It may, perhaps, divert you, and besides it is not wholly foreign to my Design, to acquaint you how this _Rustan_ came to be strip’d of all his former Honours. Know then, That _Solyman_ had a Son, called _Mustapha_, on a Concubine of his, born by the _Bosphorus_, (if I mistake not.) This Youth was in the prime of his Age, and in great Favour among the Soldiers. But the same _Solyman_ had several other Children by _Roxolana_, whom he doated on so much, that he made her his Wife, by appointing her a Dowry; for that’s the Way of making and confirming a Marriage among the _Turks_. This _Solyman_ did, contrary to the Custom of former Emperors, none of which had ever married a Wife, since the Days of _Bajazet_ the Elder; the Reason was, because the said _Bajazet_, being overthrown by _Tamerlane_, was, with his Wife, taken Prisoner by him, where he suffered many Indignities, but none affected him more, than the Uncivilities and Reproaches which he saw offered to his _Sultaness_, before his Face. The Memory of which Affronts made such a deep Impression on all those that succeeded _Bajazet_ in the Empire, that, to this very Day, none of them will marry a Wife, that so, whatever Chance should happen, they might never fall into the like Indignity; so that, ever since, they beget Children on Women of a servile Condition, in whose Misfortunes they may be less concerned, than if they were their lawful Wives. And yet the Children begot on such Concubines, are as much esteemed by the _Turks_, as if they were born in lawful Wedlock, and they have as much right to their Fathers Estates. So then, _Mustapha_, being of a promising Ingenuity, and in the Flower of his Age; and besides, being the Darling of the Soldiers, and the common People too, having so many favourable Circumstances attending him, he, after his Father’s Death, was by the Votes of all designed for his Successor in the Empire. On the other Side, his Stepmother, _Roxalana_, with Might and Main, laboured to prevent it, and to secure the Empire for the Children begotten on her own Body, and thereupon presuming on her Marriage-Relation, she ceased not to disparage _Mustapha_, and to prefer a younger Son of her own before him. In this Design _Rustan_ was both her Counsellor, and Assistant; they drew both in one Yoke, for _Rustan_ having married a Daughter of _Solyman_’s, by _Roxalana_, their Interests thereupon were reciprocal.