this Letter which with his Maiesties wee send vnto your Honours wishing that by Gods grace and in an happy and prosperous houre the perfect Amitie and Friendship knit betweene vs may in like sort long continue which with all my heart I desire for it is most sure and certaine that the supreame Lord of the noble house of Ottomans and the Imperator of all other Rulers and Lords in the World our most Puisant Lord and King is so truely vnited in fast and firme Friendship with your Honours that from henceforth all the Fauours and Honours that may proceede and be imparted from his Imperiall hands vnto his Friends and Well-willers shall be giuen and shewed vnto you as by the Capitulation and agreement set downe and recorded he hath fully manifested and recorded in such manner that all promises and conditions made and specified to be graunted vnto on his behalfe within his Kingdomes and Dominions shall be truely and faithfully obserued fulfilled and kept And my selfe your good friend in like manner will not faile to shew you all the honour and respect that may be and will by no meanes endure that the least hurt or wrong whatsoeuer shall be done vnto your Honours in your Subiects or Vassals within these our Countries for that the Word and Promise of our most righteous and honourable King whom God preserue is for euer firme and stable and most powerfull in regard that his Maiesties minde hath beene and is alwayes addicted vnto peace and quietnesse and specially desireth that his people should liue in vnitie and peace that vnder the shadow of his Imperiall Maiestie they may so liue happily and at hearts ease And seeing that the Lord of all the world hath granted you so great fauour and happy fortune to be vnited and ioyned in friendship loue and amitie with so puisant great and magnanimious a King replenished with benignitie grace mercy and compassion as our Emperour is It is most certaine and you may assure your selues thereof that his Commandements and promises are firme and most sure and that there shall be no contrarietie found therein and assure your selues for certaine that it shall not faile in any manner in regard that his be a meanes to procure the welfare of all Gods creatures to their euerlasting benefit and good Wee for a conclusion say that if on our side all the Articles of agreement and Amitie set downe and specified in the Treatie concerning vs and also all that which on your sides is promised concerning the peace in your Letters be well performed maintained and kept according to the inward and affectionate friendship shewed and proffered by you with heart and good will that so in time to come all our affaires may the longer and the better haue good and happy successe wee hope and trust in GOD that in all the parts of the World where Kings and Princes raigne and shall heare and vnderstand of the Friendship and Peace made betweene vs those that are our Friends will reioyce thereat and such as with-stand the same shall feele the smart thereof God bring this our proceeding to good end and for your good and prosperitie Concerning your Ambassadour afore-said whom wee must commend we say that not onely touching his Ambassage but also in all the rest of the things belonging to matter of Estate both in generall and perticular hee hath done and performed the same with as much care and diligence as in him possible was sparing no labour trauaile nor care neyther in place nor matter nor in any of his proceedings omitted any thing whatsoeuer which he knew or by any meanes perceiued to be needfull or necessarie to be propounded or moued to bring these affaires to a good end And specially comming into the presence of our most Puisant Emperour whom God preserue hee appeared there before him with such honourable behauiour grace and curtesie that it pleased his Maiestie exceeding well and moued him thereby to take great pleasure and contentment in him and in all his actions hath so behaued himselfe that