When I was certainly inform’d that the Sultan was ready to pass over into Asia, and that the Day was fix’d for his Departure, I told my Chiaux that I had a mind to see him march out, and therefore he should come betimes in the Morning and open the Doors, for he used to carry the Keys of my Doors home with him at Night; he promised me courteously, he would do so. Then I order’d my Janizaries and my Interpreters, to take me an upper Room in the way the Emperor was to pass, convenient for my View: They obeyed my Commands. When the Day was come, I rose before ’twas light, and expected that my Chiaux had opened my Doors; but finding them shut, I sent several Messengers to him, to come and let me out, both my Janizaries that waited within Doors, and Druggermen that waited to come in: This I did, through the Chinks of the Gate, which was very old; but the Chiaux still spun Delays, pretending he would come presently. Thus I spent some time, till I heard the noise of the Guns, which the Janizaries use to fire, when their Emperor takes Horse; then I began to fret and fume, seeing my self so deluded. My Disappointment and just Indignation did affect the Janizaries themselves: they told me, that if my People would thrust hard with them, they without would so press upon the Valves, which were loose and old, that the Bars would fall out. I took their Counsel; the Doors flew open accordingly, and out we went, hastening to the Room I had hired.
My Chiaux had a mind to frustrate my Desire, and yet he was no bad Man neither; for having communicated my Request to the Bashaws, they were not willing that any Christian should behold their Prince marching with so small Force against his own Son, and therefore, said they to him, do you promise him fair, but be sure to delay him till the Sultan is a Shipboard; then you may think of some Excuse or other to bring you off.
When I came to the House where a Room was hired for me, the Door was shut, so that I could no more enter into that, than I could go out of my own; when I knock’d, no body answered. Hereupon the Janizaries again told me, that, if I commanded them, they would either break open the Doors, or get in at Window and open them. I told them, they should not break open any thing; but if they would go up to the Windows, they might: they presently did so, and opened the Door. When I went up Stairs, I found the House full of Jews, a whole Synagogue of them. They looked upon it as a Miracle, that I should enter, when the Doors were shut; but being informed of the Truth, an old grave Matron, in comely Habit, address’d herself, and complained to me, in Spanish, of the Violence I had offered to the House; I told her, she had done me wrong, in not keeping her Word, and that I was not a Man to be thus deluded; she seem’d dissatisfied, and the Time would not admit of further Discourse. In short, I was allowed one Window, which on the back side looked out into the Street, and from thence, with a great deal of Pleasure, I saw all the grand Procession.
The Gulupagi and Ulufagi marched two by two; the Selchers one by one, and Spahi’s (which are the Names of the Grand Seignior’s Horse-Guards) distinguished by their Ranks and Troops; they were about 6000, besides a vast number of the Domesticks of the Prime Vizier, and of other Bashaws. The Turkish Horsemen make a gallant Show; the best Breed of Horses is from Cappadocia and Syria, and the adjacent Countries; he is set out with Silver Trappings, studded with Gold and Jewels. His Rider is clad with a Coat or Vest made of Silk Velvet, or other fine Cloth of Scarlet, Purple or dark blue Colour, intermixed with Gold and Silver. He hath two Cases hanging by his sides, one holds his Bow, the other his Arrows, both of neat Babylonian Workmanship; and so is his Buckler which he bears on his Left Arm, and is Proof against Arrows, Clubs, or Swords. In his Right Hand, unless he desire to have it free, he carries a light Spear, for the most part painted with Green. His Scimiter is studded with Jewels, and made of steel, and it hangs down from his Saddle. What need so much Armour, say you? I’ll tell you. They use them all; and that dextrously too. You’ll reply, how can he use that Spear and the Bow too? What! will he take up his Spear when he hath broken, or thrown away, his Bow? Not so neither; for he keeps his Spear, as long as he can: But, when he hath occasion to use his Bow, the Spear, being light and easily manag’d, he puts between his Saddle and his Thigh; so that the Point of it sticks out backward; and thus he presses it down with his Knee, as long as he pleases. But, if he fights only with the Spear, then he puts up his Bow into his Case, or else with his left Hand places it behind his Shield. It is not however my present Design to acquaint you with the Turks Expertness at Arms; they have obtain’d it by long Use and Experience in War. Their Heads are covered with very fine white Cotton-Linnen, in the midst whereof stands up a Tuft made of Purple Silk, plaighted; some of them wear black Feathers a-top.
After the Horse, a large Body of Janizaries followed, being Foot, and seldom taking any other Arms than Muskets. The Make and Colour of their Cloaths are almost the same, so that you would judge them all to be the Servants of one Man. They have no ungainly Habit among them, nor any thing rent or torn; their Cloaths will wear out soon enough, they say, without their tearing them; yet, in their Feathers, Crests, and such-like military Ornaments, they are over-curious, or rather proud; especially, the Veterans in the Rear, you would think a whole Wood of walking Feathers were in their Fire-stars and Frontals; after them their Officer and Commanders follow on Horseback, distinguished each by his proper Ensign. In the last Place marches their Aga, or General. Then succeed the chief Courtiers, amongst whom are the Bashaws; then the Foot of their Prince’s Life-Guard in a particular Habit, carrying their Bows bent in their Hands, for they are all Archers; next the Prince’s Led-Horses, all with curious Trappings. He himself rode on a stately Prancer, looking sour, with his Brows bent, as if he had been angry; behind him came three Youths, one carrying a Flagon of Water, another his Cloak, another his Bow. Then followed some Eunuchs of the Bed-Chamber; and, at last, a Troop of about Two Hundred Horse closed the Procession.
After I had the Satisfaction of viewing all this, my only care was now to appease my Hostess, she that at my entrance spake to me in Spanish, for I heard she was very familiar with Rustan’s Wife, and therefore I was afraid she would represent things unhandsomely against me; to prevent which, I sent for her, and told her she should have remembered her Bargain, and not have shut her Door against me who had hired a Room; but, though you, said I, don’t remember your Promise, I’ll perform mine; yea, I will be better than my word: I promis’d you but seven Pistoles, but here’s ten for you, that so you may not repent your Admittance of me into your House. When the Woman thus unexpectedly saw her Hand fill’d with Gold, she was presently melted down into a Compliance, and the whole Synagogue of them fell to Compliments and giving me thanks; and the Woman that was Crony to Rustan’s Wife, made one in the Consort, for she always, in my Landlady’s name, gave me great Thanks. They offered me Grecian Wine and a Banquet, which I refused, but with great Acclamations of all the Jews, made haste to be gone, that I might manage a new Dispute with my Chiaux, for keeping my Doors fasten’d, when I should have come forth.
I found him sitting mournfully in my Porch, where he began a long Complaint, that I ought not to have gone abroad without his Consent, nor have broke open the Door: that I had violated the Law of Nations thereby, and such like stuff. I replied, in short, that, if he had come betimes in the Morning as he promised, he had prevented all this; his breach of Promise had occasioned it, for his Intent was only to deceive me. I demanded also of him, whether he look’d upon me as an Ambassador, or a Prisoner? As an Ambassador, says he. If you think me a Prisoner, said I, then I am not an fit Instrument to make a Peace, for a Prisoner is not his own Man; but if an Ambassador, as you confess, then why am I not a Free-man? Why can’t I go abroad when I will? Captives use to be shut up, not Ambassadors: Liberty is granted to such in all Nations; they may claim it as their publick due: He ought to know, that he was not appointed to be my Serjeant, or Keeper, but to assist me, (as he himself used to say) with his good Offices, that so no other Man might do any Injury to me or mine.
Hereupon he turns to the Janizaries, and quarrels with them, for giving me Advice, and helping my Servants, to break open the Doors. They said, I had no need of their Advice: I commanded them to open them, and they obeyed; there was no great Difficulty in it, the Doors were old, and flew open presently; there was nothing either lost or broken. Thus the Chiaux was forced to hold his Peace, and I never heard any more of the matter.
A while after, I had also leave to pass over the Sea, for the Turks judged it conducing to their Affairs, to treat me nobly in their Camp, as the Ambassador of a Prince in Alliance with them; and to that end, I had a handsome Lodging provided for me near their Camp, where I had all the Conveniences imaginable. I lived there three Months, and had the opportunity to view the Camp of the Turks, which was extended all over the neighbouring Fields, and to discover some parts of their Discipline: You will not find fault with me, if I acquaint you with something thereof. Know then, that I cloathed myself as Christians do in that Country, and with one or two Attendants walked up and down their Camp incognito. The first thing I saw, was, the Soldiers of each Body quartered with great Order in their several Ranks, and that with a great deal of Silence, (’tis far otherwise in Christian Camps) all hush; not a Quarrel, nor the least Disorder or Noise amongst them in their Jollities. Besides, they are wonderfully cleanly; no Dung-hill or Noisom smell to offend the Eye or Ear; all their Ordure they bury under Ground, or throw it far enough off. When they have occasion to ease Nature, they dig a Pit with a Spade, and there bury their Excrements; so that there is no ill smell at all. Besides, there are no Drinking-matches amongst them, no playing with Cards or Dice, (the Bane of the Christian Army!) I only heard one Hungarian common Soldier playing a doleful Ditty on a ill-tuned Harp, and his Companions were howling rather than singing to it; it was the last Words of a Fellow-Soldier, who died of his Wounds on the grassy Bank of the Danow; he adjured that River, as her Streams were gliding to his own Country, to commend him to his Friends there, and tell them that he died no ignoble, nor unrevenged Death for the glory of their Nation, and encrease of their Religion. His Fellows groaned out, Thrice happy he! O that our Case were like his! For you must know, the Turks are of opinion, That no Souls go more directly to Heaven, than those of valiant Men, who lost their lives in the Field; and that Virgins do pour out daily Prayers to God for their Safety.