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        <title xml:lang="en">Letter from Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha to Emperor Maximilian II, Constantinople, 31 July 1576</title>
        <title xml:lang="de">Großwesir Sokollu Mehmed Pascha an Kaiser Maximilian II., Konstantinopel, 31. Juli 1576</title>
        <title xml:lang="tr">Vezir-i Azam Sokollu Mehmed Paşa’nın İmparator II. Maximilian’a mektubu, Kostantiniyye, 31 Temmuz 1576</title>
        <author>
          <persName>Sokollu Mehmed Pasha</persName>
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          <resp xml:lang="de">Korrektur der engl. Übersetzung</resp>
          <resp xml:lang="en">Proofreading of English translation</resp>
          <persName xml:id="sh">
            <forename>Samuel</forename>
            <surname>Huckleberry</surname>
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            <country>Austria</country>
            <settlement>Vienna</settlement>
            <addrLine>Österreichischer Wissenschaftsfonds FWF</addrLine>
            <addrLine>Georg-Coch-Platz 2</addrLine>
            <addrLine>1010 Wien</addrLine>
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        <pubPlace ana="marcrelator:pup">Vienna</pubPlace>
        <date ana="dcterms:issued" when="2025">2025</date>
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          <p xml:lang="de">Die Partner des Projekts haben dem Institute for Habsburg and Balkan Studies der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften die Erlaubnis erteilt, Faksimiledaten im Rahmen des QhoD-Projekts zu veröffentlichen. Angestellte dieser öffentlich finanzierten Institution haben Bilder der Archivquellen erstellt oder gesammelt sowie deskriptive Metadaten erstellt. Die Inhalte der Quellen sind nach dem österreichischen Urheberrechtsgesetz nicht geschützt, nachdem die SchöpferInnen der Werke wie auch ihrer materiellen Träger jedenfalls vor mehr als 70 Jahren verstorben sind (§§60-61 UrhG); weiters sind diese Quellen überwiegend zum amtlichen Gebrauch hergestellt und genießen damit keinen urheberrechtlichen Schutz (§7 UrhG). QhoD kann jedoch keine Lizenz auf die Bilddaten erteilen. Kontaktieren Sie die im tei:sourceDesc-Element gelisteten Archive für weitere Auskünfte.</p>
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        <title n="6" xml:lang="en">The Ottoman Grand Vizierate 1560s to 1760s</title>
        <title n="6" xml:lang="de">GraViz: Das osmanische Großwesirat (1560-1760)</title>
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          <resp xml:lang="en">project lead</resp>
          <persName>
            <forename>Yasir</forename>
            <surname>Yılmaz</surname>
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        <title xml:lang="de">Digitale Edition von Quellen zur habsburgisch-osmanischen Diplomatie 1500–1918</title>
        <title xml:lang="en">Digital Scholarly Edition of Habsburg-Ottoman Diplomatic Sources 1500–1918</title>
        <title xml:lang="tr">Habsburg-Osmanlı Diplomasisi Kaynakları Dijital Edisyonu 1500–1918</title>
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          <resp xml:lang="de">Projektleitung</resp>
          <resp xml:lang="en">project lead</resp>
          <persName>
            <forename>Arno</forename>
            <surname>Strohmeyer</surname>
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          <additional>
            <p>The same as 1576.12.02-11! (TUK 186/186b)</p>
          </additional>
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            <p>German (Türkei I 33, pp. 28-33)</p>
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        <p>Sokollu Mehmed Pasha expresses to Emperor Maximilian his concern over the delayed tribute payment and emphasizes that the safety of the Ottoman Empire’s neighbors is dependent on them sending the tribute in a timely fashion. He warns Maximilian against heeding false friends who oppose the friendship between their realms and urges him to promptly send the tribute. The Habsburg representative at the Porte has even dispatched a messenger to reinforce this request. The grand vizier reminds Maximilian of the overwhelming strength of the Ottoman armies, underscoring the importance of preserving peace also with Poland and Transylvania, which are under Ottoman protection. Additionally, he raises concerns about the potential consequences of granting a border sanjak to a son of the king of the Tatars, who are known for their ferocity, and ponders what consequences that might have for the emperor’s subjects. While the decision on this matter has been postponed, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha urges Maximilian to prioritize the Habsburg-Ottoman friendship by promptly sending the tribute.</p>
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          <persName ref="https://d-nb.info/gnd/119472449">Sokollu Mehmed Pasha</persName>
          <date type="Hijri">984.05.05</date>
          <date when="1576-07-31">1576.07.31</date>
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          <persName ref="https://d-nb.info/gnd/11857938X">Maximilian II</persName>
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          <ref target="info:fedora/context:graviz" type="context">GraViz: Das osmanische Großwesirat (1560-1760)</ref>
          <ref target="info:fedora/context:graviz.l" type="context">Letters</ref>
          <ref target="info:fedora/context:graviz.smp" type="context">Letters from the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha 
(1565-1579) period</ref>
          <ref target="info:fedora/context:qhod" type="context">Online Edition von Quellen zur habsburgisch-osmanischen Diplomatie (1500-1918) </ref>
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        <opener>
          <salute>

            <lb/>Löblicher und geehrter under den grossen christlichen herrn
                  <lb/>erwelter der grossen und mächtigen, des christlichen gesaz,
                  <lb/>ersezer und erstatter deren ding in der ganzen nazarenischen
                  <lb/>nation, bekhlaidt mit dem schein der herrligkhait und ehren,
                  <lb/>herr der zeichen der ehren und hochait, kaiser des reichs <rs
              ref="#mpr13416" type="place">Wienn</rs>
            <lb/>und <rs ref="#mpr9291" type="place">Teütschlandt</rs>, <rs ref="#mpr14157" type="person">kyral Maximilian</rs>, des ende seÿ mit
                  <lb/>glickhseligkhait und allem guettem.                   
               </salute>
        </opener>
        <p
            xml:id="p.1">               
               Nachdem e. Mt. etc.
               <lb/>unsere freundliche grües und diensts erbiettungen, die
               <lb/>sich der waren lautern freundschafft, so zwischen unns ist ge<lb
            break="no" rend="#shy"/>zimmen und derselben wirdig, presentirt und vermelt sein,
               <lb/>wellen e. Mt. etc. freundlichen wissen, waßmassen wir umb
               <lb/>die freundschafft, frid und sicherheit, die e. Mt. etc. yezo mit
               <lb/>der Porten dises unsers großmechtigen und glickhhafftigen
               <lb/>
          <rs ref="#mpr19414"
            type="person">kaisers</rs>, Gott erhelt ime seinen sig und mehre ime sein
               <lb/>macht, welche Porten auch im ursprung allerglickhseligkheit
               <lb/>ist, haben genuegsamlich unsern fleiß und sorg fürgewendt,
               <lb/>e. Mt. etc. auch wol wissen, wie wast wir unns umb die be<lb
            break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>crefftigung des fridens guetter ruehe und sicherhait, die
               <lb/>zwischen unns ist bemühet haben. Derselben e. Mt. etc. rechten
               <lb/>freundschafft und verhaissung nach aber (die sie von alters
               <lb/>verschinen jaren mit dem stammen und vorforden seiner
               <lb/>unsers kaisers hocheit auch noch biß auf dise Zeit her ge<lb
            break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>habt.) haben e. Mt. etc. ir gewondliche verehrung nit zu ir               
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          <lb/>bestimbten zeit herein verordnet, welcher verzug bißher
               <lb/>dann wider den fridspart ist. Die macht und gewalt
               <lb/>unsers glickhseligen durchleichtigen <rs
            ref="#mpr19414"
            type="person">kaisers</rs> sein durch die
               <lb/>genad Gottes des allerhechsten künigs (der darumben
               <lb/>gelobt sey) in hechter volkhomenhait, und wohin sein
               <lb/>hochait ainiche kriegs expetition fürzumemen sich begibt,
               <lb/>hat sie durch den willen Gottes, dieselb zuvolbringen khain
               <lb/>ainige verhinderung. Die fürsten und nambhafftigen
               <lb/>potentaten diser Zeit, so dem reich seiner hochait benach<lb
            break="no" rend="#shy"/>part und in unser freundschafft, inmassen dieselbes er<lb break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>fordert, steiff und bestendig sein, wann nur und so lanng
               <lb/>ire presenten zu rechter zeit her khommen, haben und erlangen
               <lb/>sie von seiner kaiserlichen hochait alle gnad und gunst und
               <lb/>obschon dieselben fürsten selbs ainiche fridts zersterrung
               <lb/>nit gestatten, eben so woll wurde unser mechtiger <rs
            ref="#mpr19414" type="person">kaiser</rs>
          <lb/>von seinem thail auch khain fridts widerwertigkheit zue<lb break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>lassen. Da man aber sähe, das irgents von einem ortt
               <lb/>wider den fridt gehandelt, so würde der wahre unbegreif<lb
            break="no" rend="#shy"/>lich hechste Gott durch sein heilige gnad und unaußsprech<lb break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>liche hilff der sachen seiner hochait beistehn, dieselbig für<lb break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>sehen und versorgen. Die freundschafft aber mit denselbigen
               <lb/>würde aus und deßwegen ires theils grosse reu sein. Also
               <lb/>die jhenigen welche in e. Mt. etc. nachbarschafft, unnd sich               
               <pb
            facs="#IMG003" n="2r" type="sheet"/>
          <lb/>sonderlich für e. Mt. etc. guette freundt erzaigen, sein vilmehr
               <lb/>e. Mt. etc. veindt, denn inen e. Mt. etc. freundschafft mit unserm
               <lb/>glickhseligen kaiser nit lieb noch gefellig ist, wellen dieselb
               <lb/>nit haben, sonder suechen auf alle weeg, die sachen in unrath
               <lb/>und verderben zubringen. E. Mt. etc. wissen aber woll, was
               <lb/>sie bißher von solchen freundten für nuz gespürt haben. 
            </p>
        <p xml:id="p.2">
               Eur Mt. etc.
               <lb/>an diser Portten residirender <rs
            ref="#mpr14187"
            type="person">orator</rs>, nachdem er diß als woll
               <lb/>betracht hat, auch sorgfeltig und betrüebt darüber gewesen ist,
               <lb/>das e. Mt. etc. presendt biß her sich solanng vertziehen, hat begert,
               <lb/>das er ainen seiner leüth mecht zu e. Mt. etc. hinausschikhen, das
               <lb/>auch von unserm thail neben ime e. Mt. etc. hinaus geschriben
               <lb/>wurde, welches ich vor dem kaiserlichen thron unsers glickh<lb
            break="no" rend="#shy"/>seligen <rs ref="#mpr19414"
            type="person">sulthani</rs>, also fürgebracht, und nachdem es sein hochait
               <lb/>bewilligt, hab ich e. Mt. etc. dises schreiben hiemit zuschickhen
               <lb/>wellen, damit e. Mt. etc. wann iro solche unsere schreiben, wils
               <lb/>Got,t zukhommen, disem handel wie sich gebürth, woll nach ge<lb
            break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>denckhen, auf das durch anhetzung oder beredung derer, so
               <lb/>ausser guettes raths, und sich nur allein mit ainer besondern
               <lb/>weiß erzaigen, als ob sie e. Mt. etc. freundt seien, der frid nicht
               <lb/>aufgestossen werde, das e. Mt. etc. auch ainicher fridtsverwir<lb
            break="no" rend="#shy"/>rung oder zersterung nit statt thuen, dann den fridt zer<lb break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>steren ist leicht, denselben aber wann er in ainicherlay weiß
               <lb/>oder weeg nun gebrochen, widerumben aufzurichten und zube<lb
            break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>crefftigen, das ist schwer. Mit disem unserm guetten rath               
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          <lb/>mainen wir anderst nichts, allain so lang das bandt des
               <lb/>fridens und guetten ruhe zwischen unns unzertrendt bleibt,
               <lb/>es ain ursach alles gueten sein wiert, sonst sein die hör
               <lb/>unsers glickhseligen <rs
            ref="#mpr19414"
            type="person">kaisers</rs> wie die stern unzelich, unnd
               <lb/>seine kriegsleüth, die mit den zeichen des sigs geziert
               <lb/>sein, schon alberait und ferttig. Es werden ja nun mehr
               <lb/>e. M. von denen, so bey derselben ab und zueziehen
               <lb/>woll genuegsam underricht sein, in was grad unnd
               <lb/>wesen die macht und gewalt seiner hochait ist, der<lb
            break="no" rend="#shy"/>halben unvonnetten dieselbe von neuem e. Mt. etc. zuercleren.
            </p>
        <p xml:id="p.3">
          <lb/>Wie der fridtsstandt zwischen unserm glickshafftigen <rs ref="#mpr19414" type="person">kaiser</rs>
          <lb/>unnd e. Mt. etc. beschlossen und darüber die kaiserlich capitu<lb break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>lation aufgericht, ist in dieselbe außtruckhlichen eingeleibt
               <lb/>worden, das dem <rs
            ref="#mpr19436" type="person">künig in <rs ref="#mpr6814" type="person">Polln</rs>
          </rs> und den Sibenbügern, wel<lb break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>liche von alters herr iren gehorsam und dienstbarkhait gegen
               <lb/>diser irer hochait glickhlichen und hocherhebten Porten voll<lb
            break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>khomenlich erzaigt, auch alles das, so inen ir kaiserlich hochait
               <lb/>bevolchen, alwegen treulichen gelaist und volzogen haben,
               <lb/>denselben iren lannden (welliches auch noch sein hocheit
               <lb/>nicht zugeben will) weil sie unter seiner hochait schutz, so
               <lb/>woll als andere seine lannde sein, auch nicht ainer handt
               <lb/>praidt erdreichs, darinnen ainiche beschwerung oder über<lb
            break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>last zugefuegt werde. Derwegen so lassen e. Mt. etc.               
               <pb
            facs="#IMG005" n="3r" type="sheet"/>

          <lb/>nicht zue das man ichtes dem friden zuwider thue, sonder
               <lb/>denselbigen, wie es sich aignet und gebürth, erhalte, damit
               <lb/>daraus nit ursach desselben genzlicher verwirr und zerstö<lb
            break="no" rend="#shy"/>rung entstehe.
            </p>
        <p xml:id="p.4">               
               Dise tag hat der herr der herrschafft, <rs ref="#mpr19430"
              type="person">künig
               <lb/>in <rs type="#mpr19647">Tartaria</rs>

          </rs>, ein schreiben alher an seiner hochait glickhselige
               <lb/>Porten geschickht, in welchen er begert, weil er mehr als
               <lb/>zwanzig söhn hab, deren ain yeder nun mehr schon das
               <lb/>alters und somit tauglich sein, aufrichtig und threulich disem
               <lb/>solthano (zu des dienst sie nach allen iren crefften unnd ver<lb
            break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>mügen willig und beraith sein) zudiennen, das derselbigen
               <lb/>ainem der sansiagkhait <rs
            ref="#mpr17055" type="place">Segedin</rs> an der ofnischen gränizen
               <lb/>bewilligt und verlihen werde. Dieweil aber die Tartarn
               <lb/>von Natur ain ungezambts volckh, die nie an ain ortt mit
               <lb/>ruhe still sitzen, sonder von alters her gewendt sein, das
               <lb/>lannd zuverhören und zuverderben, wann sy nun erst
               <lb/>dort hinaus khämen, wie vermainen e. Mt. etc. was für
               <lb/>ruhe die armen underthanen daselbst haben würden. Umb
               <lb/>deß willen aber ist sollich sein begern seiner hochait noch nit
               <lb/>fürgebracht, sonder aufgeschoben worden. 
            </p>
        <p
            xml:id="p.5">
               Schließlich so
               <lb/>e. Mt. etc. begeren, das die freundschafft zwischen unns wie
               <lb/>zuvor also auch nochferner erhalten werde, so brauch
               <lb/>e. Mt. etc. durchaus khain weitern vorzug die gewondlich
               <lb/>presendt volkhomenlich alher zuschikhen, und also hierdurch               
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          <lb/>in warhaffte freundschafft hieher zubeweisen, in
               <lb/>welchem fahl, da sie sich solcher gestalt erzaigen, wirdt
               <lb/>es one ainichen zu nuz e. Mt. etc. thails geraichen, wo
               <lb/>fern aber e. Mt. etc. etlich losen leüthen und deßgleichen
               <lb/>anhezung volgen wierdt, sich umb <rs
            ref="#mpr6814" type="place">Polln</rs> oder <rs ref="#mpr9372" type="place">Siben<lb break="no"
            rend="#shy"/>bürgen</rs> annemben, so hat e. Mt. etc. woll vernommen,
               <lb/>das des alles wider unsern hochseligen <rs
            ref="#mpr19414"
            type="person">kaiser</rs>, auch ain
               <lb/>ursach des bruchs des beschlossnen frids und ainigkheit ist.               
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        <postscript>
          <p xml:id="p.6">
            <date
              when="1576-07-31">1576. 31 Julii</date>
                  Copi
                  des schreibens an die <rs
              ref="#mpr14157" type="person">römischen ksl. 
                  Mt. etc.</rs> vom <rs ref="#mpr19392"
              type="person">Mehmeth Bassa</rs> aus 
                  <rs ref="#mpr16051" type="place">Constantinopl.</rs>
          </p>
        </postscript>
      </div>
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        <pb n="1r" type="sheet"/>
        <opener>

          <salute>
               Praiseworthy and honored among the great Christian lords, chosen one of the great 
               and mighty of the Christian law, renovator or restorer of things in the whole 
               Nazarene nation, bestowed with the splendor of glory and honor, lord of the signs 
               of honor and majesty, emperor of the empire of <rs
              ref="#mpr13416" type="place">Vienna</rs> and <rs ref="#mpr9291" type="place">Germany</rs>, <rs
              ref="#mpr14157" type="person">kyral Maximilian</rs>, 
               whose end be with happiness and all that is good.
               </salute>
        </opener>
        <p
            xml:id="p.7">   
               Having presented and reported to 
               your majesty our friendly greetings and offers of service, which are befitting and 
               worthy of the true, sincere friendship that exists between us, may it please your 
               majesty to know how abundantly we have devoted our diligence and care to the friendship, 
               peace and security, which your majesty now has with the Porte of this our great and 
               blessed emperor, God preserve him his victory, and still more his power, the Porte 
               which is also the source of all happiness, and may your majesty also know how firmly 
               we have endeavored to strengthen peace, good tranquility and security that is between 
               us. In spite of your majesty’s rightful friendship and promise, however, which he has 
               had with the lineage and ancestors of his imperial highness from ancient years even 
               up to this time, your majesty has not ordered the usual tribute here at the time appointed 
               for this purpose, the delay of which is contrary to the peace treaty. The power and authority 
               of our blessed, illustrious emperor are, by the grace of God, the Most High King, who is 
               therefore praised, in the highest perfection, and wherever high highness undertakes a 
               war expedition, he has no hindrance in carrying it out by the will of God. The princes 
               and notable potentates of this time, who are neighbors of the empire of high highness, and 
               who are firm and constant in their friendship, in so far as the same requires it, have and 
               obtain from his imperial highness all grace and favor, if only and as long as their gifts 
               come at the right time, and although the same princes themselves do not permit a disturbance 
               of the peace, just as well would our mighty emperor not permit anything contrary to the peace 
               from his side. But as soon as it is seen that peace is being violated from anywhere, the true, 
               incomprehensible, supreme God, through his holy grace and unspeakable help, will stand by the 
               affairs of his highness, protect them and provide for them. The friendship with them, however, 
               will be over, and as a consequence, there will be great tranquility from their side. Consequently, 
               those in your majesty’s neighborhood who present themselves 
               <pb
            n="2r" type="sheet"/>
               as particularly good friends of your 
               majesty are in fact your majesty’s enemies, for they neither like nor desire your majesty’s 
               friendship with our blessed emperor, they do not want it, but seek in every way to bring matters 
               to decay and ruin. However, your majesty is well aware of the benefits he has had thus far from 
               such friends. 
            </p>
        <p
            xml:id="p.8">
               Having well considered all this, and having been concerned and grieved that Your 
               Majesty’s gift has been so long delayed, your majesty’s <rs
            ref="#mpr14187"
            type="person">orator</rs>, who resides at this Porte, has 
               requested that he send one of his men to your majesty, that a letter be written to your majesty 
               from our side as well, which I have thus presented before the imperial throne of our blessed 
               <rs
            ref="#mpr19414"
            type="person">sultan</rs> and after high highness has approved it, I have herewith wished to send this letter to 
               your majesty, so that when your majesty receives our letter, God willing, he may give this 
               matter due consideration, so that peace may be preserved by heeding the suasion of those who, 
               apart from good advice, only distinguish themselves in the special way that they are your 
               majesty’s friends, that your majesty, moreover, will not allow any perturbation or destruction 
               of peace, for it is easy to destroy peace, but it is difficult to reestablish and reaffirm it 
               when it has been broken in whatever way or manner. With this good advice of ours, 
               <pb
            n="2v"
            type="sheet"/>
               we mean nothing 
               else, except that as long as the bond of peace and good tranquility remains unbroken between us, 
               it will be a cause of all good, or else the armies of our blessed <rs
            ref="#mpr19414" type="person">emperor</rs> are as innumerable as 
               the stars, and his men of war, adorned with the signs of victory, are at all times ready and 
               waiting. Your majesty will now be sufficiently informed by those who depart from and arrive at 
               the same, as to the degree and nature of the power and authority of high highness, for which reason 
               it is not necessary to explain it anew to your majesty. 
            </p>
        <p xml:id="p.9">
               As the state of peace between our blessed 
               <rs ref="#mpr19414"
            type="person">emperor</rs> and your majesty has been decided, and the imperial capitulation has been drawn up, it has 
               been expressly included in the same that the <rs
            ref="#mpr19426" type="person">king in <rs ref="#mpr6814" type="place">Poland</rs>

          </rs> and the Transylvanians, who from time 
               immemorial have shown their obedience and servitude to her highness’s happy and exalted Porte, 
               along with all that is under his imperial protection as are his other lands, shall not endure 
               hardship or oppression. For this reason, your majesty should not allow
               <pb
            n="3r"
            type="sheet"/>
               anything to be done that 
               is contrary to peace, but should preserve it as is right and proper, lest it lead to utter chaos 
               and destruction. These days, the lord of the dominion, <rs
            ref="#mpr19430" type="person">king in <rs ref="#mpr19647" type="place">Tartaria</rs>

          </rs>, has sent a letter to his 
               highness’s blessed Porte here, in which he requests, as he has more than 20 sons, each of whom is 
               already of age and fit to serve this sultan sincerely and faithfully (for whose service they are 
               willing and ready according to all their abilities and skills), that one of them be granted and 
               awarded the sanjak <rs
            ref="#mpr17055" type="place"> Szeged
               </rs> on the border of <rs ref="#mpr7448" type="place">Buda</rs>. But since the Tartars are by nature an untamed 
               people, who never sit quietly in one place, but are accustomed from time immemorial to ravage and 
               destroy the land, if they were to come out there now, what kind of peace does your majesty think 
               the poor subjects there would have? His request, however, has deliberately not yet been presented 
               to his highness, but has been postponed. 
            </p>
        <p
            xml:id="p.10">
               If your majesty wishes the friendship between us to 
               be maintained as it has been in the past, your majesty should not hesitate any longer to send the 
               usual gifts in full, thus 
               <pb
            n="3v"
            type="sheet"/>
               proving your majesty’s unwavering friendship, which, if shown in this 
               form, will undoubtedly redound to your majesty’s advantage. If, however, your majesty, without 
               being compelled to do so, were to follow a few loose men and the like to attend to <rs
            ref="#mpr6814" type="place">Poland</rs> or 
               <rs ref="#mpr9372" type="place">Transylvania</rs>, your majesty should be well aware that all this is against our most blessed emperor 
               and also a cause for the breach of the agreed peace and unity.
            </p>
        <pb n="4r" type="sheet"/>
        <postscript>
          <p xml:id="p.11">
            <date when="1576-07-31">1576. 31 July</date>
                  Copy of <rs ref="#mpr19392"
              type="person">Mehmet Pasha’s</rs> letter to the <rs ref="#mpr14157"
              type="person">Roman imperial majesty</rs>
                  from <rs ref="#mpr16051" type="place">Constantinople</rs>.  
               </p>
        </postscript>
      </div>
    </body>
  </text>
</TEI>
