see that the most disloiall amongst them were not the most assured in the forces of their trecheries Amurath the second Mahymeth the second Baiazeth the second Selim the second were held the most subtile Princes of their race but we must grant that if those their wicked procedings thriued for a time it was more through the coldnesse and dissentions of the Christians when they should haue reuenged and repelled their iniuries then that we should therefore beleeue that it is well done to proue periured and disloiall Amurath the second made proofe of it to his cost and hauing receiued an ouerthrow at the handes of Ladislaus King of Polonia he speedily made peace with him and turned his forces against Caramania where whilest he was busied Ladislaus iudging so perswaded and backt by Pope Eugenius that hee should not doe amisse to falsifie his faith with a Barbarous Turke of so insolent a nature and so capital an enimie of Christendome as all breach of peace might seeme as a true performance thereof resolued to make war vpon him on the sodaine which proued so dangerous as Amurath was neere tumbling from the top of an high and glorious fortune to the lowest degree of misery so as his estate was neuer more shaken and endangered if the Christian army which followed their victory had not as I haue said disordered thēselues Whereupon the glory and triumph fell to the Infidels to the great misery and confusion of the Christians Selim the second hauing vnlooked for attempted vpon the Venetians to the preiudice of his vowed faith pulled vpon his necke the forces of the league had too late repented himselfe if God in regard of our sinnes had not in such sort sealed vp the eies of the Christians as they could not see nor make their benefit of the gate his diuine Maiesty had set open to a more high enterprise then the losse they receiued at Lepanto Soliman that was held the most wise Prince of all the Ottomans if wisdome be able to shine where there is no light of true faith and Christian beleefe hauing vnderstood at such time as he caused his army by Sea to fall downe towards Ottranto the yeare 1537. that Mercurin de Gatinaro and the Citizens of Castro were made prisoners after they had surrendred the place contrary to promise hee foorthwith commanded that they should be released saying that disloialtie to violate their faith and word once passed was not the meanes to win the hearts and likings of strange nations CHAP. VIII That he hath beene alwaies serued in his wars by good and valiant Captaines 1 Whether an experienced Commander and rawe Souldiers or experienced Souldiers and an vnskilfull Commander be the better 2 The first best allowed and the reasons 3 Examples heereof 1 IT is ordinarily disputed amongst Souldiers and martiall men which is the better a good Captaine emploied about the conducting of an armie consisting of raw Souldiers or an armie of old Souldiers committed to the command of a raw and vnexperienced Captaine 2 As for me if my opinion may carie credit amongst so many sufficient to decide this question I hold it better that a worthy and valiant Captaine should haue the charge of an armie of vntrained men without experience then that an armie of old Souldiers trained and beaten to the wars should be recommended to a Captaine yet a nouice and vnskild in the profession of armes The reasons proper for the maintaining of this proposition are so plaine to such as without being obstinate or passionate in behalfe of either party will entertaine them as they are not to be gainsaid for is it not much more fit and easie that a good Captaine make and fashion a campe of rawe Souldiers then that good and experienced Souldiers prepare and fashion their Captaine to the conduct of an armie who can without shame denie that an armie doth not rather obey the voice and command of their Captaine then the Captaine of his armie otherwise it were as they say to set the cart before the horse 3 Now we must come to such examples as may instruct and make cleere the truth of my proposition If we will as we ought examine how many times the Christians haue beene ouerthrowne by the Turkes we shall vndoubtedly finde that it hath euermore hapned rather through want of experience courage sufferance concord and authoritie in the Commanders then for any other default So at the battailes of Nicepolis for that such like Captaines did set light by the Turkes forces and tooke not a sufficient suruey of them they receiued a most shamefull ouerthrow a woorthy reward of their weake experience in not knowing how to fight with those barbarous nations whom they might well thinke wanted neither skill nor valour Did not Lewes king of Hungary by meanes of the Bishop of Tomerea who brought him almost to the slaughter indure the like disgrace at the battaile of Mogoria for want of experience in matter of warre and of iudgement sufficiently to discouer the enemies forces and the passages of the countrey where he was to buckle with him In like sort was not the vnskilfulnesse of the Italians cause of that victorie the Turkes gained at Grado who had then for their leader Homarbay Generall of the Turkish armie Also the yeare 1537. at Exechium Mahomet Iahiaoglis being Gouernour vnder Soliman of Belgrad and the frontiers of Hungarie in the time of king Iohn the great Caziauer losing his courage did he not abandone to spoile death and ruine a faire and strong armie which he commanded for the Princes of Germany and Italy some one troupe excepted which dishonorably togither with him saued themselues by flight Also before this heauie losse did not Anthony Grimani Generall of the Venetian armie faile of courage when with great aduantage he might haue charged the Turkes and put them to the woorse The very like want of experience and valour was seene in an other Venetian Generall who shamefully left the I le of Negropont to the spoile of the enemy To conclude haue not the Christians beene so many times put to the woorse neere about Buda for want of valiant and experienced Captaines as it cannot without griefe be related On the contrarie the Ottomans haue neuer suffered misfortune of warre at the least for lacke of authoritie command or wisedome in managing their armies for they themselues haue in person conducted them and beene present at all their high exploits and important enterprises by them atchieued They haue likewise euermore committed the charge of their difficult actions and affaires of warre to the most valiant and experienced Captaines amongst them whom they had formerly well knowen trained vp and exercised to such charges by infinite proofes of their courage and wisdome in most dangerous and difficult occasions In summe experience is that which perfecteth valor The Turkish Emperors haue alwaies giuen to their Captaines ample power commission freely to
being one of the Turkes garde The Charipies are of like number as the Vlufezgi and march after them The Ianizzars follow after who are foote and appointed for the guard of the Turke These at their first institution were few in number but now they amount to 4000 In these two sorts of foote and horse consisteth the strength of the Turke being as the seminarie of the Sangiaks Bassas and Lisirs This great number we speake of giue no armes or any other marke of hereditary gentry being in such sort ordained as they cannot attribute to themselues any thing in particular nor attaine to any preheminence but such as by their vertue they may inuite their Prince to bestow vpon them It is the onely meanes whereby the Turke gaineth all the obedience and loialtie he can wish obedience in regard they are as I haue said trained vp vnto it from their infancie which in them turneth to a naturall habite placing the fruit of their labours in the assurance of such a seruitude Loyaltie in as much as they expect from him their whole aduancement and acknowledge to receiue more benefits of him then of any other Prince neither hath it beene knowne that they euer committed treason of importance vnlesse it were the reuolt of Gazeles at Damasco and of Acomat Bassa at Cairo in the time of Soliman Which was but as a man may say a fire of stubble extinguished at the very first appearance and pursute of their Master Now the Ianizars and the other mentioned who are the sinewes and principall foundation of the Ottomans greatnesse and who receiue so many commodities by this dependencie and doe daily expect more haue no more deere care then to vphold their Masters safetie and preserue the greatnesse of his estate whereunto their owne fortune is linked 6 To shew by what meanes the Turke maintaineth this dependencie let me say that all dependency of the subiect vpon his Master and Soueraigne may receiue an alteration either by force furie of the people authoritie of some great man of the country by the support of a forâ—en Prince Matters thus disposed not to enquire nicely after al sorts of inconueniences it resteth that we see how he remedieth these kinde of accidents and preuenteth the causes of such like infirmities as these which in time might weaken and ruine his Empire let vs begin then with the strength of the people CHAP. III. How he hath depriued his Subiects of strength 1 Wherein consisteth the strength of an estate 2 The Turkish Empire maintained by the vse of armes as that of the Romans 3 Tithing of Christian children by the Turkes 4 The manner of their education and the commodity accreweth thereby to the Turkes 5 Great assemblies amongst them forbidden 1 THe strength of an Estate consisteth in the valour of the Nobilitie loue and faithfulnesse of the Subiect reputation of armes multitude of Souldiers and commodities of horse which may bee therein bred or nourished 2 The Turke then which would attaine to this poinct onely by armes horse and Souldiers obserueth euermore this rule He taketh away all vse of armes from such Prouinces as he hath newly reduced to his obedience he forbiddeth them the commoditie of horses fit for the war endeuoureth all he may to choake in them the springing vp of men proper for the exercises of arms and hath an ere that in all his dominions not any man haue in his house weapons for the warre no not so much as a knife vnlesse without a point Moreouer he alloweth not any Iewe or Christian to haue or keepe any horse imitating heerein the manner of the Romanes who obserued both the one and the other especially at the surprises and surrenders of townes The principall conditions were alwaies that they should forgoe their weapons their horses and deliuer hostages hence is it that we reade so often in Caesar Arma proferri iumenta produci obsides dari iubet Heereby depriuing the subdued people of all meanes to vndertake or maintaine a rebellion Againe Hostages gaue them a future assurance of the fidelitie and obedience of their subiects for amongst such as they admitted the chiefe of the Counsaile and such as were valiant men at armes were the first mentioned but aboue all those of whom they might conceiue any doubt or suspition We reade that Caesar hauing taken Auxerra which was not one of the greatest not best peopled townes of France drew thence sixe hundred Hostages So as it is to be thought that the rest after such an abatement could not be of any great courage or strength to reuolt 3 The Turke without troubling himselfe with the care how to traine after him an vnprofitable multitude of Hostages in an instant riddeth his subiects hands of their best forces and strangely armeth and fortifieth himselfe with themselues against themselues and heerein he thus proceedeth He maintaineth in pay about two hundred Commissaries who as Superintendents trauell vp and downe all the countries of his obedience to see and ouersee all that is saide and done by the Christians These men goe throughout Grecia Wallachia and Bosnia and extort by way of tenthes the children from the bosomes of their fathers and mothers according as they esteeme them fit and likely to be fashioned to the wars 4 These childreÌ„ thus culled assembled from al cuntries of his obedience are after sent to Constantinople and distributed amongst the Merchants and Citizens by name and inroulement to the ende they may be there instructed in the lawe of Mahomet and taught the Turkish tongue After when they come to the age to beare armes to be of the number of Ianizzars For during their youth they are trained vp to all such military exercises as may put valour in them and make them souldiours and this by particular Masters appointed to teach them to shoote wrastle leape vault and so to harden their bodies as the tranailes of the wars may be after held but as pleasures and naturall actions Thus the Turke by this tithing of Children assureth himselfe of his people in a two-folde manner in despoiling as he doth the Prouinces of the flower of their martiall men and applying them to his owne strengthning both at home and abroade 5 Hereunto he addeth the expresse forbidding his subiects all assemblies or building of any strong houses which may stead them in time of sedition or tumult neither are they allowed the vse of bels by whose sound they might call themselues together to the execution of some plotted reuolt or mutiny In a word they are naked of all meanes to fortifie to arme to assemble themselues or to become any waies fit for the wars no other subiect is left them to worke vpon but the tillage of the land whereto as to al other mechanical artes they apply themselues so becomming base abiect and vnapt for the wars CHAP. IIII. The causes that may moue a people to fury 1 Despaire armeth the weake 2 How to auoid
diminution of the subiects obseruance 2 From whence the authoritie of the Nobilitie doth proceed 3 The detestable crueltie of the Turkish Emperour against the next of his bloud 4 Vsage of great men taken by the Turkes 5 The vncertaine fortune and estate of the Turkes officers 1 TO the end the dependencie and authoritie whereof wee haue hitherto entreated be without alteration maintained it is requisite that the Prince haue a care that there be none in his countrey who for their greatnesse may incourage the people and embolden them to attempt ought backt by their authoritie countenance and conduct 2 This greatnesse may grow from three principall causes either in regard they are Princes of the bloud or for that they are noted to be nobly descended and rich or else for the reputation they haue gotten and a long while preserued either by cunning or by their owne valour and merit things that winne credit and name amongst the common people Concerning the first cause the children brethren and kinsmen of the Turke are great by consanguinitie The Barons of the country obtaine the second ranke whereto the noblenesse of their family calleth them for the third such ministers and officers as beare a stroake and swaie in matters of the highest consequence are accounted great 3 The Ottaman Princes of nature barbarous and cruell ordinarily shelter themselues from these inconueniences with courses far from all humanity in as much as without all respect of Law religion or other ciuill consideration they vpon the least scruple that may be ridde their hands by execrable murthers of their neerest kinsfolkes and friends yea euen of their fathers and brethren alone to inioy and by their death to assure to themselues the quiet possession of their kingdome Selim the first murthered two of his brethren procured the death of all his nephewes yea and of his father also He would often say that there was nothing more sweet then to raigne out of the suspition and shadow of his kindred and that he deserued pardon for what he had committed since it was the same play and vsage he should haue receiued if any other but himselfe had attained to the crowne Amurath the third which now raigneth made his entry by the death of his brother and searched the establishing of his Empire euen in the belly of his mother then great with childe making for this end one end of her what she went withall these cruelties are monstrous in the sight of God and man and full of horror and infamie yet hath it not beene knowen for all this that euer any citie any people or armie did reuolt or mutine This inhumanitie is amongst them growne to that lawfull and ordinarie consequence as they vsually put it in practise without feare of blame or reproch The examples thereof are as infinite as their memories stinking and abhominable In a word this butchering is amongst them an hereditary succession descending from one to another which God would reuenge with our hands if we would amend our liues 4 As for the Barons and Lords of the countrey Mahomet the first destroied their seed expelling them out of his estate as he did all the originarie Turkish Princes his allies and if by chance there remaine any of the Ottoman race he is so kept downe as he traileth as they say his belly vpon the ground liuing most poorely without all charge and manage of affaires so as neither valour nor riches can make him appeere or shine in the worlds eie rather he remaineth eclipsed amongst the vulgar sort without honour credit or estimation As for the Princes and mightie men of the countrey by them subdued they know well enough how to ridde their hands of them in sort as we haue before declared so as neuer Empire was raised or maintained with more execrable murthers then this hath beene in these daies they neither sparing Princes of their bloud nor the chiefe Potentates of their prouinces for they blinde them if not kill them 5 Now concerning the ministers and officers who by long managing of waightie affaires haue attained to Honorable places authority and reputation there is not one be hee neuer so great which at the least winke wrath and pleasure of his Lord loseth not his life immediatly Baiazet caused Acomat Bassa to be put to death an excellent man of armes and a woorthy Captaine saying the too much reputation of the seruant was a cause of the too great ielousie of the master Selim likewise put many to death and amongst others Mustafa Bassa whom he caused to be strangled at Prusa and after to be cast out to the dogs This was his recompence for fauoring him in the vsurpation of the Empire against Baiazet his father then liuing and for making riddance of his two brethren Acomat and Corcut. He suspected it was he that had reuealed his secret as indeed he had to Aladin and Amarath children of his brother Acomat because contrary to his expectation he sought their death It is in a manner an ordinary course with Princes that one light offence obscureth and maketh them forget a thousand good seruices performed for the good of their affaires For my part I am of opinion that this rage and inhumane cruelty familiar with the house of the Ottomans is but a true and iust iudgment of God who will by their parricid handes chastice the Apostasies and wickednesse of one by another considering the greater part of them are Christians who haue denied their faith and by that miserable act climed vp to the height of those eminent charges and dignities they possesse As not long since his diuine Maiestie permitted a poore simple souldiour to kill Mahomet Bassa a man most mighty in credit and authority but more rich of power and meanes yet such a one as had beene a Christian and had taken vpon him the orders of Priesthood CHAP. VII How he confoundeth the practises of forraine Princes his neighbours 1 The diuorce of the Greeke church from the Romish confirmeth the Turkish Empire 2 What were requisite to stir vp the Turkish subiects to rebellion 3 The Greekes vtterly destitute of meanes for such proceedings 4 His owne subiects throughly curbed 1 ONe of the most assured meanes practised by the Turke as an infallible course of setling his estate against the intelligence which his people might hold with Christian princes is the diuorce separation he maintaineth betweene the Greeke the Romish church supposing while this schisme shall continue amongst them that they will neuer establish betweene them a sound amity This made the conquest of Constantinople easie vnto them this hath forwarded the proceeding of his victories and as it were put into his hands all those rich and goodly Prouinces whereof he is at this day the peaceable but Tyrannicall owner moreouer he so narrowly obserueth our vnhappie discord as he by a perpetuall counsaill endeuoureth all he can possibly that the Patriarkes render no obedience to the Pope neither is it
ordinary discourses of your Highnesse table are no other but sundry questions which it pleaseth your Highnesse vsually to propound to all those noble spirits that attend you but aboue all when any one awaketh matter cōcerning either Estate affaires or the atchieuement of deedes of armes then is the time your Highnesse lendeth an attentiue eare to such as discourse thereof and to all mens admiration resolueth the most difficult points of the matter in handling wherein you discouer a iudgment so far beyonde the vulgar and surpassing your age as we cannot but confesse that the propositions you make are so many proofes and resolutions which you deliuer and please to draw from out the capacity of your seruants Which considering often with my selfe I finde forthwith allaied in me the heat of the intention I had to dedicate this my booke to your Highnesse but at the same instant finding represented before mine eies the excellency of your iudgment together with your noble and gentle disposition which knoweth how to accommodate your greatnesse to the honest designes of your subiects such especially as reuerence you like me feare immediatly vanisheth and my desire gathereth strength with assurance that you wil be so gratious as though I be the least of your seruants you will not spare to entertaine and honour this my little labour with your iudgment practising vpon me what the Sunne common father of generation doth on the earth bestowing his beames indifferently as well vpon the low plants as high trees It may please your highnesse then to vouchsafe to receiue this treatise with the like coūtenance as you would ought else especially labored in imitation of the diuine Maiesty only Idea of all perfection which as well excepteth the offering of the poore widow as the presents of great Princes Againe it may please your highnes not to thinke amisse so farforth to protect the whole discourse that it may supported by your authority passe with that credit as I wish among men and remaine free from the many censures of such as take no other delight then in reprehending other mens inuentions This assurance will make me lift my head higher then otherwise I would for two causes The one for the honour and particular contentment I shall receiue hauing performed ought pleasing to your Highnesse the other for the testimony I shall heereby haue of the participation of your fauour beyond my merit and expectation for which I offer vp my selfe not to die vngratefull as Your Highnesse most humble Subiect and vassall R. de LVSING To the Reader THe world had neuer more Bookes Bookes neuer lesse woorthy matter learned vnlearned all will be writing and of these the most affecting the glorious names of Authors become the authors of their inglorious names Pro captu lectoris habent sua fata libelli The Readers skill Makes Bookes thriue well or ill But the true life of a worke and sound discretion of the writer appeere not more in the well handling then wise choice of a subiect I know diuers courses may meete with one end as many waies leade to one citie so may one theame entertaine a world of inuentions but of these like the same meate serued in in seuerall fashions some few onely shall carry the true pleasing relish and temper the rest as knots in names stand rather for ornaments or flourishing differences then matters regardable or of consequence well may the will or appetite for a time transport vs but reason as soueraigne must in the end controle and checke vs. In the compasse of my obseruations I haue seene discourses and stiles otherwise hollow and vnsound sway euen the best iudgements not alone to allowance but imitation Whether this were the infection of ignorance that seasing the most might spread to the best or the tyrannie of fashion which must howsoeuer monstrous if our selues will not seeme monstrous be followed I know not one thing I am sure of time hath discouered their weaknesse and trueth his concealed daughter is come to light when such light owles liue or to say better die confined to perpetuall obscuritie This worke seemes to haue passed the pikes of such dangers it hath for a sufficient time vndergone the view and censure of the best discerning nations of Europe it hath beene taught to speake both their and the old Roman language if England should not now affoord it kind entertainment I should thinke it in an error not to say of iudgement of custom as being not yet cleere of the imputation it carries of harshnesse towards euen woorthy strangers but since I finde as doe themselues that suffer that this discourteous fault is laid vpon the common sort and the contrary extolled in the gentrie persons of more eminent quality Vilia miretur vulgus We will appeale from their ignorance to the more generous and better bredde vnderstandings And to awake these let me tell them they shall finde it a discourse not faint or languishing but such as like a wel breathed runner gathers more strength towards the end of the race then was bewraied in the beginning Now to others which shal perhaps obiect that the scope hereof lying out of our distance asketh as small heede as it smally concerneth vs I answere that then the gout or gangrene is not to be regarded because the great toe onely hath it Time and sinne may one day which God turne from vs make vs more sensible and this subiects debating more necessary such as it now is or may prooue Reader I heere expose it to thy view and censure I know some acquainted with me and my courses will expect rather matter of mine owne then others inuention They haue reason in this howsoeuer I haue abilitie but I cannot yet forget an honest learned Physician I once obserued who it seemes to spare others so spent his owne spirits in the personall practise of his medicinall conclusions as his bodie yet suffers the iniuries of such selfe-offered violence I am not so charitable neither hold I him the vnwisest that out of others triall frameth his owne confirming It is time that begets iudgement and assurance And to this purpose I will close with a saying of that euer most reuerenced Master of moralitie Seneca Non ignoro etiam quae in speciem laborant dignitatem dico eloquentiae famam quicquid ad alienum suffragium venit mora conualescere I. F. The Table of the Chapters of the first Booke THe Turke hath applied his thoughts wholly to the warres Chap. 1. He hath alwaie◠sought to make offensiue war Chap. 2. He hath made no account of fortresses Chap. 3. He hath trained vp his souldiours to valour and hardinesse Chap. 4. He hath maintained his souldiours in military discipline Chap. 5. He hath made no reckning of other forces then his owne Chap. 6. He hath to power ioyned cunning and deceit Chap. 7. He hath beene alwaies serued in his warre by good and valiant Captaines Chap. 8. He hath made
in a matter which he had before discreetely enough plotted and disposed moreouer he cannot beare swaie as master of the confederate forces insomuch as he which sendeth succours may vnderhand deliuer to his Commanders memorials and instructions more strict and limited then the necessitie of the vndertaken affaire would permit Also the least distaste either of the Prince which assisteth or of the Captaine which conducteth such succours serueth oft-times to dismisse the promised forces deceiue the others expectation and bring all he vndertaketh to nothing So as he remaineth not onely more weake by this disappointment but his owne forces also become vnprofitable and consequently himselfe exposed to all wrong and ruine for as if one only wheele of a clocke be out of temper it sufficeth to disorder the whole motion so where the vndertaker faileth but of one part of his promised troupes the effects which in part depend thereon likewise faile and the course of his warlike designes remaine crossed and peruerted I will not forget also to say that a campe consisting of such borrowed peeces hath necessarily need of many heads to command it and an armie compounded of so manie heads because of the diuersity of opinions and affections will most commonly haue the woorse when it commeth to handie blowes 5 We may illustrate these discommodities with examples that touch vs neere and are familiar vnto vs and were not long since practised for this cause I will more willingly then otherwise I would heere produce them In our time we haue seene two most memorable leagues between the Pope the king of Spaine and the Venetians consenting and vnited to vndertake one warre against the Turke the one was vnder Pope Paul the third and the other in the life time of Pius Quintus The first was caried with an excessiue charge yet without any effect woorthy so great an assembly The cause in my opinion proceeded of the difficulty that was found to ioyn in one body the confederat forces and draw them together at the Rendeuous in due season for they met not till the end of September Although an other inconuenience may be alledged to this purpose which ouerthrew the good successe of such a holy and Christian attempt yet it may appeere that to auoide the shame and dishonour that followed thereof it had beene easie to haue performed somewhat of more memorable consequence then was the taking of Castle-nouo if we had knowen how to husband the times and occasions fit for the imployment of so combined a power Concerning the second which was as I said in the time of Pius Quintus the army of the Venetians very gallant and strong spent all the sommer in attending the Galleis of Spaine which were to conuoy succours into the I le of Cypres then attempted by the Turke so as this slacknesse of assembling the Galleyes was a cause that the army became almost quite vnfurnished of good souldiours drawen together to their great costs by reason of the plague which had made a most pitifull hauocke amonge them Notwithstanding all this they forbeare not to make towards Cypres so late as by the way they receiued the newes of the lamentable taking of Nicosia Which made them imagine that the Turkes had vpon that commodity most strongly manned their Galleys as it was likely enough with land Souldiours and that therefore there was more appearance of danger thē of good successe in assailing them vpon which consideration they held it best to turne their course homeward and refer that businesse to an other time hauing then thus dishonorably behaued themselues returning they incountred so many misfortunes as well weather beaten by reason of the Winter then approching they at length arriued at their home sorely brused and spoiled The yeare following the army of the consederats met notwithstanding all this very late yet vndertooke they to incounter the enemy of whome they got that so renowned victory in the yeare 1571. if God had permitted vs to reape thereby those worthy fruits that we had reason to expect Now for all this Cypres was not recouered but remained to the infidell as the reward and wages of his valour The third yeare of the league the king of Spaine in stead of pursuing his enterprise against the Turke as he had determined caused Don Iohn of Austria Admirall of his fleete to stay at Messina because he then doubted that the French would assaile Flanders with such forces as they had that yeare rather suffered to take breath then wholy cased and dismissed So as the whole season was spent vnprofitably without attempting ought worthy such preparation as the confederates had in due time set forth This was an occasion of excessiue charge and that the armies did not once stirre till it was too late attending what their neighbours would do who as I haue said seemed to threaten the King of Spaine with some attempt vpon his country of Flanders In the meane time the Venetians tired with the charge and trouble they were at to no purpose treated a peace with the Turke 6 Who will make any question now those things well weighed and considered that if the leagues both the first and second had beene well caried without these crossings iealousies and suspitions which accompanied them though vainly and vpon no ground but that they would haue brought foorth some woorthie and honorable fruite to the glory and honour of God the peace of his church the encrease and establishment of the Christian common-wealth This may be enough to prooue that forces compounded of diuers nations depending of many and different heads are in marching more slowe and at a time of need lesse effectuall then others It may appeere to some that I heereby inferre that leagues betweene Princes are vnprofitable and therefore not to be made so farre is it from me to maintaine that opinion as I rather willingly embrace the contrarie but I reserue a time to handle how and in what manner it would be good to make such a league especially against the Turke when I shall arriue at the place appointed for this purpose to the end I may discourse of it at full Now let vs returne to the argument of discourse in handling 7 The Ottomans neuer made league either offensiue or defensiue with any and neuer had helpe of strangers on the contrarie they haue alwaies had to doe with armies compounded of different nations confederate and conducted by sundrie Commanders all which as ill vnited not vnderstanding one another they haue euermore vanquished Moreouer we haue ordinarily seene them more forward and deliuer about their enterprises being alone then accompanied and consequently more vnited in their force more nimble in execution and it must needes follow more renowned and fortunately victorious 8 Yet they had no lacke of whom where with to practise their associations if they had approoued them as good necessarie as among other with the Soldan of Caito with the kings of Carmania
seed or any parcell of them The troubles and dissentions which heresies haue brought in amongst the Christians serue him for examples he seeth such histories daily verified he is very well informed of them and turneth them to the best vse beyond the experience his predecessors haue had of such fruites as spring from a new interpretation of their law Harduclles in a very small space wan such credit amongst that barbarous people that by means of a certaine new interpretation of the points of their sect he busied all Asia where he sowed so many troubles as he well neere indangered the whole estate of Baiazet the second 5 But that which maketh the law of this cursed race more durable is that the Emperour himselfe obserueth it with that deuotion honoreth it with that reuerence embraceth it with that religion and preserueth it in that credit and authority as it is hard to imagine a man more deuout and affected towards it 6 Againe the misery and vexations that the Turks depriued of all other light but that their mother sense affordeth them beholde other nations dispersed thorow their dominions and of a contrary beleefe to indure wholy weddeth their dull soules to this false doctrine neither is there that misery which that vile Mahometane race make not all those to suffer who embrace not their religion but aboue all the Christians CHAP. II. Of the direct dependency of the Turkes subiects vpon their Soueraigne 1 Subiects must haue their eies chiefly vpon their Soueraigne 2 Tyrants strength and guard of strangers 3 The absolute authority of the Ottomans 4 The Princes seuour the subiects safetie 5 His subiects exact obedience and the cause thereof 6 Rebllions whence procceding 1 THe best cement that can be made to giue long continuance to an estate is to worke so as that the subiects of whatsoeuer qualitie or condition they be may haue alwaies neede of him that is their Commander to the end they may immediatly depend vpon him and reuerence him but because it is hard to bring all the world to this passe especially in a great monarchy those at the least are to be drawen to it as farfoorth as is possible who should be the sinewes and supporters of the Princes power 2 This moued such Tyrants as durst not assure themselues of such people as they had subdued to haue about them Captaines Souldiours and seruants which were strangers and had neither kinsfolkes nor friendes in that country but relied absolutely vpon them This heeretofore was the maner of the Soldans of Egypt and though they be courses so violent barbarous and vnworthy of Christian Princes as they should neuer be set before them yet may they somewaies aduantage them in the consideration of their ends and aime of their intentions applying them and appropriating them so far forth as Christian policy and the interest of faith may permit 3 Now then we will deliuer what vse the Turke in these times makes of them He to establish his Empire and amplifie his greatnesse and authority intitleth himselfe not only Prince and Monarch of his estates but Lord also and peaceable Master of the persons habilities goods houses and possessions of his vastals neither is there inheritance or succession so assured be it neuer so lawfull but it dependeth of the disposition and free wil of the Turke so as if any aske of his subiects whose house it is wherein he dwelleth and to whom belongeth the land he tilleth he makes no other answeare but that they are the great Turks his Master moreouer they all tearme themselues slaues of their Prince whence followeth that they can not any waie maintaine the quiet possession of their goods nor account of any thing as of their owne but by his especiall fauour Much more if they aime at raising themselues to any eminent place of honour they are to beg it of the magnificence and pleasure of their Prince meanes which serue to curbe those barbarous people yet to be reiected of Christians and abhorred of lawfull Princes who receiue and hold their monarchies of the hand of God There are more honest precepts to be giuen whereby they may purchase and preserue the loue and obedience of their people without vsing such cruelties and tyrannies But because the argument propounded requireth that I relate the meanes this barbarons race hath obserued to become great and that I am fallen into that matter I will continue it yet not as approuing any such course or as indeuoring to set them downe by them to forme a receiuable example or to induce Christian Princes to make them their paterne of gouerning their estates 4 By this former discourse then we haue deliuered how the Turkes subiects haue neede of him some to preserue what they haue gotten others to attaine to dignities and places of honour And in a word their being and life depending indifferently vpon the Prince their principall care is to winne his fauour 5 Thiâ— dependency fortifieth it selfe increaseth by the obedience and gouernment of great personages imploied by the Turke in his seruice and fashioned by himselfe to this end who are from their infancy brought vp at the Princes charge and instructed euery one according as hee is naturally inclined either in the excercises of armes or any other laborious trade so as such not knowing other father or benefactor then their soueraigne from whom they receiue both goods and honours neuer thinke of kindred or friends neither haue they any touch of bloud or naturall alliance dedicating their body minde and whole deuotion to the only goood of their masters affaires whose creatures they acknowledge themselues to be to whatsoeuer degree of honour they be preferred neither is it in their power to amasse other wealth then that which is rawght them by the hands of the great Turke To make it more plaine to the Reader who these are they are the Spachi Spachioglani and Ianizzars in these consisteth the strength and guard of the Turkish Empire I hold it not amisse to discouer in a word as by the way what is the forme and condition of these bandes and companies so to deliuer a more cleare vnderstanding of their manner and power The Spachi and Spachioglani are horse men whereof there are a thousand in number which march at the right hand of their Lord. The Selactari or Soluptari are other thousand horse which accompany the great Turke on the left hand when he marcheth as the Spaihioglani on the right of these two companies are chosen the Gouernours of Prouinces and vpon these according to their merit the Turke bestoweth his daughters in mariage The Vlufezgi are other thousand which march after the aboue named who in part are called out of the bands of Ianizzars as men noted for their especiall valour or they are such as haue beene slaues and for their notable seruice performed toward their masters or for hauing saued the life of some Bassa or Beglerbee in the wars attaine to this degree of