THE MODERN PART OF AN Univerfal History, FROM THE Earlieft ACCOUNT of TIME. - Compiled from ORIGINAL WRITER S. By the AUTHORS of the ANTIENT PART. IN RECTO DECVS LONDON: Printed for S. RICHARDSON, T. OSBORNE, C. HITCH, ' M.DCC.LIX. Modern History: BEING A CONTINUATION OF THE Univerfal History. BOOK XV. CHAP. XX. The Reign of Soleymân II. SECT. I. Troubles in the Othmân Empire. The Siege of Belgrade, and Battle of Niffa. W HEN the Boftânji Bâfbi (A) brought Soleyman 20 Soltan the news of his brother's depofition, and his own Soleymân advancement to the Ali Othmân throne, that II. prince, contrary to every body's expectation, was extremely grieved at the message; "Why, fays he, in "the name of the immortal god, do you endeavour to dif"turb my tranquility? Suffer me, I befeech you, to pass "in quiet, in my cell, the few days I have to live; and let my brother rule the Othman empire: for he was born to go"vern, but I to the study of eternal life." The Boftânji Bajbi, at first, is amazed at these words: but, recovering himself, continues to prefs the prince; alledging, that the refolution (A) The chief of the gardeners. MOD. HIST. VOL. XIII. B of A. D. of the Wazirs, Ulema, nobles, and the whole people, could 1687. not be altered; nor Soltán Mohammed restored, without great detriment to the empire. Soleymân, ftill in fufpence, replies, "That he owed too great a reverence to his brother to take poffeffion of his throne, which he had quitted with reluc"tance: I would come forth, however, continues he, but am afraid of my brother." His timorous behaviour. A new fedition. 66 Ar laft the Botânji Bafbi, impatient of delay, fays, "You "muft give way, moft refplendent emperor, to the entrea"ties and wifhes of the Muffulman people ;" and, with thefe words, forces him, as it were, out of his chamber, and leads him to the room where the throne was usually placed. When he came there, he firft, not without figns of fear, defires his conductor and the door-keepers" to take care, left his brother should be within; fince he dreaded "to appear in his prefence." Having been affured, that his brother was removed to another apartment, he, at length, mounts the throne, and is faluted emperor by all the courtiers. But, as foon as the ceremony was performed, he leaps down again, as from an impure place, and demands abdeft (B)." This done, he defers returning to the throne; and, when the courtiers prefs him to it, he puts his finger to his mouth, and enjoins them filence (C). At laft, notwithstanding his reluctance, he is again feated there; and admits the Ülema and nobles to kiss his robe. BEING thus advanced, he confirms the Wazir, Siavus Pafbâ, and commands him to appeafe the fedition. On the Wazir's return to his palace, the Bulük Agalari (D) do him their reverence; but then demand their pay, and a new Bakhfbifb (E), which used to be given to the foldiers at the beginning of a new fucceffion. Siavus Pafka, finding the treafuries furies empty, amufes the officers for fome time with words, and then endeavours to feparate the chief authors of the dif turbances, under pretence of promoting them, in order to fend them to remote cities. By this conduct, the former hatred of the foldiers is revived against him, when affembled in the Orta Jami; they run through the ftreets, crying out, the Wazir ought to be put to death, as an enemy to Soltân Soleyman, a deferter, and a violater of his promifes. A. D. 1687. very: PRESENTLY after they furround his palace, whither, The Waon the firft alarm of their meeting, he had retired with zir's brahis officers; and, on being denied admittance to speak to that minister, attempt to break open the gates: but Siavus Pafba repels them with the arms which he found by chance in the palace; and kills above 'twenty Janizaries. The foldiers, more enraged at this flaughter, rufh with their whole force upon the gates, and break them open. Mean time the Wazir fhoots feveral with arrows from his chamber oppofite to the gate, while his officers, about 100 in number, prevent the rebels from afcending, and force them into the Diwân Khaneh (F). A bloody conflict hereupon enfues, wherein above 150 of the conípirators are killed upon the stairs, and as many wounded. But, at laft, many of the Wazir's party being flain, the rest fly to the top of the houfe, and throw themselves into the ftreet. Upon this, Siavus Pashâ retires again to his chamber; and, in the door, kills twelve Fanizaries with his fword. At last, rather wearied with conquering than conquered himself, he is beaten down, and killed he is flain. by the foldiers, who cut his body in pieces, and throw them into the street a. RIC AUT relates feveral matters which paffed before the death of the Wazir, not mentioned by our Turkish hif a CANT. Hift. Othm. p. 350, & feqq. preferve the empire, and be a check to the tyranny and vices of his fucceffors, as well as of his minifters, by being an encouragement to the foldiery to watch over the conduct of the Paja's, and reform the government when grown negligent or corrupt. Cant. (F) That is, the boufe of judgment,or place where the people's complaints are heard. It is a large hall on the fecond floor of the Wazir's palace, open to wards the flair-cafe; where peo- B 2 torians |