Chapter IX: Part 9

But _Rustan_ died of a Dropsy soon after, and _Haly_, then Second Vizier succeeded him. He was a prudent and courteous Person as any was among the _Turks_. I sent him a Present, a large Garment of Silk, by way of Congratulation upon his new Dignity. He returned me this obliging Answer, That he would always be my Friend, and upon any occasion I should not scruple to make my Address to him. And I found him as good as his Word; for, when my House a while after was re-visited with the Plague, which swept away many of my Servants, and amongst others, my chief Physician; I sent the same Message to _Haly_ which I had done to _Rustan_ before; who answered me, for his part he was very willing I should remove my Habitation; but that it were better for me to ask leave of the Sultan himself, lest, said he, if he casually light upon any of your Servants walking at random up and down, he should take it very ill that so much liberty was granted them without his knowledge: And yet, proceeded he, I shall propose the matter so cautiously to the Prince, that I do not doubt of his Assent. And accordingly, soon after I received a Message from him, that I might remove whither I pleased. Whereupon I chose an Island called _Principo_, for my Dwelling, about four Hours Sail from _Constantinople_. It was the pleasantest of all the little Isles contiguous to that City, for the rest have no Village at all in them, or but one at most; but this has two.

The Physician, I lately told you died at my House of the Plague, was my old Friend Dr. _Williams_, the Faithful Companion of my long and tedious Pilgrimage. The occasion of the Sickness was this: It seems, among the rest of the Prisoners I had redeemed, one, as the Event declared, who was sick of the Plague. My Physician constantly attended him, till he got the Infection himself. He had that Angularity of Opinion, that there was no more Fear than Danger; for at the same time, said he, there are wont to arise other Diseases, which Men are apt to think is the Pestilence; so that Pestilential Remedies are usually applied to every common Sore or Boyl. Thus he flattered himself, even when he was deeply infected; yet he did not suspect it to be the Plague, till it was past Remedy, and he was ready to die under the Hands of his Attendance. The Day before he died, he sent me word he was better; and desired to see me, if I pleased to bestow a Visit upon him. I did so, and sat a great while by his Bed-side. He told me how very ill he had been, and that his Sight, as well as his other Senses, had been so weakened, that he knew no body; but now, said he, my Senses are restored, and if I could be freed from a Distillation that almost stops my Breath, I should presently be well; and at my Departure, I told him, I heard he had a Tumour in his Breast. I have so, says he; and thereupon he threw aside his Blanket, and shewed me his Breast: But there is no Danger, says he, in it; for it came from buttoning my Doublet, which I put on too strait. Towards the Evening, according to custom, I sent two of my Servants to watch with him, and while they were putting on him a clean Shirt, he himself espied a Purple Spot in his Breast, which they told him was but a Flea-bite; and by and by he discovered more Spots and larger ones. No, said he, there are not Flea-bites, but Tokens of near approaching Death; and therefore us spend this Night in Prayer and holy Conference preparatory to my latter end; which he did, and in the Morning, with full assurance of God’s Mercy, he departed this Life.

Thus was I bereaved of my dearest and most useful Friend, and the Common-wealth of Learning had also a great Loss of him; for he had made many curious Observations in his Travels which he intended to publish, and would have been very useful to the World, if Death had not prevented his laudable Designs. His Skill and Faithfulness was so much prized by me, that, if the Times had differed me to return, I knew none fitter to leave in my place at _Constantinople_ than himself, had he out-lived me.

After his Death, my Cares seemed to be doubled; nay, if I should have left him behind, I had returned but half myself, as it were. Well! his Soul is at Rest, and I erected a Monument, as a due testimony to his Vertue. But to return to our Island.

I lived there very pleasantly for three Months. It was a private Place, without any Crowd or Noise. There were only a few _Greeks_, with whom I diverted myself; but never a _Turk_ to interrupt my Mirth. As for the _Turks_ of my Houshold, they created no trouble to me; I might go whither I would, and pass from one of these Islands to another at my pleasure, without any molestation from them. There grew several sorts of Plants, as _French_ Lavender, sharp-pointed Myrtle, Cotton-weed, and abundance more. The Sea is full of divers sorts of Fishes, which I took sometimes with Net, sometimes with Hook and Line. Several _Grecian_ Fishers with their Boats attended me, and where we had hopes of the greatest sport, thither we sailed and cast our Nets. Sometimes we played above board, and when we saw a Crab or a Lobster at the bottom, where the Sea was very clear, we ran him through with a Fish-spear, and so halled him up into a Vessel. But our best and most profitable sport, was with a drag-Net; where we thought most Fish were, there we cast it in a round; it took up a great compass, with the long Ropes tied to the ends of it, which were to draw it to Land. To those Ropes the Seamen tied green Boughs very thick, so that the Fish might be frightned, and not seek to escape. Thus we brought great Sholes of trembling Fishes near the Shore. And yet in this danger they were naturally instigated how to save themselves; some would leap over the Net, others would cover themselves in the Sand, that they might not be taken; others strove to bite the Meashes of the Net, though made of coarse Flax or Hemp, of which kind were the _Synodontes_, Fish armed with strong Teeth; and if one made way for himself, all would follow him, and so the whole Draught would escape, and not a Fish left for the Fisher. To remedy this Inconvenience, (for I was aware of it) I stood with a Pole in my Hand, beating the Water, that I might keep the Fish from biting the Net. At which my Attendants could not choose but laugh; yet, for all this, many of them escaped: So sagacious are Fishes where they are in extream danger! But notwithstanding the Fugitives, we brought a great many Fishes ashore, a Sea-Bream, Scorpion-Fishes, Dragon-Fishes, Scare-Fish, Jule-Fish, Chane or Ruff-Fish, whose Variety did delight my Eye, and the enquiry into their Nature, did hugely please my Fancy: So that at Night I return’d home with my trimphant Vessel laden with Prey. The next Day I presented _Hali Bassa_, and his Chief Steward, with Part of what I had taken, who thought it a very acceptable Present.

Sometimes I took delight, with an Iron Spear made on purpose, to bring up Shrimps or Cramps, which are there so thick, as if that Sea were stock’d with them. Where I observed the Master-Shrimps lying two by two, the Male and the Female, and sometimes more of them, of which _Cicero_, _Pliny_, and _Athenæus_ speak so much. I confess, I think some of these Relations concerning them are rather fabulous than true: For they say, that this Shell-Fish doth gape in order to catch other small Fishes; and when she hath got them, yet she shuts not her Shell till the _Pinncphylax_ bite it, and by this warning she closes her Shell, and divides the Prey with the _Pinncphylax_. The Figure of these _Pinnæ_ you have in _Bellonious_. The sharp part of it sticks in the bottom of the Sea, as if it grew there; and by these sticking Fibres, she draws in her Nourishment; as appears by this, that when she is loosed from her hold, she dies for want of Sustenance, as Herbs and Plants do. And it is probable, that the _Pinnophylax_ chose this sort, as a Defence against other ravenous Fishes, where it may lye quiet even in stormy Weather, and go in and out at her pleasure. Yet I speak not this, to detract from the Credit of those worthy Authors I mentioned before; but only to leave the matter to more curious Enquirers. We quickly laded our Boat with these _Pinnæ_; they are but coarse Fare, like Muscles, of which you would be soon weary; but the Fishermen advised me to keep the _Pinnophylaxes_ apart, for they are a grateful and nourishing Food.

Amongst the rest of the Islands, there is one untilled and uninhabited, whither all sorts of Monsters do resort, Star-Fish, Saw-Fish, Grape-Fish, Sea-Horses, prodigious Cockles, a round yellow Fish like an Orange; no ordinary Fish there, but Thornback, and a certain Fork-Fish, with a terrible Prickle. I remember, we took one of them, who, making at us, ran herself through.

When tempestuous Weather kept me from Sea, I delighted myself in finding out strange and unusual Plants at Land. I would sometimes go a-foot all ever the Island, having a young _Franciscan_ Monk in my Company, a jolly Fellow, but very Fat, and not used to travel on Foot. I took him out of a Monastry at _Pera_, to be my Partner in my Walks; he was so corpulent and pursy, that when I went on a-pace to catch myself a Heat, he would follow me at a Distance panting and blowing, with these Words in his Mouth, What need all this haste? Whom do we run from, or whom do we pursue? What are we Carriers or Posts that must make speed to deliver some important Letters? Thus he mutter’d, till the very Sweat pierced through all his Cloaths. In fine, when we came back to our Lodgings, he threw himself upon his Bed, wofully complaining, and crying out, he was undone: What Injury have I done, said he, that you thus hurry on to destroy me? And, in this fretting Posture, we had much ado to persuade him to eat a bit of Dinner.

Now and then, some Friends visited from _Constantinople_, and from _Pera_; yea, and some _Germans_ also of _Holy_’s own Family; of whom when I asked whether the Plague was abated? Mightily, said they. How many then die in a Day? Scarce Five Hundred, said they. Good God! quoth I, call you that to abate? when then doth it rage? They replied, when about a Thousand or Twelve Hundred die in a Day. The _Turks_ entertain this Opinion concerning the Pestilence, that every Man’s Destiny is written by God in his Forehead; so that ’tis a foolish thing in them, to think to decline or avoid it. This Opinion makes them fearless of the Plague, but not secure from it: So that, as soon as any Man dies of the Pestilence, they will take off their Cloaths, yet sweaty, and Linnen, and rub their Faces with them. If it be the Will of God, say they, that I shall die this way, it will most certainly come to pass; if not, it will not hurt me. Thus a large Field is open for Infection; so that whole Families are sometimes swept away by that Disease. Whilst I abode in these Islands, I got acquaintance with one _Metrophanes_, a _Metropolitan_ who presided over a Monastry in _Chalcis_, one of those Islands. He was a Learned and a Vertuous Man, very desirous of an Agreement between the _Latin_ and the _Greek_ Churches; so that he differed from the Humour of the rest of the _Grecians_, who esteem the _Latins_ as Men of an impure and profane Sect. So much doth every Man abound in his own Sense!

When I had lived about two Months in those Islands, some of the _Bashaws_ began to suspect my long Absence, and told _Haly_, that perhaps I might make my escape, for I had Ships ready at my command, and other Conveniences might easily be procured; and therefore it was more advisable I should return into the City. He answered them, he had that Confidence in my Word, that he believed I designed no such thing: Nevertheless he sent a _Chiaux_ to advertise me thereof. The _Chiaux_ very cunningly pried about, to see if he could discover the least Preparation for an Escape but finding none, after I had made him a Present, he returned to his Master with his Message from me, that he might rest secure, for I never intended to break my Word. Thus I continued three Months in my Retirement, and returned of my own accord into the City without any Compulsion.

From that time forward l had a Familiarity with _Haly_, and our Discourse was still of Peace. He is a _Dalmatian_ by Birth, and only Courteous Man I found in that barbarous Country: His Nature, mild and gentle; his Person of easy Access; he is of a deep Understanding, capable of managing the greatest Affairs, having much skill in Military as well as Political Matters, for he is an old Man, and hath passed through the greatest Offices of that Common-wealth. His Stature is tall, and his Countenance filled with a lovely Gravity. He hath a mighty Love for his Master, and consults by all means imaginable his Repose in his Old and Sickly Age. What _Rustan_ thought to do by Austerity, Severeness and menacing Expressions, _Haly_ endeavours to compass by Mildness, Moderation and Friendship. _Rustan_ was always severe, fierce, self-will’d; his Word must pass for a Law. ’Tis true, he knew well enough his own Circumstances, and what the Times did exact of him, and what the Old Age of his Prince required; but he was afraid, that, if he shew’d any Indulgence, either by Word or Deed, it would be said he did it out of Covetousness, of which his Prince did much suspect him: And therefore, though he was desirous of a Peace, he would abate nothing of his usual Stiffness; but if Propositions were offered to him, not pleasing to his Fancy, he was ready to thrust a Man out of Doors; so that I scarce ever parted from him but in an angry Mood. One time, when I was treating with him of Peace, if I had nothing else to say, he bid me _be gone_: I presently rose up and went my way, only telling him, _That I could propose no other Conditions than what my Master commanded me to do_. Which Words I pronouncing with more Fervour and Passion than I was wont to do, he called back my Interpreter and asked him, whether I were angry? He answered, _No: What_, said he, _if I should obtain what he desires of the ~Sultan~, dost thou think he will perform his Word to me, in presenting me with the Sum he promised me?_ _No question_, said the _Drugger-man_, _but he will be as good as his Word to a Tittle._ _Then_, says _Rustan_, _go home and ask him._ I had then 5000 Ducats, which make 6000 Crowns, lying by me for any sudden Emergency; I loaded my Interpreter with them, and bid him carry that to _Rustan_ and tell him, that this Sum was only an Earnest of what I had promised him; but the rest would follow, if my Negotiation were brought to an happy Issue, for by no means would I be worse than my Word. He seem’d to be pleased with the sight of the Money, but returned it again to me, bidding my _Drugger-man_ tell me, that he no ways doubted of my Faithfulness, but the matter of the Peace stood yet on ambiguous Terms; neither could he certainly promise a good Issue, for he did not fully know his Master’s Mind. _But let the Ambassador_, said he, _keep it for me, as my Treasurer, till he sees the Event._ Thus was the Money brought me back again, and _Rustan_ died soon after.

Here give me leave to acquaint you with the Bounty of my Master, the best of Emperors; for that Money lying dead by me, I acquainted his Imperial Majesty, that I would lay it out for one Year’s Expence (which amounted to just so much) in my Embassy. But I repented afterwards of this my Frankness; especially considering what Pains I had taken in my Employment for so many Years together. My Mind gave me I was deficient to my self, in not desiring that Sum for my self, since I knew I serv’d a liberal Master, who put a just Value upon every Man’s Service, and rewarded him accordingly; and therefore I might have desired that Money (which was snatch’d, as it were, out of the Fire) for my own use; for I knew some Courtiers would have asked greater Sums for less Merit and Service. Upon second Thoughts, I put my Master in mind of my over-sight, and desired his Favour, that the said Sum might be returned entire to me. He was graciously pleased to grant my Request, and commanded so many Ducats to be told out for me from his own Exchequer: Which Bounty of his, so freely bestowed, if I should be unmindful of, I were not worthy to live a Day longer: But to return from whence I digressed.

_Haly_ and _Rustan_ were of quite different Humours and Dispositions: _Haly_ lived a blameless Life, free from Sordidness, and never feared that his courteous Deportment would procure him the _Sultan_’s Ill-will; but _Rustan_, on the contrary, was a Money-monger, Avaritious, and his Conscience hing’d at his Purse-strings. _Rustan_’s Conferences with me were very short and concise; but _Haly_ would spin out Time on purpose; and, that he might entertain me the longer, he would season his Discourse with a great deal of Facetiousness; insomuch that the _Turks_, who attended on the account of Business or otherwise, would murmur and grumble that he spent so much Time with me, thereby they had not convenient Opportunity to transact their own Concerns with him. And the Truth is, there was somewhat of Mortification to my self in it too; for I usually was sent for to him in the Afternoon, and I went Fasting, that I might be readier to deal with so acute a Man. In our Conferences he pressed this as a principal Point, that each of us would propose that which we thought most conducive to the service of our respective Masters. He knew his Master desired Repose in his old Age, which was sated with Success and Victory; and he thought my Master also desired Peace and Quietness; and therefore, if he studied the Tranquillity of his Realm, he should by no means rouse a sleeping Lion. _The minds of Princes_, says he, _are like Looking-glasses having no innate Shape, yet the Shapes of all Objects pass through them; so Princes Souls, free of themselves, are impress’d by the Images of all Things, as they are represented; and therefore we must lay nothing before them, but what stands to their Reason: For as good Cooks temper their Sauces, not to this or that Man’s Palate, But for the Relish of all the Guests; so we, in Propositions of Peace, must weigh Circumstances on either side._ This, and much more, did he frankly communicate to me; yea, at all times he shewed himself courteous, and when I required his Courtesy with any extraordinary piece of Respect, he thought himself doubly oblig’d. Once, as he was returning from the _Divan_, and came to a cross way where he was wont to salute his Fellow _Bashaws_ at parting, turning his Horse too nimbly, and leaning on his Neck, both Horse and Man fell to the Ground: When I heard of his Mischance, I sent to know whether he had got any hurt by his Fall? He returned me Thanks, and told me, he got no hurt, but ’twas usual for an old Soldier to be apt to stumble and fall. Then, turning to the By-standers, _This Christian Agent_, says he, _has, I thank him, a mighty Love for me._ Sometimes in Discourse he would tell me, that he had got Wealth and Honour enough; so that now he studied only to leave a savoury Memory behind him, by doing good to Posterity.

When our Treaty of Peace had proceeded on fairly a long time, and I was in good Hopes of a happy Conclusion, an unlucky Accident happened, which might have embarrassed the whole Affair: A certain _Greek Despote_, by the help of _Cæsar_’s Soldiers which guarded the Frontiers of _Hungary_, had broke into _Moldavia_, and driven out the _Vaivode_ thereof, possessing it for himself. This Business gave a great Alarm to the _Turks_, as not knowing but such Beginnings might end in greater Mischief; and indeed the Danger was considerable, though the _Turks_ thought it Prudence to dissemble their Forces. _Haly_ intended to speak with me about it, as I understood by one of his Domesticks; and accordingly he sent for me a few Hours after. I confess I was somewhat startled at the Message; I was afraid, that, my Negotiation being in a promising way to a good Issue, this Matter would spoil all. When I came, he entertain’d me with his usual Courtesy, and after much Discourse tending to a conclusion of the Peace, he shew’d no sign of Discontent at all in his Words or Looks, till I was just going to take my leave of him, and then he bid me sit down again, for something was come to his Memory which he had forgot: _Don’t you hear_, said he, _that your ~Germans~ have made an Inroad into ~Moldavia~?_ _No_, said I, _neither do I believe it; for how should the ~Germans~ come to a Place so very remote from them as ~Moldavia~?_ _’Tis most certainly true_, said he; _I have it by several Expresses, and I will send one of your own Countrymen to convince you._ This Onset gave me occasion to tell him, that, if any of this were true, I was sure it was not done by the command or consent of my Master _Cæsar_. _The ~Germans~_, said I, _are a free People, and used to serve other Nations in their War; and perhaps some of them had taken Pay under Foreigners: But, in my Judgment, the cause of these Commotions arises from the ~Hungarian~ Nobles of that Neighbourhood, who being provoked by the daily Injuries of the ~Turks~, resolve to be even with them. And, to speak the Truth, I think they are not much to be blamed, if upon so great Provocations, they labour to revenge themselves. Do not your Soldiers take the same Liberties on the Borders of ~Hungary~? What Plunderings and Devastations have they not made in the Emperor’s Territories there! Here we talk of Peace; there is nothing but War and Bloodshed: And, for my own part, I am held as a Prisoner, neither do my Friends know whether I am alive or dead? And truly they that have long suffered so much Damage from you, are worthy rather of Praise than Blame, if they take any opportunity of Revenge._ _Let them retaliate_, said _Haly_, _provided it be within ~Hungary~, and the Borders of it; but ’tis intolerable they should range as far as ~Moldavia~, which is but ten day’s Journey from ~Adrianople~._ To which I replied, _Men of the Sword do not much study points of the Law or Civility, but use to take the first Opportunity to revenge themselves where-ever it was offered._ Thus I departed from him, neither did he seem at all to be angry, nor was a jot more morose in my After-addresses to him.

During these Transactions with the Vizier, the _French_ Ambassador did me a great Favour; there were thirteen young Gentlemen (some of whom were _Germans_, and some _Hollanders_) in prison at Constantinople upon this remarkable occasion. They took Ship at _Venice_, in a Vessel every Year carried Pilgrims to _Jerusalem_, under Protection; some of them travelled on the account of Religion, others to see foreign Countries: but they all met with an unlucky Omen; for just at the time they landed in _Syria_, the Knights of _Malta_ had landed some Soldiers, and plunder’d the Sea-Coast of _Phœnicia_, carrying away some of the Inhabitants Prisoners: Whereupon those _Syrians_ who had lost Parents, Children and Friends, having no other visible way of Satisfaction, seiz’d on these Gentlemen in the _Venetian_ Vessel, pretending they were some of the Pyrates; and if they did not procure their Friends to be released, they should be kept in Slavery themselves: And though they were shewed the Privilege from the Government of _Venice_, and were put in mind of the Public Faith, and the League betwixt them, yet all was one, away they must be sent Prisoners to _Constantinople_: And their Youth was a great Prejudice to them, for the _Bashaws_ thought such young Striplings would never undertake so long a Voyage on the account of Religion, for the _Turks_ never begin their Pilgrimage till they are well in Years.

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.

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.