The right of primogeniture, in succession to the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland as declared by the statutes of 24 E.3 cap 2. De Proditionibus, King of England, and of Kenneth the third, and Malcolm Mackenneth the second, Kings of Scotland : as likewise of 10 H.7 made by a Parliament of Ireland : with all objections answered, and clear probation made : that to compass or imagine the death, exile, or disinheriting of the King's eldest son, is high treason : to which is added, an answer to all objections against declaring him a Protestant successor, with reasons shewing the fatal dangers of neglecting the same.

Object. 5. The Ottoman Emperors never declare a Successor.

Answ. They are ill Presidents to be followed; for the not declaring of a Successor, causeth all those Bloody Butcheries of Fathers of their own Sons; And Brothers one of another, and

gives the Janizaries Power to sell the Empire to that Son or Bro∣ther who will give most Money for the same: which the Em∣perors would gladly reform if they were able, and declare their Successors as other Princes do, were they not over-power'd by their own Slaves, as appears, Turk. Hist. 479. Selymus,* 1.1 a Younger Son of Bajazet the Second, was made by his Father Governor of the Kingdom of Trapezond, and Married without his Fathers liking the Daughter of Mahometes a mighty King of the Tartars, called Precopenses. Selymus, by the assistance of his Father-in-Law, provided a great Fleet and Army Pretend∣ing but not Intending War on Hungary: Bajazet receiving Advertisement of Selymus his Army, and that he had left Tra∣pezond, and was come over into Europe; suspecting his Design, notwithstanding his Pretences to be against himself; yet not seeming to take notice thereof, sends Embassadors to disswade him from the Hungarian War, and to perswade him to return peaceably to his former Government; but without effect; for he continues his March onwards towards his Father. In the mean time, Bajazet moved the rather with the fear of Selymus, resolved on that which he had long time in his Mind deeply Consider'd, in regard he was aged and sickly, to resign the Empire to Achomates his eldest Son, and proposeth the same to the Soldiers; but they being Corrupted before with Money by Selymus, Cunningly seeming to commend Achomates; yet would neither yield that Bajazet should resign or nominate him for his Successor: And the chief Reasons they alleadged were, That the same was neither according to the Custom of the Ottoman Kings, nor for the behoof of the Men of War, who should thereby be defrauded of the Rewards usually granted un∣to them during the time of vacancy of the Empire arising from the Spoil; taking of them who are of Religions different from the Turks; for it is a Custom, that immediately on the Death of the Turkish Emperors, all the Jews and Christians which dwell at Constantinople, Pera, Hadrianople, Thessalonica and Prusa; especially Merchants Exposed unto the Injuries of the Turks, are by the Janizaries, and other Soldiers of the Court, spoiled of all their Wares and Goods, and became unto them a Prey: neither will they give their Oath of Allegiance unto the new Emperor, until he grant them their Prey, and Swear by his Head to Pardon all their Outrages before Com∣mitted.

When Bajazet saw his Men of War generally to op∣pose themselves against the Nomination of his Successor, he tryed what Money would do with them; and promise them Five hundred Thousand Duckets, if they would stand favourable to Achomates, and accept him for their Soveraign, but he could not move them, for they assured themselves of greater Rewards in Pay and Plunder from Selymus. So with Grief and Patience he put up the Matter; hoping for a fitter Opportunity to effect what he desired. Selymus in the mean time under divers pretences marcheth on towards his Father; and Corrupted the greatest part of his Council with Money and great Promises to betray him, and advance Selymus to the Empire, only Cherseogleson and old faithful Bassa, adviseth Baja∣zet to Chastise the Rebellion of his unnatural younger Son, and to give him Battel; wherein Selymus was overthrown, and the greatest part of his Army Slain. Achomates hearing of all the trouble had happened between his Father and Brother, Selymus writes to him, desiring him to dispatch his long Determin'd and Promised Resignation of the Empire. Bajazet of himself still continued desirous of the Translating the Empire to Acho∣mates, and making no great Secret of it, Commanded Galleys to be provided to Transport Achomates for that end from Scu∣tari, where he then was, to Constantinople, but the Bassa's and Souldiers Corrupted by Selymus's Money, would not suffer him; whereupon he writes to Achomates how the matter stood, and that he should therefore return from Scutari to his old Charge of Amasia, until he might with bounty win the Minds of the Souldiers and great Men, to effect his advance∣ment with less Danger. Achomates thus deceived of his hopes, Complained of his Father how he had deceived him, and made him a By-word and Laughing-stock to the World, and medi∣tating either Revenge or Defence against his Brother, raiseth an Army, and on Contumacy when Commanded to Disband, is by the Incitation of Selymus with his Party proclaimed Trai∣tor by his Father, and Bajazet is so over-persuaded by the Conspirators, That he sends home for his younger traiterous Son Selymus, Pardons him and makes him General of his Ar∣mies, against Achomates the elder Son. Selymus having re∣ceived the Army, they Corrupted by him, Proclaim him Em∣peror. Selymus thereupon Poisons his Aged Father Bajazet,

being almost Fourscore years of Age, and Murders his Bro∣thers and Five of his eldest Brother's Sons. From whence may be observed.

• (1.) The Great Error of Bajazet, who gave his younger Son Selymus a Kingdom, and so great Power with it, that he was able to be a Competitor against his eldest Son, and to raise a Rebellion against himself; which is Inconsistent with the Right of Primogeniture, and Divides the Empire into many Empires.
• (2.) That Excessive Treasure given to a younger Brother, gives him Power to Corrupt both the Council and Army of his Father, who gave it him.
• (3.) Bajazet by setting the younger Son in Contention with he eldest, he lost the Fidelity of both, and was destroyed be∣tween them.
• (4.) He did very imprudently to promise his eldest Son the Resignation of the Empire, and ought only to have declared him Successor after his Death;* 1.2 but more Imprudently to break his Promise to him, and thereby to Expose him a Publick Laughing-stock to the World, and a certain mark to be Mur∣dered by his Brother Selymus, unless he took Arms in his own Defence to prevent it.
• (5.) That by probabillity, if he could have effected the De∣claring of his eldest Son Successor, and given only Moderate Portions to his younger Sons, as the Chynoys and Aethiopians Emperors gives theirs, such miserable Murders might not have fallen on himself, his Sons and Nephews. The like Destru∣ction is before observed to have fallen on the younger Sons of Jehosaphat, by his leaving them overmuch Treasures and fenced Cities, to the Diminution and Power of the eldest Son Jehoram, 2 Chron. 21.1, 2, 3, 4.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Ottoman Emperors why they declared no Successors.
• * 1.2

  1 Bajazet by preferring his younger Son before his eld∣est, exposed him to be Murdered un∣less he took Arms in de∣fence of his Life.