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THE HISTORY OF THE TURKS From the Year 1678, to the Year 1699. (Book Mehmet IV)
* 1.1WE have in our preceding History represented the Ottoman Empire for seve∣ral years past, under ma∣ny Circumstances of Hap∣piness and Glory. The Turks had been successful in their Wars abroad, having in∣creased and enlarged their Empire by ad∣ding Newhausel in Hungary thereunto, with the Countrey belonging to it. They had gained and conquered all the Island of Can∣dia, with that invincible Fortress, and there∣upon had put an end to a War with the Venetians, which had continued for the space of Twenty six Years. After which they carried their Conquering Arms into Poland, where they took the strong Fortress of Caminiec, which is the Key of that King∣dom; and thence marched into that Coun∣trey as far as Leopolis, which they brought under the Tribute of Eighty thousand Crowns a-year, and so returned back again into their own Dominions without any Op∣position, or so much almost as the Appear∣ance of an Enemy: And to render this Action the more observable, it was attend∣ed with the least Expence of Blood and Treasure, of any Enterprize of so bold and daring a Design; and proved an Expedition so profitable and beneficial, that scarce a Ja∣nizary or Horseman returned without Spoil, or Plunder, or Slaves of both Sexes. All which Wars were acted within the space of Thirteen Years, during the Government of Achmet Kuperli, with such Intervals al∣so of Peace, that War seemed but an En∣tertainment to exercise the Soldiery, and amuse their Minds, lest they should fall into Mutiny and Sedition; all the Parti∣culars of which we have already at large related. And here I cannot but observe, and say, That Justice is the proper means to render a People flourishing and happy; an Instance whereof we have through all the Government of Kuperli, who being a Person educated and skilful in the Law, administred Justice equally to the People; his Eyes were not blinded with Avarice, which might biass or thwart him in giving Judgment; he was not cruel, or bloody, or inclined to take away Mens Lives for the sake of their Riches; nor more ambitious than what served to make him jealous of his Honour, and zealous to conserve and keep up his Fame and Reputation in the World; which is necessary for Ministers in his sublime Station. Wherefore let us look on those Times which were as quiet, calm and peaceable as any that ever had smiled on the Ottoman State, and justly ••••r bute those Blessings to the Favour of Heaven, which was pleased in those Days to behold so much Justice and Equity dispensed to a People unaccustomed there∣unto, and perhaps in Reward thereof, to make the Government more easie and plea∣sant, than either before or since those Hal∣cyon Days. But now that Kara Mustapha comes to succeed in the Place of so just and equal a Governour, a Person of Vio∣lence, Rapine, Pride, Covetousness, False, Perfidious, Bloody, and without Reason or Justice; we have nothing to represent at the beginning of his Government, besides his Oppression, Extortion, Cruelties and Acts of Injustice beyond any thing that was ever practised before in the Reign of the most Tyrannical Princes: and in Pro∣cess of time becoming vastly Rich with the Spoils and Ruine of many thou∣sands of Families, he accomplishes the full Measure of his Iniquity by the persidious Breach of the Truce between the Emperor and his Master the Sultan: For tho' it wanted only three Years of being expired, yet trusting to the Power and Force of his