I Acknowledge the fresh Proof you give me of Old Friendship, in congratulating my Return; and, as you require an Account of the Residue of my Embassy, and what Occurrences have happened since my last to you, I will remember my Promise to you, and never disoblige so choice a Friend. Take them all in a Medley together, what comes next into my Head, as my Memory suggests things more, or less serious. My beginning is upon the mournful; it is this. I was scarce settled in my Mind, which was troubled for Bajazet’s Misfortunes and Death, when, lo! I was struck with another Message as sorrowful as the former. We were all in great Expectation of the Success of the Turkish Fleet, which sailed toward the Isle of Meninge, (now called Gerse,) upon News that the Spaniards had prevailed there. For Solyman (being assured that Island was taken by the Christians, and that they had added new Fortifications to the old Castle therein, in which they had yet a very strong Garrison,) could not endure to be thus check’d in the midst of all the Prosperities of his flourishing Empire. Hereupon he equipp’d a Navy with Auxiliaries to relieve those that were Mahometans like himself; and made Pihal Bassa Commander of his Fleet. He furnish’d his Ships with a select Company of Soldiers, and yet was doubtful of the Event; because the Voyage was long, and they were to engage with a formidable Enemy. For you may please to be inform’d, that the Turks, for a long time, have had a great Opinion of the Valour of the Spaniards, as knowing that they have waged great Wars, and came off with good Success. They had heard of the Emperor Charles, and of his Son Philip, the Heir of his Valour, as well as of his Kingdoms. The Report of his Power made the Turks very solicitous; so that those that went the Voyage, made their last Wills, as if they were never to return to Constantinople again. Thus the whole City, both those that went, and those that staid at Home, was filled with Anxiety. But, alas! their Fleet sailed with a prosperous Gale, and came upon the Christians unawares; which struck such a Terror into them, that they knew not how to fight or fly: Some nimble Vessels made their Escape; the rest were either taken by the Enemy, or split and dash’d in pieces on the Sands. The Duke of Medina the General, and John Andrea Doria the Admiral, fled to the Castle, from whence they escap’d in a dark Night, undiscovered, through the Enemy’s Fleet to Sicily.
Pihal sent hither a Galley to give an account of this Victory, and, as a further Testimony thereof, he caused a Banner, wherein was the Image of our Saviour Christ upon the Cross, to be pulled along the Sea, at the stern of the Vessel. As soon as it arrived in the Haven, the Loss of the Christians was presently noised abroad, and the Turks congratulated one another upon their Victory. They came thick and three-fold to my Door, and asked my Servants in a Jeer, whether they had any Brother, or other Friend, in the Spanish Fleet? If you had, said they, you may shortly have the opportunity of seeing their Faces here.
Besides, they highly extoll’d their own Valour, and blam’d the Cowardise of the Christians. Who, say they, shall now be able to stand before us, seeing we have conquered the Spaniards? My People were forced to hear this sad News to their great Grief; but God’s Will must be done! Our only Hope was, that the Castle, in which was a strong Garrison, might hold out against the Turks till the Winter, or some other Accident had rais’d the Siege. And yet our Hopes were mix’d with Fears, that the Conqueror would take that too; and so it fell out, for the Besieged wanted all things, especially Water; so that Don Alvarez de Sande, the Governor thereof, a courageous Man, and an old Soldier, perceiving that it could be defended no longer, got a Boat, and made his Escape, with a few Companions, towards Sicily, that so he might not behold the Surrender of so important a Place, which he thought would be look’d upon as a Blot in his Escutcheon, though the extreamest Necessity had compelled it. When he was gone, the Soldiers opened the Gates, and let in the Turks, hoping to find them the more merciful, because of their easy Admittance. Don John of Castile, however, would by no means leave the Fort which he commanded, but he and his Brother valiantly repulsing the Enemy, were at last wounded and taken. The Castle was stoutly defended by the Spaniards for three Month’s Space, though they wanted many Necessaries, and, which was worst of all, had no prospect of Relief. The Weather was hot, and they almost parched with Thirst. They had but one Cistern to hold Water in, which was not big enough to serve them all; so that they were compelled to weigh out their Water to each Man by Measure, only enough to keep Life and Soul together. This Cistern-Water was increased with a Mixture of Sea-Water, and by some curious Art made fresh. This Secret was very opportunely told them by a certain Alchymist: But all had not the Benefit of it; for you should see some lie parching on the Ground, ready to give up the Ghost for very Thirst, continually crying out, as well as they could speak, Water! Water! and, if a little was brought, they were relieved for the present; but, when that Moisture was spent, they relapsed to their former Drought, and died thereof. Thus many perished, besides the Wounded, who could have no help of Surgery to cure them in that desolate Place.
In the Month of September, the victorious Navy of the Turks returned to Constantinople, bringing the Christians Captives, with their Gallies along with them. A joyful Spectacle to the Turks; but a sad one to the Christians that lived amongst them! That Night it lay at Anchor near the Rocks over against Byzantium, that so they might enter the Port the next Day in greater Pomp and Splendor. Solyman came down into an Apartment in his Gardens near the Sea-side, that from thence he might see the Prisoners entring in. Don Alvarez de Sande was in the stern of his Admiral Galley, and with him, Don Sancho de Leyva, and Don Bellinger de Requesne, one Commander of the Sicilian Galleys, the other of the Neapolitan. The Galleys of the Christians were despoiled of their Ornaments, as Streamers, &c. and hall’d in Barques, that they might appear little and contemptible in the sight of the Turks. They who observ’d Solyman’s Countenance at that time say, that they perceived no sign of insolent Mirth therein. This is certain, that when I saw him go to his Devotion the next day, his Countenance was not altered from its usual Hue, as if that Victory had not concern’d him at all; so well was this cunning old Man able to bear the breath of his smiling Fortune, that he was unmov’d under it.
The Prisoners were afterwards brought into the Seraglio, but so miserably hunger-starv’d before, that some could hardly stand on their Legs, others fell down in a Swoon for very Feebleness; others had Arms in a Jeer put upon them, in which posture they died; the Turks insulting over them on every Hand, and promising to themselves the Empire of the whole World; for who now shall be able to stand before us, (said they) since we have overcome the Spaniards? There was a Commander in the Turkish Fleet, with whom I had some Acquaintance, who had taken the great Banner of the Neapolitans Galleys, being Imperial Eagles embracing one another; being inform’d that he was about to present it to Solyman, I thought good to prevent him; and sending him two silken Garments, I obtained the Banner, that so the Ensign of Charles the Fifth might not remain in the Hands of Infidels, to the eternal Infamy of the Christian Name.
There were amongst the Prisoners, besides those above-mentioned, these two eminent Persons, Don John of Cordona, the Son in Law of Don Bellinger, and Don Gasto, the Son of the Duke of Medina, who, though but a Youth, had an honourable Post in his Father’s Army, Don John promised to give a great Sum of Money to be left Prisoner at Chios, (which was inhabited by the old Genoese) which was accordingly done. As for Don Gasto, he was concealed by Pihal, in hopes to have a large Price for his Redemption; which Project of his had like to have proved his Ruin: For Solyman, by some means or other, smelt out the Cheat, and was grievously vex’d that Pihal should serve him such a Trick. He resolv’d, at the Instigation also of Rustan, that Gasto should be brought to Light, that so Pihal might be punish’d; but Gasto died in the Search; some say, of the Plague, others by the procurement of Pihal himself, that he might tell no Tales. This is certain, that, upon the most diligent Search, he could not be found. However, Pihal was afraid to come to Constantinople to appear before his angry Master, lest he might be imprisoned there; but he hovered with a few Galleys about several Islands of the Ægæan Sea, pretending divers Excuses for so doing. But at last Solyman, by the persuasion of the chief Eunuch of his Son Selimus gave him his Pardon in these Words: I, for my part, forgive him his great Offence; but God Almighty, the just Revenger of all Wickedness, inflict just Punishment on him in the Life to come! So strongly are the Turks persuaded, that no evil Fact should pass unpunished!
Don John of Cordona fared better; for, by the care of Adam a Ditrichstein, Baron of Austria, who married his Sister, and by my engaging for him, he returned safe into Spain. As for de Sande, he was brought into the Divan, and there Rustan demanded of him, what his Master meant by invading other Men’s Rights, when he could not maintain his own? De Sande answered, the Question belonged not to him to answer; ’twas his part only to execute his Master’s Commands as faithfully as he could, wherein Fortune had been against him. However, he begged the Bashaws upon his Knees, that, in regard he had a Wife and Children at Home, they would speak a good Word for him to Solyman. Rustan answered, that their Emperor was of a merciful Disposition, and that they would intercede for him. Thus was he sent Prisoner to the Castle called Caradenis, that is, of the Black Sea: He was not gone far, before he was sent for back again, because the Chief of the Bed-Chamber had not seen him; who, I have find before, is a Man of great Authority with his Prince. Upon this Countermand, some say, that, though otherwise undaunted, he was a little faint-hearted, as fearing he was brought back to his Ruin; but it proved otherwise. As for the other Prisoners, the chief of them, as Sancho de Leyva with his two natural Sons, and Don Bellinger himself, were sent into the Castle of Pera, or Galata.
As soon as I was made acquainted with their Condition, and in what want of all Things they were, I thought it my Duty to do my best to relieve them; and thereupon I sent some to comfort them, and to promise them all the good Offices that lay in my power: And, from that Day forward, my House was a common Receptacle for all the Prisoners; and I did them all the Kindness I could. For, you must know, the Turks think their Prisoners well enough provided for, if they allow them Bread and Water. They have no regard to any Man’s Age or Constitution, or to the time of the Year; whether they be Sick or Well, Strong or Weak, Old or Young, ’tis all one to them; they are all treated after one and the same manner. Hereupon, I was forced to provide several sorts of Relief for several Necessities, different Diseases requiring different Cures. There lay a multitude of sick Persons in a certain Temple of Pera, a Town over against Byzantium, whom the Turks cast out as Abjects; and many of them perished for want of convenient Broths to relieve their sick Stomachs, and recover their lost Strength by degrees. When I was told thereof, I dealt with a Friend of mine, a Citizen of Pera, desiring him to buy some Weather-Sheep every day, and boil them at his own House, to distribute the Flesh to some, and the Broth to others, as their Stomachs could bear; which was a great Relief to abundance of them: But those which were in Health, required another sort of Assistance. My House was full from Morning to Night with several Complaints. Some were used to good Diet, and a piece of brown Bread, which was their daily Allowance, would not go down so well with them; some, that used to drink Wine, could not bear the perpetual use of Water only; some wanted Blankets to cover them, having never known what it was to lie on the bare Ground; some wanted Coats, others Shoes; but the most part desired some Footing-Money to gratify their Keepers, that they might deal the more mercifully with them. Money was the only Remedy for these Mischiefs, so that every day some Guilders were expended by me on these Accounts. But these Expences were tolerable, compared with greater Sums which were desired of me; or else they prayed me to be their Surety for payment of their Ransom-Money; and herein every one, was very forward with his Pretences; one alledged Nobleness of Birth; another, that he had great Friends and Alliances; a Third, that he was a Commander in the Army, and had much Pay due to him; a Fourth, that he had Cash enough at Home, and was able to imburse me. Some boasted of their Valour in the Fight; every one had something to say for himself. When I demanded of them, whether they would be sure to repay me? God forbid, said they! For what is more unjust, than to defraud a Man who hath restored us to our Liberty, even out of the Jaws of Death?
And the Truth is, it was very grievous to me, to hear a Man come and tell me, unless I can lay down 200 Guilders for my Redemption, I am undone for ever; I shall be sent over into Asia to be made a Galley-Slave, to tug at the Oar, without any hope to see my own Country again. There is a Merchant, Sir, that will deposit Wares amounting to that Value, provided you will promise Repayment. This was the Allegation of almost all of them; which could not but affect me, as knowing it to be most true, that, if they were not relieved, many of them must needs perish; and none could better do it, nor could they more justly expect it from any Man, than my self. But, you will say, there is no trusting any Body; to which I answer, can any Man be so prodigiously ungrateful, as not to repay what was laid out to save his Life; and, grant that one or two may not have Ability to reimburse me, what’s that to the purpose? ’Tis not lost, that which is laid out to relieve the Oppressed: But sure the greater part of them will perform their Promise. For these Reasons, I was induced to pass my Word for 1000 Ducats, and have thereby run my self so much in Debt, that I know not how to get out; but I fear have freed them from Fetters, and clapp’d them on my own Legs.
I am the larger upon this Subject, to purge my self from too much Weakness, which I know some will accuse me of, in being ready to trust every body; and, in some Measure, to take the blame upon my self for the slackness of some, for whom I have undertaken in their Repayments. I foresee I shall be a great loser by the Business; for I must necessarily make Payment on the Day, when my Word was once passed: And besides, I heard that some whom I had released, had laughed at my easy Nature, in believing what they said to be true; so that my Case is bad, if I should judge of the rest by them. But, be it as it will, I thank my God, that I have been able to do so many good Offices to so many distressed Persons. I do not repent it; for Virtue is a sufficient Reward to it self. I covet not, that any Honours should be conferred on me, nor any Statue erected for my Beneficence; I only wish, that they would be so grateful, as to pay me what I am out of Pocket, to save their Lives; of which I despair not from so cordial a Nation as the Spaniards are. For my part, I rejoice not only that I did them a good turn, but that thereby I gave an Example and Invitation to others to do the same.