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Heg.1031.

jami, in which this prince was to have the fword J.C. 1622. of Othman girded on. But he was fo weak, that the effort which he made to mount on horfeback, threw him a fecond time into a fwoon. They went for a carriage, in which he was conveyed to the old feraglio, as the bostangis made no difficulty to open it.

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When Othman learned that the janiffaries and Othman fpahis had intimidated the ulema, that the mufti proclama and all the effendis had taken the oaths to his rival. uncle, and that the streets refounded with the name of Muftapha, his obftinacy and rage changed into defpair; he made woful lamentations, and asked the officers that furrounded him if they likewife were going to abandon him. The aga of the janiffaries, who believed himself beloved by his corps, bitterly reproached the prince with his conduct to that powerful foldiery, which, he said, had conquered the whole Ottoman empire; he offered at length to go to the fpahis and janiffaries to offer them prefents from the fultan, and to endeavour to prevail on them to again acknowledge him for their mafter. This monarch fo abfolute felt for the firft time fentiments of gratitude, and would fain have defcended to intreaties; but it was too late. At the very time the aga of the janiffaries left the feraglio to make this propofal to the troops, the noife of martial mufic told him that they were conducting their new emperor to the mofque. Muftapha,

WOL. II.

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Mustapha, preceded by the janiffaries, and furrounded by the spahis on horfeback, with almost all the ulema, and the new great officers that he had just appointed, was drawn towards the Hippodrom in an open carriage with all the pomp which the fhortnefs of the time would admit of. The aga of the janiffaries repaired to the mofque before him, and placed himself at the head of his men as foon as he faw them appear. He was at first received with refpect, and the most confiderable among the janiffaries flocked around their chief to hear what he had to fay to them; but aş foon as they heard that he wanted to perfuade them to undo their work and re-acknowledge Othman for emperor, notwithstanding the promise of ten fequins per janiffary, and an augmentation of pay for the fpahis of ten afpers each, all their fwords were drawn in an inftant, and the foldiers that were not near the unfortunate aga feemed enraged that they could not have a thrust at him. Another bashaw of the bench, called Huffain, arrived at the fame moment riding full fpeed, and crying with all his might: "Rebels, here is

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your emperor coming towards you, proftrate "yourfelves before this redoubtable mafter." He had no fooner approached the battalions, than he was cut to pieces. Othman was come out of the feraglio, relying on the negociation of the aga; and whilft this prince was proceeding flowly towards the Hippodrom, Huffain, who was more

attached

attached to him than his other fervants, went on J.C. 1622. Heg.1031.

before, left his mafter should risk his liberty or even life, and that he might give the prince time, fhould there be occafion, to escape by another road. The conjecture of the faithful Huffain proved but too true; but his blood was of no ufe to his mafter whom he had intended to serve.

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Mustapha.

Othman, warned of the danger that he was running, when he was near the Hippodrom, attempted to return; but a detachment of spahis gallopped after him, and having overtaken and furrounded the fultan, forced him to enter the fame mofque where the fword of Othman had been juft girded on Miuftapha. rival in the Hippodrom, Othman perceived the Othman bloody bodies of the aga of the janiffaries Huffain bashaw, who had juft died for him. was told who they were, for the number wounds which they had received had fo disfigured them, that it was impoffible to know them again. "What have these unfortunate men done then?" cried Othman fufficiently loud to be heard by thofe that furrounded him: "they have never "spoken to me but in favor of this ungrateful "foldiery." At the fight of this young prince, who fhewed his compaffion, and who merited it himself, the janiffaries exclaimed: "Let Oth"man be depofed, but let his days be refpected." On his arrival at the mofque, they conducted him into a room the windows of which looked

VOL. II.

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into

J.C.1622. into the great nave, which was full of foldiers. Heg.1031. Sultan Muftapha, returned from the ceremony of

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girding on the fword, was repofing himself in this fame chamber. When he faw the young prince enter furrounded by feveral officers, the feeble emperor did not doubt that his nephew had gained over the foldiers. His prifoner appeared in his eyes a master ready to punish him: he fell on his knees and with tears begged for mercy. The unfortunate Othman regarded with a contemptuous fmile this new monarch in a posture fo mortifying: "See," faid he to those that furrounded him, "the mafter that you pre"fer to me; behold the fucceffor of fo many

conquerors, he who fhould make you be "dreaded by the infidel nations!" "My lord," faid one of the torpachis to him, "these con

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querors of whom you are fpeaking - gained "their empire by the edge of our swords, and "not with troops picked up in Egypt which you "wanted to fubftitute for us." "If my youth "has been led aftray by bad counfels," replied Othman, " my misfortune fhould inftruct me for "the future: therefore reftore me the authority "which I am more capable of exercising than

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any of the other princes of the Ottoman race.' As the janiffaries feemed to liften to him with attention, the new grand vizier, Darud, in whom runs in this the little authority then exifting entirely lay, wanted to have the depofed monarch strangled;

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but all the janiffaries present oppofed it, because J.C. 1622.
Heg.1031.
the multitude had declared that Othman fhould
preserve his life, and that if they were to attempt
it, they would run a risk of being torn to pieces.
"Monster," faid Othman to this fanguinary
ring-leader, "if I had put thee to death the
"first time that thou defervedft punishment, I
"fhould not now be in danger of my life."
This altercation, having raised several voices,
was partly heard in the body of the mosque.
The janiffaries cried again: "Preferve the life
"of fultan Othman." The guards conducted
him to the window which looked into this great
nave, in order that every body might fee him.
On this, the unfortunate prince faid to them :
"Dear janiffaries, dear spahis, if I have attempted.

any thing against you, I have followed per-
"nicious counfels; acknowledge again the voice
"of your emperor, and return to your obedience,
"or put me to death rather than expofe me lon-

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ger to the infults which I endure." The clamours of the people and foldiers were heard from every part; they repeated: "Let not Othman "be emperor, but let him live." The prince having loft all hopes, replied: "let me be fhut up at least, that I may be out of the way of fo many indignities."

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Meanwhile, the carriage which had brought fultan Mustapha to the mofque, carried him back to the feraglio of the emperors, followed by the

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