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De Orbe Novo, The Eight Decades of Peter Martyr d'Anghera Vol. 1 (of 2)

by Francis Augustus MacNutt

by Francis Augustus MacNutt

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Introduction<br />

2^<br />

his life, and had gradually risen from a state <strong>of</strong> servitude<br />

to his post <strong>of</strong> confidence near the Sultan's person. Tangriberdy<br />

availed himself <strong>of</strong> the opportunity afforded by his<br />

duties, to relate to the ambassador the story <strong>of</strong> his life<br />

and his forcible conversion, declaring that, in his heart, he<br />

clung to the Christian faith and longed to return to his<br />

native Spain. Whether his sentiments were sincere or<br />

feigned, his presence in an influential capacity at the<br />

Sultan's court was a fortuitous circumstance <strong>of</strong> which the<br />

ambassador gladly took advantage. <strong>The</strong> audience was<br />

fixed for the following morning at daybreak, and that<br />

night Tangriberdy lodged the embassy in his own palace.<br />

Traversing the streets <strong>of</strong> Cairo, thronged with a hostile<br />

crowd curious to view the giaour, <strong>Peter</strong> <strong>Martyr</strong>, accompanied<br />

by the Grand Dragoman and his Mameluke escort,<br />

mounted to the citadel, where stood the stately palace<br />

built by Salah-Eddin, After crossing two courts he<br />

found himself in a third, where sat the Sultan upon a marble<br />

dais richly draped and cushioned. <strong>The</strong> prostrations<br />

exacted by Eastern etiquette were dispensed with, the<br />

envoy being even invited to sit in the august presence.<br />

Thrice the Sultan assured him <strong>of</strong> his friendly disposition;<br />

no business was transacted, and after these formaHties the<br />

ambassador withdrew as he had come, a second audience<br />

being fixed for the following Sunday.<br />

Meanwhile, the envoys from the Barbary States,<br />

who were present for the purpose <strong>of</strong> defeating the<br />

negotiations, excited the populace by appeals to their<br />

fanaticism, reminding them <strong>of</strong> the cruelties endured<br />

by their brethem <strong>of</strong> the true faith at the hands <strong>of</strong><br />

Spaniards. <strong>The</strong>y even declared that if Cansu Alguri<br />

consented to treat with the infidels, he was no true<br />

son <strong>of</strong> Islam. A council <strong>of</strong> militar}^ chiefs was summoned<br />

which quickly decided to demand the immediate<br />

dismissal <strong>of</strong> the Christian ambassador. Tangriberdy,<br />

who sought to alter this determination, was even

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