[178] This story is referred to by Bacon, _Essays_, XIII.: _Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature_. ‘The inclination to goodness is imprinted deeply in the nature of man; insomuch that if it issue not towards man, it will take unto other living creatures; as it is seen in the Turks, a cruel people, who nevertheless are kind to beasts, and give alms to dogs and birds; insomuch as Busbechius reporteth, a Christian boy in Constantinople had like to have been stoned for gagging in a waggishness a long-billed fowl.’ Bacon, in his _Essays_, also alludes to Jehangir, Solyman’s son, to Roxolana, to Selim, and to the fate of Mustapha. [179] Busbecq’s countrywomen enjoyed great liberty. ‘Les femmes, oultre ce qu’elles sont de belle et excellente forme, sont de beau maintien et gracieuses; car elles commencent dés leur enfance, selon la coustume du païs, à converser librement avec un chacun.’—L. Guicciardini, _Description de tout le païs bas_, p. 38. [180] The festival called by Busbecq the Turkish Easter was that of Bairam. It succeeds Ramazan, the month of abstinence, which he terms their Lent. It lasts three days, and seventy days later is the Kourban Bairam, or Feast of Sacrifice, which lasts four days. [181] See _Thirty Years in a Harem_ for a description of taking off the veil.... It was the conclusion of the marriage, and the Bridegroom made a present to the Bride on the occasion. [182] See note, page 161. [183] See _Sketch of Hungarian History_. [184] Ten years later Solyman died while besieging this place. [185] See note 1, page 196. [186] See note 1, page 196. [187] The Turks could hardly object to the use of ‘villainous saltpetre’ as by its aid Solyman’s father, Selim I., had been enabled to crush the Mamelukes. See Creasy, _History of the Ottoman Turks_, chap. viii. After the battle ‘Koort Bey poured forth a brilliant eulogy on the valour of the Mamelukes, and spoke with contempt and abhorrence of guns which, he said, killed so cowardly, and so like an assassin.’ [188] Arslan was Sanjak-bey of Stuhlweissenburg and Veli of Hatwan. [189] Compare Brantôme, _Discours sur Duels_, vi. p. 151.