THE weak Understanding of Sultan Mustapha , and his inability for Rule , caused the Affairs of State , both at Home and Abroad , to move disorderly and irregular . Where Violence and Injustice prevail , there is so little distance between the most eminent Height of Grandure , and the lowest Abyss of Misery , that a Prince may in a moment step from one unto the other . The Janisaries and Military Officers commanded more now than the Civil , all things being guided by the Air and Fancy of the Souldiery , who placed and displaced with that wind of Favour and Displeasure , which is agreeable to the Humour of a Multitude , and the Licentiousness of Arms. For at the same time there were three Emperors , seven Great Viziers , two Captain-Pasha's , five Aga's of the Janisaries , three Treasurers , six Pasha's of Cairo ; and in proportion , the Changes and Alterations were as many in all the Provinces of the Empire . All this Confusion evidently proceeding from the weak and almost sensless Understanding of Mustapha ; the Ministers and People concurred , as it were , in an universal Consent to dethrone him a second time , and exalt into his Place Sultan Morat Brother to Osman , who was murdered the Year before . The Principal Actors in this Contrivance , were Kiosem the Mother of Morat , and the Mufti . But in the execution hereof , three Difficulties occurred : The first was Chusaein Pasha the Great Vizier ; who by reason of the Inabilities of Mustapha , being become absolute Lord and Soveraign of all , would be unwilling to assent unto that Proposition , which might degrade him of his Dignity , and divest him of his Power . A second Obstastacle was the Fancy and Humour of the Souldiery , who having with much Zeal and Passion exalted Mustapha to the Throne , it might be doubted , that in maintenance of the same Humour , they would with equal obstinacy persevere in their Election . A third was the Poverty or low Ebb of the Exchequer , which at that time was in no capacity to supply that Donative to the Souldiery , which was usual and customary at the Inauguration of every Sultan . To forward and hasten this Change , and ripen this Plot , the News of the Rebellion of Abassa did much contribute ; who with a Body of fifteen thousand Horse , roved over all the Plains of Kara-hisar , calling himself Avenger of Sultan Osman's Murder , and Enemy of the Janisaries ; by whose Mutiny and Conspiracy he was put to Death : in satisfaction for which , he not only killed all Janisaries which fell into his hands ; but their Wives , Children , and those allied to them , he destroyed with implacable Malice and bloody Rage . Upon this Advice , the Janisaries at Constantinople being moved with equal Fury and desire of Revenge , applied themselves to their Aga , proposing a speedy Union with the Spahees , for suppressing this Rebellion before Time gave it greater growth , and made the Humour more stubborn and difficult to be purged . At the same time also came Letters from Cicala Pasha , ( who was dispatched into Asia with a strong Party , to give a stop to the farther Progress and Advance of Abassa ) advising that upon his near approach to the Enemy , so general a Fear possessed his Souldiery , that most of them disbanded and forsook their Colours ; and that at present he had no more than five hundred Janisaries , and two hundred Spahees under his Command , which he found to be an unequal Match to contend with the increasing Power of Abassa . This Intelligence served happily the occasion of the Mufti , Vizier , and Aga , to give a turn to the desired Change , and supplied them with an Answer to the Janisaries , that they were ready to yield compliance unto their Address , but that the Incapacity of their Soveraign obstructed their Proceedings , and that the Defect in the Principal Wheel disordered all the Motions of good Government . At which Reply the Janisaries becoming more unquiet , assembled themselves in a tumultuous manner at the Mosch of Sultan Solyman ; where making an * * Ayack in Turkish signifies a Foot. Ayack Divan , ( so called , because they sit not down , but stand on their Legs , to denote the present haste and urgency of their Affair ) it was enacted , by an unanimous consent of the Civil and Military Power , That young Morat , or Amurat , should be promoted to the Throne , and that Mustapha should be deposed : And because the Exchequer was at its lowest Ebb , and wholly exhausted by miscarriage of the Officers , the Souldiers were contented to dispense with their Donative ; which they relinquished in consideration of the Publick Good , reserving still their Title and Claim thereunto at times of a more happy Inauguration . With this News the Vizier immediately mounted on Horse-back to signify this Universal Decree to Mustapha ; but he found him so stupid , as if he had been insensible of the Message ; and his Mother wanting Power to resist this strong Convulsion , gave way to Necessity , and seemed to embrace what she could not oppose .

Thus Mustapha falling from the Heaven of his Throne to the Abyss of his Prison , seemed to return unto his Centre ; for being only by the Wild-fire of Fortune carried as far aloft , as the force of popular Powder could reach , he afterwards by the meer weight of his earthly Temper returned with the like quickness of Motion to the place from whence he ascended .

Hereupon Sultan Amurat , a Youth of about fourteen years of Age , was brought forth to the People , and placed in the Throne with all the Acclamations and Rejoycings of the People . And being taught by his Mother in a feigned manner to refuse acceptance of the Empire , he pretended that the Exchequer was exhausted , and that therefore he was not able to demonstrate the Affection and Esteem he had for them ; and that since they had killed their former Sultans , he was fearful lest the tenderness of his Age should betray him to the like Violence : but the Souldiery having not the patience to hearken to his Excuses , Amurat installed . immediately carried him to the Divan , where having cloathed him in White , they seated him on a Safraw , erected with four Pillars , studded with precious Stones ; the Covering of which was of Crimson-Velvet , richly embroidered with Gold and Oriental-Pearl . And being so seated , the Mufti with all reverence approached , and kissed his Hand ; and then turning to the People , he demanded of them , If they were contented with that Prince whom they now beheld in the Seat of the Ottoman Kings ? To which they having given assent by their loud Acclamations ; Morat , with a becoming gravity , encharged the Mufti to take care that Justice and the Law be executed , and so retired to his Lodgings with general satisfaction . The next morning he was carried by Water to the Mosch of Jub in the Suburbs of Constantinople , where according to the Solemnity of the Ottoman Empire , having performed his * * Which is a dispensing of Mutton to the Poor . Corban , or Sacrifice , and having his Cemiter grit to his Side by the Emirsheriff , he mounted on Horse-back , and with a magnificent Train entred by the Gate of Adrianople . In the mean time Mustapha , who was more worthy to bear a Fool 's Cap than an Imperial Diadem , was conducted to Prison , and more narrowly guarded than formerly ; howsoever no Man offered to take away his Life , the Persons of Fools and Idiots being sacred in esteem of the Turks , and the least Injury offered to them accounted Irreligious and Unlucky .

Morat was of a lively Countenance , full-fac'd , dark Hair , of a black and lively Eye , ruddy and sanguine Complexion , and in every degree of a promising and hopeful Aspect : but his exteriour appearance did not correspond with the internal Cruelty of his violent Spirit , having some similitude with the Swan , which hath white Feathers and black Flesh .

The Great Vizier who assisted at this Solemnity , was ( as we have said ) Chusaein Pasha , a Person of Self-interest , who had wasted and consumed the Treasury , and converted a great part thereof to his own Benefit ; he was a Tyrant , hated of all Men , and supported himself by no other Art than bribing of the Souldiery : And to his other Crimes he added , that of having unjustly persecuted Halil Pasha , and deprived him of his Office , his Power not reaching to the taking away his Life ; which being reserved for better Times , he was again recalled from his Retirement , and by special Command of the Sultan , was unwillingly restored to the Office of Vizier , being best pleased with a quiet and pacifick Life , to which his melancholy Temper had naturally disposed him . In the mean time Chusaein Pasha being terrified by the sensible touches of his own Conscience , took his flight by way of the Black Sea ; and being out of the reach of Justice , a Fine was set of Five thousand Zechins , and of Lands to the Revenue of an hundred thousand Aspers a Year , to be given unto him who should bring his Head. Many of those who had sold him their Friendship and Favour , being affrighted with this Sentence , voluntarily disgorged the Rewards they had received ; and amongst the rest , the last Aga of the Janisaries , who had been his Kahya or Steward for the space of three months , restored 8 hundred thousand Dollars as an Atonement for his Sin , and a Ransom for purchasing his own Life and Office. At length , by force of the foregoing Reward , Chusaein Pasha was betrayed and taken alive ; and being brought to Constantinople , was immediately strangled before the Gate of the Divan .

Many were the Difficulties which this young Sultan was to encounter ; the greatest of which was the Insolence of the Janisaries , who feeling themselves empty of Mony , began to repent of the prodigal and easy remission of their Donative , and in a tumultuous manner to redemand it again . There was no Argument or Debate to be used against Men of the Sword , who hearkned to no other Reason than their own Wants , and to satisfy them , there was no other Remedy than Compliance ; wherefore all Officers and Persons not employed in Military Affairs were forced to contribute towards a large Tax , and a shameful Demand was made for the Loan of Thirty thousand Zechins from the four Christian Ambassadors resident at the Port , that they also as Friends might yield an assisting hand towards the present Urgency of Affairs : so little consideration and shame have Turks to lay open the Nakedness and distress of their Country even to Strangers and Enemies of it . And indeed such was the Insolence and uncontroulable Power of the Souldiery , that their Desires and Commands were Laws , and their Determinations Rules for their Sultan and his Subjects .

This Humour of Usurpation and unlimited Power , wearied all the Officers of the Empire , and inclined them secretly to approve the Cause of Abassa Pasha of Erzirum , who declared and stiled himself Enemy to the Janisaries ; and of Bechir Pasha of Babylon , who was joined with him . The Vizier also finding his Power abridged by the Arbitrary Will of the Souldiery , moved slowly and coldly into Asia , where all the Force he could make , consisted of no more than fifty thousand new and unexperienced Men , such as were uncapable to contend with a more numerous Army of veterane Souldiers ; to which also the Beglerbei of Anatolia joined himself , as did all other the chief Timar-Spahees , who conspired together to confound and destroy the Pride and Government of the Janisaries . The Vizier also was of the same Party , and coldly at first answered the Request of the Janisaries , when they earnestly pressed him to lead them against Abassa their common and mortal Enemy : At length , being fortified with the Force of the Timar-Spahees , he told them plainly , That if they would go and fight , he would be a Spectator of the Success , but would not engage himself in a Quarrel wherein the Blood of Musselmen might be spilt on one side and the other : by which means the Rebels in Asia took Head , increased in Force , and every day rendred them in a more formidable and dangerous posture .

But this was not all the Trouble which ensued ; for the Tartars having refused that King whom the Grand Signior had appointed them to receive , declared for Mehmet his Brother : who was seconded by the Votes of the Generality , and maintained by the strongest Nerve of that Nation . The Vizier was unwilling to ingage in this Quarrel , alledging , That a Civil War was the worst of Evils , and that it was better to connive at a present Inconvenience , than in this distracted Time of Affairs , to pollute the Empire with the Blood of Tartars , who were their Brethren , and of the same Religion and Alliance with them . Howsoever the Divan was of another Opinion , and resolved to dispeed the Captain-Pasha with a Force sufficient to re-instate Gherey ( for so the Elder Brother was called ) in the Government of that Kingdom . But yet the Instructions given , rather directed him to act with Dexterity than with Force , supposing that the Authority of the Turks abetted with the presence of a considerable Force , would create an inclination in the Tartars to Obedience , so soon as they discovered them to appear on their Coast . The Captain-Pasha being arrived at * * The chief City of the Krim Tartar . Caffá , declared , That he was sent by the Grand Signior , not to exclude either one or other of the Pretenders , but only to be Witness of a free and fair Election ; that so all Civil Discord ceasing , that Party might be chosen who was most pleasing to the generality of the People . To which end two Standards were erected , one for † † Gherey the Name of the Family . Gherey the Elder Brother desired by the Turks , and the other for Mehmet beloved of the Tartars . The People in multitudes ran to the Standard of Mehmet , and but few to that of Gherey ; which demonstrated at how mean a rate the Tartars esteemed the Protection and Favour of the Port. The Captain-Pasha vexed hereat , denied to give his Assent to the Confirmation , on pretence , that he was first to demand the Grand Signior's Pleasure ; but at length was perswaded by Gherey to land a Force of about eight thousand Men to own and maintain his Cause , on hopes , that rather than ingage against the Turks , the People would condescend to Terms in his Admission and Favour . The Tartars not being in the least dismayed hereat , arrayed themselves in a warlike Posture , and feigning Fear and Flight , allured the Turks to a pursuit of them , until they had brought them to a place where thirty thousand Horse lay in ambush ; which on a sudden arising and encompassing them round , had entirely destroyed them , had not Salil the Brother of Mehmet given a stop to the slaughter , on hopes , that such a testimony of Friendship would reconcile the Spirits of the Turks , at least might render his Brother's preferment more tolerable and grateful to the Turks . In this conflict , Ibrahim and Chusaein who were Viziers of the Bench , the kahya and a Capigibashe of the Seraglio were slain , whose Bodies were afterwards transported to Constantinople , six hundred Janisaries and as many Sea-men were killed , and fifteen hundred Prisoners were taken , whose Liberty was procured at a mean Ransom , for the sake of that Faith and Religion which they jointly professed ; they also took thirty Pieces of Cannon , and might also have become Masters of the whole Fleet consisting of thirty six Gallies , had they been desirous to have prosecuted their Victory to the utmost advantage : and moreover in that conjuncture of Affairs , when a general consternation had overspread the principal parts of the Ottoman Dominions , when the Councils were feeble and faint , and that a languishing Pulse beat in all the Government , had the Tartar with an Army of fifty thousand Horse then ready to march , made up to the Walls of Adrianople , it might have proved such an opportunity for dividing and destroying this Empire , as hath not offered at any time since that Occasion . But the two Brothers , Mehmet and Salil , stiling their War forced and defensive , used that moderation in their Victory , which might not provoke a desire of Revenge in the Turks . The Captain-Pasha being thus permitted to depart from Caffa with his Fleet , sailed to Varna , a Port in the Black Sea , about two hundred miles distant from Constantinople ; where the News of this Defeat being arrived , put all the City into confusion , and raised the Viziers at midnight to consult of those Remedies and Expedients which were agreeable to the present emergency of Affairs . The Great Vizier Ali was of opinion , that the Grand Signor ought to condescend to Terms of Accommodation , tho to the disadvantage and disreputation of his Power ; and that accordingly a Letter should be wrote to Mehmet the Tartar , beginning with the usual Complements of Friendship and Salutation ; and afterwards declaring , That it was never the intention of the Port to ingage in a War against him , the late conflict having only proceeded from a mistake and misinterpretation of Orders ; and that there was no other design , than to compose the Civil Differences amongst themselves , by advancing that Prince to the Kingly Dignity who was most pleasing and grateful to the People . This Advice was approved by the rest of the Council , and a Messenger dispatched with the Letter , accompanied with a Cemiter and Vest of Sables , which are the Signals of the Sultan's Favour . In the mean time the People murmured at the pusillanimity of the Government , saying , That they had sent an Ambassador to thank the Tartar for not seizing their whole Fleet , and acknowledg their Obligation to him for the Blows and Wounds he had given their Army . The Tartars also gloried in this submission , and took the boldness to vaunt of their Linage and Descent to be more Ancient and Noble than that of the Ottoman Family ; and that in this time of decay and degenerate procedure of that Monarchy , it appertained to the Greatness of the Tartars to stir up the Fire and snuff the Lamp , that the Splendor of that Empire might become more bright and shining than in former Ages . And so little respect did they now maintain for the Port , that they surprised two Ambassadors sent from the Moscovite in their way to Constantinople , robbed and killed them , as also the Turkish Chiaus that was with them , lest his Testimony should be brought in for an evidence against them .

During these Troubles , the Cossacks taking advantage of the Captain-Pasha's absence in Tartary , entered the Bosphorus with about an hun-and fitty Sail of Saicks and Boats ; The form of the Cossacks Boats. these Boats and Vessels which the Cossacks use , are built long and light , with ten Oars of a side , and two Men to an Oar ; the Head and Stern are not unlike , so that they hang the Rudder sometimes at one end , and sometimes at the other , being not obliged to turn their Vessel , but without loss of time to proceed with that end which happens to be foremost . Each Boat carries fifty select Men armed with Fire-arms and Cemiter , in the management of which they are very expert ; and are a People sober , enduring Labour and hard Diet ; and so speedy in their Incursions , that they forestal the Advices , and commonly strike before they threaten . With these Boats and People ( as we have said ) they entred the Bosphorus , where they burnt several Villages and Houses of Pleasure ; on the Grecian side they burnt Boyuc-deri and Yenichioi , on the Asian side Stenia . The appearance of this Enemy so near the Imperial City , caused a general Consternation , not unlike that at London , when the Dutch entred the River of Chatham . To oppose this Force , there was not one Gally in readiness , so that Saicks , Chimbers , and small Boats were armed , to the number of four or five hundred , and man'd with such people as the present haste and expedition offered ; the great Chain was then brought forth to cross the BOsphorus , which the Grecian Emperors used at the Seige of Constantinople : and Ten thousand Men were issued from the City to defend the Shoar from depredation and farther mischief . The Turkish Fleet faced the Cossacks to give them a stop , whilst they hovered about the middle of the Chanel in form of a Half-Moon , and so continued the whole day until Sun-set ; when with the night they returned into the Sea , carrying with them , besides their Booty , Glory sufficient to have entred the Chanel , and without blows or opposition , to have braved the Capital Seat of the Ottoman Monarchy , and the most formidable City of the whole Word . Not many days after they returned again with a greater Force than before , which put the City into the like consternation ; and having hovered about three or four days at the Mouth of the Black Sea , they burnt the Pharos or Lantern with certain Villages thereabouts , and being laden with Spoils and Glory , they again returned into their own Country . Thus we may observe , how bold Enemies are made with the weakness of a State : a Horse is soon sensible of his Rider , when backed by a faint Hand , and an unaccustomed Lightness , but a stiff Rein and a close Knee makes him obedient to his Ruler . All people having discovered the imbecillity of the Government , made head against it : and the young Sultan had those for his Enemies in the time of his Nonage , which in his strong and fiercer years became the most submissive and Fawning Slaves in the World.

And though at this time the Turkish Ministers were corrupt and rebellious , and the Souldiery mutinous ; yet Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transylvania , Bethlem Gabor desires assistance against the Emperor . a Christian , was observant to the Port , demanding Licence to wage War against the Emperor , which was easily granted , and upon paiment of the usual Tribute of Ten thousand Hungars , the Ambassador , with thirteen of his Followers , received Coftans or Vests of Honour , and a promise of Succour and Protection , as the Condition of his Affairs should require . Thus we see , that whilst the Turks themselves endeavoured to rent in pieces their own Monarchy , to which one would have thought , that the Christians had most reason to contribute ; yet such was the unhappy Fate of Christendom , that Gabor was the only Person at that time to court the Turks ; and that for no other Reason , than that he might be supported and abetted in a War against the Emperor and other Christian Princes of Germany .

The Army of Bethlem Gabor consisted of above Thirty thousand Men , with which he marched over all Hungary , having taken most Towns of consideration , unless Presburg , alias Possonium , Rab , and Komorra . But if we penetrate into the depth and foundation of this War , we shall find that it had a deeper Interest than that of Gabor , and had its Original from the Discord and Civil War of Germany . For the House of Austria being at that time in a condition to render it self formidable , and in a posture to create a jealousy in all the Princes subjected to it , did under colour of subduing the Palatine of the Rhyne , oppress also the Liberty of the Empire , and of the several States which composed it . For after the Emperor , against the Constitutions of the Golden Seal , and the Sense of the Electoral Colledg , had divested the Palatine and his Children of their Estates and Dignity , not so much by Force of Arms , as by Deceit and Breach of Promise ; instead of disbanding the Army , which was to have been performed according to Agreement , new Troops were added ; and though the Protestant League was dissolved , yet the Catholick Combination , with all its Adherents , remained armed and immoveable to compel the Protestants to a restitution of the Ecclesiastical Revenue , notwithstanding the Articles of Peace to the contrary : so that the Princes and Towns of the Lower Saxony entring into a new League , raised an Army under the Command of Christian of Brunswick Bishop of Alberstadt . Bethlem Gabor having his Interest adjoyned to this Party , entertained the same Desires and Intentions , to suppress the Greatness of the Emperor ; and having the just complaint to alledge of wanting his annual Pension of Fifty thousand Crowns , as was agreed by the Treaty of Niclasbourg , he resolved to force it by Arms , and take part with the Princes of the Protestant Religion which he professed : but because his Srength and Power was not sufficient , without the assistance of the Turks , he not only obtained their permission and approbation of this War , as we have said before , but by paiment of Fifty thousand Dollars presented to the first Vizier , and of Forty thousand by way of annual Tribute , he procured an Auxiliary Force of Fifty thousand Turks and Tartars ; with part of which , commanded by Budiani , he made an Irruption into the Lower Austria ; and with the other , Bethlem himself , about the beginning of October , entred into Moravia , defeated the Regiment of Tiffenbach , retook the Town of Turnova , and routed the Count of Montenegro General for his Imperial Majesty before the Town of Ghoding on the Frontier of Moravia , which he afterwards beleagured and held besieged until the 20th of November , when Stanislaus Turzow a Hungarian Palatine became Mediator of the Peace , and at length obtained a Truce : the principal Articles of which were as followeth .

A Truce being thus concluded , the Turks in their return made great havock , carrying with them great numbers of poor Christians into Slavery , which Gabor out of compassion seemed willing to redeem with a low price at his own charge ; which the Turks refusing , carried those miserable Wretches into Captivity . The Count Esterhasi Governour of Newhausel for the Emperor , being highly incensed at this treacherous Action , contrary to the Truce so lately concluded , having drawn out a sufficient Force from the neighbouring Garisons , fell on the Rear of the Turks in their March towards Buda , and charged them so home on the Banks of the River Niter , that he killed five hundred of them on the place , took all their Baggage , with divers Prisoners , and gave liberty to many Christian Slaves . The next day but one after he charged another Party of them , as they attempted to pass a Bridg , which the night before he had caused to be broken down ; of which having killed a great number , the rest saved themselves by swimming : howsoever many Christians procured their liberty thereby , and a considerable Booty was made of Horses , Camels , Waggons , and all Provisions . The other Troops consisting of greater numbers , were worse treated than the former ; for Esterhasi having received a Recruit of Horse from Reiffemberg Governor of Komorra , and Breuner of Jarvarin or Rab , he proceeded boldly to meet the Turks , and joyning Battel with them , he slew twelve hundred on the place , gave liberty to fourteen hundred Christians , took divers of their principal Commanders , with all their Bag and Baggage , besides a considerable quantity of Gold and Silver , in Plate and Mony. Nor were Reiffemberg and Breuner less successful over those who passed through their Quarters to joyn with the Garisons of Alba Regalis and Canisia , having killed seven hundred of them , and taken all their Baggage . Moreover Count Serini in his Jouney towards Vienna , defeated six hundred of them , and presented their Colours to the Emperour : and Esterhasi in like manner after his several Exploits , offered thirty Cornets at his Feet , with six Prisoners of Quality , one o f which was Kins man of Bethlem Gabor .

These Rebuffs cooled the courage of the Turks a little , and altered the resolution of the Council for carrying forward the War on the side of Germany , as was intended , had the Success answered expectation : For these Misfortunes abroad , and intestine Troubles at home , with Pestilence and Famine , which at the same time greatly afflicted the parts of Constatinople ( whereby an hundred thousand People died ) abated the Mettle of the Turks , and caused them to take new Measures in all their Determinations : and for that reason Ambassadors were sent both to Vienna and into Poland to renew the Articles of Peace , and so to confirm the League , that whilst the Sultan was imployed in his Wars with Persia and the Eastern Countries , nothing should intervene from the Western Parts to trouble or obstruct his Progress , or recal him from his Enterprise . For now the Rebellion of Abassa , joined with Bechir Pasha of Bagdat , growing daily more considerable , and his strength increasing to that condition , that he was able to keep the Field in despight of the Grand Signiors Forces , he adventured to quarter within five days March of Constantinople : and at the same time Letters coming from Hafish Pasha General of the Army in the Province of Bagdat , that the King of Persia was entred into the Dominions of the Turk with a powerful Army , a general Consternation seized the whole Turkish Court , the wisest and stoutest having occasion to call up for all their Wisdom and Courage to assist at a Time when the Government was assailed on all sides , both at home and abroad . Various were the Counsels and Proposals in what manner to proceed in Times of such emergency . First it was resolved to proclaim a War both against the King of Persia , and the Rebels in Asia , and that whosoever took of the Grand Signior Pay , from one Asper a day to higher value , should be in readiness to serve in the War , upon penalty of losing his Estate , of being accounted a Rebel , and his Wife and Children sold for Slaves . But the more sober and moderate sort judged it policy to take off Abassa , by sending him a general Pardon , with a concession of all his Demands , upon condition , that he should turn his Arms upon the King of Persia , who was the common Enemy of their Country and Religion : but the Janisaries would by no means assent to this Agreement , with a Person to whom they bore a more inveterate hatred , than to the Persian himself , as he did also to the Janisaries . For that he might better justifie his pretence of Revenge , he declared , That being one day in a Mosch at his Prayers , the murdered Osman appeared to him , and taking him by the hand , said , My faithful Mussulman , since thou art the most generous of all my Slaves , I command thee to revenge my Death , with the Blood of sixty thousand Janisaries and Spahees ; good Forture shall accompany thy Arms , and Victory shall crown thy Labours . During these Intrigues and Difficulties of Reconciliation , Abassa , spoiled the Lesser Asia , and the Persian King conquered the City and Province of Bagdan , or Babylon , took Kur Asan Pasha , an old Souldier , Prisoner , possessed himself of Mosul and Leska on the Persian Sea ; and meeting no considerable opposition , he divided his Army into four parts . The first was dispatched into Mesopotamia , commanded by the King himself . The second made Incursions into Palestine . The third infested the Coast of the Black Sea : and the fourth marched towards Mecha , with hope and design of sharing all the parts of the Eastern Empire .

Ali Pasha , who opposed the King in Mesopotamia , was slain , and his Army wholly defeated , so that the Province became a Prey to the Enemy : the success in Palestine was equally fortunate by the revolt of Damascus , a place of great Riches and Importance ; the Coast of the Black Sea was greviously infested , and a Port taken near to Trapezond ; and little opposition being made at Balsora , the Town was taken by that Army in their March towards Mecha and the parts of the Red Sea , where they rendered themselves Masters of Medina , the City of their Prophet Mahomet .

To repair these losses , and to encounter numbers so strong and valiant in all parts , the Vizier was dispeeded with a powerful FOrce to the Town of Bagdat ; but by reason of Mutinies and Tumults amongst the Souldiery , Matters found not the success expected : and the Garison making valiant and vigorous Sallies against the imbecility of the Turkish Souldiery , which were always most obstinate and stout to oppose their own Commanders , obtained an advantage in every Attempt ; by which discouragement many forsaking their Colours , The Siege raised at Bagdat , & the Turks overthrown . the Siege was raised with dishonour , and the Interest of the Turk impaired , and almost irreparably lost in those Provinces . This News arrived at Constantinople , that the Camp was risen and fled by Night , that they were forced to burn their Tents and Provisions , and to break their great Artillery and cast them into the Euphrates : that the Miseries in the Army had been such by Famine and Pestilence , and want of all Provisions and Ammunition , that the like was never known : that the Vizier had beheaded three of his Pasha's , that so he might cast the whole blame upon them ; and that now retreating with his Army into the Turkish Dominions , the Persians pursued them in the Rear , and for ten days did execution on them making the best use they could of their Victory ; which Relation filled the Hearts of all People with sadness , and disordered the Counsels with confusion . The Cause of which will Success , according to custom , being imputed to the General , he was deprived of his Office , and sacrificed to the Fury of the Janisaries .

These Troubles were increased at Constantinople , by the Addresses which the Prince of Transylvania made unto the Port by his Kapi-Kahya or Agent , representing to the Grand Signior , That he wanting Heirs Male to succeed him in his Principality ; the States at a Diet had , with common consent , elected his Lady for his Successor ; and therefore desired confirmation from the Port. In excuse of her Sex , he alledged the urgent Necessity of the present Times , which perswaded rather to admit of the Government of a Woman , than that his Principality should , for want of an Heir , fall into the Hands of the powerful Family of Austria . To make good this Demand , Duke John of Weymar , and Count Mansfelt , Duke of Weymar and Count Mansfelt join with the Prince of Transylvania . arrived in Silistria , to whom the Prince of Transylvania joined his Troops : and Morteza Pasha of Buda wrote to the Port , that he was marching towards Vatz to meet the Prince , and confer with him concerning these Designs . The Emperor 's Resident at Constantinople greatly exclaimed against these Proceedings ; which something troubled the Counsels of the Turks , who in that Conjuncture were unwilling to give beginnings to a new War ; so that besides fair Words , they promised to write such Letters to the Pasha of Buda , as should give a stop to the Investiture of the Princes . But , to say truly , the Instructions given were in such ambiguous terms , that they in effect left the whole Matter to the Discretion of Morteza to act , as he judged most agreeable to the State of Affairs on the Frontiers , and security of the present Peace .

Thus did the Turkish Court seek to ward off the blow of a War with Germany , and yet secretly nourished and encouraged it , by giving Orders to the Pasha of Buda to take up his Winter-quarters with the Prince of Transylvania , and to follow his Directions ; but yet so to govern Matters with Caution , as not to engage too far on uncertain Grounds or doubtful Hazard , but to embrace Propositions of Peace , if offered with Honour and Security . In prosecution of these Rules , Morteza observing , that Weymar and Mansfelt having united their Forces with Gabor , had formed a considerable Army , and were able to fight with Wallestein General of the Imperialists ; joined also his Forces to theirs , judging it a prudent and politick Design to wage a War at the Blood and Expence of others . With these Encouragements , and with the favour of a good Opportunity , The Emperor's Army defeated . the Confederates fell upon the Army of Wallestein near the River Gran ; who not being able to withstand their Force and Fury , was put to flight , and pursued in the Rear with great slaughter ; and endeavouring to pass the River on two Bridges of Boats , were closely followed by the Prince's Forces , who gaining the Pass , put the whole Army into great amazement , and resolved to pursue them to the Gates of Presburg , or Vienna .