other to _Belgrade, Leyva_ and _Requesne_ desired me to part Company,
and go to _Rhagusa_, that so they might more easily pass to _Venice_
and _Italy_, and procure those Gifts which they promised to lend to the
_Bashaws_, and repay the Money they had borrowed at _Constantinople_; and
that they would send Letters of Thanks by me to _Cæsar_, to give him due
Acknowledgments for their Release: Which Service they would willingly
have performed in Person, if their other Occasions had not hindered. I
easily consented to their Requests, and was the better pleased, because
_Requesne_, being a very old Man, died before he came to _Rhagusa_: If
I had denied their Request, it might have been thought my Refusal had
contributed to his Disease.
_De Sande_ and my self passed the rest of our Journey without any great
Inconvenience; for the Truth is, he is a very facetious Man, and, if
he is troubled with Grief, he knows how to cover it, and to pretend
Mirth outwardly. In our way, many diverting Things offered themselves;
sometimes we would alight, and try which of us could run fastest; I,
being lean, could easily out-run him, who was fat and pursy, and just
come out of Prison. When we came near to a Village, _Ebrahim_ would
ride up to us (for he with his _Turks_ followed gravely on Horseback)
and beseeched us, by all that was dear to us, not to be seen on foot
by the Villagers, for it would be accounted a Disgrace to us among the
_Turks_. His Advice made us sometimes get into our Chariot again, but
the Pleasure of walking afoot still got the better.
One of _de Sande_’s many facetious Sayings, I must give you. When we
came from _Constantinople_, the Weather was very hot, and it continued
so sultry all the Way, that it palled my Appetite, and a very little
Food served my Turn; but _de Sande_, being a robust healthy Person, eat
like a Horse, and would ever now and then tell me, that I must follow
his Example and eat like a Man of Mettle. Yet, all his Advice was to
no Purpose, till about the Beginning of _October_, I drew near to the
Borders of _Austria_; and there, partly from the Country, and partly from
the Season of the Year, I began to be more healthy, and to take a larger
proportion of Food.
When _de Sande_ observed that I had a better Stomach than formerly, he
began to triumph over me exceedingly, boasting that ’twas by his Advice
and Example, that I had learned to eat Meat, and that I, who was so many
Years older, had need of a Monitor to advise me to take due Sustenance
for my Body; so that if he were obliged to me for his Release, I was as
much beholding to him for teaching me to recover my Appetite. In these
ludicrous Repartees we came to _Tulna_, where we met with some Trouble.
_De Sande_ used to lye in the same House, if it were large enough to
hold us both; if not, he took his Lodgings at some Neighbouring House,
that he might not incommode me. He was willing to do so at _Tulna_,
and therefore, desired the _Janizaries_ whom I brought with me from
_Constantinople_ to _Buda_, to be my Harbingers on the Way, and to find
out a convenient Lodging for him. One of my Servants a Doctor of Physic,
and a _Spaniard_, whom _de Sande_ had released at _Constantinople_ at his
own Charge, went along with the _Janizaries_. They happened to go to the
House of another _Janizary_ hard by, who was appointed as Governor of
the Place to guard Passengers; for the _Turks_ use to appoint one or two
_Janizaries_ in every noted Town to protect _Christian_ Passengers from
Violence; by which Office they get no small Profit: But this Man, for
some Offence or other, had been put out of his Office, and therefore, was
of a very surly Temper. My People viewed his House, and not finding it
for their Turn, were going away; the _Janizary_ first, my Servant next,
and the Physician last. In the _Interim_, the _Janizary_, Master of the
House, walking in his Garden, was told, that some _Christian_ Passengers
were seeking for a Lodging at his House: Whereupon, he came in a great
Rage, with a Club like _Hercules_’s, in his Hand, and without speaking a
Word, strikes the Physician a great Blow on the Shoulders, as hard as he
was able; the Physician, to avoid a second Blow, ran out of the House. My
Servant, looking back, saw him lift up his Club to strike him also; but
he, having a Thing like a Hatchet in his Hand, held it cross-ways over
his Head, and so kept off many a lusty Blow, till at last the Handle of
the Hatchet, by his often stricking, began to break. Then my Servant was
forced to close in with the _Janizary_, and was about to cleave his Skull
with his Weapon: Whereupon, the _Janizary_ fled, and my Servant not being
able to overtake him, threw the Hatchet after him, which cut him in the
Hams, and fell’d him to the Ground; by which Accident, my People escaped:
But the Physician cryed out, that he was a dead Man, and that all his
Bones were broken in Pieces. _De Sande_ heard his Complaint; yet, though
he was vext, could not choose but smile, as thinking that the Doctor was
more afraid than hurt: But, that which most tormented him, was, lest on
this Occasion he should be carried back to _Constantinople_: He was of
Opinion that the _Bashaws_ had not dealt sincerely in his Case, but had
made only a Pretence of releasing him to gratify me, and really sought an
Occasion to drag him back again, to rot in Prison. For the same Cause,
he was much offended with my Servant who had wounded the _Janizary_,
especially for saying, _That he was very sorry that he had not killed him
upon the Spot_. His Words to him were these; _Honest ~Henry~, Prithee be
not so Passionate; ’tis no Time nor Place to shew thy Valour here; we
must bear Affronts patiently, without any just Imputation of Cowardice,
whether we will or no; we are in their Power: This unreasonable Passion
may bring great Mischief to us; perhaps it may occasion us to be brought
back to ~Constantinople~, and there our whole Negotiation may be
reversed, or at least become very dubious. I beseech thee, therefore, for
my Sake among the rest, govern thy Passion._
But _Henry_ was deaf to all his Persuasions; he being an obstinate
Fellow, and when angry, would not hearken to Reason. _What care I_,
replied he, _if I had killed him? Did he not design to kill me? If one
of his many Blows had gone home, he had knock’d me down like an Ox. Were
I to be blamed, if I slew him who would have slain me first? I am sorry
with all my Heart, I did not give him his Death’s Wound: But, for the
future (take my Word for it) I’ll spare never a ~Turk~ of them all; for,
if he assaults me, I’ll give him as good as he brings, though it cost me
my Life._
_De Sande_ did not like this surly Answer; but the _Janizary_ who had
received the Wound, made the worst of it; upon whose Complaint, two
Jews, who could speak _Spanish_, came to me, and told me, that he was
dangerously hurt, and if he did not give him Satisfaction, the Matter
would not so soon be passed over, but would create great Trouble to me. I
answered them as I thought fit; but, because I knew the malicious Natures
of the _Turks_, I thought it best speedily to guard against them; and,
therefore, sent presently one of the Youths to _Ebrahim_, desiring him to
let one of his Servants be a Guide to one of mine to _Constantinople_,
a sudden Emergency had made this Journey necessary. _Ebrahim_ wondered
what the Matter was, and came presently to me to know. I told him, I
desired a better Convoy from _Hali Bassa_, otherwise I was out of Hopes
ever to reach Home, for my two Servants were like to be killed; and then
I told him the whole Story, with all its Circumstances. _Ebrahim_ soon
perceived how much his own Interest was concerned, and therefore desired
me to have a little Patience till he had spoken with the _Janizary_; to
whom he presently went, and found him in Bed. He chid him very warmly for
being so abusive to us, and told him I had made Peace with the _Port_,
and was in great Favour with _Solyman_, and all the _Bashaws_; that they
had denied none of my Requests, but had granted me several Concessions
for my own Sake, and that he was sent back to convoy me safe into my own
Country, and to take Care that I might be honourably treated by the Way:
That he was the first Man that offered me the least Affront; and that I
was sending back one to _Constantinople_ to complain thereof; and if I
did, it might cost him his Head. This took down my _Janizary_’s Crest,
and put him into a terrible Panick besides.
The next Day we continued our Journey to _Buda_; and the Physician,
notwithstanding his Bruises, was as well able to travel as any of us.
When we came in Sight of _Buda_, the _Bashaw_ thereof sent some of his
own Family, with several _Chiauxes_ to meet us; and among the rest, there
was a Troop of young Men on Horseback, which drew our Eyes after them in
respect of the Novelty of their Garb; their Heads were uncovered, and
their Crowns shav’d; there was a long Line cut with a Knife, and in the
Wound they stuck Feathers of several Sorts; and, though Drops of Blood
distilled down from their Wounds, yet they dissembled their Pain, and
rode merrily on, as if they ailed nothing at all. Just before me, there
walked some Footmen; one of them had his naked Arms a-kembow, and both
had a Knife, (such as we call _Pragensian_) run through them above the
Elbow; another was naked, all the upper Parts, to his Navel, the Skin of
his Loyns being so cut in two Places, both above and below, that a Club
being run through them, hung down from thence as from a Girdle; another
had a Horshoe nail’d to the Crown of his Head, and it was so old, that
the Shoe and the Skin grew together.
In this Pomp we entered _Buda_, and were introduced to the _Bashaw_, with
whom, in the Presence of _de Sande_, I had a long Discourse concerning
the Validity of the Truce I had made. In the Passage to him there stood
those hardy Youngsters who were regardless of their Pain; casting my
Eye upon them, the _Bashaw_ demanded, what I thought of them? I think,
said I, that they are hardy Fellows; only they do that to their Skins,
which I would not do to my Cloaths, for I had rather have them whole than
slash’d. Whereupon, the _Bashaw_ laughed, and dismissed us.
The Day after we came to _Gran_; from thence to _Comara_, the Frontier
Garrison of the Empire, situate on the River _Wage_; on both sides
its Banks the Garrison of the Place, with the Seamen, called their
_Nassadists_, waited for us. Before I passed over the River, _de Sande_
came to me, and embracing me in his Arms, gave me Thanks for completing
his Liberty: He told me plainly, he thought the _Turks_ had but
dissembled with him, and therefore, he was in continual Fear, lest he
should be haled back to _Constantinople_ to die in Prison; but now, being
in the Emperor’s Territories, he acknowleged himself to be eternally
obliged to me.
A few Days more brought us to _Vienna_. _Ferdinand_ the Emperor, was
then at the Imperial Diet, with his Son _Maximilian_, about Inaugurating
him _King of the Romans_. I acquainted _Cæsar_ with my Return, and with
_Ebrahim_’s coming, and desired to receive his Commands concerning him;
for he had a great Desire to wait upon the Emperor at _Francfort_. His
Highness’s first Answer was, That ’twere best for the _Turks_ to stay
at _Vienna_ till his Return, it being not adviseable to carry an Enemy
thro’ the very Heart of the Country, so long a Way as from _Vienna_ to
_Francfort_. And, on the other side, Delays were dangerous, and might
create Suspicion in the _Turks_ of some unfair Dealing. As for _Ebrahim_,
and his Retinue, there was no danger in suffering them to pass through
the most flourishing Part of the Empire; it was, indeed, desirable
rather, that thereby they might take an Estimate of the Strength and
Greatness of it, especially having now so fair an Opportunity of
observing at _Francfort_, with how great Unanimity Prince _Maximilian_
was chosen and designed Successor to the Emperor his Father. When I wrote
back to the Emperor according to the Purport aforesaid, he consented
that _Ebrahim_ and his Retinue should come to _Francfort_. We began our
Journey thither by the Way of _Prague_, _Bamberg_, and _Wirtzburg_.
_Ebrahim_ passing through _Bohemia_, was willing to pay his Court to
Arch-Duke _Ferdinand_; but the Arch-Duke would have it _incognito_. When
we were a few Days Journey from _Francfort_, I thought proper to ride a
Day or two’s Journey before, to acquaint the Emperor with some Things
relating to my Embassy; which I did, and came to _Francfort_ that Day
seven Years on which I set out from _Vienna_ to _Constantinople_. I was
received by my Master with all imaginable Kindness, (not that I deserv’d
it) but ’twas all owing to his innate Goodness and Custom so to do. You
may imagine with yourself how joyful a Thing it was to me, after so
many Years Absence, to return safe to the Presence of my Royal Master,
who was pleased kindly to accept of the Fruits of my Embassy, and told
me, that I had done all Things well, and that I should find the Effects
of his Favour. He came to _Francfort_ the Day before the Inauguration,
late in the Evening, when the Gates were shut; and all the following Day
they were not to be opened, by ancient Custom: But his Imperial Majesty
gave express Command that they should be opened for the _Turks_. They
had a Place assigned them, from whence they might behold _Cæsar_ Elect
pass by with great Pomp and Splendor; it appear’d to them a glorious and
magnificent Sight to see, amongst others of _Cæsar_’s honourable Train,
three Princes, who could raise great Armies in their own Territories; to
wit, the Dukes of _Saxony_, _Bavaria_ and _Brandenburg_: They saw also,
many other Monuments of the Dignity and Greatness of the Emperor. A few
Days after, _Ebrahim_ was introduced into his Presence, and delivered
the noble Presents the _Sultan_ had sent him. The Emperor confirm’d the
Peace, rewarded him amply, and sent him back with large Presents to
_Solyman_.
I am very willing to leave the Court, as not being pleased with that
kind of Life; but some private Affairs as yet detain me. I know the
Tediousness of Court-Attendance; much Mischief lies under an Appearance
of Splendor; much Disguise, but little of Sincerity is there; all Courts
are subject to Envy; faithful Friendship is hard to be found, and a
change of Mind may occasion a Man’s sudden Ruin: For Princes themselves
are but Men. I have seen a Man come to Court with a thousand Attendants,
whom his Prince’s Displeasure has sent away with scarce one in his
Company. A Court does not know what is truly good, till too late; it is
altogether led by Shews, Shadows, Fallacies, and popular Mistakes. Those
are fortunate Men who can lead such a Life in safety; but oh! may I live
to the Muses and to my self, and grow old in a Country-Cottage, with a
few trusty Friends! If any Life be desirable in this earthly Pilgrimage,
’tis this. Look upon the Court, and you will find there a Noble Buffoon
preferred before a good Man: So that if you would represent a good Man
amongst Courtiers, you may paint an Ass amongst Apes. I speak of common
Courts in general; for I know that our Court, as well as some others,
are adorn’d with many excellent and noble Personages: However, Solitude
and Quiet affording Vacation to Study, is preferr’d by me before the
Crowd and Noise of Courts. But, I am afraid, my best of Princes will
not vouchsafe me the Retreat I beg for. ’Tis true, he gave me leave to
depart, but upon this Condition, that I should return when call’d upon.
If he commands me to Court again (for who can withstand the Desire of so
gracious a Prince?) this only Comfort will be left me, that I shall every
Day behold the Face of the most sacred of all Emperors; or (to phrase it
otherwise) shall contemplate the living Image of true Vertue: For assure
yourself, that the Sun never shone upon a better Prince than this, nor
one who governs more justly. Though his true, that the Majesty of Empire
is a glorious Thing, yet to desire Empire, and to carry ones self worthy
of it, is more Glorious. I speak not of his Birth, nor of the Nobleness
of his Ancestors, he needs not such far-fetch’d Helps; his own Vertue
is sufficient. Many Emperors have been (though unworthy) raised to the
Throne; but his own Vertue exalted him.
Again, some have managed the Beginning of their Reign innocently and
justly, but soon after they have degenerated into Licentiousness and
Corruption, _Forgetting they are Men, they would be esteem’d as Gods,
and ador’d as such, endeavouring to be placed among the Gods; whereas
they were unworthy to be reckon’d among Men_. All men’s Necks cannot
bear the Burthen of a high Estate, to which if they are advanced, they
forget themselves: ’Tis a hard Thing to be able to compass all that a Man
desires; and yet ’tis as hard to desire nothing but that which is good.
As for our Prince, his Eyes are not dazzled by Greatness; no Man retains
Vertue more steadily he, nor takes greater heed that his pure Mind be not
defiled by the Taint of his Fortune. He was always of this Opinion, That,
as Majestic Robes attract the Eyes of Spectators, the Sanctity of Manners
should much more incline their Minds. Therefore, he chiefly studies
Piety, worships and adores his God, and lives always as in his Sight
and Presence; he squares all his Actions throughout the whole Course
of his Life by a Divine Rule and Prescript: Whatever happens either
Prosperous or Adverse, he looks upon God as the Author, and receives it
gratefully, as proceeding from his Hand. Thus he lives an Heavenly Life
even upon Earth; he is not ignorant whole image he bears; and therefore,
all his Words and Deeds are directed for the Public Good, for which
he thinks he was born, and therefore prefers it before Advantages; He
is so intent herein, that some blame him for being overmuch addicted
to the Common-wealth, and neglecting his own Children and Family. He
is extremely Courteous to all his Subjects, as if they were under his
particular Care, and Himself were the Father of so vast a Family. What
poor Man hath ever desired his help in vain? Who is there that hath not
experienced his Liberality? He thinks that Day lost wherein he hath not
done Good to somebody. He is beneficient to all, and in a singular Manner
kind to his Domesticks; not a Man of them can say, that ever he was
neglected by them. He knows their way of Life, the Deserts, yea, and the
very Names even of the meanest of them. Tho’ he is so great a Prince, yet
he thinks it not below himself, at convenient Opportunities to warn the
negligent, and put them in mind of their Duty; and, if they mend their
Manners, to reward them accordingly: So that they depart from him, rather
as from a Father than a Master. He administers Justice with great Equity;
for he thinks it unreasonable to prescribe Law’s to others, and break
them himself; or to punish them in others, which he allows in himself.
He never speaks rudely of any Man, and always honourably of the Absent.
Probity is safe under his Guardianship; but Malice, Force, Fraud, evil
and corrupt Ministers are exterminated, Offences and Wickednesses duly
punish’d. The old _Romans_ had Censors of Manners imposed upon them, to
keep the People to their Duty; but here there is no need of any Censor,
the Life of the Prince is a sufficient Censor, he is a shining Example
to all, in what they should avoid, and what they should pursue. Good
and learned Men which may profit the Commonwealth, he highly esteems;
with these he is conversant, and, laying aside his Majesty, treats them
as Friends and Equals; yea, he emulates their Virtues without Respect,
whether they are Paternal and Hereditary, or acquired by their own
Industry. With these, he spends the little Time he can spare from public
Business: These are the Persons highly esteem’d by him, as judging it a
public Benefit to restore due Honour to Vertue. He himself being curious
by Nature, and desirous to know something worthy of a Man, has always
some Questions to propose to the Learned; and sometimes he brings in
some smart and genteel Repartees of his own, to the Admiration of his
Hearers. Thus he hath laid in so considerable a Stock of Learning, that
you cannot question him in any Thing, but he can give you some Account
of it. He understands many Languages; first, the _Spanish_, which is his
_Mother-Tongue_; next the _French_, _German_, _Latin_, and _Italian_: He
can express his Meaning pretty well in the _Latin_, yet not so exactly,
but that sometimes he breaks _Priscian_’s Head; a Fault blameworthy in a
_Gramarian_, but excusable in an _Emperor_.