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The CONCLVSION.
BY the Discourse made in the three foregoing Books, it will evi∣dently appear what sort of Government is exercised amongst the Turks, what their Religion is, and how formidable their Force; which ought to make the Christian World tremble, to see so great a part of it subjected to the Mahometan Power, and yet no means thought of to unite our Interests, and compose our Dissentions, which lay us open to the inundation of this flowing Empire: To which I shall add this one thing very observable, That the Grand Signior wages his Wars by Land without any charge to himself; an advantage not to be parallell'd by the policy of any Government I ever heard or read of before; for his Spahees and Janizaries are always in pay, both in War and Peace; his Zaims and Timariots have their Lands to maintain them; and other Militias enjoy the fixed Revenue from their respective Coun∣tries: and yet notwithstanding through the expence of the Naval Forces, the building Gallies, and the like, matters not provided for by those who laid the first foundation of this Government, the Re∣venue of the Empire hath been bankrupted, and by the corruption of the Officers, or ill management, been sold for three years to come, until all was redeemed and restored again by the wisdom of that famous Visier 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whom we have had occasion so often to mention in the foregoing Treatise.
We cannot now but pity those poor Borderers in Hungary, Styria, Croatia, and other parts subject to the Incursions of this cruel enemy, since we know that in the last War not three English miles from Vienna many poor people have been surprised, and fallen into the hands of the Tartar and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and sold afterwards into perpetual Slavery. This Consideration ought to move us, who are barrocado'd and fortified by the Seas from the violence of our Enemies, to bless God we are born in so happy and so secure a Country, subject to no dangers but from our selves, nor other miseries but what arise from our own freedom and two much felicity; we ought to consider it as a Blessing, that we have never felt any smart of the Rod of this great Oppressor of Chri∣stianity, and yet have tasted of the good and benefit which hath pro∣ceeded from a free and open Trade, and an amicable Correspondence and Friendship with this People; which having been maintained for the space of above eighty years, begun in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth of blessed Memory, preserved by the Prudence and admirable Discre∣tion of a series of worthy Embassadors, and daily improved both in Bu∣siness and Reputation by the excellent Conduct and Direction of that Right Worshipful Company of the Levant Merchants, hath brought a most considerable benefit to this Kingdom, and gives employment and livelihood to many thousands of people in England; by which also His Majesty without any expence, gains a very considerable increase of His Customs.
The sence of this benefit and advantage to my own Country, with∣out any private considerations I have as a Servant to that Embassie, or