When _Baldus_, that ancient Man of whom I spake before, came to me, they suspected that he had brought me new Commands, which allowed me to yield to harder Conditions of Peace; and they feared that I would conceal them, because I knew well enough their intestine Discords; so that, by dealing harshly with me, they thought to extort the whole Truth from me. Upon the same Design, _Rustan_ once sent a large Gourd, called by the _Germans Wasser-plutzer_. They ripen to a delicious Sweetness at _Constantinople_; their Seeds are red within, and they came originally from _Rhodes_. By this Present, sent to me by my Secretary, _Rustan_ did jestingly insinuate the fear of a War; it was brought me when the Weather was very hot, and the Juice is good to cool inward Heat. He sent this Compliment with it, that I should make use of the Fruit suitable to the hot Season, for it is an excellent Cooler; but I should know, withal, that a great number of those Plants did grow about _Buda_ and _Belgrade_, of a much larger size than that which he sent me, meaning thereby _Cannon-Balls_. I returned Thanks for my Present, and told him, I should make use of it; but, for _Buda_ and _Belgrade_, ’twas no great wonder they grew there, since there was Plenty of them, even of a larger size, at _Vienna_. It was a pleasure to me, to let _Rustan_ know by my Answer, that I could retort Quibble for Quibble. But to return to the Affairs of _Bajazet_, which you desired to be further informed in. You may remember that his Father dismissed him some Years ago, upon this Condition, That he should never hereafter affront his Brother, nor raise new Tumults in the Empire, but live quietly and peaceably, as a Brother ought to do. He should remember his Promise made to himself, and not vex him in his old Age; if he did, woe be to him! These Threats had weight with _Bajazet_, as long as his Mother lived; he kept his Word, rather to retain her good Will and Indulgence towards him, than as having any Consideration either for his Brother’s Love or Father’s good Will. However, quiet he was, for his Mother’s sake: But two Years after her Death, looking upon himself as desperate, he cut the Cords of all filial Obedience, and began to resume his former Designs against his Brother, and to execute his Animosity with great spight: Sometimes he laid Ambushes for his Life; at other times he attempted it by open force, and now and then he sent Parties of Men into his Brother’s Province, (their Provinces being contiguous one to the other) and if he could catch any of his Domesticks, he used them ill for their Master’s sake; in fine, he left no Stone unturned, to lessen his Brother’s Credit, finding he was not able to reach his Life.