When Solyman saw this, he resolved to try another Course, and to remove his two Sons to a greater Distance one from the other; and, therefore, he commands each of them, on a prefix’d Day, to leave his Province (Chiuta was Bajazet’s, and Magnetia Selimus’s) Bajazet to go to Amasia, and Selimus to Iconium. This was done, not out of any disfavour to Selimus, but only to please Bajazet, lest he should break out into Extremes, when he was removed from his Government, and not his Brother from his. Withal, he laid his Commands on them, that, the more they were severed by distance of Place, the more they should be united by Concord of Mind. For (said he) Vicinity of Habitation doth often breed Discord betwixt Brethren, and Servants on both sides do ill Offices to enrage and exasperate the Minds of their Masters, one against the other; and, therefore, obey my Commands: Him that refuses, I shall count a rebellious Son. Selimus immediately left his Province, as being confident of his Father’s Favour; but Bajazet made many Hesitations, and when he was gone a little way he stopt his Journey, complaining that the unlucky Province of Amasia was allotted, as a bad Omen to him; because his Brother was slain there. I should rather, said he, go to any other Province besides, than where the miserable End of my Relations will constantly come to my Mind, and wound my very Soul; and, therefore he desired his Father to suffer him to winter at least where he was, or else in his Brother’s Province: But Solyman would grant neither of those Requests. By this Time, Selimus was marched with an Army which was augmented with some Forces from his Father Solyman, (for they were both afraid of Bajazet’s Plots) against his Brother, who yet made many Halts and Delays; when, on a sudden, he fetch’d a compass about, and appeared with his Army on the Rear of his Brother, going towards Prusias, a City of Bithynia over against Constantinople on the Asiatic Shore; his Father gave consent to his March, as not well pleased with the Delays of Bajazet. For they thought thus with themselves, that, if Bajazet could win over the Guards to himself, and march to Prusias, or even to Constantinople itself, their Matters, as to Solyman and Selimus, would be in great hazard; and, therefore, out of a common fear, ’twas thought most adviseable for Selimus to stay there, where he might expect most Aid, in case of Necessity, from the Nearness of the capital Cities. For Selimus had not yet Forces enough to encounter his Brother in open Field, with any hopes of Success.
When Bajazet saw his Brother’s Army in his Rear, and that he got nothing by his Delay, but the certain Knowledge, that Selimus should Reign if his Father died, as his Fear added to his Sickness gave some Likelihood thereof; hereupon, he wrote Letters to his Father, wherein he laid grievous Things to the Charge of his Brother Selimus, as, that his present March did plainly declare, what a wicked Intent he had towards his Father, who was come so near the Metropolis, that he might treacherously compass the Empire, and that he might have but a short Passage over, if his Father died. But, if his Father’s Life should balk his desire, then he would suborn some Parricide or other to take it away; and yet, this is the Son, forsooth, said he, that you have in your Bosom; as if he were a very Nonsuch for filial Obedience; whereas I, who never entertained a bad Thought against you in all my Life, but was always observant of your very Becks, am rejected and call out of Favour; and yet the Sum of my Demands is only this, that an unlucky Province may not be designed for my Government; either that which my Brother left, or any other more fortunate one than that of Amasia; and, says he, I shall expect an Answer in the Place where I now abide, lest, if my Suit be granted, I be forced to march a great way back; but if your Ears be deaf to my Request, then I will march to what Province you shall command me.
And the truth is, Bajazet had reason to be averse from Amasia; for ’tis a Custom among them to build much on Auguries and ill Omens, even in the smallest Matters.
But these Letters were otherwise understood by Solyman, who was well acquainted with his Son’s Fears, and knew that he affected a Government not so remote, but nearer to Constantinople, that thereby he might have the better opportunity for Innovations.
Thus Bajazet made one Excuse after another for his Delay, and seemed to retard his Father’s Pleasure; he listed Soldiers, increased his Army, rais’d Money, and provided all things necessary for his own Defence, and the Conquest of his Brother. Solyman looked upon his Design as against himself, yet the crafty old Man dissembled it what he could; for he was unwilling to make Bajazet quite desperate. He was now grieved that the Eyes of all Nations were fix’d on that Dissention between his Sons, and therefore he design’d to use some Delay, that the Matter, if possible, might be composed with as little Noise as possible. He answered Bajazet’s Letters mildly, telling him, that, as for the Change of Provinces, he was fully resolved to be obey’d therein; and, therefore, he and his Brother would do well immediately to repair to their respective Armies.
As for other Concerns, he need not take care of them, for he himself would so order Matters, that neither his Brother nor he should have any Cause to complain. Solyman chose Pertau, the Fourth Vizier Bashaw, to carry those Letters to Bajazet; and, that he might seem to deal impartially between them both, he sent Mehemet, the third Vizier Bashaw, to Selimus. He also laid a Charge on both those Bashaws, not to stir a step from either of his Sons, till they had both entred on their respective Governments. This was wisely done by Solyman to leave such faithful Moniters with his Children, which would daily put them in Mind of their Duties.
Accordingly, Selimus did willingly admit his Father’s Bashaw; but Bajazet, whose Mind was wholly set upon imbroiling the State, could not endure to have one of his Father’s Counsellors obtruded upon him, to be a Witness of his Designs, and to be a Tell-tale to his Father. And, therefore, he dismissed the Bashaw, who was willing to have staid, having first courteously treated and presented him with Gifts, according to his present Ability; and he did it with this Pretence, that he had none else to represent his Cause impartially to his Father, but only himself; and, if he would do him so good Offices, he promised not to be ungrateful to him. He desir’d him also to tell his Father, that his Commands should always be to him as a Law, but that he was forced to do what he did, for fear of his Brother Selimus, whose Injuries and Affronts he could no longer endure. By this Message of Pertau, Solyman was assured of Bajazet’s Design, though, to colour the Matter, and to put a Blind on his Father’s Embassy, he pretended he would hasten to Amasia. However, Solyman was not slow in his Preparations against Bajazet, for he commanded the Beglerbeg of Asia, though sick of the Gout, to assist his Son Selimus with a Body of Horse; and he sent also the most faithful of his Guards to accompany Mehemet Bassa, (who was also returned from his Embassies) into Asia on the same Errand; and he himself pretended he would gird on his Sword and follow them. But, alas! the Guards shew’d themselves very unwilling to the Service; for they abominated the War betwixt Brothers, as an impious Thing. For against whom should they draw their Sword? Was not Bajazet Heir of the Crown too? This unnecessary Discussion (said they) may be compass’d without Blood; neither are we to be forc’d to sheath our Swords in one another’s Bowels: As for Bajazet, he is forced to do what he doth, in a way of Self-preservation.
When these Rumours came to Solyman’s Ears, he sent for the Mufti (the High-Priest of the Turks, from whom, as from an Oracle, they expect Answers to their Doubts) and puts a Case to him in these Terms.
“How ought that Man to be dealt with, who durst disturb the Peace of the Empire, by taking Towns, and raising Men and Money, while he was alive? As also, What he thought of those, who were assistant to him in that Design, and fought under his Ensigns? and, lastly, what was to be done with those who refused to engage against him, but rather justified his Practises?”
The Mufti’s Answer was, “That such a Person with all his Followers were worthy of Death; and they that refused to Fight against him were to be abominated, as Prophane, and Deserters of their Religion.”