Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/223

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big enough to serve them all; so that they were compelled to weigh out their Water to each Man by Measure, only enough to keep Life and Soul together. This Cistern-Water was increased with a Mixture of Sea-Water, and by some curious Art made fresh. This Secret was very opportunely told them by a certain Alchymist: But all had not the Benefit of it; for you should see some lie parching on the Ground, ready to give up the Ghost for very Thirst, continually crying out, as well as they could speak, Water! Water! and, if a little was brought, they were relieved for the present; but, when that Moisture was spent, they relapsed to their former Drought, and died thereof. Thus many perished, besides the Wounded, who could have no help of Surgery to cure them in that desolate Place.

In the Month of September, the victorious Navy of the Turks returned to Constantinople, bringing the Christians Captives, with their Gallies along with them. A joyful Spectacle to the Turks; but a sad one to the Christians that lived amongst them! That Night it lay at Anchor near the Rocks over against Byzantium, that so they might enter the Port the next Day in greater Pomp and Splendor. Solyman came down into an Apartment in his Gardens near the Sea-side, that from thence he might see the Prisoners entring in. Don Alvarez de Sande was in the stern of his Admiral Galley, and with him, Don Sancho de Leyva, and Don Bellinger de Requesne, one Commander of the Sicilian Galleys, the other of the Neapolitan. The Galleys of the Christians were despoiled of their Ornaments, as Streamers, &c. and hall'd in Barques, that they might appear little and contemptible in the sight of the Turks. They who observ'd Solyman's Countenance at that time say,