DEPARTURE OF KHAIR-AD-DIN FOR THE CAPITAL.
Khair-ad-din having thus disposed of most of the captives, appointed Hassan Beg, one of his most faithful servants, governor in his stead, and with several vessels fully equipped sailed for the Sublime Porte, in order to pay his respects.[29] Passing by Sardinia and Sicily, he went on to Genoa, near which place he one morning suddenly attacked and plundered a castle. Before this was made generally known he left Genoa, and proceeded towards Messina. On his passage thither he met eighteen barges, all of which he took, and made the infidels on board prisoners; and on approaching the town set fire to the barges. Being informed that Andrea with twenty-four galleys and twenty-six barges had gone to Corone, he sailed to Prevesa, whence the infidels sent intelligence to Andrea that Barbarossa was seeking him, and cautioned him to be on his guard: and in consequence of this information he went and secured himself in Brindisi. Khair-ad-din, hearing this, sent twenty-five vessels in pursuit of him. These overtook seven Anapolitan ships that were following Andrea, five of which made their escape to Anapoli; and the other two they took, and returned to Khair-ad-din. At this time Khair-ad-din and his fleet had arrived at Navarin, where he had an interview with the Capudan Ahmed Beg. He then proceeded to Corone, and there liberated a few of his captives. On his arrival at the Straits he received a pressing invitation from the emperor (whose glory is like that of Jemshid) to enter Constantinople, which he did, amid the firing of numerous salutes.
ARRIVAL OF KHAIR-AD-DIN AT THE SUBLIME PORTE.
On that day, which was about the middle of the year 940 (A. D. 1533), the vessels were moored opposite Galata; and on the morning following Khair-ad-din entered the house of the Capudan Ahmed Beg, in the At Meidan, which had been appointed for his reception. On the divan day, he went to the divan, taking with him eighteen reises, his companions, and rich presents, where he had the honour of kissing the royal hand, and had innumerable favours conferred upon him. The reises were also admitted into the august presence; and having kissed the royal hand, each received a dress of honour and had a stipend allotted him; and his majesty commanded that they should be sent to the royal arsenal, and there exercise their skill in constructing vessels.
KHAIR-AD-DIN GOES TO ALEPPO.
The illustrious emperor being prepared to set out on his sixth expedition, (which was to be to the Irakin,[30]) in the above-mentioned year (940), in the month Rabi-al-Akher, (Oct. or Nov. 1533,) sent forward the Grand Vezier Ibrahim Pasha to winter at Aleppo. This general now sent a letter of invitation to Khair-ad-din, with a request that the emperor would allow him to depart. The emperor having at this time directed all his forces, both military and naval, to that quarter, expressed in an interview with Khair-ad-din his consent to his departure. Khair-ad-din then set out by land; and on his arrival at Aleppo, the vezier called a divan, and performing the ceremonies of the istakbal,[31] showed him great respect. Khair-ad-din, having according to custom kissed hands, had a place assigned him under all the begs and pashas. Next day, however, when he came to the assembly, he was clothed, according to the custom of the Osmanlis, with the robe of the begler-beg of Algiers, and took his seat above all the other begler-begs. After two or three days spent in feasting and transacting unimportant business, he was sent back to the Porte, where he arrived in twenty-four days, and resumed his affairs.