Part 19

When I heard of this Disaster, I did what I could to release them, but all to no purpose. The _Bailo_ of _Venice_ was applied to, because under the Protection of that Republick they fell into this Danger: He granted there was all the reason in the World they should be released; _But what Justice_, said he, _can we obtain among such an inhuman and barbarous People?_ In the mean time I applied all the Relief I was able, to their distressed Condition: But one day, far beyond my Expectation, they all came to my House, and told me, they were sent as a Present to me by the _French_ Ambassador, who had obtained their Liberty. I was mighty glad of their Releasement, and sent great Thanks to the Ambassador, whose Name was _La Vigne_. The manner was thus; when he was about to take his leave of the Sultan, and to kiss his Hand, as the Custom is, he thrust a piece of Paper into it, wherein he desired that the Gentlemen might be released in favour to his Prince, because their Voyage was occasioned upon the account of a Pilgrimage for Religion. _Solyman_ granted his Request, and released them presently: Whereupon I supplied them with Accommodations for their Voyage, and sent them first to _Vienna_, and then home into their own Country.

This _La Vigne_ at first was very strict and vexatious to me, and used all his Arts to bring me into the _Bashaws_ Dislike without any Fault of mine: He told them, I was a Subject to the King of _Spain_, born in the _Low-Countries_, and that I served the _Spaniard_ more than the Emperor; that I acquainted him with every thing that was done at _Constantinople_, and had Emissaries in Pay, who related to me the very Secrets of that Empire, amongst whom was _Ebrahim_ the chief _Druggerman_ of _Turkey_. This he did, before the Peace was made between _Spain_ and _France_; but, when those two Princes were agreed, he took the first opportunity to retract what he had spoken.

_La Vigne_ was a Man of a prodigious Liberty of Speech; he would tell all he knew, let it be taken how it would. This made _Rustan_ himself to avoid his Company; whilst at the same time others were backward to converse with _Rustan_, because of the sourness of his Humour. He sent once to _Rustan_ to desire Audience: He told the Messengers, his Interpreters, that he might send his Errand by them, for his Business might be as well done in his Absence as in his Presence. Yet _La Vigne_ would needs come himself, where he spoke that which grated _Rustan_’s Ears. _What do you think_, says he, _that you have got ~Buda~, ~Gran~, ~Alba Regalis~, and other ~Hungarian~ Towns, from the Christians by Force? No, I deny it utterly; ’tis our Dissention that gave you Opportunity to take them: If there had not been continual Wars between the Kings of ~France~ and ~Spain~, you would have been so far from possessing those Towns, that ~Charles V.~ would hardly have suffered you to live quiet at ~Constantinople~ it self._ At which Speech _Rustan_ was so provoked, that he told him, _What dost thou tell me of the Kings of ~Spain~ and ~France~? If all the Christian Princes join their Arms together against my Master, he cares not a Rush; he will easily conquer them all._ And thereupon he withdrew himself into his Bed-chamber, and bid the Ambassador be gone. I must needs acquaint you, in this place, with the Relations I have heard concerning that People which inhabit the _Tauric Chersonese_, who are reported to have been originally _Germans_, as their Speech, Manners and Countenances seem to declare. I had a great desire to meet with any body of that Nation, from whom I might procure some Tracts written in that Language, but I could not obtain it; yet at last I met with an Accident which in part satisfied my Desires. There came two Envoys from that Nation to the Sultan, to make some Complaint or other; and my Interpreters lighting upon them, did (as I had desired them, if ever they had Opportunity) invite them to Dinner to my House. One was a tall Man, carrying an ingenuous Simplicity in his Countenance, so that he seemed either a _Flemming_ or a _Batavian_: The other was shorter, of a well-set Body, and browner Colour, a _Greek_ by Birth, but by frequent Commerce with that People, he had got much of their Language, and seemed to forget his own. Being asked concerning the Nature and Manners of that People, he answered very pertinently, that they were a warlike Nation, that inhabited many Towns thereabouts, from whence the Cham of _Tartary_, when he pleased, used to draw forth 800 Musketeers, the chief Prop of his Army. Their chief Cities were two, one called _Mancup_ the other _Scivarin_. He added much more concerning the Tartars and their Barbarity; yet he confessed that there was some very ingenious Men amongst them. If you asked of the highest Affairs, they would answer briefly, yet very much to the purpose. Insomuch, that the _Turks_ said frequently and justly of them, that _other Nations had their Learning in their Books, but the ~Tartars~ had eaten their Books, and had their Wisdom in their Breasts, from whence they could draw it out as they had occasion, as Divine Oracles._

They are slovenly in their Deportment; for, if you set any Soop before them, they eat it not with a Spoon, but with the hollow of their Hands. Their Meat is Horse-flesh; not roasted, but heated under the Saddles of their Horses, to which Hunger was their best Sauce.

Their Prince is served in Silver, his first and last Dish being a Horse’s Head, as Butter is served up first and last with us. He repeated many _German_ Words, amongst others, which were unintelligible to us; perhaps his Memory fail’d him, so that he mix’d home-bred and foreign Words together; to every Word he added the Article _Tho_ or _The_. The Words which were ours, or little different from them, were these:

Broe, _Bread_. Plut, _Blood_. Stul, _a Stool or Seat_. Hus, _a House_. Wingart, _a Vine_. Reghen, _Rain_. Bruder, _Brother_. Schwester, _Sister_. Alt, _Old Man_. Wintch, _Wind_. Silvir, _Silver_. Goltz, _Gold_. Kor, _Wheat_. Salt, _Salt_. Fisct, _Fish_. Hoef, _the Head_. Thurn, _a Gate_. Stern, _a Star_. Sune, _the Sun_. Mine, _the Moon_. Tag, _a Day_. Oeghene, _the Eyes_. Bars, _a Beard_. Handa, _the Hands_. Boga, _a Bow_. Miera, _an Ant_. Rinck, _or_ Ringo, _a Ring_. Brunna, _a Fountain_. Waghen, _a Waggon or Coach_. Apel, _an Apple_. Schieten _to shoot an Arrow_. Schlipen, _to Sleep_. Kommen, _to come_. Singhen, _to Sing_. Lachen, _to Laugh_. Criten, _to Weep_. Geen, _to go_. Breen, _to roast_. Schwalch, _Death_.

_Knauen Tag_ was _Good-day_ with him; _Knauen_ was _Good_; and several such Words he used, not well agreeing with ours, as,

Jel, _Life, or Health_. Jelisch, _alive, or well_. Jeluburt, _let it be well_. Marzus, _Marriage_. Schuos, _a Spouse_. Baar, _a Boy_. Ael, _a Stone_. Menus, _Flesh_. Rintsch, _a Mountain_. Fers, _a Man_. Statz, _the Earth_. Ada, _an Egg_. Ano, _an Hen_. Telich, _a Fool_. Stap, _a Goat_. Gadeltha, _Beautiful_. Atochta, _Evil_. Wichtgata, _White_. Mycha, _a Sword_. Lista, _a little_. Schedit, _Light_. Borrotsch, _the Will_. Cadariou, _a Soldier_. Kilemschkop, _drink up your Cup_. Tzo Warthata, _as thou hast done_. Jes Varthata, _he did it_. Ich malthata, _I say_.

When he was desired to number, he said thus, _Ita, tua, tria, fyder, fyuf, seis, sevene_, just as we _Flemmings_; for you _Brabanters_, who speak _German-like_, do highly value your selves, and laugh at us, as if we pronounced _Seven_ more coarsely: He went on reckoning _Athe, nyne, thiine, thiinita, thiinetua, thiinetria_, &c. _Twenty_ he called _Stega_, Thirty _Treithyen_, Forty _Furdeithien_, an Hundred _Sada_, a Thousand _Hazer_. He also sung us a Song in that Language, which began thus:

_Wara wara ingdolou:_ _Scu te gira Galizu._ _Hæmisclep dorbiza ea._

Whether these People be _Goths_ or _Saxons_, I cannot tell; If _Saxons_, then, I suppose, they were transplanted thither in the time of _Charles_ the Great, who dispersed that Nation into many remote Countries, as appears by the Cities of _Transilvania_, which to this day are inhabited by _Saxons_; and possibly he might transplant the rest of the Nation as far as _Tauric Chersonese_, where they still retain the Christian Religion, though surrounded by the Enemies of it: But if they are _Goths_, then I judge they chose their Inhabitants there next to the _Getes_, and perhaps most of that Tract of Land between the _Gothick_ Isle and _Procopia_, (as now ’tis called) was heretofore inhabited by _Goths_. Hence we read of the Names of sundry _Goths_, as _West-Goths_, and _East_ or _Ostro-Goths_, who over-ran the World with their Victory, and were the great Seminary of Multitudes of Barbarians. This is all I could hear of these _Procopiensians_ concerning the _Tauric Chersonese_.

Let me now tell you something of the City and Country of _Cathay_, which I learned of a certain _Turkish_ Pilgrim, who use to travel over the World on account of Religion, and to worship God on high Mountains and desert Places. He had travelled over a great part of the East-Country, where he was acquainted with the _Portuguese_; but, having a desire to visit _Cathay_ also, he joined himself to some Merchants, who in great Numbers used to travel to this Country. ’Tis a Journey that not many will undertake, it being so dangerous, and the way thither so full of strange Nations, who use to plunder Travellers in their passage. When he left _Persia_ behind him, he came to _Samarchand_, to _Borchar_, and to _Taschan_, and other Towns inhabited by the Successors of _Tamerlane_. When he had passed by these Places there were large Desarts, and some Countries inhabited by wild, and others by a more civilized People; yet the Country was generally poor, so that they were forced to carry their Victuals along with them on a drove of Camels: This Company they call _Caravans_. After some Month’s Travel they came to the _Streights_, entring into _Cathay_, (for you must know, that a great part of that Country is _Mediterranean_, and encompassed by such huge Mountains and Rocks, that it is accessible but in a very few Passages, where their King hath his Guards and Garrisons). When the Merchants come thither, they are asked what they bring? Whence they came? and how many they are? When the Guard is informed of the Truth, they make a Smoak by day, or else kindle a Beacon by night, which gives warning to the next Beacon, and so from one to another, till they come to _Cathay_. This Advice cost them but some Hours, which otherwise would take up many Days, the way is so long. When News is brought to the King, he sends backward by the same way of Conveyance what his Pleasure is, whether they shall _all_ be admitted to enter, or only _some_, the rest being either excluded, or made to stay longer. When they are admitted, they are guarded all along to their several Inns or Lodging-places, where they may have all things for their Money, till they come to the King himself. Here every one brings forth his respective Ware, and offers it the King, whose Privilege it is, to buy what Ware he pleaseth in the first Place; and then they sell the rest to the best Chapman. This they must do within certain limits of Time, and then they must return; for the _Carthayans_ cannot endure that Strangers should live long amongst them, for fear they should infect their Country-Manners. Thus the Merchants are dismissed in a very friendly Manner, and return by the same Stages they went.

This Traveller told me, that they were a very wise People, and lived in good Order and Government, having a distinct Religion of their own, differing from the _Christian_, _Jewish_ or _Mahometan_; but nearest to the _Jewish_, except their Ceremonies.

Printing hath been in use among them for many Ages, as appears by their several printed Books: For Paper, they use the Cases of _Silk-worms_; it is so thin that it will bear Printing on one side only, the other is blank. In this City, he said, there were a great many Shops full of Musk, which was the fresh foame of a certain Beast as big as a Kid. A Lion is highly prized amongst them; there are none of them in that Country, and therefore they value it at a great Rate, and will pay well for it. This is what I could learn of this Wanderer concerning _Cathay_; believe it as you please. I asked him further, whether he had brought back any rare Root, Fruit or Stone, out of that Country? He told me, he had brought nothing but a little Root for his own Use, which he bit and eat a little of, when he was faint or cold, and it would presently warm and relieve him; and thereupon he gave me a piece of it, telling me I must use it very sparingly: I desired Dr. _Williams_, my Physician, then alive, to taste of it, who, by its biting and inflaming the Mouth, judged it to be a root of the _Wolfleaf-tree_.

Let me now tell you another wondrous Story of another wandering _Turkish_ Monk. He wore a Cap and white Cloak down to his Heels, with long Hair, such as Painters draw the _Apostles_ with. He had a promising Countenance, but was a meer Impostor; and, yet the _Turks_ admired him as a miraculous Man. My Interpreters were persuaded to bring him to me, that I might see him. He dined with me soberly and modesty enough; afterwards he goes down into the Yard, and upon his return, he takes up a huge Stone, and struck with it divers times upon his naked Breast, as many Blows as would have felled an Ox: Then he took a piece of Iron, that was heated in the Fire on purpose, and thrust it into his Mouth, where he stirred it up and down so that his Spittle hiss’d again; ’twas a long piece of Iron, thick and quadrangular in that part which he thrust into his Mouth, and it was red-hot as a live Coal: Then he put the Iron into the Fire again, and after I had made him a Present, he saluted me and departed. My Domesticks wonder’d at the Trick, all but one, who pretended he knew more than all the rest; _Oh_, says he, _he is a meer Cheat_; and thereupon he takes hold of the stronger part of the Iron, pretending he could do as much as the Juggler. He had no sooner grasped it in his Hands, than he threw it away, and his Fingers were well burnt for his Audaciousness, so that they were many days a curing. This Accident caused his Fellows to laugh, and jearingly to ask, whether the Iron were hot enough yet, and whether he would touch it again or not?

The same _Turk_, while he was at Dinner, told me, that the Prior of their Monastery was a Man famous for Sanctity and Miracles, for he would spread his Cloak over a Lake near adjoining, and sitting on it, would row up and down whither he pleased: And that he would strip himself naked, and be tied to a Sheep newly kill’d, tying Arms to Arms, and Leg to Leg, and so would be thrown into the hot Oven till the Sheep were bak’d fit to be eaten, then he himself would be taken out without any harm at all: You will not believe this; neither do I, only I relate what he told me; but that part concerning the red-hot Iron I saw with my own Eyes.

And yet I must tell you, the Matter is not so much to be admired; for, without doubt, the Fellow, when he went down into the Yard to fetch a Stone, had fortified his Mouth, against the Violence of the Fire, with some such Medicines as you know are to be met with; for I remember once in the Market-place at _Venice_, I saw a Juggler take melted Lead, and wash his Hands with it, as if it had been common Water: But enough of this.

I told you before, that I had a little more Freedom some time before _Rustan_’s Death, which was very grateful to me on one Account, because it gave me an Opportunity to converse with Strangers and others which frequented my House, whole Acquaintance might be instructive to me; and yet this Liberty was not without its Inconvenience; it gave my Servants opportunity to straggle abroad, and sometimes without the _Janizaries_, and so they met with many Affronts, which cost me some trouble: I’ll tell you of one, by which you may judge of the rest.

Two of my Servants passed over in a Boat to _Pera_; they went alone, either because the _Janizaries_ were not at home, or else they thought it needless to take them; one was my Apothecary, the other Master of my Wine-Cellar. When they had done what they went for, they hired a Boat to carry them back to _Constantinople_; they were scarce sat down in the Boat, but there came a Youth from the _Caddy_, or Judge of that Place, commanding them to come forth, for the _Caddy_ must be wafted over in that Boat: My Servants told him, there were Boats enough to carry over the _Caddy_, besides that which they had hired, and therefore they would not stir: Hereupon he endeavoured to force them; so that from Words they came to Blows. This being done in sight of the _Caddy_, who was coming down to the Boat, it made him run to help the Boy, (who was thought to be his _Ganymede_) but the Steps towards the Sea being slippery, by reason of Ice, (for it was Winter) he fell head-long into the Sea, and had been drown’d if his Companions had not relieved him: Hereupon a Clamour was raised all over _Pera_, and the _Turks_ would have it that my Servants had laid Violent Hands on the Judge, and had almost drown’d him. My Servants were seized and carried before the Judge in Capital Cases: They fetch out Clubs, and Stocks to put their Feet in, that they might beat them, as their manner is, on the Soles of them. In the interim one of my Servants, an _Italian_, cried out in a Rage, _Beat, strike, Dogs, strike! we are wronged, we are innocent! we are Servants to ~Cæsar~’s Ambassador, and doubtless when your own Emperor shall know how we are abused, he will make you smart for it_. One of the _Turks_, hearing him cry out so boldly: _D’ye think_, said he, that One-ey’d thing is a Man? No; for certain, he _is an One-ey’d ~Cacodæmon~_, (for he had a Blemish in one of his Eyes.) The _Waywode_ also, that is, in their Language, the Judge, perceiving the Boldness of the Man, was at a stand what to do; but thought it best to send them to _Rustan_: Thither went the whole Rout, with a pack of false Witnesses, ready to give their Testimonies against the Innocent; for the _Turks_ count it meritorious to give in false Evidence against a _Christian_; you need not summon them to appear, they came of their own accords, as it happened in this Case: They all cried out before the _Grand Vizier_, that those Rogues had beaten their Judge, and, if they had not been seiz’d, would have drowned him: My Servants denied the Crime they were charged with, alledging that they were falsly accused, and that they were my menial Servants. By this Time _Rustan_ perceived that there was more Noise than Truth on his Countrymens side; yet, to still the Fury of the inraged Multitude, he told them he would punish them severely; and he sent them to Prison. The Prison was a Safeguard to them against the Fury of the Multitude; he then examined Witnesses, the most credible among them, and found my Servants were Guiltless, and that all the Fault lay at the _Caddy_’s Door. In the mean time I sent my Interpreters to demand my Servants; but _Rustan_ thought fit to refer the Matter to the _Divan_, lest, if the _Sultan_ should hear of it, he might suspect, that a Bribe had made him partial and negligent in the _Caddy_’s Case. I had at this time some intimate acquaintance with _Haly_, to whom I sent my _Druggerman_ with a grievous Complaint, that I might not suffer Wrong to the end of the Chapter; _Haly_ undertook my Cause, and bid me rest confident that the Business would soon end to my Satisfaction. But _Rustan_ came not off so handsomely; he feared it might be thought that Money had inclined him more to favour me, and therefore had rather the Business were made up with the _Caddy_; he wished, therefore, I would offer him a few Ducats to appease him, 25 were enough. I gave him Thanks for his Advice, and told him, that if he desired me to throw so many Ducats into the Sea, I would willingly do it for his sake; but that Money was not so much to be considered in this case, as Example: _For_, said I, _if he that did my Servants an Injury, must be paid for his Labour, a larger Fund than mine would not suffice; for if a Man tear his Clothes, while he is intending to do my People an Injury, he knew where to have Money to buy new ones, which was an unworthy thing, and by no means to be indured by me._ Thus were my Servants, by the Mediations of _Haly_ sent home to me. When the _Bailo_ of _Venice_ heard of their Release, he sent for one of my Servants present, and desired to know of him, what that Business had cost me? _Not a Doit_, said he. Then said the _Bailo_, _It would have cost me 200 Ducats before I could have come off._ But the poor Judge suffered most of all; for he was put out of his Office, the _Turks_ accounting it an absurd and hainous thing to be beaten by a _Christian_, as he confessed he had been.

As for the Release of the _Spanish_ Commanders, it was obtained by my Mediation; they were these, _De Sande_ Commander of the Land Forces, and _Leyva_, and _Requesne_, the one Admiral of the _Neapolitan_, the other of the _Sicilian_ Gallies. In short, I’ll tell you how I compassed their Release: The Peace made between the Kings of _Spain_ and _France_, did much trouble the _Turks_, as being inconvenient to their Affairs, especially considering that they were not comprehended in it, as at first they thought they should be; yet they dissembled the matter at present, but sought for an Opportunity to shew their dislike of it. _Solyman_ had writ to the King of _France_, that he agreed to the Peace, yet would have him remember, _That Old Friends are not easily made Enemies, nor Old Enemies, Friends_.

This Disgust of the _Turks_ was of no small Advantage to my Affairs: To which _Haly Bassa_’s Affection, and _Ebrahim_’s great desire to shew his Gratitude to me, did very much contribute.