228 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OF [book in.

and alighting suddenly at the magisterial palace, andwalking up to the saloon, where he was told heusually dined, sent for him to where he was packingup to depart, and on his attempting to bend hisknee, as is the custom, the sultan would not allowof it, but gave him his right hand, and raised theimperial diadem a little from his head; a ceremonythe Ottoman sovereign uses with none of earthlykings—not even of the Mahometan, much less ofthe Christian persuasion, “ nor in truth with anybut in naming God or Mahomet,” says Fontanus.Not that there were many witnesses, but some, norof the infidels but his vizier and his page; the sultanhimself having ordered all his other servants out.This was the substance of the conversation whichthen took place between those high parties: by hissovereign’s command, Achmet said to him in Greek,that the grand seignor told him to be under no doubtwhatever, but to do things gently and at his leisure;for that if twelve days were not sufficient, he waswilling to agree to any delay the grand masterasked; who to this replied that he thanked him, andonly supplicated him to wait and keep his promise.And Solyman again assured him it was inviolable,and should be maintained at all events , 1 and in hissalutations the sultan called the grand master what1 Bosio: par. ii., lib. xx. 590.