of his death was deferred for a while howsoever they proceeded to demand that the Mufti should be discharged of his Office and that the Tefterdar or Treasurer should be delivered into their hands To the first the Grand Signior assented but being willing to save the other he pretended that he was escaped and fled but when he was found he should run the same Fate with the Vizier But the military Sedition not being appeased with this answer they roved through the whole City and Galata and other parts of the Suburbs the Spahees persisting to require the Head of the Janisar-Aga and not finding him in his House they plundered it and departed and meeting with a Youth a Favourite of the Grand Signior's they killed him and so returning with the like fury to the Seraglio they required admission to the New Vizier and Mufti Regep Pasha another of the Brothers-in-law was then made Vizier who with the new Mufti trembling at these Tumults were careful to treat the Souldiery with all lenity and condescension imaginable desiring them to declare their grievances and whatsoever might give them satisfaction should be granted The seditious Souldiers replied That they were resolved to see the Grand Signior's Brother for that when the present Sultan did not govern well they might know from whence to produce another of better abilities and more agreeable to the designs of the Empire That necessity which caused the late easiness of condescension to former demands made way also for compliance with this so that the young Prince being brought forth they obliged the Sultan not to attempt any thing against his life and caused the Vizier and Mufti to become caution and security for it Nor did these concessions contribute towards a pacisication but rather their insolence increased thereby renewing their exclamations at the Gates of the Seraglio for the Heads of the Janisar-Aga and the Testerdar nor would they be satisfied with answer that these men were not found in the Seraglio but still persisted in their rude out-cryes and menaces losing all respect and reverence to the Sultan and the Superiours so that the Grand Signior resolved once to sally out upon them with his own Guard but trying their temper and resolution he discovered most of them to be poysoned with the like spirit of Sedition and combining with the others as Associates in the Treason The Viziers and other principal Officers perceiving the Mutiny to increase daily and not knowing to what degree it might arise made it their business to search out for those proscribed by the Souldiery at length the Aga was happily discovered by a certain person to whom a reward was given of a thousand Zechins with the Office of Zorbasi or Captain and the Aga confessing that he had counselled the death of Casref he was immediately strangled and his body hanged upon a tree to publick view The like Fate befel the Testerdar who being also taken was killed and hanged up together with the body of the Aga. All which persons thus inhumanely murdered by the Souldiery were the Enemies of the present Great Vizier Regep for which cause the Grand Signior suspecting that he secretly contrived and nourished these Rebellions never after looked on him with a gracious eye Of which the Vizier being sensible combined with the Souldiery and judging it almost impossible to set himself right in the affection of his Master he courted the favour of the Militia as the only means to protect his life and maintain his Power But as the revenge of Princes is not like a Thunder-bolt which wounds on a sudden but rather like a Mine which requires time to form and is then sprang when it may do the best execution so in the same manner the Grand Signior dissembled his hate towards the Vizier until one night being present with him in the Seraglio to see certain Fire-works he called him aside and whispered to him that he should go into his private Lodgings where being entred the door was shut upon him and he strangled by certain Eunuchs who were appointed to attend him for that purpose But little benefit or riches did the Grand Signior reap by his death for the Vizier having for some time expected this blow had concealed his Treasure and conveyed it away for the use of his Posterity The like hatred did the Sultan conceive against the Souldiery resolving in his mind to execute his revenge especially on the Janisaries as the most turbulent Fomenters of Rebellion and Treason and to vent his anger either by the Cord or Sword or some other more expedite way as opportunity presented and to prevent or oppose the like Seditions for the future he fortified the Seraglio and brought Arms in thither by night chusing into his Guard select men of còurage and faithfulness and being sensible that the being of his Brother attempered his Soveraignty and drew away the hearts and eyes of his Souldiers and People from fixing entirely on his own person he therefore intended to cut him off but the caution and security given by himself and chief Ministers to preserve his life diverted him from this resolution In place of the deceased Vizier Mehmet late Pasha of Cairo was constituted and the Seal consigned to him with whom the Grand Signior consulting of the present emergency of affairs often uttered his displeasure against the late Seditions and signified his intentions to redress them for the future in order unto which he caused the Heads of the most mutinous Spahees to be cut off and on various pretences separated the Souldiery each from other into divers parts some numbers of Janisaries he commanded to march to the Confines of Persia and caused many others of them to be killed by night and by various other means greatly weakened the Chambers both by diminishing the numbers and taking off such who were the men of best courage and conduct many bodies were found swimming in the Bosphorus and known to be Spahees great part of the Lands belonging to the Timariots was taken away and the Pay of the Spahees was abated and divers Offices of Profit and Honour were taken from the Militia that so men might be made sensible of the indignation of their Prince and that there is no sport or jesting with the anger of a provoked King who knows no other mean of his passion than the total evaporation of his choler and vengeance To maintain and make good these several acts of just punishment young Morat growing in courage with his years mounted on Horse-back well armed and like a Souldier attended with a select Party of Cavalry passed through the most publick streets of the City in a huffing manner and casting a stern eye upon the Souldiery and People as he went and making a hundred passes through the midst of them struck them with an awe of his Majesty and admiration of his warlike and Martial appearance with which severity and gallantry the Souldiery being affrighted began to consider that they were not
made during the Siege were exposed to the open force of the Enemy For now the Turks having filled up the first and second Ditches with Sacks of Wool Faggots and other Rubbish crowded in vast numbers to enter the Breach which the Persians defended as stoutly with Stones Bullets artificial Fires and all Instruments of death which fell like showers of Hail on the heads of the Enemy The Great Vizier signalizing himself above all by his undaunted courage commanding with his hand and voice was unhappily shot by a Musket-bullet and fell on the heaps of the dead amongst whom there is no distinction between the common Souldier and the bravest Captain This Fight within the Breach continued for five days where both sides fighting like men in despair the dead bodies lay in heaps and blood was stagnated like a Pool to wade thorough At length the numbers of the Turks prevailing commanded now by Mustapha the Captain-Pasha entred the Town by force of Arms on the 22 th day of December about the time of Sun-set when the Royal Standard of the Turks was planted in this City Howsoever twenty four thousand of the Persians remaining still alive and united in a Body capitulated for Quarter otherwise threatning not to die unrevenged Pardon and Quarter for their lives was readily granted on confidence of which the Persians threw down their Arms and submitted to the publick faith or the Sultan's clemency But the Grand Signior afterwards considering that the granting Quarter at Revan had been the cause of the loss of the City he repented him of his promise and gave Order to the Janisaries most inhumanely to open a torrent of blood and make a barbarous Massacre of those who had newly thrown down their Arms at his feet not sparing either woman or child either sex or age the which slaughter like a work of darkness was acted in the night by the light of Torches and Lanthorns and appeared a horrid spectacle to all especially to the Persian Ambassadour who being conducted like a Prisoner in the Camp was a sad Spectator of his Countries destruction on the horrid Theatre of its capital City So soon as Bagdat was taken Morat dispatched away Posts immediately with the News into all parts and wrote a Letter with his own hand to the Chimacam ordering a Dunalma or Feast of Thanksgiving and rejoicing for the space of twenty days during which time no business was to be acted the Houses were to be adorned both without and within with the best Furniture and every House was to set forth Lights Torches and Fire-works agreeable to the condition and ability of the person The people exclaimed hereat as too great an expence and the vacation from business seemed too long for those who lived by their daily labour The chief Ministers and Grandees evidenced external actions of joy but inwardly feared and trembled suspecting that the fierce and cruel humour of their Sultan would be elated and rendred more tyrannical and untractable by success and a favourable Fortune The Christian Princes received this Intelligence like bad News and as an Alarm to awaken them from the easiness of Peace to expectations of War for War with Persia was like an Ulcer in the Bowels of the Turkish Empire which gangrened and consumed the strength and marrow of their Power which now being cured and the Body politick rendred healthy by such a seasonable success would convert it self to Enterprises pernicious and dangerous to the neighbouring States After the Conquest of this City Morat gave out That he resolved to proceed with his Army into Persia and to enter the Walls of Spahan but having some indispositions of health upon him and recalled by the charming Letters of a Favourite Mistress whom he had left at Diarbechir he inclined to return again to Constantinople Wherefore mustering first his Army he found that it was abated near an hundred thousand men two thirds whereof being killed in the War the rest perished by the Pestilence and other diseases and maladies incident to Camps a great part of the slaughter fell on the most veterane Souldiers of the Janisaries and Spahees of which many of the Chief being slain their Lands and Revenues returned to the Grand Signior and gave him both opportunity and ability to reward many with such Offices and Gifts as came by the death and fall of other Commanders Thus the Captain-Pasha whose Valour had rendred him famous was made Great Vizier in the place of him that was slain and the Persian Favourite was constituted Captain-Pasha and though many repined at this advancement as conferred on a Stranger and a Person without Merit yet the Grand Signior considered him as one whose Experience in that Country and the Information he had given him of the situation and strength of Babylon had made abundant compensation for the favour and honour he had bestowed upon him The Grand Signior having left a Garrison of thirty thousand men in Bagdat dispeeded the Great Vizier with a considerable Army to penetrate far into the Country of Persia. And having now released the Persian Ambassadour giving him liberty to return to his Master wrote by him this braving Letter I That am Lord of Lords and Conquerour in the parts of Arabia Persia and Greece King that commands with eminent Rule in the World exalted by Divine assistance to the Empire of the Vniverse the most Invincible Possessor of the White and Black Seas and of all the Cities and Fortresses which encompass them Lord of the Divine and Prophetick Temple that is of Mecha and Medina as also of Jerusalem Aleppo Damascus and of all those Holy and Venerable Countries of Grand Cairo Salutiferous Babylon and of Van of Ethiopia Balsora and the Lesser Asia of all the Countries of the Curds Georgians and Tartars of Moldavia Valachia and universally of all the Provinces and Regions of Greece and Anatolia And in summ Supreme Lord of the Seven Climates the Victorious and Triumphant King in the Service of God Sultan Amurat Han to the Valiant Sofi to whom may God give peace if he deserve it This Imperial Letter worthy of Obedience being come to thee Be it known unto thee That the Ambassadour which Thou didst send to my happy Port with desires of Peace I have detained until this time in which I have subdued Bagdat by means of the keen edge of my Invincible Cemiter If thou desirest Peace surrender those Provinces which belong to the Dominions of my Victorious Predecessors into the hands of my Beglerbeys who are now marching at the head of my Victorious and Inexpugnable Army otherwise expect me next Spring with my Troops more numerous than the sands of the Sea within the bowels of thy Dominions where I will appear on Horse-back to unkennel thee from the Caverns wherein thou now lurkest not daring to manage those Arms which are unworthily girt to thy side That afterwards shall succeed which was determined from all Eternity Peace be to him who directs his
and a gentle gale to make their escape and being with the gray of the morning advanced without the Port they were espyed by the watchful Venetians who dividing their Fleet into two Squadrons charged them with high courage the Fight continued for the space of two hours during all which time the Castle of Valona fired at the Venetians and shot down a Mast of one of the Galleasses a splinter of which wounded Lorenzo Marcello the Commander at length five of the Gallies of the Pirates being disabled and many of their people killed they began to fly and retire again under the protection of the Town as also did the Venetians to their place of Anchorage A distinct Advice of all Particulars being dispatched to Venice the Senate wrote to Capello That since the respect which the Republick owes to the Ottoman Court was not unknown to him he should by no means make any attempt against those Pirates upon the Land but meeting them fairly at Sea he ought then to make use of all the valour and force he was able In the mean time the Duke of Medina las Torres vice-Vice-King of Naples dispatched an Express to Capello with Letters applauding the generosity of the design wherein he was now engaged for the Glory of his Republick and the common good of all Christendom proffering to supply him with refreshments and Ammunition and what else might supply his occasions expecting that by such encouragement as this he might be induced to assault the Enemies in Valona without respect to the Grand Signior or any inconveniences which might arise thereby On the contrary the Governour of the Castle and Kadi of the Town wrote a Letter to Capello putting him in mind that he was within the Grand Signior's Dominions and that he should be careful how he offered any violence to those places which would certainly prove a violation of the Peace and be the Original of an inevitable War Capello had now lain a whole month before the Port having all the time injoyed fair weather and a smooth Sea against the hope and desire of the Turks who expected that by means of some storm the Enemy would be forced to remove their Quarters to some secure Harbour and thereby afford them an opportunity to escape But Capello growing weary of such tedious attendance resolved to expect no longer nor yet to lose the present advantage of rendring himself Master of the Vessels of the Enemy wherefore dividing his Fleet into several Squadrons he advanced near the Port firing several shot at the Tents of the Pirates of which one from a Galleass struck a Mosch and arming with store of men the Galeotes and Brigantines they entred the Port and to the astonishment and vexation of the Turks possessed all the sixteen Vessels and brought them to their Admiral which though they had disfurnished of all their chief Booty yet their Cannon and Arms remained of which there were twelve Pieces of great Brass Guns besides others of Iron with divers Falcons and lesser Arms. The Intelligence hereof being carried to Venice Orders were given that all the Vessels should be sunk in the Port of Corfu excepting only the Admiral of Algier which was to be brought to the Arsenal of Venice there to remain as a Trophy of Victory and for a perpetual Memory of this glorious Atchievement Howsoever this Exploit was variously interpreted at Venice and approved or disproved according to the diversity of humors The younger men applauded it as an action of great Gallantry excusing his transgression of the Senates Orders by a transport of passion and zeal towards his Country and desire of Glory But the Senators and men of mature Judgments highly resented this breach of their Orders which as they are strictly enjoyned so they expected that they should be punctually obeyed That this action was a sufficient and just cause alone to kindle a War and that it was a matter intolerable that a single Citizen should of his own head and humor presume to act such things as must necessarily involve the Publick in a War contrary to their pleasure and in opposition to their express commands For which crime and other subsequent defaults Capello was afterwards forced to justifie himself as will be signified in the sequel of this History The Particulars of this Advice were by an express Messenger dispatched to Luigi Contarini the Bailo or Ambassadour for the Venetians at Constantinople a Person of great reputation and esteem having been conversant in the principal Courts of Christendom and employed for the space of seven years at Munster where he was assistant with the Nuntio Chigi afterwards Alexander VII in the general Peace of Europe The Turks also receiving this News aggravated to them with all the foul circumstances imaginable the Chimacam immediately summoned the Bailo to Audience and with an angry countenance began to exclaim That taking advantage of the Grand Signior's absence in remote parts the Venetians had in a perfidious and hostile manner assaulted and destroyed the Fleet of Barbary which were his Subjects and such as he had called to his assistance against the Corsaires of Malta and Ligorne That being accidentally compelled by storm to enter into the Port of Valona they were forcibly taken thence and violence offered to the Grand Signior's Port and Castle by way of a manifest and open breach If this presumption were grounded on the long distance of the Grand Signior from these parts the Venetians would do well to consider how that they provoke an angry Prince and one who esteems neither expence hazards nor labours to compleat his revenge If this were a design to divert the Grand Signior's Arms from Persia they would do well to consider that the Sultan was not so far advanced but that he could turn a currant if he pleased sufficient to drown and in an instant to overwhelm the Dominions of Venice or could at least collect Forces from nearer parts able to revenge his quarrel and vindicate his Honour from the disdain and scorn of such petty Neighbours Hereunto the Bailo or Ambassadour made this Reply That this Piratical people was the same which the year before had landed in Candia and made spoil of the Estates of the Inhabitants and carried many of them into slavery and not contented with this Booty they entred the Gulph and penetrated into the very bowels of Italy with design to sack and plunder the Island of Lissa which was under the Dominion of the Republick That the Venetian General friendly saluted the Castle of Valona which was returned with several shots from thence that had it been his intention to have attempted the Port in the beginning he would not have lain thirty seven days in expectation of the forth-coming of those Pirates it being only respect to the Grand Signior which obliged him to that attendance At length being wearied and provoked by the insolence of that people he forcibly entred the Port knowing that by Capitulations with the Grand
interposition of other Countries limited the Turks March by Land and their ignorance and inability in marine Affairs rendred them uncapable to arrive those Banks of France which the Sea washes These Considerations the French Merchants having perswaded the King to be the thoughts of the Grand Signior and that he desired the continuance of the Peace and Traffick with France and as an evidence of his remorse and displeasure for the injury to Monsieur la Haye the Father his Majesty was contented in satisfaction thereof to redress this injurious transgression of the Law of Nations by some extraordinary marks of favour and honour to the Person of Monsieur la Haye the Son that so exceeding the usual method and rule of Ceremony towards this Ambassadour at his arrival the World might be convinced of the real affection and hearty desire the Grand Signior had to renew his Peace and preserve his Commerce with France This is supposed to be what the Merchants of Marseille and Lyons governed by the Interest of their Trade suggested to their King to induce him to send an Ambassadour to Constantinople For at this time Monsieur Roboli a Merchant remained only as Consul or Agent for the Affairs of Commerce Things thus represented at the French Court the King dispatched away two Gentlemen to Constantinople with Letters to the Grand Signior and Vizier and one to the Sieur Roboli the Agent declaring that if the Turk would make amends for the last Affront done to the Ambassadour by some signal notes of Honour in the abused Person of Monsieur la Haye the Son he would then condescend to confirm the Ancient League and Amity The Letters translated out of the French Tongue were as followeth To Our Dear and Well Beloved le Sieur Roboli Agent for Our Affairs at Constantinople By the King Dear and Well Beloved THE Inclination We have to continue that Amity with the Emperour of the Turks which hath remained so long between Us and Our Empires and maintain the ancient Alliances hath caused Us to write to Him and his Great Vizier to know the Entertainment and Reception that they will give to the Sieur de la Haye the Son in satisfaction of the violence exercised before on his own Person and the Person of the Sieur de la Haye the Father our Ambassadour against the Law of Nations We write to You this Letter to give you Order to conduct and present before the Vizier the Secretaries du Pressoir and Fontain which We have sent to carry him our Dispatches and return with the Answers which you shall solicite without loss of time the which you shall bring your self in case they be not agreeable to that resolution we have taken not to receive any satisfaction but in the Person of the said Sieur de la Haye the Son which is due to Us for that Insolency and Affront which hath been done them Willing also notwithstanding that before you depart you assemble the French Merchants in Constantinople together that they may chuse amongst themselves one for their Chief but if the Answers be such as We have cause to expect We approve that you remain in the Station where you are in Quality of Our Agent until the Arrival of the said Monsieur de la Haye and that you send them by the said Secretaries du Pressoir and Fontain of which you shall not fail for so is Our Pleasure Given at Paris the twentieth of January 1662. Signed LOUIS De Lomenie The King of France his Letter to the Great Vizier To the Most Illustrious and Magnificent Lord the Chief Vizier of the Sublime Port of the Grand Signior Most Illustrious and Magnificent Lord ALthough the Indignity offered to the Person of the Sieur de la Haye Venteley Our Ambassadour and to his Son which We have designed to the same Charge have touched Us as far as becomes a victorious Prince who holds the first rank over Christian Kings and who hath under his Power one of the most warlike Nations of the World Notwithstanding after being informed that the disgrace which the said Gentlemen have incurred hath proceeded rather from malice and the ill Offices of some Persons who have endeavoured to disturb by this ill Treatment of them the good Correspondence which hath been between Us than from any design on the Grand Signiors Part to offend Us and that on the contrary there continues in His will an intention to maintain the Ancient Friendship which remains between our Estates and People after so many Ages We being not desirous to estrange Our selves shall send an Embassadour in ordinary to his High Port and having cast our Eyes upon the said Sieur de la Haye the Son We are much inclined to dispatch him for this employment but as We desire to be assured of the good reception that shall be made him We give You advice of Our intentions by this Letter that according to the desire You have testified of the continuance of Our friendship and Our Ancient Alliances with His Highness shall pray God to have You Most Illustrious and Magnificent Lord in His holy and worthy protection Written at Paris the twelfth day of January 1662. LOUIS De Lomenie The King of France his Letter to the Grand Signior To the most High most Excellent most Puissant most Magnanimous and Invincible Prince the Great Emperour of the Mussulmans Sultan Mahomet in whom all Honour and Vertue abound Our most dear and perfect Friend MOST High most Excellent most Puissant most Magnanimous and Invincible Prince the Grand Signior Emperour of the Mussulmans Sultan Mahomet in whom all Honour and Vertue abound Our most dear and perfect Friend May God encrease Your Greatness and Majesty with a happy end We have not known how to impute the ill usage which hath been offered to the Person of the Sieur de la Haye our Ambassadour and to his Son designed by Us to the same employment to any causes and motions in Your Highness but rather to the Instigation of some People which would trouble that good Correspondence which hath been so long established between Us and our Empires And as we have cause to believe that Your Highness desires much to continue this friendship and good understanding upon what hath been wrote Us on Your Part and to concurr with You herein we desire much likewise to continue to maintain an Embassadour at Your High Port in place of the said Sieur de la Haye And since We have none of Our People that is more intelligent than the Sieur de la Haye the Son in what concerns the Affairs and Functions of this Embassy We have elected him for this employment to which We shall willingly dispatch him if We may be assured of the good usage and kind reception which shall be given him This is that which We expect from Your Highness reserving a more particular information to be sent by the Sieur de la Haye the Son of the good Correspondence which
discouraged considering that if the ground was unsecure and unstable at that distance what abysses and chasmes must there be prepared to make them graves under the Walls or entrance to the City To second and justifie this Gun-powder Plot the Christians made two Sallies one by the Savoyards under Command of Colonel Profito Torse who issued forth from the Revelin of Betlem and made great slaughter of the Turks with Granadoes on the side of Panigra another was performed by Colonel Arborio and Colonel Marini accompanied with Count Brurasco Captain of the Guards to Marquess Villa who assaulted two Redouts of the Turks and forced them to flight and afterwards with some loss retreated victoriously to their Works In like manner Colonel Frigeri Commander of the Fort St. Demetrio made a Sally on Catirgi-Oglé near the Lazaretto and with some loss returned triumphant About this time arrived at Standi the Captain-General Francesco Morosini who after some Consultation disarming his Fleet of about a thousand men entred with that Succour into the Town and yet fitted out a convenient Squadron of Gallies and Galleasses to rove in the Archipelago to hinder the Enemies Succours and Recruits which were designed for Candia In this interim the Turks repaired the old Battery against the Lazaretto and laboured continually in their Galleries and subterranean Works so that by that time that the Christians had sprang five Fornelli upon them towards the point of the Half-moon of Mocenigo the Turks had advanced so well towards the Borders of Panigra that they sprang two Mines but these being but the first proofs or essays of this kind of invention reverted on themselves with the loss of two hundred of their men and again fired a third with little success which the Christians answered to better purpose blowing up sixty or seventy Turks Wherefore the Turks made a farther tryal of two Mines by the Half-moon rather to their own loss than to the damage of their Enemy In all the month of July passed not a day without some considerable action sometimes to good sometimes with bad success to both Parties every day Mines were sprang on both sides destroying the Lines and overthrowing the Galleries but the main force and heat of the War as it were concentring it self towards the Quarters of Panigra to defence thereof the Engineer Castellan as freely as couragiously proffered the use of his Art and the hazard of his Person In which whilst he imployed himself and endeavoured to cleanse the Galleries of their rubbish which the Enemies Mines had thrown down the Turks threw such quantities of Bomboes and Stink-pots into those Caverns as made the stench thereof so suffocating and noisom that two Officers were choaked or smothered that went to view the place and Lieutenant-Colonel Cavalli and the Engineer Castellan himself were brought away half dead poysoned with Sulphur and pestiferous smoke to purifie which Grota nothing could render the air more wholesom in expulsion of the preceding vapour than the smoke of Juniper and burnt Aqua vitae which being made use of with good success the Christians fired two Mines which opened so dreadful an abyss as served for the grave of great numbers of Insidels During this time of daily rencounters arrived the Auxiliary Gallies from the Pope and Malta commanded by Prior Bichi and Bali del Bene as also the Gallies of Naples and Sicily commanded by Gianettino Dorta and the Duke of Ferrandina of whom the Captain-General would have borrowed some Forces to have served at Land but their Commissions it seems or their courages were too strait to afford any such Supplies being designed to cruise in the Archipelago only the generous Chevalier d'Harcourt with ten other Camerades that were imbarked on the Gallies of Malta agreed to enter the Garrison having come with no other design from France than to offer themselves in defence of the Christian cause and in a time of Peace when their Prince had no need of their assistance and service to give the World true evidences and proofs of the value and greatness of their souls In all Enterprises this Person worthily descended of the House of Lorrain was a Companion to Marquess Villa and one day venturing on a design to disturb the Enemies approaches was shot in the face with a Musket-bullet of which wound recovering some time after he with his Companions returned to France having like Gavaliers Passant acted the parts of true Chivalry But neither did the Prior Bichi Commander of the Popes Gallies nor Doria Admiral of those of Naples act agreeable to the bravery of those French Gentlemen for they not only denied as we have said to land a small number of their men but as if they came only to make them a visit sent this short Letter of Advice dated the 24 th of August in these words The Auxiliary Gallies are obliged to depart this night and to return to Suda where they are to remain until the expiration of that time which is appointed for them in these Seas Prior Bichi likewise sent word to Marquess Villa That he judged it fit to depart by reason that no action presented for them to undertake to which the Marquess replied That he who seeks may find and that such opportunities never offer to those who endeavour to avoid them Doria also to colour his excuses said That his Orders were not to land men unless the Town were in the extremity of danger of being taken to which Villa replied That he could not well be assured in what condition the Town was since he never vouchsafed to set his foot ashore or conceived a curiosity of seeing the greatest and the most famous Siege that ever was in the World In short these Holy and Catholick Squadrons departed without contributing any assistance to the Christians incurring thereby the severe censure of the Commanders in chief with the anger and disdain of the Souldiery The Venetians have always thought it Policy to maintain an Agent in the Ottoman Quarters perhaps with design to afford them Intelligence or to be ready to apply Terms of Peace in times of most urgent necessities According to which Rule Signior Giavarina was sent to Candia upon the Venetian Armata now governed at Sea by one Pasqualino with Instructions to treat with the Vizier and perhaps to grant him any thing besides Candia though without this nothing could come either welcome or satisfactory to the Turks Howsoever to introduce him into the Camp a white Flag was displayed on the side of the Lazaretto which when the Turks perceived they flocked in great numbers to know the mystery of this Signal of Pacisication And though nothing appeared besides a Letter directed to the Great Vizier yet they hoped it might portend something of Treaty which in the end would produce a Peace and a conclusion of their labours before the Winter surprised them in their colder Lodgings The Vizier having read the Letter had his thoughts
the Camp But now the News of the designed return of the Grand Signior to his ancient Seat filled all places with joy and triumph especially at Constantinople which was not more satisfied with the consideration of the benefit and advantage it was likely to receive by the Royal Presence than that those suspicious and jealousies which formerly possessed the mind of the Sultan with a prejudice against this place did seem now to vanish and that he reassumed a confidence of his Royal City equal to that love and esteem which his Ancestors had of it so that the humour which then possessed Constantinople appeared like that of London at our Kings Restauration all joy even to transport for this unexspected Return the people in the streets congratulating their mutual happiness thanked God that they had lived to see that happy day and blessed hour The occasion of this unexspected and sudden resolution caused many roving guesses and opinations of the reasons of it Some said a Dream which the Grand Signior had and which gave great disturbance to his thoughts until he resolved for Constantinople Others said the revolt and troubles at Cairo of which we shall presently have occasion to discourse and some added certain Commotions at Bagdat or Babylon some reported that Xeriff of Mecha wrote him a Letter that he could not acknowledge him the Head and Protector of the Mussulmin Faith so long as he had abandoned his Imperial City and lived in the mountains and unknown places Others said that the Janisaries and Militia murmured and that his Coming to Constantinople was forced and not to be avoided and that the Sultan being now out of love with Adrianople had cursed it and sworn never more to set foot in it having ordered the Materials sent for the building of the Great Seraglio at Adrianople to be stopped on the way and returned back again At this rate all the World talked and discoursed joy and hopes made the people fancy every thing according to their wishes The Grand Signior being approached near to Constantinople fixed himself in his Camp in the Fields near a small Seraglio of his own called Daout Basha from whence the people for many days expected that he should according to the Custom of his Ancestors make a solemn Entry instead whereof he made some Sallies with a small Company through the Streets as it were incognito taking his pastime on the Water and on the sides of the Bosphorus in his Gallies and Boats but most commonly frequented his Palace of Scutari on the Asian side where with much delight and confidence he lodged and reposed his Court but made no solemn Entry through the City nor frequented his great Seraglio where though he might perhaps dine and pass certain hours yet he slept not one Night there of which the people took especial notice and thereby received consirmation of the jealousie their Soveraign had of them to their extraordinary grief and dissatisfaction however it was some contentment to the people and renown unto the City to have their Emperour so near though it was rumoured as if the Court towards the approach of Winter intended again to return unto Adrianople In the mean time the Grand Signior took his chief delight and divertisement on the Water passing in his Gallies and Pleasure-Boats up the Bosphorus to the mouth of the Black Sea and thence returning much frequented the Gardens and Houses of Delight upon the Banks of the River and visiting all places a Country House called Therapea belonging to the Dutch Resident received the honour of his Presence which he liked so well that he took it from the Proprietor and conferred it without any consideration of money on one of his Courtiers giving out a Proclamation That no Christian Minister should possess any Seat or Habitation on the side of the Bosphorus A strange thing and what is not to be paralleled in any part of the World About the beginning of this Year the Captain Pasha died and Zaid Ahmet Pasha-ogli then at the Camp succeeded him his Father was a famous Man and in the same Charge but cut off by old Kuperlee Soon after Ibrahim Pasha General of the Army at Kemenitz likewise died and his Office was conferred on Ibrahim Pasha that was Pasha of Candia of whom we have had often occasion to speak being a great friend to the English Nation The Great Vizier also was not far remote from the Consines of Death being now fallen by reason of immoderate drinking of Wine and chiefly of hot Cinamon Waters into a formed Dropsie and Jaundice In the preceding year we touched on the removal of the Tefterdar or Treasurer from his Office to the Government of Grand Cairo and the reasons for it which though it might be a preferment being the richest and most important Charge of the Empire to which the esteem the Sultan had of his parts and abilities might probably advance him yet the imploying of him at a distance so remote was certainly an effect of some displeasure whereby he or his Favourites judged him a Person not sit to remain longer near the Royal Presence Wherefore having commenced his Journey as before mentioned he arrived at Grand Cairo where he had not long continued before he began according to the natural acuteness of his mind and hugstering manner to pierce with a narrow inspection into all Affairs of that Government and particularly into the Revenue and Treasure of the Country contriving with himself by what means the disorders might be corrected and the Revenue and Tribute improved for he had an excellent Genius or Spirit in the matters of Money nothing in advantage of Interest could ever escape him so that he began to lay a new foundation in all proceedings he would not be contented with the old Taxes and Impositions and where he found Lands improved or the Customs augmented he would put in for a share of the Benefits and would reform every thing wherein he judged his Master to have been abused But though he was acute and sharp-sighted in such matters as these yet he wanted experience in the Government of Egypt for the great Beghs of this Country being alarmed with these innovations began to stand upon their Guard and to enter into private Consultations in what manner to oppose themselves to this new way of Government which looked like slavery and designs of bringing them into servitude and a subjection unknown to them and their Fore-fathers For indeed the Government of Egypt if well considered is rather Aristocratical than Monarchical for though they acknowledge the Sultan to be their Head and accept his Pasha for Ruler and pay a yearly Tribute yet the Beghs which are great Lords in their respective Countries carry the sway and Dominion in all other matters and will endure nothing which savours of oppression or innovation so that these persons grown jealous by the proceedings of the new Pasha flew into open Sedition and immediately to Arms with force