Part 20

You may remember, I told you before, that, when _La Vigne_ did accuse me to the _Bashaw_, at the same time he forgot not _Ebrahim_, but told them, that he discovered all the secret Counsels of the _Turks_ to me. This _Ebrahim_ was the chief _Druggerman_, (_i. e._ Interpreter of _Solyman_) a _Polander_, and therefore more hated by _La Vigne_, because, in a deadly Feud with _Codognatus_, a former Ambassador of the same King, he seem’d to take _Codognatus_ his part. I shall not trouble you with the Contest betwixt them, it being little to my purpose: This is certain, that _La Vigne_ was mindful of the Affront, and could never endure _Ebrahim_; but when he had Access to the _Bashaw_, every third Word was against him; neither did he desist from complaining, till _Ebrahim_ was remov’d out of his Place. For my part, I was not much concern’d at _Ebrahim_’s Disgrace; I had never such an extraordinary kindness for him, as to lament his Loss, for I found him many times thwarting my Affairs; only it troubled me, that ’twas noised abroad, he lost his Place for my sake. Hereupon, I assisted him in his Privacy what I could; for I knew it troubled him, to be turned out of his Office, and therefore I us’d him as an Interpreter or Messenger, betwixt me and the _Bashaws_ in my Transactions about the Peace. And _Haly_ admitted him, out of Respect to me, and because he was degraded without any just Cause. In short, I never rested till I got him restored to his Place; and that piece of Service did so oblige him, that in Gratitude he returned me all the good Offices he could, in all Company, and upon all Occasions: And he had the greater Opportunity so to do, because of the Offence the _Turks_ had taken at the _French_, for making Peace with the _Spaniard_. On this Account, when the Noble _Salviatus_ was sent by the _Most Christian King_, to procure _de Sande_’s Liberty, he was wholly and absolutely refused. _De Sande_ was in great Expectation of that Embassy, believing he should never be released, if that Negotiation did not effect it; and, therefore, he was at a great Expence in Presents for the _Grand Seignior_, and other great Men upon his Release. All which signified nothing, for _Salviatus_ went away without doing any thing. When he was gone, the Servants and Solicitors of _de Sande_ came to me in a great Fright; and told me, they durst not acquaint their Master with the unsuccessful News of _Salviatus_’s Intercession for his Liberty; for all his Hopes depending thereon, they were afraid the Transaction would either make him desperate, or bring some fatal Disease upon him; and, therefore, they desired me to acquaint him first by Writing. I refused, alledging, That I had not _Common Places_ enough to draw Comfort from, for a Man in so deep Distress. For _de Sande_ was a Man of a great Spirit, full of Hope, and without any Fear; and Men of such Dispositions, hope for every Thing they desire; and if they meet with any Disappointment of their Hopes, they are so cast down, that ’tis hard to raise them to any tolerable frame of Spirit.

Whilst Matters stood thus at a Hand, in comes _Ebrahim_, my Interpreter, very opportunely; and falling into Discourse about these _Spanish Prisoners_, he told me plainly, that if I did but demand their Liberty, I should certainly obtain it; and what he spake was upon good Grounds. He had formerly given me some blind Hopes, that I might procure their Release if I set my self about it: But, I gave little heed to this Suggestion; for not being certain of a Peace, how could I attempt such a Thing? Besides, I was afraid, lest my Interposition might hinder the Success of _Salviatus_’s Negotiation: But he was gone, and _Ebrahim_, whom I had so much obliged, persisted in the same Opinion. I began to hearken to him; but told him, he should have a Care he did not engage me, who was his Friend, in a ridiculous Business; for, without doubt, I should be laugh’d at, if I did not succeed in it, the Matter being thought difficult to be compared in common Opinion, and _Salviatus_ having attempted it in vain; yet he advised me to proceed therein, and amused me with the Assurance of good Success.

Upon this Encouragement, I wrote to _de Sande_, how fruitless _Salviatus_’s Embassy had been, yet I advised him not to despair; for, if any Credit were at all to be given to a _Turk_, there was good hope of his Affairs; and then I related what _Ebrahim_ had told me.

Having laid this Foundation, I advised with some Friends who were well skill’d in _Turkish Affairs_. They wish’d me all good Success, but were very doubtful of it; especially since the King of _France_’s Ambassador had been denied, and the Issue of a Peace was yet undetermined; and moreover, as the _Turks_ are hardly ever induced to release great Men; yet I wrote to my Master the Emperor, to let him know what Hopes I had, and desired that I might, in his Name, beg the Release of those Prisoners. In short, upon great Gifts, and fair Promises made to the _Bashaws_, for their Favour in this Case; the Day before St. _Laurence_’s Day, all the Prisoners were released and sent to my Lodgings. _De Sande_ and _Leyva_ were so odious to each other, that they would not eat together, but I was forced to spread their Tables a-part; _Requesne_ eat with _Leyva_, and _de Sande_ with me. While we were at Supper, the _French Ambassador_’s Steward came to me, with a small Pacquet of Letters. _De Sande_ ask’d, if he knew him? Yes Sir, said he, I think you are _Don Alvarez_. I am so, said he, pray remember me to your Master, and tell him, that I have obtained my Liberty by means of the Emperor’s Ambassador, and that you have seen me Abroad with your own Eyes. I see you, indeed, Sir, said he; but so, that I can scarce believe my own Eyes. _De Sande_ did thus accost him, because his Master, the _French Agent_, would never believe that _Solyman_ would release those great Men at the Emperor’s Instance: And the Truth is, before they could obtain their Liberty, their _Mufti_, who is an _Archbishop_ amongst the _Turks_, was consulted, Whether a great many _Turks_ might not be released for a few _Christians_; for I had promised, that about forty _Turks_, of an ordinary Rank, who were Prisoners with us, should be released for them. The _Mufti_ answered, That there were two Opinions on the Case; one _Pro_, the other _Con_; but he was for the Affirmative.

It now remains that I acquaint you with the last End of _Bajazet_, who, I told you before, was put in Prison by the _Persians_. Many Messages had passed between those two Princes on that Occasion; and an Ambassador came once from _Persia_ with Presents, a Tent curiously wrought, _Assyrian_ and _Persian_ Tapestry, with the _Alcoran_, and some Beasts of an unusual Sort; as, an _Indian Ant_, as big as an ordinary Dog; a fierce and biting Present. The Cause of the Embassy was pretended to be, the Reconciliation of _Bajazet_ with his Father; and they were received very honourably, entertained with rich Banquets, of which _Haly_ sent me a part; eight huge Dishes full of Sweetmeats, and plenty of the richest Wines. ’Twas the Custom of the _Romans_ to send Dishes from their Feasts to their Friends; the _Spaniards_ do it to this Day; and the _Turks_ from their great Feasts carry home something, especially if they have Wives and Children. They many times carried home whole Napkins full of good Bits from my Table; and tho’ they pretend to Cleanliness, yet they would sometimes daub their Silk-cloaths with some Collation-drops.

Let me tell you a Story to this purpose, which I know will make you laugh heartily, as it did me at the first hearing it: For we are not such _Cato’s_, but that sometimes we may season our Care with moderate Laughter, which shews that we are _Men_.

’Tis the custom of the _Turkish Bashaws_, some Days before their Fast, (which we call _Lent_) to make a public Feast or Entertainment for all Comers, none are excluded; yet generally none but Servants, Friends, and Relations come. There is a Napkin made of Leather, spread over a long Tapestry on the Ground, full of Dishes; the Table will hold abundance of Guests; the _Bashaw_ himself sits at the upper end, and the choicest Guests next to him, and then the ordinary Guests, in Ranks, till the Table be full. It will not hold all at once, but some stand by till others have din’d, which they do with great Decency and Silence; and then drinking a draught of Honey diluted with Water, salute their Landlord, and away they go. In their Places, others sit down, and a third Class after them; the Servants still taking off the old Dishes and setting on new. A certain _Bashaw_ making such a Feast, invited a _Sinziack_ to sit next to him; an old Man of the Sect which the _Turks_ call _Hogies_, (_i. e._ Learned Men) sat next to him. This _Hogi_ seeing such plenty of Victuals before him, had a mind to carry home some to his Wife, after he had filled his own Belly; but looking for his Handkerchief to fill it with Victuals, he found he had left it at home; being then in a straight, he bethought himself, and resolv’d to fill his Sleeve that hang’d on his Back; but, mistaken the _Sinziack_’s for his own, he stuft it full of Dainties, and stops it in with a piece of Bread that nothing might fall out. He was not to touch his Sleeve till he had laid his Hands on his Breast or Thigh, and so saluted his Entertainer, as their Custom is; when he had done that, he took up his own Sleeve and finds it empty, at which he was much amaz’d, and return’d home very sad. A while after, the _Sinziack_ also rose from the Table, and having saluted the _Bashaw_ at every Step, his Sleeve cast out the Dainties it was replenished with, unknown to him; and seeing a train of Junkets behind him, he blush’d for shame. The Company fell a laughing, but the _Bashaw_ imagining how it came to pass, desired him to sit down again, and so he sent for the _Hogi_, and when he came, he accosted him thus: _I wonder that you, an old Friend, and having a Wife and Children at home, did carry home nothing to them, seeing my Table was so well furnished._ _Truly, Sir_, said he, _’twas no Fault of mine; but of my Evil ~Genius~; for I stuff’d my Sleeve with Viands, and yet, when I came out, I found it empty._ Thus the _Sinziack_ was cleared, and the Disappointment of the _Hogi_, together with the Novelty of the Case, occasioned no small Laughter throughout all the Company. But to return to _Bajazet_.

His Case was desperate, between an _angry Father_ that required to have him given up, and a _false Friend_, who pretended to detain him. Sometimes _Solyman_ dealt mildly with the _Persian_, putting him in mind of the League between them, that they were to have the same Enemies and Friends: Sometimes he threaten’d him with War, if _Bajazet_ were not surrendered; and thereupon he placed strong Garrisons on all the Confines of _Persia_; he filled _Mesopotamia_ and the Banks of _Euphrates_ with the Soldiers, especially the Veteran ones, whom he had employed against _Bajazet_, over whom _Mahomet_ the third of the _Vizier’s Bashaws_, and _Beglerbeg_ of _Greece_, was made General, for _Selimus_ was returned home: Moreover, he solicited the _Georgians_ dwelling between the _Hircan_ Sea and _Pontus_, bordering on _Persia_ to aid him against them: They answered courageously, That they were not strong enough of themselves to cope with the _Persian_; but if he himself came upon the Place with an Army, they would then shew themselves Men of Courage against the _Persian_ as their common Enemy. The _Hircanians_ also and the Posterity of _Tamerlane_ were solicitous to join Arms. _Solyman_ himself gave out, that he would go to _Aleppo_, (a City of _Syria_, seated on the Banks of _Euphrates_) that from thence he might make War on the _Persian_: Nor was the _Persian_ himself without Fear; for he had often experienced the Dint of _Solyman_’s Sword. But the generality of the _Turks_ were averse to the War, and look’d on it as a wicked and detestable one; and this cooled the _Sultan_. A great many of the Soldiers, especially the Horse, forsook their Colours, and return’d to _Constantinople_ without leave of their Officers; and being commanded immediately to return, they did so; but so unwillingly, that _Solyman_ plainly saw their Aversion from the Service.

Whereupon _Solyman_, seeing he could not get _Bajazet_ alive out of the _Persian_’s Hands, (who feared his Revenge, if ever he came off clear,) thought of the next thing, which was, to have him strangled there; and he hop’d to obtain his End this way, because the _Persian_ had lately acquainted him by Letter, that he had been very remiss in so great an Affair. I have sent divers Ambassadors to you, said he, but you send nothing to me but empty Letters, or Messengers; and therefore, to convince me that you are real in the Business, send considerable Ambassadors of your prime Nobility with whom I may transact, according to the greatness of the Affair. As for himself, _Bajazet_ had been a great Charge to him, before he could be taken, and therefore ’twas fit an Account should be had of those Expences. _Solyman_ thereby saw that Money was requir’d, and therefore by the Advice of his _Bashaw_, he resolved to take any other Course, rather than to involve himself in an unnecessary War with the _Persians_. Hereupon _Hassan Aga_, together with an old _Bashaw_, one of the Bed-Chamber, was sent by _Solyman_ into _Persia_. They departed with ample Commission, in the midst of Winter; they made great haste, insomuch that they lost several of their Retinue in the way: At last, they came to _Casbia_ to the _Sophia_, and desired to see _Bajazet_; they found him in a nasty filthy Prison, his Beard and Hair so long, that till he was shav’d he could hardly be known; but then _Hassan_ knew him by the lineaments of his Face, having been brought up with him from a Child, and therefore he was chosen as the fittest Person for this Embassy. It was agreed, that the _Persian_ should be repaid what he had laid out, and should have many rich Presents besides, and then _Bajazet_ was to be put to Death. _Hassan_ returns and gives an account to his Master, who thereupon sent the Expences by him, with the Gifts, which were guarded by the _Turks_ to the Confines of _Persia_. Thus _Hassan_ again returned to be the Executioner of unfortunate _Bajazet_ with his own Hand, for so _Solyman_ had commanded. When the Bow-string was about his Neck, he desired but one thing before his Death, which was, to see his Children, and to take his last farewell of them, by the only Thing he had left to give, a parting Kiss; but that was deny’d. This was the end of _Bajazet_ and his unfortunate Designs; the way he took to save himself was his Ruin. His four Children under-went the same Fate. As for the new-born Infant which he left at _Amasia_, whom his Grandfather had removed to _Persia_ to be educated there, when his Father was dead, a trusty _Eunuch_ was sent to _Persia_ to destroy him too; but the _Eunuch_ being somewhat tender-hearted, procured a certain Porter, a hard-hearted Fellow, who car’d not what desperate things he undertook, to dispatch the Child. This Fellow went into the Room, and as he was fitting the String to the Child’s Neck, the poor Infant lifted up its self as well as he could, and embracing him in his Arms, offered to kiss him; which did so mollifie his wretched Heart, that he fell down in a Swoon. The _Eunuch_ stood at the Door, and wondering at the Delay, went in and found the Fellow lying flat on the Ground; whereupon he was forced to execute the Charge himself, and so strangled the poor innocent Child. By this Passage it appears, that _Solyman_ spar’d his Nephew hitherto, not out of any Principle of Mercy, but out of an Opinion the _Turks_ have, that Matters, if they succeed well, are pleasing to God; and therefore, as long as ’twas uncertain, what might be the event of _Bajazet_’s Designs, he would not imbrue his Hands in his Child’s Blood, lest, if _Bajazet_ had succeeded, he might seem to have resisted the Will of God: But, when _Bajazet_ was slain, he thought God had determined the Controversie, and that his Son also might not be spared, lest the Proverb should be verified, _Of an ill Crow, an evil Egg_. I had along Discourse with my _Chiaux_ upon this Subject, when I was in the Island before mentioned, and had liberty to sail from one to the other. It happened once, that as we were returning in our Skiff, the Wind being against us, we could not double a Promontary that reach’d pretty far into the Sea, but were forced to land and take our Dinner a-shoar; for I always carried ready-dress’d Provision along with me in the Vessel for fear of the worst; and their _Turks_ were also forced to land, by the same Stress of Weather. Our Table was spread in a green Meadow; my _Chiaux_ and my Interpreter sate at Table with me. Mention being occasionally made of _Bajazet_, the _Chiaux_ began to inveigh bitterly against him for taking up Arms against his Brother. I pleaded for him, and said, he was worthy of Pity, who was forced to do what he did: There was an inevitable Necessity upon him, either to submit himself to a certain Death, or to save his Life by taking Arms. However the _Chiaux_ persisted still to call it an execrable Undertaking; whereupon I argued thus; you accuse _Bajazet_ as guilty of an horrid Offence; but you acquit _Solyman_, the Father of your present Emperor, who took up Arms against his Father. We do so, said the _Chiaux_, and with Reason; for the Event shew’d, that what he did, was by God’s Approbation, and predestinated in Heaven. If you argue from Success, said I, then the wickedest Fact, if it prosper, may be imputed to God as the Author; and then he may be made the Author of Sin, if _Good_ and _Evil_ must be interpreted only by Events. We dwelt a while on this Discourse, and were very eager upon it, whilst either of us defended his own Opinion. We alledg’d many places of Scriptures; _Can the Vessel say to the Potter, why hast thou made me thus? I will harden ~Pharaoh~’s Heart: ~Jacob~ have I loved; but ~Esau~ have I hated_: and others of like import.

The _Turks_, that were not far from us, wonder’d what we were so earnest about; and after we rose from the Table, my _Chiaux_ went to them. They gathered themselves in a Ring about him, and I saw them hearkening to the Discourse he made, with great Attention; and at last, at Noon, they were all silent, and worshipped God according to their Custom. I thought it long till my _Chiaux_ returned to me, that I might know why he prated so amongst his Comrades; I was afraid, though I had ever found him a good Man, that he might represent what I had spoken to him, to my Prejudice: At last, when the Wind ceased, we went aboard again, and followed our intended Course. The first thing I did, was, to ask of my _Chiaux_, what serious Discourse he held with his Country-men? He smil’d, and made me this Answer: _We were disputing about ~Predestination~, and I told them what you had alledg’d ~Pro~ and ~Con~; by which it was plain, that you had read our Books, and was well read in the ~Scriptures~, so that there was nothing wanting to your Happiness, but to turn to our ~Religion~, which, in the Prayers you saw us make, we desired of God._ When News was brought to _Constantinople_ that _Bajazet_ was dispatched, I was afraid that our Affairs, which were in a hopeful way of Conclusion, would now meet with a Rub at last; the Misfortune of _Bajazet_ might over-turn all, make the _Turks_ more Insolent, undo what was done, and propose harder Conditions. I had passed over some Difficulties, as the Loss of _Gerba_, and the Imprisonment of _Bajazet_, and the _Vaivode_’s Expulsion out of _Moldavia_; but there were two terrible ones, _Bajazet_’s Death, and another, which I shall speak of by and by.

_Haly_ sent one of his Domesticks, to tell me, that _Bazajet_ was dead for certain; that therefore, I should not defer the Peace, in hopes of his Success: That I should remember, Princes of the same Religion are more easily reconcil’d, than those of contrary ones are; and, therefore, I should hesitate no longer, nor seek Knots in a Bulrush, as the Proverb is.

This Message troubled me much; yet, because I thought the Account might not be true, I sent up and down the Town amongst my Friends, to know what Certainty they had of _Bajazet_’s Death: They all returned me answer, _That he was most certainly dispatched_: Whereupon, I resolved to draw in my Sails; there were no Hopes for me to obtain better Conditions; it were well, if I could maintain my Ground, and stick to my former without any change: The Emperor of the _Turks_ had seen them, and was not much averse to them; some small Alterations were made; something I wished I could have added; other Things were dubiously expressed, which an ill-natured Interpretation might raise Scruples about. I did my Endeavour that these might be taken out, or corrected, and made more favourable on our Side. My Master _Cæsar_ had seen and approved those Conditions; yet still I could not satisfy my self, till something more favourable was added. Whilst I was doing this, I was accosted with _Haly_’s Message as aforesaid.

I met also with another grievous Rub; some Noblemen of _Hungary_ had revolted from the _Vaivode_ of _Transilvania_ to the Emperor, that is, to speak the Truth, had returned to their Duty; and the Garrisons also, which they commanded, yielded to _Cæsar_. This new Accident might have disturbed all; for the _Turks_ had a specious Pretence to alledge, That, while Conditions of Peace were once on foot, such Alteration ought not to have been made; if Peace were cordially desired, all Things were to be returned to their pristine State: but, let Revolters speed as they pleased, what they had possessed ought to be returned to the _Vaivode_, their Client and Vassal. But, _Haly_ was so far from pressing this, that one express Condition was, that those Things should be ratified; which he willingly assented to. But the Ambassadors who came lately from the _Vaivode_, were very much troubled at it; they rub’d upon the gall’d Place, and filled the whole Court with their Clamours, that their miserable Matter was deserted, the Law of Allegiance broken, and Enemies preferred before ancient Friends. All the rest of the _Bashaws_ were moved with their Complaints, only _Haly_ stood firm to me, so that the Articles of the Peace were not altered at all. For my part, though I knew that the Terms would be allowed by my Master _Cæsar_, yet, because there want not Sycophants in Princes Courts, who go about to obscure the best Services of their Ministers, especially if Strangers: I therefore thought it fit to leave all to the Pleasure of my Master: I told _Haly_, that, though the proposed Condition did not fully answer the Expectation of my Master, I hoped, however, he would acquiesce therein, if an Agent of theirs were sent along with me to explain the Things that were obscure, upon which any Controversy might arise; and that _Ebrahim_ seemed to be the fittest Man for this purpose, by whom _Cæsar_ might write back his full Mind concerning the whole Project; this was easily assented to. Thus an End was put to a long and tedious Business.

’Tis a Custom, that when Ambassadors depart from _Constantinople_ upon fair Terms, the _Bashaws_ do entertain them with a Feast in the _Divan_; but I was willing to wave that Badge of Esteem, because I would have all left in suspence, and referred to the good Will and Pleasure of my Master.