Ishall now acquaint you with the Effects of another Conference I had withRustan, whereby you may see what daily Feuds are between theTurksandPersians, upon the account of Religion. He ask’d me, one time, whether the War did continue betweenSpainandFrance? I told him, it did. ’Tis strange, says he, that they should fall out that are of one and the same Religion: I replied, ’tis no otherwise between those two Princes, than ’tis betwixtyouand thePersians. The Dispute is not about Religion, but about civil Right; Provinces, Cities and Kingdoms, which both lay claim to. You are quite mistaken, saysRustan, we are not of the same Religion with thePersians, but do count them a more Profane andHeathenishsort of People than youChristiansare. But to return to the Affairs ofHungary.
Sincemy last Return toConstantinople, Matters inHungaryhave received a very great Alteration, it would be too tedious to describe them particularly; and, besides, it were not conducive to my Design.Isabella, Wife to KingJohn, is returned intoTransilvania, together with her Son, having refused the Transactions and broken the League made with the EmperorFerdinand; and theTransilvanians, terrified by theTurkishArms, have again submitted their Necks to the oldOttomanYoke. Matters succeeding thus prosperously with theTurks, they are not therewith contented, but grasp at allHungarytoo; and, besides other Places, they resolved to besiegeSigeth, which signifies in theHungarianLanguage, anIsland, or Place naturally very strongly situated. And for this purpose they chose a General, who, upon the account of the Prosperity of his Arms in former times, created greatConfidence in his own Men, and struck as much Terror into his Enemy: His Name wasHaly Bassa, anEpirot, who had had good Success inHungarybefore, and especially in the Battel, wherein he overthrewSforza Palavicino, and the Bishop of Five Churches. He was sent for from the utmost Bounds of theTurkishEmpire towardsPersia, and came with great Expectation toConstantinople: My Collegues were yet here with me, pressing for a Dismission. ’Twas the pleasure of theBashawsthat we should see him, in regard we counted him, as they thought, the very Thunder-bolt of War.
Whenwe came to him, he received us courteously, and made a great Harangue to this purpose: That, “we should study Peace, and rather than sufferHungaryto be wasted with Fire and Sword, we should accept those Conditions, which theGrand Seigniorhad offered us.” We answered him, that “we desired nothing more than Peace; provided it might be had upon tolerable Conditions; but those which they offered, were against the Honour and Dignity of our Master.” Thus we took our leaves, after he had treated us with a Cup of Water diluted with Sugar. ThisHalywas an Eunuch, but the Constitution of his Body did seem to add to the vigour of his Mind: He was low of Stature, bloted in his Body, of a Bay-coloured Countenance, a sour Look, frowning Eyes, broad Shoulders and sticking up, between which stood his Head, as in a Valley. Two Teeth were prominent in his Mouth, like Boar’s Tusks, his Voice hoarse; in a Word, he was the Fourth Fury.
TheDay after he makes great Preparation for his Expedition intoHungary; where having spent some Time to provide Materials, he at last marches againstSigeth, and beats off those which were repairingBabock,a Castle ofCæsar’s; butCæsar, being acquainted long before with his Design, lendsFerdinand, one of his three Sons, a young Man, yet comparable, for greatness of Mind, to any of the old Generals, to oppose the Torrent ofHaly Bassa’s Force, and by his Valour to retrieve Affairs inHungary: He had no great Forces with him, but with a select Body of Horse he facesHaly’s Army; theTurksthat were present, related to me, that ’twas a goodly Sight to behold the Splendor, Order and Boldness of those Forces.Haly, being naturally of a fierce Disposition, and having a far greater Army, was even mad to think that a handful ofChristiansshould dare to look him in the Face.
Therewas a moorish Piece of Ground between both Armies, which could not be passed without great Danger;Ferdinandhad no need to pass it, for his Design was only to relieveSigeth, and to raise the Siege: ButHaly Bassa, was not in the same Circumstances; for, unless he would make a base and unhandsome Retreat (as the Event afterwards shewed) ’twas altogether necessary for him to do it; So that he, seeing to what Straits he was brought, resolved to put all upon hazard, and accordingly he bent his Bridle, to turn his Horse towards that inconvenient Place; when, behold! one of theSanziacks, that was near him, whose Name I remember not, taking Notice of the extream Danger he was running into, leap’d from his Horse, and taking theBashaw’s Horse by the Bridle,Sultan, says he (for so theTurkscall the great Dignitaries among them)Here you see into what a Jeopardy you were like to cast both yourself and your whole Army; you don’t consider what an incommodious Place this Marish is: TheChristiansare ready on the other side with Arms in Hand and Courage in their Hearts, to receive us, when we are half drowned and half covered with Mud;and thus they in good Order will assault us, being disordered and out of our Ranks, and will make use of all our Imprudence, to obtain a most assured Victory over us: Nay, rather moderate your Anger, and return to yourself and reserve so many brave Men, with yourself for the Service of your Prince, and for better Times.Upon this Speech,Haly, as if he had recollected himself, drew back; and there was not anyTurkamongst them, but was forced to confess, that the whole Army was sav’d by the Advice of thatSanziack.
Whenthis matter was carried toConstantinople, though theVizierand the ChiefBashawscould not deny the Thing, yet they thought it dangerous to suffer the Example of so audacious a Fact in theSanziackto pass unpunished: ’Tis true, they did mutteringly commend both his Fidelity and his Prudence; yet to suffer Disobedience to a superior Officer to pass without due Punishment, they thought it a dangerous Case in Military Discipline, so that he was called back toConstantinople, and there was cashiered for a Time; and when this Offence was sufficiently punished, as they thought, they bestowed upon him as good a Command; so that every Body saw his Punishment was inflicted rather for the preservation of the Discipline of War, than for any dire Merit of his Offence.
Haly, a while after, having lost a great Part of his Army, by the Charges and Ambuscades of theHungarians, made an ignoble and shameful Retreat toBuda, where for very Grief he breathed out his hateful Soul.
ButArch-dukeFerdinand, on the other side, returned toFerdinandhis Father, with the deserved Laurel of Victory, having performed an Exploit, not only of great Advantage for the present, but of much greater Benefit to future Ages, by the Example it gave; for hereby he made theTurksto know that if they proceeded on to press uponCæsar, hewanted neither able Soldiers, nor expert Commanders to chastise their Insolency.
YettheTurksof those Borders did not carry it with any great Modesty; for, whileHalywas yet encamped atSigeth, our Men had scaled the Walls ofGran, and taken the City, having a Castle near it of the same Name, where they got a great deal of Booty, and carried away the Inhabitants, being mostly Women and Children.
AMessenger was sent immediately toHaly, to acquaint him of the Loss; who coming into his Presence, by the very Consternation of his Countenance portended some great Mischief to have happened to them. TheBassapresently asked him, how Things went? and what was the Cause of his great Fear?Sir, says he,the Enemy hath taken and plunderedGran; which great Blow occasions my Grief.A Blow, Fool, says theBassa!tell me of a Blow when I have lost my Genitals(to which he pointed with his Hand)that shew me to be a Man. Thus did he scoff at the Consternation of the Messenger, not without the Laughter of the By-standers, and undervalued the Loss ofGran, which was easily recoverable.
Moreover, inCroatiaand the adjoyning Countries, several Inroads were made by both Parties, and each side did alternately suffer for their over-boldness and supine Security. Let me give you an Instance, which, as it gave me joy, will not, I dare say, be unpleasant, to you to hear of. It happened, indeed, some what before the Passage atSigethlately mentioned; but in Writing an Epistle, I do not strictly observe the Order of Time.
Newswas brought toRustan, from those Parts, that a certain Confident of his, whom he highly esteemed, and called Cousin, had fallen upon a Party ofChristians, as they were celebrating a Wedding, and being at a sufficient Distance, as they thought, from theTurks, counted themselves secure;when behold this bold and unwelcome Guest, with Armed Forces, came in upon them, spoiled their Mirth, slew some, and took some Prisoners, among whom was the unfortunate Bridegroom, with his un-bedded Spouse:Rustandid much rejoyce at this Exploit, and in all Companies highly commended the Stratagem of his Kinsman, for performing it.
Apitiful Case, you will say, rather to be lamented than related: But these are the Tragical Sports of insolent Fortune; yet Revenge followed him at the Heels,Rustan’s Laughter was soon turned to Sadness: For a little while after one of theDeli’s, or mad Sparks, a sort of furious Horsemen among theTurks, so called by their outragious Boldness, came post to him out ofDalmatia, and told him, that a parcel ofTurkshad made an Excursion into the Enemies Country, and had got great Booty, but seting no bounds to their Avarice, they, at last were encountered with a Party ofChristians,DragoonsorMusketeers, who totally routed them, slew manySanziacks, and among them hisAchilleanCousin, lately so much extolled by him. This sad News madeRustanburst out into Tears, so that his fit of Laughter was justly requited. But hearken to the close of the Story, which is not unpleasant: When thisDalmatianTrooper, who brought the News, was asked by theBassa, in theDivan, How many were there of you? He answered, above two thousand five hundred: And how many of theChristians? I think, says he, they were not above five hundred, unless there were more of them in ambush, as we suspected. Fie for Shame, said the frettingBassas! what! a regular Army ofMussulmans(so they call the Men of their own Religion) to be beaten by so small a handful ofChristians! You are goodly Warriors indeed! fitto eat theSultan’s Bread, are, you not? The blunt Fellow, nothing dismay’d, replied, you are quit beside the Cushion; did I not tell you that we were beaten by Musketeers? ’Twas the Fire defeated us, not the Valour of our Enemies. We had come off Conquerors, if we had contested by Valour only; but who can fight against Fire, the fiercest of Elements? and what Mortal can stand, if the very Elements fight against him? This bold Answer of his, being as saucily pronounced, made the By-standers ready to burst out into a Laughter, though on this sad occasion to them.
ThisMatter did very much raise my Spirits, which were quite sunk at the Remembrance of the former Mis-hap of the Marriage-Feast. This Story informs us, that our Pistols and Carbines, which are used on Horseback, are a great Terror to theTurks, as I hear they are to thePersiansalso; for once, there was a Fellow that persuadedRustan, when he accompanied his Prince in a War againstPersia, to arm two hundred Horse of his Domesticks with Pistols: For those, said he, will be terrible to our Enemy, and will also do great execution upon them.Rustanhearkned to his Counsel, and furnished out a Party, as advised; but, before they had marched half way, their Carbines or Pistols were ever now and then out of Order; one thing or other was broke or lost, and scarce any Body could mend them: Hereupon this Party was useless. TheTurkswere also against this Armature, because it was slovenly (theTurks, you must know, are much for cleanliness in War); for the Troopers Hands were black and sooty, their Cloaths full of Spots, and their Case-boxes that hung by their Sides made them ridiculous to their Fellow-Soldiers, who therefore jeered them, with the TitleMedicamentarii, orMountebank Soldiers; hereupon theyapply themselves toRustan, complaining of this broken, useless Armour, which could do no Service against an Enemy, and entreating to have their usual Weapons again, their Bows and Arrows; which, are readily granted them.
Themention I made a while ago of things acted in the Confines ofHungary, gives me occasion to tell you, what theTurksthink of Duels, which amongstChristiansis accounted a singular Proof of personal Valour. There was oneArslambeg, aSanziack, that lived in the Frontiers ofHungary, who was very much famed for a robust Person; he was very expert at the Bow; no Man brandished his Sword with more Strength, or was more terrible to his Enemy. Not far from him there dwelt oneUliber, aSanziackalso, who was emulous of the same Praise; and this Emulation (heighten’d, perhaps, by other Motives) at length occasioned Hatred and many bloody Combats between them. It happened thus,Uliberwas sent for toConstantinople; upon what occasion I know not. When he came thither, and theBashawshad asked many Questions of him, in theDivan, concerning other Matters, at last they demanded how he andArslambeg(Arslasignifies a Lion inTurkey) came to fall out? Hereupon he makes a long Narration of the Grudges between them, with their Causes and Progress; and to put a fairer Gloss on his own Cause, he added, that onceArslambeghad laid an Ambush, and wounded him treacherously: And that, said he, he needed not have done, if he would have shewed himself worthy the Name he bears; for I have often challenged him to fight Hand to Hand, and never shun’d to meet him in the Field. TheBashaws, much offended, thus replied,How durst thou challenge thy Fellow-Soldier to a Duel? What, was there never aChristiantofight with? Do not both of you eat your Emperor’s Bread? And yet, forsooth, you must go about to take away one another’s Lives! What Precedent had you for this? Don’t you know, that whoever of the two had died, the Emperor had lost a Subject?Whereupon, by their Command, he was haled to Prison, where he lay pining many Months, and was, at last, with Difficulty, released; yet with the loss of his Reputation.
AmongusChristians, many who have never come in sight of a public Enemy, draw their Swords upon one another, and think it a brave and honourable Thing. What shall a Man do in such a Case, when Vice usurps the seat of Virtue, and that which deserves Punishment, is counted noble and glorious? But to return, I know you are inquisitive, and therefore give me leave to acquaint you with the public Entrance, which the King ofCholchosmade into this City. His Kingdom is by the RiverPhasis, in a Creek or Bay of theEuxineSea, not far from MountCaucasus. His Name isDadianus, a Man of a tall Stature and grateful Countenance, but of a rough-hew’n Disposition, as some say. He came with a great Train, but in a very Thread-bare, and old-fashion’d Garb. TheItalians, at this Day, call theColchians Mingrelians: They are some of that People, inhabiting between theCaspian Gates, (called by theTurks,Demit capi, i. e.Iron Gates,) and thePoticandHyrcanian-Seas: They are at this Day calledGeorgians; whether from that sort of Christian Religion, which they profess, or whether that be their ancient Name (which seems most probable,) is not fully determined. TheAlbaniansandIberiansare reckoned a Part of them. The Cause of his coming is uncertain: Some say, he was sent for by theTurk;for, when he makes Wars upon thePersian, if theColchiansand the People of that Tract join with him, they may give him notable Assistance. But the vulgar and more credible Opinion was, that he came to desire the Assistance of some Gallies against his Neighbour, theIberian, who had slain his Father; which if he could obtain, then he would become Tributary to theSultan. For, you must know, that there is an old and inveterate Hatred between theColchiansand theIberians. Once there were some Overtures of Accommodation between them, and a Conference was had thereupon, between great Numbers of both Nations. At this Meeting, they began, first, to try who should be the greatest Drinkers; in which Contest, theColchians, fell fast asleep. The treacherousIberiansmade use of this Opportunity, and hurried away honestDadianusas yet snoring, into a Chariot, and shut him up Prisoner in a high Tower, as if he had been lawful Prize taken in War. To revenge this Injury, and to recover their King, theColchianslevied an Army of 30,000 Men, who were commanded by the Wife of the captive King, a Woman of great Spirit, and not unskill’d in Horsemanship, or handling of Arms. The Commanders, in this Army, wore huge and unwieldy Coats of Mail, and were also armed with Swords and Spears pointed with Iron. They had also amongst them, a party of Musketeers, a strange sight in that Country. As for the common Soldiers, they had no Arms, but Arrows, or Stakes burnt at one end, or great wooden Clubs. Thus they rode on Horseback, without Saddle or other Furnture.
Thisrude and discomposed Multitude, drew near to the Place where their King was in Custody, but were soon terrified with the Discharge of a few Guns from the Castle, and ran back a full Mile; but then taking Heart, on they came again, butwere repulsed with the like Noise as before.Dadianus, perceiving help so near, cut his Bedcloaths into a kind of Ropes, and so let himself down by Night, through his Window, and fled to his own People. This Stratagem of their King, and the successful Issue of it, is highly praised by that People, even to this very day.
TheCountry ofColchisabounds with all sorts of Fruits, growing almost naturally, except Bread-Corn, Wheat and Barley; and these Grains would grow there also, if due Tillage were used about them: But the People are very idle, they only sow Millet at randum, which yields such an Encrease, that one Crop serves them for two Years; their chief Subsistence is thereon, neither desire they any other Corn. Their Vines grow at the foot of high Trees, and mounting up to their Boughs, yield them much Wine, and pretty good. These Vines last for many Years. Their Bees, like themselves, live in the Woods, and supply them with Wax and Honey; all the Pains they take, is, to find them out. The same Woods yield them plenty of Venison; as for Pheasants and Partridges, they abound all over the Country. A great proof of the Fertility of their Land, are their Melons, which, besides their extraordinary Sweetness, do oft grow three Foot long.
Asfor coin’d Silver, they have little or none, and of Gold less; few of them know what it is: So that they may seem a very happy People, who are without so great a Temptation to Mischief. And yet I think few of us do envy them this Happiness, because none can grow rich among them; yet they have that value for Silver, that when they receive any in Traffick with Foreigners, as some of them must needs do, they transfer it all to he use of their Temples, for making Crucifixes, Chalicesand such like Ornaments, which sometimes their King, on pretence of Public Necessity, doth seize upon, and amass it all to his own use.
Theironly way of Commerce among themselves is by exchange of Wares. If one have overmuch of a Commodity, he brings it to Market, and receives what he wants in Exchange; so that there is no need of Money, their Commerce is by bartering of Commodities.
Theypay also their Tribute to their King in the Products of the Earth; they supply him with all Necessaries largely, both for Meat, Drink, and Apparel, for maintaining of his Houshold, and is reward the Deserving. And, indeed, he hath an unexhausted Revenue, not only from Tenths, and settled Customs, but from those Gifts which are daily bellowed upon him; and yet he is as liberal in bellowing them, as he is ready to receive them.
HisPalace is, as a public Granary, stored with all manner of Provisions, which are disposed to all that need, out of his royal Bounty; especially if that Year’s Harvest hath disappointed the Husbandman. The Custom is, that if any Merchant come with his Ship thither, he makes a Present to the King, either small or great, nothing is refused, and the King bestows a Banquet on them ashore. The manner is thus.
Thereis a large Building, on both sides of which are the King’s Stables, where a long Table is plac’d for the King; he himself fits at the upper end, and, at a moderate Distance, fit the rest. The Table is well furnished, especially with Venison, and with Wine enough; the largest Drinkers are the welcomest Guests. The Queen, with her female Attendants, hath a Table in the same Room, but apart by themselves; and then theyjunket freely without much regard to Modesty; they carry themselves like Anticks, fleering, nodding, tipping the Wink, like so manyMedea’s, if there wereJasonsready for them.
AfterDinner, the King, with his Guests, goes a Hunting; and, in Woods, under the Shadow of large Trees, the common People divert themselves, and keep Holy-day in Drinking, Dancing and Singing. They hang their Fiddles on long Poles or Boards, and then striking them with a Stick, make Musick, and sing to it the Praise of their Mistresses, or of their valiant Men. Among their Heroes (unless I am misinformed) they often mention oneRowland; how he came into that Country I know not, unless he passed thither withGodfreyofBullogne. They tell many prodigious Stories of thisRowland, as ridiculous and improbable as any Romance among us.
Whilstthey are thus given to Idleness and Luxury, Dissoluteness must needs follow; and, to speak Truth, Chastity is a Virtue rarely found among them. The Husband will offer his own Wife or his Sister, to the Pleasure of a Stranger; and, if they can but thus please their Wives, they care for little else. Neither are their Daughters kept under any stricter Discipline. ’Tis hard to find a Damsel unvitiated among them; nay, some have born Children at ten Years old; and, if you scruple to believe it, because of the smallness of their Bodies, at your Request they will produce you an Infant, not much bigger than a large Frog. Whereas, otherwise, they are a tall and comely bodied People. But they are so void of all Civility and courteous Behaviour, that they think they pay you a great Compliment, if among other Barbarities, when they meet you,they make a certain Sound from their Throats like Belching.
Inone thing they shew a great Dexterity of Wit, and that is in Stealing. He that pilfers most neatly, is counted a brave Fellow; but he that does it bungingly, is esteemed a Dunce and a Blockhead, not worthy to live; and even his own Father or his Son, will sell or exchange him for a small Matter to Merchant-strangers, to be carried away they care not whither.
AnItalianMerchant who had been in these Parts, told me, that a certain Priest of theirs, stole his Knife as he was in their Temple. He perceived the Theft, but dissembling it, gave him the Sheath also, that he might put up his stol’n Ware.
Whenthey go into their Temples, they have some esteem for the Images of the VirginMary, ofPeterandPaul, and other Saints; but their greatest Veneration is for the Image of St.Georgeon Horseback. They fall down prostrate before it, kissing every part of it; even his Horse’s Shoes. They say, he was a valiant Man, a great Warrior, that in a single Combat did openly fight Hand to Hand with theDevil, and either conquer’d, or, at least, foil’d him.
I’llacquaint you with one Passage more, which you cannot but stand amazed at. ’Tis this.
ThePrinces of the East are always presented with Gifts at any Audience.Dadianus, in compliance with this Custom, broughtSolymana Cup or Dish of Carbuncle, so bright and shining, that in a dark Night a Man might travel by the Light of it, as well as at Noon-day. I cannot believe it, you’ll say: Nor do I: Neither can I be angry with you for suspending your Belief; but, whatever you and I do, let me tell you, there are enough that do believe it. The more judiciousthink it to be a small Goblet ofCarbuncle, orGranate, which was lost in Shipwrack, when a certain Prince ofPersiawas flying from his Father toConstantinople, and driven, by a Tempest, to theColchianShore, where it was taken up. He brought also 20 whiteHawks, calledFalcons, there being Plenty of them in that Country ofColchis.
Thisis all I can inform you of, concerning theColchiansand their Manners; let me now proceed to answer your Demands concerning my self, and my own way of Living. I seldom go abroad, unless I receive Letters from my Master to be delivered at the Court; or, unless I am commanded to expostulate with theBashawsconcerning the Rapines and Cruelties of theTurkishGarrisons, which is ordinarily twice or thrice a Year. Perhaps, if I would desire leave to ride about the City with my Keeper, it would not be denied me: But I have no mind to be so much beholding to them; for I would have them think that the strictness of my Confinement or Imprisonment is not valued at all by me; and, to speak Truth, what Comfort can I have to ride up and down among a parcel ofTurks, who will either slight, or else jeer and reproach me? No, I like the Country and the Champaign better than the City; especially that City which is so full of Ruins, and which retains nothing of its ancient Glory, besides its Situation. ’Tis true, it was once a Rival toRomeit self; but now, alas! it is shamefully inslaved; who can without Pity behold it? Who so hard-hearted, as not to be affected with the mutability of human Affairs? And who knows how near we are to the same Fate? I keep my self within my own Doors, conversing with my old Friends, I mean, my Books, in which is all my Delight. ’Tis true, formy Health’s Sake, I have made a Bowling-Green, where, before Dinner, I use to play; and, after Dinner, I practise theTurkishBow.
TheTurksare wondrous expert at shooting with the Bow; they accustom themselves to that Exercise from 7 or 8, to 18 or 20 Years of Age, and hereby their Arms grow stronger, and their Skill so great, that they will hit the smallest Mark with their Arrows. Their Bows are not much stronger, but for their shortness much handier than ours; they are not made of plain Wood, but of a String and Ox’s Horn, fastened with much Glew and Flax. These sort of Bows, though never so strong, theTurks, who are used to the Sport, can easily draw even to their very Ear; and yet one that is not accustom’d thereto, though never so strong a Man, cannot draw to that height, so as to strike a piece of Money, set upright between the Bow and the String, in the Angle where it is put into the Notch.
Theyaim their Arrows so sure, that in a Fight they will hit a Man’s very Eye, or any other Part they design to strike. In the place where they exercise, you may see them direct by their stroke so artificially, that 5 or 6 of their Arrows will stick round about the White in the Butt, (which is usually less than a Dollar) and yet not hurt or touch it. They stand not above 30 Foot from the Butt: In the Thumb of their Right Hand, they use Rings of Bone, on which the String lies, when they draw it; and with the Thumb of their Left Hand, they draw the Arrow by a knot bearing outwards; far otherwise than they do with us. Their Butt is made of a Bank of sandy, gravelly Earth, raised about four Foot high from the Ground, and strongly surrounded with Boards. But theBashaws, and those that have great Families,train up their Servants in this Exercise, at their own Houses, where the more skilful teach the unexperienced. Some of these in their solemnBayram, (for they also have theirEaster) assemble themselves together in a great Plain aboutPera, where sitting over-against one another cross-legg’d, as Taylors do with us, (for that is the manner of their sitting) they begin with Prayer (so theTurksbegin all their Enterprizes) and then they strive, who shall shoot an Arrow farthest. The whole Contest is managed with a great deal of Decency and Silence, though the number of Spectators be very great. Their Bows are very short for this Exercise, and the shorter the better, so that they are hardly bendable, but by well-practised Persons: Their Arrows also are of a peculiar kind. He that conquers hath a Linnen-Handkerchief, such as we use to wipe off our Sweat, wrought with embroidered Needle-work, for his Reward; but his greatest Encouragement, is the Commendation and Renown he gets. ’Tis almost incredible how far they will shoot an Arrow; they mark the place, with a Stone, where the farthest Arrow, for that Year, was lodg’d. There are many such Stones in the Field, placed there Time out of Mind, which are farther than they are able to shoot now a-days, they say. These were the Marks of their Ancestor’s Archery, whose Skill and Strength in Shooting, they acknowledge, they cannot reach to. In divers Streets and Cross-ways of the City ofConstantinople, there are also such Sports, wherein not only Children and young Men, but even the graver sort do exercise themselves. There is one that takes care of the Butt, who waters it every Day, otherwise it would be so dry, that an Arrow (theTurkishArrows being always blunt) would not stick therein. And he that thus oversees the Mark is verydiligent to draw out and to cleanse the Arrows, and throw them back to the Archers, and he hath a Stipend from them sufficient to maintain him. The Front of the Butt is like a little Door, whence, perhaps, came theGreekProverb; that, when a Man miss’d the Mark, he is said to shootextra januam, besides the Door; for, I suppose, theGreeksused this way of Butting, and that theTurksborrowed it from them. I grant the use of the Bow is very ancient among theTurks; but that hinders not, but, when they conquered theGrecianCities, they might still retain their way of butting and bounding their Arrows. For no Nation scruples to transfer the profitable Inventions of other Nations to themselves, as I might instance inGreat Ordnance, and inMuskets, and other things, which, though not our Inventions, yet theTurksborrow their use of from us.
’Tistrue, they could never yet be brought to the Printing of Books, nor to the setting up public Clocks. The Reasons are, that their Scripture (i. e.)Alchoran, would no longer be called Scripture, or Writing, if it were Printed, (that’s their Fancy); and for Clocks, they suppose, that the Authority of theirEmraim, and of their ancient Rites would be diminished, if they should permit the Use of them. In other Cases, they ascribe much to the ancient Institutions of other Nations, even almost to the prejudice of their own Religion. I speak of their Commonalty.
AllMen know how averse they are from the approving ofChristianRites and Ceremonies; and, yet, let me tell you, that, whereas theGreekPriests do use, at Spring-time, a certain way of Consecration to open the Sea for Sailors (before which time, they will hardly commit their Vessels to the Waters) theTurksalso observe the sameCeremony: For, when their Vessels are ready to sail, they repair to theGrecians, and ask them, whether they have consecrated the Sea? If they sayNo, they desist; ifYea, then they set sail and away. ’Twas also a Custom of theGreeksnot to open the Pits, in the Isle ofLemnos, for the digging out of the Earth, called,Agosphragod, before the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord,viz.August6. TheTurksalso observe the same Custom; and, whereas theGrecianPriests did anciently celebrate the Liturgy at that time, theTurkswill have them do so still; and they themselves stand at a distance, as Spectators only: And, if you ask them, why they do this? Their Answer is, that there are useful Customs practised of old, the Causes whereof are not known. The Ancients, they say, saw and knew more than we; and, therefore, we will not violate their Customs, lest we do it to our loss. This Opinion hath so far prevailed against many of them, that I know some, who in private will baptize their Children, alledging, there is some good in that Rite, and that it was not instituted, at first, without just Cause.
Havingacquainted you thus far with theTurkishExercises, let me add one more. They have a Custom derived from theParthians, that they counterfeit flying away on Horseback, and presently turn back and kill their unwary Pursuers. The way they learn to do it, is this: They erect a high Pole, almost in plain Ground, with a brass Globe on the top of it; about this they spur their Horses, and having got a little beyond, the Horse still galloping, they presently turn about, and flying along, shoot an Arrow into that Globe. The frequent Use hereof makes them expect,that their Bow being turn’d in their Flight, their unwary Enemy is shot through.
’Tistime now, you’ll say, that I return to my Lodging, lest my Keeper should be angry with me. Well, then; what time is left me from beholding these Exercises, I bestow entirely on my Books, or in Conferences with my Friends the Citizens ofPera, originallyGenoese, or others; yet not without the leave of myChiauxes. These Fellows are not always in the same Humour; they have their lucid Intervals, in which they are more tractable than at other times. When ’tis fair Weather with them, theRagustæans, theFlorentines, theVenetians, and sometimes theGreeks, with other Nations, come to visit me, on one Account or another; sometimes, also, I converse with Men of more remote Countries, that come hither, whose Conversation much delights me.
Afew Months ago, there came hither a Merchant fromDantzick, who had the sole vending of Amber. He wondred to what Use theTurkscould put so great a Quantity of it, as they bought; or, whither they sent it: At last he was told, that they sent it intoPersia, where that kind of Juice, or Bitumen, is highly esteemed; for they adorn Parlors, Studies, and Temples with it. He bestowed upon me, a wooden Vessel full of that Liquor, they callJuppenbier. It was most excellent Stuff: But I laughed heartily at my Guests, bothGreeksandItalians, who, not being accustomed to this Liquor, could not tell what to call it. At length, because I told them ’twas good to preserve Health, they thought it was some medicinal Drug, and called it aSyrup; but they sipp’d and syrupp’d it about so long, that, at one Dinner, they emptied my Barrel.
ThisLiberty myChiauxes(who now and then are changed) do sometimes give me. They are not only willing I should go abroad, but often invite me so to do: But I, as I told you before, always refuse them, that so they may not think they can do me either good or hurt; and the Pretence I make use of is this, that I have tarried so long at Home, that now I am grown to the Walls of the House, so that if I go forth, it would fall. I will not, therefore, stir abroad, say I, till I go for good and all into my own Country.
Asfor my Family, I am glad that they go abroad sometimes, for thereby they learn to bear the long Absence from their own Country, the better.
Butyet when they make use of this Liberty, the drunkenTurksoften meet and quarrel with them in the Streets, especially, if noJanizariesbe with them; and, though there be, yet sometimes Blows happen on both sides: And, therefore, it is troublesome to me, to excuse my Domesticks, when they are clamour’d against; yet, I confess, the surliness and vigilance of myChiauxes, in keeping fast my Doors, do in a great Measure ease me of that troublesome Office. Let me give you a late Instance of this kind.
Therecame lately to me a Messenger from my Master, the Emperor, onePhilip Baldus, anItalian. He was 66 Years old; and, riding faster than his Age could bear, he fell into a Fever. My Physician prescribed him a Clyster, and the same being brought by the Apothecary, myChiauxwould not let him in, nor suffer the Medicine to be brought to the sick Man. Inhumanely enough, you’ll say; especially, as thatChiauxhad carried it courteously to me for a long time; but now he was so inraged on a sudden, that ’twas intolerable, for he threatned to cudgel every body that cameto me. After he had thus affronted me, I thought of a way to let him know, how little I valued all his bug-bear Threats; which was thus. I set one of my Servants to stand within my Gate, and to bar it; charging him, to open to none, but at my Command. TheChiauxcomes in the Morning to unlock the Gate, as his Custom was; but his Key availed not, for ’twas bolted. On the in-side he spied my Man, through the Chinks, and calls out to him to open it. Not I, says he; hereupon theChiauxbegan to be angry, to curse and call Names. Prate while you will, says my Servant, neither thy self nor any of thine shall come in here: For why should I open to thee, more than thou to us? Thou keepest us shut in, and we’ll keep thee shut out; do thou shut the Door without, and to be sure I’ll shut it within. What, says he, did your Master command you so to do? Yes, said I: However, says theChiaux, let me come in and put my Horse in the Stable: No Stabling for your Horse here, said he. Let me then have some Hay and Provender out for him: Not a bit, says he; go and buy it in the Neighbourhood, there’s enough to be sold. I used frequently to make theChiauxsit down at Meat with me, or else send him something from my Table; But now the Case was altered; he stood, fasting as he was, at my Door, his Horse being tied to aPlane-Tree, over against it.
TheBashaws, and other Grandees, as they passed by that Place in their return from Court, and knew, by its Trappings, that it was theChiaux’s Horse, eating his Hay under thePlane-Tree, they demanded the Reason, why he was not shut up in a Stable, as heretofore? He readily told them all the Matter; that as he shut us up, so he and his Horse were shut out, so that the onecould not get Food, or the other Provender. When the rest of theBashawsheard this Story, they laugh’d heartily, and from that Time held it fruitless to think of terrifying me with such frivolous Vexations as the shutting my Doors.
Buta while after thatChiauxwas removed, and then we had more Liberty.Rustanhimself was satisfied how vain his Menaces were by this Story, I shall now relate.
Therecame a certain agedSancto, of great Esteem among them for his Piety, to pay his Court to him; and, among other Discourses, he askedRustanwhy, since theSultan’s Children were at Discord one with another, which was likely to occasion great Troubles in their Empire, he did not make Peace with theGermanEmperor, thatSolymanmight be secure from Danger on that side? I desire nothing more, saysRustan; but how can I bring it about? His Demands I cannot yield to, and my Demands he will not accept, nor can I compel him so to do. I have tried all Ways to bring him to my Terms; I have kept him in the nature of a Prisoner these many Years, I have dealt coarsely enough with him; and yet, alas! he is but hardened the more thereby. When I would shut him up as a close Prisoner in his own House, then he bars his Door on the Inside, that no body can come at him; thus all my Labour is in vain. If another Man had been so hardly dealt with, to avoid the Durance, he would have turned to our Religion; as for him, he cares not a Rush.
ThiswasRustan’s Discourse, as some present thereat informed me.
Thereason of their surly Carriage, is this: TheTurksare very suspicious, that the Agents of Christian Princes have a great Latitude in theirCommissions; so that they have Power to alter them, as occasion serves; if they cannot at first get favourable, then they may except of harder Terms. To get out of them the full of their Commissions, they vex their Persons, shut them up close, threaten War, and abuse them all manner of ways.
Somethink, that a certainVenetianResident did much encourage theTurksto these Courses; for when the Dispute was between theVenetianandTurk, aboutNapoli di Romania, their Agent had a Charge to try all other ways of Accommodation, without surrendering the City; but if no milder Terms would do, then he had Liberty to part with that City, rather than to engage in a War with the Port: SomeVenetianTraytor declared this part of his Commission to theTurks, unknown to the Resident himself; who rather denied that he had any other Commands, than what he had then proposed, which were the gentlest Terms. TheBashawsjudging themselves to be deluded, were very angry, and bid him have a care what he said; their Master was not to be mock’d; they knew well enough that he had other Commands, and thereupon, they recited to him the full of his Commission; so that now, said they, if you do not tell us, we shall look on you as a Liar and an Impostor, and then he would be punished as such; and his Commonwealth would certainly be ruined, if the implacable Anger ofSolymandid once, on this Occasion, stir him up to War against him; and, therefore, speak now, or for ever hereafter hold your Peace: Our Master will not use Entreaties; he hath not Power enough, God be thanked, to command Obedience.
TheVenetianAgent was so surprized at this Discourse, which he did not so much as dream of,that he very frankly told them all; for which, however, he was very much blamed in his own Country.
Eversince that time, theTurkshave indulged their Suspicions, that the Christian Agents deal but partially with them; and, therefore, they must humble them to get out all the Truth. Upon this they imprisonedVelduvic, the EmperorCharles’s Ambassador, 18 Months, and my Collegues more than three Years, and at last sent them away, without doing any thing. As for my self, I know not how long I shall be kept in this Durance; for my part, I see no end of it.
WhenBaldus, that ancient Man of whom I spake before, came to me, they suspected that he had brought me new Commands, which allowed me to yield to harder Conditions of Peace; and they feared that I would conceal them, because I knew well enough their intestine Discords; so that, by dealing harshly with me, they thought to extort the whole Truth from me. Upon the same Design,Rustanonce sent a large Gourd, called by theGermans Wasser-plutzer. They ripen to a delicious Sweetness atConstantinople; their Seeds are red within, and they came originally fromRhodes. By this Present, sent to me by my Secretary,Rustandid jestingly insinuate the fear of a War; it was brought me when the Weather was very hot, and the Juice is good to cool inward Heat. He sent this Compliment with it, that I should make use of the Fruit suitable to the hot Season, for it is an excellent Cooler; but I should know, withal, that a great number of those Plants did grow aboutBudaandBelgrade, of a much larger size than that which he sent me, meaning therebyCannon-Balls. I returned Thanks for my Present, and told him, I should make use of it; but, forBudaandBelgrade, ’twas no great wonder they grew there, since there was Plenty of them, even of a larger size, atVienna. It was a pleasure to me, to letRustanknow by my Answer, that I could retort Quibble for Quibble.
Butto return to the Affairs ofBajazet, which you desired to be further informed in.
Youmay remember that his Father dismissed him some Years ago, upon this Condition, That he should never hereafter affront his Brother, nor raise new Tumults in the Empire, but live quietly and peaceably, as a Brother ought to do. He should remember his Promise made to himself, and not vex him in his old Age; if he did, woe be to him! These Threats had weight withBajazet, as long as his Mother lived; he kept his Word, rather to retain her good Will and Indulgence towards him, than as having any Consideration either for his Brother’s Love or Father’s good Will. However, quiet he was, for his Mother’s sake: But two Years after her Death, looking upon himself as desperate, he cut the Cords of all filial Obedience, and began to resume his former Designs against his Brother, and to execute his Animosity with great spight: Sometimes he laid Ambushes for his Life; at other times he attempted it by open force, and now and then he sent Parties of Men into his Brother’s Province, (their Provinces being contiguous one to the other) and if he could catch any of his Domesticks, he used them ill for their Master’s sake; in fine, he left no Stone unturned, to lessen his Brother’s Credit, finding he was not able to reach his Life.
Besides, he had several Partisans atConstantinople, who endeavoured to draw over theGrand Seignior’s Guard to his side; and he did not doubt but, as his Design ripened, to come privately toConstantinople,and there to abscond among his Friends, till he could have a fair opportunity to make his appearance in public.Solymanwas soon let into all his Designs, particularly by Letters from his SonSelimus, who warned him to take care of his Life; and that, if he did not look upon these Villainous Attempts ofBajazet, as pointed at himself, he was much mistaken: For he cared not what he did either against God or Man, provided he might gain the Kingdom. Your Life, Sir, said he, is aimed at as well as mine, and he would wound you through my sides. His Design was contrived long ago, but now he only seeks an opportunity to execute it; and, therefore, pray prevent his Wickedness before you are circumvented by him too late to find any Help: As for myself, I can easily bear all his Injuries; but the greatness of your Danger doth more nearly concern me.
TheseInformations fromSelimusdid more and more incenseSolymanagainstBajazet; so that he put him in mind of his Duty, by Letter, telling him what great Clemency he had used towards him, and what Promises he had reciprocally made to him. Call to mind, said he, those Ancient things, ’tis not so easie for you to get a new Pardon. Leave off wronging your Brother, and creating trouble to me. I have but a little time to live; when I am gone, God will shew which of you shall Reign; in the mean time, don’t you disturb the public Peace, nor the Tranquillity of my grey Hairs.
Butthese Expostulations wrought little uponBajazet, who was fully determin’d to do his utmost, rather than to yield his Neck tamely to his Brother’s Sword; for he saw plainly, that would be his Fate, if everSelimusmounted the Throne. However, he answered his Father’s Letters submissively enough;but his Words and his Deeds did not agree, neither did he drop the prosecution of his intended Design.
WhenSolymansaw this, he resolved to try another Course, and to remove his two Sons to a greater Distance one from the other; and, therefore, he commands each of them, on a prefix’d Day, to leave his Province (ChiutawasBajazet’s, andMagnetiaSelimus’s)Bajazetto go toAmasia, andSelimustoIconium. This was done, not out of any disfavour toSelimus, but only to pleaseBajazet, lest he should break out into Extremes, when he was removed from his Government, and not his Brother from his. Withal, he laid his Commands on them, that, the more they were severed by distance of Place, the more they should be united by Concord of Mind. For (said he) Vicinity of Habitation doth often breed Discord betwixt Brethren, and Servants on both sides do ill Offices to enrage and exasperate the Minds of their Masters, one against the other; and, therefore, obey my Commands: Him that refuses, I shall count a rebellious Son.Selimusimmediately left his Province, as being confident of his Father’s Favour; butBajazetmade many Hesitations, and when he was gone a little way he stopt his Journey, complaining that the unlucky Province ofAmasiawas allotted, as a bad Omen to him; because his Brother was slain there. I should rather, said he, go to any other Province besides, than where the miserable End of my Relations will constantly come to my Mind, and wound my very Soul; and, therefore he desired his Father to suffer him to winter at least where he was, or else in his Brother’s Province: ButSolymanwould grant neither of those Requests. By this Time,Selimuswas marched with an Army which was augmented with some Forces from his FatherSolyman, (for they were both afraid ofBajazet’s Plots)against his Brother, who yet made many Halts and Delays; when, on a sudden, he fetch’d a compass about, and appeared with his Army on the Rear of his Brother, going towardsPrusias, a City ofBithyniaover againstConstantinopleon theAsiaticShore; his Father gave consent to his March, as not well pleased with the Delays ofBajazet. For they thought thus with themselves, that, ifBajazetcould win over the Guards to himself, and march toPrusias, or even toConstantinopleitself, their Matters, as toSolymanandSelimus, would be in great hazard; and, therefore, out of a common fear, ’twas thought most adviseable forSelimusto stay there, where he might expect most Aid, in case of Necessity, from the Nearness of the capital Cities. ForSelimushad not yet Forces enough to encounter his Brother in open Field, with any hopes of Success.
WhenBajazetsaw his Brother’s Army in his Rear, and that he got nothing by his Delay, but the certain Knowledge, thatSelimusshould Reign if his Father died, as his Fear added to his Sickness gave some Likelihood thereof; hereupon, he wrote Letters to his Father, wherein he laid grievous Things to the Charge of his BrotherSelimus, as, that his present March did plainly declare, what a wicked Intent he had towards his Father, who was come so near theMetropolis, that he might treacherously compass the Empire, and that he might have but a short Passage over, if his Father died. But, if his Father’s Life should balk his desire, then he would suborn some Parricide or other to take it away; and yet, this is the Son, forsooth, said he, that you have in your Bosom; as if he were a very Nonsuch for filial Obedience; whereas I, who never entertained a bad Thought against you in all my Life, but was always observant of your veryBecks, am rejected and call out of Favour; and yet the Sum of my Demands is only this, that an unlucky Province may not be designed for my Government; either that which my Brother left, or any other more fortunate one than that ofAmasia; and, says he, I shall expect an Answer in the Place where I now abide, lest, if my Suit be granted, I be forced to march a great way back; but if your Ears be deaf to my Request, then I will march to what Province you shall command me.
Andthe truth is,Bajazethad reason to be averse fromAmasia; for ’tis a Custom among them to build much on Auguries and ill Omens, even in the smallest Matters.
Butthese Letters were otherwise understood bySolyman, who was well acquainted with his Son’s Fears, and knew that he affected a Government not so remote, but nearer toConstantinople, that thereby he might have the better opportunity for Innovations.
ThusBajazetmade one Excuse after another for his Delay, and seemed to retard his Father’s Pleasure; he listed Soldiers, increased his Army, rais’d Money, and provided all things necessary for his own Defence, and the Conquest of his Brother.Solymanlooked upon his Design as against himself, yet the crafty old Man dissembled it what he could; for he was unwilling to makeBajazetquite desperate. He was now grieved that the Eyes of all Nations were fix’d on that Dissention between his Sons, and therefore he design’d to use some Delay, that the Matter, if possible, might be composed with as little Noise as possible. He answeredBajazet’s Letters mildly, telling him, that, as for the Change of Provinces, he was fully resolved to be obey’d therein; and, therefore, he and his Brotherwould do well immediately to repair to their respective Armies.
Asfor other Concerns, he need not take care of them, for he himself would so order Matters, that neither his Brother nor he should have any Cause to complain.SolymanchosePertau, the Fourth VizierBashaw, to carry those Letters toBajazet; and, that he might seem to deal impartially between them both, he sentMehemet, the third VizierBashaw, toSelimus. He also laid a Charge on both thoseBashaws, not to stir a step from either of his Sons, till they had both entred on their respective Governments. This was wisely done bySolymanto leave such faithful Moniters with his Children, which would daily put them in Mind of their Duties.
Accordingly,Selimusdid willingly admit his Father’sBashaw; butBajazet, whose Mind was wholly set upon imbroiling the State, could not endure to have one of his Father’s Counsellors obtruded upon him, to be a Witness of his Designs, and to be a Tell-tale to his Father. And, therefore, he dismissed theBashaw, who was willing to have staid, having first courteously treated and presented him with Gifts, according to his present Ability; and he did it with this Pretence, that he had none else to represent his Cause impartially to his Father, but only himself; and, if he would do him so good Offices, he promised not to be ungrateful to him. He desir’d him also to tell his Father, that his Commands should always be to him as a Law, but that he was forced to do what he did, for fear of his BrotherSelimus, whose Injuries and Affronts he could no longer endure. By this Message ofPertau,Solymanwas assured ofBajazet’s Design, though, to colour the Matter, and to put a Blind on his Father’s Embassy, he pretended hewould hasten toAmasia. However,Solymanwas not slow in his Preparations againstBajazet, for he commanded theBeglerbegofAsia, though sick of the Gout, to assist his SonSelimuswith a Body of Horse; and he sent also the most faithful of his Guards to accompanyMehemet Bassa, (who was also returned from his Embassies) intoAsiaon the same Errand; and he himself pretended he would gird on his Sword and follow them. But, alas! the Guards shew’d themselves very unwilling to the Service; for they abominated the War betwixt Brothers, as an impious Thing. For against whom should they draw their Sword? Was notBajazetHeir of the Crown too? This unnecessary Discussion (said they) may be compass’d without Blood; neither are we to be forc’d to sheath our Swords in one another’s Bowels: As forBajazet, he is forced to do what he doth, in a way of Self-preservation.
Whenthese Rumours came toSolyman’s Ears, he sent for theMufti(the High-Priest of theTurks, from whom, as from an Oracle, they expect Answers to their Doubts) and puts a Case to him in these Terms.
“Howought that Man to be dealt with, who durst disturb the Peace of the Empire, by taking Towns, and raising Men and Money, while he was alive? As also, What he thought of those, who were assistant to him in that Design, and fought under his Ensigns? and, lastly, what was to be done with those who refused to engage against him, but rather justified his Practises?”
TheMufti’s Answer was, “That such a Person with all his Followers were worthy of Death; and they that refused to Fight against him were to be abominated, as Prophane, and Deserters of their Religion.”
ThisAnswer was divulged among the Commonalty, and by the Chief of theChiauxeswas transmitted toBajazet.
Awhile after there came aChiauxtoConstantinople, who had been sent bySolymantoSelimus, but had been intercepted byBajazet; by whom he sent a Message to their Father, to this effect; that he would never fail in expressing his Duty to his Father, and that he never took up Arms against him, but was resolved to be obedient to him in all Things. The Dispute was only between his Brother and himself, who sought his Life, so that he must fall by his Brother’s Sword, or his Brother by his. This difference might be decided in his Father’s Life; and, therefore, he desired him not to interpose or assist his Brother, but to carry himself in an exact Neutrality; but if (said he) you pass over intoAsia, (as Report says you will) to assistSelimus, don’t think I shall be speedily reduced, for I know whither to retreat; and, let me tell you, the first Day you set Foot inAsia, I will destroy all by Fire and Sword, and make it as desolate, asTamerlane, or any of our fiercest Enemies, ever did.
Whenthis Message was delivered toSolyman, it did much disturb him, especially when Word was brought to him, that the Town ofAxuar, whichSelimus, his Son, wasSanziachof, was taken byBajazet; who, after he had exacted a great Sum of Money from the Inhabitants, plundered and sack’d it shamefully.
ButSelimus, when he heard that his Brother march’d towardsAmasia, and was already come as far asAncyra, being now freed from the Suspicion of Treachery, which he fear’d in his March, hastened towardsIconium, where a Garrison was kept for his Arrival.
’Twasnone of the least ofSolyman’s Cares, which distracted his Mind, lestBajazetshould seize onIconium, and so march intoSyria, from whence there is a large Passage intoEgypt, a Province not fully settled in Subjection to theTurks, and somewhat mindful of the ancient Governors of theCircassiansorMamalukes, longed for a Change. And ifBajazetonce got thither, he foresaw it would be a very hard Matter to beat him out, should the neighbouringArabiansassist him; who, in hopes of Booty, were ready to take any side. And if, with much ado, he could have been driven out ofEgypt, yet from thence he might easily be wafted over into any of theChristianCountries; whereuponSolyman, by all means, sought to stop his March thither, because he thought it would beBajazet’s last Shift; and to that end he had written to most of the Governors of lesserAsia, to be watchful, ever and to assistSelimus, when he called for their Aid. AccordinglySelimusformed a Camp before the Walls ofIconium: For he thought it best to wait there for the Auxiliaries of his Father, and not to hazard his All on the doubtful Issue of a Battel.
Onthe other side,Bajazet, knowing what a hazardous Enterprize he had undertaken, was as vigorous to support his Cause. He hired a great body of Horse, calledChiurts, perhaps formerlyGordianes, Men noted for Valour, in whom he put Confidence.
They, as soon as ever they came to this Army, began their Representation of a Battel on Horseback, which had so much of Reality in it, that many of them were slain, but more wounded.
HisCamp was pitch’d in the plain and open Fields ofAncyra, from which City he was supplied with many Necessaries; and at the Castle thereofhe placed his Concubines and Children. From those Merchants, that were rich, he borrowed Money, upon Terms of Re-payment with Interest, if God gave him Success. From thence, also, he was furnished with Arms for his Soldiers.
Besideshis own Family (consisting of very many among the higher sort ofTurks) and theChiurtsbefore-mentioned, those that were of his Mother’s, or his Sister’s, or ofRustan’s Faction, came in to him; so did very many ofMustapha’s andAchmet’s Favourites, fierce and skilful Warriors; for they grudging at the undeserved Deaths of their Masters; were resolved to revenge them with the hazard of their Blood: some also came under his Banner out of Commiseration of the depressed Condition ofBajazet, as being necessitated to fly to Arms, his last and only Refuge.
Agreat many favouredBajazet, because he was like his Father; whereasSelimushad not one Feature in his Face resembling him. ’Tis true, he was very like his Mother, a Woman hated while she was alive. He was a big-bellied Man, with swoln Cheeks, and his Face of a deep and uncomely Redness; insomuch, that the Soldiers would seemingly say,He was cramm’d with Barley-Pudding. Besides, he liv’d a slothful, banquetting, idle Life; neither was he courteous, or of easy Access, nor did he oblige by any act of Generosity. The Reason he gave, was, that he would not offend his Father, by aiming at popular Applause. Thus he became dear to his Father only, but odious to every body else; yea, those Persons did most disdain him, who coveted a munificent and an active Emperor. The same Soldiers that were wont to callBajazet,Softi(a sedentary Man, and given up to his Studies) whenthey saw that he took up Arms, and ventured his All to defend himself and his Children, now extolled him to the Skies, as a Man of extraordinary Valour. Why (said they, reasoning among themselves) should his Father abdicate a Son that is his express Image? Why should he prefer his slothful, pot-bellied Brother, that has nothing of his Father’s Disposition in him? As forBajazet’s taking Arms, Necessity forces him to it, and therefore, he is not to be blamed; for did notSelimus, his Grandfather, do the same? What great Precedent could there be? For he did not only arm against his Brother, but Necessity also compelled him to hasten his Father’s Death; and yet by this Procedure he established the Kingdom to himself and his Posterity. Now, ifSolymandid rightfully possess that Kingdom, so gotten, why should his Son be denied to take the same Course? Why should that Fact be thought so heinous in him, which was accounted lawful in his Grandfather? And yet the Case is much different (said they); forBajazetdid not take up Arms against his Father, but wishes him a long Life; nay, he would not hurt an Hair of his Brother’s Head, if he could be sure of his own Life, against him: But ’tis always lawful to resist Force by Force, and, if possible, to prevent one’s own certain Ruin. These Discourses caused many to fly toBajazet, and his Army being now of a moderate Size, without delay, he marches towards his Brother, putting his Life, Fortune, and the hope of his Empire, upon the Event of the Battel; for thus, thought he, my Valour (at least) will be commended, if it be not prosperous; I will endeavour if I can, to break my way intoSyria, and, if I succeed therein, my Business is done.
Selimuswaited for him under the Walls ofIconium, having a vast Army, encreased by Forces sent him from his Father, and well furnished with skilful Commanders; and, besides all other Necessaries, secured with great Ordnance on every side.Bajazetwas nothing terrified at all those Disadvantages, but as soon as he came in sight of his Brother’s Army, he exhorted his Own, though inferior in Number, in this manner.
Now,says he, the long wished for Hour is come, wherein you may shew your Valour; do you act as Men, and let me alone to reward you. All my Fortune is in your Hands; my Misfortunes have been irksome some time, but now here is an open Campaign, wherein I may change them for the better, and forget all the Miseries of my former Life. If you conquer, you may expect from me Honour, Dignity, and all kinds of Rewards, befitting Men of Valour. One Victory will crown all our Hopes, though never so vast, and that you may get by your superabounding Valour. As for my Brother’s Troops before your Eyes, they are a Company ofBuffoonsunder a slothful General; you may easily make way through them with your Swords; what Forces he hath with him of my Father’s, though they are his in Body, yet they are mine at Heart. ’TisSelimusalone that stands in the way, both of my Vassals, and of your Happiness too, and therefore, let us both revenge our selves on a common Enemy. And for their Multitude, don’t fear them; Conquest is got by Valour, not by Number. God Almighty uses to assist theBest, not theMost. Certainly, if you consider how the savage Enemy thirsts after your Blood, you will preserve yours, by shedding theirs. In fine,said he, I will not only speak, but do. Let me be your Pattern.Do you fight but as valiantly for my Safety, as I shall do for your Advancement, and I’ll warrant you the Battel is our own.
Havingfinished his Oration, he made towards the Enemy with an undaunted Courage, and in the Front of his Army shew’d himself both a brave Soldier and a skilful Commander, so that he was renowned also by his very Enemies. The Battel was bloody, and many fell on both Sides, and Victory seem’d to hover with doubtful Wings; but at last she inclin’d to that side, where was more Force, a juster Cause, and better Counsel. Just in the nick, there arose such a Wind that it carried the smoke of the Ordnance into the very Faces ofBajazet’s Army, so that they fought blindfold, as it were; whereuponBajazet, after much Blood-shed on both sides, was forced to sound a Retreat; but he made it with so little Disorder, and so leisurely, that he seemed a Conqueror, rather than to have lost the Day. Neither didSelimusmove out of his Camp to pursue him, being well contented to see his Enemies turn their Backs.
Afterthis,Bajazet, considering he had disobeyed his Father’s Commands, by indulging his own Humour, and being cut off from his March intoSyria, which he had design’d, resolved to move in good earnest towardsAmasia.
Solymanhad presently a Messenger sent him of this Victory, and immediately he posted over intoAsia. HisBashawswould not let him go before;But now(said they)you must make haste to press uponBajazetin his Misfortune and to prevent his Recruit; for if his secret Favourites should declare for him, they might cut them out further Work. The Report of your Passage over, will both discourage your Son and terrify all his Followers; and, therefore, make haste, lest he serve you as sometime yourFather did, who was more formidable after he was conquered than before, so that his very Overthrow at first was the cause of his Victory in the End.Neither did they thus speak without Cause; for ’tis incredible how much that Fight, though unfortunate, had added toBajazet’s Renown. That he was so hardily valorous, as, with a small handful in comparison, to set upon the well-disciplin’d Army of his Brother, strengthened too with his Father’s Forces; that he was not daunted with the disadvantage of the Place, nor the roaring of the great Ordnance, and that he carried himself in the very Battel, not as a raw Officer, but an expert General. ’Tis true, said they, his Success was not answerable, but his Valour was not inferior; and, therefore, letSelimusboast never so much of his Victory to his Father, this we are sure of, that, of the two,Bajazetdeserved to be Conqueror; and that we may attribute his Brother’s being so to any thing rather than to his own Valour. These Discourses concerningBajazet, shew’d him to be Popular, and thereupon they double his Father’s Grief and Pain, and his Desire to ruin him. Resolved he was, none butSelimusshould succeed him in the Empire: For, besides that he was his eldest Son, he had been always faithful and obedient to him; butBajazethad been rebellious, and gaped after the Throne in his Lifetime; and he feared him the more, because he was esteem’d a very valiant Prince, and because also he had openly assistedSelimusagainst him.
Forthese Reasons he pass’d the Sea intoAsia, but with a Resolution not to stir from the Shore, but to assist his SonSelimus’s Affairs, only at a distance. For why, thought he, should I run any Hazard to bring my own Forces nearer, lestmy Army, not fully settled in their Obedience, should be tempted to a Revolt.
Imy self sawSolymanmarch out ofConstantinoplein the Year 1559,June 5th, tho’ against the Will of myChiaux. Let me here present you with a Scene of Mirth, and like a Braggadocio-soldier, tell you of two Battels I had at once; for why, I have Leisure enough (unless you count my Cares my Study) and the larger I am in my Scribling, the more time do I borrow from my Troubles. Hear then, what were my Quarrels.
WhenI was certainly inform’d that theSultanwas ready to pass over intoAsia, and that the Day was fix’d for his Departure, I told myChiauxthat I had a mind to see him march out, and therefore he should come betimes in the Morning and open the Doors, for he used to carry the Keys of my Doors home with him at Night; he promised me courteously, he would do so. Then I order’d myJanizariesand my Interpreters, to take me an upper Room in the way the Emperor was to pass, convenient for my View: They obeyed my Commands. When the Day was come, I rose before ’twas light, and expected that myChiauxhad opened my Doors; but finding them shut, I sent several Messengers to him, to come and let me out, both myJanizariesthat waited within Doors, andDruggermenthat waited to come in: This I did, through the Chinks of the Gate, which was very old; but theChiauxstill spun Delays, pretending he would come presently. Thus I spent some time, till I heard the noise of the Guns, which theJanizariesuse to fire, when their Emperor takes Horse; then I began to fret and fume, seeing my self so deluded. My Disappointment and just Indignation did affect theJanizariesthemselves: they told me, that if my People wouldthrust hard with them, they without would so press upon the Valves, which were loose and old, that the Bars would fall out. I took their Counsel; the Doors flew open accordingly, and out we went, hastening to the Room I had hired.