AS the Town has been so agreeably entertain’d with the Tragedy of Mustapha, written by the celebrated Author of Eurydice, and other valuable Pieces, I think it will not be amiss to give a short Account of the Life and Actions of Solyman, the Father of Mustapha, mix’d with those of that unfortunate Prince, who gives Title to the Play.

Solyman the Magnificent, (Father to Mustapha, by a beautiful Circassian Slave, and Tzianger, by the ambitious Roxolana) was one of the most potent Princes of the Othoman Race: He was the Son of Selimus, who died in the midst of his Victories, upon the Road to Adrianople, of a Cancer in his Reins, in September 1520, when Charles V. was Emperor of Germany, Henry VIII. King of England, Francis I. King of France, James V. King of Scotland, and Leo X. Pope of Rome.

At the Time of his Father’s Death, Solyman was at Magnesia(A), and receiving Notice of his Father’s Death from Ferhates Bassa, only, (as Selimus his Father had formerly attempted to poison him, fearing his amiable Qualities) gave little Credit to the Information: But when he received the Confirmation from Pyrrhus, and Mustapha, Bassas at Adrianople, he ventur’d to Scutari(B), where he was met by the Aga of the Janizaries(C), and Numbers of the People, (yet ignorant of the Death of Selimus) from whence he was conducted over to Constantinople(D), where the Body of the Janizaries were prepar’d on the Shore to meet him.

The Moment he landed, the Aga cry’d with a loud Voice, Behold your Emperor Solyman! The Janizaries, transported with Joy, reply’d with one Voice, Long live Solyman, our great Emperor!

Solyman was in his Twentieth Year, when he was first seated in the Turkish Throne; and for several Years reign’d as a benign Prince. But being corrupted by the Artifices of Roxolana, and the impious Designs of Rustan his Grand Vizir, who wedded a Daughter of Roxolana’s, began to dip his Hands in Blood.

However he perform’d many glorious Actions at the Head of his own Armies.

The first Year of his Reign, he took from Lewis King of Hungary, a peaceable Prince, the strong City of Belgrade(E).

He afterwards turn’d his Arms against the City of Rhodes. I shall be something particular in this Siege, because our Countrymen had a hand in bravely defending the place.

Solyman was not present at the first investing of(F) Rhodes; but his Troops being often beat by the Besieged, and losing above forty Thousand of his Soldiers, (tho’ the Rhodians were not six Thousand fighting Men) be repair’d to the Camp to encourage his Troops.

The Emperor’s Arrival gave new life to his fainting Army; and perceiving the English Bulwark annoy’d him most, sprung a Mine, that blew many a brave Englishman to Immortality.

The Turks upon this Success, with loud Shouts attack’d the Breach; but the Grand Master, Philip Vellinus, at the Head of the remaining English, repuls’d them, with the Loss of two Thousand Janizaries.

The Cannon of the Besieged did great Execution among the Turks, and their being often repuls’d, gave Solyman but little Hopes of gaining the City by Force; for even the Women of all Degrees threw down Stones from the Battlements on the Heads of the Besiegers, when they came to scale their Walls.

Solyman, after musing alone in his Tent, sent for all his chief Commanders, and told them he would make one general Assault; and if the City was taken, the Troops should be rewarded with the Plunder.

A poor Christian Slave hearing the Proclamation to the Troops, found Means to let the Rhodians know of Solyman’s Design for the next Day.

The Grand Master (at this Notice) prepar’d every thing to oppose them.

The next Morning before Break of Day, the Turks attack’d the City with loud Tecbirs, or Shouts of Onset, in five several Places at once with fifty Thousand Men. The Enemy was repuls’d with great Slaughter from the English and Italian Quarter. But in the mean time Mustapha Bassa, and Achmetes Bassa, attack’d the Spanish Bulwark, (whose Defenders were three parts gone to assist the Italian and English) and soon became Masters of it.

But the Grand Master, with several Knights of the Order, retook it again, after an obstinate Defence, with the Death of all the Turks.

This Success gave new Life to the Rhodians, who every where repuls’d their Enemies.

Solyman on a neighbouring Hill saw all with the utmost Vexation of Mind, and seeing no Hope of Success, order’d a Retreat to be sounded: The harrass’d Troops retir’d to their Camp, leaving above twenty Thousand of their Fellows lifeless behind them, as a Token of the Valour of their Enemies.

This ill Success so provok’d Solyman, that he gave Orders that Mustapha Bassa should immediately be put to death, tho’ he had done all in the Assault a wise and brave General could do.

Pyrrhus Bassa hearing of this severe Command, notwithstanding Solyman’s Rage, went to intercede for him; but his Rage continuing, he order’d Pyrrhus to undergo the same Fate.

The rest of his Council fell at his Feet to hinder so cruel a Command, some begging to suffer with them, vowing never to rise till their honest Suit was granted.

The Emperor’s Passion at last subsiding, he pardon’d Mustapha and Pyrrhus.

However, his Admiral, because he could not prevent the Relief that came by Sea into the Town, did not fare quite so well. He was order’d to receive the Bastinado (or Scourging) as a common Slave, on board his own Galley, and had been put to death, but for the Persuasion of Achmetes Bassa, who had a great Influence over Solyman.

The Emperor’s ill Success began to make him turn his Thoughts from the Siege, tho’ with the utmost Reluctance; to see the Course of his victorious Arms stopp’d by a handful of Men, was what his ambitious Soul could not bear.

He summon’d another Council of War of all his grand Officers, where, after many Debates, he was persuaded to continue the Siege, and by the Strength of their Vows and Promises to conquer, he began to build him a Palace on the Brow of Mount Philermus, where from the Battlements he could take a View of what was done in the City of Rhodes. But the Gross of the Turkish Army murmur’d at the Continuance of the Siege, shot Letters upon the Heads of Arrows frequently into the Town discovering every thing that was done in Council, with Promise of the Revolt of Mustapha Bassa for the ill Usage he had receiv’d from the Emperor Solyman.

But notwithstanding the Valour of the Rhodians, (who twice more repuls’d the Othomans with great Slaughter) they began to want every thing that was necessary: And by eager Persuasions of the Inhabitants that had Families in the City, he was prevail’d upon to send an Embassy to Solyman, tho’ not before the Turks had gain’d two hundred Paces in Breadth, and a hundred and fifty in Length, within the outward Wall.

When the Ambassador came before Solyman, he demanded the immediate Surrender of the City; and if the Rhodians would trust his Clemency, now, without farther Hostilities, their Lives, Estates and Freedoms should be safe.

Solyman imagining these Promises would prevail upon the harrass’d Rhodians, sent a Letter to the same purpose to be read in publick to them by a Genoese.

When the Letter was read, the Grand Master was of the opinion to hold out the Siege to the last: But a Greek Priest, with Tears running down his Cheeks, begg’d he would prevent the final Destruction of so many innocent People; at the same time praising the Clemency of Solyman to those that yielded to his Arms.

He was constrain’d to comply with their Desires, and surrender’d the City to the Emperor, who enter’d in Triumph on the 25th of December 1522.

In the Year 1526, Solyman turn’d his Arms against Hungary, with an Army of two hundred thousand Men, and advanc’d as far as Sophia(G), before the indolent Lewis King of Hungary heard of his March.

At Mohatz(H) the young King met Solyman’s Army with twenty-five thousand Men, and by ill Persuasion gave Battle on the 29th of October 1528, and his Army was defeated. Lewis endeavouring to make his Escape, was smother’d in a Ditch where his Horse had plung’d him.

Solyman did nothing extraordinary in the military Way till the Spring 1529, When the Fame of his Arms made the strong City Buda(I) an easy Conquest; for the Inhabitants, struck with in universal Terror, abandon’d the Place, and he enter’d the empty City in Triumph. But the Citadel Was bravely defended by the Governor, Thomas Nadasti, till the Garrison was reduc’d to three hundred; who seiz’d the Governor, to deliver him up to Solyman, upon Condition they were to march out with Bag and Baggage. But Solyman despising their Trachery, order’d his Janizaries to put the Soldiers to Death, and dismiss’d the Governor with magnificent Presents, for the Revard of his Valour, and Integrity to his Prince.

After the taking of Buda, Solyman was resolv’d to penetrate into the Heart of Germany, and lay siege to the City of(K) Vienna, the capital City of Austria.

In his March he suffer’d his Troops to commit all Sorts of Outrages, destroying all the Country with Fire and Sword, even beyond Vienna, as far as Lintz(L). He encamp’d before the City, September the 26th, 1529, and invested it, that no Succour could be sent into the Town.

He sent word by several Prisoners he had taken, that it was in vain to defend their Walls against the vindictive Force that had conquer’d Rhodes, Belgrade and Buda. But receiving no Answer, but Sallies from the city, he began to plant his Cannon, and batter the Walls, tho’ without Success; for his heavy Cannon, with the Vessels that bore them, were sunk in the Danube by the brave Wolfgang Hoder, Commander of the Grand Duke’s Galleys. This unexpected Misfortune gave Solyman, not only Uneasiness, but Terror, which was augmented by Reports, that all the Powers of Germany were marching to protect Vienna.

In every Assault he seem’d to have the worst; all his Mines were countermined, and blown up, with considerable Bodies of his best Troops.

He therefore rais’d the Siege, with this Pretence, That he did not come to besiege Vienna, but to meet with Ferdinand King of Hungary, to fight with him for his Dominions.

The following Year he circumcised(M) his three Sons, Mustapha, that he had by a Circassian(N) Slave, Mahomet and Selimus, by two other Slaves of the Seraglio(O).

In the Year 1532 Solyman made another Expedition into Hungary: He invested(P) Guntz; but it was so well defended by its Governor, the valiant Nicholas Turischitz, that Solyman abandon’d the Siege.

Solyman by long Marches, sate down before Gratz(Q), but hearing of a powerful Army headed by Charles V, and Ferdinand his Brother, he thought fit to march back to Constantinople, after the Loss of a great Number of Troops, commanded by Bassa Fereses, and CÆsan.

In the Year 1514, Solyman sent Barbarossa the Pyrate, then in league with him, to invade Africa, where he did much mischief both in Africa, and the Sea-coasts of Italy, and the Islands of the Mediterranean. He after conquer’d the Kingdom of(R) Tunis and by his Arts as well as Arms caus’d himself to be proclaim’d King.

Solyman, by the Persuasion of Ibrahim Bassa, this Year undertook his War against Persia, attended by his Son Mustapha, now about thirteen Years of Age, where he first trod in the Paths of War. The Rendezvous of the Army was at the City of Nice(S)

From thence he dispatch’d Ibrahim and Ulemas with a strong Army to ravage Syria, where they took Tauris(T) from King Damas But these Generals being advertiz’d of great Preparations against them, inform’d Solyman of it, who came to their Relief with the utmost Expedition.

As Solyman was in his March to meet the Enemy, being encamp’d in a vast Plain, there rose such a violent Storm in the Night of Rain, Hail and Snow, from the adjacent Mountains, that Men and Beasts of Carriage were smother’d, many of the Soldiers perish’d to death in their Tents, even Solyman’s Pavilion was near being wash’d away. The superstitious Soldiers imagin’d it was a Storm rais’d by the Magicians of Persia, and murmur’d at a War as waged against Heaven, expeding in the Dark (for the Storm had extinguish’d all their Fires) the Enemy would come upon them, and destroy them all; but the approaching Day dissipated that Fear with the End of the Storm.

The next Day Solyman march’d towards Babylon(U), whose Governor being fled for Fear, (not being provided for a Siege) the City was peaceably surrender’d to him.

He then proceeded to retake Tauris, that Damas had recover’d from the Turks; but Damas fled at the Approach of Solyman, which so much enrag’d him (because he could not bring him to a Battle) that he gave that opulent City to the Plunder of his Soldiers.

As Solyman was continuing his March to destroy the Country, a Party of Damas’s Horse, commanded by Delimonthes, one of his Generals, set upon the Rear of Solyman’s Army (who was some Leagues before ’em) in the Night, and made a prodigious Slaughter.

This Overthrow grieved Solyman sorely, insomuch that he order’d his Army to return, very much disgusted with Ibrahim Bassa, that advis’d him to this Expedition.

This Disgust was heighten’d by Roxolana, because Ibrahim was in Mustapha’s Interest, which was contrary to her own.

Solyman had given his Oath and Promise to Ibrahim, he should never be kill’d while he liv’d. But inviting him to a solemn Supper, he that Night had his Throat cut while he slept; Solyman pretending he had not broke his Oath, because he was kill’d while he slept.

Now Mustapha began to be a Follower of Mars, and perform’d so many noble Acts, that he was the only Joy of his Father, who intended him his Successor.

The ambitious Roxolana, alarm’d at the tender Love Solyman bore Mustapha, was resolv’d to ruin him in his favour; she therefore by an Over-praise first made the Sultan believe, she had an entire Affection for him, that she might better work her Design upon him.

She would by a vile Insinuation, tell the Sultan, how happy he was in a Son, so brave and valiant, that had gain’d the Hearts of all the prime Men in the Empire, as well as the entire Love of the Soldiers; hinting that it was well Mustapha’s Duty, and Love to his Father, would prevent his making a wrong use of it, throwing in by-the-by, that many Sons had murder’d their Fathers to get their Thrones.

These Speeches, often back’d by Rustan, the Grand Vizir, and the Mufti, (the Pope of the Turks) began to alarm Solyman, whose Weakness made him forget by Degrees the amiable Qualities of Mustapha. This Opinion was strengthen’d by his secret League with the Persian, whom the Turks esteem as Hereticks, preferring Hali before Mahomet their Prophet, which Difference may be compar’d to the Protestant and Catholick Religions.

Solyman had four Sons by Roxolana, Mahomet, Selimus, (who after succeeded his Father) Bajazet and Tzianger, (whom our Author calls Zanger).

Zanger had contracted a strict Union of Love and Friendship with Mustapha, and Roxolana lov’d Zanger beyond her other Sons.

But not being the Sultana Queen(W), that is, not wedded to the Sultan, she fear’d the more, that at the Death of Solyman, Mustapha would be Emperor, and then, as the Custom was among the Turks, when they a ascend the Throne, the whole Blood that were Males would he put to Death.

Mustapha was by her Desire sent to Caramania(X), that she might pursue her Designs to his Ruin.

The first thing she had to do was to prevail on the Emperor to wed her; for being his Queen, would effectually disinherit (as we say) Mustapha.

To bring this about, she took it in her head to be very religious, built an Hospital, and a Church. When these were finih’d, she ask’d the Mufti if such Acts of Charity would not be grateful to Heaven! and be a Means to save her precious Soul! The good Mufti (receiving a Bribe before-hand, for there is Bribery and Corruption in Turkey as well as other Places) reply’d, her Soul would not be a Grain the better for it, because she was a Slave.

This afflicted the good Roxolana in a surprising manner; She would not take any Nourishment; her Eyes were ever in Tears, and her Heart heav’d with Sighs every Moment (I mean when she was in the Presence of Solyman.)

The good Emperor (for he lov’d her sincerely) could not bear to see her Tears, therefore order’d her to be made free.

When this Part of her Plot had succeded she put on all her Charms again, and seem’d the most satisfy’d happy Lady in the World.

In a few Days after her Manumission, the Emperor sent his chief Eunuch, to fetch her to his Bed-Chamber: The pious Lady came, but with Hands up-lifted, with an Alcoran held fast between them, told the Emperor, she could not be so happy to partake of the Honour of his Bed now she was no more a Slave, but she would consult the Mufti, and if he could dispense with it, she would with the utmost Joy comply.

The Mufti, who knew what he was to do, declar’d she could never enter Mahomet’s Paradise, if she yielded to the Emperor’s Desires without being his Wife.

The Emperor, well satisfy’d with the Mufti’s Answer, had the Marriage-Rites perform’d, and gave her 5000 Sultana’s for her pearly Dowry.

Being satisfy’d so far, she now proceeded to procure the Death of Mustapha. She got counterfeit Letters convey’d to the Sultan, that shew’d that innocent Prince in a false and guilty Light.

But this not having the quick Effect she wish’d, she endeavour’d to cut him off by Poison, but to no purpose, for he escap’d the Trap. She at last procur’d a Letter that Mustapha was contracted to the Daughter of the King of Persia.

This wrought so much upon Solyman, that he dwelt no longer upon the Ruin of his Son.

In order to this he sent Ruftan with an Army to fetch his Son. But finding the Prince prepar’d for him, he return’d, told Solyman, he was so belov’d by the Army he commanded, that he thought it Prudence to return as he went.

This so inrag’d the Emperor, that he went in Person with an Army to Aleppo(Y), where he sent for the unfortunate Prince; and notwithstanding he was forewarn’d of his Danger, yet he resolv’d to pay Obedience to his Father’s Commands. When he was near the City the crafty Rustan sent several great Officers with the Janizaries to meet him, and then insinuated to the Emperor the Love the People bore him in going in Crouds to meet him.

Mustapha approach’d his Father’s Tent with few of his Followers: At the Entrance he threw by his Dagger, as the Custom is when any Person enters the Tent of the Sultan.

When he had enter’d the inmost Part of the Pavilion, he found but a single Sofa to sit on, which he took for an ill Omen. An Attendant coming in, he ask’d where the Emperor was, who reply’d he would see him presently. The Prince was melancholy, well knowing his Death was approaching; and a few Moments after, the Mutes enter’d and strangled him. The Emperor himself, through another Part of the Tent, beheld the fatal Spectacle.

He was so hopeful a Prince, that the Turks, even to this Day, often say, Gietti Sultan Mustapha, that is, Our Hope is lost in Mustapha.

When the cruel Murder was perform’d, the Emperor met Zanger at the Door of the Pavilion, enquiring for his dear Mustapha! The Emperor bid him enter to the inward Tent, and he would find him.

But when the noble Zanger saw him breathless, he cry’d out to hit unnatural Father; How could it enter into thy cruel Heart to murder so sweet a Prince! Then drawing a Ponyard from his Side, plung’d it in his Heart, and expir’d upon the breathless Body of his dear Brother.

Thus fell two worthy Princes, that might have grac’d with their Virtue and Courage (had they liv’d) the Annals of the Turkish Empire.

When the Troops were acquainted with the Death of Mustapha and Zanger, they assembled in a tumultuous Manner to avenge his Death: Achmetes the Tutor to Mustapha led them on. Solyman, to appease their Rage, disgrac’d Rustan, turn’d him out of all his Posts, and conferr’d them on Achmetes, with a Promise never to displace him; but Rustan, assisted by the artful Roxolana, procur’d the Death of Achmetes, and was by the Emperor restor’d to all his former Honours, and by him more esteem’d than ever.

Mustapha was so well beloved, that a false Mustapha appear’d, and was follow’d by the Malecontents till he had gather’d a powerful Army, But the Threats of Solyman intimidated his Troops to such a Degree, that they forsook their false General, who was taken Prisoner, and carry’d to Constantinople, where the Emperor by torture made him confess that Bajazet, his Son by Roxolana, had put him upon the false and fatal Enterprize. Roxolana had Selimus, another Son, by Solyman; and after the Death of the two unfortunate Princes Mustapha and Zanger, the Sultan seem’d most to favour Selimus, but Roxolana, Bajazet. But it was with much Difficulty she gain’d his Pardon from the Emperor his Father, for his promoting a false Mustapha.

Solyman to the last of his Life regretted the Loss of his Mustapha and Zanger. He died of a Consumption after gaining many Victories, in the Year 1566, the 14th of September, in the 76th Year of his Age, and the 46th Year of his Reign. As to his Person; he was of an advantageous Height, well made, but pale, his Nose long and hooked, more faithful to his Promise than most of his Predecessors, and wanted not many Virtues to form a good Prince.

I can’t help ending the Trifle, with congratulating the Author of the Play with his Success, which is owing to his Conduct in the Story, the many beautiful Sentiments, and the Correctness of his Poetry. I was pleas’d the first Night not to find those Goths and Vandals, that (like stabbing Men in the Dark) assassinate without the least Mercy.