The History of the Turks describing the rise and ruin of their first empire in Persia, the original of their second : containing the lives and reigns of their several kings and emperors from Ottoman its first founder to this present year, 1683, being a succinct series of history, of all their wars (forreign and domestick) policies, customs, religion and manners, with what else is worthy of note in that great empire.

CHAP. X. The Life of Mahomet the first King of the Turks, and the restorer of their Kingdom ruined by the Tartars.

THough Historians somewhat vary about the Suc∣cessor of Bajazet, yet the most Credible do affirm that his Son Mahomet, several of his other Bro∣thers being slain and carried away Captive, succeed∣ed him, and that the rest might be mistaken in the Name.

This Mahomet, when his Father was taken Prisoner, was but fifteen years of Age, having been by him ap∣pointed his Successor for the great Hope he saw in him, for the recovery of the broken and much shat∣tered Kingdom.

When Mahomet entered upon Kingly Authority, the Tartars possessed a great part of the before Turkish Dominion, but the Remains of the scattered Army and other Aids resorting to his Standard after the depar∣ture of Tamerlain, he recovered many Cities, some by Force, and others by Revolt from the Tartars, and not long after in a great and bloody Battle overthrowing I∣nal Ogly Tamerlain's Lieutenant, he advanced more bold∣ly and charged Costor Ogly, and Kinpeck Ogly, two more of Tamerlain's great Captains, whom he likewise o∣verthrew; and following his good Fortune passed into the lesser Asia, of which Tamerlain having Notice sent for him with a Promise, to give him one of his Daugh∣ters in Marriage, to whom he intended to go; but by the way being often forced to fight through the Am∣bushment

of the Tartars, he fearing it was a Design to take him Prisoner returned to his Government, excusing himself to Tamerlain's Ambassador, and send∣ing one of his own Ambassadors to give the reason of his not coming; upon Notice of which, and that the Turks still prevailed; Tamerlaine prepared for a second Ex∣pedition, having recruited his huge Army for that pur∣pose: But what Man willeth God disposeth, whilst he was intent upon the matter falling sick of a Feaver, or Ague, after three sits he dyed; Death Conquering him, who in a short space Conquered fifty intire Kingdoms.

This mighty Tartar being Dead, his great Kingdom divided amongst his Sons, by their jarring and discon∣tent of the Nobility was soon after rent into pieces, most of it falling into the hands of the Turks who at this day possess it: And now Mahomet winning all the Do∣minions his Father held in the greater Asia, from the Tartars resolved to recover the rest, which his three Brothers, Isa, Solyman and Mnsa had seized on in Eu∣rope, and the lesser Asia; whereupon assembling all his Forces, he marched to L••pacllum, near to which Isa be∣ing incamped, he sent to offer him Caramania and seve∣ral other Kingdoms in the lesser Asia; though indeed they were not his to give, being possessed by their rightful Princes, whom Tamerlain had re-possess∣ed them off, which offer refused from a younger Brother, whereupon a bloody Battle insued; in which Isa was overthrown, and for the preservation of his Life for∣ced to fly to Emanuel the Greek Emperor: In this Bat∣tle were blain the two famous Basas, Eine and Tenurta∣ses, of which overthrow Mahomet sent to certifie his Brother Sol••••••••n then in Constantinople; after which he marched with his Army to Prrsa, and received under his Protection all the Countries adjoyning; and now growing strong he ••eselved to brook no Rival in his Fa∣thers Kingdoms, when on the other hand Solyman his

Elder Brother hearing what he had done, and knowing him to be of an aspiring Temper, thought it not Con∣venient to suffer him longer so Triumphantly to pro∣ceed; whereupon by the advice of his Grave Counsel∣lors, he sent for his Brother Isa then at Constantinople, and making him general of his Army, gave him Or∣ders to pass over into Asia, and curb the Pride of his aspiring Brother. Isa glad of this opportunity to re∣venge his own Injuries sustained, in loosing his Domi∣nions, obeying his Brother Solyman's Commands, en∣tered Mahomet's Dominions, and there with Fire and Sword began his Progress, which Mahomet understand∣ing came against him, and having overthrown his For∣ces put him to a second flight into Carramania; where, in obscurity, of the Wounds he received in Battle, and grief for his foul defeat he dyed.

Solyman hearing of the defeat prepared a great Army to invade Asia, which made Mahomet retire in∣to the Country of Amasa, as doubting the affections of his People, by reason the Kingdoms of Bajazet of Right appertained to Solyman as Flder: This retire∣ing gave Solyman opportunity to advance to the Walls of Prus••s, which City he besieged, and had it pre∣sently yielded, except the Castle, which upon the In∣terceptions of Mahomet's Letters, was likewise sur∣rendered, but upon the approach of Mahomet with a great Power, doubtful to keep what he had got, he with all his People retired to the Straights of Neapo∣lis, where he defended himself right valiantly against the assaults of his Brother, who by reason of the In∣temperance of the Weather, and a Letter framed by Alis-Bassa, that there was a Conspiracy amongst his Captains to deliver him up to Solyman, he retired.

Whilst these things were acting, Musa being set at Li∣berty by the Tartars, came to Mahomet's Camp & was of him joyfully received, when after some Discourse it was

greed, that Musa with an Army should pass over the Euxin Sea, into Europe; and whilst Solyman was busie in Asia, seize upon his Country, which Expedition he undertaking, and making Isfender Prince of Casto∣monia his Friend, and afterward the Prince of Valachia, by marrying his Daughter, he soon prevailed with the Governours of the chief Cities, to Revolt from Solyman; when entering Hadrianople he caused himself to be invested with Royal Robes, and as King of the Country sent forth his Decrees, which Solyman hear∣ing of as he lay at Ancira in Asia, passed the Straights of Bosphorus with all the Forces he could raise, up∣on whose Departure Mahomet recovered what ever he had won in Asia.

Solyman being come into Europe, Musa prepared to oppose him, and both Armies coming in sight of each other, Musa so dealt with Solyman's Captains, that they revolted, which he perceiving fled, accompanied only with Caratze-Beg, Cara Muchil and one Country Turk, whom they took with them as their Guide: whose persidiousness brought them to Destruction, for pretending to lead them through the by-ways all Night, he misnaming places brought them in the Morning near to Musa's Camp; when giving Notice to the Rusticks they set upon them, and having killed the two Captains, took Solyman and delivered him to Musa, who immediately caused him to be strang∣led, whose Body by his Command was carried to Pru∣sa, and there buryed by his Ancestors.

Solyman being Dead, Musa took upon him the Go∣ernment of the Turkish Kingdom in Europe; as had been agreed between him and his Brother Mahomet, but e'r he was settled he began to Tyrannize beyond measure over his Subjects, which caused many of his great Captains to leave him, and amongst the rest Eu∣renosie feigning himself Blind found means to depart to

Constantinople, from whence he wrote to Mahomet then in Asia; giving him an Account of his Brothers pro∣ceedings, and soliciting him to pass over with his Ar∣my, whose Council Mahomet taking, making first a League with Emanuel the Greek Emperor, he entered Europe with his Army: But by the over eager pursuit of his Army, after the Vaunt Couriers of Musa's Army, his Orders being broken, he was put to flight, and for∣ced to repass the Seas into Asia, leaving behind him a great part of his Army, who were spoiled by the Enemy.

Mahomet thus foiled, and desirous of Revenge re∣solved once more to try his Fortune, and thereupon drawing to his Assistance Dulgader Ogly, who sent his Son with great Forces to serve him in his War, he repassed the Euxin, and by the Council of Eurenosis, having procured the revolt of Jegides-Bassa, Barack-Beg, and Sinon-Beg, 3 of Musa's great Captains who came over to him with 3000 valiant Turks he resolved to give his Brother battle, the which being joyned, Musa by the revolt of other Commanders during the heat of fight was overthrown, taken, and by the Command of Mahomet strangled, receiving therein the same measure he had dealt to his Brother Solyman.

After this overthrow of Musa, Mahomet proceeded to take possession of his Kingdom, the which whilst he was doing, news came that the Carramanian King spoiled his Countries in Asia, and had burnt his great Ci∣ty of prusa, which being a frontier City was still exposed to the miseries of War; whereupon Mahomet setling his Affairs in Europe as necessity would permit, passed into Asia, and falling like a tempest upon the Country of Carramama took Aspropolis, Despo••opolis, and Hierapolis, laying hard Siege to Iconium, which caused the Carra∣manian to send his Emb••••••dors to treat a Peace, the which by reason of the great ••oods of Rain that fell, and the Sickness in the Army, occasioned by the intem∣perance

of the Weather, was by Mahomet accorded, but it continued not long e're the Carramanian King in the absence of Mahomet a second time invaded his Countries, with whom Mahomet fighting, routed his Army, taking him and his Son Prisoners, for whose Ransoms he had delivered into his possession the principal Cities of Carramania, and then returning into Europe seized upon Valachia obliging the Prince there∣of to become his Vassal.

About this time two Persons viz. Buriluzes and Be∣dredin, pretending themselves to be great Prophets drew great multitudes after them who spoiled the Country, upon notice of which Mahomet sent forces to apprehend them, who dispersing their followers, hewed the former in pieces, and hanged the latter upon a Sign∣post, and now Mahomet falling sick without any hopes of recovery, assembled all his great Captains and charged them to obey his eldest son Amurath, whom after his decease he appointed to succeed him in his Kingdom, and lest in his absence he being then at his Government of Amass, any disturbance should happen, that they that were about him, if he should chance to die should conceal his Death: All which, he at that time dying, being accordingly observed, for when the Janiziries and Pensioners mistrusting him to be dead, and demanded to see him, the Bassas attiring him in his Royal Robes, like as when he was alive brought him forth into a large Gallery, placing a Boy under his Gown, who as he was Commanded, lifted the Kings Arm and moved his head, with which those that were be∣low were well contented, and by this Stratagem kept his Death Secret 41 days, even till Amurath came and took the Scepter, the which had they not done the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Pensioners would have spoiled the rich Citie, wherein they were quartered, as ever since has been observed during an Interregnum.