Nevves from Turkie, or, A true relation of the passages of the Right Honourable Sir Tho. Bendish, baronet, Lord Ambassadour, with the Grand Signieur at Constantinople, his entertainment and reception there.: Also, a true discourse of the unjust proceedings of Sir Sackville Crow, former ambassadour there, against the English merchants, his contest with the present Lord Ambassadour, and Sir Sackviles imprisonment, and in his returne, his betraying the captain of the ship and some English merchants at Alicant in Spain, to the Inquisition; lastly his commitment to the Tower of London, where now he is.

My Lords Speech.

MOst High and Mighty Emperour, and most Excellent Prince, the King of Great Brittaine, France, and Ireland, wisheth you all the health, glory, and happinesse which this world can give you, and Commanded me to give your Majesty thankes for that Justice you lately shewed in the protection of his Merchants in their Differences with their Ambassadour, whom (by these Letters)

his Majesty Desires, and Cōmanded me by word of mouth to crave, you would order, and Command his speedy dispatch into England, there to be judged according to his merit. The King my Master al∣so desires that that ancient love, peace, and correspondence which hath ever been betwixt your Majestie, and your Predecessours, may continue and remaine unviolable between you, to which purpose hee hath sent me to take care that none of his subjects give any distast to this State and Empire, withall desiring that your Majestie will be pleased to let all injuries done in severall places of the Empire, contrary to the Emperiall Capitulations be Redressed, and to af∣ford his subjects, and Merchants, such Freedomes as have been for∣merly granted, that the Capitulations also may be Renewed under your Majesties own hand, and such new additions made as may be most commodious for the good and benefit of both States.

The Grievances.

1. THat whereas by the Capitulations, the Merchants shipps should passe in, and out of any of the Ports in Turky freely, and may take for their mony, and Provision for their necessary food, in what Port they come, and that if any Fleet of the Grand Signieur should meet any of the English ships, that they shall not stay, de∣mand, pretend, or take any thing from them.

Now contrary to the Capitulations, those ships which should passe out, and into this port, are detained at the Castells, untill they shall buy their passage with a summe of money, and being here, are often detained by the Customer, and Messetareages, upon any small pretence, during their pleasure, neither are they suffered to buy their necessary provisions for their maintenance in their voyage, and the Captain Bassa meeting any ship or ships of ours, suffers them not to passe without a large summe of money. And also where he hears of any ships lying in any Ports abroad sends to them for a present, which as due he requires to take of them.

2. And whereas by the Capitulations the Merchants ought to have the free power and disposall of all such goods which are brought to them, and that they should have libertie to lade or un∣lade them at their pleasures, and that no Custome should bee above one time paid, in case they shall carry them by Land, or Reship them for any other place.

Now Contrary to the said Capitulations, the goods brought in∣to this Port are seized upon, not only aboard the ships, where also the Captaine and Mariners are abused, but also in the Custome-house where they take away what they please, of the best, and chie∣fest of the goods, without giving either price or satisfaction for them, neither are the remainder of those secure in their owne hou∣ses, which have been forced open, their servants abused, and their goods taken away, by which meanes there is due to severall of the Nation from the late Vizeere (Sala Bassa's) Jew 60000. l. and upwards, for one piece of Amber, taken by the Vizeere himselfe, there remaines due 4500. l. And for one other piece more taken by Omeraga, worth 4100 l. and moreover, our goods landed at one scale, and paying Custome, are not permitted to be sent to another place without paying it over againe.

3. That whereas by the Capitulations no Customes ought to bee put upon Merchandise brought into the Grand Signieurs Domi∣nions, nor carried out; and also that no Customes, nor any other Charge shall be imposed upon the English Nation more then 3. per cent.

Now contrary to the said Capitulations, especially in Alleppo, a Custome upon money is exacted, and extraordinary charges or tax laid upon Silke, and almost double Custome required on all goods brought from Scanderone to the Town of Alleppo, notwith∣standing there hath been a Hattesherife lately obtained from the Grand Signeur to the contrary, yet a Jew being Customer there, by name Cacham, together with his Agents, disobeys, and slights not only the Capitulations, but the Hattesherife also, thereby gi∣ving such discontents to the Merchants, that if remedy bee not ve∣ry speedily applyed, that scale will very suddenly bee ruined, and in this Port as well as in others, goods are so overvalued, that in stead of paying 3. per cent. they exact 6. per cent. or thereabouts on some goods, and to increase the charge higher upon the Mer∣chants, the Customer imploying Officers both aboard the ship, and about the Custome-house in his own service, taketh the goods to pay them.

I humbly crave your Majestie will take these Grievances into your wise consideration, and so confirme the Capitulations under your gracious hand, that none hereafter may dare to violate them,

and that your Majestie would propose some redresse and satisfacti∣on for the abuses past, by your Commandement sent to every Port, that the Merchants under my charge may be incouraged to goe on in their Trade, which if they faile in, the Comerce and Amitie be∣tween your gracious Majesty and the King my Master, will not only be impaired, but your Majestie will lose by our absence the faithfullest known friends, and greatest Custome, that by forraig∣ners are brought into the Empire.

These Grievances, and my Lords Speech, were all read over af∣ter the Kings Letter, by the Grand Signieur himselfe, and as my Lord was told by some of the great men, hee liked them, and was very much pleased at them, and gave strict Command they should be redressed.

My Lord having done with the Grand Signieur, he went through the Seraglio Garden with all his attendance to the gate, where his horse stood, and by the Chouze Bassa, and his 42. Chouzes was at∣tended back again to the water side, and by Hassen Aga, and his two Chouzes was attended home to his house.

After my Lord had been received with such honour, and had gotten such firm footing he suffered not the Vizeere to rest, but the next morning sent his Druggerman to him, to thank him for his reall performance of his promise, and as he had begun, so he would proceed, and in the first place that hee would grant his Majesties desires, in sending home the Lord Craw; secondly, in confirming the Capitulations, and let other abuses bee redressed according to the Grand Signieurs promise; hereupon the Vizeere made a stop, and called the Druggerman close up to him, and said, Have not I been as good as my word? have I not done your Lord the honour befits him, yet see nothing? Goe tell my Lord, except I see what I shall have. I will not stirre one foot further. Whereupon my Lord sent his Druggerman to him again, to perswade him to trust to my Lords bounty, but could by no means be drawn to doe more without some assurance, wherefore after two or three dayes was spent, and nothing could bee done, my Lord sent him this Letter.

My Lord,

I Pray tell me the Cause why a week is nere past, and no redresse of our Grievances, if you intend that Justice should be done us, which the Grand Signieur hath promised, why is it delayed? when it shall be required why the ships come not in? what shall I reply? where shall I lay the fault? I can have Justice done me, but had ra∣ther by your hand then anothers: I pray let not your delayes make me jealous of the future performance, but give accomplishment to the businesse.

To this after he had well perused it, hee said, If you hang me, I will not stirre a foot further. After which my Lord let his Druggerman tell him, that if he performed these Conditions following, Hee heard him say, he would give him in way of Gra∣tuity 20000 l.

1. That the Man-sold Ambassadour be immediately sent away in a Barke or Gally to Smyrna, and there put aboard an English ship, to be carried according to the King of Englands command into England.

2. Secondly, that the new Ambassadour now established bee brought to the publike Divan, and there feasted according to the usuall honour of Ambassadours.

3. That the Capitulations bee immediatly confirmed by the Grand Signieurs Hattesherife.

4. That satisfaction be speedily made to the English Merchants in this Port, for all those goods which were contrary to Capitula∣tions taken from them, and also that a messenger be sent to Alleppo for the Jew Customer, Cacham, together with his Kinsman David, for to answer for contemning the Grand Signieurs Hattesherife, and make satisfaction for the injury done the Merchants there.

5. Fiftly, That some course may be taken, that all such grievances may be forthwith redressed which are mentioned in the Lord Am∣bassadours Complaint to the Grand Signieur. These Articles the Vizeere liked, and agreed they should bee performed, and hee would not have an Asper untill all was done; but said he, I will have two Merchants bound to me, that my Lord shall give me the mo∣ney when all is done. For this purpose two of us went, having the Papers ready, but being late that night could not doe it, but promi∣sed the next morning so soon as they could come it should be done,

and so questionlesse it had, but now see a most unfortunate accident, that we must act our own destruction, for when the Market was so starved, that all the Jewes, Turkes, and even the Grand Signieur himselfe, cryed out for the English ships to come in, which my Lord would not suffer untill his Conditions were granted, the Councell of Smyrna being scared with a protest which D. Edwards made to have goods out of the ships, consigned to Jews at Constan∣tinople, suffered, 19. Cases of Silke, and seven packs of Clothes to be landed, and carried up to Constantinople, which at this very time so supplyed the market, and stopped their mouthes, that the next day when the Merchants came to seale, he told them, Except they would make an absolute bond, without Conditions, that they owed him 20000. l. he would not meddle with the businesse, but bid them do what they could. This unexpected mischiefe when my Lord had wrought all his ends into so fine a condition to bee on a sudden so dashed in pieces, was too great a trouble to my Lord, and us all, for the Jewes and all people laughed at us, and told the Vi∣zeere, that if he would be patient, the ships would unlade them∣selves, whether my Lord would or not; so that the evill report which this bred, was worse then the supply of the Market, for all believed it. Now what to do, and which way to begin to act, was no small trouble to my Lord; at last my Lord resolved to try him with another Letter or Arrs, as followeth;

My Lord,

I Beseech you tell me what you thinke of me, whether I have so little regard of my Kings honour, and my owne reputation, that I can remaine in the Port where a man-sold Ambassadour is maintained and backed, to affront, and scorn me, and that authori∣ty which the Grand Signieur, and your selfe have approved as just. What is it to be vested, graciously accepted by the Grand Signieur, and promised redresse of injuries, if nothing be performed, if you believe I have truth, or honour in me, upon my faith doe me that Justice you ought, or I shall appeale to the Grand Signieur, if there I find no reliefe, I must with my Merchants leave the Port and Nation.

So this the Vizeere said, well, let your Lord bee patient a little while, and his businesse shall be done. In this smooth delatory an∣swer

was more cunning expressed then before, for delayes ruine us, which he knew well enough, and his kind Reply tooke us from complaining against him. All this while the ships lay at great char∣ges for demereage, the goods in them like to rot or receive much Damage, and if they stayed out past the little Bycam, the cloth would not sell this yeare; besides, the Merchants at a Gaze, and all Trade stopped; all these inconveniences being considered, wee valued every day delayed at 1000. l. wherefore my Lord being much troubled, because he knew not how to helpe us, for delayes must not be admitted, besides, my Lord Crow swelled with con∣ceipt to see us in this extremitie, who being summoned by my Lord (according to the Kings Command) to depart for England, In stead of obeying the summons, sent him an unworthy and unbe∣seeming answer. An Overture at this present was afforded to us, by Arononcone the Vizeeres Jew, that he would undertake that all the forenamed Propositions should be granted, and for the sending my Lord Crow to Smyrna, he required but seven dayes time, but for the compleating hereof (till which time hee would not receive an asper) doe what the Merchants could, hee would 35000. pounds. And indeed considering the vast expences delayes would bring up∣on the Company, and to settle the Trade in a more secure way then ever, out our enemy, and recover our owne Debts, it was a∣judged by my Lord, and us all, a very good bargain, yet my Lord must not take knowledge of it, but as made between us and the Jew privately, only his gratuity to the Vizeere must seeme to doe the businesse. This Bargain concluded, the Jew so wrought the bu∣sinesse, that within the space of six dayes he got by meanes of the Vizeere a Hattesherife to send my Lord Crow out of Turky, which was presently put in execution, and two Chouzes sent to take him out of his house, and put him into a Boat for Smyrna, hee made no resistance at all, but went presently with him; upon Wednesday morning the three Druggermen railing upon my Lord, and calling him Devill, wished the Devill to take him, and us all. My La∣dy and the rest of the Family stayed behind to pack up their hous∣hold-stuffe till Saturday following; in the mean time shee made much moan, that she had not an asper in the house left her, besides wages of Nurses, and divers other servants came to 500. l. and upwards, which were unpaid. This good Lady (only worthy of pitty)

being by the evill disposition of her husband brought to this mise∣ry, was thought no wayes accessary to his bad designes; Where∣fore my Lord moved us in way of pitty to consider her condition; upon which wee sent her 1000. l. which she kindly accepted, al∣though her Husband was offered by some of us not long before 20000. l. to be quiet, and depart the place in peace. Strange were the Plots and designes this man had to ruine us; besides the seizing of our estates, lending away our ships, and imprisoning our per-persons, and some in chaines; at one time he pretended that wee owed him 100000. l. of which to be established, hee offered the Grand Signieur 50000 l. and to the Vizeere the other 50000 l. when the Estate would not give him credit in this, hee workes upon the Venetians to supply him and they hoping (and not with∣out ground) by this meanes to make a breach between the Turkes and us, or to undoe the Merchants (which might be very benefi∣ciall both to their Wars, and Trade) doe furnish him both with mo∣ney, and presents; the French Ambassadour hee had made sure to him, and it is verily believed by money, and therefore hee's com∣monly called Sir Sackvile Crowes Broker; this man sweares, and saies any thing, Sir Sackvile Crow would have him; but being of a wretched and miserable condition, and of so poore and hen-hearted a spirit, was able to get no Credence in this Court. Sir Sackvile Crow was to us a roaring Lion, threatens nothing but Ruine and destruction and since my Lord came, told some of us, that he would be as Sampson, if they forced him hence, hee would pull the house upon them, and for my Lord that dared to come against him, to send him, and his Followers home in Chaines, he thought to light a punishment, but had decreed him a perpetuall prisoner in Rhodes or Ciprus. Oh how poore, miserable, and weake are the imagi∣nations, and sancies of man when God leaves him! that this man that over-night despised the authority of his King, bid defiance to his Ambassadour, and scorned all men in respect of himselfe, was the next day by two Chouzes without further help led into a Boat, and carryed whither he never intended. Here ends his story in Turky, God send him more honesty in England, whither wee wish him a good voyage.