Newes from Tvrkie, or, A true relation of the passages of the Right Honourable Sir Tho. Bendish, baronet, Lord Ambassadour, with the Grand Signieur at Constantinople, his entertainment and reception there also, a true discourse of the unjust proceedings of Sir Sackville Crow, former ambassadour there, against the English merchants, his contest with the present Lord Ambassador, and Sir Sackville Crow, former ambassadour there, against the English merchants, his contest with the present Lord Ambassador, and Sir Sackviles imprisonment, and in his returne, his wretched betraying the captain of the ship and some English merchants at Alicant in Spain, to the Inquisition : lastly his commitment to the Tower of London, where now he is.

To the Reader.

SIR Sackvile Crow a quondam servant, and favourite, to George Duke of Buckingham, was of late yeares sent over by his Majesty as Ambassadour to the Great Turke, for trans∣acting the affaires of our English Merchants in his Dominions residing. Of his good or evill Deportment before our Domestique quarrels began, wee have no will to inquire, but shall begin our discourse from that time when our Merchants were most sensible of his injurious oppressions of them, and of his Deviation from that especiall trust which was reposed in him by the King his Master for their protection and advantage.

At first Sir Sackvile began to burthen their goods with heavy and unaccustomed impositions, which they not resenting, hee, to aggravate a more full mischiefe upon them, imprisons their persons, threatens their lives, &c. But well knowing (these tyrannicall actions) would be que∣stioned by his Majesty the King of England, and that the Merchants being men of active spirits and able performances would seeke redresse and complaine, Hee most abusively pretends a new Letter from his Majesty to the great Turke, dated Newcastle 24. Septemb. 1646. to assist the sayd Sir Sackvile in his further unjust proceeding against our Merchants. But neither did his Majesty send any such new Letter un∣to the Grand Signieur, or give unto the sayd Sir Sackvile Crow under his Royall Signature any other Commission so to abuse and undo his loyall subjects.

For His Majesty most graciously upon Complaint from the Mer∣chants of Sir Sackviles misdemeanours, revoked the Credentiall Let∣ters formerly given unto him, and newly elected▪ and admitted as his Ambassadour unto the Grand Signieur, a person of fortune and honour,

by name Sir Thomas Bendish, Baronet; The many disturbances which this worthy Gentleman encountred with at his first Arrivall in Con∣stantinople, by meanes of Sir Sackvile his disobedience to his Majesties Letter of revocation, and his scandalous aspersions upon the Actions and person of the Lord Ambassadour, were I say enough to have dishearte∣ned even an assured resolution, and inforced a Recesse from so hazar∣dous an employment among such rigid and harsh people as the Turkes are: but his Lordship being of an invincible spirit, and maturely con∣sidering how farre his Majesties, and the Nations honour, and welfare of the London Merchants were concerned herein, by admirable resolu∣tion at last obtained the person of Sir Sackvile Crow, and then shipt him for London, where at present he stands committed to the Tower.

His Lordship since his happy investure lives amongst the Turkes, in great estimation and honour, equall if not superiour to any former Am∣bassadour, continually as occasion is offered, assisting the industrious Merchants, betwixt whom and his Lordship, there is a very amiable Compliance. I might justly by way of aggravation unfold the great in∣civility of Sir Sackvile Crow, in inciting his Lady at Alicant in Spaine, as they returned for England, there to complain unto the Inqui∣sition that shee and her husband were Catholiques, and inforced against their wills to become Protestants; whereupon the honest Captaine and his Mate, who civilly went ashore with her, were detained Prisoners, and so also many of our English Merchants, not yet released; But the discourse will best manifest the truth thereof, attested by the hands of those Merchants now suffering.

W. L.