Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/268

 strangled the poor innocent Child. By this Passage it appears, that Solyman spar'd his Nephew hitherto, not out of any Principle of Mercy, but out of an Opinion the Turks have, that Matters, if they succeed well, are pleasing to God; and therefore, as long as 'twas uncertain, what might be the event of Bajazet's Designs, he would not imbrue his Hands in his Child's Blood, lest, if Bajazet had succeeded, he might seem to have resisted the Will of God: But, when Bajazet was slain, he thought God had determined the Controversie, and that his Son also might not be spared, lest the Proverb should be verified, Of an ill Crow, an evil Egg. I had along Discourse with my Chiaux upon this Subject, when I was in the Island before mentioned, and had liberty to sail from one to the other. It happened once, that as we were returning in our Skiff, the Wind being against us, we could not double a Promontary that reach'd pretty far into the Sea, but were forced to land and take our Dinner a-shoar; for I always carried ready-dress'd Provision along with me in the Vessel for fear of the worst; and their Turks were also forced to land, by the same Stress of Weather. Our Table was spread in a green Meadow; my Chiaux and my Interpreter sate at Table with me. Mention being occasionally made of Bajazet, the Chiaux began to inveigh bitterly against him for taking up Arms against his Brother. I pleaded for him, and said, he was worthy of Pity, who was forced to do what he did: There was an inevitable Necessity upon him, either to submit himself to a certain Death, or to save his Life by taking Arms. However the Chiaux persisted still to call it an execrable Undertaking; whereupon I argued thus; you accuse Bajazet as guilty of an horrid Offence; but you acquit Solyman, the Father of your present Emperor, who took up Arms against his