Part 12

Upon the Account of the Troubles in _Hungary_, there came lately a Messenger to me, with an Express from my Master, the Emperor. The _Bashaws_ would not let him bring his Letters directly to me, as they were wont to be brought, but they carried him first into the _Divan_. The Reason of this their unusual Procedure, was, because they would fain know what _Cæsar_’s Letters did contain, before they were delivered, in regard they suspected I dealt not faithfully with them, in communicating my Master’s Sense, but that I suppressed some of his Concessions. The Messenger was cunning enough for them; for, having some inkling of the Matter before-hand, he hid _Cæsar_’s Letters, and only shew’d them those that were directed to me, from some particular Friends. Their interpreter, _Ebrahim_, a _Polander_ by Birth, had acquainted them before, that the Letters, that brought any secret Commands to me, were not written in an ordinary Character, but in a new kind of Marks, called _Cyphers_. As they were searching all my Letters, at last they light upon One, that was wrote to me by a Friend of mine, a Secretary of _Burgundy_. _Ebrahim_ saw, through the thinness of the Paper wherein ’twas writ, some shining Letters, which were not of an ordinary sort. O! says he, now I have found it out; don’t you meddle with any of the rest of the Packet, for here’s the Secrecy in this. Whereupon the _Bashaws_ commanded him to open, read, and interpret it to them, and they all stood listning to hear the News; but _Ebrahim_ told them plainly, that he could not read one Letter of it. That’s strange, says the _Bashaws_; what, did you never learn the _Christian_ Alphabet; or have you forgot it? Says _Ebrahim_, this sort of Character is only known to those who are Secretaries to Princes: They did not well understand him; but however, say they, if it be so, why dost thou not make haste to the Secretary of the _Bailo_ of _Venice_, or of _Florence_? _Ebrahim_ presently makes haste to them, and shews them the Letters; (they were writ in might such a Character that a Child ten Years old have read them;) but both those Secretaries, when they saw the Letter was superscrib’d to me, threw it back again before they had well look’d upon it; alledging, in Excuse, that such kind of Letters could be read by none, unless by him who had another Cypher to unfold them. This was all the Answer _Ebrahim_ could get of them. Upon his Return to the _Bashaws_ therewith, they could not tell what in the World to do: At last, starts up one (I could not tell his Name) saying, there is a Patriarch in Town, and old Man, and a _Christian_, and, besides, a great Scholar; if any Man can read these Letters, it must be he. When they came to the Patriarch, he told them, he could not read a Tittle of them, for they were not writ in _Greek_, _Latin_, _Hebrew_ or _Chaldee_. Thus they were disappointed there also. At last, _Haly Bassa_ runs to _Rustan_ (otherwise a Man not ready to jest) and says to him _Cardassi_ (Brother in _Turkish_), I remember, I had once a Servant, an _Italian_, who was skilled in all Letters and Tongues, I do not question but he could have read the Letter; but, alas! he is lately dead. At last, they being at a stand what to do, thought it best to send the Letters, which they could make no use of, to me. I knew all the Matter by _Ebrahim_ beforehand, (neither could it be kept secret); whereupon I began to stamp and fret that they had intercepted my Letters against the Law of Nations, and in Contempt of _Cæsar_ who sent them; and, withal, I bid _Ebrahim_ stay, and to Morrow he should see that Letter translated for the _Bashaws_. The next day, when _Ebrahim_ appeared in the _Divan_, they asked of him, whether I could read those Letters? Read them, says he! as easily as his own Name; and thereupon he produced some of them translated before them, _viz._ what I had a mind to discover. Whereupon, says _Rustan_, this Ambassador is but a young Man, and yet we see he can understand what the old Patriarch could not so much as read; without doubt, if he live to be old, he will prove a very _Nonsuch_ of a Man. For that reason it was, or perhaps some other, that a while after, having Conference with _Rustan_ about our Affairs, he treated me more familiarly than he used to do, (which was a rare thing in him) and at last he ask’d me, why I would not turn to their Religion, and to the true Worship of God? If I would do so, he promised me great Honour and a large Reward from their Emperor _Solyman_. I told him, I was resolved to continue in that Religion, wherein I was born, and which my Master, _Cæsar_, did profess. Be it so, replied he; but what then will become of your Soul? I subjoined, I hope well for that too; whereupon he, after a little Pause, broke forth into these Words. ’Tis true, indeed, and I am almost of your Mind, that they who live holy and modest Lives in this present World, shall obtain eternal Life in the next, be they of what Religion they will. That’s an Heresy, that some of the _Turks_ have taken up, neither is _Rustan_ thought to be a true _Mussulman_ in all Points. The _Turks_ thinks it a Duty, and a work of Piety in them, to persuade a _Christian_ they have any good Opinion of, to their Religion; for then they think, they shall save a Soul from Destruction, and that they count a great Honour to themselves, and the greatest Charity they can do another Man, to make him a Convert to their Religion.

I shall now acquaint you with the Effects of another Conference I had with _Rustan_, whereby you may see what daily Feuds are between the _Turks_ and _Persians_, upon the account of Religion. He ask’d me, one time, whether the War did continue between _Spain_ and _France_? I told him, it did. ’Tis strange, says he, that they should fall out that are of one and the same Religion: I replied, ’tis no otherwise between those two Princes, than ’tis betwixt _you_ and the _Persians_. The Dispute is not about Religion, but about civil Right; Provinces, Cities and Kingdoms, which both lay claim to. You are quite mistaken, says _Rustan_, we are not of the same Religion with the _Persians_, but do count them a more Profane and _Heathenish_ sort of People than you _Christians_ are. But to return to the Affairs of _Hungary_.

Since my last Return to _Constantinople_, Matters in _Hungary_ have received a very great Alteration, it would be too tedious to describe them particularly; and, besides, it were not conducive to my Design. _Isabella_, Wife to King _John_, is returned into _Transilvania_, together with her Son, having refused the Transactions and broken the League made with the Emperor _Ferdinand_; and the _Transilvanians_, terrified by the _Turkish_ Arms, have again submitted their Necks to the old _Ottoman_ Yoke. Matters succeeding thus prosperously with the _Turks_, they are not therewith contented, but grasp at all _Hungary_ too; and, besides other Places, they resolved to besiege _Sigeth_, which signifies in the _Hungarian_ Language, an _Island_, or Place naturally very strongly situated. And for this purpose they chose a General, who, upon the account of the Prosperity of his Arms in former times, created great Confidence in his own Men, and struck as much Terror into his Enemy: His Name was _Haly Bassa_, an _Epirot_, who had had good Success in _Hungary_ before, and especially in the Battel, wherein he overthrew _Sforza Palavicino_, and the Bishop of Five Churches. He was sent for from the utmost Bounds of the _Turkish_ Empire towards _Persia_, and came with great Expectation to _Constantinople_: My Collegues were yet here with me, pressing for a Dismission. ’Twas the pleasure of the _Bashaws_ that we should see him, in regard we counted him, as they thought, the very Thunder-bolt of War.

When we came to him, he received us courteously, and made a great Harangue to this purpose: That, “we should study Peace, and rather than suffer _Hungary_ to be wasted with Fire and Sword, we should accept those Conditions, which the _Grand Seignior_ had offered us.” We answered him, that “we desired nothing more than Peace; provided it might be had upon tolerable Conditions; but those which they offered, were against the Honour and Dignity of our Master.” Thus we took our leaves, after he had treated us with a Cup of Water diluted with Sugar. This _Haly_ was an Eunuch, but the Constitution of his Body did seem to add to the vigour of his Mind: He was low of Stature, bloted in his Body, of a Bay-coloured Countenance, a sour Look, frowning Eyes, broad Shoulders and sticking up, between which stood his Head, as in a Valley. Two Teeth were prominent in his Mouth, like Boar’s Tusks, his Voice hoarse; in a Word, he was the Fourth Fury.

The Day after he makes great Preparation for his Expedition into _Hungary_; where having spent some Time to provide Materials, he at last marches against _Sigeth_, and beats off those which were repairing _Babock_, a Castle of _Cæsar_’s; but _Cæsar_, being acquainted long before with his Design, lends _Ferdinand_, one of his three Sons, a young Man, yet comparable, for greatness of Mind, to any of the old Generals, to oppose the Torrent of _Haly Bassa_’s Force, and by his Valour to retrieve Affairs in _Hungary_: He had no great Forces with him, but with a select Body of Horse he faces _Haly_’s Army; the _Turks_ that were present, related to me, that ’twas a goodly Sight to behold the Splendor, Order and Boldness of those Forces. _Haly_, being naturally of a fierce Disposition, and having a far greater Army, was even mad to think that a handful of _Christians_ should dare to look him in the Face.

There was a moorish Piece of Ground between both Armies, which could not be passed without great Danger; _Ferdinand_ had no need to pass it, for his Design was only to relieve _Sigeth_, and to raise the Siege: But _Haly Bassa_, was not in the same Circumstances; for, unless he would make a base and unhandsome Retreat (as the Event afterwards shewed) ’twas altogether necessary for him to do it; So that he, seeing to what Straits he was brought, resolved to put all upon hazard, and accordingly he bent his Bridle, to turn his Horse towards that inconvenient Place; when, behold! one of the _Sanziacks_, that was near him, whose Name I remember not, taking Notice of the extream Danger he was running into, leap’d from his Horse, and taking the _Bashaw_’s Horse by the Bridle, _Sultan_, says he (for so the _Turks_ call the great Dignitaries among them) _Here you see into what a Jeopardy you were like to cast both yourself and your whole Army; you don’t consider what an incommodious Place this Marish is: The ~Christians~ are ready on the other side with Arms in Hand and Courage in their Hearts, to receive us, when we are half drowned and half covered with Mud; and thus they in good Order will assault us, being disordered and out of our Ranks, and will make use of all our Imprudence, to obtain a most assured Victory over us: Nay, rather moderate your Anger, and return to yourself and reserve so many brave Men, with yourself for the Service of your Prince, and for better Times._ Upon this Speech, _Haly_, as if he had recollected himself, drew back; and there was not any _Turk_ amongst them, but was forced to confess, that the whole Army was sav’d by the Advice of that _Sanziack_.

When this matter was carried to _Constantinople_, though the _Vizier_ and the Chief _Bashaws_ could not deny the Thing, yet they thought it dangerous to suffer the Example of so audacious a Fact in the _Sanziack_ to pass unpunished: ’Tis true, they did mutteringly commend both his Fidelity and his Prudence; yet to suffer Disobedience to a superior Officer to pass without due Punishment, they thought it a dangerous Case in Military Discipline, so that he was called back to _Constantinople_, and there was cashiered for a Time; and when this Offence was sufficiently punished, as they thought, they bestowed upon him as good a Command; so that every Body saw his Punishment was inflicted rather for the preservation of the Discipline of War, than for any dire Merit of his Offence.

_Haly_, a while after, having lost a great Part of his Army, by the Charges and Ambuscades of the _Hungarians_, made an ignoble and shameful Retreat to _Buda_, where for very Grief he breathed out his hateful Soul.

But Arch-duke _Ferdinand_, on the other side, returned to _Ferdinand_ his Father, with the deserved Laurel of Victory, having performed an Exploit, not only of great Advantage for the present, but of much greater Benefit to future Ages, by the Example it gave; for hereby he made the _Turks_ to know that if they proceeded on to press upon _Cæsar_, he wanted neither able Soldiers, nor expert Commanders to chastise their Insolency.

Yet the _Turks_ of those Borders did not carry it with any great Modesty; for, while _Haly_ was yet encamped at _Sigeth_, our Men had scaled the Walls of _Gran_, and taken the City, having a Castle near it of the same Name, where they got a great deal of Booty, and carried away the Inhabitants, being mostly Women and Children.

A Messenger was sent immediately to _Haly_, to acquaint him of the Loss; who coming into his Presence, by the very Consternation of his Countenance portended some great Mischief to have happened to them. The _Bassa_ presently asked him, how Things went? and what was the Cause of his great Fear? _Sir_, says he, _the Enemy hath taken and plundered ~Gran~; which great Blow occasions my Grief_. _A Blow, Fool_, says the _Bassa_! _tell me of a Blow when I have lost my Genitals_ (to which he pointed with his Hand) _that shew me to be a Man_. Thus did he scoff at the Consternation of the Messenger, not without the Laughter of the By-standers, and undervalued the Loss of _Gran_, which was easily recoverable.

Moreover, in _Croatia_ and the adjoyning Countries, several Inroads were made by both Parties, and each side did alternately suffer for their over-boldness and supine Security. Let me give you an Instance, which, as it gave me joy, will not, I dare say, be unpleasant, to you to hear of. It happened, indeed, some what before the Passage at _Sigeth_ lately mentioned; but in Writing an Epistle, I do not strictly observe the Order of Time.

News was brought to _Rustan_, from those Parts, that a certain Confident of his, whom he highly esteemed, and called Cousin, had fallen upon a Party of _Christians_, as they were celebrating a Wedding, and being at a sufficient Distance, as they thought, from the _Turks_, counted themselves secure; when behold this bold and unwelcome Guest, with Armed Forces, came in upon them, spoiled their Mirth, slew some, and took some Prisoners, among whom was the unfortunate Bridegroom, with his un-bedded Spouse: _Rustan_ did much rejoyce at this Exploit, and in all Companies highly commended the Stratagem of his Kinsman, for performing it.

A pitiful Case, you will say, rather to be lamented than related: But these are the Tragical Sports of insolent Fortune; yet Revenge followed him at the Heels, _Rustan_’s Laughter was soon turned to Sadness: For a little while after one of the _Deli’s_, or mad Sparks, a sort of furious Horsemen among the _Turks_, so called by their outragious Boldness, came post to him out of _Dalmatia_, and told him, that a parcel of _Turks_ had made an Excursion into the Enemies Country, and had got great Booty, but seting no bounds to their Avarice, they, at last were encountered with a Party of _Christians_, _Dragoons_ or _Musketeers_, who totally routed them, slew many _Sanziacks_, and among them his _Achillean_ Cousin, lately so much extolled by him. This sad News made _Rustan_ burst out into Tears, so that his fit of Laughter was justly requited. But hearken to the close of the Story, which is not unpleasant: When this _Dalmatian_ Trooper, who brought the News, was asked by the _Bassa_, in the _Divan_, How many were there of you? He answered, above two thousand five hundred: And how many of the _Christians_? I think, says he, they were not above five hundred, unless there were more of them in ambush, as we suspected. Fie for Shame, said the fretting _Bassas_! what! a regular Army of _Mussulmans_ (so they call the Men of their own Religion) to be beaten by so small a handful of _Christians_! You are goodly Warriors indeed! fit to eat the _Sultan_’s Bread, are, you not? The blunt Fellow, nothing dismay’d, replied, you are quit beside the Cushion; did I not tell you that we were beaten by Musketeers? ’Twas the Fire defeated us, not the Valour of our Enemies. We had come off Conquerors, if we had contested by Valour only; but who can fight against Fire, the fiercest of Elements? and what Mortal can stand, if the very Elements fight against him? This bold Answer of his, being as saucily pronounced, made the By-standers ready to burst out into a Laughter, though on this sad occasion to them.

This Matter did very much raise my Spirits, which were quite sunk at the Remembrance of the former Mis-hap of the Marriage-Feast. This Story informs us, that our Pistols and Carbines, which are used on Horseback, are a great Terror to the _Turks_, as I hear they are to the _Persians_ also; for once, there was a Fellow that persuaded _Rustan_, when he accompanied his Prince in a War against _Persia_, to arm two hundred Horse of his Domesticks with Pistols: For those, said he, will be terrible to our Enemy, and will also do great execution upon them. _Rustan_ hearkned to his Counsel, and furnished out a Party, as advised; but, before they had marched half way, their Carbines or Pistols were ever now and then out of Order; one thing or other was broke or lost, and scarce any Body could mend them: Hereupon this Party was useless. The _Turks_ were also against this Armature, because it was slovenly (the _Turks_, you must know, are much for cleanliness in War); for the Troopers Hands were black and sooty, their Cloaths full of Spots, and their Case-boxes that hung by their Sides made them ridiculous to their Fellow-Soldiers, who therefore jeered them, with the Title _Medicamentarii_, or _Mountebank Soldiers_; hereupon they apply themselves to _Rustan_, complaining of this broken, useless Armour, which could do no Service against an Enemy, and entreating to have their usual Weapons again, their Bows and Arrows; which, are readily granted them.

The mention I made a while ago of things acted in the Confines of _Hungary_, gives me occasion to tell you, what the _Turks_ think of Duels, which amongst _Christians_ is accounted a singular Proof of personal Valour. There was one _Arslambeg_, a _Sanziack_, that lived in the Frontiers of _Hungary_, who was very much famed for a robust Person; he was very expert at the Bow; no Man brandished his Sword with more Strength, or was more terrible to his Enemy. Not far from him there dwelt one _Uliber_, a _Sanziack_ also, who was emulous of the same Praise; and this Emulation (heighten’d, perhaps, by other Motives) at length occasioned Hatred and many bloody Combats between them. It happened thus, _Uliber_ was sent for to _Constantinople_; upon what occasion I know not. When he came thither, and the _Bashaws_ had asked many Questions of him, in the _Divan_, concerning other Matters, at last they demanded how he and _Arslambeg_ (_Arsla_ signifies a Lion in _Turkey_) came to fall out? Hereupon he makes a long Narration of the Grudges between them, with their Causes and Progress; and to put a fairer Gloss on his own Cause, he added, that once _Arslambeg_ had laid an Ambush, and wounded him treacherously: And that, said he, he needed not have done, if he would have shewed himself worthy the Name he bears; for I have often challenged him to fight Hand to Hand, and never shun’d to meet him in the Field. The _Bashaws_, much offended, thus replied, _How durst thou challenge thy Fellow-Soldier to a Duel? What, was there never a ~Christian~ to fight with? Do not both of you eat your Emperor’s Bread? And yet, forsooth, you must go about to take away one another’s Lives! What Precedent had you for this? Don’t you know, that whoever of the two had died, the Emperor had lost a Subject?_ Whereupon, by their Command, he was haled to Prison, where he lay pining many Months, and was, at last, with Difficulty, released; yet with the loss of his Reputation.

Among us _Christians_, many who have never come in sight of a public Enemy, draw their Swords upon one another, and think it a brave and honourable Thing. What shall a Man do in such a Case, when Vice usurps the seat of Virtue, and that which deserves Punishment, is counted noble and glorious? But to return, I know you are inquisitive, and therefore give me leave to acquaint you with the public Entrance, which the King of _Cholchos_ made into this City. His Kingdom is by the River _Phasis_, in a Creek or Bay of the _Euxine_ Sea, not far from Mount _Caucasus_. His Name is _Dadianus_, a Man of a tall Stature and grateful Countenance, but of a rough-hew’n Disposition, as some say. He came with a great Train, but in a very Thread-bare, and old-fashion’d Garb. The _Italians_, at this Day, call the _Colchians Mingrelians_: They are some of that People, inhabiting between the _Caspian Gates_, (called by the _Turks_, _Demit capi_, i. e. _Iron Gates_,) and the _Potic_ and _Hyrcanian_-Seas: They are at this Day called _Georgians_; whether from that sort of Christian Religion, which they profess, or whether that be their ancient Name (which seems most probable,) is not fully determined. The _Albanians_ and _Iberians_ are reckoned a Part of them. The Cause of his coming is uncertain: Some say, he was sent for by the _Turk_; for, when he makes Wars upon the _Persian_, if the _Colchians_ and the People of that Tract join with him, they may give him notable Assistance. But the vulgar and more credible Opinion was, that he came to desire the Assistance of some Gallies against his Neighbour, the _Iberian_, who had slain his Father; which if he could obtain, then he would become Tributary to the _Sultan_. For, you must know, that there is an old and inveterate Hatred between the _Colchians_ and the _Iberians_. Once there were some Overtures of Accommodation between them, and a Conference was had thereupon, between great Numbers of both Nations. At this Meeting, they began, first, to try who should be the greatest Drinkers; in which Contest, the _Colchians_, fell fast asleep. The treacherous _Iberians_ made use of this Opportunity, and hurried away honest _Dadianus_ as yet snoring, into a Chariot, and shut him up Prisoner in a high Tower, as if he had been lawful Prize taken in War. To revenge this Injury, and to recover their King, the _Colchians_ levied an Army of 30,000 Men, who were commanded by the Wife of the captive King, a Woman of great Spirit, and not unskill’d in Horsemanship, or handling of Arms. The Commanders, in this Army, wore huge and unwieldy Coats of Mail, and were also armed with Swords and Spears pointed with Iron. They had also amongst them, a party of Musketeers, a strange sight in that Country. As for the common Soldiers, they had no Arms, but Arrows, or Stakes burnt at one end, or great wooden Clubs. Thus they rode on Horseback, without Saddle or other Furnture.

This rude and discomposed Multitude, drew near to the Place where their King was in Custody, but were soon terrified with the Discharge of a few Guns from the Castle, and ran back a full Mile; but then taking Heart, on they came again, but were repulsed with the like Noise as before. _Dadianus_, perceiving help so near, cut his Bedcloaths into a kind of Ropes, and so let himself down by Night, through his Window, and fled to his own People. This Stratagem of their King, and the successful Issue of it, is highly praised by that People, even to this very day.