Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	action_n	good_a	will_n	1,601	5	6.4879	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57997	The history of the Turkish Empire, from the year 1623, to the year 1677 Containing the reigns of the three last emperors, viz. Sultan Morat, or Amurat IV. Sultan Ibrahim, and Sultan Mahomet IV, his son, the thirteenth emperor, now reigning. By Sir Paul Rycaut, late consul of Smyrna.	Rycaut, Paul, Sir, 1628-1700.; Knolles, Richard, 1550?-1610. Generall historie of the Turkes. aut; Manley, Roger, Sir, 1626?-1688. History of the Turkish Empire continued. aut; Rycaut, Paul, Sir, 1628-1700. Memoirs. aut; White, Robert, 1645-1703,	1687 (1687)	Wing R2407; ESTC R8667	720,857	331

Princes Favour would again shine upon him Curdi These Curdi are called by some Writers Cordiaei from whence the Province had the name of Gordiene bordering on Assyria the Kingdom once of Zabienus who siding with Lucullus against Tigranes King of Armenia was by Tigranes murdered with his Wife and Children These People inhabit the Mountain Amanus dividing Syria from Cilicia which by reason of the difficult access thereunto was never yet subjected to the Ottoman Yoke they are said in former times to have worshipped a black Dog and dare not speak ill of the Devil not for love but fear But some report that have lately been amongst them that they have left off that hellish Superstition and embrace a certain sort of Religion mixed with Christianity and Turcism but yet without Baptism or Circumcision In brief they are a bad sort of gross People at the best contenting themselves with little Religion addicted to Blood and Robberies These Curdi or Gordeenes being a people retired keep within their Mountains are shy in their Conversation and Discourse and afford us little subject or opportunity of knowing with any Satisfaction their Religion or Manners but from such of our Country-men as have lately entertained Society with them we have this account They are seated on those Mountains as we have said before which of old are called Cordiaei or Gordiai beginning near Aleppo but running out as far as Persia they make shew of the Turkish Religion for fear but have in reality another of their own which permits them to eat Swines Flesh and drink Wine as the Druses and Kalbeenes Bacon being esteemed by them a particular Cordial or Restorative for the Sick. The chief Country and City of those near Aleppo is called Jeumee where they have a Convent of twelve Priests with a Superior over them and another of the like sort near Mosul or Nineveth The two Chiefs of these Monasteries meet at fixed times to consult for the good of the Common-weal Their Devotions are private in a Cave they tell us of but one Book which contains both their Law and their Rituals being asked what they thought of our Saviour they answered he was their Breath and their Soul at the name of Mahomet they Spit and with Nicodemus his Circumspection and Assurance of Secrecy they declared themselves and Christians the same which they would make appear so soon as they were delivered from their fear of Bondage to the Turk They say that they worship God and will not curse the Devil to which no Force or Power can compel them partly perhaps because they have heard of our Saviours Precept Bless and Curse not but rather because they hold that the Devil and his Followers shall one day be restored to their former seats of Blessedness and Dignity When their Priests are together and Wine brought in amongst them the Superior makes a sign for Silence and afterwards a short Admonition that Wine is the Blood of God. I have heard that a Capuchin Fryer was once invited amongst them with Promise to give him a sight of their Book of Rituals and being come to Jeumee was detained a day or two in a Cave on pretence that the other Superior of Mosul was then amongst them who being a severe Person if he knew of his being there would certainly put him to Death as one who came to alter their Religion upon which Suspicion the Capuchin forgetting his Curiosity fled for safety with all speed possible Their Priests are said to be Grave wearing black throughout their Garments plaited or quilted the Vestures of the Commonalty are agreeable to Mountainiers whose Natures are Rough and Boisterous addicted to Blood and Robbery the common Vice of those People I have heard that the Son of a Gourdeene Widow being killed by some of that Country She assembled her nearest Kindred and required them to bring her the Windpipe of the Murderer which when they had done She together with her Friends eat in it Revenge In fine their Religion may have some small Reliques of Christianity but mixt with the dregs of other Religions 'T is possible they may be of the Manichee Race Their Opinion of the Devils Restoration was once held in part by Origen that of Wine that it is the Blood of God was the Heathenish conceit of the Egyptian Priests Their whole Nation if well united may compose an Army of thirty or forty thousand Men. But to return to our purpose The news of the Flight of Mortaza to this Ignoble Prince troubled the Grand Signior who still retained some Impressions of kindness to his Person remembring his Generosity Valour and former Deserts the memory of which was encreased also by the Friends of Mortaza who wanted not in the Court to represent them with some Compassion arguing that his flight was not of Contumacy or Contempt to his Masters Protection but an effect of natural Preservation which worked so far on the Grand Signior that he immediately sent for the Vizier to enquire of him the State and Condition of Mortaza The Vizier to defend himself and make good what before he had counselled his Master aggravated his Adversary's Crimes and his Disobedience and Flight to an inconsiderable King with which and some other light Excuses and Perswasions that the removal of such a Person was agreeable to the present State of Affairs and conducing to his own Security easily pacified the Mind and Affections of the Grand Signior but no sooner was he returned to his House but advice was given him that the Emaum of Mortaza or his Priest or Chaplain was then at Constantinople whom the Vizier immediatly sent for and without any Plea or Indictment struck off his Head and threw his Body into to the Sea on pretence that he was sent thither as a Spy for his Master and to give Intelligence and a beginning to Rebellion These were his colours and allegations for his deserved Death for Governours though never so wicked and so absolute and that have no need to render any other cause to the World of their actions than their own will yet esteem it necessary to act under the specious guise of justice and in the good opinion of the multitude The Aga of Babylon encountred the same Fortune for Mortaza giving place he thought it fit for himself to do the like resolving for Constantinople but being intercepted in his Journey by the new Pasha his Head was struck off and his Journey shortned But that which again renewed the trouble and fears of the Vizier was a report that the late Kahya-begh degraded at Adrianople was secretly returned to the City and lived concealed giving such Orders to the Janizaries as tended to Mutiny and Insurrection and that the pretences and reports of his being gone to Damascus and thence in his holy Pilgrimage to Mecha were but all false stories to conceal his Residence at Constantinople This set the Vizier all on fire and made him tremble with the thoughts of it wherefore

manner to redemand it again There was no Argument or Debate to be used against Men of the Sword who hearkned to no other Reason than their own Wants and to satisfy them there was no other Remedy than Compliance wherefore all Officers and Persons not employed in Military Affairs were forced to contribute towards a large Tax and a shameful Demand was made for the Loan of Thirty thousand Zechins from the four Christian Ambassadors resident at the Port that they also as Friends might yield an assisting hand towards the present Urgency of Affairs so little consideration and shame have Turks to lay open the Nakedness and distress of their Country even to Strangers and Enemies of it And indeed such was the Insolence and uncontroulable Power of the Souldiery that their Desires and Commands were Laws and their Determinations Rules for their Sultan and his Subjects This Humour of Usurpation and unlimited Power wearied all the Officers of the Empire and inclined them secretly to approve the Cause of Abassa Pasha of Erzirum who declared and stiled himself Enemy to the Janisaries and of Bechir Pasha of Babylon who was joined with him The Vizier also finding his Power abridged by the Arbitrary Will of the Souldiery moved slowly and coldly into Asia where all the Force he could make consisted of no more than fifty thousand new and unexperienced Men such as were uncapable to contend with a more numerous Army of veterane Souldiers to which also the Beglerbei of Anatolia joined himself as did all other the chief Timar-Spahees who conspired together to confound and destroy the Pride and Government of the Janisaries The Vizier also was of the same Party and coldly at first answered the Request of the Janisaries when they earnestly pressed him to lead them against Abassa their common and mortal Enemy At length being fortified with the Force of the Timar-Spahees he told them plainly That if they would go and fight he would be a Spectator of the Success but would not engage himself in a Quarrel wherein the Blood of Musselmen might be spilt on one side and the other by which means the Rebels in Asia took Head increased in Force and every day rendred them in a more formidable and dangerous posture But this was not all the Trouble which ensued for the Tartars having refused that King whom the Grand Signior had appointed them to receive declared for Mehmet his Brother who was seconded by the Votes of the Generality and maintained by the strongest Nerve of that Nation The Vizier was unwilling to ingage in this Quarrel alledging That a Civil War was the worst of Evils and that it was better to connive at a present Inconvenience than in this distracted Time of Affairs to pollute the Empire with the Blood of Tartars who were their Brethren and of the same Religion and Alliance with them Howsoever the Divan was of another Opinion and resolved to dispeed the Captain-Pasha with a Force sufficient to re-instate Gherey for so the Elder Brother was called in the Government of that Kingdom But yet the Instructions given rather directed him to act with Dexterity than with Force supposing that the Authority of the Turks abetted with the presence of a considerable Force would create an inclination in the Tartars to Obedience so soon as they discovered them to appear on their Coast The Captain-Pasha being arrived at * The chief City of the Krim Tartar Caffá declared That he was sent by the Grand Signior not to exclude either one or other of the Pretenders but only to be Witness of a free and fair Election that so all Civil Discord ceasing that Party might be chosen who was most pleasing to the generality of the People To which end two Standards were erected one for † Gherey the Name of the Family Gherey the Elder Brother desired by the Turks and the other for Mehmet beloved of the Tartars The People in multitudes ran to the Standard of Mehmet and but few to that of Gherey which demonstrated at how mean a rate the Tartars esteemed the Protection and Favour of the Port. The Captain-Pasha vexed hereat denied to give his Assent to the Confirmation on pretence that he was first to demand the Grand Signior's Pleasure but at length was perswaded by Gherey to land a Force of about eight thousand Men to own and maintain his Cause on hopes that rather than ingage against the Turks the People would condescend to Terms in his Admission and Favour The Tartars not being in the least dismayed hereat arrayed themselves in a warlike Posture and feigning Fear and Flight allured the Turks to a pursuit of them until they had brought them to a place where thirty thousand Horse lay in ambush which on a sudden arising and encompassing them round had entirely destroyed them had not Salil the Brother of Mehmet given a stop to the slaughter on hopes that such a testimony of Friendship would reconcile the Spirits of the Turks at least might render his Brother's preferment more tolerable and grateful to the Turks In this conflict Ibrahim and Chusaein who were Viziers of the Bench the kahya and a Capigibashe of the Seraglio were slain whose Bodies were afterwards transported to Constantinople six hundred Janisaries and as many Sea-men were killed and fifteen hundred Prisoners were taken whose Liberty was procured at a mean Ransom for the sake of that Faith and Religion which they jointly professed they also took thirty Pieces of Cannon and might also have become Masters of the whole Fleet consisting of thirty six Gallies had they been desirous to have prosecuted their Victory to the utmost advantage and moreover in that conjuncture of Affairs when a general consternation had overspread the principal parts of the Ottoman Dominions when the Councils were feeble and faint and that a languishing Pulse beat in all the Government had the Tartar with an Army of fifty thousand Horse then ready to march made up to the Walls of Adrianople it might have proved such an opportunity for dividing and destroying this Empire as hath not offered at any time since that Occasion But the two Brothers Mehmet and Salil stiling their War forced and defensive used that moderation in their Victory which might not provoke a desire of Revenge in the Turks The Captain-Pasha being thus permitted to depart from Caffa with his Fleet sailed to Varna a Port in the Black Sea about two hundred miles distant from Constantinople where the News of this Defeat being arrived put all the City into confusion and raised the Viziers at midnight to consult of those Remedies and Expedients which were agreeable to the present emergency of Affairs The Great Vizier Ali was of opinion that the Grand Signor ought to condescend to Terms of Accommodation tho to the disadvantage and disreputation of his Power and that accordingly a Letter should be wrote to Mehmet the Tartar beginning with the usual Complements of Friendship and Salutation and afterwards declaring

Nuns which they prostituted to their Lust thence they passed over to the side of Dalmatia and in sight of Cataro took a Vessel and made Prize of all Ships which they met in those Seas the Rumor of which made great noise over all Italy the People exclaiming against their Princes for suffering their Lives and Estates to remain subject to the petty Force of a few Pirats For the Vessels of Malta and Florence were disjoined and roving after purchase in the Archipelago took little notice of what was acted in the Gulf. The Spaniards after their fashion were slow in Arming and spent the Summer in Preparations till the Pirats laden with Booty were departed towards the Winter so that none remained to take care of Italy and the Venetian Gulf but Venice only to whom the Dominion of those Seas are rightly appropriated To suppress therefore the Insolence of these Pirats the Republick set forth a Fleet consisting of twenty eight Gallies and two Galleasses under the Command of Marin Capello with Instructions to sink burn and destroy those Pirats either in the open Seas or in Harbour of the Turks for that by the Articles of Peace between the Grand Signior and the Venetians it was agreed That no Port or Harbour of his should be priviledged to afford entertainment or protection to any Free-booter or Pirat of that nature It happened about that time that the Malteses and Florentines crusing in the Archipelago had done great Mischief to the Turks in those Seas to revenge which and to prevent farther damage the Captain-Pasha sent Orders to these Vessels of Barbary immediately to come to his Assistance to which they were now more easily perswaded for being already laden with Booty and Spoils they contented themselves with a change of their Station But to give a farewel to those Parts they first resolved to spoil and plunder Lissa aliàs Lesina an Island belonging to the Republick but being overtaken by the Venetian Fleet in their Voyage thither near to Valona a Port and Harbour belonging to the Turks they put themselves under the Defence of the Town and Castle which received them willingly to their Protection notwithstanding all Articles and Agreements to the contrary The Venetian Fleet saluted the Castle without a Shot Capello blocks up the Pirats in Valona desiring that according to the Capitulations of Peace the Pirats might be rejected and commanded to abandon their Port in answer hereunto the Turks replied with a Shot making known their Intentions to defend their Friends wherefore the Venetians retiring at some distance came to an Anchor designing to block up the Port. Many days had not passed before the Pirats endeavoured by help of their Oars and a gentle Gale to make their escape and being with the gray of the Morning advanced without the Port they were espyed by the watchful Venetians who dividing their Fleet into two Squadrons charged them with high Courage the Fight continued for the space of two hours during all which time the Castle of Valona fired at the Venetians and shot down a Mast of one of the Galleases a Splinter of which wounded Lorenzo Marcello the Commander at length five of the Gallies of the Pirats being disabled any many of their People killed they began to fly and retire again under the Protection of the Town as also did the Venetians to their Place of Anchorage A distinct Advice of all Particulars being dispatched to Venice the Senate wrote to Capello That since the respect which the Republick owes to the Ottoman Court was not unknown to him he should by no means make any attempt against those Pirats upon the Land but meeting them fairly at Sea he ought then to make use of all the valour and force he was able In the mean time the Duke of Medina las Torres Vice-King of Naples dispatched an Express to Capello with Letters applauding the generosity of the Design wherein he was now engaged for the Glory of his Republick and the Common Good of all Christendom proffering to supply him with Refreshments and Ammunition and what else might supply his Occasions expecting that by such Encouragement as this he might be induced to Assault the Enemies in Valona without respect to the Grand Signior or any Inconveniences which might arise thereby On the contrary the Governour of the Castle and Kadi of the Town wrote a Letter to Capello putting him in mind that he was within the Grand Signior's Dominions and that he should be careful how he offered any Violence to those Places which would certainly prove a Violation of the Peace and be the Original of an inevitable War. Capello had now lain a whole Month before the Port having all the time injoied fair Weather and a smooth Sea against the hope and desire of the Turks who expected that by means of some Storm the Enemy would be forced to remove their Quarters to some secure Harbour and thereby afford them an opportunity to escape He assaults them in the Port. But Capello growing weary of such tedious Attendance resolved to expect no longer nor yet to lose the present Advantage of rendring himself Master of the Vessels of the Enemy wherefore dividing his Fleet into several Squadrons he advanced near the Port firing several Shot at the Tents of the Pirats of which one from a Galeass struck a Mosch and arming with store of Men the Galeots and Brigantines they entred the Port and to the astonishment and vexation of the Turks possessed all the sixteen Vessels and brought them to their Admiral which though they had disfurnished of all their chief Booty yet their Cannon and Arms remained of which there were twelve Pieces of great Brass Guns besides others of Iron with divers Falcons and lesser Arms. The Intelligence hereof being carried to Venice Orders were given that all the Vessels should be sunk in the Port of Corfu excepting only the Admiral of Algier which was to be brought to the Arsenal of Venice there to remain as a Trophy of Victory and for a perpetual Memory of this Glorious Atchievement Howsoever this Exploit was variously interpreted at Venice and approved or disproved according to the diversity of Humors The younger Men applauded it as an Action of great Gallantry excusing his Transgression of the Senats Orders by a transport of Passion and Zeal towards his Country and desire of Glory But the Senators and Men of mature Judgments highly resented this Breach of their Orders which as they are strictly Enjoined so they expected that they should be punctually Obeyed That this action was a sufficient and Just Cause alone to kindle a War and that it was a matter intolerable that a single Citizen should of his own Head and Humor presume to act such things as must necessarily involve the Publick in a War contrary to their Pleasure and in opposition to their express Commands For which Crime and other subsequent Defaults Capello was afterwards forced to justify himself as will be signified

Siege and the Captain Pasha by tempestuous Weather was constrained to shelter his Fleet in the Port of Caffa In their return Home the General was fearful of having forfeited his Head the Commanders were silent and ashamed of their Success and the Souldlers discouraged famished and poor for they had lost three thousand Spahees seven thousand Janisaries and eight hundred other Souldiers besides Moldavians Walachians and Tartars those that survived of the Foot were naked and many sick the Spahees were without Horses with which they were supplied by the Tartars and in fine so unsuccessful were all Matters that the Veteran Souldiery avouched that they never endured a more cruel nor a more miserable War. And now we shall end this Year 1641 The just punishment of a Persian Traytor with the ruin of Emir Guimir a Persian by Birth a Favourite and yet Traitor to his Natural Prince This Emir in the last Wars which Sultay Morat waged against Persia was entrusted with an Embassy and with Couduct of part of his Army but he betrayed both to the Turk under whose Protection he took Sanctuary and obtained great Gifts and Preferments for a Reward and Price of his Treachery Sultan Morat afterwards bestowed a magnificent Seraglio upon him situated on the Bosphorus enriched him with a vast Treasury and what is more with his Favour making him his Companion in his Pastimes and his Confident in his serious Counsels It was he that first perswaded the Sultan to drink Wine in which both of them were beastly intemperate and mighty and valiant to bear until the heat thereof having extinguished the natural heat of their Stomachs it became too cold and crude unless corrected or fortified with Rach or distilled Spirits The Fumes of such strong Drinks were the cause of the extravagant Actions which Morat practised in his Life and afterwards became the means to hasten his Death whose days being ended it was time also for prosperous Wickedness to expire and to meet a Punishment equal to its Demerits Wherefore one day having desired License of the Vizier to return to his own Country where it is believed he had by Mony purchased his Pardon he was called to the Vizier's Presence and there without any Impeachment Process or Accusation had the String applied to his Throat and strangled on the place the reason hereof some give to be the immense Riches which Sultan Morat had bestowed upon him though there wanted not many Causes to render him suspected and obnoxious to the present Government first because he was too well acquainted with the Secrets of the Seraglio and of that State to live in any other country than the Turkish Dominions then it was feared that the Persian Ambassador might make use of this Person to act what Treason he pleased on the remainder of the Ottoman Family on promise that such an Attempt should expiate his former Villany and regain the favour of his natural Prince But such signal Actions as these are commonly wrote in such large Characters of Divine Justice which never lest treason unpunished either in this life or the other that we need not search or enquire for a further Cause or Occasion of this Punishment The Year 1642 being now entred and the Turks desirous to repair their last Years Disgrace resolved again with better Preparation and Conduct to attempt Asac but before they would engage according to their usual Custom they determined to conclude all Umbrages and Matters of Dispute arisen on the Consines of Hungary To which end the Emperor deputed the Baron of Qnestemberg with other Barons and the Turks on their side commissionated the Pashaws of the Confines with Instructions not to insist too strictly on the Conditions lost it should retard the Peace and obstruct the other Design of War Wherefore the Turks condescenging to Matters reasonable and yielding up part of their Usurpation a Peace was concluded for twenty Years much to the Advantage and Favour of the Christians And now The Birth of Sultan Mahomet to give farther Courage to the Prosecution of higher Attempts the whole Turkish Empire was replenished with Joy for the Birth of a young Prince Sultan Mahomet that now reigns so that the supposed Impotency of the Father whereby the Ottoman Family might have been extinguished was proved otherwise by plain Effect and the fear of those that ruled the Empite vaishing by the Rising of this new Star all places were filled with Joy and Triumphs only the Tartar Han finding himself thus disappointed was supposed not willing to concur heartily in this common Joy. In this manner vaished the appearance of Civil Dissention in that Family which now flourishes and encreases every day and insensibly creeps forward to the Design which they hope of an Universal Monarchy Pardon me O Christian Kings if I say insensibly for methinks you are sensible of the least touch you receive from one another but feel not the gripes and pinches of your Common Enemy who like a Hectick Feaver hath mingled with your Blood and stolen into the Marrow of your Strength where he will lurk until he hath dissolved the Fabrick of your Christian World unless expelled by Concord amongst your selves and the Divine AssiStance favouring your united Forces But now to return again to the famous Siege of Asac The War renewed against Asac It being the custome to cast all Miscarriages in War on the General the Visier displaced the Captain-Pasha taking upon himself that Office and Title of which there was never any former Example In the Place likewise of the Pasha of Silistria was constituted Mustapha Pasha of Aegypt which Government though much inferiour to his former yet was received without fence of Disgrace it not being the Riches or Power of any office that confers Honour but the Favour and good Will of the Sulan Nor did only the Miscarriage of the late War tend to the disrepute of the former Pasha of Silistria but the Report of his having poisoned the Tartar Han encreased the difficulty of reconcilement with his Superiors which being a Matter rather suspected than proved excused him from farther punishment than only a deprivation of his Office. The new Pasha of Silistria thus taking upon himself the Command of the Army and Conduct of this War assembled a Force of Turks Tartars Moldavians and Walachians far exceeding the number of the last Year At the News of which and of the Fleet of Gallies designed to besiege them by Sea they apprehended their Danger so great that without the Assistance of the Moscovite they concluded it impossible to defend their City to him therefore they made Applications for Succour representing unto him the extremity their Affairs were in by reason of that powerful Enemy which threatned them and that having always acknowledged him for their Protector there was no Refuge left them but under the defence of his Arms. But hereunto the Moscovite gave a brief reply That he had lately concluded Peace with the Turk

which not being unknown to Serini his daring spirit was once resolved to give him Battel in which opinion was also Count Strozzi but Olach dissenting and refusing to ingage his Forces the Siege was raised and all the Forces with good order retreated to Serinswar The Siege of Kmisia raised where they arrived the day following leaving to the Enemy a great quantity of Powder Match Shovels 20 Carts of Meal and Two Iron Guns broken No Pilgrim ever followed his way with more devotion to the sacred Shrine The Turks pursue the Christian Army than the Vizier was willingly led in pursuit of his Enemy to the Walls of Serinswar being the place to which his intentions inclined as the beginning and consummation of the War. Over against this envied Fort there is a little Hill strong by Nature incompassed with a narrow Ditch yet not so narrow as that a Horse can leap over it nor yet so shallow as to ●e forded This Hill Serini proposed to the rest of his Collegues or Coadjutors viz. Olach and Spaar as a place commodious to incamp their Army because lying open to the River could easily be relieved and would serve as a Redoubt or Out-word to the Fort in which upon all extremities they might find Sanctuary and resuge But the apprehension of the Viziers Numbers and his near approach had made that impression of fear in their minds that no safety seemed to remain unless they could see the River Mura between them and their Enemy Nor was Serini more sucessful in his perswasions to assault the Enemy whilst they were wearied with their March and busied in extending their Tents the other Generals being of opinion that it was too great a hazard for them alone to venture their Forces in so unequal a Combat by they ought rather to expect Montecuculi by the addition of whose Forces the lot of War would be less hazardous if not wholly certain In this manner great Enterprises have been disappointed which have wanted only resolution to make them successful Fortune being commonly favourable if not a Servant to bold and daring Spirits the disunion also of Generals hath been the overthrow of the wisest Counsels and Wars have been ovserved never to have thrived where the Heads of Armies have been of dissenting humors or different interests This timidity on the Christian part raised in that manner the spirits of the Turks The Turks intr●heh 〈◊〉 Serinswar that without stop or opposition passing the River Muer they arrived at Serinswar where they immediately fell to their Mattock and Spade breaking ground for their Trenches which by continued labour they so diligently attended that in Seventeen days they arrived at the very Ditch of the Fort Only whilst the Turks were transporting their Numbers over the River the generous spirit of Strozzi not enduring to see their passage so easie and open valiantly opposed himself and his small Force against the greater power of the Enemy and so resolutely performed the Action that he killed Five hundred upon the place Count Strozzi slain till at length being unfortunately shot by a Musket-bullet in the Forehead he gloriously together with one Chisfareas a renowned Croatian Captain ended his days in defence of his Countrey and the Christian Cause In this interim General Montecuculi arrived with his Army and was received by Count Serini with all evidences and demonstrations of respect and hearty welcome and between both passed an appearance at least of friendly correspondence But as to the present Engagement Montecuculi was of opinion That the opportunity was over slipt which should at first have been performed rather by way of surprize than open Battel before the Ottoman Army had arrived to its full numbers consisting now of an hundred thousand fighting men To which reasons Serini replied That the Christian Cause Serini's Reasons to fight with the Turks and the States and Confines of the Empire were not to be maintained by men that carry their thumbs at their girdles or by Armies made resty with ease and wanton with luxury That those Armies were raise not to consume and exhaust the Revenues of their Princes and Exchequers of their States without making satisfactory amends by a valiant defence of that Interest which they owned That the Enemy had not been before that time attempted was no fault or neglect of his who under the very Walls of Kanisia resolved to give them Battel but that the other Generals supposed it more prudence and caution to protract the Engagement till his Arrival who being now happily conjoyned with them nothing ought to deter them from a glorious Attempt on the Turks who not consisting of above Thirty thousand men ill disciplined and worse armed were not able to withstand the prowess of their Veterane Army which far exceeded them in number discipline and courage These or such like expressions Serini used and to prove what he averred he dispatched a confident Person of his own who spake naturally the Turkish Language with a Letter to the German Resident then entertained under custody in the Turkish Camp to know of him the true state and number of the Turks which Messenger soon after returned with this short account Nisi memortuum velis amplius non rescribas hic vix sunt triginta millia nec illa satis electa The German Residents Letter to Count Serini quid vos a pugna deterret Tormenta Arcis nimis in altum exploduntur Which in English is thus Unless you desire my death write not back to me again here are scarce Thirty thousand men and these ill provided what then should deter you from an Engagement The Cannon in the Castle are too high mounted or shoot over Serini gave this Letter to Montecuculi who replied That so soon as General Sporch came up with his Forces Montecuculi contrary to the opinion of Serini declines the Battel with the Turks he would immediately draw up the Army into Batalia Sporch being arrived he then resolved to expect Marquess Baden and so deferred the Battel from time to time until the Turks advantaging themselves by these delays had worked themselves under ground to the very Walls of the Castle At length Montecuculi entring into Serini's Fort it is not known upon what reasons of jealousie or discontent cleared Serini's Forces of the Garison and dispossessed the Governour which when Serini perceived full of anger and displeasure he quitted the Camp and retired himself to his Residence at Chiacaturno Serini retires from the Wars with intent to make his just Appeal and Complaint to the Emperor's Court. The Turks availing themselves of these delays and discontents proceeded forward in their work so that having Mined to very Walls on the 9th of June they blew up one of the half Moons at which the Defendants were so terrified that with amazement they left open one of their Sally Ports at which the Turks entring put the whole Garison into disorder consisting of 1900 fighting men

The Count Nassau Count Charles of Bracondorf Captain of the Guards to Count Montecuculi Count Fuchier General of the Artillery of the Empire Collonel Pleiter with his Lieutenant Collonel and Serjeant Major and with many other Gentlemen of the French Nation who deserve for ever to be chronicled for their Virtue and Valour For herein the French Nation ought not to lose their just praise having made proofs of their Valour as well in this as in other Battels it being reported That Monsieur Coligni their General killed Thirty Turks with his own hand The News of this Victory being posted to Vienna it is wonderful to consider with what Applauses with what Honours with what Encomiums the Fame of Montecuculi was celebrated for besides the Triumphs with Fires sounding of Bells Banquets ●●d other demonstrations of solemn Joy the Glory of Montecuculi was the Theme of every Ballad sung in the corners of streets which Honours of the Commonalty were seconded by greater and more substantial of the Imperial Court who conferred upon him the Title of Lieutenant General of the whole Army a Dignity so eminent as is inferiour to none except the Emperor in order of the Militia and was not without some scruple granted to the Archduke Leopold by his Brother Ferdinand the Third and withheld from Piccolomini Duke of Amalfi until he had highly merited it and made his way to it through bloody fields where Providence first crowned him with Laurels of Success and Victory And here is just occasion for us to doubt why Montecuculi should be thus admired and loaded with Honours whilst the services of Serini and Soise were so far from being taken notice of that they seemed to effect the disgrace and ruine of these Worthies rather than to produce the favour of their Prince and the applause of their Country the natural Rewards of Valour and Virtue And indeed I cannot but confess I my self have wondred when in the Court of Vienna I have heard the Actions and Zeal of Serini so slightly spoken of or contemned when a Stranger took the liberty but to descant on his actions and to vent any thing which but savoured of his commendations The reason of which I adventure to assign unto two causes The first is that Antipathy or natural aversion the Germans have to the Hungarians and Croatians Reasons why the Services of Montecuculì were accepted better than those of Serini these endeavouring to maintain the Priviledges of a People who have a free liberty of the Election of their Prince whilst the others desirous to take occasion to weaken and impoverish them would necessitate them to yield their Kingdom to the Emperor by an hereditary Right The second is the fury of Serini and Soise whose zeal without consideration of irritating the Turk or fear of moving the passion of the Lyon beyond the terms of an easie pacification transported them to commit all damage and ruine which are the just concomitants of War which rage seemed over violent to the Court at Vienna and not to suit with the present Policy of the War which was designed to be carried on rather in a defensive than in an offensive posture imagining perhaps that the good nature of the Turk might be complemented into Peace and that gentleness and generosiry might have the same effect upon them as it had upon Saul when David had his life at his mercy and yet spared him according to which counsels of the Court Montecuculi squaring every particular of his motion and thereunto adding success mounted on the wings of Fame and had his Glory celebrated without diminutions but the hot and zealous temper of Serini which Souldier-like understood nothing but down-right blows knew not how to use that moderation and caution which the Imperial Court judged an ingredient so requisite to the prudent management of the present War that he was esteemed uncapable of command who had not discretion enough to practice it And this was the true reason that Serini was discountenanced and that his Command was taken from him and that his Appeal to the Court was without redress Howsoever in regard that the Fame he had won carried him high in the esteem of all Christendom he was entertained with hopes and fair promises and even after the very Sattel of Rab nothing was more commonly discoursed than the giving Nicholas Ser●●● 〈◊〉 command independent of any other General But in the end it proved nothing but vai● P●●●osals to humour the fancy of Serini himself● and to satisfie the World which admi●●l 〈◊〉 Person so qualified and deserving as he 〈◊〉 be made a subject of so much disgrace and 〈◊〉 With this News the Turk● 〈◊〉 greatly ashamed and dejected having but two days before demonstrated excesses of joy congratulated the happy News one to the other 〈◊〉 ●●●er their manner sent Presents abroad derided the Christians upon the News exprobriated them with a Thousand injuries and applauded their own Virtue Valour and the righteousness of their Cause and Religion But on a sudden Intelligence coming contrary to their expectations such a dampness fell upon their spirits that for some days there was a deep silence of all News at Constantinople they that the Day before sought for Christians to communicate to them the Miracles of their Victory now avoided their Company ashamed of their too forward joy and the liberty they had taken to contemn and deride the low condition of the Christian Camp And now the ill News not being able longer to be concealed Prayers and Humiliation were appointed publickly to be made at all the great Mo●chs of Constantinople and Adrianople where all Ema●ms with their young Scholars were commanded to resort and sing certain Prayers appointed for such occasions The minds of the Soldiery after this defeat were very much discomposed Sedition in the Turkish Camp. tending more to sedition than obedience Every one took licence to speak loudly and openly his opinion that the War was commenced upon unjust and unlawful grounds That the total Eclipse of the Moon which portends always misfortunes to the Turks should have caused more caution in the Commanders in ingaging the Armies this year until the malignancy of that Influence had been overpassed All generally accused the first Vizier as the Author and ill Manager of the War Tac in Vita Agricol● Iniquissima bellorum conditio est prospera omnes sibi vendicant adversa uni imputantur and calling to mind the solemn Oath with which Sultan Solyman confirmed his Capitulations with the Emperor particularly vowing never to pass the Rab or place where the Turks received their defeat without a solid and reasonable ground of War concluded that this Invasion was a violation of the Vow and an injury to the sacred Memory of that fortunate Sultan and therefore that all Enterprises and Attempts of this War would be fatal and destructive to the Mussulmen or Believers and the end dishonourable to the Empire This opinion was rooted with much

Grand Duke of Toscany came into their places for desence of that Country The most Christian King in return to the Embassy of Venice performed by the Cavalier Alvise Sagredo remitted to that Republick an hundred thousand Crowns and Cardinal Barberini at his expence supplied four thousand Measures of Corn. But the present Conjuncture did not seem to smile on the Venetians for all the Gallies belonging to Spain and Italy as well as those of Malta were employed in the Transportation of the new Empress Margerita of Austria The Pope was infirm and distracted with his own Domestick Affairs The Emperor was a young Bridegroom and besides the Diversion which a Wife gave him from Cares he apprehended that he might speedily receive some disturbance from the Princes of the Rhine and from Sweden in the Dukedom of Bremen The King of Spain was a Child of five years old labouring at the same time under a War with Portugal and threatned by the more powerful Arms of France on the pretence of Flanders Besides all which the Turks were as well in quietness amongst themselves as they were at peace with all other Princes so that we may expect that the force and power of the Ottoman Empire should now be turned like a Torrent to overwhelm this spot of Land which seemed to be so situated as well to resist the Waves of the Seas as the Inundation of this mighty and Martial People Anno 1667. Hegeira 1078. AT the Beginning of this year the Winter and Cold which chilled and benumbed the Earth encreased the heat and gave vigour and action to the Tartars who made such an unexpected incursion into Poland that they carried with them near a hundred thousand captived Souls as they were numbred before Jash in their return home The Polanders awakened hereat but ill advised resolved on a Treaty where there was more just cause for an open War and in order thereunto dispeeded an Ambassadour to the Sultan to expostulate the reason of this breach of Peace and require justice and satisfaction on those his Subjects who had contrary to the Articles of Peace committed such actions and outrages of open hostility or at least that the Turk would not take upon him to abet the cause of the Tartars whilst the olanders took just revenge for their late injuries The Ambassadour with this Mossage put himself in a readiness and with a retinue of about two hundred and fifty Persons begun his Journey towards the end of April and on the second of May crossed the River Niestro which divides Poland from Moldavia where he was received by two of the Boiars or Moldavian Noblemen and thence conducted to Jash where the Prince of that Country resided The Ambassadour expected the Visit of the Prince according to Custom and Articles of Peace but the Prince being either forbidden by the Port or rather out of an ignorant stiffness and pride omitted to pass the Civilities of that Office but yet supplied the Ambassadour with Plenty of Wine and Provisions which the Polanders enjoying freely dispensed perhaps more easily with other neglects and omissions which concerned Formalities and Ceremonies The ninth of June the Ambassadour arrived at Adrianople and thence was called to Demitochum a City about a days Journey distant where the Grand Signior for the sake of his hunting and divertisement remained under Tents as the most convenient Lodging in that Season of the Year By the number of Coftans is to be esteemed the honour the Turks bear to one Prince above the other the 25th the Ambassadour had his first Audience with the Chimacam at which thirty five of his Retinue were vested with Coftans nothing passing but the usual Ceremonies and Complements The 28th he had Audience of the Grand Signior but first made tender of his Presents as followeth A Crystal Cup in a Case of Gold adorned with Rubies and Diamonds 2 Baskets rarely woven with a very fine Rush A Clock A Cabinet of Ebony supported with four Eagles made of Silver in which also was a Clock with a perspective Looking-Glass 2 Silver Cups of considerable bigness 2 Silver Flaggons A Gun which discharged twenty times 2 Spotted Dogs 4 Mastiffs 100 Ells of Holland These Presents preceding The Polish Ambassadours Audience made way for the Ambassadours Audience at which he declared That the Commission from his Master the King of Poland was to make Complaints unto his Majesty of the grand Incursions the Tartars had made into Poland without any reason or cause of War and that therefore his Master did expect from him as from a just and vertuous Prince a permission for revenge and satisfaction of his injuries to enter Tartary without assuming it as any ground of Breach or Infringement of that Peace which he held with him or else that he would by his authority enjoyn the Tartars to restore their Captives and their spoils and render them a reasonable satisfaction The Grand Signior returned no reply hereunto but referred that to be done by his Chimacam silence being esteemed some part of his Majesty and State which he seldom breaks but with few and haughty words This Ambassadour was a man of a bold and daring Spirit a fit Orator for such an Embassy had not his immoderate Covetousness the Vice and Folly commonly incident to Old Age much eclipsed many of those Vertues of which he was Master He was also a Man of a violent temper feavered to a madness in the height of his Choler which strangely betrayed him to many undecencies in his Language and Comportment For at his Audience with the Chimacam when he came to receive the Grand Signior's Answer his words were vented with that heat and so like to menaces that the Turks taking exception thereat returned his course Speeches with the like Dialect at which the Ambassadour swelled with that indignation and anger as became not the Moderation and Gravity of his Office adding in Conclusion That he was an Aged Man full of Years and Corporal Infirmities that nothing could arrive more happy to him than a Death in which he should triumph to suffer for the benefit and glory of his Country This excess and intemperance of Language moved the Turks to set a Guard upon him and confine him to his own House in the nature of a Prisoner which violation of his Sacred Office so worked upon his Spirits that he often vented some part of his fury in words and blows on the Officers of his Guard for which rude behaviour having received some reproofs from the Chimacam The Death of the Polish Ambassadour his passion not knowing which way to ease it self feavered him into a desperate sickness of which in a few days phrensical and distracted he departed his life The Secretary of the Embassy being the next in Office took upon him the Function and Charge of the Ambassadour and having now nothing to act but to receive the Answer to the Message of his Master for which a Day being appointed he was

Recruits of Men and Provisions to land and hearing that the Venetians lay before Canea having fortified a Rock called St. Todoro at the mouth of that Port he resolved for Retimo but pursuits or intelligence of the Enemies being in the way or his own fears still prevented him until at length he was forced to Gira-Petra a small and obscure place far distant from the City of Candia and the way thither by land rocky and almost unpassable for Beasts of Burden howsoever the Men and Ammunition were there landed with that haste and expedition that in less than thirty hours time the Captain Pasha was again upon his return for Scio leaving the Souldiery and the Ammunition he had disbarked to find a passage through the Rocks and Mountains At which the Vizier was so displeased that he sent the Captain Pasha this Message That the next time he should forbear to bring farther supplies until he could find a more commodious Port wherein to land them In this manner the Marine Affairs passed this year at Sea the Turkish Fleet having besides other succours transported Ibrahim Pasha of Damascus with eight hundred Spahees unto Candia whom we mentioned formerly to have been Pasha of Grand Cairo and married to the Grand Signior's Sister and being one with whom I had a former acquaintance and who was a great friend to the English Nation I made him a visit as he passed through Smyrna Whilst these matters were transacting at Sea on the 7th of January arrived the new Proveditor General Bernardo Nani and Sergeant General Muteo Matei with five hundred Foot sent by the Pope who gave Licence for destruction of some Monasteries whose Orders were judged less necessary in the Venetian State that their Revenue might be applied to the service of this War after Arrival of which succours a general Muster was made of the whole Garrison and the number thereof reckoned to amount unto eight thousand fighting Men though soon afterwards continual action and exploits of War decimated the number and many of the brave Commanders being taken off every tenth man perished and rendred the place in a condition which required continual supplies For many and various were the attempts and actions performed on both sides under the Walls of Candia and first the Turks began to make appear a Battery which they had raised on the side of the Lazaretto which so offended tho Port that there was no harbour or access for Vessels On the contrary to which by the Fort of St. Andrea another Battery was raised which offended Tramata very much which was another small harbour capable only to receive Boats or Barks the passage to which was so annoyed now by the Enemies Cannon that no Vessel could go in or out unless in the Night and that too with some difficulty and danger The Turks gaining advantage on the side of St. Andrea The Turks resolve to make their passage by St Andrea applied their whole strength and diligence to that part and one dark Night passing undiscovered along the Seas they silently fixed a Cord to the Palisade of St. Andrea and with an Engine strained it so violently that they tore away several of the main Stakes of the Work without being perceived by the Centinels who paid for that neglect with the price of their lives upon which success they continued to advance their lines on that side which Marquess Villa perceiving resolved to hinder by some valiant sallies And first two hundred brave men selected out of several Regiments conducted by Sergeant Major Motta issued out from Panigra and taking their way along the Sea bravely mixed with the Turks and put them to flight A Sally made by the Christians and though the Alarm thereof brought a Concourse of Turks from all parts of the Camp yet the Christians stood so stoutly to it that they struck a terror to their Enemies and once forced them to a Retreat within their Trenches and at length after they had overthrown certain Redoubts and Traverses they gave back with good order returning with Victory and Glory which bravery the Captain General-acknowledged to all and encouraged in the common Souldiery with a Present of fifty Zechins This success gave the besieged opportunity to finish their Platforms which they had raised on the side of the Ditch adjoining to the Bulwark of St. Andrea on which they planted two pieces of Cannon which carried fifty pound Bullet a piece which much disturbed the Enemies Traverses Howsoever the Turks with indefatigable pains and invincible patience battered the little Tower of Priuli the Curtain and Revelin of St. Andrea and employed all their power and attention to fill the Ditch with Faggots Earth and other Rubbish On the 29th of February after the Christians had first made a Breach on the Enemies Redoubt which confronted the Revelin of St. Andrea and sprang five Mines one after the other a second Sally was made by a considerable Body of the besieged consisting of two hundred French and Savoyards three hundred Italians two hundred Germans and a hundred and twenty horsemen Another Sally who issued forth with that Gallantry that driving the Turks under Covert advanced far within their Works with which Demonstration of honour the Captain-General being satisfied they made the smoke which was a Signal for their Retreat so that returning victorious without much loss that day was remarkable and numbred amongst the other days which were esteemed successful and fortunate in that Siege Howsoever the Turks with admirable patience and assiduity crept forward by their Traverses and help of their great shot on the Bastion of St. Andrea which whilst Augustine Rostayne Adjutant of Marquess Villa considered he was taken off by a Cannon Bullet and yet the Turks could not advance so fast but that the Engineer Maupassan gave some retardment to their progress by firing a Mine which overthrew two of their Redoubts and afforded them new work to repair them and the adjoining Traverses This was the present state of the miserable Candia when the Duke of Savoy recalled his Subject Marquess Villa from his honourable employment Marquess Villa returns into Italy and a Ship called Alexander the Great by appointment of the Venetian Senate arrived at Standia to transport him and his Family to Venice so that on the 22 / 12 of April accompanied to Tramata by all the principal Officers of the Garrison he embarked in order to his Voyage whose place was about two Months after supplied by the Marquess St. Andrea Monthrun a Nobleman of France with whom the Venetian Ambassadour at Paris by order of that Republick had prevailed to take upon him the defence and protection of that deplorable City reduced now almost to its ulti●●●● Crisis I cannot adventure to assign the reasons that might induce the Duke of Savoy to recal the worthy Governour from this glorious action Some say that those who were emulous of his glory procured his revocation Others that the Marquess himself desired

it Causes of Marquess Villa's departure and that finding the Forces of the Town to decline and the Turks to encroach and penetrate daily into the innermost parts of strength he was desirous after so long a Siege to return with untainted glory or perhaps weary of a Siege so tedious and perilous he might desire to retire having performed sufficient already in his own person and enough to make all Christendom his Debtors and Admirers So that I cannot but reproach those tongues and pens which in report and writings attribute the cause of Marquess Villa's retirement to certain just occasions of discontent given him by the Captain General Francesco Morosini who envious of his Fame and actions and unwilling to have a conshater with him in his honours did usually thwart his Counsels and Proposals and more particularly contemned a Redoubt which Marquess Villa had built and of which he had a singular esteem Yet that Morosini might evidence the unsufficiency thereof 't is reported that he wrote a Letter to the Vizier to assault that Redoubt for if he did he promised to afford him opportunity to take it by withdrawing all Forces from thence which Letter it is said was betrayed to Marquess Villa and brought to his hands which he with great prudence and moderation dissembled until the hour of his departure and then produced it to the astonishment and shame of Morosini To this particular I give the less belief because I find it wrote in a Journal of this Seige by a person who was a great Favourer of the French and willing to share the intire glory to that Nation and the miscarriages to the Italian Whatsoever might be the motive to Marquess Villa to perswade his return is uncertain howsoever it is reported that being arrived at Zant in his way to Venice and there meeting a strong Convoy bound for Candia with recruits of Men and plenty of provisions he conceived new thoughts of the greatness of the Republick and beholding also with what vigour and vigilance they attended to the conservation of that place he began to testifie some remorse and dissatisfaction for having abandoned a Charge which rendred his Fame great through the World and the continuation of which labours being crowned with that success which his courage and conduct merited might have brought a Blessing to all Christendom and perpetuated his honour and glory to all posterity The Marquess being arrived at Venice was received with the usual Ceremonies and Honours from the Publick and being Introduced after private Audiences into the Colledge he spake in this manner IF the thanks which I render to your Serenity Marquess Villa's Speech and to your Excellencies could equal the greatness of those favours which I have received from you it would have been but an ordinary glory to you not to have infinitely surpassed the bounds of my acknowledgments as you have infinitely outdone the utmost of my Deserts Nor could this August Senate have been exalted to the most elevated point of Soveragin Power had I been able to render Services worthy of that generosity which composed it For as the affection of the Creatures towards God makes excuses for their wants and infirmities so having a zealous desire to contribute to the glories of this most Serene Republick not only my endeavours my labours and my bloud but also my life and my whole being I beseech you to accept thereof as an attonement for the weakness of my abilities This my Lords is that desire which I have ever demonstrated in all the wearisome performances of my Charge under the generous Conduct of the Captain General of your Armes whose Valour I have endeavoured to second and imitate This is that Desire which would have entertained me in the service of this most Serene Republick to the ultimate period of my life if the Command of my Prince concurring with the Assent of your Serenity had not enjoyned my return I confess that I should feel in my self an inward Consolation could I assist at the triumph of Candia which I hope in a short time to see victorious over all her Enemies until when my Lords the honour which you have been pleased to do me hitherto cannot but be relished by me as a Comfort of my life And what greater Glory can I imagine to my self than to have served a Republick which may be called the most perfect work of the hand of God which being founded like the Firmament upon the Waters communicates happy Tranquillity through all the World I am able now to boast That I have seen a City which of it self alone is able to resist the Puissance of all Asia and that I have proved and tryed the valorous opposition which it made against a formidable Enemy I can I say glory that I have awakened in the hearts of your Souldiery their ancient Valour and that I have sprinkled your Lawrels with my own Bloud and it is but just that I should distil it to the last drop for the service of this most Serene Republick which after so many Ages resigns it self up a Sacrifice for all Christendom It is by your Arms my Lords and by your immoveable Constancy that the City of Candia which in former Days was esteemed the weakest of all the Fortresses of Greece is become at present the most famous Theatre of War. I dare not only hope that the conclusion thereof will be happy so long as your Serenity watchfully attends to the conservation of that place but that also this August Senate will extend their Conquests into the most remote parts of all the East This would be most Serene Prince and most Excellent Lords the consummation of all my desires and also that I might finish my days in the Service of this most Serene Republick towards which I shall for ever conserve a most passionate zeal and an immortal acknowledgment The Senate that they might testifie the esteem they entertained of the person of Marquess Villa presented him with a Bason of Gold valued at six thousand Ducats together with a Patent recounting at large the many famous Exploits which he had performed in their Service which they expressed with a stile so generous and obliging as may serve for a Record to transmit the Fame of his Merits to all Posterity Marquess Villa being departed from Candia the Captain-General recalled all his Forces from divers parts of the Archipelago which he had sent thither with the Soldiers wounded in the last Battle and being returned they brought with them great numbers of Pioniers and Workmen to labour in the Fortifications and Mines at the same time also the Captain-Pasha arrived at Canea bringing two thousand Janisaries with him The Marquess St. Andrea Monthrun Marquess St. Andrea visits the Works a Gentleman of the French Nation was transported to Candia by the General Proveditor Cornaro where being entred into the Charge and Office of Marquess Villa wanted nothing of the vigilance and circumspection of his Predecessour