Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/101

the Bosphorus, was called Mustapha, of whose unhappy End you have heard before; but by another Wife, named Roxolana, he had four, Mahomet, Selimus, Bajazet and Giangir. Mahomet liv'd till he was married, (for the Turks call their Concubines, Wives) but died soon after; so that Selimus and Bajazet of this latter Venter only remain'd alive. As for Giangir, he came thus to his end: When News was brought to Constantinople, that his Half-brother Mustapha was put to death, the Youth, being of a timorous Mind and infirm Body (for he was crook-back'd) fell into a grievous Passion, upon the Imagination that the like Fate did hang over his own Head; for he could promise safety to himself no longer than his Father liv'd. If his Head were once laid, he that was his Successor, would certainly kill all his Brethren, as emulous of the Kingdom; not one of them would be excepted, and himself, being among the Number, must look for the same Fate. This Thought struck him into a Disease, even as if the Bow-string had been already about his Neck, which cost him his Life; so that now only Selimus and Bajazet remained. Selimus was the Elder, and 'twas known to all, that his Father design'd him for the Empire; but Bajazet was most favoured and doted upon by his Mother. Whether it were out of Commiseration to prevent his inevitable Ruin, or else out of motherly Indulgence, or whatever else the Reason was; this is certain, if her Vote could have carried it, Bajazet had certainly succeeded in the Empire after his Father's Death. But she must give way to his Father's Will, who was fully resolv'd, come what would, that Selimus, and none else, should succeed him. Bajazet was not ignorant thereof, and therefore he turned every Stone to stave off his impending Fate, and, if possible,