Cornelis Haga at the Porte, 1620

R2113_reading.md

# DECODE R2113: Haga, Constantinople, reading

Cipher spans are in {braces}. Codes are written [n]. ? marks an uncertain letter or word. The clear text is a quick reading, not a careful transcription.

## Important: the three images are two letters

- **P1** is all clear text. It is the end of a letter dated *In Constantinople den 1en? februarij 1620* and signed by Haga. It has no cipher.
- **P3 then P2** are a different letter, and P3 comes first. P2 ends with *In Constant. den xxxj martij 1620*, so it is dated **31 March 1620**. P3 ends in mid-sentence ("... niet bijstaen") and P2 begins "dese stadt gearriveert". Both pages are ciphered. Page P3's first page (or pages) is not in the scans.

## P1 (clear, 1 Feb 1620)
In outline: the Tatars/Turks and a tribute or war with Poland ("tot betalinge van een iaerlix tribuyt, of de selve ... in openbaren oorloge met dese machtige monarchia te vallen"); talks with the Emperor's ambassador over important fortresses in Hungary. The Turks promise help to Bethlen, Prince of Transylvania, and to Hungary. The ambassador of the Hungarian Estates had no audience with His Imperial Majesty's [the Sultan's] representatives, "mainly because no one has any advantage from the Turks". Closing formula, then signature.

## P3 (the earlier page of the March letter)
1. ende meeninge van [1] verclaert heeft, ende daerbeneffens
2. [...] dat ons wel te vrede sal sijn {de resignatie op}
3. {sijn hoocheijts broeder} te laten geschieden.
4. het is in alles manieren nodich dat de selvige provincie
5. {met ?ngarie (first sign p-like; read Ungarie/Hongarie) ende haere} gevoechde(?) ... in
6. goede correspondentie blyven, op dat in handen {van}
7. {Hommenai(?)}, ofte anderen {dependenten van t huijs}
8. {van Oostenrijck} niet comme te vervallen, daerop
9. int geheel hier te doen is, {na mijn vermogen sal}
10. {helpen letten}.
11. Ick oordeel dat het {bij de turcken} meerder reputatie
12. ende estime soude geven {dat de Ongaren regem}
13. {Bohemiae mede erweelden, ende met} [62]
14. in stricte alliantie verbonden bleven. {sijn hoocheijt}
15. door eenige andere middelen contenterende ende recompense-
16. rende voor de groote diensten, ende {secoursen aende}
17. {croone} gedaen. Sulcx soude strecken tot versterckinge
18. {vanden staet van transilvanie} niet alleen ... 
19. alle buijtenlantsche machten, maer oock de contramijnen
20. {die aen dese porta} nimmermeer iegens de selvige
21. {princen cesseren}. Bovendien {de croone van}
22. {Ongarie cum Bohemica geunieert onder}
23. {een} ouwt(?) ende treffelijcke voorsichtige hooft (a?.. {is}
24. {vande cheur} paltz) sal inde nieuwe tractaten {die}
25. {met de turcken} nootwendich sullen moeten geschieden,
26. op en andere maniere {met reputacie toegen(?)} ----
27. {procederen als} [62] die voor ons {int?ersaet?} (interest?)
28. {van} [1] geinterpreteert wort, sal konnen doen.
29. Ons verlangt hier seer naer de Legatie die ons verstaet (clear)
30. dat van wegen Hungaria, Bohemia ende de geincorporeerde
31. provincien bij dese Porta geestimeert wort ... niet
32. anders bemerken, als dat de selvige aengenaem sal wesen.
33. Den nuntius ofte Commissaris van Polen in mijn voorgaende
34. gementioneert is ad pontum parmum (?) niet bijstaen

## P2 (the later page of the March letter, dated 31 March 1620)
1. dese stadt gearriveert, maer dy desgelijcx versocht synde om syn
2. logys naer ouder gewoonte te doen prepareren, heeft hy
3. geweygert, seggende dat het onnodich is hier te comen,
4. met de Poolen wyder te tracteren, off sulcx eenich is, dan
5. alles geschiet tot ons {bravade}, sullen uwe hoog. mog.
6. door de naeste advysen (wil Godt) verstaen. [44] {ende}
7. [45] {arbeiden bij} [4] om tyt te winnen, dat hy provi-
8. sie {een suspensie van wapenen tusschen}
9. {de turcken}, ende de {coninckrijcken van Napels}
10. ende {Sicilia} ?o? gepractiseert mocht worden. maer
11. verhope {dat dese ende andere haere aenslaegen}
12. op haere {disseinen tegens de christenen te}
13. {volbrengen}, sulcx {alomme(?) sal denvderen(?) (hinderen?)}, daer
14. daerinne {geen gehoor sullen becomen}, gelijck
15. ick {seer goede hope} daertoe hebbe, dat sulcx
16. {hier} op geenderley maniere {geaccordeert sal}
17. {werden} [3] [4] {ende} [7] {vragen mijn} (s)wa(e)r(?)
18. curieuselijck ende ernstelijck {off} [50] geresolveert
19. sijn {de treffves met} [70] {te verlengen} {vrede}
20. te maecken, ofte {de wapenen} wederom {aen te}
21. {nemen}, twelck men {hier(?) seer gaerne} soude sien,
22. {om Spangie van weder} zyde te mogen {infesteren}.
23. Hier mede etc.
24. In Constant. den xxxj martij 1620. / Uwe Hoog. Mog. / oitmoedige dienaer [signature]

## Summary (modern English)
**1 Feb 1620 (P1):** Haga reports that the Turks are pressing Poland: Poland must either pay a yearly tribute or go to open war with the Ottoman state. He also reports talks with the Emperor's ambassador about Hungarian fortresses, Turkish promises of help to Bethlen Gábor of Transylvania and to Hungary, and the Hungarian Estates' envoy. Nobody gets any real advantage from the Turks.

**31 March 1620 (P3 then P2):**
- On Transylvania and Bohemia, Haga reports:
  - the Porte would accept the resignation of Transylvania in favour of "his Highness's brother", meaning Bethlen's brother;
  - that province must stay in good correspondence with Hungary, so that it does not fall to Homonnai or other dependants of the House of Austria. Haga will watch this as far as he can.
- In his view, the Turks would respect the anti-Habsburg side more if:
  - the Hungarians also elected the King of Bohemia and stayed in strict alliance with [62];
  - Bethlen were compensated by other means for his great services and help to the crown.
  - This would strengthen Transylvania against all foreign powers and against the counter-mines at the Porte.
- If Hungary and Bohemia were united under one wise head (the Elector Palatine), [62] could deal with the Turks in the coming treaties with more standing.
- A legation from Hungary, Bohemia and the incorporated provinces would be welcome at the Porte.
- A Polish envoy arrived but refused to have his lodging prepared in the customary way, which Haga calls a show of bravado against the Dutch side.
- [44] and [45] are working with [4] to gain time and to arrange a suspension of arms between the Turks and the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily. Haga hopes these and other Spanish designs against the Christians will get no hearing. He believes they will not be granted.
- [3] [4] and [7] ask him earnestly whether [50] has decided to extend the truce with [70] (the Twelve Years' Truce with Spain, due to end in 1621), to make peace, or to take up arms again. The Porte would gladly see the last, so as to attack Spain from both sides.

## Codes used
[1] (twice, P3), [3], [4] (twice), [7], [44], [45], [50], [62] (twice), [70].

## Signs that did not fit the key
- **m = 4.** Confirmed by becomen (K78ϯ4 7t), met (47ʃ), mijn (4ɛɛt), vermogen, regem, cum. The "4" inside parentheses is a code.
- **p** is written as a u-like sign, sometimes with a leading ɛ-like stroke (as in suspensie, wapenen, Napels); it is not i+p.
- **f** was doubled in "treffves" (ʃd7ooδ72).
- **Hungary is spelled two ways.** "Ongaren/Ongarie" uses ϯ. P3 line 5 opens with a u/p-like sign ("?ngarie"), which may be a slip.
- **ℓ7tδℓ7d7t** (P2 line 13) is unresolved: read literally it gives "denvderen", perhaps meant for "hinderen".
- **ɛo** (P2 line 10) is unresolved.
- **ϯɛ7d** ("hier"?) in P2 line 21 is uncertain.

R2113_en.md

# DECODE R2113: Cornelis Haga, Constantinople, to the States General: English translation

Translation (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026) of `R2113_reading.md`. The record holds two letters. P1 is the clear close
of a letter of 1 February 1620; the reading gives it only in outline (it is not transcribed), so only that outline is
translated here. P3 and then P2 are the letter of 31 March 1620, whose first page is not in the scans; it is translated
in full, as running text, from the line-numbered reading. Words in ⟨ ⟩ were in cipher (braces in the reading). Same
holes: `[n]` a code number not identified, `[?word]` an uncertain word (the reading's ? or (?)), `[...]` and `...`
unread. Dutch.

## P1 (clear close of the letter of 1 February 1620; outline only)

The Tatars/Turks and a tribute or war with Poland ("to the payment of a yearly tribute, or to fall into open war with
this mighty monarchy"); talks with the Emperor's ambassador over important fortresses in Hungary. The Turks promise
help to Bethlen, Prince of Transylvania, and to Hungary. The ambassador of the Hungarian Estates had no audience with
His Imperial Majesty's [the Sultan's] representatives, "mainly because no one has any advantage from the Turks".
Closing formula, then signature.

## P3 (the earlier page of the letter of 31 March 1620)

... and intention of [1] has declared, and besides that [...] that we shall be well content ⟨to let the resignation
to his Highness's brother⟩ take place. It is in all ways necessary that the same province ⟨with Hungary and its⟩
[?joined] ... remain in good correspondence, so that it does not come to fall into the hands ⟨of Homonnai⟩, or other
⟨dependants of the House of Austria⟩, on which the whole business here turns; ⟨I shall help to watch, as far as I am
able⟩.

I judge that it would give more reputation and esteem ⟨among the Turks⟩ ⟨that the Hungarians also elected the King of
Bohemia, and⟩ remained bound in strict alliance ⟨with⟩ [62], ⟨his Highness⟩ being contented and recompensed by some
other means for the great services and ⟨help done to the crown⟩. Such would serve to strengthen ⟨the state of
Transylvania⟩ not only ... all foreign powers, but also the counter-mines ⟨which at this Porte⟩ never ⟨cease⟩
against the same ⟨princes⟩. Moreover, ⟨the crown of Hungary united with the Bohemian under one⟩ [?old] and excellent,
prudent head (a?.. ⟨is of the Elector⟩ Palatine) will, in the new treaties ⟨which⟩ will necessarily have to be made
⟨with the Turks⟩, be able to ⟨proceed⟩ in another way ⟨with reputation [?toward them]⟩ ---- ⟨than⟩ [62] can do, who for
us is interpreted ⟨[?in the interest] of⟩ [1].

We here long greatly for the Legation which, we understand, is esteemed at this Porte on behalf of Hungary, Bohemia
and the incorporated provinces ... not perceive otherwise than that it will be agreeable. The nuncio or commissary of
Poland, mentioned in my previous letter, [?ad pontum parmum] not assist

## P2 (the later page, dated 31 March 1620)

has arrived in this city; but, being likewise asked to have his lodging prepared according to the old custom, he
refused, saying that it is unnecessary to come here to treat further with the Poles. Whether such is anything other
than that everything is done ⟨as a bravado⟩ against us, Your High Mightinesses will (God willing) understand by the
next advices. [44] ⟨and⟩ [45] ⟨are working with⟩ [4] to gain time, so that he provisionally ⟨a suspension of arms
between the Turks⟩ and the ⟨kingdoms of Naples⟩ and ⟨Sicily⟩ [?...] might be negotiated. But I hope ⟨that these and
their other attempts⟩ to ⟨accomplish their designs against the Christians⟩ will ⟨[?everywhere] [?hinder]⟩ such, there
⟨they will get no hearing⟩ in it, as I have ⟨very good hope⟩ of it, that such will in no manner ⟨be granted⟩ ⟨here⟩.
[3] [4] ⟨and⟩ [7] ⟨ask me⟩ [?gravely] curiously and earnestly ⟨whether⟩ [50] have resolved ⟨to extend the truce with⟩
[70], to make ⟨peace⟩, or ⟨to take up⟩ ⟨arms⟩ again, which one ⟨[?here] would very gladly⟩ see, ⟨so as to be able to
attack Spain from the other⟩ side. Herewith etc.

At Constantinople, the 31st of March 1620. Your High Mightinesses' humble servant [signature]

R2115_reading.md

# DECODE R2115 — Cornelis Haga, Constantinople, to the States General: letters of 24 April and [4-7] May 1620 (reading)

Rests on: the four DECODE photographs of NA 1.01.02 inv. 6894 (R2115 I15012-I15015, main checkout
`targets/haga1620/decode/`, git-ignored), read line by line from native-resolution crops (23 Oct 2026,
`research/reading_audit/b28_strips.py`, `b28_crop.py`); the cipher spans decoded sign by sign with the key on DECODE
R2118 (`KEY_ALPHABET.md`, m = the 4-shaped sign) and listed in `R2115_cipher_spans.tsv`; nomenclator codes given as the
key's words (`KEY_NOMENCLATOR.md`). No contemporary decipherment, attachment or comment is on the record, and the
letters are not known in print. Clerk's spelling kept; u/v and i/j as written where legible.

**Page order.** The images are bound out of order. P3 opens the letter of 24 April (marginal note "... 7 Mey"),
P4 top ends it ("In Constantinopoli den xxiiij Aprilis 1620"); P4 bottom opens the next letter, which runs on to P2
("... den Vizir, Mufti, | Choggia ende Janitsaraga ...") and P1 ("... die men daer mede voor- | heeft ..."), dated on
P1 "den [?vij] Meij 1620" (DECODE: 4 May). The order is P3, P4, P2, P1 (NOTES had P3, P2, P4, P1).

Marks: `[?word]` partly carried, `[…]` unread, `[15]` an unidentified code; `[words]` = the key's word for a code
(code 43's number is inferred from the key's order, the column being cut by the photograph). No word is supplied.

## Reading

### P3 — letter of 24 April 1620

Hooge, Mogende ende Genadige Heeren.

Op den [?xvj] deses sijn hier gearriveert twee Bohemische ende Ungarische [?Commissen], afgevaerdicht op den Paesschen Landdach van Presburch, van wegen de geconfedereerde landen, brieven ende rapporten brengende van al het gunt op dito Landdach getracteert ende besloten is geworden, onder anderen, dat voorgenomen hebben een authentijcke Legatie aen dese Porta te senden ende een eewige vrede met Sijne Keijs: Mat: te maecken.

Soo aengenaem [?tselvige] is geweest, heeft [?gejouisseert] [?haere] vorstelicke receptie ende spoedige introductie soo bij den oppersten Vizir, als Sijne Mat., bij de welcken niet alleen dito [?Commissen], maer oock den Ambassadeur vande Stenden van Ungaria (wien men door persuasie vanden Ambassadeur vanden Duijtschen Keijser tot noch toe opgehouden heeft) op [?…] publijcque audientie gehadt, ende sullen apparentelijck in alle diligentie wederom afgevaerdicht werden met volcomen contentement, ende antwoort, dat d'Ambassadeurs, die herwaerts gedestineert sijn, aengenaem ende wellecom sullen wesen, ende dat men geresolveert is met de Crone van Ungaria, Bohemia, ende de geconfedereerde landen te tracteren, ende vrundtschap te maecken.

Daer is niet noodiger, als winninge van tijt, ende dat de Ungarische Stenden op het alderdesperaetste tot de electie ende croeninge van een nieu coninck procederen, daer naer [?hier] seer wert verlangt.

Mijn is vanden Agent van Transilvania vertoont [?seeckere] copie van een brieff, die den Prins Bethlem Gabor aenden Turckschen Keijser geschreven soude hebben, die den Duijtschen Keijser tot Ceulen drucken, ende door gansch Christenheijt heeft doen verstroijen, [?om] [den Prins van Transilvania] alomme odieus te maecken.

Ick hebbe mij [?best] seeckerlijck daer van geinformeert, ende met waerheijt bevonden, dat sodanigen brieff noijt aenden Turckschen Keijser geschreven, noch het swaert, scepter ende vane daerinne gementioneert aenden Prins Bethlem Gabor voor ofte nae de Ungarische commotien van hier gesonden sijn [?geweest], waer van ick dienstich heb geacht, dat UHo: Mo: ende andere Princen ende Stenden (die inde conservatie vande geunieerde landen [?geinteresseert] sijn) kennisse hebben.

### P4 (top) — end of the letter of 24 April

Door rapport van geloofwaerdige ende politijcque persoonen, die onlancx door het Coninckrijck van Napels gepasseert sijn, ende op de publijcque saecken [?goet] acht hebben, bericht, dat de landen door de groote belastinge van wegen de continuele toerustinge, die den Vice Roij [?eenige] [?jaren] herwaerts jegens de Repub. van Venetia gedaen heeft, soo seer uijtgeput ende geruineert sijn, dat van daer swaerlijck eenige assistentie voor den Duijtschen Keijser te wege sal connen gebracht werden.

Den Ambass. van Polen blijft alnoch binnen, sonder te vertrecken, apparentelijck ordre van sijnen Coninck verwachtende. [?Hier mede].

In Constantinopoli den xxiiij Aprilis 1620.

### P4 (bottom), P2 — the letter of May 1620

Hooge Mogende ende Genadige Heeren.

Ick bevinde dat de practijcquen vande Imperialen, om tusschen Spangie ende dese landen vrede te maecken, op dat den Coninck alle sijne machten te water ende te lande jegens de Evangelische Princen int Rijck, onse Geunieerde Nederlanden, ende de Repub. van Venetia onbecommert soude mogen gebruijcken, geen voortganck sullen hebben, daer toe ick sodanige devoiren ende informatien alomme gedaen heb, dat den [?Oppersten] Vizir (die te voren [des Duytschen Keijsers Ambassadeur] scheen te willen favoriseren) ende alle de voornaemste [?heeren] aen dese Porta teenemael tot faveur regis Bohemiae, van [den Prins van Transilvania] ende [46] gedisponeert heb, in vougen dat den Ambassadeur van Ungaria ende de Contreijen inden voorgaenden gementioneert in groote diligentie op primo deses afgevaerdicht sijn geweest, met haer volcomen contentement ende brieven vanden Grooten Heer, den Vizir, Mufti, Choggia, ende Janitsaraga, als oock hoochgedachte Coninck, Rijck ende Stenden, insonderheijt, dat haere Ambassadeurs, die sijluijden voorgenomen hebben aen dese Porta te senden, seer aengenaem ende willecom sullen wesen, dat men geresolveert is met sijne Mat: van Bohemen, ende den geenen die de Stenden van Ungaria voor haren Coninck sullen [?erwelen], ende haere geconfedereerde landen een eewige ende vaste vrede te maecken, bekennende, dat sonder [?verlies] van tijt d'Ambassadeurs tot dien [?eijnde] geexpedieert mogen werden, dat so lange de vrundtschap met dese Porta sullen maintineren, voor geenige vianden te vreesen hebben.

Dat alreede aen [den Bassa van Buda] ordre gegeven is, met haer goede correspondentie te houden, ende, is noodich, te assisteren, sonder andere last van hier te becomen.

Dat aen contrarie uijtstrooijinge, die van wegen [des Duytschen Keijsers Ambassadeur] souden mogen geschieden, geen geloof geven, [den opperste Vizir] ende [den Mufti] vermanen [den Prins van Transilvania], dat, sonder langer te wachten, de crone van Ungarie soude aennemen, dewijle het sijn Exc. op mijn versocht, dat soude willen daer toe arbeiden, dat met [des Duytschen Keijsers Ambassadeur] geen vrede gemackt werde.

De eere van dese resolutie coempt [de Hoog Mog. Heeren Staten Generael] alleen toe.

[?Met] dito Ambassadeur van Ungarie is een Chiaus aen den Prins Bethlem Gabor ende de Stenden gesonden, om de selvige oock mondelinge vande voorgenoemde resolutie ende Sijne Keijs: Mats goede genegentheijt te verseeckeren, ende d'Ambassadeurs herwaerts [?te geleijden] wederom t'accompagneren.

Ten contrarie wert de besendinge vanden siaus ende [15] aen [des Duytschen Keijsers Ambassadeur] te doen, van tijt tot tijt gediffereert, alhoewel groote diligentie doen om gerespondeert te werden, maer verhoepe, dat de [?selvige] door onse devoiren teenemael sal nablijven, hebbende [den opperste Vizir] wel geinformeert vande practicken die men daer mede voorheeft, om het spel in Duijtslant ende Ungaria met sodanigen bulleman te verderven, contrarie de meeninge vanden Turckschen Keijser, ende Sijn Exc.

### P1 — close of the May letter

Den Ambassadeur van Polen heeft eyntelijck licentie geobtineert, om hier te coemen, ende gehoort te werden, hebbende sijn eerste logijs bij den Ambassadeur vanden Keijser genomen, maer alsoo de Cosacken op nieuws groote schade doen, werden de gemoederen mede als voren verbittert, ende men verwacht eerlange tijdinge, dat den Coninck van Tartaria in persoon met al sijn macht opgetrocken ende in Polen gevallen sal sijn.

De preparatien van oorloge werden dagelijcx continuerende, alhoewel Sijn Mat: noch den Vizir dese somer persoonlijck niet sullen gaen, gelijck voorgenomen hebben het toecoemende jaer te doen.

De preparatien te water werden al ordinario gedaen.

Hier mede, Hooge, Mogende, ende Genadige Heeren, bidde ick den Almogenden UWe Ho: Mo: voorspoedige ende geluckige regeeringe meer ende meer te zegenen, mij onderdanichst bevelende in UWe Ho: Mo: genadige protectie.

In Constant. den [?vij] Meij 1620.

UWe Ho: Mo: onderdanichste getrouwe dienaer.

## Notes

- Cipher spans and look-alikes: `R2115_cipher_spans.tsv` (43 spans, 599 cipher letters decoded). Letters resting on a
  look-alike alternate: 13 (winninge nn, ende n, aennemen nn, op p, siaus s, last l, alomme l, bulleman ll, om o,
  vougen u — the l/s and n/t sign pairs and one p).
- Codes: [3] Vizier Azem "dat is de opperste Vizier", [7] Mufti, [19] Bassa van Buda, [58] the States General,
  [62] the Prince of Transylvania (all as in R2113); [43] "den Duytschen Keijser sijn extraordinaris Ambassadeur"
  (number inferred). [15]: the key reads "Bassa van Babilonia", which does not fit "de besendinge vanden siaus ende
  [15] aen [43]"; [46] "... van een ander lande noch procederende" is a heading fragment on the key. Both left open.
- "siaus" is the cipher's spelling of the chiaus named in clear just above; "bulleman" (bogeyman) and "vougen"
  (voegen: "in vougen dat", so that) are carried letter for letter.
- A leaf may be missing between P3 and P4 or the 24 April letter runs straight on: P3 ends "sijn [?geweest]," and
  P4 begins "waer van ick dienstich heb geacht"; the reading takes them as continuous.

R2115_en.md

# DECODE R2115 — Cornelis Haga to the States General, Constantinople, 24 April and [4-7] May 1620 (English)

Translation of `R2115_reading.md`, same holes. Words that were in cipher are not marked here; see
`R2115_cipher_spans.tsv`. `[?word]` partly carried, `[…]` unread, `[15]`, `[46]` unidentified codes.

## Translation

### Letter of 24 April 1620

High and Mighty, Gracious Lords.

On the [?16th] of this month two Bohemian and Hungarian [?commissioners] arrived here, sent from the Easter diet at
Pressburg on behalf of the confederated lands, bringing letters and reports of all that was treated and decided at that
diet, among other things that they intend to send a formal embassy to this Porte and to make a perpetual peace with
His Imperial Majesty [the Sultan].

[?This] was so welcome that they [?enjoyed] a princely reception and quick introduction both to the Grand Vizier and to
His Majesty, by whom not only these [?commissioners] but also the ambassador of the Estates of Hungary (whom the
persuasion of the German Emperor's ambassador had kept back until now) had public audience on [?…]; and they will
apparently be sent back in all diligence with full satisfaction and the answer that the ambassadors who are destined
here will be welcome, and that the Porte is resolved to treat and make friendship with the Crown of Hungary, Bohemia
and the confederated lands.

Nothing is more necessary than to gain time, and that the Hungarian Estates proceed in all urgency to the election and
crowning of a new king, which is much longed for [?here].

The agent of Transylvania showed me a [?certain] copy of a letter which Prince Bethlen Gábor is supposed to have written
to the Turkish Emperor, which the German Emperor had printed at Cologne and spread throughout Christendom [?in order]
to make [the Prince of Transylvania] odious everywhere.

I have informed myself of it with certainty and found in truth that no such letter was ever written to the Turkish
Emperor, nor were the sword, sceptre and banner mentioned in it sent from here to Prince Bethlen Gábor, before or after
the Hungarian troubles; which I thought it useful that Your High Mightinesses and the other princes and estates (who
have an interest in the preservation of the united lands) should know.

By report of trustworthy and politic persons who lately passed through the Kingdom of Naples and pay [?good] attention
to public affairs, [I am] told that the lands are so exhausted and ruined by the heavy burdens of the continual armament
which the Viceroy has made against the Republic of Venice these [?some] [?years], that hardly any help for the German
Emperor can be raised there.

The Polish ambassador still stays inside, without leaving, apparently awaiting orders from his king. [?Herewith].

Constantinople, 24 April 1620.

### Letter of May 1620

High and Mighty, Gracious Lords.

I find that the practices of the Imperialists to make peace between Spain and these lands [the United Provinces], so
that the King might use all his forces by water and land unhindered against the Evangelical princes in the Empire, our
United Netherlands and the Republic of Venice, will make no headway; to which end I have made such efforts and given
such information everywhere that I have entirely disposed the [?Grand] Vizier (who before seemed to want to favour [the
German Emperor's ambassador]) and all the [?chief lords] at this Porte in favour of the King of Bohemia, of [the Prince
of Transylvania] and of [46], so that the ambassador of Hungary and the envoys mentioned in my last were dispatched in
great haste on the first of this month, with their full satisfaction and letters from the Grand Signior, the Vizier,
the Mufti, the Kahya and the Agha of the Janissaries to the said King, Kingdom and Estates, in particular that their
ambassadors, whom they intend to send to this Porte, will be very welcome and agreeable; that the Porte is resolved to
make a perpetual and firm peace with His Majesty of Bohemia, with him whom the Estates of Hungary shall [?elect] as
their king, and with their confederated lands; acknowledging that the ambassadors may be dispatched to that [?end]
without [?loss] of time, and that as long as they keep friendship with this Porte they need fear no enemies.

That order has already been given to [the Pasha of Buda] to keep good correspondence with them and, if needed, to assist
them without receiving any further charge from here.

That no credence is to be given to contrary rumours which might be spread on behalf of [the German Emperor's
ambassador]; [the Grand Vizier] and [the Mufti] urge [the Prince of Transylvania] to accept the crown of Hungary without
waiting longer, since His Excellency, at my request, [said] he would work for it, that no peace be made with [the German
Emperor's ambassador].

The honour of this resolution belongs to [Their High Mightinesses the States General] alone.

[?With] the said ambassador of Hungary a chiaus has been sent to Prince Bethlen Gábor and the Estates to assure them by
word of mouth of the aforesaid resolution and of His Imperial Majesty's good inclination, and [?to conduct] the
ambassadors here and accompany them back.

On the other hand, the dispatch of the chiaus and of [15] to [the German Emperor's ambassador] is put off from time to
time, although they use great diligence to get an answer; but I hope that through our efforts it will come to nothing
altogether, having well informed [the Grand Vizier] of the practices intended by it, to spoil the game in Germany and
Hungary with such a bogeyman, against the intention of the Turkish Emperor and of His Excellency.

The Polish ambassador has at last obtained licence to come here and be heard, having taken his first lodging with the
Emperor's ambassador; but as the Cossacks again do great damage, tempers are embittered as before, and news is expected
shortly that the King of Tartary has marched in person with all his power and fallen upon Poland.

The preparations for war continue daily, although neither His Majesty nor the Vizier will go in person this summer, as
they intend to do next year.

The preparations at sea are made as usual.

Herewith, High and Mighty, Gracious Lords, I pray the Almighty to bless Your High Mightinesses' prosperous and happy
government more and more, commending myself most humbly to Your High Mightinesses' gracious protection.

Constantinople, [?7] May 1620.

Your High Mightinesses' most humble, faithful servant.