Folks being thus provoked return Jeer for Jeer from Words they came to Blows the Italians assisting my Men the cause of the Scuffle was that one of the Ianizaries lost the Linen Covering off his Head which was thrown I know not whither Hereupon the Ianizaries hye to their General complaining of their Wrongs and loss received by my Servants for they watch'd them and found them return'd to my House Their General presently sent for my Interpreter who was present at the Conflict He was seiz'd upon sitting at my Door and they were pulling of him away I beheld it from a Gallery above and was much concern'd that any of my Family should be taken forcibly from me without my Consent to be carried to the Bastinado for I understood something of the Matter before for I could not imagine he would be return'd to me without being well beaten he being one of the Turk's Subjects Whereupon I ran down and laid hold on him commanding him to let him go they did so grumblingly but hasted presently with far more grievous Complaints to their General who commanded more of their Company to go and seize those Italians who of Christians are said to become Turks yet he charged them to offer no Violence to me at the House where I lodged They came back presently and with a great Noise and many Threats demanded those Italians but they foreseeing what would come to pass had sailed back to Constantinople Much Clamour there was on both sides at last my Chiaux which at that time was an old decrepid Man out of jeer thrust some Pistols into their Hands unknown to me to buy a new Bonnet in the room of that which was lost and thus the Dispute ended I have been the more punctual in relating this Story because on this occasion I understood from Rustan's own Mouth what Opinion the Sultan had of the Ianizaries For he hearing of this Scuffle sent a Messenger to me to desire me to cut off all occasion of Dispute with the Ianizaries as the worst of Men You know said he 't is a time of War wherein they may be said to reign rather than the Sultan who stands in fear of them himself This he spake as being well acquainted with the Sentiments of Solyman who always suspâ—cted some Men of their own to lye in wait against their Militia which would break forth when he had no Opportunities to prevent it And the truth is though there may be some use of a standing Guard and Milâ—tia yet there are also many Inconveniences attending it of which this is the chief their Emperor is very fearful of them lest having the Sword in their Hands they should alter the Government as they pleas'd of which there had been many Presidents yet there are ways also wereby this may be prevented While I was in their Camp there came Albertus de Vbiis a worthy and learned Person as I think born at Amsterdam as an Envoy from my Master Caesar He brought with him some Presents for their Sultan as some Goblets gilt with Gold with a Clock neatly made and carried like a Tower on an Elephants Back as also some Mony to be distributed amongst the Bassa's Solyman would have me deliver these Presents in the Camp that the Amity betwixt Him and my Master might be more publickly known and so no Danger at all to be feared from the Christian Arms. But to return to Bajazet after the Fight at Iconium who retired to his Government of Amasia pretending to live quietly there if his Father would permit him so to do For why He had sown his wild Oats and for the future seem'd plyable to obey his Fathers Will and for this he employed sundry Persons to carry submissive Letters to his Father begging his Pardon Neither did Solyman pretend that he was averse from Reconciliation with his Son and therefore he admitted his Messengers into his Presence he read his Letters and answered them mildly So that the Report was spread over all the Army what an Agreement was like to be between Father and Son what he had done amiss was to be imputed to the hot Blood of his Youthful Age provided he would shew himself Obsequious the residue of his Life This Solyman did by the Advice of his Bassa's for the cunning old Man would not declare himself till he had brought Bajazet into the Nooz of his own Power He was terribly afraid lest out of Desperation he should march furiously into Persia his only Place of Refuge with so great Post-haste that all his Sanziacks should not be able to prevent them To prevent which Mistakes he sent many Letters to all the Governours upon the Borders to watch Bajazet and not to suffer him to escape if he attempted it In the mean time he put all those of Bajazet's Party that he could light upon to the Rack and when he had got out of them what he could he put them privately to death amongst which were some that Bajazet had sent to be his Companions to his Father The Kingdom of Persia at that time contained all the Countries between the Caspian Sea and the Seas of Persia with some part of Armenia the Greater though Solyman by taking of Babylon Mesopotamia and part of Media had abridged their Empire very much and other far Countries even to the Empire of the Homaium Patisach as the Turks call him and over that last part of Land Sagathmas was King The Father had been formerly over-thrown by Selymus in a great Fight in the Field of Chalderon and from that time the Persian Affairs began to decline for Solyman a fierce Enginier press'd upon the very Face and Thamas being much inferiour to his Father's Courage made but a weak Defence For he was wholly given to Sloth and Idleness and would sit in his Palace amongst a Croud of Harlots amorously pleasing his Humour and sometimes consulting Magicians concerning future Events He had little Care of Administring publick Justice to his People This Neglect of his opened the Door to all Injustice and Oppression in every part of his Empire For the Strong oppressed the Weaker and Innocence could find no Justice or Defence in his Court. Notwithstanding this malevolous Instruction yet the Persians have so sacred an Opinion of their Prince that they believe him happy that can but kiss the Door of his Palace and the Water wherein he washes his Hands they use in order to the Cure of several Diseases He hath many Children but the most promising is Ismael like his Grandfather both in Name and Nature a beautiful Prince and a Capital Enemy to the Race of the Ottomans 'T is reported that he was brought forth into the World with his Fist all bloody whence 't was vulgarly said That he would be a Warlike Person and when he was but young he confirmed that Report by obtaining a great Victory over the Turks But when his Father made Peace with Solyman 't was agreed betwixt them that Ismael should
hear this sad News to their great Grief but Gods Will must be done Our only hope was that the Castle in which was a strong Garrison might hold out against the Turks till Winter or some other Accident had rais'd the Siege And yet our Hopes were mix'd with Fears that the Conqueror would take that too and so it fell out for the Besieged wanted all things especially Water so than Don Alveras de Sande the Governour thereof a Stout Man Couragious Person and an Old Soldier perceiving that it was no longer recoverable with a Iew in his Company got a Boat and made his Escape towards Sicily that so he might not behold the Surrender of so important a Place which he thought would be look'd upon as a Blot in his Escutcheon though the extreamest necessity had compelled it When he was gone the Soldiers opened the Gates and let in the Turks hoping to find them the more merciful because of their easie admittance But Don Iohn of Castile would by no means leave the Fort which he commanded but he and his Brother valiantly repulsing the Enemy was at last wounded and taken The Castle was stoutly defended by the Spaniards for Three Months space though they wanted many Necessaries and which was the worst of all had no prospect of Relief The Weather was hot and they almost parched with Thirst. They had but one Cistern to hold Water in which was not big enough to serve them all so that they were compelled to weigh out their Water by Measure only enough for a single Man to keep Life and Soul together This Cistern Water was increased with a mixture of Sea-Water and by some curious Art made fresh This Secret was told them by a certain Alchymist But all had not that faculty or opportunity for you should see some lye parching on the Ground ready to give up the Ghost for very Thirst saying as well as they could speak Water Water and if a little was brought they were relieved for the present but when that Moysture was spent then they relapsed to their former Drought and dyed thereof Thus many perished besides the Wounded who could have no help of Chyrurgery to cure them in that desolate place In the Month of September the Victorious Navy of the Turks returned to Constantinople bringing the Christians Captives with their Gallies along with them a joyful Spectacle to the Turks but a sad one to the Christians that lived amongst them That Night it lay at Anchor near the Rocks over against Byzantium that so they might enter the Port the next Day in greater Pomp and Splendour Solyman came down into an Apartment in his Gardens near the Sea-side that from thence he might see the Prisoners entring in Don Alveras de Sande was in the Poop of his Admiral Galley and with him Don Sanctius de Leydia and Don Belliger de Requemus one Commander of the Sicilian Galleys the other of the Neopolitan The Galleys of the Christians were despoiled of their Ornaments as Streamers c. and hall'd in Barques that they might appear base and contemptible in the sight of the Turks They who observ'd Solyman's Countenance that time say that they perceived no sign of Insolent Mirth therein This is certain that when I saw him going to his Devotion the next day his Countenance was not altered from its usual hue as if that Victory had not concern'd him at all so well was this cunning old Man able to bear the breath of his smiling Fortune that he was unmov'd under it The Prisoners were afterwards brought into the Seraglio but so miserably hunger-starv'd before that some could not stand on their Legs others fell down in a Swoon for very feebleness others had Arms in a Jeer put upon them in which posture they died the Turks insulting over them on every hand and promising to themselves the Empire of the whole World for who now shall be able to stand before us said they seeing we have overcome the Spaniards There was a Commander in the Turkish Fleet with whom I had some Acquaintance who had taken the great Banner of the Neapolitans Galleys being Imperial Eagles embracing one another being inform'd that he was about to present it to Solyman I thought good to prevent him and sending him Two Silver Tasters I obtained the Banner that so the Ensign of Charles the Fifth might not remain in the Hands of Infidels to the eternal Infamy of the Christian Name There were amongst the Prisoners besides those above mentioned these Two Eminent Persons Don Iohn of Cordona the Son in Law of Don Bellinger and Don Gasto the Son of the Duke of Medina who though but a Youth yet had a noble employment in his Fathers Army Don Iohn promised to give a great Sum of Money to be left Prisoner at Chios which was inhabited by old Genoeses which was accordingly done As for Don Gasto he was hid by Pihulius in hopes to have a large Price for his Redemption which design of his had almost proved his overthrow For Solyman by some means or other smelt out the Cheat and was grievously vex'd that Pihulius should serve him such a Trick so that at the Instigation also of Rustan Gasto he was sought after that so Pihulius might be punished but Gasto died in the Search some say of the Plague others by the procurement of Pihulius himself that he might tell no Tales This is certain upon the most diligent search he could not be found However Pihulius was afraid to come to Constantinople to appear before his angry Master lest he might be imprisoned there but he hovered with a few Galleys about several Islands of the Aegaean Sea pretending divers Excuses for so doing But at last Solyman by the perswasion of the chief Eunuch of his Son Selymus gave him his Pardon in these Words I for my part forgive him his great Offence but God Almighty the just Revenger of all Wickedness inflict just Punishment on him in the Life to come So strongly are the Turks perswaded that no evil Fact should pass unpunished But for Don Iohn of Cardona he fared better for by the care of Adam a Dissicksleim Baron of Austria who Married his Sister and by my sponsion for him he returned safe into Spain As for Don Sanders he was brought into the Divan and there Rustan demanded of him what his Master meant by invading other Mens Rights when he could not maintain his own Sanders answered The Question belonged not to him to answer 't was his part only to execute his Masters Commands as faithfully as he could wherein Fortune had been against him However he begged the Bassa upon his Knees in regard he had a Wife and Children at Home that they would speak a good Word for him So Solyman Rustan answered that their Emperor was of a Merciful Disposition and that they would intercede for him Thus was he sent Prisoner to the Castle called Caradenis He was not gone far but he was
Embassadors they suffer'd no Body to come to us nor permitted any of us to go forth and the rest of their Carriage was as intolerable Thus have they treated us these six Months past and I know not how long they will continue these Severities but come what will we submit to the Will of God Our Cause is Just and Honourable and that gives us relief against their vigorous Extremities But leaving the Narration of our own Misfortunes I shall answer your desire in giving you an Account of the Story of Bajazet For the clearer Explication thereof I must acquaint you that Solyman had 5 Sons the Eldest begot by him on a Concubine near the Bosphorus was called Mustapha of whose unhappy end you have heard before but by another Wife named Roxolana he had four Mahomet Selymus Bajazet and Giangir Mahomet liv'd till he was married for the Turks call their Concubines Wives but dy'd soon after so that Selimus and Bajazet of this later Venter only remain'd alive As for Giangir he came thus to his end when News was brought to Constantinople that his half-Brother Mustapha was put to death the Youth being of a timorous Mind and infirm Body for he was Crook-back'd fell into a grievous Passion upon the Imagination that the like Fate did hang over his own Head for he could promise safety to himself no longer than his Father liv'd if his Head were once laid he that was his Successor would certainly kill all his Brethren as emulous of the Kingdom not one of them would be excepted and himself being among the number must look for the same Fate which Thought struck him into a Disease even as if the Bow-string had been already about his Neck which cost him his Life so that now only Selymus and Bajazet remained Selymus was the Elder and 't was known to all that his Father design'd him for the Empire but Bajazet was most favoured and doted upon by his Mother whether iâ— were out of Commiseration to prevent his inevitable Ruin or else out of Motherly Indulgence or whatever else the reason was this is certain if her Vote could have carried it Bajazet had certainly succeeded in the Empire after his Fathers death But she must give way to his Fathers Will who was fully resolv'd come what would that Selymus and none else should succeed him Bajazet was not ignorant thereof and therefore he turned every Stone to stave off his impending Fate and if possible to prevent his Ruin by grasping at the Throne And his Hopes were encreased by the favour of his Mother and of Rustan the Grand Visier who was thought to have espoused his Interests Having two such Pillars to support him he thought with himself 't was far more glorious to hazard his Life in contending with his Brother for the Empire than to die obscurely by the Bow-string as a Victim to his Cruelty Bajazet having this Project in his Head began to pick Quarrels with his Brother and to maintain a Faction against him neither was it long before a fitting Occasion offered it self for him to begin his design'd Enterprize of rising in Arms upon the Account of Mustapha's death and the disgust of many thereupon For the truth is Mustapha was so well belov'd in his Life-time and so much lamented at his Death that those who had placed all their hopes of advancement from him alone were almost unwilling to live after him so that they did but wait for an Opportunity to revenge his Death or to die as he did Others who were conscious to themselves that they had favoured his Party and therefore were obnoxious to the present Power did not care what Hurly-burlies they made ready they were for any Innovation only they wanted a Leader In which case they did not well know what to do As for Mustapha himself they knew he could not be recalled from the Dead yet it was in their power to suborn and set up a feigned Mustapha in his stead as if the true one had been yet alive This Design pleased Bajazet who was the Contriver of the Plot best of all as most conducible to the accomplishment of his purpose Hereupon by his Emissaries he procures a mean Fellow but bold and ready-witted to counterfeit himself to be Mustapha and his pretence was more plausible because his Stature Physiognomy and Meen of his Body did somewhat resemble Mustapha's This Man begun first to shew himself in that part of Thrace which was above Constantinople toward the Danube Moldavia and Valachia This Place he thought most opportune to raise a Party because it was full of Horse which part of the Turkish Militia did most favour Mustapha Here he starts up as if he had fled in Post-haste from some remote Place with a few in his Company which he pretended was for his own Security His Followers being asked by the Country Who he was They answered at first whisperingly That it was Mustapha Hereupon they were more desirous to know the Truth and then he was forced to declare himself That he was Mustapha indeed Having made this prosperous beginning he goes on to gratulate his Safety among them and to give God thanks First he told them That when he was sent for by his angry Father he durst not trust himself to come into his Presence but by his Friends Advice suborned one somewhat like him to represent his Person that by another Mans hazard rather than his own he might make Tryal of his incensed Father's Inclination towards him This Man he hir'd with great Promises of Reward but assoon as he came to his Father he was strangled at his Tent-door before he had any opportunity to make his Defence and his dead Body was exposed to the View of the Soldiery At which time said he there were some few that smelt out the Project but most part was deceived by the disguised Lineaments of his deceased Body and thought it was he himself that was sâ—ain Assoon as I heard of this said he I saw there was no stay for me but I must consult my Safety by a speedy Flight I took but few in my Company that I might be the less taken notice of and thus passing over Pontus and the Bosphoran Country I am said he come hither where I promise my self much Aid from your Fidelity and therefore I beseech you lend me your helping hand aâ—d seeing I am oppress'd by a wretched Step-mother be you as forward to help me in my Affliction as you were all ready to do in my Prosperity For my part I am resolved to revenge my Wrongâ— and â—o maintain my Life by force of Arms For what other Course pray can I â—ake I owe my Life to my Fathers mistake who killed another Man instead of me so that I plainly see what Fate attends me if ever I come into his Power The miserable old Man is imposed on by the enchanting Passions of a Step-mother whom he doats upon and by the Ministry of Rustan to whatsoever
Attempt they please But thanks be to God said he I have got some Friends left to revenge my Wrongs and to punish my Enemies And besides I am not quite daunted but have a great Stock yet of Courage left for I know that the Janizaries yea and most of all my Fathers Court are on my side and besides upon hearing of my Name I know all those which lamented me when dead as they thought will flock in to me now they hear I am alive only be you pleased to vouchsafe me a favourable Reception and to protect me till sufficient Aid come in to me These were his private and also his publick Harangues where-ever he came and his instructed Followers ecchoed forth the same Report yea some Men of Note that Bajazet had suborned sung Notes to the same Tune Thus a great Party of Men unknown to Bajazet were brought into the Nooz For the matter was carried so cunningly that those who knew Mustapha and saw him lie dead before his Father's Tent yet were afraid to believe their own Eyes but suffered themselves to be persuaded that this was the true Mustapha indeed yea some of Mustapha's Intimates who knew this was but a Cheat yet were so overfond of his Memory that blinded either with Fear Grief or Anger they wers the first that liâ—ted themselves under this Pseudo Mustapha as being weary of their Lives without him which made others certainly think that this was the true Mustapha indeed whom Report had falsely related to be slain And besides the Impostor himself by large Promises and great Largesses which he said were the Relicks of his former Acquists but indeed were the Supplies that Bajazet had provided under-hand did not cease to cajole and engage his Followers So that in a very few days he got an handsome Body of Men together fit for a little Army and they encreased every day When lo Solyman was made acquainted by Messages and Letters which the Neighbouring Sanziacks had in great trepidation sent him what hazard he was in by reason of the Resort of such Multitudes to this Pseudo Mustapha The cunning old Man knew one of his Sons must needs be privy to the Plot and therefore he made haste to disappoint it chiding his Sanziacks by Letter that they suffered the Matter to come to such an Head and had not rather crush'd the Cockatrice in the Egg but seeing they had been negligent hitherto he commanded them to make amends for their former Remisness and to send him presently the Traitor and his Followers Prisoners in Chains to receive theiâ— condign Punishment and to facilitate the Matter he would send Aid to them by one of his Visiers Partan Bassa who had married the Widow of Mahomet aforesaid howbeit he advised them if they would purge themâ—elves of their Criminal Neglect they should quell the Insurrection before his Succour came Partan had but a few Troops with him but they were choice Men eminent for Courage and Faithfulness Solyman took care to cull out Colonels Captains and other Commanders of that Gizard for this Service as suspecting that others might have been corrupted or enticed to pass over to the Tents of the Rebels for the Truth was the ordinary sort of Ianizaries upon account of Mustapha's Name did not seem much averse from the Party and therefore did not care what further Confusions might enhance the Danger on that side The Sanziacks assoon as ever they received Solyman's minatory Dispatches began to bestir themselves and to rouze up one another so that happy was he that could do most Damage to the growing Party of the Impostor some of those that were going in to him they intercepted those that had already join'd him they laboured to discourage by terrible Meances and Denunciations of the danger they were in In the mean time the Forces of Partan Bassa were marching on and being almost come up to the Place the Party of the Tumultuous being not yet fully setled seeing so great Preparations made against them began to be discouraged as is usual with Men in such Circumstances and to drop off one by one and at last the whole Body of 'em most shamefully left their Leader and shifted for themselves the best they could Their feigned Mustapha with his chief Partisans and Setters on would willingly have done so too but he was so watch'd by the Ianizaries that he was taken alive and sent Prisoner to Partan who with a strong Guard sent him to Constantinople When he came thither Solyman put him on the Rack and by that means found out the whole Plot how his Son Bajazet was at the bottom of it and had resolved if they had not been so soon dissipated to have join'd them with a considerable Force and so either to have marched directly to Constantinople or else if Opportunity had served him to have sought out his Brother but being slow in his Actings his Design was nipp'd in the very Bud. When Solyman had thus ferretted out the Design to the bottom he caused him and his Abettors to be thrown into the Sea at Midnight not thinking it convenient to have the Matter divulg'd among his own People or that foreign Princes should be acquainted with the Domestick Differences of his own Family As for his Son Bajazet he was mightily exasperated against him for his foul Offence and was meditating in his Mind what grievous Punishment he should inflict upon him In the mean time his Wife being a prying Woman and therefore allowing him but little space for his Anger to vent and cool it self at last falling into Discourse with him of the Affair she began to excuse her Son laying all the Fault on his Youthful Imprudence and that some of his Ancestors also had been necessitated to undertake the like Attempts For says she 't is a natural Instinct in all Men to do what they can for themselves and their Friends and to save their Lives if they can especially young Men in the fervour of Youth are apt to be drawn aside by ill Counsellors to pernicious Attempts and therefore it was but reasonable that his first Fault should be pardoned because if he repented thereupon his Father had gained a great Point in preserving his Son but if he relapsed again into the same Crime then the Father was at liberty to inflict deserved Punishment on him for both Offences at one and the same time But proceeded she if you will not pardon him for his own sake yet be pleased to do it for mine and spare our own common Flesh and Blood For how think you can I bear it that of two Sons which God hath yet left me â—our Severity would rend one of them from me And therefore she intreated him to moderate his Anger and not to let loose the reins to Cruelty tho' you had never so just an Occasion-Almighty God said she tho' most Powerful and Just yet doth not always exert his highest Severities but tempers them with Indulgence else Mankind
a Man shew'd them a piece of Mony out of his Chamber tho' it were at a great distance from them yet they would fly up to fetch it and if the Man would not let it go they would sit upon his Hand and so accompany him from one Room to another still pulling at the Mony and when they had got it as if they remembred their Errand on which they were sent when their Master whistled to them in the High-way down they would fly to him again and as a Reward for the Mony in their Bills he would give them a little Hemp-seed But I shall proceed no further in such Stories as these lest you should think me a second Pliny or an Aelian and that I were designed to write an History of Animals I proceed then to other Matters and shall give you an Example of the Chastity of Turkish Women The Turks take more Pains to have their Wives modest than any other Nation and therefore they ordinarily keep them close up at home and hardly suffer them to see the Sun but if any necessity calls them abroad they go so hooded and veil'd as if they were Hobgoblins or Ghosts 'T is true they can see Men through their Veils or Hoods but no part of all their Bodies is open to Mans view for they have this Tradition among them that it is impossible for a Man to look on a Woman especially if she be young and handsome without desiring to enjoy her and by that desire the Mind is excited and therefore they keep them all covered Their own Brothers have liberty to see them but their Husbands Brothers have not the same permission The nobler and richer sort when they Marry do it with this Condition that their Wives shall never set a foot out of Door and no Person living either Male or Female be the Cause what it will shall ever have leave to see them no not their nearest Alliance in Blood except only the Father and Mother who at Easter their Bairam are permitted to see their Daughter and in lieu of this Strictness if the Wife have Parents of the better sort and she bring her Husband a large Dowry the Husband on his part promiseth that he will never have any Concubines but will keep to her alone In other Cases the Turks have as many Concubines as they will besides their lawful Wives and the Children of both are equally respected and have as much Privilege one as the other Their Concubines they either buy or take them in War and when they are weary of them may sell them in the open Market only if they have Children by them then they obtain their Liberty This made Roxolanâ— stand upon her Terms with Solyman in having brought him forth a Son when she was a Slave and thereby obtain'd Manumission Hereupon she refused to submit to his Will any longer unless he Married her which he doting for Love wou'd do against the Custom of the Ottoman Princes A lawful Wife with them differs from a Concubine only upon the account of her Dowry which a lawful Wife hath but a Concubine hath not And when once her Dowry is assigned her then she is a Mistress Governess of the House and all the other Women under her And yet the Husband hath have to lye with which of them he please at his Choice and when he makes known his Pleasure to his Wife she bids the Maid he desires prepare himself for his Bed and she obeys perhaps more joyfully than her Mistress commands her Only Friday Night which is their Sabbath the Wife claims as her due and she thinks her self wrong'd if her Husband defraud her thereof other Nights he may lie with which of his Slaves he please Divorces are made among them for many Causes which Men easily pretend and when a Wife is divorced her Dowry is restored unless she be put away on a dishonest Account but Women have but few to instance some among them few this is one if their Husband do not allow them due Maintenance and if they offer to abuse them against Nature a Crime usual among them then the Wife goes to the Judge and tells him She can no longer endure to live with her Husband when he asks the Cause they say nothing but pull off their Shoo from their Feet and turn it up and down which is a Sign among them of the unlawful use of Copulation The greatest sort among them that have abundance of Women set Eunuchs to guard them not such as have only their Stones taken out but such whose Yards are also impaired because otherwise they think such as lost their Stones only may desire the use of a Woman tho' not for Generation yet for Pleasure The great Men also have Baths at their own Houses wherein they and their Women do wash but the meaner sort use publick Baths A Turk hates Bodily Filth and Nastiness worse than Soul-Defilement and therefore they wash very often and they never ease themselves by going to Stool but they carry Water with them for their Posteriors But ordinarily the VVomen bathe by themselves Bond and Free together so that you shall many times see young Maids exceeding beautiful gathered from all Parts of the VVorld exposed Nacked to the view of other VVomen who thereupon fall in Love with them as young Men do with us at the sight of Virgins By this you may guess what their strict VVatch over Females comes to and how 't is not enough to avoid the Company of an adulterous Man for the Females burn in Love one towards another and the Pandaresses to such refined Loves are the Baths and therefore some Turks will deny their VVives the use of their publick Baths but they cannot do it altogether because their Law allows them But these Offences happen among the Ordinary sort the richer sort of Persons have Baths at home as I told you before It hapned one time that at the publick Womens Baths an old Woman fell in Love with a Girl the Daughter of a poor Man a Citizen of Constantinople and when neither by Wooing nor Flattering her she could not obtain that of her which her mad Affection aim'd at she attempted to perform an Exploit almost incredible she feign'd her self to be a Man changed her Habit hired an House near the Maids Father and pretended he was one of the Chiaâ—xes of the Grand Siegnior and thus by reason of his Neighbourhood she insinuated her self into the Mans Acquaintance and after some time acquaints him with the desire of his Daughter In short he being such a Man in a prosperous Condition the Matter was agreed on a Portion was setled such as they were able to give and a day appointed for the Marriage when the Ceremonies were over and this doughty Bridegroom went into the Bride-chamber to his Spouse after some Discourse and plucking off her Head-geer she was found to be a Woman Whereupon the Maid runs out and calls up her Parents who soon
may be compos'd without Blood neither are we to be forc'd to sheath our Swords in one anothers Bowels As for Bajazet he is forced to do what he doth in a way of Self-preservation When these Rumours came to Solyman's Ears he sent for the Mufti the High Priest of the Turks from whom as from an Oracle they expect Answers to their Doubts and propounds a Case to him in these Terms How them Men ought to be dealt with who durst disturb the Peace of the Empire by taking of Towns and raising both of Men and Mony 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 refus'd to engage against him but rather justified his Practises The Mufti '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 This Answer was divulged among the Commonalty and by the Chief of the Chiauxes was transmitted to Bajazet A while after there came a Chiaux to Constantinople who had been sent by Solyman to Selymus but had been intercepted by Bajazet 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 Brothers Sword or his Brother ther by his This difference might be decided in his Fathers 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 into Asia as Report says you will to assist Selymus don't you think I shall be speedily reduced for I know whither to retreat and let me tell you the first day you set foot in Asia I will destroy all by Fire and Sword and will make it as desolate as ever Tamerlin or the War of our Enemies ever did When this Message was delivered to Solyman it did much disturb him especially when word was brought to him that the Town of Arvar which Selymus his Son was Sanziack of was taken by Bajazet and after he had exacted a great Sum of Mony from them had plundered and sack'd it notwithstanding But Selymus when he heard that his Brother march'd towards Amasia and was already come as far as Hucyras being now freed form the suspicion of Treachery which he fear'd march'd also himself towards Iconium wherein he had put a Garrison till his arrived 'T was none of the least of Solyman's cares which distracted his Mind lest Bajazet should seize on Iconium and so march into Syria from whence there is a large Passage into Egypt a Province not fully setled in Subjection to the Turks and not forgetting the ancient Governors of the Circassians or Marncasses longed for a change And if Bajazet once got thither he foresaw it would be a very hard Matter to beat him out should the neighbouring Arabians assist him who in hopes of Booty were ready to take any side And if with much ado he could have been driven out of Egypt yet from thence he might easily be wafted over into any of the Christian Countries whereupon Solyman by all means sought to stop his March thither because he thought it would be Bajazet's last Shift and to that end he had written to most of the Governors of lesser Asia to be watchful and to assist Selymus when he called for their Aid And accordingly Solyman's Army forced a Camp before the Walls of Iconium For he thought it best to be slain there than wait for the Auxiliaries of his Father and not to hazard his All on the doubtful Issue of a Battel On the 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 called Chiarts perhaps formerly Gordianes Men noted for Valour in whom he put great Confidence They assoon as ever they came into his Army began the representation of a Battel on Horseback which had so much of Truth in it that many of them were slain but more wounded His Camp was pitch'd in the plain and open Fields of Aucyra from which City he was supplied with many Necessaries and at the Castle thereof he placed his Concubines and Children From those Merchants that were Rich he borrowed Mony upon Terms of Re-payment with Interest if God gave him Success Form thence also he was furnished with Arms for his Soldiers Besides his own Family consisting of very many among the higher sort of Turks and the Chiauxes before mentioned those that were of his Mothers or his Sisters and of Rustan's Faction came in to him so did very many of Mustapha's and Achmet's Favourites fierce and skilful Warriers for they grudging at the undeserved Death of their Master were resolved to revenge them with the hazard of their Blood some also came under his Banner out of Commiseration of his depressed Condition as being necessiated to fly to Arms his last and only Refuge A great many favoured Bajazet because he was so like his Father whereas Selymus had not one Feature in his Face resembling him 'T is 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 uncomly Redness insomuch that the Soldiers would seemingly say He was cramm'd with Barly Pudding Besides he liv'd a slothful banquetting idle Life neither was he courteous or of easie Access nor did he oblige any Man by Largessee or Bounties 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 dis-respected of 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 call Bajazet Softi i. e. a seddentary Man and given to Ladies when they 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 before him that had nothing of his Fathers disposition in him As for Bajazet's taking Arms Necessity enforced him thereunto and therefore he was not to be blamed for did not Selymus their Grandfather do the same What greater President could there be For he did not only arm against his Brother but Necessity also compelled him to hasten his Fathers death and yet by this Procedure he established the Kingdom to himself and his Posterity Now if Solyman did rightfully possess
that Kingdom so unjustly gotten why should his Son be denied to take the same Course Why should that Fact be vindicated so severely in him which was accounted Lawful in his Grandfather And yet the Cause was much different said they for Bajazet did not take up Arms against his Father but wishes him a long Life nay he would not hurt and Hair of his Brothers Head if he could be sure of his own Life against him but 't is always lawful to resist Force by Force and if possibly to prevent ones own certain Ruin These Discourses caused many to fly unto Bajazet and his Army being now of a moderate size without any delay he marches towards his Brother putting his Life Fortune and the hope of the Empire upon the Event of the Battel for thus thought he with himself my Valour at least will be commended if it be not prosperous I will endeavour if I can to break my way into Syria and if I succeed therein my Business is done Selymus waited for him under the Walls of Iconium 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 Bajazet was nothing terrified at all those Disadvantages but assoon as he came in sight of his Brothers Army he exhorted his Own tho' inferiour in Number in this sort Now says he the long wished for Hour is â—ome wherein you may shew your Valour do you act as Men and let me alone to reward you All my Fortune is in your Hand 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 kind of Rewards befitting Men of Valour One Victory will compleat all our Hopes tho' never so vast and that you may get by your superabounding Valour As for my Brothers Troops before your Eyes they are a Company of Buffoons under a slothful General you may easily make way through them with your swords what Force he hath with him of my Fathers tho' they are his in Body yet they are mine at Heart 'T is Selymus alone 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 the Rest not the Most 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 safeguard as I shall do for your advancement and I 'll warrant you the battle is our own Having finished 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 Battle was bloody and many fell on both sides and Victory seem'd to hover in the 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 smoak of the Ordinance into the very Faces of Bajazet's Army so that they fought blindfold as it were whereupon Bajazet after much blood-shed on both sides was forced to sound a Retreat but he made it with so little of Trepidation and so leisurely that he seemed a Conqueror rather than a Conquered neither did Selymus make out of his Camp to pursue him being well contented to see his Enemy turn their Backs After this Bajazet considering he had disobeyed his Father's Commands by indulging his own Humour and being cut off from hi March into Syria which he had design'd resolved to move in good earnest towards Amasia Solyman had presently a Messenger sent him of this Victory and immediately he posted over into Asia His Bassa's would not let him go before But now said they you must make haste to press upon Bajazet in 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 terrifie all his Followers and therefore make haste lest he serve you as sometimes your Father did who was more formidable after he was Conquered than before so that his very Overthrow was the Cause why at last he prevailed Neither did they thus speak without Cause for 't is incredible how much that Fight tho' unfortunate had added to Bajazet'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 Fathers Force 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 Battle not as a raw General but an expert Commander 'T is true said they his Success was not answerable but his Valour was not Inferiour and therefore let Selymus boast never so much of his Victory to his Father this we are sure of that of the Two Bajazet deserved to be Conqueror neither did his Brether prevail against him by true Force but through Strength These Discourses concerning Bajazet shew'd him to be Popular and thereupon they double his Fathers trouble and his desire to ruin him resolved he was none but Selymus should succeed him in the Empire for besides that he was his eldest Son he had been always faithful and obedient to him but Bajazet had been contumacious and gaped after the Throne in his Life time and he feared him the more because he was esteem'd a very valiant Prince and because also he had openly assaulted Solyman against him For these Reasons he pass'd the Sea into Asia but with a Resolution not to stir from the Shore but to assist his Son Selymus's Affairs only at a distance For why thought he should I run any hazard to bring my own Force nearer lest my Army not fully setled in their Obedience should be reapted to a Revolt I my self saw Solyman march out of Constantinople in the Year 1559 Iune 5th tho' against the Will of my Chiaux Let me here present you with a Scheme of Mirth and like a Braggadotio-soldier tell you of two Battles 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 my Contests When I was certainly inform'd that the Sultan was ready to pass over into Asia and that the day was fix'd for his Departure I told my Chiaux that I had a mind to
be sent Prisoner into the Bowels of his Kingdom that he might be no Obstacle to the intended Agreement And yet as ill us'd as he is after his Fathers death 't is thought he would succeed in the Empire But Solyman fearing that Sagathamas or as we call him the Sophi would be more mindful of old Grudges than of the late Peace to which he was in a manner compell'd and that if his Son went thither he should have much ado to get him thence and perhaps it might occasion a long War between the Empires did use his utmost endeavour to stop or take him before he could come thither The old Man had not forgot that a few Years before Thamas's Brother had fled to him and had been supported by him and it cost his Brother dear to recover him and therefore he feared that Thamas would serve him the same sauce and perhaps recover by the Sword all the Countries he had taken from him The Design of Solyman was kept very secret yet Bajazet's Friends smelt it out and therefore advised him by no means to trust his Father but to consult his Safety by avoiding his Misery what way soever he could And Bajazet was perswaded so to do upon a small occasion as oft great Matters turn into little Injuries There was a Souldier of Bajazetâ—s â—s taken in Solyman's Camp and hang'd up as a Spy because that Bajazet had listed him after his Father had given him strict charge to list no more Souldiers This was warning enough to Bajazet to pack up and be gone Now Solyman thought himself sure of Bajazet and to deceive him the more he caused his Army to begin their March the Day after Easter back to Constantinople But Bajazet after Prayer upon Easter-Day summon'd all his Relicks and began his unfortunate Voyage towards Persia he knew well enough that he went to the old Enemy of the Ottoman House but he was resolv'd to try the mercy of any body rather than fall into his Fathers Hands There marched out with him all that were able to bear Arms none were left behind but weak Persons Women and Children that were not able to bear the Toil of so long a Journey amongst which was a young Child of his own with his Mother whose Innocency he thought would protect them from his Fathers Cruelty and therefore he thought it best to expose them to his Clemency rather than make them Companions of his woful and miserable Fight and the truth is Solyman as yet uncertain what would become of the Father spared the Life of his Infant Son at present and sent him to be Educated at Prusia I would have return'd to Constantinople the Day before Easter but had a great mind to see how the Turks did observe that Festival and I was not sure that ever I should have so fair an Opportunity again They were to Celebrate it in the open Field before the Emperour 's own Tent. I therefore caused my Servants to take a Room in the Tent of a Turkish Souldier that stood on a rising ground and look'd down on Solyman's Tent which was over against it Thither go I at Sun-rise where in an open Plain I beheld a vast Multitude of Turbanted Heads silently standing but repeating the last words of their Priest Every Rank was ranged orderly and standing that in the open Field they seemed to be a Wall one to another The most Honourable had their Station next the Emperor's Train uppermost in the Camp and their Turbants as white as Snow Such diversity of Colours did affect me with a great deal of Pleasure and the rather because they stood unmovable as if they had grown upon the Place not a Cough Schriek nor Word to be heard no nor the least moving of the Head to look backward or about them At the Name of Mahomet they all as one Man bowed their Heads even to the Knee but when the Name of God was pronounced they all fell Prostrate on their Faces and Kissed the Ground And the truth is the Turks are very careful and ceremonious in the acts of their Worship for if a Man doth but scratch his Head when he Prays they think his Prayer is lost For thus say they If a Man composes his Body so reverently even when he speaks but to a Bassa how much more fitting is it we should do it to God who is infinitely greater than the greatest of Men After Prayer the whole Knot of them was broke asunder and they ran up and down ranging over the Fields Anon the Emperor's Dinner is served up which the Ianisaries carry away Dish by Dish and eat it with a gret deal of Jollity and Mirth T' is an allowed Custom for them so to do on that day their Emperor being provided of a Dinner elsewhere When I had beheld their Shew I returned with a great deal of pleasure to Constantinople The remainder of my Task is to acquaint you what became of Bajazet and then I shall ease you of the trouble of Reading and my self of Writing He as I told you with his Invincible Band March'd out of Amasia with such speed that his coming prevented the Report thereof and those Bassa's who designed to observe his Motion he came upon them unawars He put a notable Cheat upon the Bassa of Constantinople for whereas there were ways in his Province by which he might March and he himself had beset the chiefest of them he sent some before him pretended to be Runaways to inform him that he was gone the furthest way about which he giving Credit to removed his Troops thither to prevent him and so left him a free passage He put the like Trick upon the Bassa of Erzerumen for knowing that the Passage through the Province would be very hazardous he sent some before him with a counterfeit Message to Salute him and tell him that his Misfortunes had reduced him to the top of all miseries and therefore he desired him that he might rest a day or two in his Province at least to procure his Horses to be relieved and new Shod The Bassa granted his request whereas it was not a commiserating his Case or that he favoured his Side but perhaps that he might amaze him a little till he had got all his Troops together to ensnare him for they were scattered as not dreaming he would be so soon upon him However Bajazet March'd continually on allowing his men no rest by day and very little at Night The Bassa of Erzerumen seeing himself Deceived made haste to joyn himself with the other Bassa's in his Flight For you must know as soon as Solyman heard his Son was gone from Amazia he commanded a great many Sanziacks and Bassa's to follow and upon pain of Death to bring him either Alive or Dead but all in vain for Bajazet Fled faster than they could Persue The Bassa of Casgan afore-mentioned paid dear enough for letting him escape for Solyman put him out of his Place but Selymus put
account of his Victories may well be reckoned a good Soldier I ask them again How is this Soldier listed and how is he train'd up If they say they know not I will tell them what I my self have seen to my own Cost A Turkish Soldier is a Man so born so listed so train'd and exercised as the Romans were of old and as ours ought to be Yea he is in a worse Condition for as to those Soldiers who offer themselves to be listed when the Turk goes in any Military Expedition which they call Alcangi they are little esteemed among the Turks that Soldier is the only Man who is continually under their Emperor's Pay and by Judgment and good Reason is at length advanced into the Sultan's Guards This Soldiery is thus chosen The Sultan sends some Men every Year into several Provinces who take away the third or fourth Child from Christian Families When the Drove of these Youths arrive at Constantinople they who have the most ingenious Aspect are chosen out for the Domestick Uses of the Sultan himself or of the Bassa's or other Nobles the rest are brought into a certain place where abundance of Country-men meet and they desire such or such a Youth from the Overseer of the Business he receives from him a piece of Gold and delivers him the Youth he desires having first taken notice of the Youth's Name Country and Condition with his Age and other Marks whereby he may be known all his Life-long All these being recorded it is lawful for him whether he be a Citizen or a Country-man to carry the Youth into Asia or what part of the World soever he lives in and there he uses him as his Slave in continual Toil and Labour His Food is Bread and Water and sometimes a little Pottage with Fruits or Herbs His Apparel is sufficient only to defend him against the Weather Besides he is instructed in the Mahometan Religion In this Ignorance of Delights far from the Blandishment of his own Relations he grows up into a robust and sturdy Fellow This Man is again demanded of his Fiduciary Master and transferred to the Wars and from this Seminary the Legions of the Janizaries when they are defective are made up When he comes to be listed among the Janizaries his Pay at first is about one Ducat and a Half per mensem for that they think is enough for a Fresh-water Soldier And yet that he may not want Food he hath his Meat gratis with that Company into whose Chamber he is admitted but upon this Condition that he serves them in the Kitchen and other necessary Offices The Skillfulness of that Chamber instructs him in the use of Arms and fits him for Service and when this Tyro hath gotten a little Knowledge in Military Affairs though not equal with his Fellows is only hoped to mount higher by his Valour and if he carries himself bravely in any Service then his Pay is increas'd and is reckon'd a compleat Janizary This hope does excite such Youngsters to many valiant Attempts so that they equal the very Veterans in Valour and obtain the full Pay of Janizaries which at the highest is but eight Ducats a Month and yet if his Valour or Desert call him up to a higher Place either he is made a Commander amongst the Janizaries or is listed among the Pretorian Horse called Spahies The rest of the Youths before spoken of are imploy'd in several Works at Constantinople sometimes two or three hundred of them Cleanse the Court-Yards removes Rubbish carry Stones Timber and other Burdens not One of them is idle but must Earn the Bread he eats These Youths also when they are grown up to Transfer to Land or Sea-Service and those of them that are Chosen for the Court do many times mount to great Dignities For the General of the Ianizaries Admirals of Fleets Beglar Begs and the Viziers Bassa's themselves are Elected out of these yea the Daughters of Sultans are given in Marriage to them Thus have I given you a Plain Account what is the Rise Choice Discipline and Education of the Turkish Soldiery so formidable all the World Over I deny not but there are other ways of Military Advancement amonst them but this is the most usual sometimes they make Soldiers of those Youths whom they have taken in War or by frequent Incursions into Christian Countries after they have detain'd them for several years in the Seraglio and when they have lost all Memory and Sence of their own Country and the Religion thereof and have been Instructed in Arabick and in the Turkish way of Arms by their Eunuch-Masters then they send them abroad to perform the Military Service they are most fit for Moreover the Slaves of the Bassa's and other Nobles got by War or otherwise are many times listed Soldiers but not rashly or hand over head but having first tryed their Strength and Valour both of Body and Mind to obtain the Station they are designed for And the truth is I have oftentimes admir'd the Force of the Turkish Discipline in this case when I saw seemingly abject and contemptible Persons in a few years to have made that Advance as not only to be able to perform the Duty of a common Soldier But even of a Commander also fit to Teach and Instruct others Sometimes when for my own Refreshment I look'd out at my Windows the Neighbouring Turks shewed me some Officers that were Teaching the young Fry the Use of Arms I demanded of what Country they were I verily thought they must be either Parthians Bactrians or Massagets but when I was told that one was an Hungarian the other a Croat a third a German I was struck with Admiration But supposing they had obtain'd their Skill at Arms from the Use of them amongst Christians and supposing them to be Noble Persons and Gentilely Bred I proceeded to demand Whether they knew what kind of Life they lived amongst Christians After a little Recollection they answered me That one had told them his Father was a Cook another was intimated a Monk and the third was Servant to a Victualler but being taken in a time of War of Truce with other Booty they were brought to Constantinople and admitted into the Family of this or that Bassa Here I was struck again with Wonder And demanding How such kind of Fellows could come to be so great Warriors They told me The Masters they served had certain Men at their Houses well skill'd in Arms to whose Discipline if they were thought Tractable they were Consign'd over where they so much profited in a little Time that they Surpassed their Equals and had performed so bravely in succeeding Wars that they obtained Praise from all and Dignity from their Prince as a Reward of their Valour When I heard this I was much aggrieved that our Manners should so differ from the Turks for if they have got a Man that promises any thing they rejoyce in him as a precious Treasure