Cutlash of Silver 2 Great Writing Desks of Jaspar-Stone with Prospectives within 2 Other of Ebony Wood and Tortoise shell in-laid with Gold and Silver 1 Great Ice Vessel and one great Drinking Pot of Silver 4 Pieces of Spanish Tapestry wrought with Silver 14 Clocks with Turkish and Christian Figures A Grota with a Clock in it and a Case of Virginals which sound with the motion of Water that runs through it A Cupboard an Ell high adorned with Bosses of Silver in which was a Salt-Box Candlesticks and other appurtenances thereunto A large Chest with Figures of Silver gilded A high Writing Desk of Silver gilded with many Boxes and Drawers which for the Art and Invention is not to be described Presents to the Valede or Queen Mother An embroidered Cushinet to sow upon in which was a Looking Glass and a Virginal sounding of it self A large Looking Glass in a Silver Frame 2 Silver Candlesticks of an Ell and half high A Basket of Silver rarely worked and engraven 4 Great Cups To the Great Vizier 12 Silver Platters with Covers 2 Silver Candlesticks ¾ of an Ell high 12 Silver Plates handsomely worked for Confects 1 Basket of Silver engraven 14 Very large Silver Cups For other Ministers to be bestowed as occasion was 32 Clocks of several sorts some with Turkish and others with Christian Figures 21 Watches gilded 7 Gilded Basons and Ewers The Weight of the Silver all together amounted unto three thousand five hundred pound weight These were the Particulars of the Presents sent from the Emperour to the Grand Signior from whom he received the like value by the Ottoman Ambassadour And though this Relation may seem impertinent to the Weight of History yet in regard on such minute things many times greater matters depend and thereby the curiosity of the Reader satisfied I thought it not from our purpose to insert a List thereof This year gave the first Beginning to trade between the Ottoman Dominions and that of Genoua For in Company of the German Ambassadour in condition of a private person came the Marquess Durazzo a Nobleman of Genoua with Letters from that Republick to the Grand Signior and Great Vizier importing their desire of friendship and commerce with the Ottoman Port. This design of opening a door to a new Trade was commenced and carried on wholly by the contrivance and power of the Family of the Durazzo's falsely founded on the course allay of money then currant in the Turkish Territories which proved not long durable as will appear by the Sequel This Marquess being arrived at Constantinople declared his Message which if favourably accepted an Ambassadour or Resident with Merchants should be sent to hold a Trade in the Turkish Dominions In answer whereunto the Vizier replied according to the usual complement That the Arms of the Port are always open to those who desire to entertain a friendship and correspondence with it But because in former days Ambassadours from Spain and Genoua having like promises of admission were notwithstanding through the union of the English and French and Venetians obstructed in their passage and forced to return home though one of them as far as Scio in his way and the other as Ragusa therefore this Marquess in remembrance hereof pressed the Vizier farther in his promise desiring him to give him the assurance that what opposition might be made to the contrary by other Ministers he would yet keep firm to that word he had given to his Republick the Vizier constantly promised that he would and if any other Ambassadours were not pleased with the friendship and Treaty of that day they might seek their remedy as they pleased and if they pleased might have liberty to depart The Marquess being satisfied with this assurance took Letters to his Republick in assurance thereof and Articles were given and Priviledges for Trade signed according to the Tenour of other Capitulations and being herewith dispatched he returned home by Land and the next year appeared again himself in the Person of Ambassadour Extraordinary to the Ottoman Court where after high and considerable Presents and great Expences made chiefly supported by the House of Durazzo a Resident was seated at Constantinople and a Consul at Smyrna where we will leave them for a while and some years after God willing take an account of the profit and loss this progging Nation had made by this Embassy and Trade But before we leave this point it will be worth our noting how hainously the French Ambassadour Monsieur La Haye took this entertainment of the Genoese in regard he was so concerned against his admission that he declared to the chief Ministers of State how he had received Orders to oppose the entrance of the Genoese Nation as highly prejudicial and obstructive to their Trade and in fine to acquaint the Grand Signior that in case he resolved to entertain them his Master would withdraw his Ambassadour and Nation and therefore they ought to consider whether a new Friend and an inconsiderable Republick ought to be preferred before the known and approved acquaintance of the powerful Empire of France But whatsoever the French Ministers were able to act to the contrary the Genoeses kept their stations in which they were the better secured by those frequent occasions of disgust his most Christian Majesty in defence of the Christian Cause had given to these Enemies of the Christian Faith The Great Vizier and the German Ambassadour being now both at the Ottoman Port the Wars were concluded and every one began to dispose his affairs to a quiet and a reposed life But this Empire being still by Gods Providence in a condition of growth and augmentation could not remain long in Peace nor long in health without exercise and action Wherefore no sooner was Germany at ease than the Visier began to move the prosecution of the War in Candia desiring to obtain the glory of subjecting totally that Island which for the space of twenty five years had been the principal subject of the Ottoman design and exercise and acquire to himself the Fame in History of being Conquerour of Candia and Concluder of the Venetian War Wherefore the Vizier with several other principal Persons assembled in a Garden near the City of Adrianople sent for the Signior Ballarino Representative for the Republick of Venice where being come at the first word demanded of him the Surrender of the whole Island of Candia To which he modestly replied That so great a gift was not in his power to give and that his office was only to be assistant to that happy hour wherein all matters might concur towards Peace and that his Mediation might contribute towards a conclusion of this long and tedious War In the mean time he should acquaint his Prince with the demand the Vizier was pleased to make To which the Turks added menaces with high and insolent words designing to bend their whole force and power against Candia the effect of which will
during which time the Pestilence the Epidemical disease of that season at Constantinople affecting with its contagion the Ships company about eighteen or twenty of them dyed thereof and all their affairs reduced to a strange consternation In this interim many and various were the disputes and contests between the two Residents sometimes they proposed to refer their differences to the decision of the English French and Venetian Ministers sometimes again finding the distance so wide and spatious between them they resolved to have their matters determined by Turkish Sentence At length the new Resident perceiving no end of this business and that the Ship lay ingaged at a great charge and as it were captivated to the great dishonour of the Republick came to an agreement to pay thirty three thousand Dollars one third whereof was to be paid in hand and the other two thirds by equal portions in the space of one year the first payment to be made after six months and the other six months after to which not only the Resident but their Merchants also entred personally into obligation In this manner the Ship being cleared and taking such lading as offered for Genoua at Constantinople sailed for Smyrna where taking another Ship of the same Country into her company departed with the Dutch Convoy for Christendom But having remained six months in Port subjected to much charge and trouble and not finding a Freight equal to the time and expence was no great incouragement to the Genoueses to continue this Trade which by good experience appears in no manner agreeable to their Country nor yielding success answerable to the long expectation of ten years past In this Year it was that the Grand Signior and Great Vizier at the instigation of Chusaein Aga the chief Customer whom we have before mentioned casting their eyes on Smyrna and finding it a place of great Trade and a convenient Port for which in ancient times it was always famous and for the same cause was frequented by Merchants both from the Eastern and Western parts of the World so that it was become the only great and considerable Mart or Scale within the Precincts of the Turkish Empire considering it I say in this manner with a benign eye as bringing great profit and advantage they began to think it worthy the Ornament of some publick Edifices founded with that Magnificence as might endure long and renew the ancient Honour and Reputation of Smyrna Hereupon they erected in the first place a Besasteen which is in the nature of our Exchange where several Shops are made and variety of Goods sold and to make the better Front towards the Sea it was founded therein on vast Stones and Piles fit to support a weighty Building The next Edifice erected was a Custom-house built into the Sea only on Piles of Timber with a handsom Front towards the Sea and this the Great Vizier judged to be a work not only necessary but also agreeable to the Majesty of his Master for until this time the Customer lived in a hired House not unlike the others which Merchants inhabit And now this House being compleated a Hattesheriff or Royal Decree came down from the Court commanding that all Ships that came into that Port either to lade or unlade should lay their sides to that Custom-house Scale and thereon discharge their Goods and receive others And now whereas the Merchants injoyed at all times in former days the convenience of having their Goods landed on and laden from their own Keys or Scales they greatly resented this innovation and as they unwillingly quit any Privlledge so they judged this not unworthy to be contended for with singular constancy and resolution the commodiousness of which was thought so considerable that it not only caused this place in former days to flourish and to be distinguished from all the Marts in the World but also the injoyment thereof invited the Inhabitants from the more elevated parts of Smyrna where was health and pleasure to the lower Bogs and Marishes exchanging health and chearful air for profit and convenience of Commerce Hereupon applications were made by all the Consuls of the Frank Nations to their Ambassadours and Ministers at the Grand Signiors Court In the mean time Trade by common agreement was interdicted at least as to the lading or unlading of Ships which continued for several days and touched somewhat grievously the English and Dutch Nations the first having two Ships and the latter six Merchant-ships in Port. The English Ambassadour being then personally at Adrianople was the first who without the assistance of any other Minister moved in this affair but found great opposition in it from the Turkish Officers who with some resentment of the present reluctancy of the Merchants declared not without passion the resolution the Grand Signior had to conform the honour of the Custom-house in some semblance with those of Christian Princes and therefore did wonder that the Christian Merchants could so easily condescend to the rules of those Custom houses in their own Countries where they were Natives and yet could not support the same in these parts where they were Aliens and Strangers And as a farther evidence of the Turks resolution to maintain this point it was said by the Vizier's Kahya that the Grand Signior was resolved to blow up both Port and Town rather than not be obeyed in his own Dominions with this Answer Merchants despairing of the success began to unlade their ships at the Custom house or to give an account there of the Goods in their Boats for the Customer was become sensible that there was not sufficient Water for ships to ride at the Key of the Custom house and did also indulge unto the Merchants several other particulars herein that so the innovation might sit the more lightly on them which he perceived was so ill resented and taken to heart And this was the first beginning in the Months of August and September when this priviledge was taken from the Merchants And in this Year also the Great Chan next to the Besasteen was in Building and the first Foundation thereof laid and the great Aquaduct brought from the Plains of Bogiaw and little Harchi-bonar Anno Christi 1676. Hegeira 1087. THis Year began with joyful News to the whole Turkish Empire all places and Cities of less renown rejoycing to hear the intentions of the Sultan to refresh and adorn again his Capital Throne of Constantinople with the Imperial Presence for that City which is the most proper Scituation of the World to be made the head of a great Empire having now almost for sixteen years wanted the Rays of Majesty and the Countenance of the Sultan became almost abandoned and forsaken of its Inhabitants so that the spacious Seraglios or Palaces of the chief Ministers and Officers of the Empire began to decay and run to ruine and the Artisans and Shop-keepers to leave their dwellings and to follow their Trade at Adrianople or in
parts round and quartered his Souldiers in them so that having all conveniencies of living they might be induced to continue and not abandon their Colours especially he took care to fortified Illay a place of about two days journey from Bagdat reinforcing the Garrison with six thousand men under the Command of three Beglerbegs in regard that it was a very considerable Pass and the principal Magazine and Granary of Corn and other Provisions At the same time he sent Letters to Constantinople representing the state of his affairs to be in a hopeful condition and desiring Recruits both of men and money gave great assurances of conquering the City at the next Attempt In this perillous condition of the Ottoman State one would have imagined that Christian Princes would have seen their own interest and made use of their advantage but God not having as yet fixed a period to the bounds of this Empire was pleased by his secret Providence to divert both the Emperour and the King of Poland from making War with the Turk inclining them to employ their Arms on their Christian Neighbours For though the Chaous as we have said before was returned from Poland with disdain and with an angry Message yet the Chimacam when he made Moses Vayvod of Moldavia encharged him to perform all offices of Mediation between the Grand Signior and the Poles perswading them to restrain the Incursions of the Cosacks and to send an Ambassadour to the Port in which affair Moses so well performed his Negotiation that applying Lenitives to the anger of the Poles he reduced them to Articles of Peace and to promises of restraining the Cosacks on condition that the Turks reciprocally forbid and withhold the Tartars from joyning or affording assistance to his Enemies the Moscovites These Conditions being agreed an Ambassadour was sent from Poland to Constantinople where he was received with as much joy as he was expected with impatience The Cosacks and Tartars were two sorts of people which lived equally on Spoils and Booty the first as offensive to the Turk as the latter to the Pole and therefore as it was an equal benefit so it was an agreement of even Terms to counterchange the caution given reciprocally for one and the other But the Engagement for such wild people was more easily given than performed which because it was a point agreeable to both Parties it was expressed with the most clear words and strict terms possible The Poles were weary and grieved to see their Provinces depopulated by the Tartars who yearly carried away some thousands of souls the Turks on the other side were not less infested with the Cosacks who captivated their people burnt their Towns and Villages and kept them in continual Alarms But because these people are hardly restrained from their robberies and pillaging the Poles as a remedy resolved to carry the Cosacks to the War against the Moscovite and better to secure the Tartar the Polish Ambassadour obliged to pay them twenty thousand Florins yearly and six thousand pair of Boots according to the ancient Articles of Peace on which considerations the Tartars were engaged never to enter Poland in a hostile manner but to serve that King in his Wars against all Nations whatsoever the Turks only excepted In this manner were the Turks this year freed from all apprehensions of Alarm from the Cosacks and of War with Poland And the Emperour was so busied concerning the surprize of Mantoua and engaged in the quarrel about that Dutchy and with some ambitious thoughts relating to Italy that the Turks hoped to have prosecuted their Wars in Persia without fear of diversion from the Western parts But yet the affairs towards the parts of Germany were not so well secured but that the turbulent spirit of Ragotski administred subject for dissention for being lately seated as we have said in his Principality he was doubtful whether it were most for his interest to incline unto the Emperour or to the Turk and whilst both Parties courted his friendship and cheapned his acknowledgments for of necessity he must be a Vassal to one or the other the Heyducs who were Tenants to the Lands of Gabor refused to return to the obedience of the Emperour demanding protection from the Grand Signior The jealousie of those ill consequences which this commotion might produce alarmed all the Country and the Emperour and Ragotski being hereby raised to a mutual defiance advanced their Troops one against the other upon the Frontiers but all Hungary trembling with fear of those calamities which ensue from War several of those concerned interposed so far towards an Accommodation that Deputies were appointed to meet at Cassovia to treat of Peace but in the mean time the Palatine of Hungary passing eight thousand men over the River Tibiscus to make seisure of a certain Fort built by George Basta so alarmed and awakened Ragotski that he dispatched a Gentleman to him to demand the cause of this motion and not receiving an answer agreeable to his expectation he advanced upon him with an Army of ten thousand men and engaging him with great resolution killed four thousand on the place and so caused him to retire from these beginnings all the mischiefs of a bloody War had certainly ensued had not Ragotski refused to receive Succours from the Turk but he depending on his own strength having fifteen thousand men in Arms for defence of his hereditary Lands in Hungary contemned all external assistances as savouring too much of vassalage and dependence howsoever the Pasha's of the Frontiers assembled their Forces and yet acted with such caution as not to proceed to an open Rupture for the Wars in Persia being unsuccessful and pressing required moderation and Lenitives on this side that so the differences now on the Frontiers might be transferred to an opportunity more seasonable for dispute In the month of September Sultan Morat being at his small Seraglio called Daout Pasha and sleeping there one night in his Bed he was on a sudden awakened by a terrible Lightning which entring his Chamber rounded his Bed leaving several marks on his Sheets and Quilts and whilst he sought some place to hide himself in it passed under his arm and burnt part of his shirt the affrightment of which so astonished him that he remained for some time in a swound which for ever after did much impair the strength of his brain he now began to be sensible that there were other Thunder-bolts than those that proceed from his own Throne and like Tiberius learned to tremble at the voice of God whilst he heard him speak in the clouds Nec Deum unquam nisi iratum pertimuit turbatiori Coelo fulminantem And so affected was the Sultan with this accident that afterwards he dismissed divers of his Buffoons from the Court and particularly a Mute whose ridiculous gestures were his common Divertisement and for some time caused him to abstain from Wine and as a farther token
of his Conversion and thankfulness to God for this escape he ordered five thousand Dollars to be given in alms to the poor and Korban to be made of three hundred sheep and the Friday following he solemnly went to the Mosch to render thanks unto God for having so prodigiously preserved him from the Executioner of his Vengeance During all this time the Great Vizier wanting Succours and Supplies of men and money had great difficulty to contain his people in their due obedience or within the bounds of their Quarters for they were apt to leave their Colours and would really have disbanded had not their spirits been daily held up with the hopes and amusements of Pay and Recruits The four Brethren-in-law which greatly apprehended lest their Power and Authority should be abated by the return of the Vizier exercised all the diligence they were able to make new Levies the reinforcement of which might instill new courage into the Souldiery and be a means to continue the Vizier in those parts but the Mufti obstructed all Levies on the side of Greece and the Frontiers of Christendom alledging That the best Souldiers being sent from those parts would hazard the Empire by exposing and laying it open to the Incursions of the Christians by which contrary opinions and delays the Vizier wanting the assistance expected the Persians recovered all the little Fortresses which they had lost the year before with the considerable place of Illay which being taken by assault and by an absolute force of Sword and Arms the greatest part of the Garrison consisting of eight thousand men commanded by the three Pasha's before-mentioned were cut off which was an important loss to the Turks not only for the slaughter of so many brave Souldiers but also for the quantities of Provisions being the Granary and Magazine for the whole Army Therein were likewise taken forty Field-pieces carrying eight pounds Bullet with a great Chain of Iron which usually encompasses the Treasury which is carried into the Field With this ill success the Vizier retreated from Mosul as far as Mirdin from whence he redoubled his instances for Supplies for men and money At length it was agreed that an Army of thirty thousand Tartars should be sent thither but Ragotski advising that he was upon the point of breaking with the Emperour it was ordered that their number should be reduced to ten thousand the which taking their Journey into Persia by the way of Circassia were there encountred by Han Gherey the Prince of Tartary whom we formerly mentioned to have been deposed by that people and by him obstructed in their passage the Vanguard of their Army being cut off by him so that they were forced again to retreat and to embark their Men and Horse at Caffa to be transported by Sea to Trapezond which as it was a matter of great trouble so it was a course unpractised by the Tartars The G. Signior being unable to render a more considerable Succour than this unto his Army which was now reduced to the weak number of two thousand Janisaries and three thousand Spahees he resolved to condescend to Terms and Articles as the only means to save his Honour and the remainder of his Forces In order unto which he released a Persian Lord from his Imprisonment in the Seven Towers and qualified him with the Title of Ambassadour bestowing upon him an Equipage of Men and Horse agreeable to his Character with four thousand Dollars to defray his Expence and that the King of Persia might be assured of the Sultan's real intentions and desires of Peace he recalled his Army in the Spring whereby all Acts of Hostility ceased and thus the Vizier being returned to Constantinople that pride and rigour which he exercised towards all in the time of his prosperity laid him low by misfortunes in the esteem of his Enemies who gladly embracing the opportunity to disgrace him with all the terms of obloguy and detraction deprived him at length of his Office One of the four Brothers-in-law married to one of the Grand Signior's Sisters and Prime of the Cabal being constituted Vizier in his stead Nor did the late Vizier easily escape with his life until he had reprieved it with an atonement of an hundred thousand Zechins of Gold and some choice Horses which he presented to the Sultan the like Example other Pasha's his Companions followed in proportion to their Estates and Employments by which Presents the empty Treasury was in a manner recruited and the present necessities of the Sultan relieved But this new Vizier enjoyed not long either his Honours or his life for the first act he performed was to mitigate the Valedé Sultana or Queen-Mother to obtain a Hattesheriff or writing under the Grand Signior's Hand for cutting off the Head of Casref Pasha the Spaheeler-Agasi or General of the Spahees which being executed by Mortesa the Commander in Chief in Persia his Head was brought and thrown at the Gates of the Divan The Spahees astonished at this spectacle and enraged to see that Head on the ground which they so much esteemed and loved forgot all the terms of duty and obedience to their Superiours and without regard to the place wherein they were even within the Walls of the Grand Signior's Court they threw stones at the Vizier and beat him from his Horse which though the Grand Signior and all the Viziers highly resented as the most scandalous indignity that could be offered to the Majesty of a Supreme Ruler and to all Government yet their Counsels rather sought remedies to suppress the Mutiny than to make Proposals of executing Justice on the Offenders for the Spahees seconded by the Janisaries who were glad of any cause to make a commotion assembled in the Hippodromo from whence they sent an Arz to the Sultan requiring the Heads of the Great Vizier and of divers others as well within as without the Seraglio The Grand Signior denying positively to assent hereunto the Souldiery as plainly threatned to depose him and place his Brother in the Throne at which barbarous resolution the Grand Signior being affrighted his youthful constancy was so shaken that he wrote to his Mother to desire her excuse in case he assented to the death of her Son-in-law the Great Vizier for that the storm of the military fury was so great that he could not endeavour to protect him without the loss of his life and Crown wherefore the Vizier being turned out of the Gates of the Seraglio he was immediately butchered in the presence of the Sultan Nor did the impetuous rage of the Souldiery end here but they proceeded farther to demand the Head of the Janisar-Aga or General of the Janisaries who was reputed the chief Instrument of the death of Casref because he was a principal Favourite to the Grand Signior but he wisely taking divers off with Money and Presents sowed division between the Janisaries and Spahees so that some difficulty arising hereupon the determination
nor Air but what came from a little Window which sometimes in favour was opened to him from above and what was worse the continual expectations and fear of Death without Friends Conversation or Hope rendred those apprehensions worse than Death it self which daily were represented to him in that solemnity as might terrific a mind more constant and firm than his So soon as he heard the Shouts and Voices of a Multitude near his Door he immediately conceived that the Fate was now come which he had so long expected and therefore he barred his Door and denied to give entrance and when the Viziers proclaimed him Emperour fearing it might be some artifice of his Brother to see with what joy he would entertain the News he answered that he did not so much as think of the Empire nor desire it but only prayed that Sultan Morat might live to whom he pretended not to be a Brother but a Slave and when he perceived that they began to force the Door though with terms of Respect and Observance he still endeavoured to keep it close for Nature had taught him to conserve a Life however miserable and void of consolation He continuing thus resolute not to open Reverence to his Person commanded them to forbear any ruder violence until the Queen Mother over-hearing all this stir descended her self in Person and first causing the dead Corps of Sultan Morat to be extended before his Door with gentle Compellations and confident Assurances averred the Death of his Brother The voice of his Mother began to dissipate his fears and being in part already convinced by his Ears he adventured to peep at the Door and giving then entire Credence to his Eyes his heart and spirits consented to revive and so retiring back into his Chamber he willingly received the Congratulations of the Ministers and Souldiers which being past he readily applied his Shoulders to the Coffin of his dead Brother and having bore his share of that dear burden to the Gate of the Seraglio he there resigned it to his Domestick Officers who buried him in the Sepulchre of Sultan Achmet From thence he took Boat and passed to the Mosch of Jubs Seraglio where in the space of eight days he compleated all the Ceremonies of his Coronation and afterwards according to the custom of his Ancestors he rode through the City to his great Palace but whether it were for want of practice or by reason of a posture natural unto Fools he sate so ridiculously on his Saddle as moved rather the Laughter than the Acclamation of the People In fine being entred the Seraglio he began to breathe and enjoy the Air of Liberty with so much contentment and satisfaction that he unwillingly would empair the least Particle of his late acquired Freedom by thinking or attending to business and as if he enjoyed sufficient committed all to the management of his Mother howsoever being desirous to handle something of the Government he did it with so little grace and dexterity that it plainly appeared that that Soul animated a Body not fit to sway or wield a Scepter The Queen-Mother to maintain the word She had given to the Viziers continued them all in their respective Offices so that though there was great disproportion in the mind of the two Princes yet the Ministers being the same there seemed to be little or no alteration in the Government The Great Vizier remembring well the thoughts of War which Sultan Morat meditated against the Cossacks and being desirous of Glory and continuance of his Power resolved to prosecute the same design hoping to meet a spirit in Ibrahim equal to the generosity of his Brother To this War many and various were the motives as first a natural desire of revenge on the Cossacks for having infested the BlackSeas that they might thereby provoke Poland to a War which when they had reduced to some extremity the Emperour would consequently fall in to their assistance and thereby create quarrels which must necessarily open a large Field of troubles which being sown with the seed of discord could not fail to produce causes and pretensions for a War It being thus resolved to which the Vizier neither wanted Eloquence nor Reasons to perswade Great preparations were made for a War which was intended to be maintained for many years during which time God who disposes all things at his pleasure permitted a false report to fly that the Persians were providing a great Army to besiege Bagdat to which the Turks giving entire credence it was resolved in the Divan that those preparations against Christendom should be diverted towards the Parts of the Eastern Countries By this vain rumour only were all these grand designs disappointed and all farther thoughts vanished for the present of molesting the Christians From whence it is observable how necessary are the foreign Residences of Ministers and how absurdly the Turks erre who by reason of their pride vouchsafe not to entertain Ambassadours in the Court of Strangers being beholding to the Jews or Armenian-Merchants for all their intelligence they receive touching the Affairs of Neighbouring Kingdomes The Wars being thus suspended the Great Vizier had time to cast his Eyes about him and contrive the ruine of such whom he suspected most dangerous to his Condition Amongst the rest none appeared more formidable than Mustapha Pasha Captain Pasha a young brisk Person and Favourite of the Queen-Mother whom to remove was difficult and dangerous being a Vizier as well as he and in one of the most eminent degrees of dignity in the whole Empire and therefore that he might touch him with smooth and gentle terms he practised upon him the ordinary decoy of Preferment proffering him the Government of Buda which whilst the one seemed out of modesty to refuse the other with the greater force of Complement and obliging expressions of friendship pressed him to accept At length overcome with importunity and kindness Mustapha received the proffer whereby being divested of the Queens Protection he was soon after overtaken in his Journey towards his Principality and by another Mandate required to take his way to the Province of Silistria the smallest and most inconsiderable of the Empire in which he was no sooner invested than a second Edict took off his head But another Mustapha more fortunate was sent Pasha to Grand Cairo in AEgypt he was a mortal Enemy to the Crim Tartar of whom he shewed his hatred at Rhodes by putting his Son to death for having said that Sultan Morat and Sultan Ibrahim dying without Issue the Empire was to descend to his Family This Son of the Tartar was then at Rhodes it being a custome always to have one of them as a Hostage for the Fathers obedient Comportment towards the Turks their place of Residence being either at Rhodes or some Town on the Black Sea as we have elsewhere declared The Sultan in this Interim had little regard unto the Government both for want of Capacity and by
Sultana being a Woman of great courage and abilities attended carefully to the welfare of her Son whom She sometimes decked up and set forth as a property of Majestick Gravity to the People whilst She her self assumed the Authority and carried all things with a high and imperious spirit and being ambitious to be feared as well as honoured She laid violent hands on the first Vizier called Mustapha and strangled him for though he was an active and faithful Minister yet because he passed something on her which She imagined did favour of Neglect and because she apprehended his power which was greatly confirmed by the interest and favour he had with the Janisaries and their Favourers she resolved to make him an example as well of her revenge as of her Power after whose death the charge of first Vizier was conferred on Mahomet the Pasha of Damascus The same Fate befel the Captain Pasha who was likewise strangled for having over boldly or peremptorily made answer to some impertinencies of the Grand Signior and his Office was afterwards conferred on Beker Pasha of Rhodes With such rigour as this do the Sultans govern who resolve to be obeyed and to have their Commands executed without delay or contradiction Whilst these matters were in agitation the Tartars forgetful of their late Peace made another incursion with thirty thousand Men into Russia against whom Konispolski having made head with twenty thousand Men only overthrew them and killed twelve thousand and took three thousand Prisoners pursuing the rest to the Borders of Wallachia In like manner Wisnowick a noble Polander happily encountred another Party of Tartars as they were on their return from spoiling the Countries of Moscovia of whom having killed ten thousand Men he recovered their Booty and sent the rest home naked and empty This was the true and most effectual means for the Polanders to avenge and right their injuries and more prevalent than Ambassies and Messages of Complaint unto the Port which we have experienced since and in the present Reign of the Son of Ibrahim to have been so far from producing matter worthy so much as the Charge of the Ambassadour that they have been retorted with ignominy and affronts But here Ibrahim perceiving how the Poles had avenged themselves with their own Sword would seem to approve of the action which he could not hinder and to appear a sincere observer of the peace he deposed the Tartar Han for his unlawful incursions which was such a satisfaction to the Crown of Poland as they never could obtain by force of Justice Complaints and Vertue of passive Valour until their active fortitude took their cause in hand and pleaded for them On the 19th of March of this year a fourth Son was born to Sultan Ibrahim and on the 19th of February following being in the year 1645 notwithstanding all the Reports of his impotency was born a fifth Son named Solyman to the Great Contentment of his People The Turks Gallies this Year under the Command of Beker their new Captain Pasha made an attempt on the Coast of Calabria bringing from thence two hundred Slaves and attempting the like near Corton paid for their former Booty with the loss of five hundred Men. Howsoever the Gallies of Malta being six in number had better success as to themselves though the consequences thereof proved fatal to the Venetians having given the first occasion of that long War which afterwards ensued between the Turk and them The truth of which Story is this free of all Romance or Fable which the Knights of St. John or Malta would mix therewith It happened that the Kuzlir Aga or Chief Eunuch which governs the Women in the Signiors Seraglio having cast his Eye on a fair Slave then set to sale by a Persian Merchant became so enamoured of her that he purchased her for himself under the notion of a Virgin at the price of 450. Dollars but the Eunuch had not long entertained this Lady in his service before she proved with Child not by him you may conceive if you understand how the Eunuchs of this Country are disarm'd of their virility at which he was so greatly offended that he banished her from his Society and confined her to the house of his Steward The time being come for her to be delivered of her great Belly it proved a Son and some months after the Aga being desirous to see the Babe was so pleased with the Aspect of it that he resolved to adopt it for his own ordering it Cloaths and other necessaries agreeable to its Condition It happened that about that time Sultan Mahomet which now reigns was then born and there wanting a Nurse for the Child this beautiful Slave was preferred to the honour so that she was entertained near two years in the Seraglio during which time Sultan Ibrahim took such an affection to the Nurses Boy that he loved him better than his own eldest Son who was of a bad Complexion and of no better air in his Face than his Father and took great delight to play and sport with him at which the Mother of Sultan Mahomet was so displeased that She could not longer endure either Nurse or her Boy and for her sake took so much displeasure against the Kuzlir Aga who preferred her that neither his presence nor service were acceptable and so violent she was in her passion that one day when Sultan Ibrahim was playing with his Women and Children in the Garden according to his usual Custom throwing them one on the other into the Water the Queen grew so furious that she could not contain longer from venting her Anger in unhansome terms and Jealousy against the Nurse and her Son At which the Sultan being much displeased and being ill natured if we may speak boldly of an Emperour took her Son which is now Sultan Mahomet out of her Arms and with some few Curses swung him into a Cistern where he had been certainly drowned had not every one in that instance applied themselves to saye him at which time he received the mark or scar he wears at this day in his Forehead All these matters served for farther fuel to nourish the implacable Spirit of the Queen which the Kuzlir Aga well observing judged it prudence to give way to her Fury and so begged his Dismission from the Court together with his Slave and Son and that having visited Mecha according to his Law he might enjoy a retirement in Egypt which is the Portion of banished Eunuchs The Queen easily consented hereunto nor was it difficult to procure the Licence of the Sultan who was as easily perswaded to any by those who were about him wherefore the Eunuch having provided to be gone Shipped himself with his great Treasure on the Fleet which was now designed and ready to depart for Alexandria which consisted of three Ships one a great Gallion and two others of lesser burthen and 7 Saiks these having at the beginning of their Voyage
found contrary Winds put into Rhodes from whence loosing with more favourable weather they unfortunately met with 6 Malta Gallies excellently well Manned and provided The Admiral Gally immediately Boarded one of the Saiks and took her Manned only by Greeks by whom they were informed of the condition quality and Cargo of the greater Ship which gave heat and resolution to the Souldiery In like manner with little Opposition the Gallies called the St. John and Joseph possessed themselves of one of the lesser Ships which being laden only with Timber brought from the Black Sea to build Ships at Alexandria was of little value having 40 Turks aboard 8 Women and a Child which sucked at the Mothers Breast In the mean time the three other Gallies called the St. Mary St. Lorenzo and Victory attacked the great Gallion and having cast their Iron Graples into the Ship with the motion of the Ship the Irons gave way and broke only that of the St. Lorenzo held fast so that the whole force of the Ship both of small and great Shot was poured in upon the Gally to their damage and loss of men In the mean time the Admiral Gally came in to their assistance and Assaulting the Ship on the other Quarter made a Diversion of their men and having thrown in their Graples they scaled the sides of the Gallion as if it had been a Fortress where being entred they remained for some time at handy-blows with the Turks but at length all the Gallies coming to their help having made an end of subduing the other Ships the Turks were forced to retire under Covert of their Decks which they defended still with singular valour wounding the Christians with their half Pikes through the Gratings But in fine the Captains of the Gallies perceiving that this was not the way to compel them to a speedy Surrender ordered several Musquetiers out of every Gally to fire in at the Windows and loop-holes of the Ship by which having killed their Commander in Chief their Valour and Constancy began to fail and desirous to save their lives with loss of Liberty and Estates they cast down their Armes and begged mercy In this Engagement were killed the Captain of the St. Mary and seven Gavaliers of which five were French one Italian and one German the Admiral himself and the Captain of his Gally were both wounded 79 Souldiers and Mariners killed and 132 wounded of the Turks it is not certain how many fell in regard as they were killed according to Custom they cast them over-Board the Eunuch himself though always educated in the softness of the Seraglio and in the Conversation of the Female Court yet in the end concluded his days like one of the Masculine Sex fighting valiantly with his Sword until over-whelmed by his Enemies by which it is observable that those persons loss not their Courage with their virile parts for it hath been known in former days how that Eunuchs have been Generals in the Turkish and other Armies and Conducted their affairs with admirable Courage and Success The prize which the Christians had gained in this manner was very considerable for besides the Gold Silver and Jewels which were theTreasure this Eunuch had amassed in the Reign of three several Sultans they gained 350 Slaves besides 30 Women some of which were young and Virgins so that there was not a Souldier or Seaman who had not a considerable share of 〈◊〉 proportioned unto him With this Fortune towing their prizes they in a short time came to an Anchor in the Port of Calismene in the Island of Candia called antiently Phenice on the South-side of the Island remote from all Venetian Garrisons and where as it is reported they were supplyed with no Provisions excepting a small quantity of Biskot which was furnished by a Country Fellow who for that very cause was shot to death Front hence the Gallies departing arrived in Malta with their Prizes where they were received in great Triumph The young Son of the Eunuch for so we call him was reported to be a Son of the Grand Signior sent into Egypt to be Educated and was accordingly saluted 〈◊〉 and reverenced by the Grand Master the same Opinion was dispersed and confirmed in all parts of Europe and the Errour for many years maintained at the expenoe of the Religion until the Boy growing up to a good Age and not judged worthy of a Ransom or enquiry after by the Turks it was thought convenient for him to put off his State and Greatness and become a Fryer and I think a Dominican and this is he who now goes under the name of the Padre Ottomano The news hereof arriving at the Ottoman Court Sultan Ibrahim was transported with Anger threatning Destruction and Ruin unto Malta besides he shewed a most inveterate Passion against the Venetians for not guarding the Seas from his Enemies and for relieving them in their Ports In which Rage and Fury he put his own Captain Pasha to death and Summoned the Christian Ambassadours braving them all for the little respect was shown to his proper Shipping and in short was angry with all but reserved the effect of his wrath to be poured on the Venetians to which this accident administred the first original and will afford us ample matter of discourse in this ensuing History For the Grand Signior first made his Complaints against Venice to their Minister or Bailo then residont at Constantinople called Soranço alledging that contrary to the Articles of Peace they had afforded Provisions and Entertainment to his Enemies in Candia and at a time when having made prize of his own Ship and Domestiques of his Seraglio they seemed with more extraordinary demonstrations of Hospitality than usual to receive them into their Harbours To which the Bailo made Answer That his Majesty was ill informed of the true state of those matters for that the Port to which the Malteses came had neither Castle nor Fortress belonging to it but was an open wide and unfortified place for if the Grand Signior is not able to defend those Ships from careening as they have often done before Rhodes it self how was it possible for the Venetians to drive them from the Seas and deny them the use of that Salt Water which hath neither Fort nor Castle to reach and Command them With which Answer Ibrahim seemed to remain satisfied and matters appeared so appeased on the side of the Venetians that Soranço though a person of a most acute and penetrating judgment imagined nothing less than a War and though he was assured otherwise by something that the English Ambassadour had discovered in that matter yet because it came not first from the report of one of his own Interpreters he would not seem to believe or give credit thereunto notwithstanding the strong probabilities that might perswade it Indeed Christian Ministers must necessarily with much difficulties and less inspection govern and penetrate affairs in the Turkish Court than in
outdid all other examples of former Ages Amber was the common perfumes which burned perpetually in the Womens Apartments and the common Sauce to most of his Viands not perhaps because it so much pleased his Palate as that it was a provocative and incitement to his Lusts. And this puts me in mind of a story I have heard of an English Merchant living then at Galata who was master of a rare piece of Ambergriese which was in form like a Pyramid the News whereof was told to the Grand Signior late at Night when the smoak of the Perfumes began to abate Which so soon as he heard though it was near Midnight he dispatched a Messenger to call the Merchant with his Ambergriese who being knocked out of his Bed in haste by the importunity of the Officer came to the Seraglio Gate two hours before day where he attended until it was broad light and then without more words found a Market for his Amber and before his departure received thirteen thousand Dollars The Female Court was then extreamly rich and splendid all Italy was scarce able to supply it with Silks and Cloath of Gold so that the Trade was in those days flourishing above other times and gave great employment to English Shipping and so impatient were the Women for their Gay Cloaths that so soon as the news of a Ship from Italy came and that she was arrived within the Castles of the Hellespont but there detained by contrary winds Gallies were immediately dispatched to bring up their Silks which they oftentimes forced away without any account or price made with the Merchant of which that worthy Gentleman Sir Thomas Bendysh then Ambassadour complaining to the Vizier and finding no other relief than good words resolved on an expedient of making known his cause to the Grand Signior which was this In Turkie they have a Custom that when any one receives a notable injury or injustice from the Chief and great Ministers of State they put fire on their heads and running to the Grand Signior no man can hinder or deny them access to his presence In like manner the English Ambassadour not being able to obtain satisfaction from the Vizier in return to his many Complaints drew out all the English Ships in Galata which were then 13 in number and drawing in their Guns and shutting the Ports put fire on every Yard Arm of their Ships and came to an Anchor just before the Seraglio The Customer being the first that espyed this unusual sight immediately apprehended the reason and sent to acquaint the Vizier thereof in all haste the Vizier likewise fearful lest the Complaints should by this means come to the Grand Signiors Ear sent the Customer aboard with a considerable part of the money and desired that the Fires might be extinguished promising faithfully to comply in payment of the rest hereupon Consultation being had between the Ambassadour and the Merchants the Ships returned to their Stations not seeming to have been taken notice of by those in the Seraglio And notwithstanding the great number of Women within the Seraglio all which were at the Devotion of the Sultan yet Ibrahim not being contented herewith passing one day to Scutari had by chance cast his eye on an object which much pleased him what it was becomes not the modesty of my Pen to relate but being returned to his Seraglio he sent Orders to the Vizier to seek out for him the biggest and best proportioned Woman which was to be found in all Constantinople and the parts thereabouts Hereupon Emissaries were dispatched into all Quarters of the City at length they happily procured a huge tall Armenian Woman well proportioned according to her height and a Giantess for her Stature which being found she was presently washed and perfumed in the Bath and as richly Clothed and Adorned as the shortness of time would permit There was no great difficulty to perswade her to become Turk having so high preferment in her prospect So that being introduced to the Grand Signiors presence he became immediately Enamoured and was so pleased with her Society that he preferred her before all the Women of his Court an Evidence whereof he gave in that he could not deny her in any request she could make and particularly about that time the Pashaluck of Damascus being void this Woman begged it for her self substituting another in the Office who was accountable to her for all the profits and emoluments thereof By these particulars of favour the Queen Mother becoming jealous one day inviting her to Dinner caused her to be Strangled and perswaded Ibrahim that she died suddenly of a violent Sickness at which he poor Man was greatly afflicted But not to insist long on these luxurious pastimes we shall return again to matters of higher concernment Ibrahim had now understood that the Venetians growing jealous of his Preparations began likewise to Arm and provide for the worst which being in no wise pleasing to the Turks who were apprehensive that their Marine Forces consisted most in surprize caused Ibrahim to complain of the defensive posture in which they Arrayed themselves alledging that suspicions of this nature argued no hearty disposition towards their Friends nor was any thing more contrary to a good correspondence or more disobliging than such like Jealousies which oft times beget that enmity which was never designed and farther it was judged necessary if possible to disswade the Bailo from a belief of any Hostility designed against his Republick to inculcate which none was esteemed so proper an instrument as the old cheating Hogia who was the first motive to the War a Preacher who imagined that the excellency of his Religion afforded him a priviledge to falsifie lye and commit any act for advantage thereof though never so contrary to truth and Morality This Santone with the testimony of one or two more grand Professors with many Asseverations and Vows endeavoured to perswade the Bailo of the Grand Signiors good intentions towards Venice and his fixed resolutions to destroy Malta And though the concernment which those godly Elders showed and the earnestness they used whereby to inculcate a credence to what they affirmed were enough to discover their contrary intentions and though it is said that the Venetians could not heartily believe what they so strongly suspected yet hereby and by the common vogue of the people they abated much of their caution and heat which they otherwise had used in due preparations and provisions against an evil so fatal and destructive in the sequel The first Act of Hostility was committed by Giacomo da Riva who being sent for Sopraveditor to Tino was in his way to touch at Candia there to deliver Ammunition and Provisions for War but being encountered by some barbarous Vessels who assailed him for a Merchants Ship of small force were received so warmly that he sunk one of them with which the rest left him and fled relating at Constantinople that they had been ill
which was to continue for the space of ten years longer his Mother who was the first Sultana assisted with the Counsel of twelve Pashaws took upon her self the Regency and in the first place resolved to continue the War against the Venetians which Ibrahim intended to conclude having engaged himself far in a Treaty of Peace with the Bailo or Ambassadour which resided at the Port for that Republick Whilst these matters were transacting and preparations making to prosecute the War the malignant humours of the Empire began to ferment unto that degree as affected the Body Politick at first with unnatural heats which soon afterwards proceeded to a Feaver and then to a dangerous Convulsion The ill-affected Part was the Militia which is the heart and principal of the life of that Government For the Spahees and the Janisaries being the Horse and Foot entred into a desperate controversie The first judged it their Duty to revenge the Death of their Soveraign Sultan Ibrahim and in order thereunto demanded the Head of the Great Vizier as the Chief Authour and Contriver of the death of his Lord and Master The others being conscious to themselves of having by their Armes carried on the Conspiracy not only declared their resolutions to defend the Vizier but owned that what he had acted was by their order and at their request and instigation The Spahees being highly provoked with this declaration swelled with anger and malice against the Janisaries and both sides being equally proud and rich could not bear each others reproaches The Spahees being Men of Estates in Land looked on themselves as the Gentry and to have the greatest share in the concernment of the Empire The Janisaries living regularly in their Chambers or Martial Colledges looked on themselves as the better Souldiers and the more formidable Party and the truth is both of them were proceeded to that height of Command and Authority in Government that had they not been suppressed by the cruel hand and bloody disposition of Kuperlee as shall be more largely related hereafter this Empire was then in danger of falling into as many Divisions as there were at that time Pashaws or great Captains The cause hereof proceeded from the warlike disposition of Sultan Morat who being the most Martial Man of his Age preferred none but Men of great courage and such as had signalized their valour by undoubted proofs And such Men as these he loaded with honour and raised them to the highest and most eminent charges in the Government But Morat dying soon afterwards these Great Men had time to enrich themselves during the gentle and easie Reign of Sultan Ibrahim which being seconded by the Minority of this Young Sultan their pride knew no bounds either of Modesty towards their Commanders or Reverence towards their Sultan Hence it was that the Souldiery dividing so great a Sedition arose amongst them that at last they came to blows resolving to decide the controversie by the Sword But the Quarrels of Turks amongst themselves not being commonly of long durance the Care and Vigilance of the Magistrates prevented all open defiance in the Field but yet could not so pacifie their Animosities but that several Skirmishes or Rencounters passed between them in the Streets wherein the Spahees were always worsted and at length were forced to abandon the City scarce daring for some time to owne the name of Spahee within the Walls of Constantinople These disturbances gave the Venetians some hopes to accomodate their Peace with better advantage but the Reply to this Proposition was more fierce and positive than ever and so ill resented that the Bailo going from his Audience was on the 27th of April seized on and with all his Retinue clapped into Prison and Chains being sent to those Castles which are scituate on the Bosphorus in the middle way between Constantinople and the Black Sea But this furious severity by the intercession of other Christian Ministers continued not long before the Bailo received more gentle Treatment by the Sacrisice which the Turks made unto themselves of Grillo his Interpreter who being called down from the presence of the Bailo was immediately by two Officers strangled and his Body thrown out at the Window of the Castle the which act though it may seem unjust and barbarous to us hath yet been frequently practised amongst the Turks being to this day their common use to threaten the Druggermen or Interpreters which is the cause that they often mince or wholly alter the sense or meaning of their Masters on those occasions when words are spoken by them ungrateful to the Turks The Turks bearing this disdain to the Venetians laboured to re-enforce their Armies in Candia and supply them with Ammunition and Provisions and though the Venetians lay before the Mouth of the Dardanelles to intercept all succours which might be carried thither yet the Turks notwithstanding their Divisions having recruited their Fleet with forty Gallies and ten Great Ships broke through the Venetians and in despight of them convoyed five Gallies laden with Souldiers and Ammunition and landed them safe at Canea and about the same time six Gallies and ten Ships of Barbary entered into the Port of Suda The General which commanded in chief was named Chusaein Pasha a Person of great courage and experience he had for some time besieged the City of Candia but for want of Men and Ammunition was forced to rise from that place and retire to Canea and Retimo whilst in the mean time the Candiots received recruits of Men and supply of Provisions improving their leisure time to fortifie their Town with such works as rendred it almost impregnable and made it become the Wonder and Discourse of the World after some years succeeding Nor was the War only carried on in Candia but also in Dalmatia Morea Bosna and Albania For Foscolo the General of Venice designing to force some Corn from the Parts of Castel-nuovo he landed some Men there but was so ill received by the Turks that he was forced to retreat unto his Vessels with great disorder and no less dishonour But he had better fortune in the Parts of Bosna where he repulsed the Enemy to the very Gates of Sarsay the Capital City of that Province and took upon composition the Fortress of Risano which is scituate between Cataro and Castel-nuovo but at length the Turks receiving an additional aid of fifteen or sixteen thousand men the Venetians were forced to quit their new Conquests and retire into their own Country During the time that these Affairs were in agitation the young Emperour was proclaimed and his Inauguration celebrated with the usual Ceremonies but with rejoycings and hopes extraordinary who being yet scarcely arrived to eight years of Age many mutinies and troubles arose in divers Parts of the Empire as in Damascus Syria Anatolia and other Countries where the Pashaws refused to pay in the customary Taxes and Tribute declaring that they would keep the money in their hands during
again over the River with the loss of about eight hundred Janisaries but the next day renewing the Fight with better courage and success passed the River in despight of the Imperialists whom they pursued almost as far as Presburg These Turks were seconded by a greater Body of Tartars every one after the manner of his Country leading one or two spare Horses made Inroads within five miles of Vienna destroying and laying in ashes all places before them things there resembling Dooms-day consumed with fire and not so much almost left as marks or appearance of habitation These Troubles and Confusions in Hungary were the talk and amazement of all Christendom and indeed little more they were than talk for the Christian Princes farther distant as less concerned stood at a gaze expecting the issue of that Treaty which was between the King of France and the Pope and the Princes of Germany whatsover was resolved at the Diet like men surprized knew not what Succours to afford some thought it now time to treat with the Emperour and recover the Rights and Priviledges they thought their due and to condescend to no Terms of confederate assistance against the common Enemy unless with advantageous considerations to their State and all in general acted with that negligence and coldness as if only the State of Austria and not the common Cause of Germany had been concerned The Election of a General for the Imperial Army admitting long debate was another retardment to the Preparations for the War the Duke of Brandenburg was nominated and sollicited to accept the supreme Command but the Title of being General of the Empire or the Imperial Army was a dispute undeterminable and a difficulty not to be overcome and though the Enemy had passed their Frontiers and triumphed in their Possessions and threatned the subversion of all Christendom yet Jealousies Niceties and acry Formalities took up all the time so that at length their Councils had no other result than an increase of Animosities and Difficulties amongst themselves The Emperour also terrified with the Siege of Newhausel and the near Incursions of the Turks abandoned his City of Vienna carrying with him the Records and greatest of his Richess to Lintz to the greater apprehension discouragement and fear of the whole Country in general and was an act which might have produced very fatal effects had not the Winter approached and the progress of the Insidels been interrupted by the Valour Vigilance good Fortune and Conduct of Count Serini who in requital of those Incursions the Turks made into the Christian Territories entred the Turkith Borders near Komorra and there with Fire and Sword destroyed all before him defeated a Party of about three thousand Janisaries taking from them a good Booty of Money and Provisions designed for Relief of the Leagure before Newhausel During these varieties of success the Turks still continued the Siege and having now made a breach and almost filled the graft with rubbish Faggots and other implements attempted a second storm on the 28 th and 29 th of August but were repulsed with an extraordinary loss by the couragious Gallantry of the Defendants on the 9 th of September was given another more furious Assault every Pasha leading his men in the Front so that the Action this day was so violently and couragiously performed that the Turkish Ensign was advanced to the top of the Rampire of the Fort Frederick where both sides coming to handy blows the dispute continued a long time but the courage of the Defendants at length prevailing the Turks were driven headlong from the Walls and their Colours wrested from them with the loss of about five thousand men and four hundred Christians Though the Turks were much abated in their courage by this days work yet the Vizier obstinately continued the Siege preparing speedily for another storm in which he hoped to force the Christians to a Surrender In the mean time to facilitate the design of the Turks on the 15 th of September the chief Magazine of Powder none knows how took fire and blew into the air by which blow fifty Souldiers and several Officers were slain but the worst was that the besieged were deprived of all their Powder unless what remained in private houses which so dismayed the Inhabitants that immediately with one voice they demanded a Parly the women also began a confused tumult crying out for a Surrender in which they were so impetuous and violent that they threw stones from their windows on the Souldiers Amidst of this confusion the Turks disposing their Companies to make another storm the Officers resolved upon a Treaty which concluded with these following Conditions First That the Commanders and Garrison should march out on the 17 th of September with Bag and Baggage and have safe conduct as far as Komorra and that for a convenience of the sick and wounded the Vizier should be obliged to provide four hundred Carts and more if there should be occasion Secondly That as such as desire to abandon their dwellings may have liberty to depart so such as desire to abide may continue their habitations and that the Religious and Ecclesiastical persons may perform their Functions as in former times Thirdly That upon the Surrender of the principal Works no Turk shall enter within the Town until all such as intend to depart have quitted their stations Fourthly That for performance of Articles two Aga's should be given for Hostages and that until the foregoing Articles were fully accomplished all acts of Hostility should cease Fifthly That the Garrison might not be necessitated to march through the Turkish Camp the Turks themselves were obliged to make them a new Bridge or repair the old to pass the Niter These Articles though punctually observed by the Turks yet the Tartars who are of a faithless and barbarous nature upon certain pretences assaulted the Garrison as they marched out and had doubtless moved the rest of the Camp Rabble to imitate their example had not many of the Pashaws at the Head of their Troops killed the most forward in this Rebellious attempt whose perfidious insolence and riot could not yet have been restrained had not the Garrison quickned their pace more like a flight than an orderly March But the Vizier on the contrary distributed money to the Garrison and especially to the Hungarians with design as is supposed to allure and attract their minds to a belief of the gentleness of the Turkish Yoke as if he compassionated the miseries of that Country which was the Stage whereon the Tragedies of so many miseries and slaughters were acted This Siege continued about the space of 43. Days of the Garrison marched out 3500. sound men and about 500. wounded those Inhabitants who would remain had protection and liberty The Army which besieged the Town consisted of 50000. men In the Town were found 60. pieces of Brass Cannon but most broken and unserviceable with little Ammunition but with great
drew after it that deadly War in which the Emperour unwillingly engaged against the Ottoman Power and caused him freely to intimate unto Serini his desire rather to see that Fort demolished than the Peace interrupted to which Serini yielding no Ear drew upon himself the deserved displeasure of his most gracious Prince who permitted the act of his obstinacy and disobedience to become a just snare to his own folly But perhaps that displeasure which was Justice in the Emperour might be Envy and emulation in his Ministers who beholding with jealous Eyes his actions and succesies the Winter before which enraged his Enemies and exalted his name to that glory in all the Courts of Christian Princes that the Pope honoured him with Medals of Gold the King of Spain with the Order of the Golden Fleece the French King as a demonstration of his esteem with a Token of ten thousand Crowns and Cardinal Francis Barberini with a Pension of eight hundred Crowns a Month and all other European Princes at least made the most part applications to him by Congratulatory Letters admiring his Virtues and applauding his Successes permitting their Gazets and Diurnals Weekly to divulge and publish his praises From whence may rationally be collected the true occasion of that Envy which by cold assistances and slow succours obstructed as well the taking of Kanisia as the valiant defence of Serinswar which was decryed not only as a Fort erected without due and mature consideration but without art or regular proportions which might render it tenable accusing at the same time as well the rashness and temerity of Serim's Counsels as his want of judgment and experience in Military Affairs But to leave now the sad subject of the Christian misfortunes occasioned by their own quarrels and dissentious which the Grand Enemy of Gods Church always endeavoured to sow for advancement of his own Kingdom Let us cast our Eyes on the other parts of unhappy Hungary The Siege of Kanisia being raised and Serinswar taken and demolished success had swelled and puffed up the minds of the Turks to a height that nothing seemed difficult or impossible to their desires On the other side controversies and delays gave that advantage to the Enemy that nothing could be expected but losses slaughter and in the end a total ruine But God who pittied the miseries of poor Christendome cast his Eyes of mercy on the Frontiers of the upper Hungary granting some more happy successes to the Christian Armes conducted by the Valour and Fortune of Count Soisé a French Gentleman who having the Command of an Army distinct from that of Montecuculi began his first attempt and enterprize upon Nitra where several persons of Quality and Officers of the Turkish Army were assembled to consider of the affairs of War Soise having taken his convenient measures and made his due approaches began to batter the Walls a great part of which in a short time he shook so shroadly that he opened a very wide breach and continually plying Granadoes into the Town so assrighted the Besieged that immediately they offered a Parley which Soisé accepted and the rather upon advice that Varadin Solnoc Temiswar and the places adjacent were collecting Forces to raise the Siege and relieve the Town entered into Treaty and concluding upon Conditions the Town Surrendered and the Turks marched out with their Colours folded and Muskets under their Arms leading their Horses had Convoy as far as Chomar Soisé having obtained this success entered into Consultation about recovery of Newhausel but having not Forces judged sufficient to attempt the difficulty of that place he turned his endeavours and designs upon Lewa or Leventz but in the way thither he was casually engaged with a Body of fourteen thousand Turks and Tartars who were marching to the relief of Nitra and fell in unawares upon his Rereguard whereupon Soisé commanded the Regiments of his Major General Guarnieri and of the Colonels Caprara and Zeitsch and the Horse and Dragoons of Brandenburg then marching in the Van to face about and Charge the Enemy which they performed with that Courage and Vigour that they routed and pursued them as far as the River Giava At which place Soisé Encamped with his Army and in an advantagious situation made a line of Circumvallation about his Camp strengthening it with some pieces of Cannon The Turks having recovered a convenient Retreat upon the River remained opposite to the Christians and having there reinforced themselves with additional Recruits returned again to give them Battel and in three places with extremity of fury and despair assaulted the Christian Camp Fortune for a long time remained doubtful on both sides till at length the admirable resolution of the Christians overcame leaving a thousand Turks extended on the place many were drowned and the rest fled leaving a rich Booty for reward to the Conquerours The Christians in this manner being successful resolved not to check the current of their Fortune but without delay proceeded to Lewa which having been for some time battered with great Guns surrendred it self to the mercy of the Conquerour in which was found a considerable quantity of Meal and twenty great pieces of Artillery In the mean time the difference between the King of France and the Pope on occasion of the insult offered at Rome by the Corst to the Embassadours House and Person being this Year composed those Forces of the French being in all about 3000. Horse sent first into Italy to avenge this affront under the Command of the Count Coligni were ordered to pass into Hungary by way of Venice to the assistance of the Emperour to which several Gentlemen Voluntiers of the same Nation joining themselves formed a Body of 4000. Horse well appointed valiant and desirous of action The Pope also whose words expressed and breathed out nothing but holy zeal against the common Enemy promised a supply of 10000. Foot and 3000. Horse which were to pass by way of Trieste into Croatia according to the promise and assurance of the Nuntio at Vienna for acknowledgment of which religious and considerable succour Count Leslie was dispatched from the Imperial Court in a private Character to pass those Offices of grateful acceptance as were due to so high a merit and sense of the Christian Cause But scarce was Leslie arrived at Venice before he understood to his great admiration that the holy Army was by Order of the Pope disbanded for which no other cause was assigned than only that at Rome it was seriously debated and in the end it was concluded that the expence was too great to be charged on the Ecclesiastical State and that the Souldiery also were themselves unwilling to be so far separated from their own Country all which at Vienna were understood to be frivolous pretences and the causes thereof attributed to the sinister Offices of a person ill affected to the Emperours Interest by which the Pope and Don Mario his
and Souldiers to all dangers but the attempt being too difficult he was in fine shot through both the Cheeks and forced to retire with loss and disreputation This attempt was seconded by the Duke of Holsatia and his Insantry who bringing some small pieces of Cannon to the very Palizadoes began to batter the houses during which about a hundred and sisty Janisaries made a vigorous Sally but were repulsed with a sufficient loss so that the Christians making good their ground brought up and planted four Cannons and two Mortar Pieces and siring at the same time some Granadoes so plyed their work that the Inhabitants looking on their condition as desperate gave fire themselves to their Wooden Buildings passed the Bridge and recovered Strigonium The Town thus abandoned the Christians had no difficulty to get possession but entering quietly in seized what was remaining of value and adding to the flames by other fires in a few hours reduced all to Ashes which being done Soisé marched back to Komorra to refresh his men and take Counsel what ought to be the next design and enterprize to be taken in hand And here for a while was a pause or full point of the actions of Soisé who not wanting Adversaries in the Imperial Court emulous of his happiness and fortune instilled such suspicions and scruples into the mind of the Emperour and Council as caused Soisé to give up his Commission that he might seek a life private and free from the evil tongues of the envious until afterwards his Vertues dispersing those malignant Clouds he was restored to the good opinion of his Cesarean Majesty and honoured with the Charge and Command of the strong Fortress of Komorra where I my self had once the honour to make him a Visit and was courteously received by him This ill success of the Pasha of Buda arrived the Viziers ears whilst he was attempting to pass the River Rab in which were many difficulties in regard the Banks were defended by the Christian Palanchas which in every adventure cut off considerable numbers of men At which loss of men and time and the ill success near Lewa the Vizier being greatly moved made another attempt on the 27 th of July advancing with the Gross of his Army as far as Kemend where the River runs narrow and shallow but by the valour of the Hungarians Germans and French conducted by General Montecuculi an Italian born were repulsed with some Slaughter On the first of August the Turks made another considerable attempt having planted Guns on the Banks of the River which shot into the Christian Camp and passed over in one place six thousand Janisaries and Albanians and near a Village called Chiesfalo where the water was narrow and shallow very considerable numbers of Horse crouded over At which formidable sight the Christians collecting their Forces together retreated to a more spacious place where might be open Field sufficient for both Armies to draw up and join Battel About half the Army having now passed the Water the other part in which was the Vizier remained still on the other side intending the next Morning to follow and advance to the Body which was gone before but it happened by Gods Providence that that very Night there fell such a Deluge of Rain as immediately made the River to swell above its Banks and become altogether unpassable without a Bridge or Floats so that the Turkish Army being now divided by the Waters were uncapable of yielding any sudden assistance each to the other Howsoever the Vizier judging that that Part of his Army which had already passed was an equal Match for the Christians entertained not the least diffidence of good success at least supposed they might be able to decline a Battel until by abatement of the waters which could not be long at that Season of the Year he were enabled to pass and join his main Body with them and therefore full of hope and confidence having at first discomfited the forlorn hope of the Christians which consisted of a thousand men dispatched immediately Messengers to acquaint the Grand Signior of his success and passage which News he knew would be the more grateful because the Grand Signior by daily Letters and Commands urged him to proceed in his March and not to suffer the impediment of a narrow Ditch to be an interruption to the whole Ottoman Force which in former times was not restrained by the depth or breadth of the Ocean The Grand Signior having received this Intelligence as if the intire Victory and Triumph over the World consisted in the passage over the Rab was transported with such an extraordinary joy and assurance of Victory that to anticipate the good News a solemn Festival was ordained for the space of seven days and seven nights called by the Turks Dunalma in which time the whole nights were made light with Lamps and Candles and made chearful with great Guns Vollies of Muskets Sound of Drums and Trumpets revellings and what other Solemnities might 〈◊〉 joy and triumph But scarce three Nights of this vain Dream had passed before the Grand Signior awakened by intelligence contrary to his assured expectation of the Defeat and Destruction of a considerable Part of the Viziers Army shamefully commanded the Lights to be extinguished and the remaining four Nights designed for Joy to be converted to Melancholy and Darkness And though the rashness and vain fancy of the Governors was the sole cause of this precipitate mirth yet as great men love always to charge their errours and follies on the shoulders of others so the Sultan accused the Chimacham through false Information to have been the Authour of this shameful Decree and in that fury calling the Executioner had certainly taken off his head had not his young Minion or Favourite now called Kul Ogli promoted to the Preferment of Asan before mentioned with much earnestness and Prayers interceded for his Life And indeed this Joy and Triumph was so much more ridiculous and shameful by how much more fatal and destructive was the ensuing Event For the Turks being now got over the River had not at first time enough given them to cast up Earth but were forced by the Christians to an Engagement For the Christian Army was drawn into Battalia to receive them The right Wing consisted of the Austrian Forces commanded by Montecuculi himself The Left was formed of the Confederates of the Rhine commanded by Count Olac to which was adjoined forty Troops of the French Cavalry conducted by Monsieur Coligni and the main Body was commanded by the Marshal General Marquis Bada which composed a very formidable Body and assailed the Turks with extraordinary Valour the Fight was very furious and began about nine a Clock in the morning on the third of August and continued till four in the Afternoon with variable fortune during which time the Waters being abated the Spahees passed over in several places and charged the left
the present urgent necessities three Ships viz. one English another French and a third Dutch were laden with Corn and thirty Sail of Beys Gallies with all sorts of Arms and Ammunition with a Recruit of a thousand Janisaries were dispeeded from Constantinople for Reinforcement and Succour of that Island And now at length the Grand Signior after his long circuit arrived at Constantinople where he made his solemn Entry the third of October but not with that Joy and Pomp which usually attended other Sultans in their return from the Wars and labours to their Imperial City but all things seemed like the Sultans humour sullen and displeased for he seldom lodged in his Seraglio or slept there but at a small Palace called Damt-Pasha where he for the most part made his abode only sometimes in the day he passed a few hours at his Seraglio but rested not there in the night the reasons hereof some attributed to the remembrance of those dangers and troubles which he had seen in that Court and which made so deep an impression on his fancy that he could never enter within those Gates without some sense of terrour for the late disorders The German War being thus concluded the Sultan returned to Constantinople and Affairs disposing themselves to spend their fury against Candia all things growing black and tempestuous towards that Coast the Venetians prudently provided to oppose the storm And as an able General and wise and experienced Captains are the supports of an Army and that the success of War depends much on Martial Discipline and on the vigilance and wisdom of the Commanders the Senate gave order to their Ambassadour at Turen called Catarin Belegno to offer unto Marquess Ghiron Francesco Villa a Native of that Country the honourable charge of General of the Foot with a stipend of 12000 Crowns of yearly Pay the said Marquess obliging himself to bring with him four Captains and two Lieutenant-Generals for entertainment of whom the Republick allowed five thousand Ducats besides seventy Ducats a month pay to an Engineer To this Marquess Villa a power was given to command in chief over all without subjection to any other than to the Captain-General and to the Proveditor-General in Dalmatia when he waged War in that Province and in short his actions were not to be questioned or examined by any other than the Senate it self to whom he was immediately subjected and a Gally was to be allotted purposely to transport him and his Family to Candia Upon these conditions agreed at Turen Marquess Villa took his Journey to Venice about the beginning of April being accompanied with his Kinsman Francesco Villa his Nephew Benedetto Count of Lagnasco Count Lodovico Saluzzo and Count Bernardino Barretta which four served in quality of Captains together with Gio. Francesco Pusserla and Alessandro Negri who were Lieutenant-Generals and Gio. Girolamo Quadruplano Engineer With these Companions and several other Voluntiers Gentlemen of Quality the Marquess Villa was received with much honour by the Nobility and People of Venice and being introduced into the Colledge with a singular grace and fluency of Language he began to speak in this manner IF thanks most Serene Prince and most Excellent Sirs ought to be equivalent to the benefits we receive I must of necessily not to appear ungrateful refuse those favours which this most Serene Republick is pleased to confer upon me or resolve to appear ungrateful because I am unable to make a compensation But I satisfie my self in this That as the mind which receives favours and returns thanks is the same so that mind which makes acknowledgments with a due sense of them doth in some measure equal the benefit though it prove defective in expressions to declare it I do theresore confess and acknowledge that the Election you have been pleased to make of me amongst so many conspicuous Persons unto a Charge graced by most renowned Predecessours and in it self most honourable is a most singular favour and an effect of your immense Bounty to me which though it be limited with some subordination yet it may serve for the ultimate Goal to a glorious Course of Military labours I must also farther acknowledge That as it is the property of this most Serene Republick to receive momentary Services and to render them eternal by Records in History so they have been pleased to adjoyn unto my mean deserts a remembrance of the humble devotion which my Ancestors professed towards them I mean Alfonso Villa my great Grandfather who in that most glorious Fleet at Lepanto whose Sails were the wings of Victory evidenced his Christian zeal against that People which issuing from the bowels of Sea-monsters continue to vent their ancient rage against your most Serene Highness Nor with less promptness of mind had my Grandfather Francesco Villa and my Father Guido Villa consecrated their Powers to your Command but that the unparallel'd Equity of this most Serene Republick gave permission that one of them should take the charge of General of the Artillery of the Holy Church under the Pope his Supreme Lord preferring a natural duty before a voluntary service and that the other being entertained in service of the most Invincible Charles Emanuel in Piedmont you were pleased to judge That the service done to a Prince your Confederate and Son of this Republick was a service and duty rendred to your selves so that this Election made of me by this most Serene Republick and approved by the singulur goodness of that Charles Emanuel who now reigns evidences the Destiny of my Family and obliges me to satisfie that hereditary debt by performances which my Ancestors entertained only in their wishes Hence it is that to this my Election some celestial influence hath concurred by which I am clearly assured that your more than humane power is desirous to imitate the Divine which oftentimes makes use of weak means to operate miraculous effects that to you only the success may be acknowledged and to you only the thanks be returned that if the Providence of your Serenity and of this most Serene Republick will be pleased as I am assured you will to imitate the Divine Providence which cooperates with means the number and quality of your Troops and plenty of your Provisions which are the nerves of War are those means which correspond with the ends you design and therefore I dare presage that I shall not only see the threatning horns of the changeable Ottoman Planet precipitated into the Sea by the Venetian horn of strength but those glorious Conquests renewed which rendred your Name more bright and resplendent than the Sun it self in his Oriental parts With these auspicious Presages I feel already in my breast an impatient heat to sacrifiee my life in so worthy a cause fancying that I serve the Universe whilst I am engaged in the service of the greatest of Republicks which communicates delicious Fruit to all People gathered from those triumphant Palms which were
of all the Turks except two who threw themselves into the Sea preferring death before slavery In the mean time the Duke of Savoy recalled Marquess Villa who was his Subject from Candia the reasons for which was attributed to an appearance of Breach with Geneva the Switzers and the Valtelines who were his Subjects or rather to the ill Offices of those who envied his preferment being desirous to have him recalled from a place of so much honour and reputation In obedience to this revocation Marquess Villa taking his leave of General Cornaro returned from Candia as far as Zant where meeting the new Captain General Francesco Morosini and being by him assured That the Pope and Senate of Venice representing the difficulty of Affairs in Candia and the present urgency and necessity for his presence there had obtained Licence from the Duke of Savoy for his continuance in that employment upon which assurance Marquess Villa took a resolution to return again to Candia being accompanied with a strong Squadron of Vessels carrying considerable quantities both of Ammunition and Provisions The History of the famous Siege of Candia On the 27 th of April the Forces from Egypt under the Command of Messir Bey appeared in the field and on the 5 th of May N. S. the General of the Janifaries incamped on the right side of New Candia that he might better view and survey the ground near the Lazaretto At the beginning of the New Moon of this Year's May being the 〈◊〉 day of the month publick Prayers 〈◊〉 first made through the most principal places of the Empire for the success of the Ottoman Arms and so solemnly continued every Monday and Thursday for the space of a year the Great Vizier first appeared before the renowned Fortress of Candia and began the memorable Siege of that City which for the space of twenty five years preceding had been the subject to which the special care and expence of Venice and the Art of the most subtle Engineers of the World as far as humanely was possible did concur to render it the most impregnable Fortress of the Universe The Town was fortified with seven great Bastions viz. the Sabionera Vetturi Jesus Martinengo Betlem Panigra and St. Andrea these were all incompassed with a large and deep Ditch of which were the Revelin of St. Spirito the Revelin of Panigra flanked to the right with the Half-moon of Mocenigo next hereunto was the Revelin of Betlem bordering on the Work of St. Maries which to the left had the Revelin of St. Nicholas and this adjoyned to the Fortification of de Palma next whereunto was the Revelin of Priuli with the Redoubt of Crepa-cuore and over all was the Royal Fort of St. Demetrio which commanded the Work of Molino and Sabionera unto the very Sea Marquess Villa at his last return was chiefly intent to strengthen the Fortifications and repair the Out-works especially that of St. Andrea which was almost ruined and the old subterranean Traverses were so full of water and the old Galleries so high that the Enemy could easily pass under them all which he repaired and amended in a short time In confidence of gaining this strong Fortress the Turks demolished New Candia situate about two miles from the Old which the Vizier now pointed out to them as a better Seat and incouraged them to win and inhabit it so that 〈◊〉 th of May the Turks incamped over against St. Maries along the Valley of Gioffiro with the sound of their Drums and Trumpets and firing great Guns and Vollies of Muskets Their Forces at first consisted of about forty thousand fighting Men and eight thousand Pioniers but soon afterwards increased to seventy thousand and so for the most part were maintained during the Siege The first Traverses began from the side of St. Maries and were carried to the Sea the Great Vizier took his Quarters over against Panigra the Janisar-Aga against Martinengo and other Pasha's between that and Betlem On the other side the Pasha of Romelia incamped against the Lazaretto and Catirgi-Oglé Pasha of Canea against Sabionera Achmet Pasha Vizier of the Camp and Zagargibashee Major General of the Janisaries who had the reputation of old Souldiers and good Engineers were ordered to inlarge and lengthen the Traverses on the side of the Half-Moon of Mocenigo Quarters being thus assigned they raised three Batteries the first against the Bastion of Martinengo and the right side of the Work St. Maries a second against Panigra and soon after a third against the Half-moon and Bulwark of Betlem from whence they continually thundered with their great Cannons shooting Bullets of sixty ninety to an hundred and twenty pound weight Nor were the Besieged within less industrious or wise in the disposition of their Affairs for Marquess Villa took his Quarters at the entrance of the Bulwark Jesus Proveditor Barbaro at Panigra the Proveditor General of the Kingdom at Martinengo the Duke of Candia Francesco Battaglia in the Fort of Sabionera and other Officers between the Curtains of St. Andrea Betlem and Sabionera Things thus disposed on both sides many and various were the valiant Aslauts and Sallies the Traverses extraordinary the Rencounters bloody the resistance vigorous not known or recorded in any Siege before which though they can never be fully expressed or particularly denoted yet I should do injury to the ashes of those Heroick Christians who so freely entred the List and on this Theatre of the World sacrificed their lives in defence of Christendom should I not signalize some of them of divers Nations for their Prowess and Valour And here pardon me good Reader if I come short or fail in this relation where many of unparalleled Valour and Vertue dyed obscurely and unknown and the numbers of others so great that to specifie them all were to swell this Work to a larger Volume than the Book of Martyrs Here was that Martial field into which remote Nations and unconcerned descended carried thither by zeal to the Christian cause or by certain Principles of Valour and Magnanimity so that though the War bore no other denomination than of the Venetian and the Turk yet so great was the confluence of both parts of the World to this little Isle as if it had been chosen by unanimous consent for a Stage to try the Title to the Universal Empire The Town being thus beleagured on all sides but where Neptune the Spouse of Venice kept it open the Christians endeavoured first to disturb the Traverses of the Turks by a Mine of Powder which they blew up but through the neglect or little experience of the Engineer it being the first which they had fired reverted and did more hurt to themselves than to the Enemy the errour of which being observed another Fornello was fired which taking its due place and measures so affrighted the Turks as yet not acquainted with this manner and invention of War that they began at the first onset to be
and rid the Ditch of Earth which whilst it worked with admirable success the Turks by help of a Mine blew it into the Air and shattered it into a thousand pieces Howsoever the Christians desisted not from their intended work but still laboured with Baskets Sacks and Wheelbarrows to carry away the Earth which that they might do quietly and undisturbed the Savoyards and Sclavonians made a furious and desperate Sally which continued for the space of two hours and though in that time the Enemy had opportunity to collect their greater Force into a Body yet the Christians were not put to slight but retreated orderly and in a fighting posture though with the loss of several Officers of which were Captain Rè and others To revenge these mines of the Turks the Christians fired two others as dreadful as the others the first near S t Spirito which being under the Enemies Traverses performed its desired Effect the second was on the side of the half Moon which swallowed up two of their Redoubts And on the third of October they fired four other mines on the sides of Panigra and Betlem one of which consisted of six and thirty Barrels of Powder and another of fourteen ordering at the same time a furious Sally from divers places as namely Captain Gamba sallied from the Revelin of S t Spirito Serjeant Major Arasi from under the Bulwark of Panigra Colonel George Maria was ordered to assault the Redoubts which were opposed to the Breach Colonel Vecchia to attaque the Redoubts between Panigra and the half Moon Colonel Cremasco and Marini to assault the redoubts between the half Moon and Betlem Count Brusasco defended the work of S t Maria Colonel Inberti defended the Revelin of S t Nicholas and Serjeant Motta with thirty able Souldiers advanced to the farthest Lines of the Enemy killing and putting to flight all before them Colonel Frigeri Captain of the Fort S t Dimetry and Lieutenant Colonel Vimes possessed several Redoubts and in the conclusion all retreated in excellent order with success and triumph to yield the Turks evident arguments of their fortitude and courage and that the Town was still so well provided as not only to be in a Condition of defending it self but offending the Enemy Yet the Turks were still labouring to countermine the Fornelli of the Enemy and to revenge the former Plots to which end they had penetrated to the most inward works of Panigra but the Pioniers employed by the Engineer Quadruplani discovering their Gallery entred boldly in and drove away the Turks from whom they took thirty two Barrels of Powder and by that means for the present preserved that work and the Lives of many Souldiers The 17 th of October the Christians sprang two Mines one of thirty and another of five and thirty Barrels of Powder which did the desired execution upon the Turks which some brave spirits seconded by a bold Sally amongst which none was more eminent than a Greek Priest who moved with zeal to his Country entered far into the Enemies Trenches where having killed a Person of Quality hand to hand he was returning with the Trophy of his head but being in the way intercepted by three at once he was unequally matched and slain and died with the highest honour imaginable under the Walls of his Native City Soon after the Cavalier Verneda another Engineer fired a Mine of forty Barrels of powder which made the very City and Works tremble like an Earthquake for whereas this Mine should have taken its effect on the Enemies Redoubts Providence ordered that it should take its passage through an old Gallery with so much violence and smoke that it suffocated the Miners Carpenters and Masons to the number of sixty men Towards the end of this Summer the Turks at Constantinople and Adrianople grew big with the expectation of the happy News and Arrival of that messenger that should declare the taking of Candia and the end of the Venetian War to entertain which joy with the more readiness they had prepared Lights and Lamps and artificial Fire-works to solemnize their Dunalma and made publick prayers and procession of the youth of the City twice a week but finding their hopes frustrated and their joys from Month to Month deferred their expectations became tyred and wearied and growing almost ashamed of their disappointment began to throw the blame of the miscarriage of their Affairs on the ill Conduct of the Vizier and the sluggishness of their Souldiery The Grand Signior also more impatient than the rest dispatched away a Messenger with Letters to the Vizier reproaching his cowardise and sloth that being provided with a most puissant Army and with all other appointments of War should suffer the Ottoman Force to be baffléd and entertained in taking a single Fort for longer time than formerly it had been in subduing whole Provinces and Kingdomes and moreover charged the Messenger to bring him a faithful and true Relation of the state of all Affairs and what was the real cause and difficulty that so long obstructed the progress of his Arms but yet sent the Vizier for his encouragement a Sword and a Vest of Sables as tokens of his favour The Great Vizier moved with this message resolved to give some certain proofs of his industry and valour and either to take the place or else at least to convince his Master by the knowledge and testimony of his Inquisitor that the Work was of more hazard and longer time than was apprehended in the Seraglio Whereupon preparations were made and the time of assault was appointed chiefly on the side of Panigra so that pressing valiantly forward they planted six of their Colours on the ruines of that work so that now full of hope and courage they adventured to descend into the Ditch but being prevented by three Mines which contained seventy Barrels of powder they were mounted in the air with so much noise and violence that many Bodies were tossed on the Rampire of the Town many of their greatest Redoubts overthrown and Graves made for multitudes of the Assailants This Assault as it began with great fury so it continued for many hours in which action Signior Pisani Proveditor General of the Kingdom was killed by a Granado Howsoever the Enemy was repulsed by the valour of the Christians insomuch that the Turks growing faint were pressed forward by the Vizier who to encourage his Souldiers promised an extraordinary reward of honour and mony to him who should but first touch the Walls with his hands The hopes of riches and honour so pricked forward all conditions of the Souldiery that the Commonalty desperately threw themselves at all and endangered so far the taking of Panigra that they had certainly possessed themselves of it had not the Venetians had recourse to their last refuge of Mines and blown the whole Work into the Air by which perished three Pashaws and great numbers of common Souldiers And
abandon her nor the lives she preserved The rumour hereof in an instant flew through the streets but with such variety of reports that nothing of certainty was known only in general some great ruine was apprehended to threaten the City whereupon a strange outcry was made to shut up the shops and every one to consult the safety of the Publick But some few hours after it being more distinctly known that the Grand Signior had sent for the Heads of his Brothers the People of Constantinople whose sole hopes of seeing the Royal City restored to its ancient Honour was by the conservation of these Princes were in a greater combustion than before for every one then betook himself to his Arms so that in a short time were assembled forty thousand men at Okmedon well appointed where considing in the strength of a general Cause in which they were ingaged they vented many opprobrious speeches against the Government calling the Chief Ministers Orsysler which is unfortunate Fellows a term amongst the Turks of the greatest ignominy especially to a Governour and loudly exclaimed and wished for a reformation In the mean time the Queen-Mother desired aid from the Janisaries and Guards about the Apartments of the Princes lest the Bostangees who are the Creatures of the Grand Signior should assault their Quarters The Consultations also amongst the Janisaries were long and secret and the Queen-Mother dispatched several Messages to the Grand Signior advising him to forsake the Mountains and repair to one of his Imperial Cities as became the Majesty of so great a Sultan being the only means to secure to him the establishment of his Crown And now the Reader will with impatience attend the conclusion and issue of so great rumours and disturbances but it is now as it hath been experienced in other Commonwealths acribus ut fermè talia initiis incurioso sine matters violent in their original spend themselves at first and produce nothing remarkable in their end And so was the effect of these recesses and mutiny of the people at Constantinople whose humour of novelty and change venting it self and in four or five days tired with expectation at length every one began to return to his dwelling and employment The face likewise of things at Constantinople seemed quiet and appeased carrying with it as it were a still modesty and shame for the late disorders and nothing was heard or murmured for the space of twenty or thirty days after until the Grand Signior trembling with the fears of this confused Rebellion kept more strict Guards than ordinary within his mountains and after being better recollected entered into Consultation and being advised of the Heads and Leaders of the late Insurrection proscribed such as were the prime Actors and having dispatched away two or three Messengers on this Errant they entered secretly in the Night to their Lodgings where they quietly and without noise took off the heads of four or five of them and banished as many without the least noise or notice taken thereof by the Vulgar And because this disorder happened at Constantinople for which the chief Commander ought to answer the Chimacam passed not without a jealousie either of negligence or consent wherefore the Vizier sent for him and the Janisar-Aga to Candia as if he had occasion of their service though not without their own fears and suspicion of others to answer and make satisfaction for the late mutiny And thus for a while this Flame is extinguished and the fire raked up in the Embers We must expect a while and observe when and where it will again burst forth The Spring now approaching which supplies new Spirits and warm and fresh bloud into the Veins of Man as well as sap in Trees and life in other Vegetables let us return again to the Wars and survey the Camp and posture of Affairs before the walls in Candia The Turkish Army which like worms benummed with the Cold of Winter had lain immured between their Banks of Earth did not ply their Assaults so frequently as they had done in Summer only for a Winters exercise battered the inward Works of S t Andrea's Fort which as we said before they had hardly beset And now the time for action being again come about they renewed their storm on that side so violently pressing forward the least esteemed of their Souldiery that with the help of Spade and Mattock and blowing up of some Mines they penetrated forty paces within the Walls of the City But the Christians having long since foreseen the weakness of that side made it part of their Winters labours to draw another Wall from the Fort Panigra whose Revelin or Out-work was before blown up crossing over almost to the Tramata which they fortified as well as could be expected and made constant and bold resistance against the Enemy Notwithstanding which the Turks pressed so constantly and boldly forward that though the Christians were strong within and provided with all sorts of provisions both of war and sustenance yet nothing supported their Courages and Spirits more than the expectation of promised Succours from France and Italy it being reported and generally believed that they would be so numerous as might be able to give Battel in the Field unto the Turk and force them out of their Trenches for by no other means was it possible for this City to be relieved for it might fare with this place as it did formerly with Rhodes and Ostend which though wanting neither men nor provisions were yet taken by palms and inches of ground till not so much was left as would hold men to defend them A pregnant example as S r William Tample well observes how impossible it is to defend any Town that cannot be relieved by an Army strong enough to raise the Siege Whilst the Christians were entertained with these hopes the Turks fortified themselves without as strongly as the besieged had within heaving like Moles with their numerous Army of Pioniers whose lives being not valued they were wholly intent unto Mines blowing up all before them in that manner that every day they gained a pace of ground within the City So that in effect as will be seen by the Sequel this most impregnable Fort of the World was forced and taken by the Spade and Shovel and by a Crew of unarmed Labourers who understood nothing more than the Plough and Harrow So that now this Town seemed to be reduced to its utmost Crisis either of being taken or for ever freed of this malignant Enemy And indeed the Turks had so far advanced upon the Bulwark of S t Andrea that now nothing remained of it more than ruines and undigested heaps of Earth and stone in defence of which the chief Commanders applying themselves in person with all diligence the Marquess S t Andrea Montbrun was wounded by a stone in the face the Cavalier de Bret was buried in the ruines to the very Neck and with difficulty drawn out of
licensing all the Asian Horse and Souldiers of remotest parts to return to their own Countries with liberty to appropriate the following year to their repose and care for their peculiar concernments To these Wars amongst secular Persons and men of Arms were added Differences and never to be decided Controversies between the Religious of the Roman and Greek Churches at Jerusalem who contending for the possession of the Holy Sepulchre of the King of Peace rent that seamless Coat of Christ and managed their Controversie with more malice and rancour each against other than Princes do who invade one the other with Fire and Sword For the Franks or Western Christians subjected to the Popes Dominion had possessed for several Ages a right to the Holy Sepulchre and enjoyed the honour of the custody thereof notwithstanding the pretences of the Greeks thereunto who for many years in vain attempted at the Ottoman Court to obtain that Priviledge for the Franks being ever more powerful by charitable contributions brought from Christendom besides large Sums of Money from the King of Spain did always outbid the Market of the Greeks and consequently made use of stronger arguments than the adverse Party could produce in defence of their cause Until such time that one Panaioti a Greek born in the Island of Scio having by his parts and excellent address arrived to the honour of being Interpreter for the Western Tongues to the Great Vizier at length obtained that favour with his Master that he seldom refused whatsoever he with reason and modesty requested and being a great Zelot in his Religion and esteemed the chief Patron and Support of the Greek Church he secretly begged in behalf of his Country the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem out of the hands of the Franks which the Vizier would not deny him both to reward him for some services already performed and likewise because he knew that a concession of this nature would again raise the spirits and animosities of Christians the allaying and appeasing of which being an office solely in the power of himself and the supreme Authority would certainly prove beneficial to the Ottoman Court Panaioti having obtained this Command and considering that the defence thereof would be a trouble to him for that thereby he should create Enemies which were no less than Kings and Princes to contend with and perhaps should live to see it reversed wisely laid it by him there to remain dormant until the time of his death which happening the year past the Command was produced and brought to light and was before the Easter of this year set on foot at Jerusalem and by virtue thereof the custody of the Sepulchre sentenced by the Pasha and Kadi of that place to belong unto the Greeks the which was occasion of so great trouble and confusion as disturbed the Holy Feast and polluted the Sacrifices with the blood of one or two persons who most earnestly contended for the Priviledge of their Nation and Religion Nor could this difference be decided here but both sides appealed to the Court above which being heard and debated in publick Divan the possession of the Sepulchre was adjudged in favour of the Greeks the Franks being only to injoy a precarious use thereof as Pilgrims and Strangers to the Country Howsoever the Fryers of Jerusalem would not tamely yield up their Right but again resolved to try their Fortune at the Court having by means of F. Canisares their Commissario with expence of a great Sum of Money obtained a review of the case but without success for all these endeavours and charge proved fruitless the former sentence being confirmed in favour of the Greeks and the Franks having no other Expedient applied themselves to the assistance of the French Ambassadour to whose protection the Holy places are assigned by Capitulations But neither the power of the French Ambassadour nor of any other Christian Representative was available for the Vizier either mindful of his promise to Panaioti or being resolute to maintain the Command he had given would on no terms be perswaded to revoke it the which intention of the Vizier being made known to the Greeks their Patriarch earnestly pressed a hearing of the case but the Fryers not willing to abide the shock retired to Constantinople lest the Greeks forcing them to Justice they should be condemned in Judicio contradictorio and a Hoget or Sentence passing they should be condemned in Law as well as by Authority of the Hattelheriff Which to put in execution the Patriarch took out a Command whereunto was added That the Fryers in token of their subjection should pay a Drachm of Silver a head to the Patriarch and hold all their places of them This was the issue of the present controversies which is certainly determined for the time of this Vizier without revocation yet perhaps in the time of another it may admit of a review for money especially being received when as yet the new Minister hath not satiated his covetous desires howsoever the expence will always be chargeable and the success uncertain Thus have I seen and observed in this particular the effect and experience of two things viz. The covetousness and pride of Fryars and the conclusion of their Law-suits before Infidels The Franks or the Western Christians had until this time the custody of the Holy Sepulchre and the Greeks that of the Chappel of Bethlem but the use was free to both but the Franks not being able to enjoy the Sepulchre with contentment whilst with envious eyes they beheld the Greeks in possession of Bethlem were always contriving designs by force of money and power of Christian Ministers to eject them from that Right until that now in these contentions they have lost both being neither able to recover the one nor conserve the other Anno Christi 1675. Hegeira 1086. PRopositions of peace not being so earnestly pressed nor so advantageously proffered by the Poles as the pride of the Turks did expect the War still continued but not prosecuted either on the one side or on the other with the same violence with which it began For the Sultan designing this year to circumcise his Son the young Prince now about twelve years of Age and to marry his Daughter of seventeen to his Mosayp or Favourite Pasha of Magnasia commonly called by the Name of Kul-ogli which signifies the Son of a Slave he resolved to dedicate this whole Year to quiet repose mirth and jollity at home only two thousand Janisaries were sent to Ibrahim Pasha to recruit the Souldiers on the Frontiers of Poland and the Tartars were reinforced with some Turkish Troops under Usuff Pasha to assist Dorosensko against the Poles who were with a considerable Army fallen into Ukrania And the Captain Pasha with twenty eight Sail of Gallies was dispeeded into the Black Sea for carrying of such Provisions and Ammunition for War as was necessary for supply of the Army Besides which no preparations of War
and Animosities of the Christians In like manner the Marine Affairs of the Turks this year afforded little worthy of observation unless it were That the Captain Pasha was employed with about thirty Sail of Gallies into the Black Sea for transporting of Ammunition and Provision to those Forces in Ukrania but he returned not with an equal number of Gallies with which he departed having lost five of them by storm and then arrived at Constantinople on the 26 th of October called by the Greeks the Feast of S t Demetrius and by the Turks Cassim-gheun a day which is commonly remarkable for Storms at Sea of which the Turks and Greeks are so apprehensive or superstitious that on that day or near that time either before or after until the storm hath vented its fury and taken its course they will not adventure themselves unto the Sea upon the most pressing occasion or hopeful inducement whatsoever And here I judge it requisite to conclude this Year with two matters very observable relating unto Trade The first is with reserence unto the Genoueses who in the Year 1666. first sent their Ambassador Signior Durazzo with many Presents and great Magnificence to conclude a Peace with the Ottoman Empire with the sole design and intention of Trade which having been established on no other foundation at the beginning than that of their Temins and the Fabrick of their own Cloth when the first failed as it did in two years after and that their Cloth turned not to account but was out-sold by the English and Dutch then their Trade began to decay or rather never came to perfection like the fruit of a young tree which buds fairly and produces fruit but hath not strength to digest or bring it to maturity Even so it was with the Genoucses who having been at the charge of an Ambassadour Extraordinary and setled a Resident at Constantinople and a Consul at Smyrna and all the other Formalities of Trade wanted that nourishment thereof from their own soil which produces the true and natural fruit of Commerce which is gain and profit and being out-done by other Nations in shipping there could little or no benefit be expected from their own Navigation in the Levant For these reasons their Trade failing the Duties of Consulage on Goods appointed to maintain the Officers and desray the publick Expences were consequently wanting so that the Count Fieschi Rosident for that Republick at Constantinople finding himself in great distresses and necessities and unable to maintain himself and his Attendants agreeable to his Character and Quality often advised his Prince and the Senate of the unhappy state of their Affairs desiring from them either to provide a Supply agreeable to the occasions or to recal him from that Office where he could no longer live in that Honour required This importunity produced the exchange of Officers and the Mission of Signior Giustiniano to reside at Constantinople and Signior 〈◊〉 at Smyrna the first of which some few days after his arrival being unfortunately killed with a Carabine in his Chamber at Consiantinople as before related the Office of Resident came to be still continued in the person of Fieschi who remaining without provisions necessary to maintain his degree and the annual Presents expected by the Turks which they esteem as due as their Income and as part of their Revenues was forced to take up money on Pawns and his own credit at the Interest of 20 25 or 30 per cent according as his necessities increased and the apprehensions men conceived of an insufficiency and hazard in their security was the cause that the debt which in the beginning was inconsiderable increasing with Interest upon Interest came at length to the Sum of sixty or seventy thousand Dollars which the Republick of Genoua attributing in a great measure to the ill Conduct of Fieschi and judging the greatest part of this debt to be feigned sent another Resident called Signior Spinola to succeed him in his Office who arriving at Smyrna in the month of May of this present year on a stout Ship hired of the Venetians and under the notion of a Man of War accompanied with a Merchant Ship and a new Consul the old one dying the year before setled there such Orders as were judged necessary for the government of their Affairs But before these Genoueses arrived a report had fore-ran them from Ligorne and other parts that their Ships brought great quantities of false Gold and false Pieces of Eight the which coming to the cars of the Turks Commands were provided against their arrival to search their Ships and try their Monies to which the Genoueses not condescending Arz or testimony was made thereof by the Kadi unto the Grand Signiors Court In the interim whilst this Arz went up and the answer expected the Genouese Resident designing to proceed forward on his Voyage to Constantinople demanded the Kadi's Moraselau or Ticket of Licence for the Man of War on which he came to pass the Castle for that Ship had entred within the Port. The Kadi judging it necessary that both the Resident and Ship should attend the arrival of the answer from above refused to grant this Licence whereupon the Resident all in a rage imbarked himself and immediately set sail and having a fair Breez out of the Port gently slided along by the side of the Castle without any stop or interruption This affront being put upon the Kadi greatly displeased him so that calling the Lieutenant and Gunner of the Castle into question and not admitting of their Plea that the Ship was a Man of War and the person thereon a Resident both which were priviledged and both going up to the Grand Signiors Court were to answer there for what was laid against them but this I say not being admitted for reason the Kadi committed them both to Prison from whence with some charge afterwards they released themselves The new Resident being arrived at Constantinople the Creditors of Count Fieschi demanded payment of the debts owing to them which was given in to amount to sixty thousand Dollars and so much was to be paid before Fieschi should be permitted to depart or at least that part thereof being satisfied in hand the new Resident Spinola should give security for payment of the remainder the which he refusing to do as not owning the accounts which Fieschi had given in in regard he judged them to be composed of extravagant Interests and to arise on charges not allowable by that Republick who after the death of Giustiniano disowned Fieschi for their Minister hereupon great disturbances and commotions arose amongst the Creditors some of which being in great Power as the Janisary-Aga and others Sequestration was laid on their Man of War so that she was toaed away to the Arsenal and there laid up and attached for payment of the debt which arising on the account of the Publick the Goods of the Common-wealth was justly esteemed liable to the Sequestration
of the Exchequer for false Money The occasion was this Certain Muletiers having received money from the Exchequer in Venetian Zechins and finding several of them false returned them again but could not prevail to have them changed whereupon having made their Memorial thereof they carried them to the Vizier and upon examination the Pay-master declared That he received them from the Great Ibrahim Han-ogli who being for that Cause sent for and accused was put into a fear which proved as dangerous to him as a Disease the apprehensions of Death being worse than the reality but the Great Tefterdar soon cleared him of this Accusation having attested That to his knowledge the money received from him was good and disposed on other occasions so that the whole blame lying now on the Pay-master and upon farther search more of the same stamp being found in his hands he deservedly suffered the punishment of Death the which had likewise been inflicted on another Officer of the same rank but not being found so culpable as the other he was permitted to redeem his life with forty Purses of Money or twenty thousand Dollars Thus far we have seen the gentle and smooth behaviour of the present Vizier towards the Friends Relations and Servants of the deceased and with what Acts of Justice he began his Government But behold on a sudden the face of the whole Court was changed every Officer thereof putting on a Countenance of fierceness pride and arrogance beyond the manner and custom lately practised For the Great Vizier took on himself the State and Grandeur of the Sultan the access being as difficult to him as to his Master his Kahya that of the Vizier and so every inferiour Officer advanced himself into a fancy of possessing the next and immediate Degree above him This haughty behaviour had a more particular influence on the Ministers and Representatives of Foreign Princes whose Interpreters were not admitted as formerly to private Audiences or Conferences about their Affairs but only at the Publick Divan where their Arzes or Memorials were to be preferred in the same manner as was practised by the Subjects of the Countrey and those of conquered Nations who petition for Justice The which abasement was not only cast on the Interpreters but on the Persons of the Representatives themselves an example of which we have in the French Ambassadour who coming at the time appointed to receive his Audience of the Vizier was forced to expect a long time before he could have admittance and then entering into the Chamber of Audience was rudely crouded and rushed upon by a Crew of unmannerly Chaouses who no otherwise regarded the Person of the Ambassador than if he had been one of the Grooms or Lacquies Being come to the Seat of Audience the Ambassadour observed That the Stool for the Great Vizier was set upon the Soffrá and that for Him below or at the foot of it the which being an unusual and unpractised diminution of the ancient honour given formerly to Ambassadours he ordered one of his Servants To set it again on the Soffrá equal with that of the Vizier's the which being done was again brought down by one of the Vizier's Pages and placed as before whereupon the Ambassadour seizing the Stool with his own hand carried it on the Soffrá and sate upon it which being reported to the Vizier then in his retiring Chamber he sent twice to him to remove letting him know That unless the Stool were returned into the Place appointed by him he would not appear in the Chamber of Audience Whereunto his Excellency returned this prudent Answer That the Vizier might dispose of his Chair as he pleased but not of his Person In which Interim the Chaous-bashee came in roaring out Calder Calder which is Take it away Take it away meaning the Stool at which noise the Ambassadour arising to see what the matter was had the Stool taken from under him whereat being greatly enraged he threw out of the Room in a high passion and causing the Presents which he brought to be again returned with him he mounted his Horse and departed Afterwards it was intimated unto the English Ambassadour That he might if he pleased receive Audience of the Great Vizier But his Excellency understanding in what manner the French Ambassadour had been treated excused his Going on pretence of an Indisposition of health Howsoever the Venetian Bailo and the Residents of Holland and Genoua were contented to be admitted unto Audience on those terms which the Vizier was pleased to allow And though during the time that he was Chimacam and bore other inferiour Offices and Charges of Trust his behaviour was gentle affable and civil yet I fear that now having changed his Office he will have altered his humour and that his Greatness will have encreased his Pride Avarice and Fierceness thus no man knows what another will be when he shall enter into power Dic mihi si fueris tu Leo qualis eris And as Magistratus indicat Virum so in the actions of his management the temper and constitution of this great Person will be discovered And thus having given a short Account and Character of this present Vizier his future Acts and Monuments must be the Subject of other Pens FINIS THE TABLE TO THE Reign of Sultan Morat or Amurat IV. A. ABassa Pasha of Erzirum his Rebellion pag. 2. he advances towards Constantinople 9. is reconciled to the Grand Signior 21. and made Pasha of Bosna 22. made General in the War with Poland 44. he is strangled by command of the Grand Signior pag. 49 Algierines infest the Seas casting off their reverence to the Sultan 16. land at Scanderone and rob the ware-houses and then set them on fire 16 17. infest the Gulf of Venice 72. are blocked up by the Venetian in Valona ibid. Ali Pasha slain in Mesopotamia by the Persian and his Army routed pag. 10 Sultan Amurat advanced to the Throne at fourteen years of age 3. described ibid. his lewd debaucht life 27 28. like to have been killed by lightning 31. which works some reformation in him for the present ibid. he sends an Ambassadour into Persia 32. A peace made with the Persians but quickly broken 38. several acts of his tyranny 43. he destroys taverns ibid. makes war on the Poles 44. sues to them for peace 49. more acts of his cruelty 51. forbids all houses of entertainment 52. goes in person with his Arniy into Persia ibid. musters at Erzrum three hundred thousand sighting men 57. his patience and labours ibid. causes his two brothers Bajazet and Orchan to be strangled ibid. he returns from Persia to Constantinople 58. his aversion to Tabaco 59. more instances of his cruelty ibid. 60. 69 70. He resolves again to march in person into Persia pag. 68. he begins his march in May 1638. 71. the History of his march 77 78. the whole Army arrives before Babylon or Bagdat 79. he takes it 81. his
1677. Containing the Reigns of the three last Emperours viz. Sultan Moral or Amurat IV. Sultan Ibrahim and Sultan Mahomet IV. his Son the XIII Emperour now Reigning By Paul Rycaut Esq late Consul of Smyrna in folio 33. The present State of the Ottoman Empire in three Books containing the Maxims of the Turkish 〈◊〉 their Religion and Military Discipline Illustrated with divers Figures Written by Paul 〈◊〉 Esq late Secretary to the English Ambassador there now Consul of Smyrna The fourth Edition in 〈◊〉 34. The present State of the Greek and Armenian Churches Anno 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Written at the Command of His Majesly by Paul 〈◊〉 Esq late Consul of Smyrna and Fellow of the Royal Society in 〈◊〉 35. The Mevoirs of Philip de Comines Lord of Argenton containing the History of Lewis XI and 〈◊〉 VIII Kings of France with the most remarkable 〈◊〉 in their particular Reigns from the year 1464. to 1498. Revised and Corrected from divers Manuscripts and ancient Impressions by Denis Godesroy Counseller and Historiographer to the French King and from his Edition lately Printed at Paris newly translated into English in octavo 36. A Relation of Three Embassies from his Majesty Charles the Second to the Great Duke of Muscovy the King of Sweden and the King of Denmark performed by the Right Honourable the Earl of 〈◊〉 in the year 1663 and 1664. Written by an Attendant on the Embassies in 〈◊〉 37. Il Nipotismo di Roma or the History of the Pope's Nephews from the time of Sixtus the Fourth 1471. to the death of the late Pope Alexander the Seventh 1677. Written in Italian and Englished by W. A. Fellow of the Royal Society The second Edition in 〈◊〉 38. A Relation of the Siege of Candia from the first Expedition of the French Forces to its Surrender the 27 of September 1669. Written in French by a Gentleman who was a Voluntier in that Service and faithfully Englished in octavo 39. The Present State of Egypt or a new Relation of a late Voyage into that Kingdom performed in the years 1672 and 1673. By F. 〈◊〉 R. D. Wherein you have an exact and true account of many rare and wonderful particulars of that Ancient Kingdom Englished by M. D. B. D. in octavo 40. The History of the Government of Venice wherein the Policies Councils Magistrates and Laws of that State are fully related and the use of the Balloting-Box exactly described Written in the year 1675. by the Sicur Amelott dela Houscaie Secretary to the French Ambassador at Venice in octavo 41. An Historical and Geographical Description of the great Country and River of the Amazones in America with an exact Map thereof Translated out of French in octavo 42. The Secret History of the Court of the Emperor 〈◊〉 Written by Procopins of 〈◊〉 faithfully Englished in octavo 43. 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The History of France under the Ministry of Cardinal 〈◊〉 viz. from the death of King 〈◊〉 XIII to the year 1664. wherein all the Affairs of State to that time are exactly related By Benjamin 〈◊〉 and faithfully Englished by Christopher Wase Gem. in octavo 48. The History of the Twelve 〈◊〉 Emperours of Rome Written in Latin by C. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 newly translated into English and illustrated with all the Casars Heads in Copper-plates in octavo 49. The Annals of Love containing select Histories of the Amours of divers Princes Courts pleasantly related Ry a person of Honour in eight Parts in octavo 50. A new Voyage into the Northern Countries being a description of the Manners Customs Superstition Buildings and Habits of the Norwigians Laplanders Kilops Borandians Siberians Samojedts Zemblans and Istanders in twelves 51. 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The Voyage of Italy or a compleat Journey through Italy in two Parts with the Character of the People and the Description of the chief Towns Churches Palaces Villas Gardens Pictures Statues Antiquities as also of the Interest Government Riches Forces c. of all the Princes with Instructions concerning Travel By Richard Lassels Gent. who travelled through Italy five times as Tutor to several of the English Nobility Opus Posthumum corrected and set forth by his old Friend and Fellow-Traveller S. W. Never besore extant in twelves 55. A Relation of the French King 's late Expedition into the Spanish Netherlands in the years 1667 and 1668. with an Introduction discoursing his Title thereunto and an account of the Peace between the two Crowns made May 2. 1667. Englished by G. H. in twelves POETRY and PLAYS 56. 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