Wara wara ingdolou:Scu te gira Galizu.Hæmisclep dorbiza ea.
Wara wara ingdolou:Scu te gira Galizu.Hæmisclep dorbiza ea.
Wara wara ingdolou:Scu te gira Galizu.Hæmisclep dorbiza ea.
Wara wara ingdolou:
Scu te gira Galizu.
Hæmisclep dorbiza ea.
Whetherthese People beGothsorSaxons, I cannot tell; IfSaxons, then, I suppose, they were transplanted thither in the time ofCharlesthe Great, who dispersed that Nation into many remote Countries, as appears by the Cities ofTransilvania, which to this day are inhabited bySaxons; and possibly he might transplant the rest of the Nation as far asTauric Chersonese, where they still retain the Christian Religion, though surrounded by the Enemies of it: But if they areGoths, then I judge they chose their Inhabitants there next to theGetes, and perhaps most of that Tract of Land between theGothickIsle andProcopia, (as now ’tis called) was heretofore inhabited byGoths. Hence we read of the Names of sundryGoths, asWest-Goths, andEastorOstro-Goths, who over-ran the World with their Victory, and were the great Seminary of Multitudes of Barbarians. This is all I could hear of theseProcopiensiansconcerning theTauric Chersonese.
Letme now tell you something of the City and Country ofCathay, which I learned of a certainTurkishPilgrim, who use to travel over the World on account of Religion, and to worship God on high Mountains and desert Places. He had travelled over a great part of the East-Country, where he was acquainted with thePortuguese;but, having a desire to visitCathayalso, he joined himself to some Merchants, who in great Numbers used to travel to this Country. ’Tis a Journey that not many will undertake, it being so dangerous, and the way thither so full of strange Nations, who use to plunder Travellers in their passage. When he leftPersiabehind him, he came toSamarchand, toBorchar, and toTaschan, and other Towns inhabited by the Successors ofTamerlane. When he had passed by these Places there were large Desarts, and some Countries inhabited by wild, and others by a more civilized People; yet the Country was generally poor, so that they were forced to carry their Victuals along with them on a drove of Camels: This Company they callCaravans. After some Month’s Travel they came to theStreights, entring intoCathay, (for you must know, that a great part of that Country isMediterranean, and encompassed by such huge Mountains and Rocks, that it is accessible but in a very few Passages, where their King hath his Guards and Garrisons). When the Merchants come thither, they are asked what they bring? Whence they came? and how many they are? When the Guard is informed of the Truth, they make a Smoak by day, or else kindle a Beacon by night, which gives warning to the next Beacon, and so from one to another, till they come toCathay. This Advice cost them but some Hours, which otherwise would take up many Days, the way is so long. When News is brought to the King, he sends backward by the same way of Conveyance what his Pleasure is, whether they shallallbe admitted to enter, or onlysome, the rest being either excluded, or made to stay longer. When they are admitted, they are guarded all along to their severalInns or Lodging-places, where they may have all things for their Money, till they come to the King himself. Here every one brings forth his respective Ware, and offers it the King, whose Privilege it is, to buy what Ware he pleaseth in the first Place; and then they sell the rest to the best Chapman. This they must do within certain limits of Time, and then they must return; for theCarthayanscannot endure that Strangers should live long amongst them, for fear they should infect their Country-Manners. Thus the Merchants are dismissed in a very friendly Manner, and return by the same Stages they went.
ThisTraveller told me, that they were a very wise People, and lived in good Order and Government, having a distinct Religion of their own, differing from theChristian,JewishorMahometan; but nearest to theJewish, except their Ceremonies.
Printinghath been in use among them for many Ages, as appears by their several printed Books: For Paper, they use the Cases ofSilk-worms; it is so thin that it will bear Printing on one side only, the other is blank. In this City, he said, there were a great many Shops full of Musk, which was the fresh foame of a certain Beast as big as a Kid. A Lion is highly prized amongst them; there are none of them in that Country, and therefore they value it at a great Rate, and will pay well for it. This is what I could learn of this Wanderer concerningCathay; believe it as you please. I asked him further, whether he had brought back any rare Root, Fruit or Stone, out of that Country? He told me, he had brought nothing but a little Root for his own Use, which he bit and eat a little of, when he was faint or cold, and it would presently warmand relieve him; and thereupon he gave me a piece of it, telling me I must use it very sparingly: I desired Dr.Williams, my Physician, then alive, to taste of it, who, by its biting and inflaming the Mouth, judged it to be a root of theWolfleaf-tree.
Letme now tell you another wondrous Story of another wanderingTurkishMonk. He wore a Cap and white Cloak down to his Heels, with long Hair, such as Painters draw theApostleswith. He had a promising Countenance, but was a meer Impostor; and, yet theTurksadmired him as a miraculous Man. My Interpreters were persuaded to bring him to me, that I might see him. He dined with me soberly and modesty enough; afterwards he goes down into the Yard, and upon his return, he takes up a huge Stone, and struck with it divers times upon his naked Breast, as many Blows as would have felled an Ox: Then he took a piece of Iron, that was heated in the Fire on purpose, and thrust it into his Mouth, where he stirred it up and down so that his Spittle hiss’d again; ’twas a long piece of Iron, thick and quadrangular in that part which he thrust into his Mouth, and it was red-hot as a live Coal: Then he put the Iron into the Fire again, and after I had made him a Present, he saluted me and departed. My Domesticks wonder’d at the Trick, all but one, who pretended he knew more than all the rest;Oh, says he,he is a meer Cheat; and thereupon he takes hold of the stronger part of the Iron, pretending he could do as much as the Juggler. He had no sooner grasped it in his Hands, than he threw it away, and his Fingers were well burnt for his Audaciousness, so that they were many days a curing. This Accident caused his Fellows to laugh, and jearingly to ask, whetherthe Iron were hot enough yet, and whether he would touch it again or not?
ThesameTurk, while he was at Dinner, told me, that the Prior of their Monastery was a Man famous for Sanctity and Miracles, for he would spread his Cloak over a Lake near adjoining, and sitting on it, would row up and down whither he pleased: And that he would strip himself naked, and be tied to a Sheep newly kill’d, tying Arms to Arms, and Leg to Leg, and so would be thrown into the hot Oven till the Sheep were bak’d fit to be eaten, then he himself would be taken out without any harm at all: You will not believe this; neither do I, only I relate what he told me; but that part concerning the red-hot Iron I saw with my own Eyes.
Andyet I must tell you, the Matter is not so much to be admired; for, without doubt, the Fellow, when he went down into the Yard to fetch a Stone, had fortified his Mouth, against the Violence of the Fire, with some such Medicines as you know are to be met with; for I remember once in the Market-place atVenice, I saw a Juggler take melted Lead, and wash his Hands with it, as if it had been common Water: But enough of this.
Itold you before, that I had a little more Freedom some time beforeRustan’s Death, which was very grateful to me on one Account, because it gave me an Opportunity to converse with Strangers and others which frequented my House, whole Acquaintance might be instructive to me; and yet this Liberty was not without its Inconvenience; it gave my Servants opportunity to straggle abroad, and sometimes without theJanizaries, and so they met with many Affronts,which cost me some trouble: I’ll tell you of one, by which you may judge of the rest.
Twoof my Servants passed over in a Boat toPera; they went alone, either because theJanizarieswere not at home, or else they thought it needless to take them; one was my Apothecary, the other Master of my Wine-Cellar. When they had done what they went for, they hired a Boat to carry them back toConstantinople; they were scarce sat down in the Boat, but there came a Youth from theCaddy, or Judge of that Place, commanding them to come forth, for theCaddymust be wafted over in that Boat: My Servants told him, there were Boats enough to carry over theCaddy, besides that which they had hired, and therefore they would not stir: Hereupon he endeavoured to force them; so that from Words they came to Blows. This being done in sight of theCaddy, who was coming down to the Boat, it made him run to help the Boy, (who was thought to be hisGanymede) but the Steps towards the Sea being slippery, by reason of Ice, (for it was Winter) he fell head-long into the Sea, and had been drown’d if his Companions had not relieved him: Hereupon a Clamour was raised all overPera, and theTurkswould have it that my Servants had laid Violent Hands on the Judge, and had almost drown’d him. My Servants were seized and carried before the Judge in Capital Cases: They fetch out Clubs, and Stocks to put their Feet in, that they might beat them, as their manner is, on the Soles of them. In the interim one of my Servants, anItalian, cried out in a Rage,Beat, strike, Dogs, strike! we are wronged, we are innocent! we are Servants toCæsar’s Ambassador, and doubtless when your own Emperor shall know how we are abused, he will make you smart for it. One of theTurks, hearing him cry out so boldly:D’ye think, said he,that One-ey’d thing is a Man? No; for certain, heis an One-ey’dCacodæmon, (for he had a Blemish in one of his Eyes.) TheWaywodealso, that is, in their Language, the Judge, perceiving the Boldness of the Man, was at a stand what to do; but thought it best to send them toRustan: Thither went the whole Rout, with a pack of false Witnesses, ready to give their Testimonies against the Innocent; for theTurkscount it meritorious to give in false Evidence against aChristian; you need not summon them to appear, they came of their own accords, as it happened in this Case: They all cried out before theGrand Vizier, that those Rogues had beaten their Judge, and, if they had not been seiz’d, would have drowned him: My Servants denied the Crime they were charged with, alledging that they were falsly accused, and that they were my menial Servants. By this TimeRustanperceived that there was more Noise than Truth on his Countrymens side; yet, to still the Fury of the inraged Multitude, he told them he would punish them severely; and he sent them to Prison. The Prison was a Safeguard to them against the Fury of the Multitude; he then examined Witnesses, the most credible among them, and found my Servants were Guiltless, and that all the Fault lay at theCaddy’s Door. In the mean time I sent my Interpreters to demand my Servants; butRustanthought fit to refer the Matter to theDivan, lest, if theSultanshould hear of it, he might suspect, that a Bribe had made him partial and negligent in theCaddy’s Case. I had at this time some intimate acquaintance withHaly, to whom I sent myDruggermanwith a grievous Complaint, that I might not suffer Wrong to the end of the Chapter;Halyundertook my Cause, and bid me rest confident that the Business would soon end to my Satisfaction. ButRustancame not offso handsomely; he feared it might be thought that Money had inclined him more to favour me, and therefore had rather the Business were made up with theCaddy; he wished, therefore, I would offer him a few Ducats to appease him, 25 were enough. I gave him Thanks for his Advice, and told him, that if he desired me to throw so many Ducats into the Sea, I would willingly do it for his sake; but that Money was not so much to be considered in this case, as Example:For, said I,if he that did my Servants an Injury, must be paid for his Labour, a larger Fund than mine would not suffice; for if a Man tear his Clothes, while he is intending to do my People an Injury, he knew where to have Money to buy new ones, which was an unworthy thing, and by no means to be indured by me.Thus were my Servants, by the Mediations ofHalysent home to me. When theBailoofVeniceheard of their Release, he sent for one of my Servants present, and desired to know of him, what that Business had cost me?Not a Doit, said he. Then said theBailo,It would have cost me 200 Ducats before I could have come off.But the poor Judge suffered most of all; for he was put out of his Office, theTurksaccounting it an absurd and hainous thing to be beaten by aChristian, as he confessed he had been.
Asfor the Release of theSpanishCommanders, it was obtained by my Mediation; they were these,De SandeCommander of the Land Forces, andLeyva, andRequesne, the one Admiral of theNeapolitan, the other of theSicilianGallies. In short, I’ll tell you how I compassed their Release: The Peace made between the Kings ofSpainandFrance, did much trouble theTurks, as being inconvenient to their Affairs, especially considering that they were not comprehended in it, as at first they thought they should be; yet they dissembled the matter at present,but sought for an Opportunity to shew their dislike of it.Solymanhad writ to the King ofFrance, that he agreed to the Peace, yet would have him remember,That Old Friends are not easily made Enemies, nor Old Enemies, Friends.
ThisDisgust of theTurkswas of no small Advantage to my Affairs: To whichHaly Bassa’s Affection, andEbrahim’s great desire to shew his Gratitude to me, did very much contribute.
Youmay remember, I told you before, that, whenLa Vignedid accuse me to theBashaw, at the same time he forgot notEbrahim, but told them, that he discovered all the secret Counsels of theTurksto me. ThisEbrahimwas the chiefDruggerman, (i. e.Interpreter ofSolyman) aPolander, and therefore more hated byLa Vigne, because, in a deadly Feud withCodognatus, a former Ambassador of the same King, he seem’d to takeCodognatushis part. I shall not trouble you with the Contest betwixt them, it being little to my purpose: This is certain, thatLa Vignewas mindful of the Affront, and could never endureEbrahim; but when he had Access to theBashaw, every third Word was against him; neither did he desist from complaining, tillEbrahimwas remov’d out of his Place. For my part, I was not much concern’d atEbrahim’s Disgrace; I had never such an extraordinary kindness for him, as to lament his Loss, for I found him many times thwarting my Affairs; only it troubled me, that ’twas noised abroad, he lost his Place for my sake. Hereupon, I assisted him in his Privacy what I could; for I knew it troubled him, to be turned out of his Office, and therefore I us’d him as an Interpreter or Messenger, betwixt me and theBashawsin my Transactions about the Peace. AndHalyadmitted him, out of Respect to me, and because he was degraded without any just Cause. In short, I neverrested till I got him restored to his Place; and that piece of Service did so oblige him, that in Gratitude he returned me all the good Offices he could, in all Company, and upon all Occasions: And he had the greater Opportunity so to do, because of the Offence theTurkshad taken at theFrench, for making Peace with theSpaniard. On this Account, when the NobleSalviatuswas sent by theMost Christian King, to procurede Sande’s Liberty, he was wholly and absolutely refused.De Sandewas in great Expectation of that Embassy, believing he should never be released, if that Negotiation did not effect it; and, therefore, he was at a great Expence in Presents for theGrand Seignior, and other great Men upon his Release. All which signified nothing, forSalviatuswent away without doing any thing. When he was gone, the Servants and Solicitors ofde Sandecame to me in a great Fright; and told me, they durst not acquaint their Master with the unsuccessful News ofSalviatus’s Intercession for his Liberty; for all his Hopes depending thereon, they were afraid the Transaction would either make him desperate, or bring some fatal Disease upon him; and, therefore, they desired me to acquaint him first by Writing. I refused, alledging, That I had notCommon Placesenough to draw Comfort from, for a Man in so deep Distress. Forde Sandewas a Man of a great Spirit, full of Hope, and without any Fear; and Men of such Dispositions, hope for every Thing they desire; and if they meet with any Disappointment of their Hopes, they are so cast down, that ’tis hard to raise them to any tolerable frame of Spirit.
WhilstMatters stood thus at a Hand, in comesEbrahim, my Interpreter, very opportunely; and falling into Discourse about theseSpanish Prisoners, he told me plainly, that if I did but demand theirLiberty, I should certainly obtain it; and what he spake was upon good Grounds. He had formerly given me some blind Hopes, that I might procure their Release if I set my self about it: But, I gave little heed to this Suggestion; for not being certain of a Peace, how could I attempt such a Thing? Besides, I was afraid, lest my Interposition might hinder the Success ofSalviatus’s Negotiation: But he was gone, andEbrahim, whom I had so much obliged, persisted in the same Opinion. I began to hearken to him; but told him, he should have a Care he did not engage me, who was his Friend, in a ridiculous Business; for, without doubt, I should be laugh’d at, if I did not succeed in it, the Matter being thought difficult to be compared in common Opinion, andSalviatushaving attempted it in vain; yet he advised me to proceed therein, and amused me with the Assurance of good Success.
Uponthis Encouragement, I wrote tode Sande, how fruitlessSalviatus’s Embassy had been, yet I advised him not to despair; for, if any Credit were at all to be given to aTurk, there was good hope of his Affairs; and then I related whatEbrahimhad told me.
Havinglaid this Foundation, I advised with some Friends who were well skill’d inTurkish Affairs. They wish’d me all good Success, but were very doubtful of it; especially since the King ofFrance’s Ambassador had been denied, and the Issue of a Peace was yet undetermined; and moreover, as theTurksare hardly ever induced to release great Men; yet I wrote to my Master the Emperor, to let him know what Hopes I had, and desired that I might, in his Name, beg the Release of those Prisoners. In short, upon great Gifts, and fair Promises made to theBashaws, for their Favour in this Case; the Day before St.Laurence’s Day, all thePrisoners were released and sent to my Lodgings.De SandeandLeyvawere so odious to each other, that they would not eat together, but I was forced to spread their Tables a-part;Requesneeat withLeyva, andde Sandewith me. While we were at Supper, theFrench Ambassador’s Steward came to me, with a small Pacquet of Letters.De Sandeask’d, if he knew him? Yes Sir, said he, I think you areDon Alvarez. I am so, said he, pray remember me to your Master, and tell him, that I have obtained my Liberty by means of the Emperor’s Ambassador, and that you have seen me Abroad with your own Eyes. I see you, indeed, Sir, said he; but so, that I can scarce believe my own Eyes.De Sandedid thus accost him, because his Master, theFrench Agent, would never believe thatSolymanwould release those great Men at the Emperor’s Instance: And the Truth is, before they could obtain their Liberty, theirMufti, who is anArchbishopamongst theTurks, was consulted, Whether a great manyTurksmight not be released for a fewChristians; for I had promised, that about fortyTurks, of an ordinary Rank, who were Prisoners with us, should be released for them. TheMuftianswered, That there were two Opinions on the Case; onePro, the otherCon; but he was for the Affirmative.
Itnow remains that I acquaint you with the last End ofBajazet, who, I told you before, was put in Prison by thePersians. Many Messages had passed between those two Princes on that Occasion; and an Ambassador came once fromPersiawith Presents, a Tent curiously wrought,AssyrianandPersianTapestry, with theAlcoran, and some Beasts of an unusual Sort; as, anIndian Ant, as big as an ordinary Dog; a fierce and biting Present. The Cause of the Embassy was pretended to be, the Reconciliation ofBajazetwith his Father; and they were received very honourably, entertained withrich Banquets, of whichHalysent me a part; eight huge Dishes full of Sweetmeats, and plenty of the richest Wines. ’Twas the Custom of theRomansto send Dishes from their Feasts to their Friends; theSpaniardsdo it to this Day; and theTurksfrom their great Feasts carry home something, especially if they have Wives and Children. They many times carried home whole Napkins full of good Bits from my Table; and tho’ they pretend to Cleanliness, yet they would sometimes daub their Silk-cloaths with some Collation-drops.
Letme tell you a Story to this purpose, which I know will make you laugh heartily, as it did me at the first hearing it: For we are not suchCato’s, but that sometimes we may season our Care with moderate Laughter, which shews that we areMen.
’Tisthe custom of theTurkish Bashaws, some Days before their Fast, (which we callLent) to make a public Feast or Entertainment for all Comers, none are excluded; yet generally none but Servants, Friends, and Relations come. There is a Napkin made of Leather, spread over a long Tapestry on the Ground, full of Dishes; the Table will hold abundance of Guests; theBashawhimself sits at the upper end, and the choicest Guests next to him, and then the ordinary Guests, in Ranks, till the Table be full. It will not hold all at once, but some stand by till others have din’d, which they do with great Decency and Silence; and then drinking a draught of Honey diluted with Water, salute their Landlord, and away they go. In their Places, others sit down, and a third Class after them; the Servants still taking off the old Dishes and setting on new. A certainBashawmaking such a Feast, invited aSinziackto sit next to him; an old Man of the Sect which theTurkscallHogies, (i. e.Learned Men) sat next to him. ThisHogiseeing such plenty of Victuals before him, had a mind to carry home some to his Wife, after he had filled his own Belly; but looking for his Handkerchief to fill it with Victuals, he found he had left it at home; being then in a straight, he bethought himself, and resolv’d to fill his Sleeve that hang’d on his Back; but, mistaken theSinziack’s for his own, he stuft it full of Dainties, and stops it in with a piece of Bread that nothing might fall out. He was not to touch his Sleeve till he had laid his Hands on his Breast or Thigh, and so saluted his Entertainer, as their Custom is; when he had done that, he took up his own Sleeve and finds it empty, at which he was much amaz’d, and return’d home very sad. A while after, theSinziackalso rose from the Table, and having saluted theBashawat every Step, his Sleeve cast out the Dainties it was replenished with, unknown to him; and seeing a train of Junkets behind him, he blush’d for shame. The Company fell a laughing, but theBashawimagining how it came to pass, desired him to sit down again, and so he sent for theHogi, and when he came, he accosted him thus:I wonder that you, an old Friend, and having a Wife and Children at home, did carry home nothing to them, seeing my Table was so well furnished.Truly, Sir, said he,’twas no Fault of mine; but of my EvilGenius; for I stuff’d my Sleeve with Viands, and yet, when I came out, I found it empty.Thus theSinziackwas cleared, and the Disappointment of theHogi, together with the Novelty of the Case, occasionedno small Laughter throughout all the Company. But to return toBajazet.
HisCase was desperate, between anangry Fatherthat required to have him given up, and afalse Friend, who pretended to detain him. SometimesSolymandealt mildly with thePersian, putting him in mind of the League between them, that they were to have the same Enemies and Friends: Sometimes he threaten’d him with War, ifBajazetwere not surrendered; and thereupon he placed strong Garrisons on all the Confines ofPersia; he filledMesopotamiaand the Banks ofEuphrateswith the Soldiers, especially the Veteran ones, whom he had employed againstBajazet, over whomMahometthe third of theVizier’s Bashaws, andBeglerbegofGreece, was made General, forSelimuswas returned home: Moreover, he solicited theGeorgiansdwelling between theHircanSea andPontus, bordering onPersiato aid him against them: They answered courageously, That they were not strong enough of themselves to cope with thePersian; but if he himself came upon the Place with an Army, they would then shew themselves Men of Courage against thePersianas their common Enemy. TheHircaniansalso and the Posterity ofTamerlanewere solicitous to join Arms.Solymanhimself gave out, that he would go toAleppo, (a City ofSyria, seated on the Banks ofEuphrates) that from thence he might make War on thePersian: Nor was thePersianhimself without Fear; for he had often experienced the Dint ofSolyman’s Sword. But the generality of theTurkswere averse to the War, and look’d on it as a wicked and detestable one; and this cooled theSultan. A great many of the Soldiers, especially the Horse, forsook their Colours, and return’dtoConstantinoplewithout leave of their Officers; and being commanded immediately to return, they did so; but so unwillingly, thatSolymanplainly saw their Aversion from the Service.
WhereuponSolyman, seeing he could not getBajazetalive out of thePersian’s Hands, (who feared his Revenge, if ever he came off clear,) thought of the next thing, which was, to have him strangled there; and he hop’d to obtain his End this way, because thePersianhad lately acquainted him by Letter, that he had been very remiss in so great an Affair. I have sent divers Ambassadors to you, said he, but you send nothing to me but empty Letters, or Messengers; and therefore, to convince me that you are real in the Business, send considerable Ambassadors of your prime Nobility with whom I may transact, according to the greatness of the Affair. As for himself,Bajazethad been a great Charge to him, before he could be taken, and therefore ’twas fit an Account should be had of those Expences.Solymanthereby saw that Money was requir’d, and therefore by the Advice of hisBashaw, he resolved to take any other Course, rather than to involve himself in an unnecessary War with thePersians. HereuponHassan Aga, together with an oldBashaw, one of the Bed-Chamber, was sent bySolymanintoPersia. They departed with ample Commission, in the midst of Winter; they made great haste, insomuch that they lost several of their Retinue in the way: At last, they came toCasbiato theSophia, and desired to seeBajazet; they found him in a nasty filthy Prison, his Beard and Hair so long, that till he was shav’d he could hardly be known; but thenHassanknew him bythe lineaments of his Face, having been brought up with him from a Child, and therefore he was chosen as the fittest Person for this Embassy. It was agreed, that thePersianshould be repaid what he had laid out, and should have many rich Presents besides, and thenBajazetwas to be put to Death.Hassanreturns and gives an account to his Master, who thereupon sent the Expences by him, with the Gifts, which were guarded by theTurksto the Confines ofPersia. ThusHassanagain returned to be the Executioner of unfortunateBajazetwith his own Hand, for soSolymanhad commanded. When the Bow-string was about his Neck, he desired but one thing before his Death, which was, to see his Children, and to take his last farewell of them, by the only Thing he had left to give, a parting Kiss; but that was deny’d. This was the end ofBajazetand his unfortunate Designs; the way he took to save himself was his Ruin. His four Children under-went the same Fate. As for the new-born Infant which he left atAmasia, whom his Grandfather had removed toPersiato be educated there, when his Father was dead, a trustyEunuchwas sent toPersiato destroy him too; but theEunuchbeing somewhat tender-hearted, procured a certain Porter, a hard-hearted Fellow, who car’d not what desperate things he undertook, to dispatch the Child. This Fellow went into the Room, and as he was fitting the String to the Child’s Neck, the poor Infant lifted up its self as well as he could, and embracing him in his Arms, offered to kiss him; which did so mollifie his wretched Heart, that he fell down in a Swoon. TheEunuchstood at the Door, and wondering at the Delay, went in and found the Fellow lying flat on the Ground; whereupon he was forced to execute the Charge himself, and sostrangled the poor innocent Child. By this Passage it appears, thatSolymanspar’d his Nephew hitherto, not out of any Principle of Mercy, but out of an Opinion theTurkshave, that Matters, if they succeed well, are pleasing to God; and therefore, as long as ’twas uncertain, what might be the event ofBajazet’s Designs, he would not imbrue his Hands in his Child’s Blood, lest, ifBajazethad succeeded, he might seem to have resisted the Will of God: But, whenBajazetwas slain, he thought God had determined the Controversie, and that his Son also might not be spared, lest the Proverb should be verified,Of an ill Crow, an evil Egg. I had along Discourse with myChiauxupon this Subject, when I was in the Island before mentioned, and had liberty to sail from one to the other. It happened once, that as we were returning in our Skiff, the Wind being against us, we could not double a Promontary that reach’d pretty far into the Sea, but were forced to land and take our Dinner a-shoar; for I always carried ready-dress’d Provision along with me in the Vessel for fear of the worst; and theirTurkswere also forced to land, by the same Stress of Weather. Our Table was spread in a green Meadow; myChiauxand my Interpreter sate at Table with me. Mention being occasionally made ofBajazet, theChiauxbegan to inveigh bitterly against him for taking up Arms against his Brother. I pleaded for him, and said, he was worthy of Pity, who was forced to do what he did: There was an inevitable Necessity upon him, either to submit himself to a certain Death, or to save his Life by taking Arms. However theChiauxpersisted still to call it an execrable Undertaking; whereupon I argued thus; you accuseBajazetas guilty of an horrid Offence; but you acquitSolyman, the Father of your present Emperor, who took up Arms against hisFather. We do so, said theChiaux, and with Reason; for the Event shew’d, that what he did, was by God’s Approbation, and predestinated in Heaven. If you argue from Success, said I, then the wickedest Fact, if it prosper, may be imputed to God as the Author; and then he may be made the Author of Sin, ifGoodandEvilmust be interpreted only by Events. We dwelt a while on this Discourse, and were very eager upon it, whilst either of us defended his own Opinion. We alledg’d many places of Scriptures;Can the Vessel say to the Potter, why hast thou made me thus? I will hardenPharaoh’s Heart:Jacobhave I loved; butEsauhave I hated: and others of like import.
TheTurks, that were not far from us, wonder’d what we were so earnest about; and after we rose from the Table, myChiauxwent to them. They gathered themselves in a Ring about him, and I saw them hearkening to the Discourse he made, with great Attention; and at last, at Noon, they were all silent, and worshipped God according to their Custom. I thought it long till myChiauxreturned to me, that I might know why he prated so amongst his Comrades; I was afraid, though I had ever found him a good Man, that he might represent what I had spoken to him, to my Prejudice: At last, when the Wind ceased, we went aboard again, and followed our intended Course. The first thing I did, was, to ask of myChiaux, what serious Discourse he held with his Country-men? He smil’d, and made me this Answer:We were disputing aboutPredestination, and I told them what you had alledg’dProandCon; by which it was plain, that you had read our Books, and was well read in theScriptures, so that there was nothing wanting to your Happiness,but to turn to ourReligion, which, in the Prayers you saw us make, we desired of God.When News was brought toConstantinoplethatBajazetwas dispatched, I was afraid that our Affairs, which were in a hopeful way of Conclusion, would now meet with a Rub at last; the Misfortune ofBajazetmight over-turn all, make theTurksmore Insolent, undo what was done, and propose harder Conditions. I had passed over some Difficulties, as the Loss ofGerba, and the Imprisonment ofBajazet, and theVaivode’s Expulsion out ofMoldavia; but there were two terrible ones,Bajazet’s Death, and another, which I shall speak of by and by.
Halysent one of his Domesticks, to tell me, thatBazajetwas dead for certain; that therefore, I should not defer the Peace, in hopes of his Success: That I should remember, Princes of the same Religion are more easily reconcil’d, than those of contrary ones are; and, therefore, I should hesitate no longer, nor seek Knots in a Bulrush, as the Proverb is.
ThisMessage troubled me much; yet, because I thought the Account might not be true, I sent up and down the Town amongst my Friends, to know what Certainty they had ofBajazet’s Death: They all returned me answer,That he was most certainly dispatched: Whereupon, I resolved to draw in my Sails; there were no Hopes for me to obtain better Conditions; it were well, if I could maintain my Ground, and stick to my former without any change: The Emperor of theTurkshad seen them, and was not much averse to them; some small Alterations were made; something I wished I could have added; other Things were dubiously expressed, which an ill-natured Interpretation might raise Scruples about. I did my Endeavour that thesemight be taken out, or corrected, and made more favourable on our Side. My MasterCæsarhad seen and approved those Conditions; yet still I could not satisfy my self, till something more favourable was added. Whilst I was doing this, I was accosted withHaly’s Message as aforesaid.
Imet also with another grievous Rub; some Noblemen ofHungaryhad revolted from theVaivodeofTransilvaniato the Emperor, that is, to speak the Truth, had returned to their Duty; and the Garrisons also, which they commanded, yielded toCæsar. This new Accident might have disturbed all; for theTurkshad a specious Pretence to alledge, That, while Conditions of Peace were once on foot, such Alteration ought not to have been made; if Peace were cordially desired, all Things were to be returned to their pristine State: but, let Revolters speed as they pleased, what they had possessed ought to be returned to theVaivode, their Client and Vassal. But,Halywas so far from pressing this, that one express Condition was, that those Things should be ratified; which he willingly assented to. But the Ambassadors who came lately from theVaivode, were very much troubled at it; they rub’d upon the gall’d Place, and filled the whole Court with their Clamours, that their miserable Matter was deserted, the Law of Allegiance broken, and Enemies preferred before ancient Friends. All the rest of theBashawswere moved with their Complaints, onlyHalystood firm to me, so that the Articles of the Peace were not altered at all. For my part, though I knew that the Terms would be allowed by my MasterCæsar, yet, because there want not Sycophants in Princes Courts, who go about to obscure the best Services of their Ministers, especially if Strangers: I thereforethought it fit to leave all to the Pleasure of my Master: I toldHaly, that, though the proposed Condition did not fully answer the Expectation of my Master, I hoped, however, he would acquiesce therein, if an Agent of theirs were sent along with me to explain the Things that were obscure, upon which any Controversy might arise; and thatEbrahimseemed to be the fittest Man for this purpose, by whomCæsarmight write back his full Mind concerning the whole Project; this was easily assented to. Thus an End was put to a long and tedious Business.
’Tisa Custom, that when Ambassadors depart fromConstantinopleupon fair Terms, theBashawsdo entertain them with a Feast in theDivan; but I was willing to wave that Badge of Esteem, because I would have all left in suspence, and referred to the good Will and Pleasure of my Master.
Ihad a mind before my Departure, to buy some gallant Horses, and therefore, ordered my Servants to go often to the Markets, to see if they could find any such.Halybeing informed thereof, sent one of the best of his own Horses to the Fair to be sold; my Servants had their Eye presently on him, and asking the Price, they told them 120 Ducats; they offered 80, not knowing whose it was; but that was refused. A Day or two after, the same Horse, with two more quite as good, were sent me byHaly, for a Present; one was anArabianambling Nag, exceedingly well shaped. When I gave him Thanks for my noble Present, he asked me, whether I did not think that Horse which my Servant’s offered 80 Ducats for, was worth more? Yes, a good deal more, said I; but my Orders were, that they should not exceed that Price, for fear of losing too much, in case of any hidden Defect afterwards shew that I had bought Horses too dear. He advised mealso, how to manage theirTurkishHorses; as that I should give them but little Meat; that I should make but short Journeys at first, till they were us’d to the Roads; and that I should make nine or ten Days Journey toAdrianople, which used to be performed in five: He gave me also a curious Veil wrought with gold, and a Box full ofAlexandrianTreacle, the best in the World; and a Glass full of Balsam, which last he highly prized, complimenting me thus:Any other Present, said he,are such as Money can procure; but this is a rare Gift, that my Master cannot send a choicer to the best Friend or Ally he hath. I got it, said he,when I was Governor ofEgypt, which Place I held some Years: There are two sorts of that juicy Substance; one which is drawn from the Oil of the decocted Leaves of the Shrub on which they grow, which is black and not much worth; the other distils from the Bark of the Tree when it is cut, which is yellow and genuine; and mine was of that sort.He desired likewise, that I would send him some Presents, as a Coat of Mail fitted to his large and full Body, and a strong Horse that was sure-footed (for he was so big and pursy, that no Horse could be easily found, fit to carry him) and with all kind of varnishing Matter coming from theMaple, or any other Tree, wherewith our Artists use to inlay their Tables. As forSolyman, he gave me no Gifts but common ones, such as other Ambassadors have had at their Departure, and such as I received from him formerly at my Audience of Leave; only he inveighed against theHeydukes, and the Insolency of the Garrison ofSyeth: To what Purpose, is it,said he, to make Peace here, if they continue the War thus?I told him, I would acquaint my Master, and that I did not doubt, but he would redress it; and, thus by good Fortune, about the End ofAugust, I enteredupon my desired Journey, carrying with me a Truce of eight Years, the Fruits of my eight Years Abroad there, which may be continued for a longer Time, unless some considerable Change happens.
Whenwe came toSophia, where the Way parts, one toRhagusa, the other toBelgrade, LeyvaandRequesnedesired me to part Company, and go toRhagusa, that so they might more easily pass toVeniceandItaly, and procure those Gifts which they promised to lend to theBashaws, and repay the Money they had borrowed atConstantinople; and that they would send Letters of Thanks by me toCæsar, to give him due Acknowledgments for their Release: Which Service they would willingly have performed in Person, if their other Occasions had not hindered. I easily consented to their Requests, and was the better pleased, becauseRequesne, being a very old Man, died before he came toRhagusa: If I had denied their Request, it might have been thought my Refusal had contributed to his Disease.
De Sandeand my self passed the rest of our Journey without any great Inconvenience; for the Truth is, he is a very facetious Man, and, if he is troubled with Grief, he knows how to cover it, and to pretend Mirth outwardly. In our way, many diverting Things offered themselves; sometimes we would alight, and try which of us could run fastest; I, being lean, could easily out-run him, who was fat and pursy, and just come out of Prison. When we came near to a Village,Ebrahimwould ride up to us (for he with hisTurksfollowed gravely on Horseback) and beseeched us, by all that was dear to us, not to be seen on foot by the Villagers, for it would be accounted a Disgrace to us among theTurks. His Advice made us sometimes get into ourChariot again, but the Pleasure of walking afoot still got the better.
Oneofde Sande’s many facetious Sayings, I must give you. When we came fromConstantinople, the Weather was very hot, and it continued so sultry all the Way, that it palled my Appetite, and a very little Food served my Turn; butde Sande, being a robust healthy Person, eat like a Horse, and would ever now and then tell me, that I must follow his Example and eat like a Man of Mettle. Yet, all his Advice was to no Purpose, till about the Beginning ofOctober, I drew near to the Borders ofAustria; and there, partly from the Country, and partly from the Season of the Year, I began to be more healthy, and to take a larger proportion of Food.
Whende Sandeobserved that I had a better Stomach than formerly, he began to triumph over me exceedingly, boasting that ’twas by his Advice and Example, that I had learned to eat Meat, and that I, who was so many Years older, had need of a Monitor to advise me to take due Sustenance for my Body; so that if he were obliged to me for his Release, I was as much beholding to him for teaching me to recover my Appetite. In these ludicrous Repartees we came toTulna, where we met with some Trouble.De Sandeused to lye in the same House, if it were large enough to hold us both; if not, he took his Lodgings at some Neighbouring House, that he might not incommode me. He was willing to do so atTulna, and therefore, desired theJanizarieswhom I brought with me fromConstantinopletoBuda, to be my Harbingers on the Way, and to find out a convenient Lodging for him. One of my Servants a Doctor of Physic, and aSpaniard, whomde Sandehad released atConstantinopleat his own Charge, went along with theJanizaries.They happened to go to the House of anotherJanizaryhard by, who was appointed as Governor of the Place to guard Passengers; for theTurksuse to appoint one or twoJanizariesin every noted Town to protectChristianPassengers from Violence; by which Office they get no small Profit: But this Man, for some Offence or other, had been put out of his Office, and therefore, was of a very surly Temper. My People viewed his House, and not finding it for their Turn, were going away; theJanizaryfirst, my Servant next, and the Physician last. In theInterim, theJanizary, Master of the House, walking in his Garden, was told, that someChristianPassengers were seeking for a Lodging at his House: Whereupon, he came in a great Rage, with a Club likeHercules’s, in his Hand, and without speaking a Word, strikes the Physician a great Blow on the Shoulders, as hard as he was able; the Physician, to avoid a second Blow, ran out of the House. My Servant, looking back, saw him lift up his Club to strike him also; but he, having a Thing like a Hatchet in his Hand, held it cross-ways over his Head, and so kept off many a lusty Blow, till at last the Handle of the Hatchet, by his often stricking, began to break. Then my Servant was forced to close in with theJanizary, and was about to cleave his Skull with his Weapon: Whereupon, theJanizaryfled, and my Servant not being able to overtake him, threw the Hatchet after him, which cut him in the Hams, and fell’d him to the Ground; by which Accident, my People escaped: But the Physician cryed out, that he was a dead Man, and that all his Bones were broken in Pieces.De Sandeheard his Complaint; yet, though he was vext, could not choose but smile, as thinking that the Doctor was more afraid than hurt: But, that which most tormented him,was, lest on this Occasion he should be carried back toConstantinople: He was of Opinion that theBashawshad not dealt sincerely in his Case, but had made only a Pretence of releasing him to gratify me, and really sought an Occasion to drag him back again, to rot in Prison. For the same Cause, he was much offended with my Servant who had wounded theJanizary, especially for saying,That he was very sorry that he had not killed him upon the Spot. His Words to him were these;HonestHenry, Prithee be not so Passionate; ’tis no Time nor Place to shew thy Valour here; we must bear Affronts patiently, without any just Imputation of Cowardice, whether we will or no; we are in their Power: This unreasonable Passion may bring great Mischief to us; perhaps it may occasion us to be brought back toConstantinople, and there our whole Negotiation may be reversed, or at least become very dubious. I beseech thee, therefore, for my Sake among the rest, govern thy Passion.
ButHenrywas deaf to all his Persuasions; he being an obstinate Fellow, and when angry, would not hearken to Reason.What care I, replied he,if I had killed him? Did he not design to kill me? If one of his many Blows had gone home, he had knock’d me down like an Ox. Were I to be blamed, if I slew him who would have slain me first? I am sorry with all my Heart, I did not give him his Death’s Wound: But, for the future (take my Word for it) I’ll spare never aTurkof them all; for, if he assaults me, I’ll give him as good as he brings, though it cost me my Life.
De Sandedid not like this surly Answer; but theJanizarywho had received the Wound, made the worst of it; upon whose Complaint, two Jews, who could speakSpanish, came to me, and told me, that he was dangerously hurt, and if he did notgive him Satisfaction, the Matter would not so soon be passed over, but would create great Trouble to me. I answered them as I thought fit; but, because I knew the malicious Natures of theTurks, I thought it best speedily to guard against them; and, therefore, sent presently one of the Youths toEbrahim, desiring him to let one of his Servants be a Guide to one of mine toConstantinople, a sudden Emergency had made this Journey necessary.Ebrahimwondered what the Matter was, and came presently to me to know. I told him, I desired a better Convoy fromHali Bassa, otherwise I was out of Hopes ever to reach Home, for my two Servants were like to be killed; and then I told him the whole Story, with all its Circumstances.Ebrahimsoon perceived how much his own Interest was concerned, and therefore desired me to have a little Patience till he had spoken with theJanizary; to whom he presently went, and found him in Bed. He chid him very warmly for being so abusive to us, and told him I had made Peace with thePort, and was in great Favour withSolyman, and all theBashaws; that they had denied none of my Requests, but had granted me several Concessions for my own Sake, and that he was sent back to convoy me safe into my own Country, and to take Care that I might be honourably treated by the Way: That he was the first Man that offered me the least Affront; and that I was sending back one toConstantinopleto complain thereof; and if I did, it might cost him his Head. This took down myJanizary’s Crest, and put him into a terrible Panick besides.
Thenext Day we continued our Journey toBuda; and the Physician, notwithstanding his Bruises, was as well able to travel as any of us. When we came in Sight ofBuda, theBashawthereof sent some of his own Family, with severalChiauxesto meet us; and among the rest, there was a Troop of young Men on Horseback, which drew our Eyes after them in respect of the Novelty of their Garb; their Heads were uncovered, and their Crowns shav’d; there was a long Line cut with a Knife, and in the Wound they stuck Feathers of several Sorts; and, though Drops of Blood distilled down from their Wounds, yet they dissembled their Pain, and rode merrily on, as if they ailed nothing at all. Just before me, there walked some Footmen; one of them had his naked Arms a-kembow, and both had a Knife, (such as we callPragensian) run through them above the Elbow; another was naked, all the upper Parts, to his Navel, the Skin of his Loyns being so cut in two Places, both above and below, that a Club being run through them, hung down from thence as from a Girdle; another had a Horshoe nail’d to the Crown of his Head, and it was so old, that the Shoe and the Skin grew together.
Inthis Pomp we enteredBuda, and were introduced to theBashaw, with whom, in the Presence ofde Sande, I had a long Discourse concerning the Validity of the Truce I had made. In the Passage to him there stood those hardy Youngsters who were regardless of their Pain; casting my Eye upon them, theBashawdemanded, what I thought of them? I think, said I, that they are hardy Fellows; only they do that to their Skins, which I would not do to my Cloaths, for I had rather have them whole than slash’d. Whereupon, theBashawlaughed, and dismissed us.
TheDay after we came toGran; from thence toComara, the Frontier Garrison of the Empire, situate on the RiverWage; on both sides its Banks the Garrison of the Place, with the Seamen, calledtheirNassadists, waited for us. Before I passed over the River,de Sandecame to me, and embracing me in his Arms, gave me Thanks for completing his Liberty: He told me plainly, he thought theTurkshad but dissembled with him, and therefore, he was in continual Fear, lest he should be haled back toConstantinopleto die in Prison; but now, being in the Emperor’s Territories, he acknowleged himself to be eternally obliged to me.
Afew Days more brought us toVienna.Ferdinandthe Emperor, was then at the Imperial Diet, with his SonMaximilian, about Inaugurating himKing of the Romans. I acquaintedCæsarwith my Return, and withEbrahim’s coming, and desired to receive his Commands concerning him; for he had a great Desire to wait upon the Emperor atFrancfort. His Highness’s first Answer was, That ’twere best for theTurksto stay atViennatill his Return, it being not adviseable to carry an Enemy thro’ the very Heart of the Country, so long a Way as fromViennatoFrancfort. And, on the other side, Delays were dangerous, and might create Suspicion in theTurksof some unfair Dealing. As forEbrahim, and his Retinue, there was no danger in suffering them to pass through the most flourishing Part of the Empire; it was, indeed, desirable rather, that thereby they might take an Estimate of the Strength and Greatness of it, especially having now so fair an Opportunity of observing atFrancfort, with how great Unanimity PrinceMaximilianwas chosen and designed Successor to the Emperor his Father. When I wrote back to the Emperor according to the Purport aforesaid, he consented thatEbrahimand his Retinue should come toFrancfort. We began our Journey thither by the Way ofPrague,Bamberg, andWirtzburg.
Ebrahimpassing throughBohemia, was willing to pay his Court to Arch-DukeFerdinand; but the Arch-Duke would have itincognito. When we were a few Days Journey fromFrancfort, I thought proper to ride a Day or two’s Journey before, to acquaint the Emperor with some Things relating to my Embassy; which I did, and came toFrancfortthat Day seven Years on which I set out fromViennatoConstantinople. I was received by my Master with all imaginable Kindness, (not that I deserv’d it) but ’twas all owing to his innate Goodness and Custom so to do. You may imagine with yourself how joyful a Thing it was to me, after so many Years Absence, to return safe to the Presence of my Royal Master, who was pleased kindly to accept of the Fruits of my Embassy, and told me, that I had done all Things well, and that I should find the Effects of his Favour. He came toFrancfortthe Day before the Inauguration, late in the Evening, when the Gates were shut; and all the following Day they were not to be opened, by ancient Custom: But his Imperial Majesty gave express Command that they should be opened for theTurks. They had a Place assigned them, from whence they might beholdCæsarElect pass by with great Pomp and Splendor; it appear’d to them a glorious and magnificent Sight to see, amongst others ofCæsar’s honourable Train, three Princes, who could raise great Armies in their own Territories; to wit, the Dukes ofSaxony,BavariaandBrandenburg: They saw also, many other Monuments of the Dignity and Greatness of the Emperor. A few Days after,Ebrahimwas introduced into his Presence, and delivered the noble Presents theSultanhad sent him. The Emperor confirm’d the Peace, rewarded him amply, and sent him back with large Presents toSolyman.
Iam very willing to leave the Court, as not being pleased with that kind of Life; but some private Affairs as yet detain me. I know the Tediousness of Court-Attendance; much Mischief lies under an Appearance of Splendor; much Disguise, but little of Sincerity is there; all Courts are subject to Envy; faithful Friendship is hard to be found, and a change of Mind may occasion a Man’s sudden Ruin: For Princes themselves are but Men. I have seen a Man come to Court with a thousand Attendants, whom his Prince’s Displeasure has sent away with scarce one in his Company. A Court does not know what is truly good, till too late; it is altogether led by Shews, Shadows, Fallacies, and popular Mistakes. Those are fortunate Men who can lead such a Life in safety; but oh! may I live to the Muses and to my self, and grow old in a Country-Cottage, with a few trusty Friends! If any Life be desirable in this earthly Pilgrimage, ’tis this. Look upon the Court, and you will find there a Noble Buffoon preferred before a good Man: So that if you would represent a good Man amongst Courtiers, you may paint an Ass amongst Apes. I speak of common Courts in general; for I know that our Court, as well as some others, are adorn’d with many excellent and noble Personages: However, Solitude and Quiet affording Vacation to Study, is preferr’d by me before the Crowd and Noise of Courts. But, I am afraid, my best of Princes will not vouchsafe me the Retreat I beg for. ’Tis true, he gave me leave to depart, but upon this Condition, that I should return when call’d upon. If he commands me to Court again (for who can withstand the Desire of so gracious a Prince?) this only Comfort will be left me, that I shall every Day behold the Face of the most sacred of all Emperors; or (to phrase it otherwise) shall contemplate the livingImage of true Vertue: For assure yourself, that the Sun never shone upon a better Prince than this, nor one who governs more justly. Though his true, that the Majesty of Empire is a glorious Thing, yet to desire Empire, and to carry ones self worthy of it, is more Glorious. I speak not of his Birth, nor of the Nobleness of his Ancestors, he needs not such far-fetch’d Helps; his own Vertue is sufficient. Many Emperors have been (though unworthy) raised to the Throne; but his own Vertue exalted him.
Again, some have managed the Beginning of their Reign innocently and justly, but soon after they have degenerated into Licentiousness and Corruption,Forgetting they are Men, they would be esteem’d as Gods, and ador’d as such, endeavouring to be placed among the Gods; whereas they were unworthy to be reckon’d among Men. All men’s Necks cannot bear the Burthen of a high Estate, to which if they are advanced, they forget themselves: ’Tis a hard Thing to be able to compass all that a Man desires; and yet ’tis as hard to desire nothing but that which is good.
Asfor our Prince, his Eyes are not dazzled by Greatness; no Man retains Vertue more steadily he, nor takes greater heed that his pure Mind be not defiled by the Taint of his Fortune. He was always of this Opinion, That, as Majestic Robes attract the Eyes of Spectators, the Sanctity of Manners should much more incline their Minds. Therefore, he chiefly studies Piety, worships and adores his God, and lives always as in his Sight and Presence; he squares all his Actions throughout the whole Course of his Life by a Divine Rule and Prescript: Whatever happens either Prosperous or Adverse, he looks upon God as the Author, and receives it gratefully, as proceeding from his Hand.Thus he lives an Heavenly Life even upon Earth; he is not ignorant whole image he bears; and therefore, all his Words and Deeds are directed for the Public Good, for which he thinks he was born, and therefore prefers it before Advantages; He is so intent herein, that some blame him for being overmuch addicted to the Common-wealth, and neglecting his own Children and Family. He is extremely Courteous to all his Subjects, as if they were under his particular Care, and Himself were the Father of so vast a Family. What poor Man hath ever desired his help in vain? Who is there that hath not experienced his Liberality? He thinks that Day lost wherein he hath not done Good to somebody. He is beneficient to all, and in a singular Manner kind to his Domesticks; not a Man of them can say, that ever he was neglected by them. He knows their way of Life, the Deserts, yea, and the very Names even of the meanest of them. Tho’ he is so great a Prince, yet he thinks it not below himself, at convenient Opportunities to warn the negligent, and put them in mind of their Duty; and, if they mend their Manners, to reward them accordingly: So that they depart from him, rather as from a Father than a Master. He administers Justice with great Equity; for he thinks it unreasonable to prescribe Law’s to others, and break them himself; or to punish them in others, which he allows in himself. He never speaks rudely of any Man, and always honourably of the Absent. Probity is safe under his Guardianship; but Malice, Force, Fraud, evil and corrupt Ministers are exterminated, Offences and Wickednesses duly punish’d. The oldRomanshad Censors of Manners imposed upon them, to keep the People to their Duty; but here there is no need of any Censor, the Life of the Prince is a sufficient Censor, he is a shining Example to all, in what they shouldavoid, and what they should pursue. Good and learned Men which may profit the Commonwealth, he highly esteems; with these he is conversant, and, laying aside his Majesty, treats them as Friends and Equals; yea, he emulates their Virtues without Respect, whether they are Paternal and Hereditary, or acquired by their own Industry. With these, he spends the little Time he can spare from public Business: These are the Persons highly esteem’d by him, as judging it a public Benefit to restore due Honour to Vertue. He himself being curious by Nature, and desirous to know something worthy of a Man, has always some Questions to propose to the Learned; and sometimes he brings in some smart and genteel Repartees of his own, to the Admiration of his Hearers. Thus he hath laid in so considerable a Stock of Learning, that you cannot question him in any Thing, but he can give you some Account of it. He understands many Languages; first, theSpanish, which is hisMother-Tongue; next theFrench,German,Latin, andItalian: He can express his Meaning pretty well in theLatin, yet not so exactly, but that sometimes he breaksPriscian’s Head; a Fault blameworthy in aGramarian, but excusable in anEmperor.
WhatI have said of him, all Men living know to be true; but, perhaps, some may think it a Defect, that he is not enough given to Arms, and Atchievements worthy of the Laurel: For, say they, theTurkscarry all inHungary, and we do not help nor relieve them, as we ought; we should have join’d Armies in the Field, that it might be known whom Providence would have to bear Rule. I confess this Objection savours of Bravery, more than of Prudence, and therefore, let me trace the Matter a little higher. I am of his Opinion, ThattheGeniusof Emperors are to be judged of rather by their Councils, than by their Fortunes or Events; and that, by those Councils, the Times, our own Strength, the Nature and Power of our Enemies are to be regulated. If a common Enemy, well known to us, and famous for no Victory, should invade our Borders, ’twere Cowardice not to oppose him, if we have Forces enough. But if the Enemy be such as seem to be sent as a Scourge from God (such wasAtilaof old,Tamerlanein the Days of our Forefathers, and theOttoman Princesin our Age) whom nothing can withstand, who lays all waste before him; to oppose such an Enemy with small and new-levied Forces, would not only be rash, but even Madness itself.Solymancomes terrible, by his own and his Ancestor’s Successes: He invadesHungarywith 200,000 Horse, he draws near toAustria, and threatens the rest ofGermany; his Troops are fetched from the very Confines ofPersia; his Army is furnished from many Nations; each of the Three known Parts of the World conspire therein for our Destruction: He, like Lightning, strikes down all before him with his battering Army, and fills all Places with the Terror of his Name; he roars and Hovers round our Borders, striving to break in sometimes here, sometimes there. Many Nations of old, when they have been threatned with such Potent Enemies, have left their Native Country, and sought out other Habitations. To be unmoved in small Dangers, is but a mean kind of Praise; but not to be terrify’d by the coming of so great an Enemy, who has laid waste so many bordering Kingdoms, seems to me anHerculeankind of Constancy. Amidst these Dangers,Ferdinandheroically keeps his Station, and being of an unconquered Spirit, will not quit that, or his State. He could wish his Forces were sufficient to put allto the Hazard of a Battel, and that nothing of Madness were imputable to him upon that Account; but Prudence restrains his generous Efforts: He sees with what great Hazard his faithful Subjects, and the Ruin of all Christendom,an unsuccessful Battel would prove, and is very unwilling that the Public should pay for his Rashness. He considers how great the Odds would be, between 25 or 30,000 Foot, with a small Number of Horse, and 200,000 Horse, supported by a Veteran Body of Foot. What Hopes there may be of Success in that Case, the Example of former Times, and the Blood-shed atNicopolis, and atVarna, and the Fields ofMohac, as yet white with the Bones ofChristiansslain there, sufficiently inform us. ’Tis the Part of a foolish Commander, without duly weighing his own and the Enemy’s Strength, to rush into Battel, where his Loss can find no wiser an Excuse than,I had not thought. ’Tis all in all, what the Enemy is with whom we are to cope; this is an infallible Rule, laid down by all the gravest Authors that ever wrote of Military Affairs: such wasCæsar; he counted it a Happiness toLucullusand toPompey, that they had to do with a slothful Enemy, over whom they got Victories without Dust or Sweat; and when he had obtained such an easy Victory overPharnaces, he jestingly said,I came, I saw, I overcame: But were to make War with the People of those Countries (then effeminated by Luxury, but now harden’d by Want, Frugality, Hunger, Cold, Heat, continual Fatigue, and Severity of Discipline, to do and suffer any thing) he would tell us another Story. Hence it is, thatLivyreasons upon good Grounds, thatAlexandertheMacedonianwould not have had the same Success against theRoman Enemy, as against thePersian, or the WomanishIndian: There is a gooddeal of Difference between a Warlike, and a Luxurious People, unaccustomed to Arms. ’Tis true, the Multitude ofPersiansmade it an Admiration,That there was more Toil in Killing, than in Overcoming them. In my Judgment,Hannibal’s three Victories atTrebia, atThrasymene, and atCannæ, did far exceed all the Exploits ofAlexander: For why? the one overcame valiant Warriors, the other had to do with the slothful People ofAsia.
Fabius Maximushad as much Courage, asTitus Sempronius,Caius Flaminius, orVarro; and more Judgment: That great Commander knew that he had to do with an Enemy educated in the Camp, well vers’d in Arms, skilful in Military Discipline, who by a singular Fate, or Felicity, had obtained many Victories; therefore he was not rashly to venture all, but to use Delay to weary him out; that was the only Hope left against so great an Enemy, to evade his Assaults, and to drill on the Combat till an Opportunity was afforded for a Remedy. In the mean time, he was to be watch’d, restrain’d, and, as it were, nibbled at; wherein he was so happy, thatFabiuswas as much Renown’d asScipiohimself, who ended the War againstHannibal; for who knows whetherScipiowould have ever overcome him, ifFabiushad not first stopped the Course of his Victories? To overcome by Prudence is as highly to be priz’d, as to overcome by Force. The former has nothing common with Beasts, but Force has.
TheEmperorFerdinandhad the same Design withFabius Maximus, if his andSolyman’s Forces had been equal. His first Work would have been, to put all to the hazard of a Battel; but the Inequality considered, his next Design was, to stop an over-flowing Flood in Walls and Banks; and herein he employ’d his utmost Endeavours. ’Tis aboutForty Years sinceSolyman, in the Beginning of his Reign, tookBelgrade, slewLewisKing ofHungary, and thereby promised himself the Possession of that and other Countries; in hopes whereof he besiegedVienna, and, renewing the War, he reducedGonitziumagain, threaten’dViennaat a Distance. But what did he get by this great Armament: He was forced to stick in that Part ofHungarywhich he had already taken. He that was wont to conquer great Kingdoms by one Expedition, now subdued only some weak Castles and small Towns, which cost him dear: ’Tis true, he sawViennaonce, but never after. ’Tis said, thatSolymanwished his Life to be prolonged, to see three Things finished,viz.The Structure of his Temple, a sumptuous and magnificent Work! the repairing of the old Aquæducts to bring Water enough intoConstantinople, and the Conquest ofVienna. The two first he hath accomplished; but at the third he sticks, and I hope ever will; so that he always callsViennahisIgnominyandDisgrace. But to return.
TheEmperorFerdinandmay, doubtless, be register’d among the most famous Generals; for, though he had far less Aid than the Danger required, he yet was Master of himself, and principally by his Courage, he hath endured the Efforts of a powerful Enemy, for so many Years together: So that a greater Praise is due to him for preserving a great Part ofHungaryfor better Times, than to many Warriors, who with multitude of Military Preparations, and favourable Opportunities, have got many Victories over Kings and their Armies. The less Assistance he has had in a necessary Time, by so much the more the Valour of his Mind hath eminently appeared. Whosoever doth not put all upon one Event in the height of Success, not considering the Power of the Enemy, and the Seasonablenessof assaulting him, must needs conclude,That ’tis next to aPRODIGY, that the open and extensive Kingdom ofHungary, distracted with long Discords, could be defended so long, and that all of it is not already brought under the Yoke of so powerful an Enemy. ’Tis God’s great Mercy, and our Prince’s infinite Care that hath prevented it; whilst he is combating with one Difficulty, another arises in view greater than the former. The Enemy is in sight, Friends afar off, the Auxiliary Forces of his BrotherCharlestoo at a great Distance;Germany, though next to the Fire, yet weary in sending Aid; the Hereditary Countries exhausted by Contribution, and the Ears of manyChristianPrinces deaf when Assistance is desired of them, rather doing any thing, than that which is incumbent upon them; so that he is forced to withstand the Enemy only by his own Arms, with the Assistance of someHungarians,Austrians, andBohemians, and sometimes by hiring someItalianorSpanishSoldiers at a vast Expence. He defends the Confines ofHungary, with Garrisons fifteen Days Journey long; and has always Soldiers in Pay, even in Time of Truce. A Truce is sometimes necessary, and when the coming of a Tyrant is fear’d, and the Time affords no Opportunity of Resistance, ’tis seasonable to send Embassies to pacify him, that so great a Calamity may be averted from miserableHungary.
WhilstourPrincehas such a Burthen upon his Mind, he can hardly sleep for a whole Night together; he watches for the good of the Commonwealth; so great a Concern requires a perpetual Vigilance and constant Care. Do not think I flatter him: what I write is true. He hath but few Assistants in his Government, but those are very good Men; the chief of whom, not unknown to you by Name, are,Johannes Trantzen,Rudolphusa Harrach, both eminent for their Faithfulness and Prudence.