Heg.1143. this gratification to none but fuch janiffaries and J.C. 1730 fpahis as had been enrolled fome time, Patrona infifted on its being likewife given to the recruits. It was on this occafion that the diforders commenced; for the rebels, who had obferved fuch exact difcipline during the revolution, thinking it no longer neceffary when the emperor had afcended the throne, made an ill ufe of their favor. Five standards were fet up in the Atmeidan, one for the janiffaries, one for the fpahis, one for the topggis, one for the jebeggis, and the fifth and laft for the levantis. All thofe, who were willing to enlift, or rather who defired to fhare the gratification, went to be enrolled under one of thefe flags. The people ran thither in crowds; men whose age, infirmities, and profession, should have kept them from the army, were anxious to come and partake of the favor which had not been granted for them. The new lieutenant of the janiffaries having remonftrated to Patrona Calil, who authorised this depredation, that the treasures fo foolishly heaped up by Achmet III. would be diffipated ftill more foolishly if gratifications were thus lavished on an innumerable crowd of old men, children, and men unfit for any fervice Patrona replied by a torrent of abuse, which encouraged the new janiffaries to tear this officer to pieces before the face of Patrona, and the diftribution was finifhed with the fame prodigality and diforder. This violence began Heg.1143. 1.C. 1730. began to open Mahmout's eyes on the danger of leaving these men in Conftantinople, who might make him pay too dear for the service which they had done him. The day that he went to Jub mofque to gird on the sword of Othman, he proposed to Patrona Calil, who accompanied him on this occafion, ftill in the dress of a janiffary with his legs naked, to take a government Audacity in Natolia with the title of bafhaw. Patrona ex of Patrona and the rebels. cused himself on account of his profound igno- throne a hun let him retire "I don't want "all the purses " in Constantinople are at my fervice;" and, darting a thundering look at the aga of the janiffaries, he had the boldness to fay to him in presence of the emperor: "Do you never med"dle with what concerns me, if you wish to avoid "the fate of your lieutenant." The aga of the janiffaries, frighted, proftrated himself before Patrona, without uttering a word, and the emperor filently suffered this humiliation. The rebel, feeing that his mafter defigned to fend him out of the way, redoubled his audacity and licence, either to enjoin it, or to enrich himself before his difgrace. The grand vizier having caufed to be published, that the prefent being diftributed 1 Heg.1143. diftributed to the troops with a magnificence J.C. 1730. that ought to make them contented, they fhould lay down their arms, pursuant to the law, which does not admit people to go armed in the towns during peace: the rebels contemned this order; and, though the major part of the janiffaries obeyed, Patrona, Muflu, and Ali, came every day to the divan armed with large fwords; they familiarly feated themfelves by the fide of the grand vizier, taking upon them to pronounce the juridical decisions instead of the prime minifter, and generally against his confent. They diftributed places for confiderable fums, and ordered the grand vizier to appoint their creatures, without his prefuming to disobey them. A few days after the grand feignior had girded on the sword of Othman, Patrona met in the street a Greek, a butcher by profeffion, who had furnished him with meat on credit before the revolution, and who had lent him fome money while the rebels were encamped in the Atmeidan. This man being come to kifs the bottom of Patrona's veft, the latter gave him a thousand sequins; and as the butcher expreffed to him his gratitude: "Wouldeft thou be contented to live "no longer than myfelf?" faid Patrona to him with a fmile. Ianaki (that was the name of the butcher) replied, that "when the illuftrious Pa"trona his benefactor fhould finifh his career, "he would not defire to breathe an inftant after " him." "Well then," replied the chief of the rebels, VOL. IV. Ü u Heg.1143. J.C.1730. rebels, "I will do fomething for thee. tell the grand vizier to give thee the They make a prince of Moldavia. Go and patent of prince of Moldavia, in the room of Gregory "Giffa with whom we are displeased. This fo vereignty will coft thee only five hundred "purfes, which thy friends will lend thee." The butcher, tranfported with joy, ran to the grand vizier's with Muflu, whom Patrona fent thither to order the prime minister to make out the patent for Ianaki, and to have the vest of sable, the fword, and the mace of arms, prepared. Mehemet, exafperated, haftened to inform the emperor of this fresh proof of the audacity and avidity of the rebels. The fultan, who could not yet venture to punish them, and who remembered the promise which he had made Patrona Calil to spare his life, refolved to comply with the rebel's requeft. The butcher was clothed with the caftan, and admitted to the honor of kiffing his highnefs's hand; but he was not to make his entry into Conftantinople and depart for his new dominions, 'till the five hundred purfes were paid. This obligation, difficult to fulfil, was not yet fo when the face of affairs was changed. Two days after the audience of the new prince of Moldavia, Muflu caused the janiffaries to be affembled, and declared to them that he intended to do the duty of lieutenant-general of their corps. He, who had in fome refpects the choice of all the dignities, feemed to confine himself to a very small one; but the refolution which he took Heg.1143. Their a thority prepares their ruin. took to ufurp it, without choosing to hold it of J.C. 1730. those who would have made a point of offering it to him, fhewed that he would not be contented with an employ which rendered him dependant on the ministry. And indeed it was known foon after that Patrona was defirous of difplacing the bufe of augrand vizier to make one who should pay him more attention; that he intended the charge of aga of the janiffaries for Muflu, and that he himself, notwithstanding his incapacity, meant to be captain bafhaw. So much infolence forced Mahmout to exert his authority, which the rebels left him only the shadow of. Moreover, the disorder, which reigned in Conftantinople and the provinces, taught the janiffaries that temerity was not fufficient to govern an empire. They began to defire tranquility; and those, who had obeyed Patrona most blindly, were the people who were moft fenfible of his tyranny and injuftice. They had no longer any one to regulate their steps. Zadi effendi, who had fecretly conducted the revolution, had detached himself from the rebels fince the grand feignior had rewarded his fervices with one of the places of cadilesker. Patrona, Muflu, and Ali, aftonished at their power, were incapable of perceiving that they daily expofed themselves to lofe it. The grand vizier, and the khan of the Tartars who was then at Conftanti. nople, endeavoured to prevail on the grand feignior to have thefe troublesome fellows put to death. VOL. IV. Uu 2 Patrona |