Historical rarities and curious observations domestick & foreign containing fifty three several remarks ... with thirty seven more several histories, very pleasant and delightful / collected out of approved authors, by William Winstanley ...

Of a Costermonger's Daughter of London; how, after many strange Adventures, she came at last to be chief Sultaness to the Grand Seig∣nior of Constantinople.

OF all the Passions which possess the Spirits of Men, there is none which yields such variety of Admiration and Wonder as those of Love; of which, I shall give you herein a most notable Ex∣ample, scarcely to be parallell'd in any of our Ro∣mantick Stories, did not we know the Power of Beauty, how it subdues far beyond the Sword, by conquering the Conquerours, and making all things subject to it.

In our Metropolitan City of London, there lived a Costermonger, who had only one Daughter, but she the Paragon of Nature, of an admirable Beauty; and thereto was added such Excellencies of inward Qualifications, as made her to be desired in Marri∣age by many young Gallants and other wealthy Ci∣tizens: But Love, that knows no Laws nor Limita∣tions, had setled her Affections upon a young Page, whose smooth Tongue and complacent Carriage had fetter'd her Heart in Cupid's Chains; he also seeming so amorously bent to her, as if he saw with no other Eyes but what she bestowed upon him, nor thought no other Thoughts but what she in∣spired.

But under this green Grass of Dissimulation lay lurking the Serpent of Ingratitude and Deceit; for this innocent Maid mistrusting no Evil, as intend∣ing none, was by the sly Insinuations of that Decei∣ver, whose Love was Lucre, and Faith Falshood,

under Pretence of seeing some Friends, carried on Board of a Barbadoes Ship, where this wicked Wretch (O Grief to hear) for twenty Pounds most villa∣nously sold her to be a Slave. Thus the Cat ha∣ving plaid a while with the Mouse, at last devours her; thus the innocent Lamb is, by the Wiles of the Fox, betrayed to her own Destruction.

This wicked Wretch having received his Money, departeth home with the Reward of Iniquity, the whilst the Ship set Sail from Graves-end, manned with fourscore tall Men, and the Wind standing fair, they smoothly glide along the Thames, and en∣ter into that vast Gulph, the boundless Ocean; but the Heavens being angry for the forcible carrying away of this innocent Virgin, sent forth such a vio∣lent Tempest on the Sea, as made the stoutest Spi∣rit of them all to tremble; for they had not sailed far, when there arose a foggy Mist from out the Seas, so that the clearness of the Skies might not be seen for the darkness of the Air, dreadful Flashes of Lightning seemed to have set the Seas on Fire, and terrible Vollies of Thunder threatned the shaking of the Heavens, and sundring of the Earth; Showers of Rain poured down amain, which, with the Impe∣tuosity of the Winds, caused Showers of Tears to trickle down the Cheeks of the stoutest Spirits there, who all of them now expected no other but to be devoured in that merciless Element of Water: the beautiful Virgin, who before had wished all ill both to the Master of the Ship, as also to the Mariners, for carrying her thus away against her Will, now, as heartily prayed for their Welfare; knowing, if they miscarried she were lost, if they failed she were cast away. Twelve hours did the Wind and Seas contend thus together for the Destruction of this

Vessel, tossing her about like Fortunes Tennis-ball, tearing her Masts in Pieces, and making her Tack∣ling unserviceable; when at last the Skyes began to clear, and the Winds to cease the violence of their raging, which cheared up their drooping Spirits, hoping now all danger was past; but Fortune, that is constant in nothing but Inconstancy, soon made them to see their Error, and that they were now entring into the hands of more violent Enemies than Storms and Tempests; for, being by the Fury of the Seas brought upon the Coast of Barbary, they were espyed by a Turkish man of War, belonging to Tunis, a Receptacle of Pirates under the Protecti∣on of the Grand Seignior, who presently seized upon this stately Vessel, altogether now disabled for Re∣sistance; and having boarded her, secured her Goods, carrying all the Persons thereof into the Town; who (according to the Custom of that place) were immediately committed to Prison.

Now were the Saylors in their Dumps, knowing their Lot was perpetual Slavery: but the lovely Maid, in whom Beauty sat triumphant, though lately shaded with the Clouds of Fear, began to pluck up her Spirits, knowing that she had not worse∣ned her Condition, but changed her Masters; and this gave her great Content, to see those unto whom she was lately so subject, now to partake of the same Lot with her; so that those Roses which before seemed to die in her Cheeks now revived; each se∣veral Beauty resumed their former Estates, so that she soon appeared to those dark African Inhabitants, a Sun upon Earth, and rather an immortal Goddess than an earthly Creature.

The Fame of her Beauty had soon filled the Ears of the Inhabitants of Tunis, who in multitudes came

flocking to the Prison to behold her; amongst others was the Governour of the Town, who was so strick∣en with Admiration at the Perfection of her Excel∣lencies, that he could not chuse but break forth into these Words:

O Mahomet, what do I behold! A Beauty able to tempt a Hermit from his Cell, and make gray Hairs to become young again: Who can look on her and not admire! Who can admire and not love, nay rather adore such great Vertues! for, can we think Nature would not put her best Jew∣els into so rich a Casket! Certainly so smooth a Fore-head, diamond Eyes, rosie Cheeks, coral Lips, alabaster Neck, so well featured a Body, was not ordained for Captivity, but rather to be embraced by a mighty Monarch! I will there∣fore send her as a Present unto my Master, the mighty Ottoman, unto whom, I know she cannot but be welcome, as one that exceeds in Nature's Endowments the choicest Beauties in all his Sera∣glio.

Accordingly, in pursuance of his intended Pur∣pose, he taketh the lovely Damsel out of Prison, treats her nobly, and cloaths her gorgeously; who, not willing to hide those Lustres wherewith she had captivated the Eyes of those Mahumetans, employs her utmost Skill, with the bravery of Apparel, to add to those Perfections of Nature. In the mean time, a Messenger is dispatched to the Grand Seig∣nior's Court, to certifie him of the beautiful Prize which was coming to him; the Governour, with his Charge, following more leisurely after. When they put forth to Sea, it is said, that the Fishes dan∣ced and leaped about their Ship, and though it was a Serene time and very calm Weather, yet the Bil∣lows

rose up gently, as it were to behold her Face; and having seen it, sunk down again, as it were in Obeysance to her.

They having arrived at Constantinople, and word thereof brought to the Grand Seignior, he straight gave order for her Reception, which was (indeed) very magnificent, more like the Off-spring of some mighty Potentate than a poor Costermonger's Daughter, being attended by several Bashaws, Ca∣dies, Mudressies, Chiansies, and Sansiacks, with a great number of Saffies, Calsies, Hogies and Nupies, after whom followed a strong Guard of Janisaries, who altogether attended her to the Seraglio, where she was received by the Aga of the Women, and not long after visited by the Grand Seignior himself; who beholding her exquisite Beauty, having never seen such peerless Perfections before; as if Nature herein had imitated Apelles, to draw the several Ex∣cellencies of all Women into one Piece, he stood as it were, wrap'd into Admiration for a time; at last, recovering the use of his Speech, he thus accosted her:

Most peerless Lady, whose heavenly Beauty hath captivated my Heart, and of a Conquerour made me thy Slave, thou shining like a Star of the first Magnitude in Beauties Horizon; well dost thou deserve to be the Queen of my Affecti∣ons, whom Nature hath already crowned with such transcendent Prerogatives: Know then, that I bid thee heartily welcome (rare English Damsel) and for those Excellencies which I do see in thee I will prefer thee before all the Women in my Seraglio, making thee Empress of all my Domi∣ons, as thou art already of my Heart.

Now, though Women naturally do love to hear themselves praised, especially by great men, yet the sight to Majesty in so mighty a Prince, did raise a mo∣dest Bashfulness inher, and bespread her Cheeks with a Vermillion Tincture: Silence for a while possessed her Lips; at last, recollecting her self, with an hum∣ble Obeysance she returned this Answer.

Great Sir, how much I am bound to your Goodness, my Heart is as little able to conceive as my Tongue to express; for which, though I cannot in the least make you Satisfaction (my Means being so infinitely below my Will) yet shall not my Endeavours be at any time wanting wherewith to serve you in what may stand with my Honour.

Gracious Lady (replyed the Grand Seignior) the only thing I desire of you, is, your real Affection, more worth to me than Crowns or Scepters: 'tis not your Portion, but Person, that I sue for; and tho' I might have compelled you by Constraint, yet I rather seek to win you by Love; for, forced Affe∣ction is but feigned, and that Musick of Marriage is but a jarring Melody where Hearts are not joyn∣ed together as well as hands.

Worthy Prince (answered the lovely Maid) should I deny so great Honour, I might justly be taxed of Fol∣ly in the highest degree: If therefore (dread Sir) there be any thing in me worthy to be loved, yours I am, the highest of my Ambition being only to be entituled your Servant in it's largest Latitude.

Being thus agreed, with reciprocal Joy on both sides, next day was the Marriage solemnized in one of the principal Mosches of the City: the Rites and Ceremonies were performed by the Mufti, in his Pontificalibus. She was most gorgeously attired at

that time, the Jewels that she wore being estimated at five thousand Pounds: and that the Joy might be the more universal, the Grand Seignior distribu∣ted amongst the Janisaries an hundred thousand Sultanies.

The next day the Grand Seignior sitting in the Divano, with the Beglerbegs of Greece and Natolia, together with several Bassas, Sansiacks, and other high Ministers of State, the beautiful Lady was by a general Decree ordained chief Sultaness of all the Turkish Dominions, and so to be honoured of all the People, notwithstanding the former Custom, that she who bore the first Son to the Emperour had on∣ly that Title conferred on her. She was also made free at that time, a great Honour amongst the Turks, and immediately was by the Title of Sultaness pro∣claimed all over the City of Constantinople.

The Proverb says, Give a Maid Luck and throw Her in the Sea, she'll thrive where e're she go. Stones being thrown hard 'gainst the ground, do by The force of that their Fall mount up on high.