This _Rustan_ was the Chief of the Bashaw’s, and _Solyman_’s Prime Vizier, having the chief Power and Authority with him: He was a Man of a sharp and very capacious Wit, and a great Grace to _Solyman_’s Government. As for his Original, he was the Son but of a Shepherd, and yet he seemed worthy of that Dignity to which he was advanced, if his sordid Avarice had not been a Blot in his Escutcheon. And to speak truly, _Solyman_ himself observed this Vice in him, though upon all other Accounts, he was his choice and only Favourite: And yet this Crime of his turned to his Master’s Advantage; for being appointed by _Solyman_ to preside over his Treasury, or Exchequer, which sometimes was very low, he was so thrifty in the Management of that Office, that he did not spare to raise Money, even by the meanest and most contemptible Ways. For he laid a Tax on Herbs, Roses, and Violets, which grew in great Men’s Gardens; he caused the Armour, Coats of Mail, Warrior’s Horses, of such as were taken Prisoners in War, to be sold, and by such Ways as those he got together such a Mass of Money, that _Solyman_ was very secure on that Part; upon this Occasion, I remember, that a great Man among the _Turks_, who are usually vindictive enough, that was a great Enemy to _Rustan_, yet (to my Surprize) told me, That he would do _Rustan_ no hurt, tho’ it were never so much in his Power, because his Care and Industry had advanced his Master’s Treasury to so prodigious a Sum. There is a Chamber in the _Seraglio_, at _Constantinople_, over which there is this Inscription, _Here is the Cash obtained by the Diligence of ~Rustan~_. When _Rustan_ was Grand Vizier, and had the intire Administration of all Things in his Hands, he was able to turn his Master’s Mind, as he pleased, so that ’twas commonly reported among the _Turks_, That partly by the Accusation of _Rustan_, and partly by the Witchcraft of his Wife _Roxolana_, (for she was accounted little better than a Sorceress) _Solyman_ was so alienated from his Son _Mustapha_, that he took Counsel to put him to Death. As to what some alledge, that _Mustapha_ being sensible of the Designs of _Rustan_ and his Step-Mother _Roxolana_, against his Life, did labour to preserve them, by taking off his Father, and so seizing the Empire by force; very few do believe that Story, but look upon it as a Fiction.