In the mean time, he put all those of Bajazet’s Party, that he could get into his Hands, to the Rack; and when he had sifted out of them what he could, he put them privately to Death; amongst which were some that Bajazet had sent to clear him to his Father.
The Kingdom of Persia at that time contained all the Countries between the Caspian Sea, and the Seas of Persia, with some part of Armenia the Greater, (though Solyman, by taking Babylon, Mesopotamia, and part of Media, had abridged their Empire very much) and other distant Countries even to the Empire of the Homamia Patisach, as the Turks call him, and over that last part of Land Sagthamas was King: The Father had been formerly over-thrown by Selimus in a great Fight in the field of Chalderon; and from that time the Persian Affairs began to decline, for Solyman a fierce Engineer press’d upon the very Face of them; and Thamas, being much inferior to his Father in Courage, made but weak Defence: For he was wholly given up to Sloth and Idleness, and would sit in his Palace amongst a croud of Harlots, amorously pleasing his Humour; and sometimes consulting Magicians concerning future Events: He had little Care of administring public Justice to his People. This Neglect of his opened the Door to all Injustice and Oppression in every part of his Empire: For the Strong oppressed the Weaker, and Innocence could find no Justice or Defence in his Court.
The Persians, however, have so sacred an Opinion of their Prince, that they believe him happy, that can but kiss the Gates of his Palace; and the Water wherein he washes his Hands, they use for the cure of several Diseases. He hath many Children, but the most promising is Ismael, like his Grandfather both in Name and Nature; a beautiful Prince, and a capital Enemy to the Race of the Ottomans. ’Tis reported that he was brought forth into the World, with his Fist all bloody, whence it was in every body’s Mouth, that he would be a warlike Person; and when he was but young he confirmed that Report, by obtaining a great Victory over the Turks. But when his Father made Peace with Solyman, ’twas agreed betwixt them, that Ismael should be sent Prisoner into the Bowels of his Kingdom, that he might be no Obstacle to the intended Agreement: And yet, as ill us’d as he is, after his Father’s Death, ’tis thought, he will succeed in the Empire.
But Solyman fearing that Sagthamas, (or, as we call him, the Sophi) would be more mindful of old Grudges, than of the late Peace to which he was in a manner compell’d; and that, if his Son went thither, he should have much ado to get him thence; and perhaps it might occasion a long War between the Empires, did use his utmost endeavour to stop or take him, before he could come thither. The old Man had not forgot that, a few Years before, Helcas, Thamas’s Brother, had fled to him, and had been supported by him, and it cost his Brother dear to recover him; and therefore he feared that Thamas would pay him in his own Coin, and perhaps recover by the Sword all the Countries he had taken from him. The Design of Solyman was kept very secret, yet Bajazet’s Friends smelt it out, and therefore advised him by no means to trust his Father, but to consult his own Safety, by what way soever he could. And Bajazet was persuaded so to do upon a small occasion, as little Matters often give Weight to greater. There was a Soldier of Bajazet’s taken in Solyman’s Camp, and hang’d up as a Spy, because Bajazet had listed him, after his Father had given him strict Charge to list no more Soldiers. This was warning enough to Bajazet to pack up and be gone. Now Solyman thought himself sure of Bajazet; and, to deceive him the more, he caused his Army to begin their March to Constantinople the Day after Easter. But Bajazet, immediately after Prayers upon Easter-Day, gave Orders for marching with Bag and Baggage, and began his unfortunate Voyage to Persia. He knew well enough that he went to the old Enemy of the Ottoman House, but was resolv’d to try the mercy of any body, rather than fall into his Father’s Hands. There marched out with him all that were able to bear Arms; none were left behind but weak Persons, Women and Children, that were not able to bear the fatigue of so long a Journey; amongst which was a new-born Child of his own, with his Mother, whose Innocency he thought would protect them from his Father’s Cruelty, and therefore he thought it best to leave them to his Clemency, rather than make them Companions of his woeful and miserable Fight; and the truth is, Solyman, as yet uncertain what would become of the Father, spared the Life of his Infant-Son at present, and sent him to be educated at Prusia.
I would have return’d to Constantinople, the Day before Easter, but had a great mind to see, how the Turks did observe that Festival; and I was not sure that ever I should have so fair an Opportunity again. They were to celebrate it in the open Field, before the Emperor’s own Tent. I, therefore, ordered my Servants to take a Room in the Tent of a Turkish Soldier, that stood on a rising Ground, and look’d down on Solyman’s Tent, which was over against it. Thither went I at Sun-rising, where, in an open Plain, I beheld a vast multitude of turbanted Heads silently standing, and taking down the last Words of their Priest. Every Rank was ranged orderly, and standing, that in the open Field they seemed to be a Wall one to another: The most Honourable had their Station next the Emperor’s Train, uppermost in the Camp, and their Turbants as white as Snow. Such diversity of Colours did affect me with a great deal of Pleasure, and the rather, because they stood unmoveable, as if they had grown upon the Place; not a Cough hawking to spit, nor any Sound to be heard; no, nor the least moving of the Head to look backward, or about them. At the Name of Mahomet, they all, as one Man, bowed their Heads, even to the Knee; but when the Name of God was pronounced, they all fell prostrate on their Faces, and kissed the Ground.
And the Truth is, the Turks are very ceremonious and attentive in the acts of their religious Worship; for, if a Man doth but scratch his Head when he prays, they think his Prayer is lost. For thus say they, if a Man composes his Body so reverently, even when he speaks but to a Bashaw, how much more becoming is that Observance towards God, who is infinitely greater than the greatest of Men?
After Prayers, the whole Congregation was discharged, and they ran up and down ranging over the Fields. A while after the Emperor’s Dinner is served up, which the Janizaries carry away Dish by Dish, and eat it with a great deal of Mirth and Drollery. ’Tis an old allowed Custom for them so to do, on that day, their Emperor being provided of a Dinner elsewhere. When I had beheld their Show, I returned with great Pleasure to Constantinople.
The remainder of my Talk, is, to acquaint you what become of Bajazet, and then I shall ease you of the trouble of Reading, and my self of Writing. He, as I told you, with his invincible Band, march’d out of Amasia with such Speed, that his coming prevented the Report thereof; and those Bashaws, who designed to observe his Motion, he came upon unawares. He put a notable Cheat upon the Bashaw of Suvas; for whereas, there were two ways in his Province by which he might march, and the Bashaw had beset the chiefest of them; he sent some before him that pretended to be Run-a-ways, to inform him, he was gone the farthest way about; which giving Credit to, he removed his Troops thither to prevent him, and so left Bajazet a free Passage.
He put the like Trick upon the Bashaw of Erzerumen; for, knowing that the Passage through the Province would be very hazardous, he sent some before him with a counterfeit Message, to salute him, and tell him, that his Misfortunes had reduced him to the most miserable Condition, and therefore he desired him that he might rest a day or two in his Province, at least to get his Horses fed, and new shod.
The Bashaw granted his Request, whereas, it was not a commiserating his Case, or that he favoured his Side, but, perhaps, that he might amuse him a little till he had got all his Troops together to ensnare him; for they were scattered, as not dreaming he would be so soon upon him. However, Bajazet march’d continually on, allowing his Men no rest by day, and very little at Night. The Bashaw of Erzerumen seeing himself deceived, made haste to join himself with the other Bashaws in his Flight.