enter Whereby the knights of the order resting at Messana could not tell how to send safely the two Gallies away to Malta Notwithstanding considering that the great Maister so earnestly vvrote to haue them that they thought Vbirerum agitur summa vnius particulae periculum minus esse metuendum Where the vvhole affaires rest in daunger the perill and losse but of a part particle thereof for the conseruacion of the rest ought the lesse to be regarded and feared they determined vvith themselues to commit the two Gallies to the guiding of Fortune alwaies aforeseeing that all those knights of the order should not passe in that hazard but onely fortie of them ioyned vvith a good number of soldiours that furnished vp the two Gallies With these passed Captain Salazar an Hispaniard in a bote towed by the Gallies into the Iland of Goza vvho after from thence passed into Malta to espie both the state of the Citie and the Turks Armie The meane tyme the Turks not forgetting the great ouerthrow and repulse that they receaued at their late assalt at Saint Michaels and not a litle desirous to reuenge the same therefore they began vvith terrible sury theyr batterie againe against the Fortres of Saint Michaell in such sort as that so much as the defendours repaired vp in the night the Turks by day by their Artillery ouerthrew and brake While the enemies Artillerie dyd their feate the Turks deuised theyr bridge vvhich they finished and dyd sett ouer the dyke before the Sunne rysing the twentith of Iuly vvhereby they might come to hand strokes vvith our Christians Which being perceaued by the defendours and considered vvhat detriment the bridge vvould import if the same vvere suffered Immediately seignior Parisoto the great Maisters Neuew and Agleria knights of the Order vvith a good company of other soldiours issued forth of entent to haue burned the bridge Who in such sort vvere receaued by the Turks that vvithout executing the matter they came for all those that issued together vvith Parisoto and Agleria vvere vtterly slaine The Turks this space seased not to continue the sury of their Artillery in battering the walls vntill the xxviij day of Iuly So as that afternone they couragiously assalted the For tres on sundry parts thereof and thrise did send fresh men to supply the roomes of their soldiours that were either vvery in the fight or ouerthrowen in the assalt so manfully the Turks stood to their mark that they doubted not to gaine the Fortres that day But our Christians on their part with no lesse valyant courage resisted them with very force what by Gunshot arrowes wildefire handstrokes at last they compelled the Turks to retire from the assalt with incredible losse With this victory the harts of the defenders in such manner encreased that they cared nothing for the malice of the enemie And because there was not so often skirmishing on our side as was wont and that the artillery of the Christian side began to stay from shoting the Turks supposed that there was few souldiours left on liue in the fortres that their furniture of pouder shot and other things were spent Which stay from skirmishing shooting was rather done of purpose by the counsaile and deuise of the Prince Valet then for any want of those matters in the fortres for a good cause considering that he heard of no maner of certaine aide at that time that euery day more more the enemies fury malice did grow the greater hee thought it not requisit to consume his garrisons other furnitures idely to no purpose But the Turks perceyuing that by these often assalts of theirs theyr pretences toke litle effect they determined with themselues to prooue what they could by myning and one mine they had in maner brought to passe beefore our Christians did perceiue the same to the end they might blinde the eyes of the defenders they caused two gallyes towards the water to aproch the wals of the towne of Saint Michael to beate at the same with theyr artillery supposing by the same that the garrison to haue forsaken their charge to haue aided the rest would haue neglected the custody of the wals of the castle so by this mine to haue entred into the fortres But the defenders vnderstanding the subtile pollicies of the Turks by the meanes prudence aswell of certaine of the garrison as chiefely of one of the ensignebearers ther brought vtterly to naught the mine of the enimy by a contermine For the ensigne bearer first entring the mine of the enemy with a lanterne in hand casting certain arteficial fire among the enemies in the mine that whether the enemy would or no hee draue them out of the mine For which good seruice done the great master rewarded this worthy ensigne bearer with the gift of a chaine of gold wayeng fiue pounds because that Virtus virtutem parit eaque in arduo sita est one vertuous act allureth another to do the like though the same be very difficult to attaine vnto The next day after which was the first of August certaine of the garrison of the fortres issued forth with pouder burnt to peeces the bridge which the Turks before had deuised layed ouer the dike which worthy deed so done turned to the whole fortres a wonderfull commodity For the next day after at the Sun setting the Turks assalted agayne the fortresse vpon that part which was garded by Carolo Roffo where by the space of three houres it was valiauntly foughten on each side but in the ende the Christians repulsed the Turkes leauing beehinde them three hundred slaine And on the Christian part remayned dead Roffo himselfe with one Bareso and certaine other souldiours This while during the assalt the Turks in such sort exercised their great artillery with continuall shot that none of the defenders durst scarce shew his head to looke into the dike but immediatly he was dispatched but for all that where occasion of any worthy seruice was at that instant to be shewed the souldiours of the fortresse would not spare his life to execute the same As well appeared in Calderonio the Hispaniard who when hee doubted that the enimy was breaking that part of the wall of bulwarke called the bulwarke of Castile hee issued immediatly to espy and know the same but in a moment hee was slaine with the bullet of an arquebuse Whose infortunity as to some it would haue beene a terrour and feare so was the same not the lesse an encouragement of the rest to endeauour to doe the like seruice For when they perceiued that the enemy did what they could to fill vp the dike of the fortresse they of the garrison determined rather to ende their liues with honour then to come into the handes of a most cruell enemy and therfore concluded togethers to issue forth that night vpon the enemy and to enbar them of their purpose
who maried the daughter of King Baldwin succeded in the kingdome of Hierusalem ouerthrew the Turkes at Ybelim which Place holy Scripture calleth Geth The yeere 1140 or ther abouts Alaph or Balach Souldan of Hames tooke the towne of Rohaiz there vnmercifully murdered a great number of Christians The yeere 1143 King Baldwin the third of that name sonne of king Fulque discomfited at Hierico the valiant Norradin son to Baldecan Soldan of Damaz The yeere 1146. The Emperour Conrad and King Lewes of Fraunce sonne of Lewes le Groz passed into Surie where with king Baldowin they besieged the towne of Damasco but could not take the same and therefore they returned home into their Countries The yeere 1148 after the departure of these said two Princes Norradin the Souldan of Damasco besieged Antioche wher Raimond the Conte of Antioche issuing forth in a skirmish was vnfortunately slaine the Contes of Rohaiz and Tripoli taken prisoners which Contee of Tripoli after was shamefully murdered by an Assassin The yeere 1160 Almery king of Hierusalem brother to king Baldowin tooke the towne Alexandria beesieged the great citie of Caire in Egipt The yeere 1170. Saladin the Souldan of Egipt began to inuade the holy land in the time of king Baldowin the fourth of that name king of Hierusalem at what time likewise the Emperour Frederic made war vpon the Pope the church in burning destroying Italy The yeere 1174 king Baldowin discomfited the Souldan Saladin at the towne of Tabaria which sometime was called Tiberias after that ouerthrew a second time at the towne of Ascalone The yeere 1179 king Baldowin aforesaid fought againe with the Souldan Saladin at Margelion nigh to the towne of Tabarie where king Baldowin then was discomfited The yeere 1184 began that discention among the Christians in the holy land which was the cause of the losse of the same The originall of which was this Guy of Lusignen hauing married the Lady Sibil sister of the late king Baldowin and widow of William Longuespee Marquis of Monferrato by whom she had a son named Baldowin who at that time but sucked his Nurce to whom appettained the kingdome of Hierusalem the said Guy of Lusignen father in law of the infant would needes haue his title and wardship against the will minde of Bartrand Contee of Tripoly to whose tuition and gouernance the childe was giuen by force of the testament of king Baldowin brother of the said lady Sibell when in the mean time the infant died ther vpon Guy of Lusignen named himselfe king in the right of his wife wherwith the Contee of Tripoly was wonderfully wroth The yeere 1186 Saladin tooke prisoner Guy of Lusignen king of Hierusalem with the maisters of the Templars and of the order of Sainct Iohn that came to succour the towne of Tabarie which the said Saladin had then besieged so as vpon restoring of king Guy the both aforenamed maisters to their liberties Tabarie Lique and Ascalone were rendred to Saladin who in the end wan also the citie of Hierusalem after that the towne of Acres The yeere 1147 the Templars reencountred Saladin nigh to Casal Robert where Saladin ouethrew them slew in fight the maister of the order of Sainct Iohn Hierusalem named Brother Roger dez Molins which hapned the first day of May that yeere In the yeere of our Lord God 1149 ther passed to succour the holy land the Emperour Frederic Barberossee Philip the French King and Richard King of England Frederic tooke his way by land and comming into Cilicia where thorough extreame heate desirous to bath himselfe or as some say in passing the riuer which some doe call Cauno and the frenchmen the riuer of Salif the latins doe name Cydnus which passeth through the famous citie of Tharsus at this present named Therasso was vnfortunatly drowned The two kings his confederates ariued in Sicilia frō the towne of Mossana they passed into the holy land came to the towne of Acre which after two yeeres beesieging they tooke King Richard in his passage thether tooke the Island of Cypres which he gaue to king Guy of Lusignen in exchaunge for the kingdome of Hierusalem But after the taking of Acre king Phillip being sickly returned into Fraunce The yeere 1204 Baldouin Earle of Flaunders and Henry Conte de Sainct Paul with his brother Loys Conte de Sauoy and the Conte Boniface Mont ferrat with a great company assembled themselues at Venice to passe from thence into the holy land To whom the Venetians did graunt ships vpon condition that beefore they passed they should aide them to recouer the towne of Zara in Sclauonie which before had reuolted from them and so hauing done they after proceeded on their voyage to Constantinople whereof they possessed themselues in the Empire which remained in the frenchmens hands about threescore yeares after The yeere 1210. Ichan de Brene maried the daughter of Conrad of Montferrat and the Lady Isabell daughter of king Amaulry who was sister of Baldouin the Meseled and of the Lady Sibel that was wife to Guy of Lusignen Which said Ichan de Brene was made king of Hierusalem crowned at the towne of Tyrus which commonly is called Sur and Sor by reason that it is situated vpon a rocke in the sea But Alexander the great to the intent to winne that towne filled vp all that distance of the sea betwixt the same and the land with stone and earth so as at this day the same remaineth firme groūd which towne of Tirus came into the possession of the said Conte Conrad who afterward was shamefullie on a suddaine murdered by a couple of the sect of the Assassins In the yeere 1216. Pope Honorius the third of that name did send the Cardinal Colonne into Surie accōpanied with Henry Contee of Neuers and Gualtier of Sancerre constable of Fraunce with others in a great nūber who after their landing in Acre discended into Egipt tooke there the towne of Damiat which within sixe yeeres after vpon composition was surrendred to Cordier son of Saladin Souldan of Egipt whom the frenchmen doe call Le Admiral des Cordes In which time also Iehan de Brene king of Hierusalem accōpanied with his brother Garin de Montaguae great maister of the order of Saint Iohns came into Fraunce in passing through Italy the said king of Hierusalem gaue his daughter Yolant in marriage to the Emperour Frederic second son to Henry who was sonne to Frederic Barberousse with the whole interest title which he had to the kingdome of Hierusalem which the Kinges of Sicilia doe intitle themselues to claime at this day The yeere 1229. the said Emperour Frederic departed out of Italy giuing hopes that hee would passe into Surie but incontinently hee returned againe as one hauing small deuocion to performe that voiage In the yere 1230 the aforenamed Soldan Corder caused the vvals of Hierusalem to be
dispoyling multitudes of Princes and high discended families of theyr liues together with theyr crownes and kingdomes and this done in so few yeares space aboue all opinion or what else before was euer executed by the antique world It cannot be but to that which the course of things doth daylie cast vpon them if there be a course in things which is not my purpose further heere to dispute God almightie in his secret iudgements doth hasten their proceedings to chastice the ingratitude of vs Christians for the small thankefulnesse wee shew for so many his gratious benefits liberally though vnworthely bestowed on vs. But my office is not of a diuyne hauing in purpose to make knoweÌ„ onely what they haue euen from the first done and daylie doe rather then the reason of the deede how it is or can be done In which I heere present you and your Worshipfull brothers with three bookes This of their Originall and the seuerall Monarchies discended from them Another of their conquests and the succession of the house of Ottaman whose greatnesse hath in manner drownd all the rest The third of the small gainefull attempt giuen by Soliman great Grandfather to Mahumet the third of that name who now reigneth to the Isle of Malta or Melita defended chiefly by the forces of the great Maister and the valiancy of the worthy brothers of that order By which last booke I wold thus much inferre that since the prowesse of so small a handfull was not onely able to withstand but repell the furie and huge forces of so confident an enemie puffed vp with pride assurance of so many rich spoiles and gayned victories O what then would the forces of Christian Princes vnited doe so we might but once see the glorious beams of that bright shyning day appeare To this I haue annexed likewise an abstract borrowed froÌ„ the Italians of such causes as are saide to giue greatnesse to the Turckish Empire a breuiate onely of a larger worke yet by me vnfinished deuided into three bookes which by gods grace shal come forth shortly shadowed with the fauours of you your brothers names These former in the meane time if it shall please you to respect with that kinde acceptance which from you they seeke though not well deserue I of my paines receiue a large requital who desire nothing more Lastly whereas seuerally I assigne dedications of these books to you your brothers vpon my seuerall reasons in their Epistles set downe it is not of any purpose to deuide you or them from the pleasure of any part which I wish should bee common vnto all but rather to expresse thereby your mutuall natures coÌ„formities for as these books though diuersly directed yet thus together perticipate theyr content to all readers alike if they please whereto the dedication giues no hinderance So you of all liuing brothers with the mightie admiration of men in distinct bodies are sayde to haue in euerie good thing one and the same vnchangeable will minde alwayes resident where meum and tuum the worlde 's sole contentions neuer take place Thus wishing to your Worshippe all content of your desires and therein the full fruition of your health with much affection prayed for by many I take my leaue and to your good opinion commend mee From the midle Temple this 20. of March 1600. Your kinsman in all faithfull seruice at commaund R. Carr. I S To his kinde friend R. C. THe well fed paunch sound sleepes and proud attire From face of men hath banisht vertue quite VVhereby the course of natures free desire Is cleane corrupt by customes foule despite So euerie light is spent which gratious heauen Assignd this lyfe our staggering steppes to stay That now a worthie wonder it shall seeme If any one shall glorious actes assay The Lawrell wittes reward the Mirtle eloquent Drownd in contempt with faire Philosophie The gayning people hould for time mispent And few folkes feete the strayter path doe trie Yet gentle friend let mee of you require Pursue the prayse due to your harts desire C S To his louing cosen good friend R. C. I Speake no prayse to thee my Cosen kinde 〈…〉 For well of aught I know you seeke no prayse But ioy to see that these our better dayes Shall bee adornd with beauties of thy minde O how I feard thy modest thoughts inclinde To sit in silence musing mourning layse In scorne of fame and all that honor rayse would drowne the parts which heauen to thee assignd I know thy worth and so shall many moe Vnlesse thy selfe and many moe thou wrong And since begoone to set thy selfe in shoe Bring out thy store in darknesse hid too long Nor doubt not aught for if as earst I see That pleaseth others which once pleaseth mee R M To hiis friend R C NO little glorie gaine they I confesse who fitlie foâ—einâ— tongues our language teach Yet he farre more deserues without impeach His owne braines birth who well dyd e'er expresse Then gentle friend make you your selfe not lesse To post vs French and Latine in our speach But broach those quieres of rare conceit and reach Which I haue seene most worthie of the presse Those loue sick Sonets those pleasing Comedies VVhich oft with much attention I haue heard That rich discourse where loue in louing dies And of all wittes those paradoxs preserd O let this age but some of these behold And prayse thy pen writ in a veyne of gold The answere to his friend R M MY dearest friend I willingly confesse That I whose life should other lead teach Am not deuoide of blame and foule impeach VVhich O I would no tongue could ere expresse Now for I haue my selfe in wotth made lesse Too stale a fable to the publick speach Is 't not enough but that I furthther reach To blaze my follies in a printing presse No pardone no both songes and Comedies And what besides pleasing applause hath heard VVithout remorse in their creation dies To byrth and buriall rites at once preserd Too much of these dyd men in me behold O would time past could be regaind with gold FINIS The Preface To the curteous Reader IT is no small wonder vnto me gentle Reader though the worth of the argument contayned in these bookes were lesse why the examples of other nations as in other things should not so much preuayle with our countrey men as to stirre vp some according to the presidents in many other languages wherewith the world in large volumes is fraught to haue written somewhat of these Turkish affayres For if wee regard the greatnesse of their attempts their fortunatenesse in successe their discipline or what else may adde aught to militarie glorie you shall finde them in my conceite not inferior but superior farre in euery thing which hath giuen estimatioÌ„ to former ages of which bookes we see euery hand and studie full whilst these alone are hid from our people for want of some
ouerthrovven at such time as the Emperour Frederic persecuting the church gaue beginning to the partialities of the Guelfs Gibelins therwith not contented did call in the Sarazins of Africk to his seruice and gaue to them the towne of Nucera in Italy vvhich yet is called Nucera des Sarazins from vvhich aftervvard they vvere expulsed by the Frenchmen In the yeere 1237 Theobald king of Nauarre Emery Contee of Mont fort Henry Contee of Campaign Barre vvith a great army passed through Hungary Constantinople into Surie and recouered sundry townes which the Sarazins beefore had wonne but encountring with the Soldan Corder beetwixt the tovvnes of Acre and Gazera sometime called Gaza there they vvere discomfited and ouerthrovven by the same Soldan In the yeer of our Lord God 1244 the christians were discomfited at a place called Forbye where were taken the Maister of our order of Sainct Iohns called brother Guillaume de Chastelnâ—uf and the Maister of the Templers named brother Herman de Pierresort the Archbishop of Sury and two sonnes of Signeur de Boteron which otherwise was called Botrus with moe then three hundred Gentlemen At which time likewise the cruell wars by sea began betwixt the Venetians the Geneuoys about the intrest possession of the Monestary of Sainct Saba in the towne of Acre in Sury which may wel be said another cause of y losse of the holy land In the yeere 1249 Lewes the French king otherwise named Sainct Lewes passed the Seas and was taken prisoner before the tovvne of Damiat in Egipt by the Soldan Melechsalem but after his atteined liberty hee recouered the tovvnes of Sidon and Iaffe aunciently called Ioppe before that time taken by the said Soldan I am now come vnto the time that the Tartares inuaded the Turks or Turquimans but to the end it may be better vnderstood how this came to passe froÌ„ whom this people of the Tartares haue their being it behoueth me a little to turne back to begin a little before this time In the yeere 1231. in that country of Tartaria vvhich at this day is called Catay and the Orientall Scythia at vvhich time the Tartares liued vvithout knovvledge of any law or sorme of gouernment there was one by Hayton called Cangy and by Paulus Venetus Chinchis but by Michael a Michou Cinguis beegotten vpon a widdow during hir widdowhood who hauing other children by hir former husband they would haue staine hir all for shee had conceiued this Cangy while shee was widdow howbeit shee so wittely behaued hir selfe in hir words that shee caused them beleeue how she conceiued that birth by force of the beames of the sun other father in name the child had not which opinioÌ„ so taking place was not onely auaileable to the mother but also afterwards to Cangy who coÌ„ming to perfect age brought this barbarous people to beleeue that the almightie God had sent him to bee their king to make them Lords of those other nations to whom euen vnto that time they had ben tributaries by reason they neuer had head to guide the. And so prudentlie this Cangy can led himselfe that he subdued all his neighbours and therefore was â—uâ—named Cangy Can or Cham hee reigned twelue yeeres and died by the stroke of an Arrow which had wounded him in the knee at the aslault of a castellâ—â— his Cangy was the first that perswaded the Tartares to beleeue in one God To Cangy Cham succeeded Hoccata his son who to know countries further of sent ten thousand horse men to inuade the territorie of Cappadocia than possessed by the Turks by whome these Tartares were ouerthrowen with vvhich losse Hoccata being not a little mooued he sent againe thirtie thousand men whom hee called Tamachi that is to say conquerers against whom vpon the fronters of Cappadocia which the Turks call Genech came Guijatadin king of the said Turkes whom Sabellicus doth name Goniat In whose army were two thousand christians the remainder of the forces that before came into Surie conducted by two â— aptains where of the one vvas called Iohn Liminad of the Island of Cypres and the other Boniface du Chasteau a Geneuoys Sabellicus calleth this Boniface Boniface du Molin vvho he saith vvas a Venetian but in that daies deed Guijatadin and his Turks vvere discomfited in the yeere of our Lord God 1239. about vvhich time also Hoccata died leauing behind him three sons the one named Cin vvhom Paul the Venetian calleth Cui and of others Guys Guyscan the second vvas called Iochy the third Baydo or Batho as Michaell of Michou saith After Hoccata his son Cin or Cui succeeded vvhose reigne not long continued Next to him Mango or Mongu whom Sabellicus calleth Metho cosen to the faid Hoccata possessed the Empire of Tartaria This is that Mango Cham to whom Pope Innocent the fourth of that name did send Frees Ascelin one of the order of the Freers Preachers in the yeere of our Lord God 1266. as Vincent the Historial and Michael a Michou doe report IOCHY whom some doe call Iachis one of the sonnes of the sayde Hoccata tooke his way towards the West being the countries of Turquesten and the Corasmins and part of the Region of Persia euen vnto the riuer of Tygris which Hayton calleth Phison but I beleeue that Phison is that Riuer which is called Ganges where Iochy remayned BAYDO or Batho the third sonne of Hoccato passed thorough Russie Cumanie or Comanie and Moscouia and entred into Polone Hungary Austruhe burning and destroying the countries beefore him which afterward thorough famin he was enforced to abandon and so to returne into Tartarie Comanie which is beeyond the sea Maior called Pontus Euxinus but at this day Zauolha and Zahady Some doe affirme that this countrie of Comanie is that which Strabo calleth Cataonia part of Capadocia at this day called Cricassj The sayd Baydo was called by the Polonians Bathy Zaim Cham of whom Tamberlane the great discended as Michael a Mechou saith who did write of these great distructions in these North Regions done by Baydo which was in the yeere of our Lord God 1263. To Iochy in the orient succeded his sonne named according to Hayton Barath and after Paulus Venetus Barachim IN the yeere of our Lord God 1250. or there abouts at such time as king Lewes otherwise called S. Lewes the French king passed the seas The king of Armenie being a christian named Hayton perceiuing that the Tartaires had conquered so many countries and were entred into Natolie purposed to enterteine amitie and league with the said Mango Cham or Mongu VVho as before succeded to his cosin Gin or Cuj son to Hoccata in the realme of Tartarie onely to haue ayde against the Caliph of Baudraz and the Turkes of Damasco Halep Haman other places for which he sent towards him the great Constable of Armenie named Sinebaud but the yeere after he went in person where he obtained such fauor
if it had not beene that into Natolie was entered the great Prince of Tartary called Tamerlaine or Tamburlaine but by the Turkes Demirling and by some French Historiographers as Enguerrant named Le Grant Tacon de Tartarye but the Tartariens themselues doe call him Temircutlu that is to say the Fortunate Swâ—ord or luckie iron descended of the race of one Cham of Tartarie called Zaym Cham of the Horde or multitude of Zauolba and Czahaday which is towardes the riuer of Rha or Volha which falleth into the Sea Dabacuth by the latins named Mare Caspium and Hircanum which Zaym was he whom the Polonians doe call in their Histories Bathy the first Mahumâ—tist of all the Tartares Tamerlaine was afterward Lord of Tartarie Precopie called by them Prezelzoph situated betwixt the riuers of Tanais which they call Don and Boristhenes called Nâ—per and Dâ—râ—â—z the which countrie of Precopie was in auncient time called Scithia Inferior now in possession of the Turke This Tamerlayne was for the most part resident in the great Citie of Samarcand which is toward the sea Caspium who caused himselfe to bee called the Scourge of God though his verie title of his dignitie was Vlucham which is to say the mightie Lord. Bazait hauing intelligence of the entrie of Tamerlayne into Natoly thought it requisit to raise his siege of Constantinople and with all diligence to encounter with the innumerable army of Tamerlayne where nigh the city of Dangory by our ancients called Ancira not far from the mountaine Stella which Enguerrant de Monstrelet doth call Appadi where Pompeius Magnus ouerthrew the famous Mithridates the mighty armies encountred and cruelly did fight in which conflict Bazait was vanquished and taken prisoner whom Tamerlaine caused to bee bound and made fast with chaines of gold and so to be put in a cage as though hee had beene a Lyon in which sort hee carried Bazait about with him through euery region of Asia as he passed so long as Bazait lined which was not aboue two yeeres after or therabouts who died Anno Domini 1400 after he had reigned twentie seauen yeeres about the twentith yeere of the reigne of Charles the sixth the french king From this conflict escaped certaine of Bazaits sons who supposing to haue passed into Europe chanced to fall into the hands of the Emperour of Constantinople who caused the seas surely to bee kept at that time An other of his sonnes named Cyris and by the frenchmen Quirici whom some also doe call Calapin or Calepin escaped ouer to Adrinopoli whose sirname beeing called Ciris Cheleby was but a little of dignitie and Noblesse giuen to the children of the great Turk as Achmat Cheleby Mahumet Cheleby or Mustapha Cheleby which is as much as to denominate a gentleman according as the Spaniards doe name their Nobilitie Don Alonso or Don Rodrigo and the frenchmen Charles Monsieur or Loys Monsieur being appropriate to their blood roiall Cyris reigned sixe yeeres or thereabouts and left behind him a son named Orcan when as his three bretheren named Musach Mahumet and Mustapha escaped out of Constantinople while the Emperour was gone into Fraunce to the sayd king Charles to require succours against the afornamed Cyris Musach slew Orcan his nephew for recompence himselfe was after slaine by his owne brother Mahumet And than first began they to deuise how the one brother might kill another which vnto this time they haue right well practized and put in vre Mahumet the first of that name after he had slaine his brother Musach vsurped the Empire and recouered all the whole Countries of Natolie which Tamerlayne before had wonne of Bazait This Mahumet remoued his seat imperiall from the citie of Bursie in Natolie to Adrianopoli in Grecia He made wars vpon the region of Valachie which some french histories doe call Valaigne and other Blaquie and of the ancients named Bessi and Triballi He also ouerthrew in battaile the Emperour Sigismond in the plaines of Selumbez and was the first of his nation that passed the riuer of Donaw or Danuby hee subdued the countrie of Bosnia made war vpon Caraman and died the yeere of our Lord God 1418 and in the xxxviii yeere of the reigne of the said King Charles after hee had reigned eighteene yeeres reconing therewith the yeares of Cyris which some doe not and left a sonne called Amurath Amurath the second of that name was in Natolie when his father died whereof so soone as hee was aduertised passed into Europe albeeit the Emperour of Constantinople did what he could to stop his passage who sent against him Mustapha his vncle sonne of Bazait whom the said Emperour had kept prisoner sithens the taking of Bazait as before I haue tolde howbeit Mustapha beeing to weake was vanquished slaine in battaile by Amurath who to reuenge himselfe vpon the Emperor of Constantinople spoiled and burnt the whole territory of Thracia in Grecia and tooke from the Venetians the notable towne of Thessalonica called now Salonichi which Andronico Paleologo before had sold them in dispite of the Emperour Constantine his brother after that the said Amurath entred into Seruia or Rascia constrained George Vucouich the Despot or Prince of that country to giue him in mariage his daughter named Irinye surnamed Catacusine notwithstanding which affinity hee afterward came against this Despot with an army and enforced him to flie into Hungary towards the Emperour Albert sonne in law to the late Sigismond the Emperour leauing his sonne George for the defence of his said Countrie this George was taken by Amurath who caused his eies to bee put forth though he was his brother in law After the death of the said Albert Lancelot brother to the king of Pole was chosen by the Hungarians for their King albeit that Albert had left his wife with childe who after the death of hir husband was deliuered of a sonne that at his Baptisme was also named Lancelot who after waâ— nourished and brought vp vnder the keeping of the Emperour Frederic the third of that name and was the onely cause that the said Lancelot of Polen durst make no maner of enterprize against the Turks nor to inuade them least in the meane time the Emperour Frederic should haue annoied him vpon some other part and so haue set the other Lancelot the true king in his realme of Hungary During this time Amurath who could not long rest besieged Belgrado which they call Nandoralba and Alba Greca and by the Hungariens Chrieschisch but by our elders Taurinum situated betwixt the riuers of Danubia or Donaw and Sauus or Saua vpon a verie necke of lande where those two riuers doe ioyne togethers the which towne of Belgrado the said George Vucouich before had giuen in exchange for others to the said Emperour Sigismond for that it was the key and entrie to the kingdome of Hungarie After which at the suit and perswasion of the same George Vucouich the said king Lancellot raised a very great army
others in dignitie So hath the Soldain foure Emir Quibir surmounting the rest in honour next vnto the Soldain For this word Emir betokeneth an Admerall and Quibir signifieth great So as this woord Emir Quibir is as much to say a great Admerall Besides they had in their society a great constable called in their tongue Derdard Quibir whom Paulus Iouius calleth the great Diadaro The Soldain being but a Mammaluch is chosen to that dignitie by the rest of the brothers as they doe elect the great Maister of the Rhodes and most often hee is of one of their Emirs Who being thus elected to be Soldain giueth to euery of the other Mammaluchs by way of reward a hundred Duckets for his welcome All which Mammaluchs were Christians Renies or sonnes of Christians as are the Ianizaries who in no case would receiue any Turke Moore or Iewe to be of their societie being all Liuerous for so the Turkes doe name them This Liuerous were aunciently named Hiberi and Circassi whom they call Cercaz among whom the Colchi Georgii Albani and others Christians who were Iacobits and Nestorians remaining about the riuer of Phaso otherwise called Phasis were accounted This Circassi beeing young whan the Tartarians dyd surprise and take them were carryed by troopes and solde to the saide Emirs with whom they were brought vp in the exercise of armes but chiefely on horsback who beecomming very valyaunt were made Mammaluchs obseruing the Mahumeticall law This order of the Mammaluchs beganne at such time as the king saint Lois was taken prisoner before Damyate which some cal Heliopolis among whom the first Soldain was named Melechsalem whom they dyd kill and was the cause that the sayd saint Loys was the more easily deliuered But to returne to Bazait this ouerthrow that the Turkes thus receiued nigh to the Golfe of Layasse by the Mammaluchs was the greatest calamitie that euer came to the Turckes whereof Bazait hauing receiued intelligence and perceiuing that his affaires had small good successe on that side retired his force into Sclauonye and there tooke the towne of Durazo aunciently called Dirrachium and Epidamnus perteigning to the familie of the Carlouichs who affirmed themselues to haue descended out of the house of the kings of Fraunce That is to say from Charles of Durazo surnamed de le Faix sonne of Peter Duke of Grauyn sonne of Charles second king of Naples and of Hungary in the right of his wife The which Charles was sonne of Charles D'aniou king of Naples brother to the said king saint Loys IN the yeere of our Lord God 1493. Bazait sent eight thousand horsemen vnder the leading of Cadum Bacha to ouer runne the Countries lying betweene Hungarie and Sclauonie against whom certaine of the Nobility of Hungary Croace and Sclauony dyd assemble themselues and encountered the Turckes nigh vnto the Riuer of Moraua auncientlie called Moschus where the Christians were ouerthrowen Fiue yeeres after Haly Bacha the Albaneze and Enuch with a great armie by sea made towardes the towne of Iara or Iadera situated on the shore of the Golfe of Venice in the coast of Sclauony And albeit that the forces of the Venetians which was very mightie on the sea pursued the Turkes yet durst they not charge thē which Haly Bacha perceiuing tooke at their noses the towne of Lepantho aunciently called Naupactum IN the yeere of our Lord God 1500. Bazait came in person to Modon that somtime was called Methones in Moree and tooke the same And after when Lewes the twelfth the French King ioyned in aliaunce with the Venetians against Ludouic Sforza the vsurper of the Duchie of Milayn Bazait at the request of Sforza caused tenne thousand horsemen to inuade the territorie of Friol insomuch as they approched euen to the towne of Triuiso in the view of the Citie of Venice For which the Venetians prepared immediatly a great armie on the sea against the Turkes with whom the Gallies of Fraunce vnder the charge of Seigneur Rauestaing as also the Gallies of the king of Aragon vnder the leding of the famous Don Ferrando Consaluo ioyned with which armie they dyd win from the Turks the Islands of Cephalonia and saint Mauro But vpon certaine conclusions of peace traicted by the meanes of Messire Andreas Gritti who afterwardes was Duke of Venice betwixt the Venetians the Turkes were againe surrendered yet the Gallies of Fraunce passed forwardes to the Isle of Lesbos otherwise called Metheline hopeing to haue subdued the same but not able to bring their enterprise to passe they returned home againe About this time beeganne the fame and renowne of Siach Ismael the king of Persia by surname called the Sophie according to the name of his father who was sonne to the Daughter of Vssuncassan and of one Seich Ayder that is to say the good Religioux for he was reputed among the Persians to bee a very good and holy man and a Prophet called Sophi of that sect new begunne among the Mahumetists which they call Sophi or Sophilar of the which I dyd speake beefore according to the which hee lyued Some holde opinion that hee was called Sophi of the Countrey of Sophena which was vnder his dominion But neyther the Turkes nor yet the Persians know what Countrey Sophena is The sayde Seich Ayder after the death of Vsuncassam was shamefully slayne by the commandement of Iacopbeg his brother in law doubtting that the people of Persia who meruailously were affected owardes Seich would haue deposed the sayd Iacopbeg and made Seich to haue beene theyr King For which Seich Ismaell hearing of his fathers death beeing than not passing eyght yeeres of age fledde to the towne of Leziam situated vppon the Sea of Abacuth commonly called Caspium where hee remayned vntill hee came to mans age and than returned into Persia where finding meanes to assemble but three hundered men thorough theyr help hee tooke the towne of Sumach and after increasing his number hee wanne the Citie of Taurys in Armeny with the towne of Syras where the good Armours are made Hee afterwardes vanquished and slew in fight Aluant sonne of Iacopbeg who made him-selfe King after the death of his father who was sonne to Vsuncassan Vncle to the sayde Ismaell and entered in league with the Prince Aladulad or Anaudule and the Soldain of Egypt by whome hee was drawne to mooue warre against Bazait against whom he obtayned sundry victories About this time Selym the youngest sonne of Bazait departed from Trebisconde whereof he was gouernour and without the knowledge of his father married with the daughter of the Cham of Tartarie Prezecopie Thorough whose aide and a great number of Horsemen which his brother in law called of the Turkes Chamogly or Canogly brought to accompany him hauing already gained the hearts of his fathers Iannizaries Hee enforced Bazait his father to leaue to him his Empire Which Bazait purposing to draw himselfe to the cost of the sea Maior otherwise named Pontus Euxinus and there to leade
as I heare a man in action and one whom your countrie hath built their better hopes when seruice or the like occasion may call them therevnto what I wish and well hope that the two first bookes haue obtayned from them of fauourable acceptaunce and entertaining my honest will according to my meaning the same I would intreat most earnestly of you for this which granted shall engage mee ere long to some greater taske better fitting your worth and in conformety more fullie squared to my owne desire till when I take my leaue and rest for euer in what I can Your worships exceedingly deuoted R. Carr. The third Booke The Historie of Celimus secundus of the warres and siege of Malta WHO soeuer that complaine of the inconstance and imbecilitie of humaine affaires the estate of mankinde truely they doe it not without cause for well obseruing they shall see all things with the heauens themselues sometime flow somtime chaunge though not according to the face of the heauens and the positions motions and courses of the starres which in their times appointed doe make returne the matters and state of mankinde are alwaies like for neither mankinde it selfe nor their worthie acts pollicies arts regiments and lawes whereof the most part are either at this present chaunged or els vtterlie decaied which any conuercion or retourne of the heauens can come againe whereof example vnto vs are the Assyrians Meds Persians Aegiptians Carthagians Greeks and Romains For time chaungeth and consumeth all worldly things which had enfolded and vtterly ouerturned the famous acts of these worthie nations in the horrible darkenesse of obliuion and forgetfulnesse if that an other as it were a resplendishing and most bright sunne had not ben reserued from the first beeginning of mankinde that should counteruaile such in constance and imbecilitie of humaine thinges whereby not onely to prepare an immortalitie to sliding and fluxible matters but chiefelie which all wee mortall creatures ought to desire to shew the perfect way to ioyfull felicitie And that is the memorie of the acts and dooings past of mankinde which wee vse to call and name a Historie for when that in mankinde there is by nature an engraued appetite and desire of that goodnesse which is called felicitie so as what soeuer wee thinke we iustlie doe any thing wee refer it to that end of goodnesse and felicitie but verelie that true goodnesse and most certaine felicitie consisteth in this point that we may bee assuredly ioyned and knit with almightie God and to bee like to him as hee hath appointed vs Which vnfainedlie they may affirme to haue attayned and gotten who that hauing brought in obedience to reason the desires of their mindes and appetites will found and establishe their vniuersall life vpon vertue accordingly as to the perfect dignitie of mankinde is required howbeeit none there is that would suppose to haue gotten certainlie and absolutely this felicitie except hee will liue and be conuersant in that kinde of societie and company of men which by pollicie and wholesome lawes being congregated and gathered togethers is rightly to bee called a citie or common wealth which truely then shall be accompted happie if that three things whervpon due felicitie consisteth shall aide and helpe the same that is to say That it may bee that well it may bee that alwayes in that stay it may bee And for so much as there bee two especiall points whereunto euery well ruled Citie or Common wealth ought to haue regard that is to say to peace and war and that by peace rather than warres wee inioy and haue happie liues considering that warres ought to bee taken in hand to the ende that wee may in peace liue quietlie and such desire of peace is in mankinde that no trauaile no charge no daungers and perilles will bee eschewed that peace may bee attayned and gotten when as thorough the same each necessarie matter for quiet life is purchased But truely of that kinde of peace I meane nor whan armour is layed a part wee stay from moouing of warres and in the meane time rancour and malice to haue domination in our breasts but rather of such peace I meane that is grounded vpon the loue of God and beneuolence in the hartes of each good Citizen to bee good vnto euery one Albeeit Sapience and Wisdome must bee the Queene and vnfallable guide of vs mortall people who if shee bee our guide to felicitie shee is plaine and able inough of hir selfe to accomplish the same it is shee that hath Fortune in obedience it is shee that giueth vertue deligence and other good acts and the same can make fast to remaine in vs but vnto hir ther be two waies addressed the one by Philosophers and establishers of wholesome lawes the other by Historiographers the one by generall precepts of good life demonstrations of reason the other by shew and declaration of worthie facts comming to passe and sequels of the acts and doings of mankinde ioyned with varietie of examples matters of themselues leadeth guideth vs to wisdome so much this exceedeth the other as the very acts doings hath the superiority ouer words sayings and as it may be well perceiued of what force it consisteth to alure the mindes of any to the enbrace of the same for this path way of history both kings generals in wars and chiefelie rulers in common wealthes citezins young and olde rich and poore miserable and fortunate ought to haue in price and estimation in this to delight this to loue and of this to make to themselues a fellow companion and familiar as it which vnto euery age degree and fortune is most apt and replenished with euery kinde of examples aswell of priuate as publique fortune for when we perceiue how that fortune changeth or ouerturneth and abolisheth high low and meane men families common wealthes nations Empires and kingdomes if there bee any thing amongst men that hath power to encounter and counteruaile fortune and to stop hir of hir pretended course it must bee either onely history or else none other art can be found that with the consideration of the ends examples of the good and euill of all estates and callings set before our eies we may thereby bee brought vnto the desired port of felicitie For in history as a most pure and cleere glasse or as a most ample and large Theatre and high scaffolde one may ponder and way the course the race and mutations of humaine affaires the causes and motions of the euents and commings to passe of the fortunate and infortunate and of their prudencies and temerities wherewith except we be to much guided with follie or slouth wee may bee brought and led as it were with hand to the seate of quietnesse and felicitie in which onely tranquilitie and aboundance of all things to bee desired glorie and immortalitie is found Wherfore hauing not a little considered of what valour the memory of
hath in maner compassed the little limits of the christian kingdomes now considering that all domesticall and ciuill warres beeing vtterly extinguished and assured amitie and peace by the prouidence of God beeing resident among Christian princes it beehoueth vs now to awake For if by misfortune our princes againe should fall to any new vvarres among themselues this importunate beast would not sleepe but would seeke how hee may worke our vtter ruine Truely most holy father for the great pietie and singuler prudence in your holynesse remaining I hope that so great an occasion of laude and perpetuall glory whereby you may deserue well towards both God and man you would leaue to no successor of yours With this hope I will comfort my selfe trusting before I shall depart fro this mortall life to see this saoredâ—ourny to bee aduanced against our cruell and commoneenemie of Christes religion beesides which nothing can happen to mee more ioyfully or bee to mee a greater felicitie If therefore in these matters I haue beene either longer or more liberall of writing than to mee hath appertained I hope that of your fathely clemency you will giue pardon vnto me whom no little care of our Christian religion rather then rashnesse hath mooued mee thus to wright And for my part for your perpetuall goodnesse or rather pietie towardes this our order I most humbly render to your holynesse immortall thankes and so will continue to doe during life and so doe beeseech almightie God to preserue your holinesse in good and prosperous life About this time Dom Garza di Toledo the Viceroy of Sicilia vnder Philip king of Hispain and gouernour of all his graces nauy in those parts fearing that the nauie of Solyman vnder coulour to seeme that hee would inuade Malta would straight passe to the Gulet a Castle standing in the straites and entering of the poole or stagne of Tunes and to beesiege the same therefore he passed ouer to the castle of Gulet both to furnish the same with new supplie of Garrison and other necessaries thereunto appertaining and in his way the Viceroy touched at Malta and there landed to confer with the great master touching the warres pretended against Malta But they hauing intelligence that the nauy of Solyman was departed from Constantinople so as by reason of small time they could not tarry so long togethers as the waight of the cause required Dom Garza immediatly departed from Malta vnto the castle of Gulet in Barbaria which when he had viewed and furnishing the same with such necessaries as it lacked hee retourned with all possible diligence into Sicilia to rig set forward ther the kings nauy But the meane time the nauy of Solyman the xxii of March in the yeere of our sauiour Christ M. D. lxv began vnloose from Constantinople the next day after departed from that port towards Peloponneso so came to Methone Ther Mustapha Bassa a man of the age of lxxv yeres being appointed to be generall of the Turks army by land ther mustered his army where of his horsemen called Spachi which came out of the lesser Asia were seauen thousand hauing to their captaine a gentleman of the same prouince of Asia with two liuetenants Out of Cilicia came v. C from the Iland of Mitilena came also iiii C that of euery of their prouinces had captaines from whence they came he had also of olde souldiers whom they call Ianizers foure thousand fiue hundred to whom Solyman himselfe appointed two Captaines to bee their leaders considering that their generall whom the Turkes in their tongue call Aga neuer departeth out of Constantinople Beesides this there be among the Turkes a kinde of souldiers that liue of the fruits and stipends of their spiritualtie of these in this army were thirteene thousand who at Constantinople had vowed theÌ„selues to serue for the defence of their faith and Emperour There came also out of Thrasia and Peloponneso two Captaines and one liuetenant with a thousand two hundred horsemen three thousand and fiue hundred other souldiers that came from diuers places voluntary to serue for wages there likewise did Pial Bassa the Turkes Admirall muster his nauy wher he found to be a hundred thirtie gallies eleauen ships of burden of the lesser sort a eleauen ships of burden of the greater making beesides a great ship that was broken beesides Methone in which were then sixe thousand barrells of gun pouder thirtie thousand shot and sixe hundred Spachi of the which scarce two hundred were saued There came also from the Island of the Rhodes ten gallies vnder the guiding of Haliport a man of the age of threescore and tenne two gallies from Mitylene vnder the leading of Salach brother to the king of Alger that newly was dead also there were othersoists pirats ships about the number of seauenteene With this great and mightie nauy the Turks departed from Methone the thirteenth day of Maie and ariued at Malta the eighteenth day of the saide moneth of Male and tooke first port at the North cast part of the Island which the inhabitants call Marzasirocco But the Turkes perceiuing that they had not a safe rodested there they remoued from thence to an other rodested of that Island called Maiaro All this time the famous pirate Dorguta was not come it was said he was tarieng in the Island called Meninges commonly named Gerbas with his ships and in readinesse to come and that hee had sent to the king of Tunes foure peeces of artillery of brasse and other things which hee gaue to him to the end that the king should not aide the Christians in these wars but rather to help the Turks with a certaine porcion of victuall according to the agreement made beetwixt them and for these and other causes it was fayned that the Turks would first goe vnto the Gulat or else of purpose these newes were sowed to the ende that those of Malta crediting the same should at vnawares be surprised But the great maister of Malta being a man of a meruailous quicke and ingenious wit and therewith right expert in the act of warres and also wonderfull constant and circumspect against the practises and pollicies of the enimie did fore cast these deuises and counsailes of the enimie and right well did espie their purposes on euery side in his gentlemen and souldiers all there was espied to rest an assured constancy and meruailous liuelinesse to serue in so worthy and most honorable cause how beeit beefore I further proceede this place requireth to discriue vnto you the situation of this Island called Melita otherwise Malta of the especiall places thereof wherein so many worthie acts were done to make mencion The Island Malta is placed beetwixt Africk and Sicilia and doubted whether it should belonge to Africk or Europe if it had not ben that the ancient inhabitants of Melita time out of minde hauing vsed the common language of those of Africk haâ—e alwaies reputed the
as hee prooued many times to doe so in the ende in the Calends of Iuly hee did cast himselfe into the sea considering hee could not get to the castle by land and so did swimme to the castle not without great daunger of his life for he being espied by the Turkes he was shot at with sundry arrowes and arquebuses Vpon his landing he was immediatly brought to the great Maister to whom not onely he discouered sundrie counsells of the enimie but also shewed what ought to bee done at a corner of the fortresse of Saint Michaell to the end to make frustrate certain deuises of the enemies which they purposed to practise against that place and of sundry other things which afterward turned to much commoditie of the christians Who also as oportunitie serued right valiantly after fought against the Turks So as that after the siege and Malta being deliuered he repaired to Rome with meruailous commendacion of the great Maister where the Popes holinesse courteously entertained him and for his vertue and good seruice done aswell towards those of Malta as towards vvhole Christendome he rewarded him vvith sundry guifts Where likewise be dyd forsake his Turkish faith vvherein he vvas brought vp vtterly detesting the same and from Rome he repaired to King Philip to vvhose Maiestie he discouered likewise certaine pretences of Soliman the Emperour of the Turks While these things as aboue vvere done Colonello of vvhome before as I shewed you that vvas sent into Sicilia ariued safe at Messana vvher he found the Christian Nauie not as yet readie so that the afflicted affaires of Malta could not out of hand be succoured For neither the ships that should come out of Spaine vvere than come nor yet Gouianni Andrea Auria vvith his eight twentie Galliaceis vvho staied to enbarque foure thousand footemen vnder the leading of Capino Vitellio that vvere collected in Etruria The knights of the order at Messana considering this tedious tarieng and vvhat perill vvould ensue vppon longer staie fully determined vvith Gods helpe to succour their bretheren of the orderin Malta And vvith such power as they had gotten togethers vnder the leading of two notable gentlemen knights of the Ioannits the one of the house of Messana the other of Baroleto they purposed to passe into Malta Albeit before their departure they repaired to the Viceroy in consulting vvith him they required his Grace to call to memory vvhat seruice the knights of the Ioannits had done not onely for the King of Hispain but for all Christendome and vvhat charges the Ioannits vvere at the other yeere at the vvinning of Pinon de Beles vvhere they neither spared victual artillerie or ships nor yet theyr owne proper liues vvhere theyr seruice might either profit the Kings highnesse or any part of the Christian common vvealth And besides this that he vvould vouchsafe to consider vvith himselfe that the losse of the Iland Malta not onely should touch the Ioannits but vniuersall Italy and chiefely the Iland of Sicilia by reason it should be a neighbour to so mightie an enimie as the Turk For vvhich causes and others that shortnesse of time prohibiteth to report they required of him foure thousand footemen vvith vvhome all the knights there of the order of the Ioannits accompanied also vvith sundry noble personages and other voluntary soldiors vvould passe ouer into Malta to succour their bretheren there vvith vvhich supply they sayd they assuredly hoped if at the least they could not repulse the enimie or vvinne againe the lost Fortres â—et to stay the further procedings and pretences of the furious enemie vnto such tyme as the vvhole Christian Nauie beeing in a redinesse might inuade the Turkish Fleete and also as they trusted vtterly to destroy the same Vpon these words vvhile the Vice Roy deliberated with himselfe vvhat he should doe there came a messenger out of Hispain but vvhat the effect of his letters vvas vvhich he brought though some iudged one vvay and some an other none certainely could tell but so it came to passe that through his comming the Vice Roy gaue a briefe answere to the Ioannits saying that he could not satisfie their request considering the same vvere an vtter vveakening diminishing of the force of the kings nauie vvherby it should come to passe in so doing as they requested that he could not giue them such succors as shortly he pretended to doe Howbeit if they vvould transport all the Ioannits that were at Messana vvith a part of the souldiors vvhich the Popes holinesse sent into Malta in those two Galleaceis vvhich they had prepared hee himselfe vvould furnish an other Galliace to bee sent vvith them The knights hauing receaued this determined answer vvhan as they otherwise could not amend themselues they tooke the offer of the Vice Roy. While these ships vvere making readie to depart the foure ships vvhereof before I made mencion vvhich transported the 600 Soldiours foure score knights of the Ioannits by the space of twentie dayes vvere on the Seas tossed vvith meruailous tempests other stops and staies that they could not attaine to Malta And chiefely they had commaundement giuen them they should not land except they knew certainly that the Fortres of Sainct Hermes vvere still in possession of the christians But approching to Malta they sent their spiall on land promised him to tarry on the Sea vnto the next day for his retorne The meane tyme the Seas by tempestious vveather began so to grow that the Spiall could not retourne at his appointed tyme. Wherefore the shippes that dyd abide him dreaded that either he was perished in the tempest or else come into the enimies hands Whereby they sayled back to Pozalo a place on the coast of Sicilia to the ende to learne somewhat there of the state of Malta Where vpon their arriuall they certainely dyd know that the Fortres of Sainct Hermes was yet vngotten by the Turks Which whan they had learned they departed to the seas againe But comming within sixe miles of Malta wher at their place determined they were apointed to land they spied a fier from land as a signe made vnto them wherby they iudged both that their former Espiall was taken by the enemie that some Ambush was there layed for them Wherevpon they retourned to Pozalo againe at which place they learned of one of the Knights of the Ioannits a French man that came out of Malta of purpose to them that the forenamed fire by his commandement was made that they being instructed by that signe might safely proceede to their landing place in Malta Vpon the vnderstanding whereof they all with speede dyd get them to the Seas againe and failed to Malta where at a place called Saxa Nigra which is situated in that part of Malta which is towards Lybia they landed in a quiet night the nine and thirtith of Iune so being not seene of any others marched without impediment to the Citie of Malta where with incredible
Saint Michael agayne so to proue if they could win the same a few dayes before the comming of the Christian nauy had begun to packe and gather together their necessaries but vnderstanding of the arriuall of the Christian fleet and landing of the Christians army immediately some sounded the alarme some crying to remoue and so meruaylous fearefull euery one seeking for the couÌ„sell that was thought best some began to fly away some to take weapon in hand but the most part of the Turks marching to the trenches retired theyr artillery and did set fire in the forty fications that could bee burnt and so with as much expedytion as they could they drew their artillery and the rest of their baggage into their ships Which when the garrison of Borgo perceyued they manfully issued out and gaue charge vpon certayne bands of Turkes that were at a place called Bâ—rmola garding a great and mighty peece of artillery The Turks hauing no lust to fight fled away a pace leauing the great peece in the possession of the Christians which the Christians with force drew into Borgo and if at that time the new supply of the Christians had beene there in a readynesse and to haue giuen charge on the backe of the enemyes while they were thus in hasting to theyr shippes either they had opened to themselues a manifest path way of victory ouer the Turks or else to haue spoyled them of the most part of their great artillerie But I thinke if the new supply had bene there present perhaps they would rather haue followed the ancient opinion of famous men of warre saying Hosti abeunti viam sternendam esse pontemque vel argenteum faciendum giue way to a flying enemie yea and if you make for him a bridge of siluer Albeit the garrisons of Borgo and Saint Michael by reason of their fresh victuall other necessaries appertayning to further besieging if neede were which through the vnequallitie of the wayes lacke of horses was verie difficultlie and with much labour on foote brought to them from the citie thought not requisit to trouble the flying enemie with further skirmishes Wherby the Turks shipped their carriage artillery and the most part of their army without great let or impediment So the xi of September the Turkish nauy departed from Porto Musetto when a fugitiue a Genoua born came to the prince Valet saying that 10000 Turks were landed againe marching towards the citie of Malta to fight with the armie of the Christians which were comming towards Borgo Which when the great Maister heard immediatly hee sent certaine bands to seaze the sortresse of Saint Hermes and there to fixe the ensigne of the sacred order Who accordingly forthwith departing tooke the possession of the Fortres vvherein they found foure and twentie peeces of Artillerie great small vvhich the Turkes hauing no further leasure could not take away vvith them The Nauie of the Turks this vvhile departing from Porto Musetto passed vnto the Port of Sainct Paule and there dyd set on land seuen thousand Turkes vnder the leading of Mustapha their Generall by land Who had intelligence giuen him that the vvhole Armie of the Christians vvhich newly vvere come exceeded not the number of three thousand soldiours And therefore being the more bold to fight by reason of the litle number vvhich he supposed that vve vvere of he marched on proudly towards the Citie of Malta and in his vvay thetherward Mustapha discouered the Armie of the Christians Who espyeng the Turks and ready to fight marched forward couragiously against them and encountering vpon a hill the Christians valiantly gaue charge vpon the Turkes at vvhich first encounter few vvere slaine of either side But in the ende by reason that our number vvas both greater and our force therwith the more the Turks gaue back and fled the Christians followed killing and ouerthrowing them vnto such tyme the rest vvere driuen to their shippes but vvhilst each one clustered to get to their nauy through to much hast there perished in the sea about foure hundred Turkes and a thousand and eight hundreth slaine on the land So as if our Christians had bene expert of the places and knowne the land there needed not one of the Turkes to haue escaped away on liue The Turks beeing thus beaten into theyr ships stayed still with their Nauy in the port of Saint Paule all the next day following a great part of the next night then before day in shoting of a warning peece being a signe of their departure they set sayle and departed towards Grecia leauing the Iland of Malta shamefully wasted and enpouerished Thus the Turks beeing driuen out of Malta to their notable calamitie and ouerthrow the Prince Valet made victorious with immortall glory caused generall processions and prayers to bee made to almightie God for his infinit benefits to them shewed in this carefull time ascrybing the chiefest cause of this victory to his inexpressable goodnes then Valet distributed to the worthy seruitures that honorably had behaued themselues al this while condigne rewards in praysing openly euery one according to his demerits with continuall thankes to them all for their great paines and trauayles passed Vnto the wounded and sicke he had such tender regard for the restitution of their health as though it had ben to himselfe Hee lamented much the destruction wasting of the country of Malta and earnestly deuised for the repayring thereof againe Amongst all these things he did not forget to learne which way or whether the enemy this while passed what he pretended which many in the middes of theyr victory letteth passe for which cause euery one hath giuen this worthy Valet the name of a most prudent valiaunt and courteous prince and as one prepared of God to remaine on the earth to the defence of his sacred religion that during his life euery thing vnder his charge cannot but remaine fortunate and prosperous About this time Soliman sent a mightie Armie to inuade Hungarie vvhich the Spring time after he himselfe in person followed thorough vvhose comming vvhole Germany as it had good cause vvas meruailously afraied and gathered themselues together The Germans of auncient tyme haue vvith other nacions rather for glory than their owne safegarde made warres But vvith the Turks rather for their owne safetie they haue alwaies foughten than for any glory that they haue sought thereby Howbeit Maximilian the Emperour gathering together a great Army against Soliman proceded and layed seege to a place â—â—â—led Vespeâ—â—â— and dyd by assalt vvinne the same from the Turks But Soliman vpon an other part vvanâ—â—â—om the Emperour Segest and Iula being two places of no litle importance Whan as the fifth of September Anno 1566. Soliman the Emperour in the course and rase of his victories ended his lyfe in the famous Citie of Quinque Ecclesie vvhich of fiue Churches in the same is so called To vvhome his sonne Silimus succeeded in his Empire and
which is proper to our question wherin it shall be nothing pertinent whether any professed religion bee true or false for that as beefore is said appertaynes to the soules saluation but where of the vvhole substance vvill censist in this that what religion soeuer receyued may be sincerely carefully obserued by the supportacion of such a religion onely kingdomes and nations haue gathered great wealth and attayned to great estimation power and dignity as may be manifestly proued both by forceable reason and many memorable examples For whereas it was apparant that the chiefe and best meanes to enlarge any Empire is appropriate to the true knowledge of managing armes and the glory of millitary profession in which two thinges are specially respected obedience and discipline of both these religion I say is the principall foundation whereby it alwayes came to pasle that euery nation aduaunced at any time to greatnesse haue euer beene studious and most carefull preseruers of the same In mayntayning which position omitting numbers that may bee named I will content mee with the Romaines who farre surpassed all other people in wisedome as in wealth valour and glory For these graue and true experienced men finding that the considerations of religion were of great force both to beautifie their state and enlarge theyr Empire in no one thing laboured more then the true obseruation of the same possessing theyr people still with opinions of feare and reuerence towardes theyr Gods To which alwayes so great beliefe was giuen as nothing was euer executed in publike or priuate which was not attempted as hauing the Gods the first authors thereof So as what euer of their affayres were finished what new designes taken in hand what expedicion put in practise what fortune of war assayed which was not done the Gods first consulted nor did they labour any other thing in those theyr vowing and rendring vowes dedication of Temples obseruation of progedies wherein the wise of that age were exceeding ceremonious with sacrifice and supplications beseeching the good will of the Gods but to perswade the people that whatsoeuer was done was all by the pleasure permission of the same gods who obseruing euery action of mans life becomes sharpe chastisers of wrong and wickednesse but most seuere reuengers of theyr owne neglected or contemned deitye whereby it came to passe that amongst those Romaines no cryme was accompted so haynous as that of an oth or faith plighted broken and of this religion how great the estimation was it may perfectly appeare by that example onely when as the counsell with so great dilligence laboured to diswade them from those assemblyes of the Tribunes determining in the fauour of the people to propound certaine lawes against which the Senate in oposition could giue no other let but that the consulls should proclaime the leading forth of the legions in expedicion from the attendance of which warfare whilst the people had no power to resist neither could the authoritye of the Tribunes giue any redresse they before hauing in that case sworne their obedyence to the consull and seeing no other meanes how to rid them of their religious oath then by the death of the sayd concull consulted amongst themselues to kill him whereof they had put the practyse in full executyon if it had not further beene tould them that no religon could bee dissolued by any contryued mischiefe holding murder as it seemed in a lesse degree then the violatyon of theyr faith Which one thing euer held their souldiers so obseruant to the will of their commanders to whom they had once giuen the assurance of the same that that people which in a setled peace was neuer but stubborne and rebellious agaynst theyr superiors the same in war were euer found quiet contented bound onely by this military oath whereof by peace alwayes they became discharged To which againe may be said so great was their regard that they would prefer the obseruation of the same before the preseruacion of their owne liues submitting their heads euen to the block if at any time according to the manner of those wars the Consull should giue in command for any seruice not well executed that a Capitall decimating amongst them should be made and by this it came to passe that through the doubtfull daunger of death both by the enemie and their commander propounded their souldiours alwaies in vvarres vvere assured to doe the vtmost of their iudeuours to ouercome chosing rather to dye valiantly fighting then be vanquished least in the feare of an incertaine death vvhose perill they might perhaps auoide by bouldnesse and resolution they might incure that certaine slaughter from auoyding vvhereof Religion cut of all hope For vvhich cause I Iudge that no vvise man will deny mee but Religion as in euery publike designe so especially in the affaires of vvarre is a most firme foundation Now whether that this part of religion is either of the Turks or vs Christians not more sincere care and sacred constancie obserued I rather leaue it to euery mans peculiar opinion then therin to deliuer my owne iudgement yet some things I will note by the vvay as they come into my minde First since that the especiall parts of religion consisteth principally in this that all things be referred to that supreme power by whose wil we beleeue euery humane action to be gouerned it is vvonder how far the Turks for this point surpasse vs hauing that opinion with such firmnes setled in their minds attributing so much to the deuine prouidence that ther in they seeme rather to exceede to much then beleeue to little vvhilst necessarily they vvill tye vvhat euer befalls vs vnto fate by no humane counsells or prouision auoidable For vvhich cause they suppose that by the same fate a certaine limit of time is assigned euery mans lyfe vvhich neither can be prolonged beyond the same neither by any meanes of vs shortned therfore vvhē the appointed houre of death shall come of necessitie the same must be vndergone in vvhich houre vve are as certaine to dye though priuately shut vp in any chamber deuided by all meanes from danger as if a man vver conuersant in the heat fury of fight vvher a thousand vveapons vver bent against his bosome vvhich death if not by heauen decreed there amongst these vveapons of as great safetie may a man assure himselfe as in his owne chamber now this opinion though it may be disproued in so much as thus it attributeth to the necessitie of destinie or fate yet to the matter handled it brings this gteat good that the Turkes become therby more cōfident bould vvhether fighting in battaill or vndertaking any other dangerous exploit because thereby the feare of death is fully bereaued thē the certaintie wherof as they conceaue cōsisteth not in perills but in their vnauoidable destinie Now that all humane affaires are in the supreme deuine moderation depēding wholly vpon the power of heauen