Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/270

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ness, but to turn to our Religion, which, in the Prayers you saw us make, we desired of God. When News was brought to Constantinople that Bajazet was dispatched, I was afraid that our Affairs, which were in a hopeful way of Conclusion, would now meet with a Rub at last; the Misfortune of Bajazet might over-turn all, make the Turks more Insolent, undo what was done, and propose harder Conditions. I had passed over some Difficulties, as the Loss of Gerba, and the Imprisonment of Bajazet, and the Vaivode's Expulsion out of Moldavia; but there were two terrible ones, Bajazet's Death, and another, which I shall speak of by and by.

HALY sent one of his Domesticks, to tell me, that Bazajet was dead for certain; that therefore, I should not defer the Peace, in hopes of his Success: That I should remember, Princes of the same Religion are more easily reconcil'd, than those of contrary ones are; and, therefore, I should hesitate no longer, nor seek Knots in a Bulrush, as the Proverb is.

This Message troubled me much; yet, because I thought the Account might not be true, I sent up and down the Town amongst my Friends, to know what Certainty they had of Bajazet's Death: They all returned me answer, That he was most certainly dispatched: Whereupon, I resolved to draw in my Sails; there were no Hopes for me to obtain better Conditions; it were well, if I could maintain my Ground, and stick to my former without any change: The Emperor of the Turks had seen them, and was not much averse to them; some small Alterations were made; something I wished I could have added; other Things were dubiously expressed, which an ill-natured Interpretation might raise Scruples about. I did my Endeavour that these