Iskander Páshá, who had been appointed to chastise the Cossacks on the borders of the Black Sea, but who had been called away to support the Transylvanian kingdom against the aggressions of some German princes, now, accompanied by Betlan Gabor, and the voivadas of Valachia and Moldavia, with their respective armies, besides a division which he himself conducted from Buda, advanced so far as a palanka, called Búdila, on the banks of the Túrla (Tyras), which runs through Moldavia. The hettman of the Poles, and Istanislar Zulghosh, commander-in-chief and minister of Sigismund, king of Poland, with a Polish army, were posted at a place called Bazuja. As both armies were on the eve of commencing the work of death, ambassadors from both sides entered opportunely into a reciprocal conference with regard to the conduct of the Cossacks, and the result was: 1st, That the hettman became security for the Cossacks, that they should no more enter the Black Sea by the river Ouzi, and vex or molest the Moslem population residing on its shores. 2d, That they should never again invade the kingdoms of Transylvania, Moldavia, and Valachia. 3d, That they should never permit Hootaba Oghlí Shirnán, nor any other to pass through their territories with the view of disturbing the peace and tranquillity of any or all of these kingdoms or countries. He agreed, moreover, in the fourth place, that the gifts and presents usually sent to the khán should be punctually remitted as in former times. All these stipulations, which the hettman agreed to guarantee, were signed by himself and other responsible persons in his camp; were also written out in the Turkish and Polish languages, and a copy of them sent with his ambassador to the court of Constantinople. It was agreed by Iskander Páshá, on the part of the Tátárs, that they should not invade or molest the territories of Poland. These stipulations, on both sides, were ratified and signed on the 6th of Ramazán of this present year, when commercial intercourse was again opened between the countries included in this treaty.
This year the emperor of Austria sent his most favoured minister, the governor or kapúdán of the city of Prague, to Constantinople with his tribute of gifts and presents to the emperor of the Ottomans. The Austrian ambassador having been required to remain at Constantinople till the commissioners formerly mentioned had come to an amicable conclusion with respect to the affairs which had called them together, did so, until he was required by letters to repair to the borders, as affairs were on the eve of being settled. He accordingly set out for Buda, where the commissioners then were, and, after every thing was finally settled, he was permitted to return to his own country.
Concerning the naval affairs of this year.
The lord high-admiral, Alí Páshá, with the view of distressing the infidel coasts, sailed for the Mediterranean with the Turkish fleet. He foolishly neglected, before going to sea, to condemn such of his ships as were not sea-worthy; and, as if he had been educated for the naval service, he set sail of his own accord. On the evening of the 20th of Shabán, as he reached the wide and extended ocean, a tremendous hurricane arose which soon forced the vessels of the fleet to separate from each other. On the following morning, the hurricane still continuing, he perceived this to have been the case: four ships, containing ammunition and arms, two galleys having janissaries on board, besides five other vessels, were wrecked, and every soul on board of them perished. Two large vessels and one galley were driven by the winds to the coasts of Tripoli West, but were not injured. The galley which had a company of troops on board, for seven days and as many nights was driven at the mercy of the tempest. Soídán Oghlí, who at this time was beg of Tripoli, supplied these vessels with every thing that they required, and sent them back. After a period of twenty-days the remaining part of the scattered fleet collected round the kapúdán, at Corone, when it was discovered that eleven vessels had perished. The time for sailing being now over, the fleet returned to the port of Constantinople in the month of Dhu’l Kaddah.
Death of Sultán Ahmed Khán.—Sultán Mustafa Khán is inaugurated.
The disease of the stomach, by which his majesty had been afflicted, became, during the first ten days of the month of Dhu’l Kaddah, so much increased as entirely to resist the skill of the physicians; and on Thursday night (i.e. the night preceding Thursday), the 23d of Dhu’l Kaddah (November 17th, 1617), he passed into the eternal world.
In consequence of the tender age of the heir-apparent, his uncle, Sultán Mustafa, in conformity to his deceased brother’s own choice and agreement, succeeded to the throne of the Ottoman empire. Before the hour of morning prayers, therefore, the káímakám or deputy of Constantinople, Mohammed Páshá, the reverend mufti, Isaád Effendí, and the other nobles and grandees of the state, assembling together in the royal diván, prepared a chair of state; and on Thursday the 12th of Teshrín Sání (November), Sultán Mustafa ascended the throne of the khalifat, and was solemnly inaugurated by the assembled nobles and grandees; heralds being sent to proclaim the same in the royal mosques. On the same day, the remains of Sultán Ahmed Khán were carried out into the court of the palace, whence, after the metropolitan priest had performed the funeral obsequies, they were borne to the place of interment, accompanied by all the vezírs and grandees, walking on foot and dressed in mourning.
Character of Sultán Ahmed Khán.
The pious royal defunct was a prince who, discarding envy, was the protector and encourager of the learned and the lovers of concord. He was the friend and support of the neglected, infirm, and poor, who were obedient to the laws, and of those who rooted out wickedness and heresy. He ascended the throne of his illustrious progenitors when he was only fourteen, and reigned fourteen years. His gracious but powerful firmáns were some of the benefits he conferred, and his reign is embalmed in the pages of poetry as the most prosperous. He was a zealous and active emperor, who incessantly manifested his good disposition.
It is related by Shábán Deddán, who had performed the office of washing the emperor, that he had perceived in the emperor’s beard two white hairs, which he (the emperor) during his life time would not allow to be extracted. “When with astonishment, and desirous of information, I showed them to his nearest relatives,” says Deddán, “they informed me, that these two hairs began to appear after the commander-in-chief had been sent against the Persians.” He was a prince who was kind to persons of every class, whose conduct deserved to be esteemed. In short, religion prospered during his reign. The benefits he conferred on Medina and Mecca exceeded those of all his predecessors. He purchased the two palaces in the At Meidán, belonging to Ahmed Páshá and Mohammed Páshá, on the area of which he caused a splendid temple to be built, which has not its equal on the face of the earth. In the galleries, on the tops of its six minarets, are shown the number of the Osmánlí Sultáns who have reigned; and from which also the Moslem muezzíns (public criers) proclaim the joys of paradise. Its lamps are all suspended: some of them are covered over with gold, and others are ornamented with gems. Both within and without, the utmost skill of the artist has been expended. This unequalled temple is very lofty. Some of the beautiful buildings which surround it are also memorials of the royal founder.