These Speeches, often back’d by Rustan, the Grand Vizir, and the Mufti, (the Pope of the Turks) began to alarm Solyman, whose Weakness made him forget by Degrees the amiable Qualities of Mustapha. This Opinion was strengthen’d by his secret League with the Persian, whom the Turks esteem as Hereticks, preferring Hali before Mahomet their Prophet, which Difference may be compar’d to the Protestant and Catholick Religions.
Solyman had four Sons by Roxolana, Mahomet, Selimus, (who after succeeded his Father) Bajazet and Tzianger, (whom our Author calls Zanger).
Zanger had contracted a strict Union of Love and Friendship with Mustapha, and Roxolana lov’d Zanger beyond her other Sons.
But not being the Sultana Queen[(W)], that is, not wedded to the Sultan, she fear’d the more, that at the Death of Solyman, Mustapha would be Emperor, and then, as the Custom was among the Turks, when they a ascend the Throne, the whole Blood that were Males would he put to Death.
Mustapha was by her Desire sent to Caramania[(X)], that she might pursue her Designs to his Ruin.
The first thing she had to do was to prevail on the Emperor to wed her; for being his Queen, would effectually disinherit (as we say) Mustapha.
To bring this about, she took it in her head to be very religious, built an Hospital, and a Church. When these were finih’d, she ask’d the Mufti if such Acts of Charity would not be grateful to Heaven! and be a Means to save her precious Soul! The good Mufti (receiving a Bribe before-hand, for there is Bribery and Corruption in Turkey as well as other Places) reply’d, her Soul would not be a Grain the better for it, because she was a Slave.
This afflicted the good Roxolana in a surprising manner; She would not take any Nourishment; her Eyes were ever in Tears, and her Heart heav’d with Sighs every Moment (I mean when she was in the Presence of Solyman.)
The good Emperor (for he lov’d her sincerely) could not bear to see her Tears, therefore order’d her to be made free.