Son Suleiman the Magnificent

The scene is laid both within the reign of Selim I. or of his son Suleiman the Magnificent, when the Patriarch Jeremiah occupied the patriarchal throne for the second time. And the play opens with the willpower of a fanatical Turkish occasion to insist upon the regulation that the inhabitants of a metropolis captured by power of arms ought to be denied the appropriate of worship, and may have their church buildings both confiscated or levelled to the bottom. The Sheik-ul-Islam of the day had issued his fetva to that impact, and in 5 days the sentence was to be carried into execution. A excessive Turkish official, who was within the secret, knowledgeable a Greek notable of the storm at hand, and the latter reported the matter instantly to his ecclesiastical chief. After a lot weeping and lots of prayers, the patriarch mounted his mule and hastened to the residence of the Grand Vizier, with whom, fortunately, he was on the very best of phrases. The results of a protracted interview was that the patriarch was dismissed with an invite to attend the Council of Ministers, and inform them that, whereas it was true that Sultan Mehmet attacked town and destroyed a portion of the fortifications, the Greek Emperor had not carried issues to the bitter finish, however went betimes to the Sultan, surrendered the keys of town, and, after a pleasant reception, introduced him into Constantinople in a peaceful method.

Numerous Ministers of State

Whereupon, the patriarch, considerably relieved, paid a spherical of visits to the varied Ministers of State and to different influential personages, not forgetting to depart in every case an acceptable parting reward. A rare Council of Ministers was then summoned to contemplate the query, and earlier than that meeting the patriarch duly appeared. Meantime the information of the upcoming disaster had unfold, inflicting nice pleasure, in order that an immense crowd of Greeks, Armenians, and even Jews, collected outdoors the Council Chamber, to be taught as early as potential the results of the deliberations inside. The horrible fetva was solemnly learn, accompanied by the announcement that not solely would it not be utilized to the case of Constantinople, however to each city captured by the sword all through the Empire. “O my lord,” cried the patriarch in a loud voice, addressing the Grand Vizier, “ as to different cities I’m not sufficiently knowledgeable, however as regards this metropolis I can vouch that when Sultan Mehemet got here to struggle towards it, Constantine, with the consent of his nobles and folks, did homage to him and surrendered the place voluntarily.” “ Have you ever,” inquired the Grand Vizier, “ any Moslem witnesses who have been within the military of Sultan Mehemet when he took town, and who can inform us how he took it ?” “I’ve, O my lord,” was the immediate reply.