The _Turks_, that were not far from us, wonder’d what we were so earnest about; and after we rose from the Table, my _Chiaux_ went to them. They gathered themselves in a Ring about him, and I saw them hearkening to the Discourse he made, with great Attention; and at last, at Noon, they were all silent, and worshipped God according to their Custom. I thought it long till my _Chiaux_ returned to me, that I might know why he prated so amongst his Comrades; I was afraid, though I had ever found him a good Man, that he might represent what I had spoken to him, to my Prejudice: At last, when the Wind ceased, we went aboard again, and followed our intended Course. The first thing I did, was, to ask of my _Chiaux_, what serious Discourse he held with his Country-men? He smil’d, and made me this Answer: _We were disputing about ~Predestination~, and I told them what you had alledg’d ~Pro~ and ~Con~; by which it was plain, that you had read our Books, and was well read in the ~Scriptures~, so that there was nothing wanting to your Happiness, 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 might be taken out, or corrected, and made more favourable on our Side. My Master _Cæsar_ had seen and approved those Conditions; yet still I could not satisfy my self, till something more favourable was added. Whilst I was doing this, I was accosted with _Haly_’s Message as aforesaid.