might with their eies haue bene witnesses Scanderbeg hauing now enrolled and taken a generall view and muster of his souldiers and publique vowes and prayers being offered vnto God by euery man according to his owne fancie departed from Croy and encamped neere to the lower Dibria where euery day he heard newes that the enemy approched Therupon he bethought himselfe that being newly made their Chieftaine and Captaine he ought to vse some speech to his new souldiers for which cause commaunding silence Thus he began to speake vnto them I would wish my companions that you had happened vpon me as your Captaine and that I might haue enioyed your notable faithfull seruice when my affaires had bene in greater prosperity and in a time wherin my reigne had bene more happy and fortunate For nowe being ashamed of the many bondes and obligations whereby I see my selfe tyed vnto you I would not haue inuited you to the discommodities of new warres and to so many fresh mischieues but hauing bene so well receiued and entertained by my Citizens I would then haue yeelded them at my ease and leisure and with patience that due thankes and recompence which long before this time I had prepared my selfe to render vnto them and as a Chieftaine that seeth his souldiers embrued and couered with blood I would make no spare of my selfe in recompence of your labours trauels and daungers and for the blood of the enemy which you haue heretofore shed so valiantly But seeing the destinies haue so ordained and that it pleaseth fortune that I must discouer vnto you my affaires and that I must be an occasion rather of your paines then of your tranquilitie and rest Consider I pray you that it standeth vs vpon to endure it valiantly and patiently and to submit our selues to whatsoeuer difficulties this warre shall bring with it to the intent that one day we may liue in peace and quiet It behoueth vs willingly and with francke and readie mindes to take armes to breake the bondes of so long a seruitude and bondage and the enemie being chased from our partes afterwardes to reioice our selues in a more happie kinde of life and in a perdurable and lasting libertie whereunto it is not needfull that I paine my selfe to animate and incense you For that as all of you doe now shew your selues affectioned to take my part so is it most certaine that wordes as the saying is doe not increase hardinesse in men that are couragions ad hereunto that I canne say no more vnto you with my weapons in my hand then you being in armes ought to know of your owne selues The enemy whom you haue nowe neare you will aduerise you thereof sufficiently the indignitie of so many iniuries the wrath and hatred which they haue conceiued doe admonish you of it and doe arme you against them the yoke of our bondage shaken off and broken the libertie both of our bodies and of our soules the mortall hatred of Amurath the qualitie of the Barbarian the cruell commandementes the horrible executions wherewith he doth aduance himselfe to sucke vp our blood and last of all the proces of the finall ruine and destruction of vs all being now past and fully concluded on all these doe inuite you to take armes against him If then our countrey the loue whereof containeth all loue and for which we ought to thinke that we haue neuer shed sufficient of our blood if the particular vertue of euerie one of vs if the honour and nobilitie of our kindred doe strengthen the courage of anie man let them animate you my friendes to betake you to armes and to sharpen your launces You haue by my pursuite and procurement so speedily and without the losse of one drop of blood recouered Croie the seate of your forefathers Spare not now in defence thereof to shed your bloud if neede be This is the daye wherein both hope and oportunitie doe present themselues vnto you for the recouerie of your countrey so long time lost and for the raysing of you to great and high fortune you haue chosen me either for your companion or your Captaine before any other and I wil not be the last in any labors in any hazards whatsoeuer and if peraduenture in other things my forwardnes shal not be seconded with as good fortune yet will I neuerthelesse make known vnto you the conditions the conceites the wiles and policies of the enemy with whom it may be by the diuine ordinance I haue spent the most part of my yeares to my owne hindrance and haue bene instructed in them to the end they might serue to ayde you at this present It would be vnpleasing vnto me heere to report vnto you their base and vile condition but that hope which maketh promise of a victorie lesse painefull doth render the souldier more resolute and deliberate What other thing are they but the dregs and scum of slaues and raskals gathered together more accustomed to theftes and robberies then to a true warre and a iust kinde of fight and combat Is it certaine that this sort of men whose name is so famous amongst persons fearefull and timerous should be those Turkes the slaues and fugitiues of the Scythians whose fathers as some say had their dwellings beyonde the Ryphean mountaines and the Isles of Tarracont euen in the heart and bosome of the North and in the Northerne Ocean A nation filthy villanous and opprobrious nourished in dennes secret corners and filthie places who not discerning the flesh of Wolues and Vultures doe fill and satisfie their hunger vpon humaine abortiue bodies and who can very hardly glorifie themselues of any one battell gotten well and honestly It may be that they haue vsurped by fraude and deceite most large and ample dominions and that they will from time to time daily purchase more both better and fayrer as long as matter shall be giuen them whereupon to exercise their treason and infidelitie Here nowe me thinkes I see how Amurath betaketh himselfe to his wiles sleightes and subtelties when his other assayes shall not be able to preuaile against you Beholde and marke well this subtell and cautelous Ottoman who will make you faire and goodly promises vppon the hope of others misfortunes It seemeth vnto him belike that there is not any where any kinde of people but they should be like vnto the Greekes Bulgarians and Misians all which beeing inueigled and blinded in their owne misfortune and destruction more then was conuenient after they had simply and in good faith yeelded themselues vnto him the good Prince did either driue them all into exile and banishment or did depriue them of their sight or did mangle and deforme their members and wholly disfigure them That which I nowe tell you my friendes is to admonish you as those whom I esteeme and set by as those to whome I haue consecrated my life and my bloud to the intent you may glue me by this subiect
did not make any spare of their paines nor did they staÌ„d idle so desirous they were to preuent the good grace fauour of Amurath Mahomet was noted aboue the rest to vse an vncessable kind of diligence and with a singular viuacitie of spirit as if he had bene one of the meanest souldiers was alwayes about his father and setting aside all regard of his estate degree he spared no trauell paines but did busie employ him selfe in all matters with great readinesse resolution and running sometimes here somtimes there he did enflame and encourage the souldiers as much by the example of his owne doings as by words and chearefull exhortations And morethen that it is reported that besides the reward publiquely propounded by the Sultan he promised a 100000. aspres to him that should first get within the town and should fasten the Turkish colours vpon the wall Touching the Croyans as their mindes were altogether different of another disposition so were there effects also diuers The Paynims were growen to that pride fiercenesse of their harts only of a greedy desire an inordinate appetite of gaine and glory which caused them rashly to vndertake hunt after that thing wherof they neuer had any possession Contrariwise the Christians had their minds fixed vpon this that all maner of most ample honorable rewards were assuredly to be expected froÌ„ Scanderbeg they did consider moreouer that the coÌ„seruation of the realme the safetie of their countrey the securitie of their confederats in briefe the welfare of all the estate of Albany did consist depend vpon their valour vertue For this cause they were animated hartned not onely with a kind of obstinate settled resolution and with a purpose of incredible perseuerance but they were transported with so violent a passion of wrath and furie that they seemed as men almost enraged Whereupon though the wall being throwen downe and ruinated on that side did giue them cause both of griefe and terrour by the deformitie of that obiect yet did the greatnesse of their coutages neuerthelesse so preuaile in their resolute and stout harts that it did easily put away and expell out of their mindes all conceipt of faintnesse feare or sorow they did mutually recomfort encourage ech other Aboue all Vranocontes had a notable good grace in exhorting and animating of the garrison for as he went vp and downe amongest them he would oftentimes touch and take them by the handes he would handle their curats and lay his hands vpon their stomackes saying These these are the bulwarkes of cities townes these are the firme substantiall rampiers of wals these be the stones that are not batterable this is the strongest surest kind of lyme morter What honour what prayse what triumph can we expect or hope for in this place if being couered shrowded vnder these wals our surety shal consist onely in their strength and safety And if they shal be the onely meanes to garde defend vs not rather our persons to be the defence of them the very cowards can do so much the fearefull sheepe will contemne the houling of the rauenous wolfe if they be safely enclosed in a sure cote Such honour is proper due to the wals and not to the generous souldier Our Prince hath not commanded ys hither to be protected defended by this towne but the towne is commended vnto vs committed to our custody to be â—â—feâ—ded by vs True vertue is alwayes exercised in the greatest dangers â—he is noutished in things that are high difficult who is not a good pilot vpoÌ„ the sea in time of calme weather Things that are firme can continue stable of them selues and need not the succor and assistance of men neither do they require the helpe of any humaine audacity And braue and couragious men do not esteeme but rather shunne those aduentures by the defence whereof they shall not purchase any more honor then if they had not defended them at all When a thing beginneth to decay and to fall to ruine that is it which requireth to be supported and in such cases it is that vertue striueth to shew it selfe I may say it againe and againe my good companions that there only doth shine the brightnesse of valiant hearts there do the excellent and couragious spirits discouer themselues Wherefore these flankers and this curtin thus laied open by the battery and this breach made by the cannon of the enemy let it be filled and defended with your persons and with your armes let your stout and valiant bodies as of braue gallaÌ„t souldiers be opposed against the infidels in steed of strong walles and fortifications in so doing you shall giue me the more certaine and assured proofe of your valour and worthy behauiour Let vs therefore so cary our selues let vs so labour and endeuor in this our conflict to weaken and diminish the forces of the Barbarians that the tyraunt may be abashed at the valour of the Croians and that his courage may be abated and repressed then will he abandon the towne and raise his siege when he shall see the first fruites of this warre intertained with the bloud of so many of his subiectes These and many other speeches to that effect did the gouernour vse sometimes in the Albanian language somtimes in Italian and sometimes also by interpretours disposing and preparing the mindes of his souldiours to the assault which they expected the day following and inuiting euery man both by word and by deede to do his duty and best deuoire Wherefore whilest the souldiers in their seuerall charges here and there did diligently apply them selues and were the more incensed by his presence to labour chearfully in their seuerall emploiments the night at length came vpon them during the which neuerthelesse the vigilancy of Vranocontes did not cease in the continuaunce of all necessary preparations till it was two houres within night and that which remained was spent in sleepe and in taking of their â—est The infidels who had in the day time set all things in a readinesse did passe all that night in great quietnesse till the breake of day for the euening before it was concluded that the town should be assaulted and proclamation was made by sound of trumper commanding all men that before seuen of the clocke in the morning certaine captains companies hauing first broken their fast they should repaire with their armes to the lodging of the Sultan For this cause the souldiours with great promptnesse and diligence did not fayle to be there at the time appointed being well prouided of all things accordingly Then the most worthy and notable persons of chiefest marke qualitie being called together the old Prince began to vse some speeches vnto them in most vehement and ardent manner more then the vigour and strength of his aged and weakened spirite
would well permit and conueniently suffer Young Mahomet likewise being very prompt and forward both in action and in speech did not long keepe silence but the oration of his father being scant ended as one furious and full of venemous rage he arose from his seate and did so bitterly inueigh against the Christians in generall besides the extremitie of his priuate hatred which he bare to the Epirots in particular that he there bewrayed him self as an other Hāniball against the Romans to be their mortall and sworne enemy and after him all the other Chiestaines and leaders did encourage each man his own souldiours By that time that all things were ready and in good order that the Turke had dined at his ease it was neare noone at which time the squadrons being drawn forth of the trenches did display thēselues vpō the plaine It might be iudged an vnfit season to begin such an assault considering the extreme heat of the summer neuerthelesse the Ottoman thought it to be the best time because he mistrusted that if he should haue drawen them out of the campe either in the night or late towardes the euening perhaps it would haue giuen Scanderbeg the more oportunity to rush vpon them and to inuade and molest his trenches and yet did not this his suspition gaine him any thing neither was it altogether in vaine The allarme being giuen and the troupes as we haue sayd being issued forth and marching on with a wonderfull noise and sound of trumpets drummes and clamours of the souldiers they were now come to the wals and the foremost of them had scant or but newly begun the fight when the Turkish campe was sodainely in an vproare and was filled with a great tumult and horrible feare sprong vp amongest them The cause thereof was Scanderbeg who hauing of a long time watched and layd espiall to see what the Sultan would determine to doe now with a strong troupe of horsemen the most able and best mounted of all his army was come to the tents of the enemy rushed in vpon them where they lay next and nighest vnto him The Turks which were placed there in that quarter did receiue him at the first onset very resolutely but perceiuing by the losse slaughter of many of their fellowes that they could not hold out nor stand against him they being scattered dispersed here there in that feare had soone forsaken both their court of garde and all things else whatsoeuer if the others who were next them had not made hast and running thither from all partes at the noyse of the allarme making head against the enemy had not stayed them from flying farther The Albanians keeping their ranckes close and taking the aduantage of this good fortune did charge those that came last to encounter them more liuely then they had done the former and hauing layd more then 600 Turkes dead at their feete and made the Barbarians on that side to betake them selues to flight they sacked two of their tents carrying away diuerse ensignes and whatsoeuer else was found within the same This rumour being brought from hand to hand as the maner is to the eares of Amurath who was then busied in ordering his forces to the assault although the old man had made prouision before of many things did greatly affie himselfe in the sufficiency of those whom he had left within the campe neuerthelesse dreaming and forethinking himself of the worst that might happen for he was wont euer to say that nothing was sufficient to make resistance against the fiercenesse and fury of this beast he sent Seremet one of his captaines with 4000. horse for the repulse of the Christiās Mahomet who did alwayes burne in extreame hatred against this Prince though his father would haue diswaded him from it went thither also being accompanied with the ordinary garde of his person but before that these forces were ready on foot Scanderbeg perceiuing that he should not be able to make his partie good against so many as were comming vppon him had turned bridle and prouided for the suretie of him selfe and his people yet not without the extreame daunger of his life For as the report goeth the heat of fight had made him so farre to forget him selfe that he brake in amongest his enemies where they were thickest and he engaged him selfe so farre that he was almost oppressed by them and he was not able but with extreame payne to make him selfe way through the multitude that pressed vppon him and sought to stoppe his passage for both his owne strength and the forces of his horse began to fayle in somuch that very hardly and difficultlie did he escape and free him selfe from amongest them And after he was with much a do gotten from them yet did they not cease on all parts to pursue him as long as they had any hope to ouertake him or to staye him In this manner did the Christian troupes on the one side and the Generall on the other side by a happie retrait shift them selues out of the fight of the Mahometistes This tumult being pacified and appeased the Turkes returned vnto their camp and the Sultan his son repaired to his father extreamly grieuing that after such a brauado the slaughter of so many of their people his enemy should be escaped from him And he there tooke a solemne oth before them all that he would neuer leaue watching whole moneths daies and nights if need were but at one time or other by his ambushments and traines he would get this sauage and wilde beast to fal into his snares which he meant to lay for him that he wanted neither a good mind nor good meanes to effect it and he did so far assure himselfe of a good successe that if the other did hold on stil and continue in this brauery temerity thus to assaile them and to approach to their trenches he did not doubt but to make him to repent it The Prince of Epire hauing freed him selfe from the pursuite of his enemies tooke an other way and went after his owne company who being in a maruellous care and perplexity for the absence of their master went here and there wandring vp down and sending forth souldiours in quest on all parts to search if they could discouer him or could heare any newes of him in any place Many of them also could not forbeare teares lamenting and deploring the estate of Albany which should remaine as a tender orphan and the common weale of Epire which should continue desolate as it were in widowhood by the death of so diuine a personage so barbarously murthered by the Circumcized miscreāts But his safe returne whereof they despaired did reuiue their harts made them ioyfull both in priuate and publike in so much that besides diuers songs vttered by the common sort in token of their gladnesse many of them with great deuotion performed their
to the Magistrates of that place by their counsell and aduise staied there that day till it grew to night then leauing there his horse and chaunging his attire the better to deceiue the scoutes of the Christians in the darke of the night he tooke his iourney on foote and at the length he got neere the towne on that side where Scanderbeg himselfe lay encamped For the tentes of the two Thopies and the rest which lay in the open plaine stoode farther off so as they could not perceiue him Both the one and the other of them were easily deceiued for that the messenger hauing verie aduisedly shunned the tentes of the Christians and taken the other side of the mountaine where the way was more couert and the passage more harde and difficult had so secretly and closely conueyed himselfe euen to the foote of the towne wall that he was scarcely discerned by the Sentinelles of the towne Vnto whom after that he had by whisteling and calling vnto them made himselfe knowen by his speech he was suddenly drawen vp with a corde let downe from the wall and so conueyed into the towne As he went on to seeke out the Gouernor the common people in a great confusion came running about him on all sides and in great doubt and suspence began to enquire of him to learne what good newes he had brought for the end of the truce was now neere at hand and the time approched wherein they were to auoide the towne The Gouernor hauing caused the common people to depart and calling the messenger vnto him he questioned with him in secret very few being present after he had receiued and perused the letter he gaue credit to that which the messenger reported by meanes wherof the Captaines of the garrison consulting together did conclude and determine if neede were to stand resolutely in defence of the place till the comming of Sebalias to relieue them and when the day-light should appeare they appointed that these tydings should be published and made knowen to them of the town and it was accordingly imparted vnto all of them not with a loude voice or open proclamation but by the mouth of the Gouernor himselfe first in the market place and after from one to another with an expresse charge and commaundement to keepe it secret that they without might not be aduertised of it For they had a great desire both to deceiue and delude them by the meanes of this truce taken for the rendring of the towne as also to see them suddenly surprised and oppressed â—re they were aware and yet whilest they studied by their close and cunning silence to deceiue the Christians they bewrayed the matter by another occasion The inhabitantes and garrison of Belgrade were in some doubt least that their succours would not come timely enough and before the truce were expyred by meanes whereof eyther they should be driuen to defende them selues or else to forgoe and forsake the towne For this cause they beganne to repaire their walles and bastilles where they had beene battered and beaten with the artillerie The Generall of the Christians perceiuing this and misdoubting some fraude entred into great choller and was in a minde to haue assaulted them neuerthelesse for that the time of the truce was to expire within a three dayes he pacified himselfe and was content to send one vnto them to reproue them and to let them knowe that they did violate and infringe the agreement and couenants passed betweene them by innouating and altering thinges from their former estate an euident signe of some treason secretly intended and imagined That they should surcease therefore from their worke or otherwise if they came afterwardes to endure the rigour and extreamitie of their enemies they shoulde impute it not to anie breach of faith in them but to their owne default and deserts The inhabitants in outwarde shewe and appearance seemed to obey it and did forbeare from doing any thing that their enemies could either see or perceiue notwithstanding they continued night and day by all other meanes as to carrie earth to strengthen the walles to lay together great heapes of stones and other prouisions fit to throwe vppon their enemies all which they did close behinde their rampiers O of what power force and efficacie is hope so to alter and chaunge the mindes of mortall men and to make them so variable and inconstant O howe little and small a thing can make them chaunge their thoughts and cogitations Of late this people when their estate was whole and sound were most cowardly discouraged and amazed being striken with feare and terror at the onely viewe of the enemie and now their walles being battered razed and beaten downe their bulwarkes being ouerthrowen and their defences laid open and discouered they doe prepare to make resistance against an enemie whom they are like to find more fiercely cruelly incensed and readie by the sword most iustly to reuenge and to demaund reason for their faith and promise violated Neuerthelesse still did they continue running vp and downe the walles getting to the toppes of their houses and into all the towers and highest places of the towne to see if they could discouer the aide and succours which they expected and desired so earnestly or if they could perceiue any dust of their horses or heare any noise of their comming by the people of the countrie Their eyes were clearer sighted then ordinarie whatsoeuer sound they heard whatsoeuer obiect presented it selfe to their senses they thought it to be Sebalias and that it had beene their gods comming to their succours so easie a matter is it for a man to perswade himselfe of that whereof he hath any hope that it is like to come to passe That which gaue cause of hope to them of Belgrade was an occasion of feare and suspition to the Christians they regarded no lesse carefully then the others the toppes and highest places of the mountaines where their scoutes were placed to see if they could discerne any aduertisement by boughes and branches of trees or by fires or any other signe giuen them to arme themselues and to prepare to horsebacke it being a thing not possible to keepe them continually sadled nor themselues alwaies in armes by reason of the violent and extreame heate which did make their bodies very faint and feeble But the Ensignes of the enemie were in sight and their cries and clamors were heard amongest them before that they had any notice or warning giuen them by ther scoutes of their approch and comming Not much vnlike vnto a companie of seafaring men and saylers who being embarked becalmed vpon the maine seas whilest the Master and Pilots do looke vp to the flagge or streames to see what wind doth blow to the intent they may fit their tackling and make readie their sayles suddenly in the meane time being ouertaken with an outragious and horrible tempest whereof there
more touching the practise of deeds of armes by 3 moneths reading in one good booke then 20 men shal be able to know by the eye experience if they liue in seuerall ages successiuely one after another I returne therefore to my matter and I say that this science and practise being most needfull and necessarie for our nation whose profession is to follow the warres the speediest and shortest course and the best way and meanes to attaine to the true and perfect skill of armes is to consort and to marrie themselues to the studie and reading of histories The consideration hereof hath moued me to communicate vnto you a history out of the which I hope you shall gather no lesse frute and profit then pleasure and recreation Howbeit I knowe there are fewe or no good Historiographers auncient or moderne domesticall or straungers but they are published in our language by the vertuous labors of many learned rare spirits amongst the French neuertheles in this our historie here imparted vnto you first of all in reading the haughty aduentures and valiant exploites of an age so nearely conioyned to this of ours falling in a manner within the time and knowledge euen of our grand-fathers we haue good cause to reioice to glorie in the same no lesse then the world hath euer accustomed to make a benefit and to attribute vnto themselues the honor of great triumphes and the glorie of their owne age and times Besides here shal be represented vnto you not the detestable and bloudie effects of our owne miseries troubles and seditions nor the hatefull conspiracies of subiects against their Prince and countrie nor the horrible massacres of friends and fellow citizens of children against their parents of brothers fleshed against their naturall brethren nor of husbands against their wiues you shall not heare in this discourse the piteous cries and lamentations of wiues and maidens violated you shall not see here the excesse of sacrileges of burnings nor the rapine and spoile of the goods of friends and allies but you shall reade of a most holy a iust and an honorable warre of armes lawfully vndertaken for the defence both of the Christian and of the ciuill libertie against the Turkes and circumcised miscreants the sworne enemies of Iesus Christ you shall see their townes maintained and defended their countrie preserued and protected by the armes of their proper peoples and naturall inhabitants here shall you behold the image of a Prince most religious of a warrior most magnanimous armed with faith and zeale incredible his souldiers faithfull louing and obedient here shall you trace out so perfect an obseruation of militarie discipline that their notable victories and exploits will appeare vnto you worthie of wonder and admiration All this shall you see in this historie of the life of George Castriot surnamed by the Turks Scanderbeg which is Alexander the Lord or the Great King of Albanie whose immortall name is worthie without all contradiction to be consecrated to the temple of Memorie farre aboue all other Knightes and champions of the Leuant whose honourable actes haue made them to be recommended for the defence of the faith of Christ against the detestable and cursed sect of Mahomet For it seemeth that God had a speciall will and purpose to marke him with all laudable qualities and prerogatiues as faith religion strength of bodie comelinesse of person dexteritie of spirit the practise and skill of armes all which were accompanied with so wonderfull and vnspeakeable good fortune that it may be iustly auerred that his deedes did surmount his destinies The description whereof I haue according to the truth and sinceritie of an historie drawen and deriued out of the writings of those that haue intreated of them and specially out of the Latine historie of Marin Barletus Priest borne in Scutarie or Scodra a Citie in Epire whom we haue chosen and followed as a principall example and patterne and as an Authour who hath bene reputed most diligent and sincere and most graue and sententious In regard whereof he hath purchased to him selfe a place amongest the most notable and famous historiographers of the Latines that haue liued in these latter ages This Historie do I nowe impart vnto you my Maisters humbly intreating you that if ouer much temeritie haue caused me to forget my selfe in taking vppon me a taske which surpasseth and exceedeth the feeblenesse of my spirit you would impute the blame thereof to the readinesse of my good will and affection which I haue to do you seruice and that you would please to receiue this my trauell as graciously as I haue made offer thereof vnto your curtesies with my best deuotion and abilitie AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER WHereas many of our Latine writers of great authoritie haue written manie and diuerse things of the famous deeds of Scanderbeg and of the greatnesse of his exploits for that their honorable testimonies may in some sort argue and confirme the truth of this historie and because it were too great an iniurie to defraud this Greeke Prince and straunger of his true and deserued praises I haue therefore thought it good here to make mention of their names and to cite the places where they haue written of him to the intent the Reader may at his good pleasure and best leisure peruse them The Autors are these 1. Volaterrane in the 8. booke of his Geographie in the description of Macedonie 2. Aeneas Siluius in the description of Europe Cap. 15. 3. Andrew Theuet in his Cosmographie 1. Tome 11. booke Chap. 3. 4. Paulus Iouius Bishop of Nucera in his Commentarie of the affaires of Turkie dedicated to the Emperour Charles the fifth The cause why I haue not set downe the verie text and testimonies themselues as they are in the preface of the French copie is because in manie points they haue varied and erred in the report of Scanderbeg his actions and are much mistaken in the truth of the historie Howbeit I do impute their error vnto this that they being straungers to the Estate and affaires of Epire and hauing intelligence of the deedes of Scanderbeg onely by heare say and by report they could not so truly and exactly set downe the truth of matters as they are here deliuered in this Historie by the Latine Author who being natiue of the same countrey with Scanderbeg and liuing in the same age and time that he did is to be reputed the best witnesse and most perfect reporter of his deedes A CATALOGVE OF THE AVTHORS FROM whence this Historie hath bene drawen Marin Barletius Priest of Scutarie in Epire from whom the most part of this Historie is drawne word for word The life of Scanderbeg of an vncertaine Author Volaterrane Aeneas Siluius aliâs Pope Piùs the second P. Callimachus experient of the battell of Varna Paulus Iouius Andrew Theuet in his Cosmographie Peter Perondin Bartholomew Facius Theodore Spandugin a Gentleman of Constantinople Andrew Cambin Leonardus Chiensis Archbishop
left Greece mourning in her owne sorrowes laments haue we broken the forces of so many mighty and redoubted potentates brought them euen to naught and shall we now suffer through a timerous kind of pusillanimitie these troubles and tumults of Epire to gather strength and to encrease vpon vs shall we yet endure to see that prouince which of late was tributarie vnto vs now to stand in contention and to braue vs by armes what hath the land of Albanie so suddenly of late engendred another sort of Epirots and is it possible that a new vnaccustomed kind of enemie should issue forth vnexpected against vs I am determined once againe to make triall if this nation be so fierce and vntameable and if the hardie and haughtie courage of their obstinate and proud Prince can be brought vnder the accustomed yoke of their subiection We must not from henceforth stand vpon points of subtiltie and vaine pollicies nor must we any more seeke to surprize this enemie by ambushments neither doth the time now serue by the diuersitie of the Leaders and Chieftaines and by ordinarie troupes one after another to fill their hatefull soile with the blood of our souldiers for we see that one and the same kind of misfortune doth follow both our leaders and our armies and whereas we made choise of them to do vs seruice they haue serued to endammage rather our selues thē our enemies Shall we commit another armie to Haly Bassa or Ferisey who besides the wounds and the deformed reliques of their owne forces haue brought vs not so much as one standard or ensigne of the enemies Shall we follow the vnfortunate aduise and counselles of Mustapha and minister paye vnto the Christians and ease their charge in the maintaining of their forces while he is caried onely with a desire to extinguish and free the infamie of his bonds and imprisonment We haue bene so often vanquished taken prisoners ransomed and in briefe so often beaten and discomfited that we haue reason from henceforth to abhorre and to be ashamed of our owne estate and condition we must now therefore take vpon vs the charge of this warre with our best meanes and the vtter most of our endeuors It behooueth vs to vndertake it with such forces to employ so great a puissance and to march into Epire with so mightie an hoast that the countrey may be scant able to containe it nor yet to sustaine the force and violence of our armie By this meanes without any losse or bloodshed shall we purge and clense all the countrey and by a notable discomfiture of our enemies being either expelled and chased quite away or vtterliesubdued and vanquished we shall reestablish those townes in their auncient forme and fashion which by the disloialtie of this fierce nation hath bene withheld from vs or if the peruerse obstinacie and obdurate stubbornesse of this people as it is likely vsuall with them vpon a rash and desperate resolution and of an inconsiderate desire to defende their Prince do betake themselues to armes we will then vtterly destroy these wretched soules who do euen long for their deserued punishment and with a singular reuenge which we haue so long desired we will recompence them for the old wrongs and iniuries which they haue done vs both in publique and in priuate It is your duties valiant and worthie men to vndertake this warre not as you were wont to doe against the Hungarians or other enemies but with a farre greater wrath and indignation as against those which are your slaues and fugitiues and who being most mischieuously affected against you haue now made shewe of their insolent and hatefull mindes which for a long time lay close concealed and dissembled To this effect tended the clamor and continuall speeches of this Orator who full of rage and choller did insinuate nothing else into the eares of his people and they againe very attentiuely did hearken vnto him approuing this his inuention for the warre of Epyre. And being vndoubtedly perswaded that it could not but fall out answerable to the honour and dignitie of his greatnesse all of them with one voice and consent did agree that preparation should be speedily made with al possible diligence for this iorney least failing to make their prouisions in time and season they might through delay and negligence loose the occasion and opportunitie of the spring For the winter beginning now to waxe more milde the tops of the mountains couered with snow began to shew forth and to be discouered Immediatly therefore and without anie delay commissions were directed and proclamations made throughout all the Prouinces and Nations vnder the Turkish obeisance and throughout all the Realmes of his allies and confederates and to such cities and townes by name as the Sultan thought conuenient◠that they should furnish him with so many thousand of horse and foote to be readie with all speede and to repaire vnto him to Andrinople for as yet had not Greece lost the feate of her noble and famous Emperors at Constantinople neither had she at that time cause to mourne and lament their dolefull funerals happening afterwards at such time as they came to be buried and throwen downe vnder the yoke and subiection of the miscreants The rumor of these preparations and huge prouisions brought with it great feare and terror to the neighbour nations and adioyning townes of the Christians who being surprized with notable astonishment were in wonderfull great doubt where and vppon what place the burthen of this warre and the extreame puissance of so great forces would powre forth and execute their bloodie effects For hardly was any man able to coniecture of the secret counsels of Amurath not his owne inward and most priuate fauorites except certen of his councellors in whom as we haue said the Ottoman had a speciall trust and assurance for feare least the enemies being thereof aduertised might prouide themselues both of counsell and meanes to repulse the violence of his attemptes This putteth me in remembrance how in that first expedition of the Turkes against Scutarie the Barbarians were discouered and seene before our walles in a manner before we hearde any thing of their arriuall But in truth it is a policie verie ordinary and vsuall with this warlike nation to giue out a lying and false rumor of some vaine tumult and attempt one way whilest they do bend their forces conuert the whole puissance of their redoubted armes another way to the intent they may the more easily surprize oppresse those who being least aduised are caried away with a vaine kind of light beleefe and pernitious credulitie But the fame and suspition of these preparations caused a generall allarme and tumult on all parts on the one side the Hungarians mistrusting the infidelitie of their perpetuall aduersarie began to betake them to their armes which they had found so vnfortunate and to raise their forces which were sore weakned by
husband for his daughter The conditions and couenaunts of the mariage were as soone and easily agreed on and dispatched as they were thought vppon and deuised Scanderbeg referring it to the discretion of the father to determine of his daughters dowry and as it liked him to ordaine and nominate it so was it freely and voluntarily accepted Neuerthelesse it was correspondent and aunswerable to dignity both of him which gaue it and of the person also which receiued it The espousals were presently celebrated and solemnized and without any delay at all Great were the triumphes and publique reioycings of all the Prouince at this mariage and the Bride was as speedily brought home with a Princely traine and most royally accompanied by all the neighbour Princes and almost all the nobility of the countrey who did honour the feast with great pompe and incomparable magnificence Such as could not be present did honour them with their Ambassadours and most sumptuous presents All in generall did reioyce at this straight knot of affinity betweene these two the most puissaunt Princes of Albany which gaue them some appearance and probability of hope that in time to come their forces being vnited would preserue and defend the prouince against all inuasions and perils of the warre whatsoeuer The Seigniours of the estate of Venice did testifie both by an ambassade as also by rich presents sent him out of their common treasure the great good liking and contentment which that Senate receiued by this mariage And in like manner all other Princes and Potentates did largely expresse the like affection and the singular good will which they bare him in this publique cause of ioy and gladnesse as they had done before in the times of his greatest troubles and daungers for as the common saying is those are the two seasons wherein true amity and friendshippe doth make shew and triall of itselfe That which was sent from the king of Arragon was in all and euery part so singular and magnificall that Scanderbeg as the report goeth would not haue accepted it if his nearest and most familiar friends and the instant prayers and intreaties of the Spanish Ambassadours had not vehemently importuned him thereunto In lieu and recompence whereof after hee had accepted them he sent backe vnto the King other presentes of no lesse value and estimation as horses slaues and other riches and treasures which he had taken as the spoiles of his enemies the Barbarians In this manner was this great feast solemnized with no lesse pompe and magnificence then reputation and renowme For besides that already spoken of the tourneys iustes triumphes and other spectacles of diuerse sorts hauing prizes and rewards of excellent value appointed for those that should best deserue them did stir vp the courages of the young gallants on all parts who shewing themselues couetous of glory and flocking thither to those triumphs did by their presence greatly augment the beauty of that assembly Mahomet was not ignoraunt of any of these things nor of the fortifications of Croy and it is thought that he would willingly haue troubled the ioy of our Albanois but being partly retayned with his domesticall occasions as newe kingdomes commonly doe engender new infirmities and new disorders and partly also being intentiue to the heaping of great summes of money and to the enriching of his treasures he was constrained for a season to forbeare from any such enterprise Notwithstanding in the middest of his threats and menaces as he was very talkatiue and free of his speeches he called his mariage the vnhappy and short ioy of that vnfortunat couple saying that it should not be long ere he would sauce their new contentments with deadly teares and lamentations One thing there was which Scanderbeg had not yet done and which of a long time he had no leysure to put in execution by reason of his continuall lets and hinderaunces of the warres and that was to visite all the frontiers townes and passages of his Realme which at this time he accomplished hauing with him in company his new spouse and a good troupe of horsemen and he spent many daies in that recreation In all places where he passed the people by great flockes in a certaine kinde of emulation did enforce them selues euery man according to his degree to receiue him into their townes with magnificall and royall entertainment and with a thousand sortes of goodly shewes and spectacles and or rich presentes according to the vttermost of their power and abilities they did gratifie both him and his princesse There was not any one but was most gratiously accepted without any shew of dislike or any token of disdaine all of them were receiued with a chearfull countenaunce and like courtesie not onely those which came full handed but euen they also who wanting meanes to shew and testifie their good willes did present him with their good heartes and the prodigall bounty of their affections The King holding on his course in this progresse did visite euery particular place euen to the entry of Macedony and to the very farthest limits and borders of his countrey When he came into the lower Dibria he obserued one place aboue the rest by which the Barbarians had euer vsed and accustomed to make their inuasions vppon Albanie and by sodaine roades and foragings to wast and destroy at their pleasures the goods of the inhabitaunts and to surprize and oppresse them at vnawares For albeit there were many other waies and passages into the Prouince yet this same onely was as it were the most commodious and on that side more then any other did the Christians also vse to inuade and harrie the fieldes and territories of the enemies In this place therefore he determined during that litle time of rest which he enioyed and whilest the troubles of armes ceased to depriue the Turkes of this opportunity of annoying of his people and to prouide for the preseruation and safetie of his subiectes This was a mountaine which they of the countrey call Modrissa very ragged and of a great height from the which the frontiers of the Infidels may be very well discouered a great waie off On the toppe of this mountaine he resolued to build a fortresse and to fortifie it with good store of souldiours such as being prompt and vigilant should by shooting off their artillery aduertise the inhabitants at all times of the comming and arriuall of the Turkes and to the intent also that the neare neighbourhood of that Fort should serue for a place of refuge vnto his people whensoeuer they should be driuen vppon any necessity to flie from the enemy a thing which he had long before conceiued in his thoughts and many times assayed to put in execution but was alwaies compelled to leaue vndone by reason of the daily and continuall troubles of the warres For this cause without making any long delay and for that him selfe would not long dwell in delightes
the midst of our common rancor and hostility there shall be no default nor good-will wanting so farre forth as thy deserts shall require it As touching the surceasing from armes and giuing ouer the ordinary rodes and excursions of our souldiers I can promise thee nothing neither will I tye my self to any thing for I cannot be drawne to like of any appointment but seeing that I my selfe haue bene so disdained as greatly do I disdaine to grant it And albeit our vehement and ardent desire of reuenge in regard of thy owne honest and good cariage may be somewhat abated and mitigated yet assure thy selfe that our publike hatred and enmitie shal be in no part diminished And if peradueÌ„ture either the varietie of times or of fortune do make vs that we shew not our selues so fauorable in this case yet it may be that this our priuat friendship shall not be altogether vnprofitable but that it may fall both to thy benefit honor Hamur after he had kissed the hand of him that was both his friend and his enemy retired himself to his company being neither altogether contented nor yet discontented with this answer Siâ—â—m in like maner within a while after presented himself with the like flatteries before ScaÌ„derbeg at such time as he vnderstood of his being in those quarters and he found him not more obstinate then did his companion for both the common people and the most part of the Albanian souldiers enclining to the peace which had bene so long demanded did shew that they wold not make it very strange nor difficult to accord and agree vnto it Wherfore their minds growing by degrees to like of ease and quietnesse the garrisons were in some sort lessened and diminished in such sort that that Sommer was spent and passed ouer without any troubles or tumults or rather in great slouth and idlenesse About this time happened the sorowfull and vnhappy death of Alphonsus king of Naples the report whereof being brought to Scanderbeg who was then busily employed in ciuill matters concerning his estate and in other affaires of the prouinceâ— it did so sequester and withdrawe him from all occasions both publique and priuate and it did so wound his heart with such extreme sorowe and deepe griefe that hauing lost all remembrance of his late victorie and letting passe all care and regard of his enemies for many dayes together in great discomfort he mourned for the losse of his dearest and best friend And to speake the truth this king was not vnworthie to be lamented with the long and continuall plaints and teares of the Epirots and other his confederates but euen the whole world might well deplore his death And how beit the cleare testimonie of his heroycall vertues hath bene published and highly aduaunced by so many worthy and excellent personages yet might it be imputed vnto me for a great fault ouersight if I should not by the way as it were in a word or two touch it It may well be sayd that when this Prince died there departed the onely and best Mecaenas that then liued For all degrees and qualities of persons both learned and martiall as wel scholers as souldiers were left desolate destitute of their best patron and had iust cause to be sad and sorowfull for his losse With him was extinguished the iust and true reward both of letters and of armes and the true ornament of all commendable exercises There was not his like seene for many ages before nor be it spokeÌ„ without the displeasure of the posterity was there euer any one since him that was so vpright an estimator of the vertues and merits of other men And it is no small matter to be wondred at that being a Prince of so rare incomparable curtesie affabilitie clemencie and liberalitie yet no one Prince of his time did leaue so great riches and treasures behind him Good cause therfore had Scanderbeg to bewaile and lament the losse of so trustie and puissant a friend from whom if we respect either his abilitie or his willingnesse he might at all times and vpon all occasions haue drawne any thing both for his honor and for his profit as out of a plentifull treasurie store-house prepared for his owne priuate and particular vse One thing onely there was which did in some sort comfort him asswaged the bitternesse of his grief that was that he saw himself depriued ofso good a frend by the extremity course of his aged years and not by any rigorous or iniurious right of nature or by other casualty That pietie and dutie which rested on his part to be performed in this behalf he dispatched it presently with all prudence and celeritie sending away with all speed his Ambassadours vnto Ferdinand his sonne both to deplore the accident of the king his father as also to congratulate him as the maner is of his new crowne and dignitie and by the remembrance of his fathers benefits of the friendship and amitie which he bare to the estate of Albanie to renew and increase this alliance and confederacy between them This ambassade was also accompanied furnished with most sumptuous presents as he had alwayes vsed and accustomed and they had expresse charge and order to bring backe Amese with them who had neuer ceased to practise and make meanes by the authoritie and fauour of his friends and the commiseration of his owne misfortune that he might be reconciled and restored to the fauour and good grace of his vncle He was as yet prisoner vnder sure and safe custodie and albeit in this chaunge of the affaires of Naples in this new greatnesse of Ferdinand there were many and great alterations and that in this new and publike time of ioye the prisons were set open most of the prisoners set at libertie yet to the intent that Scanderbeg might not haue cause to find himselfe aggrieued if he should haue bene freed there was especiall care and order taken to keepe him still in ward as a certaine sure pledge of his vncles iust anger This Ambassade was receiued and entertained with great honor good cheare such as the tumult and stirres of that new kingdome would permit for so it was in very truth that all things were then in trouble disorder and the peace of all Italie was broken and disturbed by the decease of the late king Alphonsus Amese being brought backe into Epire was againe committed to prison and carefully kept in sure and safe custody by the order of his vncle though not so straightly as before and that seueritie and rancour which yet remained began by litle and litle to be asswaged by the daily lamentations teares and petitions of his nephew in such sort that within a while after of a fatherly loue and tender affection he gaue him both his life liberty and restored him to his former estate dignities Then Amese bethinking himself of the gages
which he had left with Mahomet was in great feare doubt that if he should take the benefit of his vncles liberality it might fall out euill with his wife and children For this cause after he had with great reuerence and humilitie yeelded thanks vnto the king for his great bountie and singular fauour he spake vnto him in this maner Sir it hath pleased you only in respect of your own patience clemency without any particular merits or deserts of mine to haue a regard of my safetie and to grant me my life it is reason therfore that I also haue some care to the life and welfare of others for feare least if my ouer carefull desire to maintaine my owne safety estate do make me to embrace your liberalitie it may cause me to loose them by your beneficence bountie which I haue heretofore too carelesly lost by mine owne disloyaltie My poore and guiltlesse wife is abiding with the Sultan my tender infants and innocent children are there likewise as yet are they safe and aliue and so long will Mahomet suffer them to liue as he shall thinke me to be your prisoner But if the cruell tyrant shall once perceiue that by giuing me my life libertie you haue estranged me from him and that I am retired to your obeissance the rigorous and seuere creditor will presently either teare them in peeces or will make sale of those gages of my faith and promise and their innocent bloud shall beare the paine of their fathers fault It behoueth me therefore if your Maiestie thinke it good that with some deuice I delude the Ottoman to the intent that I may preserue those my pledges and till such time as I may finde some good oportunitie to free them for altogether This night will I flie out of the towne as though without your knowledge I had broken prison and so will I returne vnto Mahomet There partly by detracting and slaundering of their actions and partly by hearing them detracted by others in the presence of that credulous Prince as I was wont to do when I was in fauour with him I will bring him into a perswasion by my dissimulation and faigning that I am as much or more deuote to his seruice now at this present then I was at anytime heretofore to the intent that all matter of mistrust being taken out of his mind if he haue conceiued any during the time of my imprisonment and by reason of my long aboad with you I may be the better able in the end to get away with all my family It is in you much to further this my inuention if you will make shew openly that you are highly discontented at my flight and doe impute the fault to them vnto whose charge and custody you had committed me In the meane time you may be fully assured and I humbly beseech and intreat you so to thinke of me that during all that time which I shall be there expecting the houre of my escape you shall haue me to be a faithfull espiall and intelligencer to aduertise you of all things which the tyraunt shall consult or determine vppon He shall not imagine any thing he shall make no preparation that shall come to my knowledge but you shall haue present and speedie notice of it Scanderbeg did easily accord to his request telling him that seeing he had graunted him his life and all other things which might serue thereunto either for an ornament or to his contentment that hee should not any way hinder him to vse it to his best profite and aduauntauge that he would in the name of God take it and employ it to the preseruation of him selfe and those also who might lawfully claime and challenge him to be their debtour both for their liues and also for their liberty Go thy waies therefore quoth he take thy time and do as thou seest cause and onec at the length correct thine owne folly whilest thou hast time and leisure so to doe We do giue credit to thy speeches and do allow of thy enterprize If thou doest giue any faith or credit to the Barbarian or doest continue soiorne any long time in his companie thou shalt neither hurt nor deceiue any body but thy selfe only for thou must thinke that thou shalt bring both thy selfe and thine into extreme danger both of bodie and of soule At what time soeuer thou returnest thou cannest not do any thing more to our liking and contentment and thou shalt be alwaies kindly and hartily welcome All things being conueyed accomplished according to the plot which they had layed Amese by the meanes of his vncle was soone shifted both out of prison and our of Croy. The next morning his flight being published and spread abroad the negligence of his keepers was reprooued with some sharpe and hard words At his comming to Constantinople he did soone and easily perswade the Sultan what he listed Notwithstanding he was not fully and wholly restored to his former estate honours and pensions which had bene at the first bestowed vpon him the default whereof was not because his faith was in any sort suspected but for that such was the iniquity and defect of his fortune As concerning his returne againe into Epire all his promises fell to be vaine and sorted to no effect were it that he tooke no care or made no account of it oâ— that he wanted the meanes and oportunitie to conuey himselfe away from thence Whatsoeuer was the cause thereof the report is that within few monethes after he died at Constantinople leauing there behind him both his wife and his children Many do hold that Mahomet caused him to be poisoned being not able to suffer and endure him in his sight whom he held to be the author of his memorable desaster and misfortune in Emathia Thus when he least suspected and mistrusted there did he finde the vengeance and punishment of his treason Such was the end of this personage worthy no doubt to haue his name made immortall if the greatnesse of his minde which was so greedy of raigne and Empire had bene by nature seasoned and tempered with some more moderation of spirite But he that would be the chiefe and aboue all others and could not endure the gracious and gentle yoke of his vncle it happened vnto him as to those of whom Plato speaketh who shunning the smoke and shadow of seruitude doe fall into the very flame and raging fire of bondage All this while did Hamur and Synam continue in quiet not being in any sort molested by Scanderbeg vnlesse that the licenciousnesse of the souldiers might sometimes perhaps without his leaue and license innouatand make some change and alteration He himselfe riding vp and downe the countrey sometimes amongst the Dibrians and somtimes in other places of the Prouince did erect many buildings and enlarged many things to the benefit and ornament of the Prouince especially in Emathia where many
of the Turkes This new and gallant Conqueror Vsuncassan being puffed vp with the wind of his prosperous fortune and with the forementioned crosses and aduersities of Mahomet did send vnto him an ambassade with most rich and sumptuous presents selected out of the huge treasures of the Persians for a shew and ostentation of the glorie of his victorie praying him that he would abstaine from molesting of Trapezond Cappadocia in regard they appertained vnto him as the right dowry of his wife for euen lately before had the gouernor of Amasia ouerrunne and sacked Cappadocia and did make euen Trapezond it selfe to stand in feare of the alarme The Turkish Monarche taking it very scornefully and in ill part that one as he thought inferiour vnto him should seeme to giue prescribe lawes vnto him as it were braue him in his fresh and late receiued calamitie and therewithall the felicity and reputation of this young Prince being very displeasing vnto him he prepared with extreame speede and diligence a mightie army making prouisions for the warre both by sea and land against him and transported it into Asia and hauing caused one part of his nauy sea forces to go before right to Pontus Sinope towards Trapezond himself followed after with incredible celeritie as if he had wings to flie withall he went cleane through Asia with all his forces presented himselfe beyond the opinion expectation of all the world euen to the view of Vsuncassan by whom he was brauely receiued roughly ill handled and greatly weakened in two most fierce cruell battels The one of which was fought by his Lieutenant Amurath Bassa a Greeke discended of the bloud of the late Emperors of Constantinople and who lost his life in that battell vpon the banks of the riuer of Euphrates the second by Mahomet himselfe in proper person in which he was repulsed beaten back pursued euen into the trenches of his camp Howbeit in the third battell foughten at Arsengua or as some say at Tabenda now named Toccara in the fields of Anserina he reuenged his former losses breaking the course of the good fortune precedent victorie of his aduersaries by the helpe of his artillery whereof he had infinite store causing it to play vpon his enemies euen at the instant that they were to begin the fight to giue the onset For the horses of the Persians being terrified dispersed with the vnusual noise thundering of the ordināce did constraine Vsuncassan to yeeld to his misfortune to loose the honor of the field and being put to the retrait he left his eldest sonne Zeinalda dead vpon the place Now come I to my matter I say that Mahomet being reduced to tearmes of some extreamity and his affaires standing but in an euill case by these cruell ouerthrowes which did in a maner shake his estate Empire might at this time haue bene beaten downe without euer being able to rise againe if Italy the other Prouinces of Christendom would haue giuen eare harkened to the continuall praiers and admonitions of the Hungarians the Greekes and the Albanians But they contrariwise being more deafe then had docks did pursue their priuate quarrels and mutuall hatreds contentions and which was much worse not contented to nourish the fire of domesticall ciuill warres they drew strangers to be partakers of their warres and to beare a part in the subiect of their passions for they implored the aide succors of the Albanois in fauor of Ferdinand the bastard sonne of Alphonsus who had appointed him to be his heire to the Realme of Naples against the house of Aniow to whom in right that kingdom appertained And in very truth that Prouince or people of Naples hath serued in all ages times of antiquitie for a notable example of the variety of humaine things and of the vnconstancy of fortune For finding the yoake of them that commaunded ouer them to be smally gratious or pleasing vnto them they were neuer contented and as Publius Sulpitius well saide of them they did neuer liue in quiet except then onely when they had none from whom they might reuolt or against whom they might rebell The manner thereof behold by that which followeth Vpon the decease and death of Alphonsus King of Naples whereof we haue alreadie spoken Fernand or Ferdinand his naturall sonne though illegitimate did enter vpon the crowne and was seized of the Realme by the order of the last will and testament of his father by the dispensation of Pope Eugenius the fourth which was confirmed also by Nicholas the fifth But Calixtus the fourth within a while after vnderstanding of his death the tenth day following by an expresse Bull pronounced the crowne of Naples to be void and escheated to the See of Rome forbidding Ferdinand vnder the paine of excōmunication any way to intermeddle with the administration gouernment therof absoluing also all the Princes Nobles of the kingdom from acknowledging any dutie or alleageance vnto him Ferdinand hauing gotten the copie of his depriuation did appeale from the Pope to the next generall Councell but Eugenius being taken away with a sick nesse only of some three or foure daies continuance euen at the instant that he had stirred vp Peter Lewes Borgias his Nephew to be a competitor to the Realme of Naples it was the occasion that Ferdinand found some remedie against the troubles that were prepared against him Notwithstanding this death of the Pope did not extinguish all tumults within that kingdome for Iohn surnamed Duke of Calabria the sonne of Rene Duke of Aniow was then as it fell out at Genes in Italy and the faction of the house of Aniow did stand waiting but for some opportunity being ready to take armes to begin some tumult vpon the least occasion that should be offred notwithstanding that Frances Sforce Duke of Milan who tooke part with the Arragonois did by an ambassade sent vnto the Princes and Nobles of Naples encourage and exhort them to perseuer in their fidelitie and deuotion to their new Prince and had retained them for the most part either by loue or by force in their dutie and allegeance But because the originall of this warre and the subiect of so many hatreds enmities which haue both giuen cause of encrease to the power of the Ottomans did keep the States of Italy for a time in suspence held the greatest Princes of Christendome for many yeares in care perplexity shall not remaine vnknowen vnto vs it shall be needfull for vs to haue recourse vnto the times that were before in continuing the discourse therof from those daies to this present we must in some sort repeat the matter as it were by way of an Epitome from the first originall of those troubles Charles the 2. king of Naples Sicily and Ierusalem nephew to the French king S.
increased by them The two champions thus resolute and well assured being furnished with short daggers for longer weapons would not the streightnesse of the place permit made their entry into the field were there left with great silence on all parts It is not to be imagined that here needed any great counsel and aduise or any rare and extraordinarie hardines and resolution but onely a certaine promptitude and readines and a quicke and deliuer agility of the hand Both of them now standing vpon their gard and ech readie to offend the other the Scythian gaue the first charge and onset vpon his enemie against whom dressing and bearing the point of his dagger he stroke at his belly with intent to haue stabbed him Scanderbeg bending his bodie in all partes and bowing it arch-wise almost in forme of a bow with his left hand seized on the right arme of the barbarian and stayed the blow and in the same instant aduancing his poignard at one blow he cut his throat and that with such dexteritie as he deuided all the arteries of it asunder So that with his tongue yet staggering and stuttering in his head he tumbled to the ground litle wanting but that he filled al the place with the massie hugenes of his bodie But being soone and speedily remoued by those that stood neere at hand to behold the fight and diuerse of the Courtiers also flocking together full of ioy and gladnes about the Victor they led him safe and sound vnto the presence of Amurath vnto whome being exceedingly ioyous of his good happe with his hands yet all bloody his champion presented the head of the dead Scythian Then were deliuered vnto him the rewardes ordained for the partie that should obtaine the victorie which he accepted as it were vnwillingly protesting that he did not hazard himselfe in that enterprise neither for gold nor siluer but onely to maintaine the honor of the Court and to represse the arrogancie of the barbarian So great was the modestie of this braue Epirot that thereby he allured vnto him more and more the good will of ech person the naturall bountie and dexteritie of his gentle heart abolishing the enuie and hatred which the excellency of exceeding vertue doth vsually engender in men of his sort and calling I hold it not amisse here in this place also to recount one other exploite which he atchieued with no lesse honor and commendation and with like courage by force of armes At such time as he followed Amurath into Bithynia in a voiage which he made thither rather for his pleasure and recreation then vpon any occasion of warre There were at that time in the citie of Bursa which is at this present the capitall city of the empire of Asia two Persians named Iaia Zampsa being of a very faire goodly stature most sumptuously apparelled as is the manner of that nation they came to seeke out the Turkish Prince demanded entertainment in his seruice Ech of thē pleaded in the behalfe of the other and by magnifying and extolling their owne acts the one sought to further the others sute with mutuall testimonies and soothing vp of ech other that it seemed to proceed more of a kind of impudent and shamelesse audacitie then of any valure or resolution in them At last Zampsa the younger of the two spake vnto Amurath in this manner To the intent most mightie and puissant king it may not be thought that we are come furnished onely with glorious speeches and great wordes to demaund thy pay and that the certaintie thereof being vnknowne vnto thee we be not condemned of vaine arrogancie nor of foolish hardinesse and forward temeritie behold here we are readie to make proofe before thee of our courages if not haughtie yet at least desirous of honor and glorie Though there be here many braue men and full of valure we chalenge them all to take armes that it may be tryed whether we be worthy or vnworthy to liue vnder the commaund of thy greatnesse Then shewing that they had no other armes but their horse sword launce and shield and that their bodies were not otherwise armed they sayed that they would combat only thus appointed Amurath as he was both courteous and gracious after he had spoken vnto them with a kind of benignitie he promised them that they should want nothing which on his part might be conueniently yeelded vnto them And then turning his head and looking here and there round about him he stayed to see if any one would receiue the chalenge But perceiuing that euery man stood still and mute and that all his seruants did by their silence bewray a secret confession and acknowledgement of their faintnesse backwardnes supposing it would be smally for his honor reputation if the presumption of those Persians should so rest vnpunished casting his countenance vpon Scanderbeg as being well acquainted with his hardines and fierce courage by meanes whereof he made no doubt but he would vpon any termes vndertake it though the perill were very doubtfull and hazardous he thus spake vnto him What is thy cause of stay my sonne in whom all vertue and valure doe abound so exceedingly This doth belong to thee and the glorie of this victorie doth tarrie for thee Go to then once againe at this time let the gallantise and brauery of thy youth and thy inuincible arme be made yet more famous and memorable by some notable act in this spectacle Litle entreatie needed to encourage him to this attempt for hauing kissed the prince his feete according to the Turkish custome he called for horse and armour to be giuen him and issuing forth with great applause of the people into the middest of a large plaine appointed for the combat with a braue audacity he called his enemies vnto him demaunding of them what order they ment to obserue in the fight The conclusion was that Iaia should first assay his fortune and if he were victorious that then the fight should be determined but if he were vanquished then his companion should succeede him and at all aduentures to abide the hazard of the like condition Scanderbeg would not refuse their order albeit the kings seruantes who accompanied him into the listes did alleage the inequalitie of the order affirming that it was against reason that the party which had the victorie against the one if he hapned to be either weary or wounded should endure a second enemy fresh and sound notwithstanding after that the presse of people was auoided out of the place the trumpet gaue the signall of the battell and the champions set spurres to their horses fetching a full course ech against the other Then the Persian hauing fastned his lance in the shield of his aduersarie bare himselfe close coutched with all his force full vppon him thinking to haue throwen him from his horse and therewithall he brake his staffe vpon him On the other side the Albanois who ranne
onely at the head did misse altogether in his course by meanes whereof both the one and the other hauing runne in vaine they held on their cariere ech passing beside other that they might afterwards betake them to their courtelaxes But Zampsa hauing lost all patience without tarying for the issue and euent of his companions fortune aduaunced himselfe and coutched his lance against Scanderbeg who on the other side quickly perceiuing the danger and that it was not now time with bootelesse termes of expostulation to accuse his enemie of disloyaltie prepared himselfe to assaile him manfully and pressing hard vppon him with his launce he pierced him cleane through the throate Scarcely was he laide on the ground but that Iaia running hastily thither and with an horrible voice addressing himselfe against Scanderbeg with his sword in his hande it litle wanted that he had not slaine him but he speedily gaue his horse the turne and returning vpon him with his sword likewise drawen he sustained the force of his enemie cōming against him And as they redoubled their blowes twice or thrice ech vppon other enforcing themselues to drawe blood one of the other Scanderbeg lighted vpon his right shoulder neere vnto his necke and with one onely blowe he gaue him so deepe a wound that he had well neere cut it off and the vnhappie horse trailed along the bodie of his vnfortunate master almost parted asunder Thus these two stout and hardy warriors to the great contentment of the beholders came to their end by the hand and prowesse of one man alone but had they auoided the death in the conflict yet could they not haue escaped the wrath of Amurath for that so cowardly and traiterously they had surprized his champion and tooke him at the disaduantage Castriot was conducted towardes the Sultan charged with both their heades as being triumphant in a double victorie From thenceforth all his former exploites in the warres and the remembrance of the Scythian lately conquered albeit fresh in memorie were now cleane forgotten and did vanish away to nothing in respect of this new purchased glorie both the Emperour the great Seigniours and all his companinions in generall did honour him with diuerse large and bountifull presents calling him the auenger and the author of their honor and reputation It may be that I haue dwelt ouerlong and beyond all measure vpon the deedes of this worthy person but in my opinion the praise and commendation of men of war and the commemoration of their actes in particular is a principall point which doth wholly and especially belong vnto them For that which is done in the warres others haue their part and interest therein but these exploites did Scanderbeg atchiue with his owne proper hand and therefore my desire is if it must needes be that our discourse should be noted rather to exceed in being superfluous then to seeme ingrate in not giuing him his deserts the rather for that I mind to be but briefe in other seruices effected of like nature and condition of which also I am presently to intreat That which he did in the sight of Amurath at the taking of Nicomedia and Prusia and at Ottrea a good towne in Asia is nothing inferiour vnto his former deedes whether we regard the daunger or the greatnes of the fact for he was the first man that mounted on the wall and displaied his ensigne on the rampier and entring the towne in maner all alone he was the chiefe cause of the winning of the same Likewise being sent into Europe against the Christians sometime against the Greeks and at other times against the Hungarians he did more often purchase the renowme and estimation of a sage prudent Captaine then of one too venturous and ouer hardie If he saw any necessitie that hee must needes ioyne in battell and that he could not either refuse it without suspition or giue it without griefe he would before all things desire of God that it might be far from him to purchase honor by shedding of the blood of Christians to keepe him from vsing crueltie towards them for in outward appearance only and in his externall habit he was a Mahometist but inwardly and in his hart he did most constantly obserue the faith and profession of a Christian Neuerthelesse as often notwithstanding as he was enforced to marche against them he did euer seeke by all meanes possible as litle as might be to endomage them prouided alwaies that he did not thereby wrong his owne forces of which he had the command and gouernment By meanes wherof he did beare himselfe so well did his deuoire in so good fashion and did so fully discharge the dutie of a good and politique Captaine in all seruices of charge both within the campe and in fight that euen the Christians themselues did not maligne him any whit the more for it And this his moderate stayd and aduised behauior seemed to proceed rather of true discipline and prudence militarie then of any fraude ignorance or want of courage and continually did he gouerne himselfe with such arte and dexteritie that he would neuer suffer himselfe if he could chuse to be beaten and yet by all meanes possible would he giue oportunity to the Christians to saue thēselues or if he could not do otherwise he would take them prisoners holding it farre more tollerable for them to endure seruitude and bondage then to be put to the sword and vtterly to be destroyed When he would exhort or endourage his souldiers at any time he did it with such a grace so effectually were it in campe or in the middest and heate of fight that he would worke in them both shame and feare almost at one instant and afterwardes in the furie of fight he would order all matters so subtilly by the liuelinesse of his spirit and the state of his armie should be disposed so cunningly that the preseruation thereof seeming to be with a certaine difficultie and by his extraordinarie vertue did afterwardes purchase him more honour and estimation with Ottoman then others could obtaine by many a notable and famous victorie From thencefoorth there was none that went beyonde him in credite and authoritie about the King and no man was more agreeable and better accepted amongst the souldiers by reason that he was courteous familiar and friendly not challenging to himselfe in particular the honour which was gotten in common but attributing it to the whole companie Whatsoeuer money came to his handes he would distribute bountifully and dispend liberally iudging the same and not without cause to be of great efficacie and force to drawe vnto him the mindes and goodwill of men and the surest bond to tie the heartes of the popular sort vnto him Euerie man of his owne free will and motion and without call would gladly haue beene ranged vnder his ensigne and for the loue of him would expose him selfe freely to the hazarde of all perilles But fortune
puissance and authority Alledging moreouer that he being suspected by those in court it was a good and sufficient proofe of that which he did inwardly intend and aspire vnto All this it was easie to perswade the Prince and the rather for that the accusation of his magnificence and his large expences did openly shew it selfe to be true according to their surmise Also the old age of the Sultan being of it selfe fearefull iealous and suspitious did curiously interpret all other matters to the worst in such sort that a certain doubt did by litle and litle engender in his spirite causing him to be mistrustfull not only for the Realme of Albany but also for the soueraignty euen of his own Empire And his conscience being confounded and conuinced by the gilt of his owne misdeedes and wickednes and the iealousie which he had of his estate ill gotten made him repute all things ful oftrechery and infidelity and to suspect his most inward and familiar frends as most dangerous and secrete enemies This his suspition being augmented he began secretely to hate Scanderbeg and to beare a more watchfull and intentiue eye vpon him to see if he could by any couert and close meanes cut him off and worke his confusion not that his wicked and pernicious will wanted power and liberty to doe any mischief but because he had no reasonable cause nor sufficient colour to procure his death destruction To oppresse him wrongfully and by violence he was afeard because he saw him so well beloued of all men generally and for feare least he should alienate the hearts of others and by an example of such cruelty shut vp and take away in time to come from his Kingdome the hope of all vertues and good deserts by any straungers by which meanes principally the Ottoman Empire had bene amplified and raised vnto his greatnesse But whilest these things were thus a doing other affairs of greater waight and importance happening abroad did sucke and swallow vp these domesticall suspitions distrusts for open warre was proclaimed against George Lord of Misia commonly called the Despot of Seruia The king of Turkes desired nothing more then to commit this charge vnto Scanderbeg and that for two speciall considerations The one because he could not finde any man whose seruice in his affaires was so fortunate as was his The other for that knowing him to be hot forward in the war and prompt ready to hazard him selfe to all dangers he did well hope that he should see him miscarie in some one encounter or other against the enemy as in armes it doth oftentimes betide to diuers For this cause hauing leauied his forces Castriot was sent against the Misians This was at that time that he dealt worser with the Christians then he was accustomed for feare least in temporising attending some fit oportunity of retrait if he should not take the occasion to ouercome when it was offered he might minister matter of suspition to Amurath who was already enclined to take any impression of mistrust in his iealous and suspicious head Oftentimes therfore he defeated the Despot and put him to the worse returning in all conflictes with victory to Andrinople Againe at such time as the said Despot had newly repaired his forces and did begin to make head againe and to reenforce his army Scanderbeg being dispatched against him with more lusty forces did vanquish him in battell and put his army to flight And hauing razed many of his holdes and fortresses he ledde backe his souldiers loaden with the spoiles and rich booty of their enemies These tumults abroad being appeased the old wretch by the like pursuit of his former detestable desseignes did againe addresse himselfe and conspire against him who had bin the author of so notable a victory and of the rest and tranquillity of his estate To this end he caused the same time a solemn Iusts and tournement to be proclaimed both on horsebacke and on foote promising gifts and rewards of great value to them that should beare away the prize to the intent that by this deuise and policy he might expose and put Scanderbeg to all perils and extreme dangers But as his counsails were abhominable so did they appeare to be vain and of no effect For albeit great numbers both of subiects and of strangers all hardy actiue and able men did daily present them selues to this triumph yet did Scanderbeg continually shew himselfe amongst them with an admirable hardines brauery and no lesse good hap held against all cōmers and as one fatally predestinated to be victorious he alone did cary away the honor the prize with the extreme wonder and singular fauor of all men The vnmatcheable vertue in this gentle warriour which might haue sufficed to asswage and mollifie the arrogancy fiercenes euen of his enemies could no whit bend the corage of Ottoman alone to any curtesie or clemency but his distrust ech day growing more forcible his heart also began to be enraged enflamed with anger hatred making him to bethink with himself more ardently how he might by some other secret kinde of death dispatch him But why am I thus caried away in the pursuit of these vain reuenges foolish counsailes of Amurath on the one part the prouidence of Scanderbeg on the other part why rather do I not in a word attribute the safety and preseruation of this man vnto God only Assuredly he it was that confounded the spirits senses of Ottoman he it was that raised vp those disturbances of the wars and new commotions in Misia finally he it was that stirred vp the arms of the Hungarians to the intent that this mans life being vowed and destinated to maintaine the dignity of the Christian religion should not be abridged cut off and that the ancient liberty of Epire might once again be reuiued for had not a kind of diuine power interposed it self in this case there is no doubt but that Amurath had attained to the height of his intent and desire Did he want any means to bring him to his end might he not haue had a thousād deuises with which without the least fear of sedition he might haue circumuented him where were poisons where were secret traines ambushments where were fals and slanderous accusations which are the ordinary weapōs of tyrants to execute their malicious and mischieuous attempts Scanderbeg hauing with great facility discouered these trains secret practises perceiuing that if he cōtinued long about the prince he should hardly be able to auoide his snares he found it high time to bethink himself how he might aduance his affaires for the recouery of his fathers estate by some good vertuous exploit by the subtelty of his own spirit a thing which he had alwaies conceiued in his thoughts by the sweete remembrance of his liberty he deuised some honest colour to quit him selfe of the seruice of
man could imagine to clime and mount to the supreme and highest degree of honour as well in warre as in peace That there was neuer any straunger which had receiued so good entertainement and nouriture in his Court neither had the vertue of any Alien bene so highly recompenced and so honourably rewarded Againe in one and the same instant faining and dissembling to the vtmoste of his power and extreame discontentment and impatiency of griefe and sorrow hee would exalt the loialty of his princes and nobles and would often exclaime and with a loud voice affirme that this notwithstanding was a great good hap and benefit both for him and for the Ottoman Empire to see him selfe freed and discharged from so waighty a burthen as is domesticall fraud and treason that it might be he should haue bene surprised with some other poyson farre more daungerous and with some mischiefe of greater dammage and inconuenience if this plague should haue beene suffered to grow or to continue in his house any longer time that nothing should now trouble his minde and for this fact hee doubted not but it would aske vengeaunce both of God and man it being vnpossible that he should suffer such a crime to remaine vnpunished by which contrary to all right and equity with so wicked and lewd a minde he hadde giuen that victory to the Christians in Hungarie For if he had had any cause or occasion of reuenge against him or any colour or pretence of iust discontentment for the detayning of his patrimony from him and the inheritaunce of his fathers kingdome what could his Army doe to that which with all horrour and cruelty he had brought to the Butchery and had made it neither more nor lesse then as a sacrifice to the enemies What hadde the innocent bloud of his subiectes deserued And in briefe the poore Secretary whereof was he guilty that he might not escape the handes of this bloudy tormentor With such like discourses did the Sultan enflame the hearts of the Barbarians who were already of them selues sufficiently animated against him But nowe ridings being brought one still vppon an other from the partes of Epyre it did more violentlie aggrauate and exasperate his sorrow at such time as it was tolde him that Croie was taken by Scanderbeg that he was possessed of the other places and strong holdes of like waight and consequence that the garrisons were slaine and destroyed and in briefe that the whole estate of his auncestours was remitted and reduced vnder his power and gouernment with the incredible fauour and good liking of all the nation Now albeit these matters went neare the heart of Ottoman and did extreamely grieue him yet hauing in a manner put all other things out of his minde he bent and conuerted all his thoughtes to the warre of Hungarie There was not any other matter or subiect of quarrell or enmity thought on but that onely was it which all men did aduise him to prosecute and which both the desire of euery man in particular and the publique vowes and prayers of all in generall did earnestly long and wishe for Yet did the diuerse and variable opinions of the greatest Captaines hold the minde of the old man in some doubt and suspence some of them who would not be perswaded there was any daunger till such time as they should see all subdued by Scanderbeg were of this minde that it was best to marche with all their forces against the Hungarians and that they ought not by faintnesse and cowardise to leaue the euent and triumph of all the warre vnto those who hadde vanquished and were conquerours but in part onely and yet that neither had they hadde that aduantage and victory of their fellowes but onely by the treason and fellony of his owne followers Furthermore that there was a great difference and no comparison to be made betweene the force of one Bassa with a few vauntcurrers of some twenty thousand in regard of all the puissaunce of Ottoman and of the flower of Asia and Europe and the huge forces which the Sultan hadde for the guard of his person that these were not vsed nor accustomed to be ouercome and conquered But others who did feare some greater ruine and mischiefe were of a contrary aduise and opinion affirming that by how much the more the former did excuse the misfortune of the Bassa laying it vppon the disloyaltie of Scanderbeg so much the more was hee to be blamed in regard of the small number of the enemies for that Huniades with lesse then the moity and one halfe of their number and without any bloud of his souldiours had giuen them so grieuous a checke and discomfiture And whereas they compared the Bassa his forces to the royall army and the greatnesse of the imperiall hoast which they commended so highly these on the contrary did alleadge and willed them to consider the greatnesse of the power of Vladislaus with the renowme of all Hungarie and Poland besides the succours of the Italians guyded and conducted by Iulian the legate Apostolique and the strength and forces of the Almaines all which hadde not as yet any thing entermedled in this warre but in very great deuotion did attend the occasion to enter into this warre with their vtmost power and ability Besides that the Christians would not now in time of neede and extremity leaue or forsake the Despot whose cause they had already so fauoured and vndertaken till such time as they had fully enstalled and settled him in the seate of his auncestors And last of all that Scanderbeg who had newly declared him selfe for their enemy was not to be despised and contemned that there was none of them but knew very well of what and how great spirite and courage the man was and with what good fortune besides his singular experience in the warres he was euer accompanied That hauing in a moment extinguished the name of his aduersaries he was now reentred and repossessed of al the estate of his father without any charge or losse sustained then what would hee doe hereafter when he had settled and assured the affaires of his Realme and gained the hearts and good willes of his subiects That it was not to be doubted but he would stirre vp all Princes Christian to enter into Armes and would spare no trauels dangers nor watchfull labours to exhort and wring from him daily some part or peece of his Empire That it would argue great simplicity in the middest of so many enemies both before and behinde and on all sides and in the middest of so many forces to looke for any other then a very bad and most vnfortunate issue The wisest way therefore and most expedient was for once to yeelde vnto Fortune for feare least shee did often triumphe ouer them and to discouer and lay open vnto her one part of their body for the better couering and safety of that which was most subiect and exposed to her violence
could not commodiously be handled with euery one in particular neither by letters nor messengers nor by him selfe in person it was therefore thought best that a Diet and generall assembly of all of them should be assigned and appointed in some place within the circuite of Albany to the intent that both the presence of the parties meeting together and their voices and opinions being reported and made knowen in common amongst them all it might be the better knowen by the aduise of the whole counsell what course was most meete and expedient to be taken In the choise of the place also he vsed no lesse prudence and modestie for none of all those Princes were summoned to repaire to Croie for feare least it should be thought he would stand too much vppon his greatnesse and would arrogate to him selfe the preheminence in their assembly as also to auoide all occasion of mistrust neither did he conuite them to Apollonia Diana Zabiach or any other towne appertaining to the name of Albanie to the intent he might take from them all matter of enuy backwardnesse or delay which might haue growen if they had bene drawn against their willes out of their own territories or else for feare that they should disdaine to repaire to any place belonging to a straunger because it might be they esteemed their owne townes of as much if not of more worthinesse then those of others As there is a kinde of people who doe preferre and prize anie thing of their owne farre before the like of other mens But there was the towne* Lissa we ordinarily call it Alessia distant somewhat more then two and twentie miles from Croy and situated betweene that and* Scodra This place was thought not vnfitte for this conuocation both by reason of the conueniencie and commoditie thereof as also in respect of the gouernement and dominion of the Venetians being no lesse gentle and gracious then pleasing and agreeable to their good likings for this towne was of their appurtenances Thus were messengers dispatched on all parts to call them together and to signifie vnto them the dayes the place wherein they should assemble Of those which were assigned there was not any one that was vnwilling or negligent in comming not one of them made any excuses or delayes neither was there any businesse as it happened either publike or particular which caused any of them to faile or to stay away but all of them hastened thither with exceeding readie and verie willing mindes This was an euident testimonie what maner of men they would shewe them selues in time to come in other the accidents and occurrences of warre But here it shall not be amisse for the readers a little to retire them selues and that the grauitie of this historie be a while discontinued and my selfe permitted a little to wander and to digresse somewhat from my purpose for as much as my intent is to number vp it may be somewhat too curiously and by roll as it were to register the names of those persons who did with their presence then honour that assembly and conuocation or rather the dignitie and reputation of Epire to the intent the posteritie may haue cause both to grieue and to maruell at the calamitie of the estate of Albanie and at their vile and miserable condition which shortly after came vppon them so sodainly the image and representation of which thinges may serue in time to come for their instruction How beit that peraduenture nothing ought to be taken as ill spoken or ill done which a man doth with a good intent of seruice and piety towardes his countrey his friends and fellow citizens Notwithstanding before I come to recite the names of those who assisted this assembly I hold it not inconuenient likewise to deliuer in this discourse from whence the nation of the Epirots or Albanois hath deriued his originall Some say that the Epirots who are also called Albanois did in times past discend of the noble and auncient people and inhabitantes of Italie who in like manner did possesse a certaine portion and part of Colchida From whence if any doe alledge that the language of Epire or Albanie is deriued it may be that he is not deceiued in this opinion seeing that we finde it written in Strabo that there be in that place vsed sixteene sundry languages and Pope Pius the second a man singularly learned both in diuine and humaine studies and some other moderne writers who haue followed Trogus Pompeius are well neare of the same opinion For Trogus Pompeius affirmeth that the ofspring and beginning of the Albanois was from Italie and he assureth vs that the Albanians did follow Hercules at his departure out of Italie after he had for a space kept those heardes and troupes of cattell which he tooke from Gerion within the mount Alban and that they were ledde thence by him into this Prouince being allured thither by the fertility of the herbage and pastures Of these then are issued the Albaneses or Epirots of whome a part made their aboade in Peloponnesus which at this present is called Morea and part of them seated them selues in Macedony or rather in Albany or Epire. Now of these at this time was Scanderbeg the chiefe A prince couragious and inuincible who in our age had great affaires and kept continuall warres against the infidels for the name of Iesus Christ and did spend almost all his life in armes fighting for the maintenance of the Catholicke faith and many a time did he vanquish and discomfite in open field and plaine battell euen with verie small forces many and exceeding great armies of the Turkes at the sight and presence of whom the troupes of the Barbarians did scarse dare to present them selues In summe by him onely was this prouince for a time retained in their obedience to the Gospell of the Sonne of God But returne we nowe againe to the drift of our discourse Ariamnites Thopia Goleme a man of singular renowme and authoritie both for the continuall and ancient nobilitie of his bloud as also for his notable practise and science Militarie and for the maiestie and venerable regard of his countenaunce a thing whereof the common sort make no meane reckoning being accompanied with a gallant and goodly troupe of men both horse and foote preuented all others by his great speede and diligence and was the first that arriued thither to this Diet. This man in former times hauing bene ill handled by the armes of Amurath had submitted him selfe to his subiection and had yeelded to pay him such tribute as it pleased the Turke to impose vpon him But at this time taking courage a fresh vpon the occasion nowe offered brauely and couragiously he made knowen the hatred and discontentment earst conceiued in his minde and the courage of his heart which he had worthely retayned and preserued And there was no man that was more forward or that put too his
and in this extremity of our affaires not yet altogether desperate and without hope you will succour vs with your victorious Forces Hereunto doe all the princes of Hungarie and of Poland and all good men inuite you Iulian the Cardinall of Sainct Angell intreateth you and so many Catholique and deuout men at armes Christians who are here with vs long since ready in armes and well appointed no other thing doe wee attend then your ensignes This will be a sure meane at this time if you refuse not this fitte opportunitie which God now so graciouslie sendeth vs to vanquishe our common and troublesome enemy and wholly to determine this warre to chase and driue away the Turkes and to dispossesse them of Europe so long time by them occupied and wrongfully vsurped I neede not then as I take it vse any kinde of perswasion vnto you in this cause and quarrell the defence whereof doth purchase vs safety light and liberty Contrariwise being abandoned I will not forehalsen that which may come of it Wee Christians haue beene too too slacke and backeward in doing our deuoyr to helpe and succour each other The flame hath now well neare consumed all of vs yet haue none in the meane time bene aduised or perswaded that this fire would passe on and come neare vnto them selues What doth the estate of the Greekes represent vnto vs and the condition of the Triballians and last of all mine owne losses What Iliade can recount vnto vs all the mischieues wee haue endured and those which doe daily menace vs So many braue and valiaunt Princes the bulwarke and defence of Hungarie which we do loose from time to time aswell in puissant armies consumed and brought to nothing and with one and the same fatall chaunce of warre almost wholly extinguished In such sort that in this Realme from hence forward there is neither family wife nor matrone exempted from bearing a part in this grieuous and lamentable calamity All this and worse by farre do Christian Princes heare of and yet the miserable estate and condition of their Allies can nothing moue any one of them but thus doe they suffer vs on all parts to be exposed to the rage and fury of the common enemies as if we were an offering to be sacrificed to all perils and daungers Onely Eugenius the chiefe Pastor of the Church and Philip Duke of Burgundie are to be excepted who haue not reiected nor refused the burthen of our afflicted and miserable Fortune The one hath sent hither his legate the Cardinall of Sainct Angell with notable and puissant succours and the Duke of Burgoyne with his Army at sea hauing aduentured as farre as Gallipoly doth valiantly hinder the passage of the Turkes into Europe One other hope there is not now farre from vs and that is the succours whereof we are so desirous the which we doe require of you being moued thereunto partly by your valour so well knowen and notorious and partly also in regard of the imminent perill and the hazard of the common affaires which presseth vs all in generall And albeit we are not ignorant of the discommodities which may befall you in this expedition we pray you notwithstanding that they may not withhold and keepe you backe assuring you that as it cannot be but to your great honour so the benefite of this your present desert shall not be bestowed on persons of an vngrate and thankelesse spirite But that which you shall at this time beginne and vndertake for our preseruation and dignity we will from henceforth and euermore continue for your glory and for the increase of your greatnesse God haue you in his keeping From Bude our Capitoll and chiefe city the fourth day of Iuly 1443. By this time had Haly Bassa brought backe the reliques of his defeated army vnto Amurath howbeit that the newes of his desaster oftentimes reiterated had made way before him Some say that he was sharply reproued by the Ottoman who obiected vnto him by way of reproach that it was not likely that so puissant an army could haue bene almost wholly ruinated without some great and notable cowardize or some counsell rash and timerous Sometimes he would exclaime and say that his army was betrayed sometimes he would alleadge that either it was surprized by the negligence of the Generall or that in comming to the encounter they had giuen the aduantage of the place vnto the enemy whereof it proceeded that so great a desaster and misfortune had fallen vpon his people Now albeit Haly Bassa could not deny but hee had bene ouerreached and preuented by our ambushments the which might haue deceiued any man were he neuer so polliticke subtill and circumspect yet did he excuse himselfe neuerthelesse calling his souldiours to witnesse that there was nothing in him to be reprehended but the variable and inconstant chaunce and lotte of Armes and that there wanted neither good order nor discipline nor the aduauntage of place nor the oportunity of charging at a fit and conuenient time Finally that neither the souldiours did faile their Captaine nor the Captaine their souldiours But if it would please his Maiesty to permit him once more to attempt and make triall of his Fortune he would make him to see that he had a deuise and stratageme by which he would bring it to passe that this prosperity of Scanderbeg should proue dolefull and lamentable The vaine promises of the Bassa did soone moue the Sultan who being now more animated then euer was willing that in any case new forces shoulde speedily be prouided if the other Bassaes and Councellours especially Caly Bassa making him to change his aduise had not shewed him That another war of greater difficulty and consequence did fall vpon his shoulders that the enterprise of Epyre might with safety either be deferred or omitted but so could not the tumults of Hungarie but that it behoued him carefully to attend and looke vnto them In the middest of these affaires the letters of King Vladislaus being brought to Scanderbeg were a speciall meane and occasion to moue and induce him to giue him aide and succours For a more honest cause and fitter occasion of warre could not haue bene found then was the same ministred at that time This notwithstanding for that he would determine nothing without the aduise of those with whoseayde he was to serue him selfe vppon all occasions hauing called together his chiefetaines he would that the kings letters should be read openly in full assembly of a generall councell And there was not any one who did disalow of that warre for that the excessiue greatnesse of the Ottoman Empire encreasing from day today did animate euery one with the spurres of wrath and indignation and did sollicite their mindes almost trembling and quaking for feare of more grieuous inconueniences and did ad mouish all the world of the vnfortunate condition of the Christians and of the former fortune sometimes inuincible of the Hungarians
puissance made the Christians to keepe good watch ward throughout their hoast and in all the quarters of their campe euery man being cōmanded to make himselfe ready to the battell Vladislaus in the meane time and the other Princes his confederates entring into councell did consult vppon the seuerall occurrences of their affaires debating vpon many and diuers matters which were propounded of no small weight and consequence but the conclusion was that they would hazard the fortune of the field in case that Amurath would accept the battell The whole charge of the armie and the ordering and marshalling of the seuerall squadrons and troupes was committed to Hunyades to dispose of it as he saw cause in the execution whereof he made shewe both of his best deuoire and endeuour and of all the skill and experience which he had of a long time purchased by the practise pursuit and managing of armes For he so placed and ordered his armie that behind them and at their backes they had the mountaines to defende them the one of the flankes was garded with the marrish aboue mentioned and the other was fortified and defended with chariots chayned and bound together The Turkes were the first that beganne the fight the which hauing continued for a while the vantgard of the Turkish armie was receiued so couragiously and pressed with such furie by the Christians that as if the victorie had beene alreadie gotten by them the same was soone disordered and put to flight and pursued more then two miles off in so much that Amurath himselfe had beene driuen to shift for his owne safetie if the two Bishoppes of Varadia and Strigonia who were better skilled in their Portuisse then practised in armes had not disbanded them selues vnaduisedly and forsaken the place assigned them onely for the chasing of the enemie on that side where they were broken which was the occasion that a great and freshe troope of Turkish archers on horsebacke charging in flancke on that side which they had abandoned and left vndefended did finde an easie entrie in vppon them and they greatly troubled the rankes of our footemen with a shower and tempest as it were of their shotte and arrowes which they powred vppon them thicke and thinne Hunyades with his Valachians running speedily thither presently vppon his arriuall chaunged the fortune of the fight which continued for a long time doubtfull and vncertaine Afterwardes hauing his eye open on all partes and to all occasions wheresoeuer he saw his owne forces to haue the worst he succoured the left wing which as then also was sore encombred and was not able to sustaine and endure the shocke of the enemy but he notwithstanding still vphelde and maintained them in good point Yet would he not hinder but that Amurath in the meane time founde the leasure opportunity to re-ally himselfe and by the encouragement of Haly Bassa he made head with his squadron of Ianissaries and renued the perill of the encounter Hunyades was in great doubt feare of his young king whose fiery and haughty courage did giue him great cause to suspect some hazard and misaduenture by his rashnes and temeritie And indeede it fell out that the vnfortunate Prince of an hardie and inuincible courage had broken in vpon the rankes of the Ianissaries fighting and beating with the men at armes vpon the troupes of horse which serued for the gard of Amurath his person Great was the number both of men and horses which were there laide on the ground some of them being slaine and others hauing their legges cut off or maymed In so much that they could not any longer march vppon the plaine ground but they were constrained to make themselues way vppon the heapes of dead bodies ech pressing and rushing vppon others so egerly and fiercely that a man would haue iudged it rather a meere rage and furie then any ardent and vehement desire of victorie that animated them on in this conflict The Ianissaries stoutly sustained the force and violence of the Hungarians which were in company with their king yet did he himselfe in the end breake in amongst them and they most politiquely receiued him into the middest of their battallion whereof it ensued That being held either as dead or taken prisoner at the same instant that the Turkes were now turning their backes and readie to flie away the Christians also on the other side as hauing left their king did beginne to abandon the place and in steede of fighting fell to plaine flying In this manner both the one partie and the other beganne to giue place to their enemie in so much that ech of them was ignorant of their owne good successe and aduantage in so suddaine and variable an inclination of their fortune Vpon these alterations Iohn Hunyades seeing the Christians in disaray and most fearefully and shamefully to forsake their rankes he made himselfe way through the middest and thickest of the presse and being come to the place where Vladislaus then was he shewed him the disorder the affray and confusion of the Christians hee cryed and called vnto him he requested and entreated him to turne bridle and to yeelde vnto the present mischance and not to hazard all to vtter mischiefe and to the misfortune of an entire discomfiture that there was as yet great good hope of the victorie and that it attended and stayed for him considering that the losse on his side was so small and of so litle account that it appeared in a manner as none at all and that therefore it were good he did retire himselfe within his Chariots and trenches with his men safe and sound as they were ere they were altogether scattered and dispersed For the losse of his life alone would not onely hazard and endaunger his owne realmes dominions but the state of all Europe and the whole bodie of Christendome All these perswasions and reasons notwithstanding the king still thrusting himselfe most vndiscreetly into the midst of his enemies after a sharpe furious conflict his horse being wounded hought he was in the end ouerthrown to the groūd and so slaine in the companie of many of his Nobles both Hungarians Polonians Hunyades for a time held good and made resistance endeuouring and assaying diuers times to haue rescued the kings body but all was in vaine For the head being cut off and fastened vpon the end of a launce the Christians vppon sight thereof being on all partes terrified and abashed did seeke by maine flight to purchase the securitie of their owne persons excepting certaine Valachians with whom their Chiefe and leader Huniades seeing that he could not stand against the huge multitudes of the Infidels tooke part also with the rest in the retreate Holding it no disgrace after the decease of the king that some should remaine to reuenge the ignominie of this ouerthrowe and to extinguish the memorie of so dishonorable a defeat And
Castriot otherwise Scanderbeg the Champion of Iesus Christ and Prince of the Epirots to Ottoman Prince of the Turkes sendeth health The time was wherein as thou writest thy selfe diddest once surmount me in number and multitude of benefites but now will I vanquish thee in modestie and temperancie of speech for I hold nothing more base and seruile then not to abstaine euen against a deadly enemie from leud speches and dishonest termes For this cause I haue both seene and entertained thy messenger and haue receiued thy message in all good and frendly manner and to speake the truth thy letters haue giuen me cause and matter of laughter rather then of wrath or anger considering that euen in the beginning and entrie of the preamble thou aduenturest to taxe me of so great ingratitude and infidelitie and yet presently after seeming to be moued with a more tender kind of affection thou alledgest vnto me the losse and perdition of my soule whereas thy selfe being a most vehement and obstinate defender of an inuerterate and grounded error art wholly ignorant of the wretched end and destinie that doth attend thee from that matter without obseruing anie rightes of warre or good forme of proceeding most vnaduisedly and imprudently I will not say impudently as a vanquisher to one vanquished thou dost propound and set me downe many conditions of peace and so strange that hardly can any free eares endure to giue them the hearing Assuredly Amurath although so outragious speeches might arme the most patient man liuing to returne the like againe yet will I impute part of them to thy aged yeares and to thy naturall disposition seeing it is a propertie incident to old men to be lauish of their tongues and the residue will I attribute to thy griefe discontentment which it is very difficult and hard to moderate but especially I am content to suffer it because it is no part of my meaning or deliberation to contend with thee in vaine disputes and reproches but by iust armes and with the courage of true enmitie Notwithstanding to what purpose I pray thee ô Ottoman doest thou take on so both before God and man as though that I had giuen thee not thou to me the first offence Doest thou count this to be infidelitie that I reuolted from following of thee being compelled thereunto by necessitie doest thou obiect this for a crime and reproch vnto me that I recouered my Countrey by vertue and industrie But go to let it be so neither doe I greatly care to be held guiltie of this trespasse the benefites also shewed me which thou so at large and so orderly doest reckon vp I my selfe could bee verie well content to remember them were it not that the knowledge thereof doeth draw with it the dolorous remembrance of an infinite number of great and greeuous mischiefes and calamities the which if the one should bee compared and recompensed with the other assuredly the greatnesse of the desertes and merites would soone be buried and ouerwhelmed vnder a greater heape of the mischiefes and misdeedes But I hadde rather shame should make mee blushe to heare thy selfe as thou doest recount them then that I should be driuen to rehearse or to recite them Yet one thing there is which who soeuer knoweth it cannot but wonder and greatly maruell at and that is how either I could haue the power to suffer and endure them or thou the heart neuer to be satiate or satisfied in doing of so many cruelties and in the continuall and daily practises of such mortall and deadly hatred My fathers kingdome most wrongfully and iniuriouslie hast thou detayned from mee my bretheren hast thou caused to be murthered most cruelly and my selfe not doubting or suspecting anie such matter diddest thou of late most wickedlie vowe and destinate to the death and yet for all this doest thou O Amurath thinke it straunge that my minde being euen then not vnmindefull of libertie hath sought out some meanes to escape and winde it selfe out of so hard bondage and subiection How long diddest thou thinke that I would haue endured thy so insolent and proud gouernment Yet did I for a long time suffer many things neither did I at any time refuse the yoke in thy seruice All my life time did I expose my selfe to all perils and daungers both publique and priuate both of mine owne disposition willingly and at thy commandement to shewe my obedience and duty vnto thee euery day did I heare speaches dispersed concerning thee and amongest my friendes and familiars I heard no other talke ordinarily then of thy snares and trappeâ— layed for me and yet was I perswaded for a long time that all thy wordes and deedes were free both from fraud malice and treason till such time as thy wicked and blouddy counsailes and deuises did discouer themselues most apparauntly Then began I for the time to dissemble also carying a watchfull care and regard continually vpon thy subâ—leties and pollicies till I might finde some honest and conuenient meane to enfranchise my liberty Thou hast not thereby any cause to be agreeued or to complaine seeing that as the saying is thou art wounded with thine owne weapon yet are these but trifles O Amurath in respect of those things which the hope and desire of my heart hath conceiued and doth ayme at Leaue off therefore henceforth these thy sharpe threates and menaces and desist from obiecting vnto vs so often the lamentable mishappe and misfortune of the Hungarians Each man good Sir hath his owne courage and each one his owne nature As for vs whatsoeuer fortune it shall please God to send vs wee will take and beare it patiently In the meane while neither will we take any consell of our enemy of that we haue to doe neither will we seeke or intreate for peace from thee but relying vpon the diuine fauour and clemency we will endeuour to triumph ouer thee with a most glorious and triumphant victorie Adieu From our Campe the twelfth of Iulie 1444. Ottoman hauing perused the contentes of Scanderbeg his letters and learning of Ayraden by word of mouth the rest of his cogitations and deliberations was nothing well pleased neither with the one nor with the other but on the contrary the fierce and liberall speach of the man and his wonderfull trust and confidence which he knew did not proceede of nothing did ingender in him mighty feare and terror rather then sharpen his anger and displeasure which he had formerly conceyued and he tooke it as a manifest presage and augurie of the difficulty of the warre of Albanie Notwithstanding that he might not bewray vnto his people any appearaunce of feare or cowardize it is reported that in smiling wise oftentimes stroaking of his beard with his hand he should vtter these speeches Thou doest couet most vnhappy and vnfortunate wretch thou doest couet some memorable and famous kinde of death and thou shalt haue it beleeue me
vsual thing that the crosses of Fortune and aduersity doth soone cause men to wax weary of wars concluded to giue himselfe some rest from this toilesome exercise of armes and from thenceforth no more to feed the enemy with the bloud of his subiects but determined to surcease from war till such time as himselfe poore old man who seemed to threaten more danger with his beake then with his talents guided and led on by his sinister vnhappy destiny went thither in person to seeke the end of that glory which he vainly promised to himself and the fruit of that victory which he had most idlely conceiued in his thoughts Yet did he in the meane time command Mustapha to leauy new forces and sent him again into Epire but with expresse charge not to ouerrun nor endamage the enemies countrey nor vpon any occasion whatsoeuer to assaile Castriot but onlie to gard his subiects and his frontiers from all molestations and incursions without any care taken for the purchase of conquest or victory to containe him self within his limits and not be drawen forth to any seruice whatsoeuer And surely we must needs thinke that God did wonderfully prouide for the good and welfare of Castriot in that he inspired the minde of so mighty and redoubted an enemy with such a thought and resolution euen at that time when he was entred into a new war against the Venetiās The comming of Mustapha and the newes of the massacres of the prince of Dayna being reported at one the same instant to Scanderbeg made him diuersly distracted in his thoughtes and cogitations and did greatly perplexe his minde Notwithstanding the Barbarian with whom it was an ordinarie matter to be vanquished did not so much trouble him but the horrible accident of that Prince his singular friend and his end no lesse cruell then lamentable did so oppresse his heart with grief that it was thought it would go neare to kill him Besides this his sorow was much aggrauated when he heard of the determination of the Lady Bossa and that the Venetians had vndertaken her cause and made it their owne proper quarrell for true it was that the gouernors of the places next adioyning had fortified all of them principally the town of Dayna with strong and great garrisons Behold here now the occasion of their dissention and the originall of the quarrell the Prince of Epire found himself aggrieued with the Venetians in that they would seeme to pretend any right to the state of him that was dead wold chalenge it vnto them selues seeing that the resignation which the mother had made vnto them was of no force concerning those goods which her sonne in his life time had ordained to be left vnto him and there was no reason that the rash wilfulnes of the mother should be any lawful preiudice or make voyd the intent and meaning of the sonne For it was euident apparant that there was a former compact past betweene him Zachary that he that was the suruiuer of them twaine should be the others successor and enioy his dominions this their agreement was confirmed by a solemne oth betweene them what the right of law was in that case either for the one or the other I leaue to the lawyers to debate it true it may be that the diuine power by the fortune of the warre did equally deuide their controuersie But here in the meane time may also good Christianlike minds see the fruits effects of ambition and auarice In this doubtfull state of his affaires Scanderbeg being more carefull now then euer did continually keepe neare the forces of Mustapha and coursing vp down euery where with a very small numbar sometimes by aduenturing him self too farre and sometimes by faining of flight and by retiring of his colours in disorder in vaine did he seek to prouoke the wylie General of the Turks to issue forth to the fight the which to his cost he had once made proofe of But now seeing that he refused the combat wherby he was out of all hope either of doing of any exploit or of any meanes to surprize or circumuēt him he there left all those forces which he had with him vpon the borders of the enemy to preuent all new occasions of tumults and to represse the insolencie of the Turks himself bending all his thoughts to the preparation of the war of Daina with a very small company attending him tooke his iorney presently towards Croy. There knowing that the deciding of this debate was not likely to be otherwise then by force of armes he speedily commanded a publike leuie of soldiers and himself riding all ouer the prouince with some of his most notable ancientest Captaines for the raising of men he assembled a mighty armie And then without any delay before that those of Daina should haue the leasure to prouide themselues of corne he cōpassed their citie with his forces round about girding them in with a strong and straight siege and omitting nothing that was to be done sometimes by gentle perswasions sometimes by rough intreatie he employed all his study and indeuors to solicit them within to yeeld themselues to his deuotion for he was in great doubt least if this oportunitie of seizing vpon the towne did slip from him the newes thereof flying in the meane time to Venice wold animate and stir vp the Senators of that citie more earnestly to take vpon them the defence therof send thither fresh succours and stronger forces out of Italie He refrayned notwithstanding frō the spoyling of the country which is cōmonly the first mischiefe that foloweth vpon the siege of any place for doubt lest the minds of the Danians being more eagerly bent should be made the more constant and resolute to continue faithfull to the enemy neither did he assay with artilery to batter their wals nor to force the town by Escalados or assalts but only debarring the inhabitants from all maner of renuing refreshing themselues with victuals or munitions he threatned them with the danger of famine which was not far from them and with the discommoditie of a long tedious siege by meanes whereof when they should hereafter be constrained to submit themselues vnto him then all too late imploring his mercy and compassion they should feele all these extremities which the iust rigor of a conqueror should impose vpon them The Gouernors of those prouinces which were subiect to the Venetians the Captains of the townes neare adioyning being aduertised of the state of the besieged gaue notice to the Signiorie of Venice and hauing commission returned vnto them with no lesse speed celeritie they leauied suddenly in great hast soldiers of all sorts both Albanois and Italians with all which kind of people the next garrisons were ordinarily stuffed by the order of the Venetians and with these they marched on with full purpose to
that there remained a strong power before the city By this time were the armies come in sight and nowe did approach the daie of good or ill fortune to the one side or the other immediatly there followed a strange sudden silence in both armies ech of them resting themselues with great quietnesse The ensignes being fastned on the earth the Marshals did presently make choise of a fit place to encampe in where both the souldier might lodge most at his ease and the leaders by their often exhortations might coÌ„firme those which were resolute encourage others who were not fully resolued The gouernment of the Venetian army was committed to Daniell Iurich of Sebenca a man of an assured experience and practise in deedes of armes the common people call him the Voyuada he hauâ—â—g appointed euery man to his place and hauing prepared all things readie to the combat thus beganne to speake vnto his souldiers Such is the folly and temeritie of men that they thinke all things to be lawful for them when their thoughts are once tickled with the prosperous successe encrease of their fortune Hereof it proceedeth that the mind hauing no power to coÌ„mand it selfe being altogether impatient of her present prosperitie wandring sometimes here sometimes there it troubleth the coÌ„mon rest of others for her owne pleasure doth moue procure warres till such time as in the end by a miserable wretched issue it receiueth the iust chastisement of her vaine conceite imagination An example hereof my good friends is here represented vnto vs in this our enemie no lesse proud then presumptuous who by his vnhappy audacity his excessiue fortune is now growen to this point that he dareth to raise warre vpon warre and to molest those Princes of whom if he will consider the benefits he hath receiued there is not any one thing excepting his temeritie but he may attribute it vnto them wholly But the good hap of his affaires hath now so peruerted his senses that it behooueth vs not onely at this time to take armes publiquely but in priuate also to hate him mortally Behold turne aside your eies to the pitifull estate of the Dainians to the intent the iust wrath of their iniurie the honest care of your friends may animate your courage You ye citizens of Scutarie haue many of your children many of your brethren many of your kinsmen friends allies both Sclauonians Italians all of them hardie good souldiers enclosed shut vp within that garrison where being mewed vp by disloialtie of the enemy being brought to the vttermost point of all extremities they haue no other hope remaining but only in your valure vertue Long time haue they attended you in sorrow in suspence in great care expectation longing looking aloft from off their wals that either your powers shold now restore them to their libertie or else hauing lost all hope of coÌ„fort they must be enforced shamefully to submit theÌ„selues to leaue their liues to the mercy of Castriot vnder the view of his pride who is so insolent vnmercifull in his victory as his like is no where to be found as one who hauing bin of a long time nourished vp amoÌ„g the Barbarians doth excell in all barbarousnes inhumanity For to omit other matters can there be any greater temeritie then this can there be any folly more notable then by so leud an example to debarre men froÌ„ the libertie of protecting of others in the right of their own goods possessions And by meanes thereof most wickedly to purchase to him selfe al that he can seize vpon vnder this vaine pretence of I know not what coÌ„pact agreement to excuse his greedie desire of coÌ„mand abrogating by this meanes and taking away from men all the rights of their libertie His ambitious mind is enraged that the Venetians should be preferred before him by the Dainians he impugneth the voluntarie mind of the mother in the disposition of the heritage of her own sonne deceased but you may see how the malladie infirmitie of his owne mind and the vehemency of his despight hath so blinded and inueigled him that being transported with enuie he runneth headlong to his own destruction for he could not endure to put off the care of this warre till such time as hauing chased away this enemie the Turke who is daily at his dores he might haue bin the better able to vnite all his forces to haue come with al his whole power to execute his hatred against the Venetians neither hath he bin so well aduised as to ioyne battell against vs with any great forces though it be in sight of the towne besieged But he this expert warrior hath separated his forces here and there shewing himself therin a more vpright iudge to you then to himself to further your cause more then his own And whilst that the siege of Dayna on the one side the care doubt of Mustapha on the other doth not suffer his mind to enioy any rest or quietnes he hath reserued this army not as a fit enemie able to encounter with you but as a sacrifice rather to be slaughtered by you Wherfore seeing you are so many braue warriors against an handful of robbers goe to theÌ„ and charge them valiantly cease not till you haue vtterly ouerthrowen them Let your valure prowes enforce their foolish vaineglorious hearts either by loue or by constraint to acknowledge confesse that theÌ„selues are guiltie of the iniustice of this warre which they haue vndertaken so iniuriously And these being once chastised for their folly you shal not need to take any further care nor to redoubt those their forces which are remaining before Dayna For then pursuing the good successe of this battell we may at one and the same instant preuent their purpose by going to charge them first and they within issuing out vppon their backes shall enclose and hedge them in on all sides by meanes whereof we shall finish and bring to an ende a most notable peece of seruice and exceedingly famous The oration of the king of Epire was more milde and not so sharpe and inuectiue neither was it so replenished with ill speeches tending to the disgrace of others but as some say it was neere to this effect that followeth Whether the cause of this present warre be iust or not it is not now time my good friends quoth he to make any question seeing we are come armed into the field nether is that now to be debated on when we are in view of the enemie considering especially that my self was the man that made you to take armes with whom you neuer yet had iust cause to be agreeued either for refusing any war that was lawfull or for seeking any quarrels which were vnlawfull vniust But seeing it is so that in all humain affaires nothing doth more
sent vnto him by the order direction of the Senate at Venice to entreat a newe agreement of peace and amitie betweene them and the time of their comming was hourely expected Scanderbeg therefore according to the vsage and custome of great personages hauing sent the chiefe of his nobilitie with a great traine to meete them entertayned them most honorably and hauing feasted them in verie sumptuous and bountifull manner the next day he gaue them full audience to deliuer their charge and commission The effect whereof was this That the Prince of Epire should breake vp his campe before Dayna and withdraw his forces because it had bene once receiued into the gard and protection of the Venetian state and that therefore the soueraigntie and absolute iurisdiction of that towne should fully and peaceably rest and continue in their handes that Scanderbeg in liew and counterchaunge thereof should haue the whole right and Seigniorie in a certen countrey lying vpon the riuer of Drinon with all that circuit of land which was called Busegiarpeni This conditiō of the peace was no sooner propounded but it was presently accepted by the Albanois and without any delaie or refusall he held himselfe well contented and satisfied with that which the Ambassadours had appointed vnto him wherefore the peace being concluded and agreed vpon and the assurance and all things else well and orderly dispatched a generall silence being commanded for that this worthie and magnanimious prince did prepare himselfe to make some speech vnto them and to giue them some notable shew and token of his magnificence liberalitie he thus began to say vnto them My hartie wish and desire is that that prince were yet liuing amongest vs whose death was the beginning and first occasion both of my iust griefe and of these wearisome warres which I haue had with you for whilest I sought to recouer from you the possession of Dayna stayned with the blood of our Citizens by the mishap of an vniust warre I would not at this time haue seene this prouince of Christians and of our friendes and allies to be ouerwhelmed with so many mischieues but I would haue gloried in the obseruation of peace and amitie inuiolably with that most honorable and worthie Senate the interruption and troubling whereof at this present happening vpon so small and trifling a cause my hart will not of a long time but greatly grieue at But this breach and debate grew vpon another occasion for your taking of armes is to be excused in that the disloialtie of others by their sinister and peruerse counsels did easily estrange and alienate from me the hart and good affection of that * Ladie and most malitiously and with a certaine affectation of flatterie did conceale that which was agreed betweene Lech and me and were the authors that Dayna did yeeld it selfe into your protection It was not you therefore with whom I found my selfe so much agreeued neither did I take armes to conuince you of iniustice nor yet to impute anie ambition or greedie desire of Empire vnto the Venetians whom as yet no age did euer heare to haue enterprised or authorised any warre that was vniust and against equitie But one thing there was which did not a litle displease me that you had lesse trust and affiance in me then was requisite and whilest you gaue care and builded vpon their tales and reportes you thought me to be ambitious and to be led with a desire of trouble and contention I therefore seeing that right was not to be had but by armes onely did lay hold vpon this occasion of the warre which was in a manner cast vpon me and euen as it were put into my handes But now most gladly doe I laie aside my weapons God himselfe being willing to haue it so more then that if your selues had not required it euen this territorie which by the ordinance of the Senate you haue giuen me in recompence of Dayna and for the confirmation of this our league and amitie holding my selfe well satisfied onely in the good will and francke offer of your Senate and doe willingly embrace the good will and friendshippe of those liberall and magnificent princes As for any other thing I neither desire nor accept of but if occasion serue and neede be all this territorie which I haue my whole estate and my goods and substance yea my very life will I vow and consecrate for you for your children and for the maiestie of your Empire Scanderbeg hauing finished his speech tooke order that Heraulds should be sent throughout all the Prouince to publish vnto the people the glad tydings and ioyfull newes of this peace so much desired the siege also was broken vp and raised and the sconces and other fortifications made during the siege were beaten downe and razed the souldiers in all mirth and ioy laying aside all hatred and malice both in publique and in priuate did friendly entertaine and welcome those of the towne and did inuite them into their tentes and pauillions Immediately also vpon this treatie Andrew and Volcathagne were deliuered and permitted to goe at large where they thought good all other things which had bene lately taken from the Scutarians and their neighbours as villages castels fortresses and such like they were rendred and redeliuered to the ambassadors The day following after many triumphes and many goodly shewes as the manner is publiquely had and solemnized the Ambassadors were dismissed but not without many rich and sumptuous presents Then Scanderbeg being naturally of a liuely and stirring disposition and being impatient of rest and not able to endure idlenes presently he led his troupes to the Turkish frontiers with intent to wast and spoile them as he was vsually accustomed where gathering in one the olde garrison and the rest of his companies with both incorporated together he seemed to haue a good and faire armie in such sort that a man would haue thought those forces sufficient not onely to pill and spoile the fields but to enterprise vndertake and execute some great and notable good peece of seruice so cheerefully and contentedly did ech of them follow on to receiue the deserued pay and stipend of their long seruice and warfare For in those daies the souldiers did not expect nor demaunde any other wages of their Generall then what they could get and purchase vpon the enemie by the sword and force of armes Hereof it grewe that the Princes his neighbours were wont in way of mirth and iest to call the territorie of the enemie Scanderbeg his treasurie Afterwardes parting his hoast into three seuerall troups he entred on all sides vpon the borders of the Sultan where he spent two whole daies in ouerrunning pilling and harrying of the countrey the souldiers being their owne pay maisters for their paines at the cost and charges of the inhabitants who went not scotfree without the losse of their liues except such as being baptized were
neuerthelesse when he perceiued and vnderstood that his scoutes did on all sides returne vnto him with more then posting speede and their reportes did agree all in one saue that they differed in the number and quantitie of the enemies forces of which they coniectured diuersly for the Turkes were not yet seene nor discouered altogether neither were they descended all of them into the plains neither were their Batallions so vnited and ordred that a true and certaine estimat could be made of their iust numbers Castriot thereupon choosing out of his whole army 4000. horse and 1000. foote whom he commaunded to follow him and dislodging as secretly as he could from thence drew directly towardes Sfetigrade where he knew that the enemies were to encampe themselues It was in the dawning of the morning in the twilight that the souldiers had the signe giuen them to set forward The day following notwithstanding when it was scarce the third houre of the night they came to encampe within seauen miles of Sfetigrade betweene which towne and Croy were litle lesse then 60. miles There Scanderbeg hauing chosen a place sure and commodious for his company caused it to be entrenched round about making it by that meanes more strong and defensible Afterwards hauing distributed both horse and foote into the seuerall quarters of the campe he commaunded to set the watch and to place the courts of guard and then secretely to search out what places were fit to serue for ambuscadoes meane while he forbad all of them in generall to make any fires within the trenches All things being thus disposed and set in order and euery man being commanded to vse silence he taking with him Moses Tanuese de Thopy went to suruey and consider vpon the forme and situation of the campe and countenaunce of the enemy and with great secresie sometimes through the thickets of the forrestes sometimes by the secrete passages of the vallies he gained the toppe of a certaine mountaine directly opposite against Sfetigrade from the height whereof hauing diligently noted and surueyed all things by faire day light he tooke his way very quickely backe againe into his owne Campe. The execution hereof was not without maruellous contrariety of opinions for seeing the barbarians were encāped vnder the wals of the Towne and were possessed both of the mountaines adioyning and of the fieldes vnderneath them the chiefe leaders did not see any great likelihood or appearance without some notable losse of their men how to execute any thing with good successe because the daunger was manifest and imminent that so small a number charged with so great a puissance sometimes in the plaine and sometimes in the descent of the mountaines should easily be broken ouerthrowen They doubted also which was a cause necessarily constraining them for that time to abstaine from all reason of fight least the residue of the royall troupes comming vpon them sodainly and vnprouided they should be all entangled enclosed and shut vppe in the middest of them and for the same reason they held it as perillous to call the garrison forth to helpe them It was held therefore more expedient and a course of more certaintie and safetie to separate deuide if it were possible by their ordinarie sleightes the power forces of the aduersarie and being once sundred deuided to draw them into places of greatest disaduantage Nothing was done notwithstāding for that day because the night comming vpon them did prcuēt their determination only there were sent forth certain scoutes on all sides both far neare to discouer the approch of Amurath and that the enemy should lay no ambushmēts to entrap thē The moitie of that night was allowed thē to take their rest the residue was imployed in diuers actiōs affaires for that the Prince of Albanie changing his first lodging went to encampe somwhat nearer the town so that he was not now aboue 5. myles from the enemy supposing hoping that being once entised forth to fight the nearer he was to them the more easily they might be ouerthrowen Wherefore after that euery man had sufficiently rested himselfe taken some repast all of them being ready at hand with store of such things as were needfull requisite first those places which were fit for ambushments he filled with able and lusty men and the thickets and bushes he enuironed on all sides with store of souldiours of which number such as serued on foote were placed in the wings and steepe of the mountaines not easie to be approched or in the thicke of the woods and bushes himselfe taking his place among the horsemen kept at the foote bottome of the mountaines all along the plaine and in the crookes and turnings of the vallies This done he called vnto him Moses Musache de Angelina a gentleman of special marke one of the chiefest among the horsemen whō hauing exhorted with many good and friendly speeches he sent accompanied with 30. others all young men both hardy and couragious willing them to allure forth the enemy out of their trenches and to draw them within the daunger of his traines and ambuscadoes You must not thinke that Scanderbeg did forget to make choise of his companie out of the most worthy sufficient of all his bands both the men their horses besides they were disguised in the apparell furniture of simple souldiers least that their militarie habit being any thing rich and sumptuous should discouer their attempt which he had an especiall desire to keepe secret There was scant any of the souldiers but had an other horse loden with corne to driue before him to the intent they should be taken for forragers indeede who returned from gathering it abroad And that nothing might be wanting for the aduantage of this martiall pollicie to beguile the enemy they were enioyned to bend towards the town by such waies as were least vsed frequented on that side where the mountaine was free and not garded by the enemy that they should make shew as though they ment that way to enter into Sfetigrade These leaders being very expert of a quicke excellent conceipt did not omit any thing of that which was commanded them and the souldiers also with singular obedience resolution did follow thē most chearefully not doubting any dāger that might befall them Vpon the dawning of the day and by that time that the starres began to grow out of sight by the breake of the morning they were now come within little more then a myle of the tentes of the enemy at such time as the Turkes sentinels hauing discouered them from aloft began first by signes shewed in the aire then by their often cries clamors to bewray them They nothing troubled not abashed with their noise did only hasten their pace somwhat faster for as yet neither needed they to feare any danger from the enemy neither would their flight haue bene
he went euen through their inmost courts of gard passing searching the most secret places of their campe I am not ignorant that some haue ascribed the proofe of this hardy and audacious fact vnto Standerbeg of which for my part neuerthelesse I will not robbe nor depriue Moses relying in this matter though there be no great certainty thereof vpon the pluralitie of opinions which do defend it how beit that this was not the first time that Moses merited this commendation neither was this peculiar to him alone For it cannot be denied but that euen Scanderbeg did aduenture himselfe to the like hazard especially during the siege of Croy with the like courage and good successe I will not say counsell and good aduise seeing in this case there is not any thing in a maner gouerned and guided by reason but by meere chance and fortune And therefore I dare not much commend in a Generall of an army that valour or vertue which is carelesse so prodigall of his life and safetie How beit fortune her selfe seemeth to haue exempted Scanderbeg from reproofe and blame in this behalfe in that she did continually so accompany and second the endeuors heroicall cōceipts of this worthy personage that it was a thing very seldome seene in that age it was a spectacle both rare singular to see a happy issue euent still ioyned with counsell wisedom that vertue should be so attēded by fortune But we shall haue occasion elsewhere to entreate of this matter let vs now returne to our campe with Moses who being perceiued a far off by the court of garde for the moone was then at the full and did shine all night they went to meet him and receiued him with infinite ioye and gladnesse and so conueyed him to the generall Then might you see the priuate and common sort of souldiours mingled pell mell with the nobles and chiefe commanders all of them running in great desire to vnderstand what he had seene what he had learned and what likehood he brought either offeare or hope When it it was knowen that all was well and that matters stood in good case and this ioyfull newes being dispersed published to euery one of them Scanderbeg knew that the wished houre did now approch for them to march on against the enemy he bestirred him selfe therefore on all sides and you might haue seene him sometimes there amongst the rancks and squadrons of his armed souldiours taking order both for the men and their armes Now disposing of some in the vauntgard and others in the rereward each one to his charge And there withall he encouraged them with many braue speeches and exhortations Although sayd he my good friends and companions both the present time and all things in a manner round about especially your valour and prowesse so often manifested may summon me now to be silent yet the noueltie of the course which we now take and this vnaccustomed fashion of fight which now we are to begin it may be will giue you cause to think that my speeches are not needles nor impertinent considering that it behoueth you now at my command to yeeld some new testimony of your auncient vertue against the enemy in the darknes of the night and not as heretofore you were wont in set battell open and orderly raunged This is the cause that I do now freely speake vnto you and as instantly as possibly I may I do pray and entreate you I do exhort you and I do require you that euen the night it selfe may shew you to be mindfull of your noble courage to be mindfull of your honor reputation which you haue purchased and continued so many yeares For now cannot I be either a beholder or encourager of the valour or of the sloth of any of you onely the moon-light shall be the witnesse of your valure and your valure must animate and encourage you Notwithstanding the successe and issue also of this nights seruice will giue an open testimony of your deuoire and my selfe wil be the particular iudge of your seuerall desertes when I shall see your victorious handes bring me the bloudy spoyles of our dead enemies their ensignes encountred and conquered before their trenches and the heads cut off from the carcasses of their slaughtered bodies These and such like speeches did he vse vnto his souldiours as it were in iest and meriment admonishing them notwithstāding in any case to abstaine from the pillage of their campe least in thinking to satisfie their vile couetous humour their booty might happen to proue fatall vnto them and be the occasion of their death and destruction that nothing could be more pretious neither could fortune offer any thing of better value to the braue souldier then the throat of the enemy This done and hauing made their praiers and vowes of all sorts vnto God for the obtaining of victory about the fourth houre of the night hee caused his ensignes to march but the clattering of their armour and the neighing of the horses did discouer their comming to the skoutes before that they came to the tentes of the enemy and they giuing the allarme to their Captaines filled all parts with disorder tumult and confusion Vpon this so sodaine and vnexpected a noise the tents of the Graund Seigniour himselfe were striken with feare and terrour and the old man being soone awaked as a man amazed and destitute of all counsaile did prouide as well as he could vpon so desperate an accident But Scanderbeg for all this neither slacked his course nor abated his fury and although he perceiued by this tumult that all the campe was in an allarme and that the souldiers did runne in and out to the gardes and passages of the campe yet did he not diminish any part of his fury and fiercenesse formerly conceiued but with high cries and wonderfull noise he inuaded their trenches and fortifications The first quarter that was assailed was where certaine souldiers of Asia lay encamped who being by chaunce the first that were encountred had their tents and lodgings ouerthrowen in an instant and themselues as they stood vpon their defence being partly slaine partly put to flight did draw on the like fury and destruction vpon others that succeeded in their roomes For many who had taken armes in great hast tumult came to make head against the enemy but being not able to make their party good by reason they were vnequall to our men both in number and in fiercenesse they were quickly cut in peeces or driuen to forsake the place From thence the Christians passing further on they found diuers tents and pauillions voyde and emptie which they caused to be fired and the cordes being cut in sunder they left them thus ouerthrowen in poore estate Thus did Scanderbeg a long time continue victorious without any losse or bloudshed of his men till such time as a strong batallion of Turkes being
enemy Neuerthelesse Scanderbeg did publiquely ratifie and allowe both his fidelitie and all his actions not onely in plentifull speeches and often discourses by word of mouth but to his wordes he added also deedes of no lesse value and estimation For he recompenced him with a great summe of money and certaine sayre horses and with many other ornaments and rewards which he gaue vnto him albeit Perlat was very loath to accept them Thus was Perlat sent home to his owne house with great encrease of honour reputation This personage being borne in Emathia was preferred to a spirituall dignitie which they call Proto-sengeli we commonly name them Abbots he lead a maruellous strict austere life in singular continency and wonderfull integrity he was also very learned and passing eloquent besides the grauity of his yeares which accompanied his other vertues did as much or more adorne and beautifie all the rest of his perfections These things thus concluded and finished Scanderbeg perceiuing that the Sultan was busily employed in fortifying of Sfetygrade and did wholly apply his minde to that worke he tooke with him fiue thousand horse and hasted with all possible speed towardes those partes with a purpose to interrupt and disturbe him in his endeuours But hauing stayed there the space of two dayes coursing vp and downe here and there through the woods and ouer the high mountaines without finding any matter worthy the speaking of he attended there still watching some oportunitie in hope at the leastro surprise some of their forragers or some of the enemies scouts or by som other meanes to endammage the enemy nor did the souldiours returne altogether without bootie For as it is vsuall in any great army there were taken many men and horses as they raunged carelesly abroad in the countrey Now after that Amurath had sufficiently repaired the walles of Sfetygrade according to the shortnesse of the time and that the place was furnished and stored with corne and other prouisions for one whole yeare as though his minde did foretell him that it was like to be besieged he resolutely determined and concluded with him selfe to retire his forces out of Epire and to returne into his owne countrey Touching the cause of his so speedy departure many are the fables lyes which haue bene commonly bruted abroad yet without any certainctie whilest that each one would seeme by coniectures to search out and to set downe the counsels and determinations of Ottoman Some impute his sudden discamping to the tumultes of Hungarie others to the troubles of Greece and some to those of Persia Many doe hold that the losses and dammages receaued in Albanie and the diuers trauels and difficulties of this warre did chase him so soone out of that prouince with an intent neuerthelesse to returne thither againe with more puissant and fresh forces to plant his campe before Croy because that citie did seeme to require greater meanes and more redoubtable forces to terrifie them For my part I am content to approue both the one the other of these opinions as hauing all of them some shew and apparaunce of truth Notwithstanding the last seemeth most likely and probable being ratified and confirmed by the issue and euent which is a witnesse infallible and without reproofe or perhaps it were not amisse to say that the houre and time limitted and appointed to this aged Ottoman by the destinies was not yet come and as the Poets fayne lieentiously The sisters had not spunne nor fully ended The fatall threed whereon his life depended But whatsoeuer was the cause of his returne the last of Iuly he commaunded to truffe vppe bagge and baggage and that the carriages and parte of his horsemen should goe on before The next day at the sunne rising hauing first in the night time fired their lodgings and some other furniture of their Campe him selfe marched after the others with the residue of the armie who with excessiue ioye did make an exceeding noyse both by their loude cryes and clamours and by the sounde of their ordinaunce and cannons which they made to roare with often shooting off at their departure The Turkish monarch did euer vse in times past and so did he then take his place in the middest of all his batallions where being mounted vppon a white horse and enuironned rounde about with his armed Iannissaries he needed not to be affrayed of any tumult or perill For in the vaungarde the Beglerbey of Asia and in the rereward the Bassa of Romania both being in good order of battell did assure and garde the middle battell in which him selfe marched They that write of this expedition doe in a manner all of them agree that Amurath returned out of Epire with fewer men then he brought with him at his comming by thirtie thousand hauing lost fully so many in that action Besides that a great parte of his prouisions for the assault and also many of his ensignes were spoyled and taken by the Christians which he neuer caried away againe with him But all these losses and hinderaunces did Scanderbeg enlarge with the ignominie of a new slaughter and he renued the misfortune of their estate with a fresh calamity For vppon this returne of the Sultan the Albanois hauing intelligence giuen him where he lay encamped that the enemy did dislodge he put him selfe on the way to pursue them with all his army which was 8000. horse and 3000. foote and liuely pressing them in the rereward without any intermission he held on still killing and destroying them and he gaue his souldiours good occasion to flesh themselues and to shew the fury and eagernesse of their stomackes vpon all those who either were found to slacke their pace or by any mischaunce and inconuenience were left behinde their companies for there was none of them but were gleaned vp and they did dearely buy it with the losse of their liues The Barbarians did often make head against him with their whole army to sustaine and repulse the violence of their pursuite But the Albanois euer dissembling as though he fled did still delude them when they were ready to receiue him sometimes withdrawing him selfe into the next vallies and hilles adioyning and then sodainely againe appearing in sight sometimes would he charge them in front sometimes in slanke and sometimes in the rereward and thus still skirmishing with them as they went on he plagued them with a thousand discommodities In this maner mocking and abusing Amurath and his army he continued so long in pursuing them that for sixe miles together he neuer left following them close at the heeles pressing and annoying them with innumerable iniuries The Emperour of the Turks being extreamly vexed with the shame ignominie of this abuse and at the slaughter of his people commaunded the Bassa of Romania to stay behinde with 30000. horse for the surety and free retraite of the residue charging him that if
realme being distributed into diuers places castels they spent many daies in the mustering and leauying of those forces And this was the cause that Scanderbeg as the report goeth in this warre did wage many of the subiects of the Venetians and some also out of the next Dalmatia or that part of Sclauony that confineth vpon the sea The Prince of the Turkes in this meane while had at the time prefixed assembled the most part of his forces yet he wanted many thousands to furnish vp so huge and massy an army as that which he had the yeare last past By reason that either the far distance of places or the difficulty of the waies did hinder some of them either more or lesse And therfore attending till such time as he saw his numbers and preparations in all points performed because he would loose no time he emploied that space in the prouision of other things necessary for an action of that weight and importance and especially for the gathering of victuals Albeit order had bin taken that euery souldier should furnish him self in particular with victuals for many daies prouision for he was fully resolued that the Christians had not left any corn vpon the ground and that they would wast and destroy all the pasture and herbage vppon the first tidings of his approach It were almost a thing impossible to number vp all the instrumentes and engines of assault which were prepared Amongst the rest there were many tooles and instruments of iron vsed by husbandmen besides an infinit number of bars and mattocks pickaxes made of iron crooked of purpose to dig in mines as was afterwards seene by experience for the Sultan had bin perswaded to vse this deuise as a most commodious and fit meane to carry the city of Croy which otherwise was inexpugnable In like maner great prouision was made of litle peeces of artillery such as might conueniently be caried vpon camels and other beastes of cariage And as for great ordinance to serue for battery he prouided great store of brasse and other rude and massy mettall which being caried in grosse should afterwardes be founded and cast for that purpose These things thus prepared and his troupes being fully furnished and complete to their perfect numbers it is generally agreed by all the Historiographers that his army consisted of 160000. fighting men besides artificers as carpenters masons and all other sorts of handy crafts men and laborers which are reported to haue followed this camp part of theÌ„ vpon the purse and pay of the Ottoman and part at their owne charges for the hope and desire of prey and purchase All of them being perswaded that the siege of Croy and their abode in Epire would endure a very long time and space and would proue very tedious for by reason that there went many straunge rumors reports of the strong situation of this city and of the rare fortifications therof as of a place impregnable Amurath was determined not to returne againe to Andrinople till such time as he had gotten it into his hands and possession About the fift of Aprill assoone as all things were in a readinesse and that the hoast was ready to march the vauntcurrours of Alchanzes vnder the leading of Sebalias Zeâ—renesse a man of great practise and iudgement in actions military were sent into Macedony at the same instant that the king of Epire hauing all at leisure raised his forces and disposed good watches wards and skouts throughout all the mountains and woods did ride vp down here there coursing ouerall the Prouince taking order for the estate of his affairs By this time he had retired also his garrison froÌ„ the frontiers and had with great diligence gathered all his troups together All this notwithstanding I doe not find that during this siege of Croy he had with him selfe and in his owne company more then 8000. fighting men whereof 2000. were footmen and the residue horsemen neither do any of those who haue historised his actes affirme any otherwise I do suppose that the cause of this small number proceeded either of the scarcity of souldiers as was lately touched because he was of necessity to depart and to seuer them into so many places or it might be that he thought it more expedient to dally with the enemy and to trauell him by litle litle holding him continually in alarme so to reserue the chiefe strength of his forces to other necessities diuers accidents of fortune Considering that the war was to be made in the very center bowels as it were of the Prouince and that now the consequence of his whole estate and kingdome was in question and he was to set vp his rest vpon the successe of that warre Three daies before the arriuall of the Mahometan troupes into Epire Scanderbeg with his horsemen beating ouer all the champion countrey had trampled vnder foot wasted and spoiled or by sword and fire had consumed and destroied all the corne and whatsoeuer else was found fruitfull vpon the ground And afterwards being aduertised by message vppon message of the approach of the enemy leauing the plaine countrey he retired himselfe vppon a mountaine called Tumenista about foure miles from Croy there to take further aduise and counsell for his proceedings according as the time and the course of his affaires should perswade and induce him The Cauallary of the Turke holding on their march towards Epire encountred not with any in the way that made head against them but passing quietly through the Prouince they did at length make their entry without any impechment into the territory of Croy. And after they had made diligent search round about the city what places were most safe and secure to encampe in and in what quarter they might most coÌ„modiously come to assault the towne they tooke their lodging at the last in Tiranna and there pitched their tents and pauilions The countrey thereabouts is a faire and goodly plaine of sufficient space and largenesse pleasant to the eie and very fertile and fruitefull yet is it more apt for tillage and to beare corne then for any other fruite or commodity It extendeth it selfe from Croy to the towne of the Parthinois But before I proceed any further many reasons do induce me here briefly to touch the originall of this towne and of the ancient estate thereof and especially that which the auncients haue celebrated touching the same which is not vnknowen nor hiddeÌ„ from the posterity It may easily be gathered that this towne was of good reckonning with the rest of the towns of that Prouince before the ciuill wars of Caesar and Pompey The ruines thereof with many shewes and particular markes and monumentes which are yet left may yeeld no obscure representation of the ancient nobility of the place and of the reputation which it once had For the report is that it was
this stay of the assault was welcome to them all For their continuall labour and the heat of the day accompanied with extreame hunger and thirst had in a manner wholly spent them by reason that the suddennesse of the assault had preuented many from taking any repast The residue therefore of the day and the night following they consumed in refreshing themselues both with sleepe and victuals The same night tidings being brought to Scanderbeg of the victory of the Croians it gaue him good cause of ioy and gladnesse and he presently imparted these good newes vnto the Princes and peoples his next neighbours But on the other side the enemie was in great sorrow and discontentment and was seene for many dayes to be very sad and pensiue for the notable losse of that daies worke was very hard to be digested hauing lost in that seruice more then 8000. good souldiers but the Croians had verie little losse and without any great slaughter to speake of It is reported that Amurath kept himselfe close shut vp within his tent for two whole dayes together in debating vpon diuerse counsels and opinions with his Captaines and the Visirs his Counsellers But aboue all others young Mahomet shewed himselfe to be notably vexed and discontented his spirit boiling with fury and choller and his youthfull yeares being yet vnacquainted with crosse fortunes and aduersities had turned all his passions of griefe and anguish into meere rage and madnesse From thenceforth he tooke vpon him to deale in all the affaires of the campe with a carefull eye viewing and reuiewing all the seuerall companies he shewed himselfe so greedie of reuenge that he spared not to labour himselfe extreamely both night and day and was verie watchfull at all times to take the aduantage of any fit occasion but principally he had an eie to that side where the Albanois had lately endammaged their campe For there he placed a strong and puissant court of garde and dressed many ambushments and oftentimes would he watch there him selfe whole nightes in proper person to the intent if fortune did present him any good opportunitie to oppresse Scanderbeg he might not escape againe out of his handes But all these his deuises turned to nothing and vanished away as the smoake by the prouident and circumspect cariage of that expert Chiefetaine the Prince of Albany who being from day to day enformed of all thinges either by such as came to render themselues vnto him or by espials sent abroad of purpose he helde himselfe still and quiet in his campe for a season ordering and prouiding for the safetie of his affaires and drawing on his enemies with delayes Notwithstanding he could not endure to remaine long idle but being very desirous that his enterprises shold surpasse all others in glory reputatioÌ„ he aduised him self of a fine stratageme by which he purposed to surprise theÌ„ who were too intentiue to intrap him One night therefore trussing vp his baggage very secretly he remoued his army to a place called Monticlea from whence he might most coÌ„modiously trauel disturbe the enemy He left Moses Tanusee at Tumeâ—ista accompanied with 500. horse only and hauing set downe a certaine and prefixed time course and coÌ„municated his enterprise with them he willed them to set vppon the trenches of the enemy a litle after midnight next ensuing on the same side where he had last inuaded theÌ„ and that assoone as they had but giuen them a false allarme and made a shew of forcing the barriers of their campe they should suddenly and speedily make away without giuing the enemie any meanes to come to handiblowes with them and that himselfe in the meane time hauing set all things in good order and leauing 200. men for the guarde of his campe would on the other side breake in vpon the tentes of the enemie with the residue of his armie According to this conclusion there was little distance of time betweene the allarme made by Moses and the comming of Scanderbeg For assoone as he perceiued the sudden rumour and terrour of the allarme raised by the Dibrian on the other side he bare in with a full and strong carrer and charged them on that part where they litle doubted or suspected In this manner was the campe of the Infidels full of doubt feare and confusion some ranne here some there making great haste on all sides to oppose themselues against the violence of the Christians One of them wakened another crying that they were enuironned and rounde beset with the enemie But as for Moses he did indeede put them in a feare and that was all he did by reason that those souldiers which had beene lately placed in that quarter by Mahomet did easilie repulse them especially such as were most forward But the night hindered them froÌ„ pursuing after him for that they suspected some ambushment which they had good cause to be in doubt of and especially at that time But the dammage that Scanderbeg wrought them cannot be recounted For their campe was on all parts beaten downe and foully deformed and disordered both by sword fire and yet did not this inuasion continue any long time by reason of the sudden comming and readie arriuall of the Turkes whose presence in so great multitudes did soone determine and ende the conflict For the Christians making a retreate durst not hazarde and oppose themselues against so huge forces as were there vnited especially in a place that was so plaine and euen for it was in Tyranna where they gaue this charge vppon the enemie Neuerthelesse when the Christians beganne to retire the Infidels had no great desire to follow after and if they had it might be they should haue paid well for it for this warie and circumspect warrior had placed all his infanterie and 8000. horse neere at hand to the intent they should be as a gard vnto him behind at his backe and should serue against all such casualties as might befall him Of these companies was he receiued in his retreate with great ioy and high cries and clamors and so passing forward they spent the rest of the night in trauelling to their campe It is reported that Scanderbeg did neuer doe anie exploite vppon his enemie with lesse losse and bloudshed for he brought backe all his troupes safe and sounde without the losse of any one man not leauing vnto the Barbarians aniething saue woundes teares and lamentations as the testimonies of his being with them in such sort that this slaughter and foule discomfiture did make them in a manner quite to forget the calamitie of their late losse which they had had before Croy. No man durst from thencefoorth open his mouth vnto the Sultan or to aduise him to any enterprise for this accident hauing succeeded to their so notable infamie did seeme to reproue all their counsels and deliberations both in times past and at that present Wherefore they had recourse in this their
generall astonishment to that wonted policie which they had proued to be very profitable the yeare before at the siege of Sfetygrade and that was to fortifie and assure their trenches on all sides with artillerie They drew downe therefore many small peeces which they had planted against the walles and they bestowed them in conuenient places round about their campe according as they thought best but the greatest part they placed in that quarter where they had of late found the greatest danger For what for the vehemencie of the heate and what for the encombrance of their infinite baggage their lodgings were deuided dispersed here and there in so great distance one from an other and so farre off that it was not possible to furnish and to fortifie all of them All these their endeuors were not long concealed from the Christians for they wanted not both fugitiues good espials to giue them aduertisements but they were certified continually of the doings of the enemie and especially of this their preparation which they beleeued to be likely by the example of the like which they vsed the yeare last past Wherefore Scanderbeg also was resolued to lie still for a time and to hold himselfe contented with that aduantage which he had alreadie gained and to enioy the pleasure thereof till such time as he might find some new opportunitie for some other happie action Besides there was an other matter which withdrew his thoughts and whereof he was to haue a care and that was the scarcitie and dearth of victuals which now beganne to fall very short because there was not left in the countrey any liuing creature of whom they could looke for any reliefe Wherefore to the intent he would not be in any wants and for that he would refresh his armie in the extreame heate of the summer he determined to remoue his campe and to leade his forces to a certaine place of singular recreation vpon a riuer which the inhabitants call Isme which lying close on the sea would furnish them of all things plentifully and in abundance And they of Duraz likewise which towne was not farre off did friendly accord to serue him with as much corne as he would demaund True it is that the Gouernours and Magistrates of the Venetian territories did succour him also but it was so couertly and vnder hand that the Mahometan Prince might not perceiue it for the reasons formerly alleaged The Infidels in the meane time did nothing for many daies together but batter the towne and seeke to breake downe the walles in those places especially which the inhabitants had newly repaired and which rested yet vnbattered For as yet had no◠Amurath forgotten all his malice but he had a desire once againe to aduenture his souldiers to the butchery and to make a tryall of their last fortune Besides to seeke to force the towne by mines vnderground or by any such deuises he helde it a matter of great labour and long delay by reason of the steepnes depth and roughnes of the place and the high bearing toppes of the loftie rockes and mountaines ô how wretched and miserable are you which are subiected to ayoke so cruell and vnmercifull and whom fortune hath submitted vnder the dominion of such proud and arrogant Princes when they can finde no other meane to fulfill their inordinate desires then are you poore soules constrained to satisfie with your blood and with the dismembring of your bodies the cruell rage the immoderate and licencious humours of such tirants Assoone as the wall was beaten downe on that part where the cannon could be brought to play or make any batterie and that the breach was made faire and large the same daye did Ottoman commaund and take order that euery man should make himselfe readie to the assault against the next morning and to aduenture a new conflict with the enemie but there was scarce any of them that either openly or priuately did shew himselfe willing thereunto as they had bene in times past All of them did set a good face on the matter but verie sorily and with an ill grace for either to refuse it or to draw backwards was not the best way or course for them Amurath perceiuing this backewardnesse in his people and that they were drawen to this aduenture as it were maugre their teeth as the report goeth he assembled the chiefe and principall persons of all his troupes who being come to his presence with a long discourse he did thus reproch and obiect vnto them their faintnes and cowardice Is it possible quoth he that so small a maner and the dalliance of fortune but a litle failing you can so pull downe your mindes and abate your courages as it should make you for euer to despaire and to abandon all hope of victorie what if your valure and prowes be not able at the first assault to carrie this place will you therefore be vtterly discouraged Answer me I pray you Is there any towne so weake is there any fortresse so simple or so base as that one onely blow and the first attempt should be able to subdue it He that will dislodge such fierce beasts as these out of their dens must of necessitie vse perseuerance he must stand firme he must be of an vndaunted heart and a courage vnconquerable Haue so many puissant armies haue so many excellent Captaines euen for some friuolous cause of offence and for some small priuate quarrell haue they I say spent their time and as it were waxed olde in the siege of cities and fortresses and you that haue receiued so many outrages so many indignities and so many contumelies of disgrace by the disloialty of the Albanians will you now to your notable reproch leaue them vnpunished and vnreuenged Who is he euen to this day that did euer obtaine a memorable victorie and not in some sorte blouddie Remember the battell of Varna the honor and glorie of which victorie doth scarce admit any comparison It is vnpossible to tame an enemie that is fierce and haughtie without some expence and losse of blood and all difficult things doe come to a happie issue onely with extreame labours and hard trauell Vpon Croy onely doth depend the consequence of this whole warre which being once at your discretion we shal be for euer freed of our enemie in this countrie For this place being gained which is the principall fortresse of all Epire Scanderbeg will not aduenture to continue here so much as one day wherfore plucke vp your hearts my good frends and away with this feare and faintnes of courage you must make a triall of fortune and if you will haue her to follow you it is needful that you do often importune her There is no onething in the world wherein is more varietie and vncertaintie then in wars and deeds of armes Hold on your course then cease not to presse the enemy and do you euen wearie
wily fox to declare the secret which was committed vnto him by the Sultan couering his detestable and hatefull message with the most affected and plausible speeches that was possible Vranocontes foreseeing the venome of his pernitious practises did cut him off interrupt him in the middest of his talke enioyning him presently to get out of his sight Thus wholly confounded and ashamed did the Ambassador depart no man accepting of his bribes by the expresse commandement of the Gouernor otherwise it is not to be doubted but the licentiousnes greedy desire of the souldiers would not haue needed any intreaty to lighten those varlets of their cariage At such time as this trim Orator of the Turkishe Prince was retiring himself and ready to depart Vranocontes in recompence of his painted and fine language did denounce vnto him this sentence straightly charging and commanding him that neither he nor any other from thenceforth should be so hardy on the part and behalfe of the Ottoman as to repaire againe to the town or to demaund any parley protesting that if they did they should be assured besides the losse of their handes their noses and their eares to haue their bodies wholly and hideously deformed and tormented The Bassa being returned to the campe was receiued of the multitude common sort in great confusion for that they had long expected him with great deuotion and they were come forth against him being desirous to vnderstand the resolution of the besieged This was in a maner the only hope wherupon they did build for the getting of Croy and for the finishing of their labors but when they perceiued that the presents were not receiued which they saw in the hands of the Bassa his seruants they knew well that there was nothing done nor concluded Moreouer after they heard it reported with what obstinacy the Croians had made answer in such sort as is already declared there was not any one of them which conceiued not in his heart either sorrow or feare or fury acording to the naturall inclination of euery one in particular The aged Sultan aboue al the rest being ouercome with impatiency had recourse again to arms purposing once more to force the towne by an aslault which he had earst giuen ouer surceased wherin he did rather content his wrath choller then any way reuenge his disgrace dishonor He commanded therfore to make ready the ladders other engins of assault against the next morning spending almost al the whole night in this idle and vaine labor and in placing the artillery not forgetting also to prouide for the security surety of his campe knowing how Castriot had his eie alwaies open to deuise some means how to annoy him For this cause he left 30000. men wel appointed who held their horses alwaies in a readines and still bridled The next morning about the day break was the souldiers conueied placed neare the wals and at the very first beginning the roaring cannon went off both on the one side the other did seeme to contend which should deuoure most bloud cause greatest mortality But the shot of the Christians fell more fortunatly then those of the Infidels who were as litle respectiue of their own people as of their enemies And whilest they assaied to driue our men from the defence of their wals they made many of their owne cōpany to forsake the fight both by reason of their deadly wounds and in regard of the euident danger which they feared When the ordinance had done thundering they came to the Scalado wherein by how much the more there did appeare perfect valour and true courage so much the more matter did they still find to aduenture the losse of their liues so that in a moment the bloud was seene on all sides to runne downe as it were in streames and the earth was euery where couered with senslesse breathlesse bodies Amurath could not anie longer endure to be cruell against him selfe notwithstanding that he had enterprized this last attempt of a meere wilfulnesse and obstinacie Wherfore causing the fight to cease he retired into his pauillion as one enraged and mad for griefe and anger where he passed the residue of that day his owne hands doing violence and outrage to his aged and white haires pulling himselfe by the chin with his eyes lifted vp to the heauens he powred forth many iniurious and blasphemous speeches reproching euen God him selfe with his complaints exclamations And he did seeme to question with him why he had reserued his hoarie haires and aged yeares to so many misfortunes and ignominies that both the whole race of his forepassed life and the name of the Ottomans should be altogether so disgraced and dishonored and the glorie of his mightie conquests atchieued for many yeares should now at the last be obscured and darkened by meanes of one poore and base Castell in Epire being in a maner but a vile and paultry village The Bassaes other his familiars did labour to comfort him with diuerse discourses recounting vnto him a world of examples both ancient and moderne of the sudden fall and misfortune of other great and mightie Princes and of manie straunge and foraine kings and Emperours but all was in vaine and his crased mind would admit no comfort Notwithstanding the day following the old man albeit he were verie weake and ill disposed in his bodie the vehemencie of his griefe hauing euen almost spent and wasted him to nothing yet did he fall to counsell with certaine of his Chieftaines greatest Peeres who as the report goeth were foure in number two Bassaes the one of Romania the other of Asia and two of those whom they call Vizirs or Counsellers Long time were they in deliberating vpon the summe and consequence of this war they were deuided into three diuers opinions One was to continue the siege so long till that the extremity of famine had worn out the besieged The secōd did aduise him to leaue Croy to pursue Scanderbeg with all his forces and by that means though he should not haue his wil of him by force of armes yet he might peraduenture enclose and shutte him vp in some place where by famine he should bemaster him The last opinion was that seeing they had sufficiently tried al means had aduentured the fortune of al hazards it was but meer folly to continue there any longer with shame and infamy or vpon despite and indignation onely to consume and destroy his owne army but that it were good rather to send some Ambassador to the Albanois which should deale and perswade with him vpon any tearmes to become tributary to the Ottoman And in case he did giue eare vnto it he should demand 10000. crownes for a yearely tribute This opinion was allowed as the most safe and Amurath did consider with him selfe that this would be a good and honorable colour and shew of
should not be vnpleasing to the posterity so doe I suppose also that the readers of the same at this present will not be wearied by seeing as it were in a table the outward and inward habite of so accomplished and perfect a warriour who though he were an enemy yet was a most puissaunt a most fortunate and a most renowmed Prince Besides also that a good part of the praise and commendation of our Epirot doth consist in the comparing and resembling of these two together For by how much more we doe sometimes iustly condemne and sometimes iustly extoll the former by so much doth the valour and felicity of the other shine forth and appeare more glorious Whilest the spirites of the Turkes were attentiuely contemplating vpon their new Monarch and that hee was busily occupied in the care of his priuate and domesticall affaires the King of Epire the meane while did employ both his time and diligence in repairing the ruines of Croy. He did altogether renue the old fortifications which were partly ruinous with antiquity and length of time and partly razed and beaten downe by force of the Cannon and he added others vnto them of a better forme and proportion and of more surety and security then those which were vsed by the ancient simplicity when this thundering of Ordinaunce was not in vse and this diuelishe inuention of the Cannon did not yet amaze and terrifie strong and defenced townes but that all exploites and deedes of armes did onely and ordinarily consist in the stout stomackes and strength of hardy souldiours and in the armes valour and prowesse of valiaunt men O that it had pleased God that the inuentor and first author of this Art so famous and notorious had neuer beene knowen and that our age had neuer brought forth such an inuention It may be we should haue seene many more Hectors more Epaminondaes more Scipioes more Rolandes The yeelding of townes and holdes would not haue bene so ready and the courages of people would not so soone haue bene forced or withdrawen from fidelity and loyalty to the breach of their faith and to periury If the auncient ages and forepassed times had beene acquainted with such artificiall sleightes and inuentions we should not at this day haue had the name nor memoriall continued either of their Captaines so highly renowmed or of their souldiers so greatly commended Achilles had not borne away the honour of the death of Hector nor AEneas of Turnus nor Cossus of Volumnius but some base Groome and some abiect and vile companion The tenne yeares siege of Troy would neither haue drawen against that city the armes and the eies of the whole world neither would it haue ministred fit and worthy matter for so many excellent wits from age to age to historize vpon the actes accidents of that war We should not haue admired that lōg obstinacy of the Tarentines We shold haue madelesse reckoning of the constancy both of the Saguntines the Numantines Antiquity would not haue talked of Petilia in Calabria and the obscure towne of Cassilin would not so often haue scorned and contemned the fury of Hanniball that braue Chiefetaine of the Carthaginians Wherefore as the noble wittes and quicke conceipted spirites of our time haue on the one side giuen vs good matter to write of by reason of this and such like rare and ingenious inuentions so on the other side by meanes of this inuention much more beyond all comparison haue they depriued the Historiographer of all good occasion to employ his penne any more in writing For now from henceforth will not true valour be able to shew it selfe to no purpose is it for souldiours to vse the Art of fighting and to practise the skill of weapons and in vaine is it to learne to handle the sword the buckler and such like or to practise any other kind of fight hand to hand And what then forsooth they vse now to fight aloofe and to make warres a farre off and field seruices consist most in loose and light skirmishes But returne we from whence we haue digressed Amongest other fortifications newly made in the towne of Croy at the gate of the towne Scanderbeg caused a great and strong towre to be builded the walles whereof from the bottome vpward went not straight and euen vpright but were raised a slope and bending in manner of a counterscarfe to the intent the Cannon should be the lesse able to play vppon it The other partes and quarters also of the towne both within and without were repaired and fortified without any intermission by the aduisement and directions of good and skillfull Enginers In the meane time whilest these were in doing the Princes and nobles his nearest kinsmen did importune Scanderbeg without ceasing and did shew the vehement desire which each man had to see him maried and to haue children descended of him Especially now at this time when all things as they sayed were exempted from feare and mistrust and now that all daungers were ouer gone and past and that the enemies were withdrawen from all care of Armes both by reason of their late misfortune and by the motions and tumults which doe vsually accompany the change of a new King at his first comming to the Crowne that he ought not to frustrate the hearty wishes and desires of so many people 's his subiects and confederates of this ioy and comfort especially in such a season for it was in the moneth of May when all things did seeme to reioyce and flourish and which did inuite him thereunto with promise of nothing but ioy mirth and gladnesse That therefore he should suffer him selfe once to be entreated and perswaded by his people who would take more pleasure and contentment in this onely then in all his victories obtayned against Amurath Albeit the Prince of Albany were vnwilling to enter into this band yet weighing all matters and circumstances with iudgement and sound aduise it seemed vnto him more expedient and for his honour to consent thereunto then to hold off and to vary from his former promise which he had made vnto them the yeare last past at the instant and earnest request of all his subiectes For this cause he condescended vnto their desire and committed the care of the whole matter to the iudgement and wisedome of Musache Thopie his sisters sonne and some two or three others to whom he imparted his minde in that behalfe At that time Ariamnites Comminat of whom hath beene before spoken did excell all the Princes and Lords of Epire both in puissaunce and largenesse of dominions as also in noblesse and antiquity of bloud he had one daughter named Doniqua worthy no doubt of such afather and the true Idea and Image of all perfection of beauty which is one not of the least excellencesse and a thing not meanely respected in women Wherefore Scanderbeg tooke no care for any other match nor Ariamnit for any other
nor would not haue the harts of his soldiers to be corrupted effeminated neither to continue drowned in idlenesse ease and dissolution he returned speedily towards Croy the reparations whereof were by this time brought to good perfection There did he take vp a good number of Masons Carpenters and most part of the workemen and labourers of the city and about a foure thousand souldiers to the intent that if the enemy should go about to disturbe them they should finde sufficient forces to repulse them and should not be able to annoy or hinder them in their worke With that company he went to Modrissa where setting them in hand with this fort he followed it so diligently that it was begun and ended without any let or disturbaunce of the Mahometans For albeit the Turkish Monarch were impatient of reuenge and did at that time labour very diligently to leauy a great and puissant army against Scanderbeg yet being mindful of the foule discomfitures and ouerthrowes formerly receiued by the Albanois and being partly terrified with the rumour of a most daungerous warre intended against him by the Persians setting aside all other matters and neglecting as it were all other occasion he bent his whole thoughtes on that side to see what would be the end and issue of those tumults For this time therefore did these troubles and disturbances diuert the Turkish armes from the Epirots and they enioyed yet a while longer the benefite of the death of Amurath Notwithstanding the happie successe and good fortune of Scanderbeg and the dayly grieuances of the subiectes of Mahomet who complained vnto him that they were continually ouer-runne harried and pilled by the ordinarie roades and incursions of the Epirotes did not a little trouble and perplexe the Sultan yet at the first he did but somewhat ease his stomacke though in vaine with many menaces and outragious speeches against Scanderbeg being absent afterwardes hauing recourse to flatteries and faire speeches he assayed to treate with him for some accord to be had of pacification and peace betweene them To this ende he sent ouer an Ambassade vnto Croy offering him to make peace with him so that he would yeeld him selfe tributarie according to the conditions which Amurath had before propounded vnto him Of all this matter and of the cunning dissimulation of the Ottoman and of the warre raysed by the Persians the Prince of Albanie was duely enformed by the secrete intelligence of certaine great and noble men his friendes about Mahomet By meanes whereof the Ambassours being arriued they were soone refused and their demaundes vtterly reiected returning with this aunswer for a full resolution That hardly could hee be content to accept anie conditions of peace of the tyraunt were they neuer so honest and tollerable much lesse these which were so intollerable and iniurious That he was entred into Epire onely to this ende to shake off his yoake from that Prouince and to abolish as much as in him lay the hatefull name of bondage and seruitude and not to impose newe griefes vppon them That this was the onely fruite and benefite which he did reape of his trauelles and hazards sustayned to see his countrey one day freed and deliuered from Turkish tyrannie and subiection That if hee had had anie desire or deuotion to haue amitie and friendshippe with him hee would then haue yeelded to submit him selfe to those termes of slauerie and thraldome when the power and puissaunce in a manner of all Europe and of Asia was euen in the verie heart and bowelles of his kingdome when the bloudie Amurath did beard him to his face and was in armes against him and was desirous to haue had him yeeld to these conditions That it should suffise them to thinke what they had suffered in times past euen to that daye the remembraunce whereof should giue him iust cause of griefe and sorrow at all times That it was not nowe with the Epirotes as in times past but that matters were quite chaunged and the men cleane altered from that they were wont to be and they had little reason to hope to bring them to this point Well they might do it by constraint offorce and open violence but to thinke by good wordes and entising speeches to perswade and inuite them to so infamous and base an act they were fouly mistaken and deceiued This Ambassadour being dismissed with this aunswer and his offers being vtterly reiected Castriot did altogether apply him selfe to his worke lately begunne leauing his enemies for a while to take their rest By this time was the fortresse of Modrissa in a good forwardnesse by reason that the lyme stones and other stuffe was prepared and made readie for the building long before hand In lesse then sixe moneths was it enclosed and compassed with walles and fitted with other edifices and particular houses and lodgings for the souldiers the ouerplus that remained was followed and enlarged afterwardes from time to time The place being sure and strong by nature needed not anie ditches or rampiers to strengthen it and therefore prouision was made onely of men armes munition and other prouisions There were brought thither also from Croy certaine peeces of great ordinance which being deliuered to them of the Fort they were admonished how to vse them and to what end as hath bene before declared These thinges thus done Scanderbeg led the Albanians into the enemies countrey where finding the places voyde of defence they made a hand of all that they found harrying and spoyling all things and not sparing to afflict the Turkish dominions with what soeuer mischiefes and discommodities the furie and rage of the warres could possibly imagine From thence some of them retired with their Chiefetaine towardes Croy loden with prey and bootie but the better parte was left vppon the frontiers as had bene euer vsed in garrison For albeit the raising of the fortresse of Modrissa did greatly assure and safegard the plaine countrey yet were not the ordinarie forces retired from the frontiers because the place where they were appointed was distant about foureteene miles or more from Modrissa Besides that the souldiers of the garrison were not left for that ende and to the same effect as those of the newe Fortresse but principally for the repulse of the violence of the Turkes and to gard the Prouince against the incursions and pillages of the Painims And if it did happen that the Turkes did come vpon them with such force and puissance as they were not able to make head against them then were they to retire and saue them selues either in the toppes and safe passages of the mountaines or else in the inner partes of the countrey Scanderbeg after he was arriued at Croy being desirous to take the benefite of the time whilest the Sultan was busied in other affaires and by some notable act to amplifie the boundes of his Realme he called together his Nobles and the principall persons of the citie
of Croy with the most part of his troupes and companies and hauing a long time deuised with them vpon the proceedings of the warres and what course was best to be taken at the last because he would sound the intents and meaning of their thoughts and proue how they were affected he began thus to speake vnto them Worthie Peeres and braue Epirotes now that we haue sufficiently filled and gorged our selues with feasting and banquetting and with all kinde of licentious ease and libertie we haue no reason anie longer to leaue our armes and to let our wonted vertue lye as it were a sleepe and forgotten we haue kept holy day long enough we haue feasted and triumphed sufficiently for the victorie had against Amurath we haue spent a whole yeare partly in recreation partly in repairing of our townes or building of newe places and we haue not so much as once visited the enemie It is nowe high time to awake and to giue some newe proofe of your wonted valour euen now whilest Mahomet hath his hands full with the Persians and that God hath giuen you the meanes and oportunitie without anie effusion of bloud to reestablish the auncient honour and reputation of Albanie and to reuiue those ancient times so greatly desired whilest that the enemie his power is nowe somewhat weakened and repressed and whilest he is otherwise occupied and entangled in diuerse wearisome and tedious troubles not knowing what to doe nor what course to take for these two are the onely and principall seasons for the good and happie dispatch of great exploites This therefore is the time this is the houre that inuiteth you to seeke out the enemie and not alwayes to lye still and idle and to expect when he will come to assaile you Behold howe Sfetigrade looketh after you and calleth for your ayde Doth the ill successe of the last yeares siege terrifie you I assure you I would be loth to leade you where I should thinke the mischiefe to be so great or the perill so euident but no we the great number of your victories the death of Amurath the present occupation of our aduersarie hath greatly diminished these difficulties besides that you shall not want store of artillerie and such like engines and instruments of assault The opportunitie of the time and the countenaunce of the enemie shall instruct vs what is further to be done For my part I can promise you nothing without expence and losse of bloud without vehement and earnest labour of which notwithstanding the valiant man the couragious souldier hath scarce anie feeling or perseueraunce euen then when he is most painefully occupied and in the action much lesse will he be afrayed or in doubt of it before he commeth to proue the difficulty of it Yet if Sfetigrade be so odious and displeasing vnto you there are other places and fortresses of the enemy not farre off which may recompence your losses sustained at Sfetigrade and may content and satisfie your desires There is Belgrade as neare or nearer then Sfetigrade and not vnworthy neither of our trauelles nor of our bloud if we haue any desire either of honour or of recompence I haue reason my good companions to be ashamed more then any that I should spend one yeare during my raigne amongest you idlely and doing nothing and yet to see and suffer the houses of our auncesters the townes of our confederates the noble markes of the estate and Empire of the Albanians so shamefully to be subiected and enthralled vnder the Infidelles Wherefore that this time of ley sure and opportunity which is left vs doe not slippe out of our handes let vs follow and imitate the Persians let vs embrace the good fortune which God seemeth to haue offered vs. In so doing we shall enlarge our dominions we shall augment our franchises and liberties We shall reuenge our losses our grieues and iniuries and which aboue all is to be preferred we shall keepe the youth of our Realme from sloath and idlenesse Neither hath the Bishop of Rome nor our good friend the king Alphonsus nor so many deuout and Catholique Princes aided and succoured vs with their treasures and other supplies to the intent we should keepe vs stil idle within dores that we should dwel in pleasures and delights grow corrupted and effeminate but rather that we should betake our selues to armes and make proofe and triall of our valour in the middest of all perils and daungers and that euen in despite of death it selfe wee should performe the duety and deuoyre of men valiant and couragious and of most braue and resolute souldiers This encouragement of the king of Epire seemed not greatly to like the auditors for they did not applaude it with a sudden and vniuersall crie and consent as they were wont but with a kinde of muttering noise interrupted as it were by times and by stoppes they did signifie sufficiently that the mindes of the souldiers were not conformable but rather different from his desire Notwithstanding though there were fewe or none which did commend or allowe of his aduise yet being ashamed openly to contradict it they stood still one looking vpon another and none of them durst open his mouth to reply vnto him for feare of being noted for a greater coward or more dastardly minded then the rest of his cōpanions Then Vranocontes seeing all of them so stil and silent arising out of his seate addressing his speech to Scanderbeg It is not quoth he most prouident and prudent Prince either timerousnesse or want of courage or the experience of our late successe at Sfetigrade which causeth vs at this time with blushing cheekes to disallow and dislikethy counsell but giue me leaue to be the first who may freely confesse vnto thee the cause of this our backwardnesse it is the time and season of the yeare wherein ordinarily consisteth the best part of militarie seruices it is I say the time onely which doth aduise admonish vs not to hearken vnto thee Thou seest that the Autumne is now well neare spent scarcely shall we be able to leuie any forces scarcely shall we put in order other things requisite for the siege and we shall hardly make our approches to the walles but that the vnseasonablenesse of the winter will assault vs with infinit inconueniences discommodities both the heauens and the earth wil make warre against vs the showers raine continually falling the frosts Ice and snow will both hinder offend and encomber our souldiers and will defend and protect the enemie For as this season is of it selfe vnfit discommodious for all occasions so is it most contrary and to the singular disaduantage of those that come to be encamped and lye at the siege of townes And there is great ods and inequalitie betweene the dammages and inconueniences which it bringeth to the besiegers in regard of those annoyances which it layeth vpon the besieged For these being retired
violat thy faith and loyalty and to conspire against thy country against thy Prince against thy frends and companions against thy religion against thy owne dignity and honor against the security of thy own estate vpon a vaine hope of some idle conceited good hap and of a thing meerely doubtfull and vncertaine Whilest the Dibrian did remaine thus perplexed turmoiled with the vncertainty of his owne thoughts behold our gentle messenger is againe returned plentifully furnished and prouided not onely with words farre more sweete and plausible but with rich giftes and sumptuous presents yet I doe not finde that Moses did accept of any of them but that onely his mind was now throughly possessed with a disposition enclining to infidelity and treason Notwithstanding the aunswere which he made to the messenger did sufficiently discouer the malady of his minde for he willed him to come no more into his presence that he did most humbly thanke the Sultan for his great fauour and good will and promised him so to cary and demeane himselfe that from thenceforward he should not find him to be his enemy Thus whilest that Scanderbeg being ignoraunt of the counsels of Mahomet doth send abroad espials on all sides to sound and search out his determinations the Infidelles are plotting and deuising how to worke him a greater mischiefe and to ouerwhelme him with a daunger farre more pernicious It hath bene before touched how that both Scanderbeg and his subiects did delay and put off the warre and the besieging of townes for a season to a time then prefixed and appointed which being now expired and no newes of any motions or tumults heard of from Andrinople but that all things were in good rest and quietnesse the king of Albany bethought and deuised with him selfe what expedition were best to be vndertaken and what things were requisite to haue it well and orderly executed To this end he was resolued if he might to aide him selfe with the succours of the Italians considering that though his subiects were excellent in fighting of maine battels and in combatting hand to hand in the plaine field yet did he not thinke them to be fitte or sufficient for the assaulting of holdes and the forcing of townes and such like seruices Alphonsus King of Sicily and Naples of whom mention hath beene often made did keepe his Court continually at Naples which was not farre distant from thence And for as much as not onely Scanderbeg but in a manner all Christendome did vse this Prince with a kind of familiarity he tooke care to vse the helpe of no other but of him onely assuring him selfe that of all the Princes and Potentates Christian he should not finde any more willing nor more ready to aide and assist him For this cause before hee would proclaime any leauy or muster of men within his Prouince he caused two good and strong shippes to be rigged trimmed and made ready which being richly furnished and fraughted with many excellent and sumptuous presentes he sent with two of the greatest and noblest persons of his kingdome vnto Alphonsus with letters written in most familiar and pleasaunt manner Some afffrme that because hee would finde him the more ready to send him succours he did require Alphonsus by this Ambassade to receiue him into his safegard and protection but the Epistle ensuing speaketh not a word of any such matter neither doe I dare to auerre it for trueth The tenour of those letters were as followeth To the most noble and victorious Prince Alphonsus king of Arragon Naples and Sicilie Scanderbeg king of the Epirots sendeth health and prosperity Our souldiours most Catholique King know how to fight with men onely in the field but for the assaulting of walles and holdes they are vtterly ignorant You Italians as I heare are very skillfull in that kinde of seruice and you loue it well this is the cause that wee at this time haue neede of your good aide which we desire you to impart vnto vs. The Infidelles are possessed of certaine of our townes in Epire and I haue for a long time had a singular desire to plucke this thorne if God be so pleased out of my foote but the continuall impedimentes and hinderaunces of the warres hauing euer withheld me I haue not bene able to this day to bring it to any good passe Wherefore to the intent I might accomplish my desire I haue made choise of this oportunity being most fit both in regard of the season now present as also of the ley sure and rest which Mahomet hath permitted vs whose fury we haue now repressed in two seuerall combattes and battelles You may gesse by few wordes what it is that we haue neede of all other things are in a readinesse onely we stay for succours and aide from you which if it shall please your Maiesty you may send vnto vs namely Harguebushiers and Crossebowes such as are skilfull to fight aloofe and to trouble the enemy a farre off for of other souldiours our dominions are sufficiently well furnished But ô how happy may I account Naples and Sicily which are gouerned by such a king as my Alphonsus from whence as out of a treasury a man may haue choise of all presidentes and examples of vertue If we haue neede of your people either in peace or in war both our estate hath bene furthered by your lawes and our warres haue bene maintained by your armes For my part I doe so highly esteeme of your loue and good will and the memory of your exceeding great benefits doth remaine so sacred inuiolable in my mind that many times I wish though perhaps therein I ouershoot my selfe that your fortune and estate were such as you might haue occasion to try and proue rather then to purchase and tie your friends vnto you For so should I be able by some certaine and euident proofe to testifie my deuotion and ready seruice and the entire affections of my vnfained loue towards you The Ambassadors hauing had their dispatch with these letters Scanderbeg made a iourney into Dibria where the garrison then lay and had in his company Amese his nephew Musache his brother in law and some other of his Lordes and nobles with whom he purposed there to consult vpon the estate of his affaires and to take some order for the leauying of an army Being arriued there he demanded of Moses whether he had learned any newes that concerned the estate being so neare and continuall a neighbour to the enemy His aunswer was That he heard of none but quoth he I haue had conference of late with a man of Sfetigrade to see if there could be found any way or meane to get that place from the enemy but he hath protested and sworne vnto me with great oaths that it is so carefully guarded and so circumspectly gouerned with watch and ward day and night and it is so aboundantly furnished and prouided of al
serue them For our partes wee are not to feare it no more then that the heauens are like presently to fall vppon vs. Was it possible that Sfetigrade being seated euen in the verie middest of our enemies and being furnished with lesser numbers was able to deride the Brauadoes of the Albanois and to maintaine the immortall name of the Ottomans in Epire Nay let the vertue euen of our enemies serue you for an example was it possible that Croy should bee able so cheerefullie and so audaciously to hold out and make resistance against the puissance of all Asia and Europe Could shee her walles being ouerthrowen her fortifications being raised onely by her notable perseueraunce and constancy merite the perpetuall and euerlasting title of glory and shall we in the aboundance of all things and hauing so neare an hope of aide and succours from Andrinople shall wee I say be afraied at the sight of a handfull of base companions Shall not we dare to looke vppon them without terrour of astonishment who are no other then an infamous troupe of theeues and freebooters This short Oration did so chafe the harts of the souldiers that besides infinit vaunts and brauadoes as is vsuall in such cases some of them flocked together about the Gouernour and with great instance besought him to grant them leaue to sally forth to set vpon the enemy but he refused to yeeld vnto their demaund by reason hee was aduertised that Scanderbeg did approach betweene whose arriuall and these accidentes there was litle or no great space It was about the tenth houre that the troupes of the Albanois did appeare before the towne and did encampe them selues close together in a large plaine vndâ—r the walles First they tooke their repast all at their ease and then afterwardes they parted their companies each hauing their seuerall quarter appointed them The numbers of Scanderbeg his army was 15000. men 8000. horse 7000. foote They were placed round about ouer the plaine and vpon the mountaine the which being not very high nor steepe did serue as well for the horsemen to encampe in as the footmen And for this cause was the artillery planted there also in diuers places fit and conuenient to make a battery against the wals By that time that all things were ordained in a readinesse the night ouertooke them the audacity and fiercenesse of the besieged was much abated by the terrible shewe and aspect of our people and especially by the view of those peeces and engines prepared for the battering and assaulting of the towne Immediatly vpon the breake of day the ordinaunce began to thunder most furiously and the Curtin in some places began to be dismanteled and the Flankers to be razed whereupon the defendants both falling to consultation and yet labouring the whilest to repaire the breaches were for a time deuided into contrary opinions being in doubt whether it were best to demaund a Parley or not before that the enemie should come to the scaling of the walles and that the furie of the assault should bebegunne For they were sore affrayed lest they should not be able to maintaine the place and if in the middle and heate of the fight they should intend it that then the souldiours being caried away with the hope of victorie would not be perswaded to yeeld vnto it But the Gouernour would not in any case consent thereunto telling them That the perill as yet was not so great and that they should at all times finde oportunitie enough to take that course so vile and ignominious whereupon they were satisfied and surceased that motion The next day likewise passed in the same manner for that the breache was not yet assaultable nor sufficient to receiue the souldiours and Scanderbeg caused the batterie to continue still with great furie And after two dayes were spent in that sort and that the ditches were nowe filled vp with the ruines of the wall he withdrewe his ordinaunce from that side where the towne was made least defensible and for that it was nowe time to vse the furie of his souldiours he appointed the next day to giue an assault and to make a triall of their valour commaunding them to be ready by the breake of the next morning which was done accordingly As the ensignes were readie displayed and that the souldiours with great cries and clamours began to march in good order and resolution certaine of the towne came foorth suddenly and met them who being conducted to the presence of the Prince required to haue truce which was soone and easily graunted them Afterwardes demaunding what their composition should be if they did yeeld them selues Such quoth Scanderbeg as is due to men that doe yeeld to wit their liues saued and free libertie to depart with their armour bagge and baggage as for the rest it did belong to the victours The two messengers being returned and their aunswer openly reported the defendants were generally sadde and sorrowfull that so hard conditions should be imposed vpon them all things being as yet sound and in good estate whereas if their case had bene desperate and the towne forced to the vttermost euen they that were in a manner vanquished might easily obtaine such an agreement The garrison were pensiue and sore grieued feare and despite made them to haue manie motions and conceipts in their minds The Christians sayd neuer a word notwithstanding that by the articles propounded for their composition they sawe they should be depriued both of their goods and their houses True it is that they were in a good hope that if the place came into the handes of the Christians they should obtaine of the King of Albanie what soeuer they would demaund And therefore they made no shewe howe they were affected either on the one side or the other nor what they thought of the conditions for feare lest they should renewe and reuiue the suspition that had bene before conceiued of them Being demaunded of the Gouernour what their opinion was they refused to shew their mindes giuing him onely this answer That they did expect from him not interrogatories but commaundements that whatsoeuer he should iudge to be for the honour and profit of all in generall that would they maintaine and ratifie both armed and disarmed A great part of that day was spent in consultations at last it was concluded that they should demaund a truce and abstinence from armes for one whole moneth during which time if there came no succours that then they would submit them selues to the conditions and offers which were propounded They were in hope that Mahomet would not endure this shame and infamie but would either be there himself in person or else would send some succours with all speed For before the comming of Tanusee they had aduertized him of the preparations made against them Thus by this pollicie and deuice they did hope to preserue their libertie their towne without any bloudshed or losse
vnreuenged to the great reproch of the name of the Ottomans But his Bassaes shewing him that Belgrade was strongly and excellently well fortified that it was abundantly prouided of all necessaries for defence and that for the more securitie he might sende thither such fresh succours as it should be impossible for the enemie to winne it and that the voyage of Romania needed not in the meane while to be interrupted All this would not anie whit perswade him nor turne his obstinate minde from the warre of Epyre. For the siege of Belgrade and the onely shame thereof had swallowed vppe all his thoughtes and imaginations and his head was alwayes deuising vppon the same And to speake the trueth I dare assure you that there is not anie Nation nor kinde of men vnder the heauens more diligent and carefull in preseruing of their conquestes and in keeping the countries which they haue gotten from their enemies then are the Turkes For they holde it a most notable iniurie and eternall shame and infamie that their enemies should take from them one foote of ground whereof they are the owners or should innouate alter or chaunge any thing vppon their possessions It shall not be impertinent in this place to recount an accident which is as yet fresh in memorie during the raigne of the last Baiazeth The Hungarians had erected neere to the riuer of Danowe a tower of wood seruing to diuerse vses and priuate commodities rather then to any purpose of seruice for the warres a worke in trueth that was not worth the speaking of Baiazeth being aduertised thereof could not moderate his passions but to his extreame charges and expences he assembled forthwith a mighty armie onely and of purpose to ouerthrow and beate downe this edifice And he held it not sufficient to commit the execution thereof to his Lieutenants but he would needes be there in proper person wasting and destroying the whole countrie adioyning The Hungarians thought it not best to oppose themselues against his furie but gaue place vnto him and made a mocke of so foolish and outragious a part and so litle did they grieue at the dammage offered them that they wished him many such victories Now whether this diligence in the Turkes be either to be commended or discommended this is most certaine that the euent of things doth apparantly make shew of it But we for our partes doe imagine that there is no cause of feare vntill such time as the fire be gotten into our owne houses and that the flame haue embraced euen our bed-chambers Hence it proceedeth that whilest we prepare water against tomorrow for the quenching of the fire we are preuented in the instant being burnt vp presently and consumed out of hand The great Turke taking that course which the importance of those affayres did require amongest all his seruants made choise of Sebalias a Captaine more politique and subtill then aduenturous and hardie and who more then once had tryed himselfe against Scanderbeg In regard whereof he made him Generall of this iourney into Epyre and gaue him the commaund of 40000. horse all chosen men and well appointed so that they made a goodly armie very strong both for their number and for their valure Mahomet calling Sebalias vnto him before his departure helde him with a long discourse vsing not onely exhortations and perswasions but with many praiers expressed in most vrgent and earnest tearmes he entreated him that he would employ all his diligence industrie courage vigilancie the best most sufficient meanes he was possibly able in that seruice to bring that warre to a good end and to rescue his subiects promising him great riches honors and aduancement euen in the highest degree that he could bestow vpon him and as farre as himselfe would wish and desire especially if he could bring him either the head of Scanderbeg cut from his shoulders or his person aliue into his presence I doe finde also that this matter should be plotted in another fashion and that two souldiers the strongest and most aduenturous of the whole armie named Acmath and Barach should of their owne proper motion present themselues to Mahomet and should bargaine with him for a huge summe of money and that he did condescend to giue them a farre greater reward then they demaunded so that they would accordingly as they offered contriue the death and destruction of Scanderbeg Behold how pretious and excellent was his life and person to be esteemed which was so highly prised and valued euen by one so miserably and couetously addicted Sebalias being readie furnished and prouided as one that was more forwarde with his hand then with his tongue to put in execution the commaundement and charge giuen him by his soueraigne and supposing it needefull to make haste if he would bring his matters to any good passe he caused his souldiers with all speede possible to mount on horse backe and when they demaunded whither he would leade them he tolde them into Epyre. For the Sultan himselfe was not more tormented in his mind then Sebalias was perplexed and troubled with thinking vpon Belgrade day night sleeping and waking vncessantly and in all places was that towne before his eies And because he was in great feare and doubt least they within the towne should not hold out till his comming hauing a desire to put them in good courage hope by the expectation of speedie ayde and succours he had no sooner gotten his dispatch from the Sultan but he determined to sende away speedily a Poast with letters to them that were besieged But the chiefest care and difficultie was howe to get a man fit and able to vndertake the enterprise and that durst expose himselfe to the hazard of so great and manifest a perill And yet the large promises which he made were sufficient not onely to haue inuited and allured but in a manner to haue enforced the heart of any man to aduenture it In the ende they found one a very quicke and light fellow who being presently mounted vpon the swiftest horse in all the armie spurred away with all speede sparing neither by day nor by night no trauaile nor paynes nor for anie extreamitie of the heate so as in three dayes or little more he came to a towne vnder the obeisance of the Turkes named Gyrocastra being about some sixe score and fiue miles from Belgrade The Turkes haue no ordinarie and set Poastes in Turkie but in stead of them and because vppon such occurrences their Curriers whom they call Vlach shall not be vnprouided of horses the Sultans haue established and laide downe this order that in running on their iourney they may dismount as manie men as they meete with on the way without anie exception and so by often chaunging of their horse they make way with incredible speede and diligence This messenger being arriued at Gyrocastra and hauing communicated his businesse
appeareth not any precedent signes either by darke cloudes or the roaring of the seas nor any other such celestiall threates and tokens by reason wherof they are suddenly oppressed not fearing any such matter their sayles are rent and torne their mastes blowen ouerborde their gables and anchors are lost and they not able to worke whilest they are busied on all sides to attend their charges and seuerall duties are constrained in the end with the violence of the tempest to giue ouer and to leaue all to the mercie of the winde and weather and of fortune and to haue a care onely of their owne safetie so did it now fall out with the Christians lying before Belgrade For they hauing their eyes alwayes regarding the toppes of the mountaines to see some signe giuen them from their Sentinels had the sword of the enemie ouer their heads before they discerned or perceiued any such matter It is a wonderfull thing to imagine how so great preparations and the sudden approch of the Infidels could be so concealed that euen the very stones and riuers as a man may say did not reueale it In all the warres that Scanderbeg had made he was neuer without spyes fugitiues letters or some such secret aduertisements of his friendes saue onely at this instant when he had most neede of them But it may be that the preparations for the warre of Greece being begunne and continuing so long was the cause he was so deceiued by reason that Mahomet hauing his great armie in a readines for another iorney did on a sudden employ part of those forces and that with singular diligence secrecy celerity so as no report nor espials could easily preuent their coÌ„ming as they might haue done if an armie had bene leauied and raised purposely for this iourney Besides letters and messengers haue not alwayes free libertie of passage And as for the watches and scoutes which were placed vpon the mountaines purposely for the discouering of the approach of the enemie and vppon whom principally did depende the safetie of the Christian armie before Belgrade they neuer gaue them any signe nor token of their comming nor it was neuer knowen what became of them There is great varietie and diuersitie of opinions concerning those scoutes some say they were corrupted by the Turke others affirme that they were surprized and put to the sword by the vauntcurrers of the Barbarians who found them verie negligently walking vp and downe about the fresh and most delectable places of the mountaines taking their pleasure and recreation by meanes whereof they could not giue any signe to the campe as it was concluded For my part I know not well what to thinke of it Touching their infidelitie I suppose it was not a thing so easie to be compassed for albeit it were a matter which amongst a few might soone haue bene contriued yet amongest so many it was verie difficult and in a manner incredible in like case that they should be slaine it is as vnlikely for neither were their dead bodies euer seene or heard of after that nor any reliques markes or apparance of them and therefore some doe affirme and it is most likely that they were taken aliue by the enemie Howsoeuer it was the other watches which were appointed to watch else where could not discouer the enemie till they were come verie neare them and yet assoone as they coulde they gaue them some warning By meanes whereof they had a verie litle and short time to make readie their companies and to put themselues in order for to fight with the enemie Neither was it possible that Scanderbeg should send any scoutes farther off to beat the wayes and to discouer the passages or to prouide better for the safetie of his campe as he was wont because all the whole countrey round about being for the enemie they might easily haue bene entrapped by some secret ambushments or openly distressed by the force of the inhabitants And it may be that his misfortune and destinie did not permit him to deuise inuent any better remedie against that mischiefe which hanged ouer his head For we see it is a common and vsuall course with fortune to oppose herselfe as a stepdame against the enterprises of great personages and being not able to suffer the continuance of their good happe nor willing that it should be perdurable she doth often interrupt the course of their best and most glorious actions But let vs proceed with the scope of our historie These fiue and twentie men which were ordained to watch vpon the mountaine either by treason or by negligence as hath bene â—aied caused great mischiefe to the whole armie For Musache who lay encamped next to that side where the enemie did approach and was to sustaine the first brunt and onset that should be giuen would hardly be perswaded that the Turkes were at hand notwithstanding that the watch did continue the allarme and did in a manner shew him the dust raised by the trampling of their horses Some say that he was found sleeping in his tent others say that he was playing at dice with one of the Gentlemen of the Kings priuie chamber and that the Turkes comming vpon him vnprouided did bereaue him of all meanes of hope to mount on horsebacke and enforced him on foote to seeke to saue himselfe by flying towardes the mountaine But the most common opinion is that he had some time and Ieisure though verie litle to put on his armour and to mount on horsebacke and that he lost his life fighting valiantly euen in the formost ranckes of his companie and that vpon his death the residue beganne to flie For assoone as the standards of the Infidels and their vauntcurrers began to appeare in sight Musache hauing ordered his troups as well as the shortnesse of the time would giue him leaue was at the first in some doubt whether he should stand and abide the charge or betake himselfe to flight towards the maine strength and bodie of the armie But because the enemie was nowe so neare that he thought his flight would cause the greater slaughter of his companie besides for that he tooke not the enemie to be so strong as he afterwardes founde them and being vnwilling also to loose his life with dishonor by any default in himselfe or to abandon and forsake his Prince and the others who were lodged on the mountaine he setled himselfe to receiue the enemie and therefore couragiously he endured the charge and stoutly opposed himselfe against their furie and violence For a time he held good neither his courage failing him nor his forces and he was resolute not to loose his life without a braue reuenge of himselfe and his companie In the ende perceiuing by the slaughter of his companions that his flanckes lay open to the enemie and that his vertue and perseuerance was in vaine and vnprofitable he did assay many times by trauersing and coursing vppe and
turne and to wheele about and went speedily and roundly to encounter him not without some losse both giuen and taken on both parties After a while he withdrewe himselfe aside causing his armie to retire and to recuile a litle till he had renued the ranckes of his battell and that he had gathered together his souldiours that were dispersed and disordered In like manner Scanderbeg was not verie importunate vpon him whilest he thus temporized and delayed the fight but he emploied his thoughts likewise in the reallying of his forces and reuniting them together in one But the Barbarian could not long endure to suffer him for though his owne battallions were sore trauelled and wearied and were not as yet fully reordered and redressed yet did he beginne to presse vpon him and he gaue a freshe charge and onset vppon our men and as it were in disdaine and mockerie he threatned and vpbraided them telling them that now was the ende come of the insolencie and pride of the Albanian and that he should now receiue the condigne punishment of his rebellion and he often repeated these and the like speches saying that he would vtterly confound and destroy this handfull of Christians both men and horses And in verie deede their numbers was much decreased for besides those which were slaine vnder the conduct of Tanusee and in the chase as they fled before the enemie there were more then three thousand slaine with Musache of which two thousand were footmen and the rest horsemen Neuerthelesse Scanderbeg not vnlike a good and hardie pylot who hauing gathered together the remnants of his shipwarcke and hauing scarcely repaired the bottome of his vessell doth yet cheerefully prepare himselfe with more courage then hope to abide the extremitie of a new tempest doth animate and encourage his souldiers to trie the fortune of a fresh combat calling and crying vnto them with a furious terrible voice Follow me my friends follow me your companion in armes not to the conflict but to the slaughter of these cursed dogges and miscreants and then sharply blaming and reprouing them he called ech of them after other by their names saying what cowardize is this that possesseth you what strange feare hath seized vpon you shall we leaue the noble bodies of so many of our brethren friends and kinsemen here lying without reuenge will all of you yeelde vp your ghoasts vnreuenged you haue not here any other then your wonted and old enemie euen that enemie I say whom you were wont to make the ordinarie subiect of your honour and reputation In the middest of these and the like speeches pressed forward with constraint and necessitie which did inuite him to leaue and commit all to the pleasure of fortune he cast himselfe as a man forlorne and desperate into the middest and thickest of the enemies squadrons confirming by an assured proofe beyond all humaine reason that saying of Homer That amongst all other vertues magnanimitie of courage is often accompanied with a kinde of furie and supernaturall violence Thus did Scanderbeg fill all places wheresoeuer he came with bloud and terror sometimes beating downe those that fled from him and sometimes those which did withstande him as a warriour that was inuincible and most fortunate But if euer his valure did shew it selfe it was at this time when he farre passed and excelled all his former deedes and haughtie exploits The rest of his troupes likewise taking example by his valure and being transported with rage and dispaire did breake in vpon the enemie and rushed vppon their weapons as men blinded and hardened against all perils and followed their Generall through all hazards and daungers But the sudden accident and mishappe of George Thopie brother to Tanusee did put the residue in a great feare and astonishment for he being throwen to the ground and almost ouerwhelmed with the shot of the enemie our men had much a doe to free him out of their handes and to set him on horse backe The infanterie of the Albanois could better saue themselues from the violence of their enemies then from their horses for in many places they made way ouer their bellies as they lay ouerthrowen vpon the ground and so did put them to great scath and mischiefe By meanes wherof as there is nothing that doth more awaken the spirites of a man or that doth make him more apt to deuise and subtillize a thousand fine inuentions then doth necessitie they did aduise themselues of this policie to seize vpon all the horses of those which were slaine and which they coulde possiblie come by both of their fellowes and of the Paynims and speedily they mounted vpon them with singular agilitie This was the cause that very many of them were preserued and it did greatly strengthen the rest of the armie for that their forces were by this meanes in a manner redoubled By this time had Scanderbeg broken and disordered a strong troupe of the enemies horse and had pressed in euen to the standard corps du gard of the Turkish General endeuoring according to his wonted custome in most battels to haue made the beginning of his victorie by their Chieftains death so to haue enforced them to yeeld him the honor of that iourney But euen then at that instant those two souldiers who as we haue saied had sworne his death to the Sultan did aduance themselues in that front of the fight and with their swords readie drawen did receiue him to the combat At that verie time and in the same place Musache de Angeline desiring to succour and aide his Vncle receiued a sore wound vpon his right shoulder and the rest of the Epirots likewise being but fewe against many were so plyed and kept doing on all handes both in front and in flancke and at their backes and that so fiercely and so roundly that they had no leisure to looke after their chiefe commaunder who by meanes thereof being now left alone against two as it were by a fatall kind of chance and destinie did cause eche man to turne and bend their eyes to himwardes For the two Mahometans both with their hands and with their voice putting backe and making their companions to retire would needes by themselues alone carrie away the honour of the death of the Prince of Albanie and they thought to reserue to themselues onely the prize propounded and promised them by the Ottoman But it is a common saying That the foole is greatly deceiued of that he thinketh These two Infidels did continue a while coasting and coursing vp and downe round about him now here now there on euerie side to take him at some aduantage In the end eche of them setting spurres to their horses and with a carelesse contempt of their owne death and daunger they came vpon him brauely and with a full cariere charged this fierce enemie whom they hated most deadly and odiously The notorious
their griefe was exceeding great to see that their Prince should be deceiued by them whom he would least of all haue mistrusted Neuerthelesse according to the time by publique consent and most voyces of the souldiours they prouided themselues of a Chiefetaine and of all things else that seemed requisite for the time present Amongst the most noble and chiefest young men of the countrey there were two bretheren Demetrius and Nicholas highly commended and honored for the greatnes of their ancient house and family of the Berissians and they had bene much and often noted to haue done the king of Epire good and faithfull seruice by many valiant deeds of armes and in diuerse notable aduentures These two vnderstanding the misfortune of their army and the hard issue of the siege of Belgrade and hauing notice likewise of the reuolt of Moses made with all speede towardes the garrison in the frontiers of the kingdom doubting least that either the feare of that sodaine accident or the licentiousnesse of the souldiers should cause them to disband themselues and so the passages of the Prouince might be left naked without any defence or custody especially for that the report went that Sebalias Mahomet his lieutenaunt was yet abiding in the countrey First of all therefore with good aduise and ready debiberation and with no lesse diligence they made a leauy of some new forces and strengthened the garrison heartening and animating them both by words and by deeds willing them to be of a good courage and to testifie their good affections towardes Scanderbeg by shewing themselues his good friends and their willing deuotion to doe him seruice and with a singular compassion of their Prince his misfortune they detested and abhorred the infidelity of Moses telling them that they doubted greatly and it was likely he had conueied himselfe from thence to helpe to bring in the Infidell and that it would not be long â—re he would come thither All this was easily beleeued therefore the souldiers were retired into a place of more strength and all things were settled well and in good order as if they had expected the enemy presently These matters being thus established Demetrius leauing his brother with the garrison being accompanied with certaine Gentlemen Dibrians tooke his way towards Scanderbeg making very long and painefull iourneis to aduertise him of the estate of the Dibrians In the meane time certaine spies which had bene purposely sent abroad and dispersed ouer the plaine countrey did bring certaine newes that Sebalias was departed from Belgrade and gone away quite out of Epire Howbeit for all that the Prince of Epire either for shame or for griefe of his late calamity being vnwilling to behold so vnpleasing a spectacle had no minde at all to visite that place so odious vnto him by meanes of that vnfortunate battell and where he should come but to the fresh view of his misfortunes and to the renuing of his griefe and sorrow neither had he any care or desire to see those who were now dead whom he could not preserue and saue when they were aliue Yet because his souldiers and the kinsmen of those which were slaine did murmure and exclaime saying That there was no reason their bodies being so lately slaine should be defrauded of their sepulture nor be left to the sauage and bruit beasts to prey and tire vppon and for that he would not seeme to giue them any iust cause of offence or discontentment he condiscended vnto their demand telling them that it was a vaine and friuolous kind of honour though very gratefull and acceptable to stand so precisely vpon the buriall and funerals of the dead So notably doth the exceeding vehemency of mens passions make them many times to forget themselues and to decline froÌ„ al reason and vnderstanding Neuertheles because that those which should be sent to performe that duty of Christian charity vnto others might not draw on a farther mischiefe and dammage vpon themselues and by their owne destruction encrease rather then solemnize their obsequies if they should go thither either weake in number or in confusion and without order he made choise therefore of 7000. the best most able men of all his bands that they might be the better able to assure them selues in their voyage against all the enterprises of the miscreants and to oppose them selues against any sallies of the Belgradians Tanusee made great suite and entreaty to haue the conduct and charge of this company which being granted him accordingly he tooke great care for all things that concerned this iourney and especially for the body of his good friend Musache Wherefore with great speed he tooke his leaue of the king and without any colours standards or other warlike ornamentes he made hast away towardes Belgrade Scanderbeg being now returned towardes Croy the multitude came forth to meete him without the gate and albeit they had many times before and by diuerse messengers hard the newes of the misfortune of Belgrade especially by those souldiers whom being wounded in the fight Scanderbeg had sent away presently vpon the losse of the battell yet neuerthelesse it was some comfort vnto these poore and vnhappy soules to enquire more fully at large of all things in particular by such as were last returned from the Campe and the rather for that many false tales and contrary reports had bin giuen out as is vsuall or they had an imagination belike that the presence of their Prince should haue reuiued and redeliuered vnto them those which were dead and gone The wiues the men the old and young all alike would pull the Captaines and the souldiours without any respect of persons some by the hand others by the cassocks and with a pitifull complaining voice would redemaund of them their bretheren their husbands and their children whom they accounted and held as their most precious and dearest pledges Others would in a maner constraine and compell them euen against their wils to tell them that which in the end caused their griefe and their greater sorrow and discontentment Some there were also who hauing heard comfortable newes which they neither hoped nor looked for yet fearing least they should offend the troubled minds of others with their new ioy they concealed their contentment and conformed them selues in outward shew to do as others did deploring the common and particular misfortune of euery one both in publique in priuate And there was not any of them excepting such as saw their friendes there present and in â—ight that had any full and hearty contentment by reason that this second iourney to Belgrade made for the buriall of the dead did keepe them in continuall feare yeelding new cause of care and griefe Demetrius with the rest of the Gentlemen of Dibria his companions hauing ouertaken Scanderbeg vpon the way in his retrait from Belgrade and euen as he was vpon entring into Croy at their comming to his presence did first
one whom the misfortune of another had sufficiently warned and sufficiently instructed in all points because he would not goe nor present him selfe to the Ottoman with the perill of his life or with any shew or shadow of suspition he tooke and led away with him both his wife and his children as those that should aunswer for his true and plaine meaning and should acquite him from the suspect of any crime and he deliuered them vnto the Infidell as the sure and certaine gages of his faith and fidelity His departure bred maruellous tumult and astonishment throughout all the Prouince euery man thought it very straunge and was inquisitiue after the cause and motiue of this his rebellion considering that besides his neare kindred he was continually held and reputed by Scanderbeg as the companion and consort of his Empire and royalty This accident being reported to his vncle he tooke it very impatiently and with his friends and familiars he beganne to complaine and bemoane his hard fortune Must this sayd he needes fall out to make vp the measure of my trauels and sorrowes that I must be assaulted with domesticall and ciuill warres Am I so odious or is my countrey so vngratefull vnto me or is it the honour of this Crowne and scepter that is so desired and held so precious but Amese it seemeth did beare enuy to Moses well if God if the right and law of nations and if your vertue do not deceiue me he shall yet haue greater cause then euer to enuy him The winter season being now begunne and the fieldes being naked and bare of graâ—â—e or other fruites did put Scanderbeg in hope that he should for a time be freede from the preparations and trouble of the enemy and there was good and apparaunt occasion to induce him to be of that mind and to beleeue that Amese would attend and stay for the spring of the yeare for the setting abroach of his new plots and enterprises For this cause he retired with all his traine to Croy not taking anie care for the leauying of any forces or other preparations of the warre and there he spent and consumed the winter oftentimes visiting the garrison of the Dibrians and preparing him selfe by his espials and ordinary gardes to be in a readinesse for the trauels and daungers that were shortly to ensue The sight of Amese did not so much moue the Turkish Monarch as did afterwardes the speech which hee vsed vnto him for the valour and sufficiency of this personage caused him to haue him in admiration after hee hadde once heard him speake and that he knew his prudence and wisedome by the grauity of his discourse and sounde reasons For as touching his stature it was so small and so vnsightlie that at the first appearaunce it could not yeelde any shew of those secret and rare perfections of his minde but in recompence of that defect of his person hee hadde an heart extreame haughtie and he was of so quicke and sharpe a conceipt and of so delicate and subtile a spirite as none could be more Of all men he was most impatient and could least away with ease and idlenesse and which in men couetous and desirous of Empire are the principall and chiefest partes to gette them honour and the good grace of euery man his liberalitie and courtesie were no whit inferiour to his other vertues What so euer he got either by the purchase of his owne vertue and valour and by the fortune of the warres or by the beneficence and bountie of his vncle he did wholly depart and distribute it amongest his souldiours and his friendes he was very officious and seruiceable to all men very familiar and easie to be acquainted with and as occasion did require he could dissemble singularly and with excellent good skill and cunning By these qualities had he gained so great authority and good liking in the heartes of all men that next to Scanderbeg I doe not know any one man that was so beloued and reuerenced both of the people and of the souldiours in so much that some haue affirmed that there wanted not diuerse of the most priuate and inward friendes of his vncle who did often admonish him to take good care and regard to a minde that was so stirring and suspitious But as he would not be perswaded to credite any such conceipt so did he make litle or no account thereof Notwithstanding in processe of time when his flight and rebellion came to be knowen and manifested he was sooner drawen to beleeue the report thereof in him then he was before of Moses and he then began to call to minde the naturall disposition of the man which had beene better obserued and marked by others then by himselfe But to our purpose Amese being admitted to the presence of Mahomet did not fill his eares with idle and insolent promises and vaunts as Moses had done but colouring the cause of his reuolt and repaire to the Sultan with one onely reason to the intent his speeches might not be accounted either vaine and inconstant or fained and dissembled he began in this manner to speake vnto him Thrice happie and inuincible Monarch if it be lawfull for vs to recall to memorie the errours and iniuries which we haue in times past committed against thy Maiesty it might well and rightly be sayed that we are now come to receiue the worthy and deserued punishment of our offences rather then the hope and expectation of any honours and dignities For wherein could wee haue trespassed and offended more grieuouslie against the Empire of Ottoman then we did in that action of ours heretofore executed in the warre of Hungarie at that time when with equall and no lesse infidelity we both betraied thy army in the battell of Morana and when we tooke Epire by deceipt and fraud out of thy hands the true originall and fountaine of so many mischiefes and calamities of all which enterprises and practises I doe confesse that I was a partner and consort For it behoueth me now being in the presence of your Maiesty not to stand vppon the defence and iustification of my doings but onely to plead my contrition and repentaunce but I hold it a vaine thing to stand in any feare or doubt before so prudent and gracious a Prince considering that my age at that time and my youth inclining to his owne misfortune and my minde being but badly staied in her deliberations and counsels did then perhaps deceiue and beguile me I was then lead to beleeue my vncle and did suffer my selfe simply to be perswaded of many things and being entised with a desire of rule and gouernment a disease properly incident to that age through too much credulity forsaking thy seruice I followed him and the hope of his faire promises but as my vnderstanding encreased with my years I soone began to discerne the secrete disloialty of my vncle and that this my reuolt from the Ottoman
him selfe to be sicke and euill at ease did continue three or foure dayes priuately in his lodging without going to court the Queene who lay in the tower Capouane The Queene thinking that he had beene sicke indeede sent her Seneschall to Castell noue to visite him on her behalfe where he detained him and all his traine and at the same instant taking his horse he went to the Capouane to haue seized vppon the person of the Queene but this his counsell proued vaine and frustrate by the intelligence which she had receiued by one of the Seneschall his seruaunts who was escaped from the surprize of the Seneschall Hereuppon the Arragonois betooke him selfe to open force and besieged the Queene battering the fortresse of Capouan with the Canon The Queene finding her selfe thus hardly bestead had recourse to Sforce who lay encamped at that time for Lewes of Aniow at the Monastery neare Mirabell Sforce hauing had the better in a great conflict against the Spaniard within Naples at Case noue neare to Formell and about the tower Capouane did deliuer the Queene thence in safety and conuaied her with all her moueables to Auersa At the time of her retrait from Naples there were more then fiue thousand Neapolitanes both men and women of all sorts who mourning and lamenting at her misfortune did accompany her a great way off with great sorrow and infinite lamentation Within a while after Sforce began to treate with her that Lewes who was continually resident at Rome might returne to the Realme of Naples whereunto she condiscended and more then that when he was come to Auersa shee receiued him with most gracious and kinde entertainement and besides hauing assembled many great and noble personages of great wisdome and iudgement by their aduise and councell shee solemnly depriued Alphonsus of the right of adoption and from the succession of the Crowne of Naples pretending that he had worthely forfeited it by the vice of his foule ingratitude and shee adopted Lewes the third to succeed her as her sonne in that her kingdome vpon the same conditions which she had earst propounded to the king of Arragon giuing to vnderstand by expresse letters vnto all the Potentates Princes of Christendome both the order tenour and causes of the depriuation of the one and the adoption of the other About that time Alphonsus being aduertised that Henry his brother was taken prisoner and spoiled of his Crowne by Iohn King of Castill he resolued to take a iourney into Spaine for his deliueraunce which hee did accordingly in the yeare one thousand foure hundred twenty three leauing Naples in the gard and custody of his brother Peter In that his voiage passing by Marseilles and finding it but ill guarded he surprised it by a sodaine assault onely in hatred and despite of Lewes and he vsed it as enemy For hauing abandonned it to the auarice and insolency of his souldiours that which he was not able to cary away he caused to be burnt and consumed with the fire onely the women were saued and preserued from the violence and outrage of the souldiours the King hauing caused them to retire into a Church whilest the towne was rifled and sacked Of the infinite treasures and riches which were found within the city he reserued nothing to himselfe as the report is but onely the body of Sainct Lewes late Archbishop of Tholouse the sonne of Charles the second king of Naples the which he caried from thence and caused it to be placed most religiously in a certaine speciall place within the city of Valentia in Spaine saying that it was not a thing either decent or conuenient in a towne which was burnt and destroied to leaue so holy and precious a relique Lewes lately made King was not idle in this meane while but he did presently put in execution the practises newly concluded on betweene Pope Martin the Queene of Naples Philip Duke of Milan and the Genowaies For by their meanes was Naples sodainely and in an instant besieged and enclosed both by Sea with the forces and fleete of the Duke of Milan and by land with the armes of Frauncis Sforce the sonne of Ssorce Cottignole lately deceased in so much that without any great violence or effusion of bloud it was recouered for the Queene in the yeare one thousand foure hundred twenty foure Now Queene Ione being so happily restored and reinuested in her estate made her entry into Naples hauing in her company the Graund Seneschall who was of late eschaunged for twelue Catalans or Spanishe Nobles by the liberality and curtesie of Sforce afore mentioned who might haue hadde foure score thousand Crownes for their raunsome and Lewes also her adopted and elected sonne whom shee had created Duke of Calabria being the title ordinarily giuen to the eldest sonne of the Kings and Princes of Naples was with her at the same time of her returne to the Citie of Naples Nowe albeit she was not altogether free and exempted from troubles but that the towne was sometimes endommaged by the artillerie of Castell noue which was still at the deuotion of the Spaniard neuerthelesse she liued sufficiently well and happily in her realme vntill the yeare a thousand foure hundred thirtie two at which time the Graund Seneshall who till that time had with most happie and prosperous fortune commaunded and in a manner absolutely ruled all the realme was then ouertaken and ensnared by the Queene as you shall perceiue by that which followeth Within a while after he had solemnized the marriage of his sonne with one of the daughters of Iames Caldore euen when he sawe him selfe as a man may say sitting aloft vpon the wheele of Fortune one Monday about midnight being lodged within the tower Capouane certaine persons by the speciall commaundement of the Queene and some other of the Nobles confederated with her went vnto his lodging knocking and calling at his chamber doore and willing him to arise speedily and to make hast to come to the Queene saying that by reason of a sudden accident which was befallen her she was in great daunger and perill of death The Seneshall rising suddenly to make him selfe readie commaunded his page to open the doore Thereupon they without being armed entred the chamber and slue him out of hand and hauing almost cut off one of his legges they caused him to be caried all naked out of Capouane without anie pompe at all as the most vile and wretched creature liuing A most miserable and vnhappie example of the inconstancie of Fortune and may serue for a notable instruction and admonition to all such persons who relying vpon the fickle loue and immoderate affections of woman kind do found the greatnesse of their fortune vpon their vaine and vnconstant fauours Lewes being sent by Commission of the Queene against Iohn Anthonie Vrsin Prince of Tarentum who taking part with Alphonsus did trouble and molest Calabria when
Scanderbeg for all this wanted not some one or other to be the successour of so many and great dangers neither was he at any time without enemies Amongst the eldest and most auncient Chiestaines of Mahomet there was one an Asiatique named Carazabeg a very graue and auncient personage and of speciall marke and reputation by reason of many honorable places of charge and diuerse voyages wherein he had bene employed and had acquitted himselfe well and worthely The Sultan also had him in great account and hauing placed him in no small authoritie he retained him neare about his owne person as of late also his father Amurath had done the like This aged Sire as if he had bene some young hotspurre found himselfe pricked on with the spurres of his glorie or rather misfortune which seemed continually to lye in waite to seduce and entrap the greatest and most notable persons to the intent it might obscure the brightnesse of all their former renowme and the merites of their forepassed triumphs by the vnhappie successe of this warre of Epire for neither the late ignominie and opprobrious spectacle of Iussumbeg nor the like mishap which had euer attended vpon so many others besides him nor yet the fatal destiny of the Albanian felicitie which had continued euen to that day could not any thing disswade him but that he was desirous to proue his fortune against Scanderbeg wherfore repairing to the presence of the Sultan he thus spake vnto him Hitherto most soueraigne Prince and euen vnto this day both vnder thy Maiestie and vnder thy father of happie memorie I haue heaped vp and obtained in a maner so many triumphs by my merits as yeares by my age and course of life But now both the one and the other of them is grieuous and lothsome vnto me and I take no pleasure to remēber them through an extreme despite which I haue conceiued to see Scāderbeg obtain so many victories to see the many ouerthrows discōfitures which he hath giuen vs to see the pride and insolency of the Albanians I am resolued as old and vnfit as I am for armes to abandon all to the hazard and chance of fortune and either to bring vnto thee and to prostrate before thy feete dead or aliue this wicked and vngratefull wretch sometimes the slaue of the house of Ottoman now the king of the vnhappie Epirots to the intent he may be accomptant vnto thee for the slaughter of so many and so great armies and for the death of so many of thy noble worthie chieftaines or else this head and this throate of mine shall more and more enoble the glory of his fame and reputation Giue me leaue therefore most worthie Emperour presently to leuie forces and to muster an armie to my owne liking I my selfe will take vpon me the charge and managing of this matter not as a commander but as thy minister and both in the chusing the arming and the trayning of the companies I will not relye vpon any other person but my selfe alone will looke to the handling and dispatching of all things For it is with a notable thiefe and a famous robber that we haue to do and the warre which we make is with such a one as is an arch maister in pollicies and sleights of subtiltie who is growen haughtie and insolent with his many victories and who is as it were fatted with the multitude of the spoyles which he hath gotten of vs. Whatsoeuer this Turke demaunded was freely and fully accorded vnto him by the Ottoman who referred all to his discretion added vnto his demand an ouerplus often thousand men for him selfe had made choise onely of thirtie thousand with whom he thought to haue put this matter in execution notwithstanding that it was of so great importance He sent before him certaine spies whom he willed to disperse them selues ouer the countrey for to discouer and giue him some intelligence of the enemie Scanderbeg on the other side wanted no good aduertisements both throughout the prouince of Epire and in Macedonie and also in the heart and most inward partes of the enemies countrey by meanes whereof the iourney and comming on of Carazabeg was soone made knowen vnto him in such sort that our men had both time and oportunitie to make readie their preparations But when Scanderbeg heard this newes reported vnto him the report is that he vsed this speech vnto some that were neare him If this Chieftaine quoth he were not too farre striken in yeares and ouer aged I should haue feared him alone more then all his great puissaunce which he bringeth with him for both of them knew each other very inwardly and they had bene companions in armes in a certaine voyage made into Asia vnder Amurath much better sayd he and more wisely should Carazabeg haue done if he had made spare and taken compassion of his old age and especially of his fortune which seemeth now to faint and to be ouer wearied and doth as it were repent her selfe of the manifold victories and fauours which she hath bestowed vpon him Wherfore though he be now fiftie yeares of age yet being growen as it were crazie and decrepit I haue no reason to stand in awe of him whom euen in the strength and prime of his youth my selfe being then but a child and in a manner a verie infant I did so little feare that I did euen despise and contemne him Hauing thus spoken he assembled his forces greater and more in number then those which he had against Assambeg by reason of the great fame and renow me of the Turkish Captaine Then trussing vp baggage he tooke his way into Dybria and from thence with two thousand horse he ranne vp euen to the confines of the Tryballians for in this place was the comming of the Turke expected And he layd them in an ambuscado here and there throughout the mountaines to the intent he might enclose the enemy in the middest of his forces and take them at an aduantage The Barbarian likewise hauing caused the maine body of his armie to stay in a certaine place within Macedonie commonly called Chieri had sent before 4000. horsemen who being discouered were suddenly charged by the Albanois the greater part of them being discomfited and slaine and the rest being scattered and dispersed in their flight caried the newes of their misfortune to their Generall before that euer he came neare to the confines of Epire. He therfore being before sufficiently weakned with age sicknes began by the astonishment of this mishap to grow more faint both in mind and in body being not so much aggrieued at the losse of his men as that his coming was disclosed and discouered to the Christian Many and diuerse things did he cast deuise vpon in his mind being in doubt what course to take whether it were best for him to hold on his iourney or else to turne head
caried not in their hearts and in their soules but onely in their outward garments and in their ensignes and standards such and so great is the inconstancy and vanity of mankinde But I doubt I should doe great wrong vnto this reuerent personage if I should let passe in vngratefull silence these deserued praises of his rare vertues and perfections Pius called Aeneas Siluius the Poet sometimes chancellour to the Emperour Fredericke the third was a Sienois by birth descended of the auncient family of the Picolhominins in Siena He was a man of most rare vertues and most renowmed for the holinesse and integrity of his life he was so addicted to the study of humaine letters that it was hard to iudge whether were more excellent in him his knowledge or his eloquence the which he emploied so happily in the councell of Mantua that he moued and perswaded all the nations and Princes of Europe to take armes against the miscreants excepting onely Lewes the eleuenth The Frenchmen who at that time had an hard opinion of him by reason that they tooke part with king Rene of the house of Anoiw whereas this Pope did mightely impugne his title in fauour of the Arragonois in the warre of Naples as you haue seene in the booke last going before He was wonderfully zealous of religion and of the glory of God seeking nothing but the aduancement of the same and the safety of the Christian flocke by reason whereof his end was greatly lamented ouer all Christendome but aboue all others the subiects of Scanderbeg made great sorrow and lamentation For although they were yet fierce and glorious through their victory lately gotten against Seremet yet vpon the hearing of this newes they were as men amased and confounded and as if they had bene striken with thunder and lightning from Heauen so infinitly did they grieue for that this enterprize and expedition against the Turkes was broken off but Scanderbeg carying a courage and a mind pliable to all the assaults and crosses of Fortune did not in any sort bewray himselfe to be grieued or discomforted neither did he shew any alteration for this vnfortunate and vnhappy chaunce but with a chearfull countenance nothing chaunged nor troubled he comforted his friends and familiars with these speeches and perswasions God the searcher of all secrets who knoweth all things before they be done to whom things past and to come are open and manifest as well as things present by whom all things are made and established in equity and iudgement and are perfectly guided and gouerned whose diuine and incomprehensible wisedome extendeth it selfe from the beginning to the ending gratiously disposing and ordering euery thing in particular God I say that auncient of daies and of all eternity doth sometimes make frustrate and disappoint the wishes and desires of mortall-men and doth not suffer them alwaies to enioy them according to their owne willes and contentment For though in the eie of man the may seeme good and profitable yet in the sight and secret knowledge of his diuine Maiesty he knoweth them to be otherwise and there be many things which vnto vs appeare to be profitable and beneficiall but his wisedome foreseeth that they will greatly preiudice vs. For example there is no city so populous there is no nation so puissant but if they want enemies abroade they are sure to finde some euen at home amongst them selues and you shall neuer see any body so strong and lusty but if there be no externall cause to molest or grieue them yet they will at one time or another be oppressed and ouerborne by their owne proper forces by reason of some inward contrariety If it had pleased God that the Romaines had not ruinated Carthage which was emulous and enuious of their greatnesse and that they had not rooted out this their forraine enemy but that they had still had him to haue kept them in feare and awe they had not then bene consumed by intestine ciuill warres within themselues they had not then turned their swordes against their owne throates and their Empire peraduenture had bene standing euen till this day For the feare of a forreine and outward foe which as some say is a sure gardian and a most streight and perfect bond of amitie and concorde had preserued and still mainteined them in safetie The like may we say perhappes of the Christians and of the nations professing the faith of Christ for if we were exempted from an externall and forreine enemies and had not an aduersatie elsewhere to keepe vs in awe considering our impietie and ambition our rancours and diuisions past all hope of reconciliation and the bloudy streames of troubles and tumults nourished from time to time within the body of the common weale of Christendome do you not thinke that we should finde a hundreth times more disaduantage and mischiefe by our owne enmities and dissentions then by the violence of our outward enemies Assure your selues we had long ere this time bene consumed and worne out by the furie and outrage of our owne proper armes I conclude therefore that it is not happened altogether for the worst that this voyage is discontinued and broken off for it was greatly to be feared that when we had once chased away this greeuous and bloudy enemie farre from vs least that then we would haue kindled some fire within out owne houses which should haue proued more bloudy and fatall vnto vs. Howbeit it is not to be doubted and we may hold it for a certain and infallible truth that the Empire of the Ottoman cannot continue long but that it must needes decay and perish if at least wise this may be called or termed an Empire which is but a wast and solitarie desert of Barbarisme depriued of all light of true doctrine being without lawes without iudgements without any good order and policie and euen in those parts especially where as once the artes sciences the true and perfect discipline the most famous Churches with many other ornamēts were most glorious florishing as we see it now come to passe in Asia and a great part of Europe subdued by the armes and violence of the Turkes And albeit Daniell in his Prophecies distinguishing the fortune and vertue of euery Empire hath described all of them namely that in this old and declining age of the world there shal be more confusions then haue bene in times past and that God notwithstanding as long as mankinde shall endure vpon the face of the earth will preserue some Kingdomes and Empires which as the end of the world doth more and more approch so shall they grow more faint and feeble and yet neuerthelesse that there should arise a certaine Barbarous nation of a wonderfull puissance named in the diuine Prophecies Gog and Magog howbeit let vs not be troubled at the power and puissance of the Turkes which by manifest and auncient testimonies is condemned and reiected of God as being
wood he thought the number of the enemies to be greater then they were in deed and so had he assured it vnto his Generall In so much that Scanderbeg him selfe mounting on horsebacke did make hast in great heate to seize vpon these relickes of his victory being accompanied with all his cauallary The Turkes discerning his cōming a farre off you need not doubt but it troubled them greatly and they acquainted their Chiefetaine with the matter who was more aggrieued then all of them Immediatly they fell to consultation and resolued vpon a course which perhaps was vnbeseeming so great a chieftaine and braue souldiers and yet was it both safe necessary and that was to march without armes and without their horses and so to go meet the conqueror The captaine himself who was the author of this counsell led the way vnto his company was the formost that went against him being all ouer deformed with bloud and filth Not much vnlike to Marke Anthony at such time as he fled from the battell of Modena or Mutina to Lepidus the Triumuir when he came neare him he tooke Scanderbeg his horse by the reines of the bridle and by three or foure good wordes he saued the liues both of him selfe and his companie For he found his enemie to be wonderfully passionated at his misfortune vpon the speech which he vsed vnto him Whither goest thou quoth he ô Scanderbeg what wouldest thou It is not for thine honour still to vanquish and ouercome thine enemies Suffer I pray thee suffer thy selfe sometimes to be ouercome for being so vanquished thy victorie shall be greater then if thou wert victorious and with more glorie and commendation shalt thou recken the triumphs of thy clemencie amongst thy victories then those which thou hast purchased vpon thine armed enemies The Christian Prince smiling and turning about to his people Nothing said he is more subtile then aduerse fortune nothing is more sharpe conceipted or politicke then necessitie ô how wisely and eloquently can we speake when we are conquered which being conquerours we know not how to do And then taking him by the hand he sayd vnto him Assure thy selfe my friend thou shalt haue neither harme nor iniurie if I can helpe it And hauing sent him away he commaunded that his wound should be well looked vnto and that he should want nothing and afterwards he caused certaine of his people to conduct him into some place of suretie For what thing is there more honorable or commendable then to know and to be willing to vse mercy and pity to an enemie who is conquered miserable and afflicted Scanderbeg marched on with his armie coursing vp and downe on all sides here and there and finding the Prouince to be cleare of all ambushments of the enemies he returned to his campe and from thence neare to Croy where he solemnized the rest of his ioy and gladnesse for the victorie Within a few dayes after came Iussumbeg being sent likewise against the Epirot but he followed the same course and fortune that his companion had done and he was so much the more likely to be beaten then the other because he came in a more weake and feeble estate to seeke out that aduersary who was newly victorious and was as yet all embrued in the bloud of his enemies For being entred into Scopia the chiefe city of Macedony with eighteene thousand men he presumed and had determined in his thoughts that he would march euen into the heart and bowels of Epire not considering with him selfe nor looking into the late mishap of Assambeg such was his rashnesse and temerity His comming being reported to the king of Albanie made him greatly to wonder that these men could so straungely and as it were so wilfully forget them selues or rather at their immoderate desire and vnsatiable thirst which they had after his bloud and life Then turning him to his souldiers thus he spake vnto them Goe to my good friends and companions you that are borne to trauels or rather to continuall victories let vs go on to meete with this new enemy and with this new Captaine let vs not refuse to doe him this honour who at the first shocke I dare assure you will giue vs good matter of honor and glory Euery man with loud clamours and acclamations did applaud his wordes and so prepared them selues to follow their Chiefetaine who drawing neare to Scopia and hearing by his vauntcurrours that the enemy had taken the field gaue the signall vnto his souldiers to giue the onset vpon them The Barbarian who was not prepared neither in courage nor resolution to the combat receiued him notwithstanding yet so as he seemed to doe it with the countenaunce of one that came rather to talke of the matter then to fight For he did not thinke that Scanderbeg would haue had either him so greatly in contempt and disdaine or that hardinesse in him selfe as that he durst so farre off from his owne frontiers come to hazard the fortune of a battell within the territories of his enemies frō whence if he should be vanquished he could not haue escaped where he could not either repaire his forces or though he were victorious be well assured nor in safetie This was the reason that the Painim euen at the very beginning loosing both strength courage did find no course better nor more expedient then to turne head and make hast away shewing the way vnto his people of a most shamefull and ignominious flight who kept him company in like maner excepting some 300. or thereabouts who preferring their honor before their liues died valiantly with their armes in their hands But they that fled found themselues in worse case by flying then they expected For whereas they supposed that they might haue fled with safetie and should not haue bene pursued by the enemie by reason they were in their owne countrey and as it were vpon their owne dunghill therein they were greatly deceiued and with those their fellowes which were before slaine in the fight they made vp the full number of 2000. at the least There were very few taken prisoners by reason of the great difficulties and discommodities which hindred the safe conucying of them as also because of the length of their retrait which they were to make for that the paisants might haue assailed them on their way Iussumbeg thought to haue rallied his troupes and to haue layed some ambushment or to haue dressed some deuise for the entrapping of the enemie but his souldiers would not by any meanes hearken vnto him but holding on their scattered course they had a greater desire to returne home though it were with the displeasure of their Prince then not to returne home at all And they excused themselues vpon this their discomfiture and ouerthrowe giuen them by Scanderbeg which they pretended to be a sufficient reason and lawfull cause of their refusall But