Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/266

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  • turn'd to Constantinople without leave of their Officers;

and being commanded immediately to return, they did so; but so unwillingly, that Solyman plainly saw their Aversion from the Service.

Whereupon Solyman, seeing he could not get Bajazet alive out of the Persian's Hands, (who feared his Revenge, if ever he came off clear,) thought of the next thing, which was, to have him strangled there; and he hop'd to obtain his End this way, because the Persian had lately acquainted him by Letter, that he had been very remiss in so great an Affair. I have sent divers Ambassadors to you, said he, but you send nothing to me but empty Letters, or Messengers; and therefore, to convince me that you are real in the Business, send considerable Ambassadors of your prime Nobility with whom I may transact, according to the greatness of the Affair. As for himself, Bajazet had been a great Charge to him, before he could be taken, and therefore 'twas fit an Account should be had of those Expences. Solyman thereby saw that Money was requir'd, and therefore by the Advice of his Bashaw, he resolved to take any other Course, rather than to involve himself in an unnecessary War with the Persians. Hereupon Hassan Aga, together with an old Bashaw, one of the Bed-Chamber, was sent by Solyman into Persia. They departed with ample Commission, in the midst of Winter; they made great haste, insomuch that they lost several of their Retinue in the way: At last, they came to Casbia to the Sophia, and desired to see Bajazet; they found him in a nasty filthy Prison, his Beard and Hair so long, that till he was shav'd he could hardly be known; but then Hassan knew him by