of his Cowardise if he failed in the performance thereof promising him indeed his Sister in Mariage amongst other the glorious Rewards and Trophies of his Victory and threatning him with Death as a Punishment amongst the Griefs of his Dishonour But it came to pass that by the Cowardise of our men he came unto the effect of his desire as is aforesaid and took the City which promised unto him the glorious Triumph in Constantinople And under the sweet influence of this Planet he returned to Constantinople where he found all things in readiness for the satisfying of his Expectation and the Advancement of his Glory He is magnificently received of his Prince courteously saluted by all the Nobility and with greatest reverence possible honoured of the People And as he had happily discharged his Charge he found in like manner all things prepared and in readiness for the performance of the promise of the Grand Seignior his Lord and Master who had caused them to be in most sumptuous manner provided for the solemnizing of the Marriage and the contentment of the Bassa But nothing now wanting that he could have desired or wished more than the very solemnizing of the Marriage it self and that also every day of all men expected the Ianizaries and Spahi with the other Souldiers of the Court to the number of five and twenty thousand even upon the sudden when as no such thing was feared came and in Arms presented theâ—â—selves before the Divano or Tribunal holden 〈◊〉 the chief Administration of Justice in the Turks Palace the first four days in every week and having set Guards at the Court Gates the more safely to execute what they were before resolved upon proudly demanded to have Audience for certain of the Spahi and Ianizaries of whom they had made choice in the names of them all to deliver unto the great Bassaes their Grievances and the Causes of that their Assembly Who as soon as they were entered into the Divano before the Bassaes of whom the most couragious of them was not without fear as looking for nothing but for present death they at the first demanded to have Hassan Bassa delivered unto them Who thinking that his Head should have served for a Sacrifice to pacifie this their Fury as a man altogether dismayed wan and pale passed through this mutinous Multitude to have gone unto the great Sultan protesting of his own Innocency and calling upon his Prophet Mahomet to discover unto them the truth of all things But they after a thousand Injuries and Reproaches by them heaped upon him rudely demanded of him whence it proceeded that whilst he with a great part of the Forces of the Empire was busied in Hungary for the recovering of Alba-Regalis there was in the mean time no good order taken for the repressing of the Rebel in Asia who by sufferance was as they said now grown so proud as with Ensigns displayed to come within three or four days Journey of Constantinople the Imperial seat of the Othoman Emperours Whereunto he in so small fear answered That he for his part had done his Duty as well while he had the charge of the Army in Asia as now of late whilst he had the like charge against the Christians in Hungary as even the Enemies themselves could witness But seeing himself even ready to die he yet requested them That his guiltless Death might be unto the State in general profitable and in discharging of his Conscience to declare unto them the Causes of this Contempt and Neglect for the surpressing of the Asian Rebel which they were so desirous to know It proceeded as he said only from the evil Government of the Grand Sultans Mother who then all commanded and from the negligent carelesness of the Capi-Aga Which his speech although they with much impatience and storming gave ear unto yet hearing him so well to excuse himself and to lay the blame there where they were well content it should rest they gave him leave to go to the great Sultan to request him that they might speak with him and further to deal with him that they might have the Head of them who had been the cause of this dishonourable Service or otherwise cowardly behaved themselves in the managing of the Wars against the Rebels in Asia Threatning him withall That if he failed to perform this his charge he should not fail to feel the heavy Effects of their just Fury An heavy charge yet glad was the Bassa to undergo the same to rid himself out of their Hands where he saw himself in great danger amongst them most of whom had sometimes served under him than amongst so many his most mortal Enemies but what Remedy he must now so do or die therefore for which he was the more to be excused So in great fear coming unto the great Sultan almost as fearful as himself he shewed unto him the great danger like even presently to ensue by the Mutiny of his best Souldiers and Guarders of his Person perswading him betime to appease their Fury before they had embrued themselves with Blood for fear of further danger like enough to ensue as well unto his own Person as unto the rest of his most faithful and trusty Counsellor from such furious head-strong men up in tumult with their Arms in their Hands And although that a Prince ought not for the Greatness of his Estate to do any thing as thereunto forced by his Subjects lest in so doing he might breed in them a Contempt of himself and increase their Insolency that yet nevertheless in this Action being altogether extraordinary he was not to rest upon that point for that these mutinous Souldiers turned not their Weapons as they pretended against his Imperial Power and Soveraignty but rather to the contrary against the Contemners thereof seeking to be revenged upon them that had done him such evil Service for the maintenance of his Honour and Majesty and for the Punishment of the insolent and disloyal And that therefore the Justice of the Cause requiting and covering the Malice of the Fact he was of Opinion That it were best for him to yield a little unto the Zeal of these his best Souldiers and to satisfie their just desire although they had by very evil and unlawful means sought for the same And therefore advised his Majesty in some sort to satisfie the just Complaints of these men armed for the Revenge of his Honour and to chastise the chief Commanders of his Asian Forces such as by whose Treachery or Cowardise his Service being neglected had armed these men against them with the same hand punishing such as had wronged his Majesty in Honour and appeasing the discontented for the good of his Service Mahomet thus by the Bassa perswaded as also to shew himself in his Majesty unto these his discontented Subjects one part of their desire the Necessity of the Cause so requiring in his Imperial Seat presented himself unto
hundred thousand Persons dead within the time and they did commonly carry every day twelve or fifteen hundred Bodies to be buried The greatness of this Mortality is not to be imputed so much to the Corruption of the Air as to the wilful Negligence of the Turks who would not vouchsafe to turn away from a Body dead of this Disease when it goes to burial not to forbear to visit their Friends being infected The obstinate belief they have of Predestination maketh them bruitishly contemn all sorts of dangers For say they assoon as man comes out of his Mothers Womb to injoy the Light of the World God writes in his Forehead all the good or evil shall happen unto him and particularly of what Death he shall dye the necessity whereof no humane power can avoid All is governed say they by Destiny and therefore they regard not any Infection but contrariwise when any one is dead another takes his Clothes and wears them which is the cause that Constantinople and the Grand Caire are seldom free and whenas the Air is any thing disposed to Contagion there dyes such multitudes of People as they do not number them but by hundred thousands Before the beginning of this Plague the Baron of Salignac Ambassador for the French King at Constantinople ended his Embassage with his Life His most Christian Majesty sent the Baron of Mole eldest Son to the Baron of Sansie to supply his Place He arrived at Pera this Year in the beginning of September and about the end of October the Sultan being returned to Constantinople after that he had visited the Muphti who is the chief of their Law the Grand Visier the Deftorda who is the Sultan's high Treasurer the Bostangi Bassa his chief Gardiner with other great Men of the Port which were highly in Favour in the end he was admitted to Audience and to kiss the Sultan's Hand A Ceremony which in mine opinion I owe unto the History to shew that the Majesty of the Turkish Emperours is so great as to approach near unto them the Ambassadors of foreign Princes are forced to disguise themselves and leaving the Habits of their Nation to attire themselves and their Train after the Turkish manner Thus the Ambassador of France parted from his Lodging at Pera wearing upon his French Apparel a long Turkish Robe of Cloth of Gold curled furred with Sables his Gentlemen and Secretaries to the number of sixteen had the like Robes but of meaner stuff wearing Caps of black Velvet he had twenty Servants in long Cassocks of Scarlet called in Turkish Ferrages and upon them long Robes of the same stuff with Caps of Taffata the four Dragomans or the Kings Interpreters the Captains Masters of Ships and other French-men attired all in long Robes accompanied the Train He past the Channel which doth separate Pera from Constantinople being come to the other side he found many goodly Horses for him and his Train which some Turks that were Friends to France had sent him to conduct him to the City at the Gate whereof many Chiaus and Janâ—zaries attended him to conduct him to the Seraglio two Chiaus Bassaes went of either side him accompanying him thither the rest of the Turks going before His arrival was no less honourable at the Palace Royal than his coming to the Town Two Capigi Bassaes or chief of the Porters received him at the entry of a great Court and conducted him to the Grand Visier who attended him at Dinner in the Hall where he was feasted being accompanied only with one Dragoman or Interpreter the rest of his Train were conducted into a low Gallery whereas Dinner was prepared for them after the Turkish manner That is to say a great Tapestry upon the Ground without Cloth or Napkins and some Dishes thin set The Meat was Water-gruel with Sugar and some Pottage with Pullets there were two Men either of them holding a certain Instrument of sodden Leather in which there was a Beverage which they call Cerbet made of the juyce of Lemons Water and Sugar and withall they held a Cup of blanch'd Copper giving to every one Drink and going among the Dishes to serve them more commodiously From this Feast distasteful to them that had lived after the French fashion they pass'd into another Gallery whereas the Ambassador and sixteen of his Company received each of them a Robe of Tinsel the which having put on upon their other they were conducted thorow a little Court paved with Marble towards the Grand Seignior's Chamber which was inriched on the out-side with many Pillars of Marble and square Stones of the same stuff and beautified with two little Fountains on either side TheChamber within was about ten paces square the Planchard was gilt the Walls enamelled with flowers after the Turkish manner and the Floor covered with Tapestry of Gold and Silk At the entry of this Imperial Chamber stood six Capigi or Porters whereof two of them took the Ambassador under the Arms and led him to kiss the Sultan's Hand or rather his Robe for having saluted him from the greatest of Christian Kings he kist but his Robe and then was led on the one side going backwards to the end he should not turn his back to the Emperour The French Gentlemen were conducted after the like manner to kiss his Robe But they could hardly see the Sultan for his Face was turned towards a Window that was grated before the which during the Ceremony there past 30 Capigi every one carrying a piece of the Presents which the Ambassador had brought during the which the Frenchmen could not see him but on the other side This Salutation being ended the Ambassador made a short Speech and presented unto the Sultan the principal Letter of his Embassage written in the Turkish Tongue This past at Constantinople whereas the Sultan did willingly see an Ambassadour his Allie whom he honoured above all others But in Transylvania the Affairs went after another strain the combustions which seemed inseparable to this miserable Province made it still the Theatre of all disorders Gabriel Battori who governed it since the cession of Ragotzi had put himself into the Turks Protection against King Matthias who pretended a Title by reason of the cession made by Prince Sigismund unto the Emperour as King of Hungary and had recovered Hermstad and chased Raduille Vayvod of Valachia out of his Countrey where having setled a new Governour and filled the Garrisons with Haiducks he returned toward Transilvania to oppose himself against Fortgatsie King Matthias his Lieutenant who came with Troops out of high Hungary and pass'd the River of Tibisce The Vayvod Raduille had retired himself into Moldavia to Prince Constantine whom he gave to understand That Battori had an intent to seize upon his Country and to make but one Monarchy of their three Provinces whereupon they joyned their Forces together and in the end of Iune entered into Valachia from
Feet suddenly stabbed him in the bottom of his belly with a short Dagger which he had under his Souldiers Coat of which Wound that great King and Conqueror presently died The name of this man for his courage worthy of eternal memory was Miles Cobelitz who before sore wounded was shortly after in the presence of Bajazet cut into small pieces The Turks in their Annals somewhat otherwise report of the death of Amurath as that this Cobelitz one of the Despot his Servants in time of the Battel coming to Amurath as a Fugitive offering him his Service and admitted to his presence in humbling himself to have kissed his Feet as the barbarous manner of the Turks is stabbed him into the belly and so slew him being himself therefore shortly after as is aforesaid in the presence of Bajazet most cruelly hewen into small pieces Whereupon ever since that time the manner of the Turks hath been and yet is that when any Embassador or Stranger is come to kiss the Sultan his hand or otherwise to approach his Person he is as it were for honours sake led by the Arms unto his presence betwixt two of the great Courtiers but indeed by so intangling him to be sure that he shall not offer him the like violence that did this Cobelitz unto Amurath The dead body of Amurath was presently with all secrecy conveyed into his Tent by the Bassaes and Captains present at his death whether Bajazet was also brought with an Ensign before him as the Successor in his Fathers Kingdom His younger Brother Iacup sirnamed Zelebi or the Noble yet ignorant of that had hapned was by the great Bassaes sent for as from his Father who casting no peril but coming into his Fathers Tent was there presently by them strangled by the commandment of Bajazet as most Histories report howbeit the Turks Annals charge him not therewith This was the beginning of the most unnatural and inhumane custom ever since holden for a most wholsome and good policy among the Turkish Kings and Emperors in the beginning of their Reign most cruelly to Massacre their Brethren and nearest Kinsmen so at once to rid themselves of all fear of their Compâ—â—itors This Amurath was in his Superstition more zealous than any other of the Turkish Kings a man of great courage and in all his Attempts fortunate he made greater slaughter of his Enemies than both his Father and Grandfather his Kingdom in Asia he greatly inlarged by the Sword Marriage and Purchase and using the Discord and Cowardise of the Grecian Princes to his profit subdued a great part of Thracia called Romania with the Territories thereto adjoyning leaving unto the Emperor of Constantinople little or nothing more in Thracia than the Imperial City it self with the bare name of an Emperor almost without an Empire he won a great part of Bulgaria and entred into Servia Bosna and Macedonia he was liberal and withall severe of his Subjects both beloved and feared a man of very few words and one that could dissemble deeply He was slain when he was threescore and eight years old and had thereof reigned thirty one in the year of our Lord 1390. His dead body was by Bajazet conveyed into Asia and there Royally buried at Prusa in a fair Chappel at the West end of the City near unto the Baths there where upon his Tomb lieth his Souldiers Cloke with a little Turkish Tulipant much differing from those great Turbants which the Turks now wear Near unto the same Tomb are placed three Launces with three Horse-tails fastned at the upper end of them which he used as Guidons in his Wars a thing in ancient time not strange There standeth a Castle with a Tomb made in remembrance of him in the Plains of Cossova where he was slain and his Entrails buried which giveth occasion for some to report that he was there also himself enterred FINIS Christian Princes of the same time with Amurath the First Emperors Of the East John Paleologus 1354. 30. Andronicus Paleologus 1384. 3. Emanuel Paleologus 1387. 30. Of the West Charles the Fourth 1346. 32. Wenceslaus Son to Charles King of Bohemia 1378. 22. Kings Of England Edward the Third 1327. 50. Richard the Second 1377. 23. Of France John Valois 1350. 14. Charles the Fifth 1364. 16. Charles the Sixth sirnamed The welbeloved 1381. 42. Of Scotland David Bruce 1341. 29. Robert Stewart 1370. Bishops of Rome Innocent the VI. 1354. 10. Urban the V. 1364. 8. Gregory the II. 1372. 7. Urban the VI. 1378. 11. The LIFE of BAJAZET The First of that NAME The FOURTH and most UNFORTUNATE King of the Turks BAjazet or as the Turks call him Baiasit of his violent and fierce Nature sirnamed Gilderun or Lightning succeeded his Father Amurath in the Turkish Kingdom his younger Brother Iacup being strangled immediatly after his Fathers death as is before declared He in the first year of his Reign invaded Servia and there besieged Cratova a City of the Despots whereunto the Silver Mines of Servia not the least cause of that War belonged Which City was yielded unto him upon condition That the Christian Inhabitants might with Life and Liberty depart Who were no sooner gon out of the City but that by his commandment they were all most cruelly slain by his men of War for that purpose sent out after them At this time he also won Uscupia with divers other Castles in the Country near unto Cratova Sigismund at the same time King of Hungary a young Prince of great hope and Brother to Wenceslaus then Emperor of the West advertised from the Servians his Allies and Confederates of these proud proceedings of Bajazet by his Embassadors sent of purpose requested him That as he was a just Prince and wished to live in quiet with his own to desist from doing of such open wrong and from invading of such Countries of his Friends and Confederates as he had no right in Which Embassadors so sent Bajazet detained without answer until such time as he had overrun a great part of the Despot his Country and therein done what he thought good Then calling the said Embassadors unto him into one of the strong Towns which he had in every corner filled with his own Souldiers told them that they might there see that his Right both unto that Town and the rest by him taken was good enough for as much as the very Walls acknowledged the same And so giving them leave to depart willed them so to tell their Master Which his proud answer by the same Embassadors reported unto the young King no less troubled him than if open War had by them been denounced unto him seeing the Tyrant as it should seem pretended Right unto whatsoever he could by force get nevertheless being himself not yet well setled in his Kingdom and in doubt of the contrary Faction that altogether liked not of his Election into Hungary for their King he was glad at that time to put it
by the Turks Horsemen and brought back to the Bassa Techellis thus put to flight Ionuses caused strait inquisition to be made through all the Cities of the lesser Asia for all such as had professed the Persian Religion and them whom he found to have born Arms in the late Rebellion he caused to be put to death with most exquisit Torments and the rest to be burnt in their Foreheads with an hot Iron thereby for ever to be known whom together with the Kinsfolks and Friends of them that were executed or fled with Techellis he caused to be transported into Europe and to be dispersed through Macedonia Epirus and Peloponnesus for fear lest if Techellis now fled into the Persian Kingdom should from thence return with new Forces they should also again repair unto him and raise a new Rebellion This was the beginning course and ending of one of the most dangerous Rebellions that ever troubled the Turkish Empire wherein all or at leastwise the greatest part of their Dominions in Asia might have been easily surprised by the Persian King if he would throughly have prosecuted the occasion and opportunity then offered The remainder of Techellis his Followers flying into Persia by the way lightning upon a Caravan of Merchants laden with Silks and other rich Merchandize took the Spoil thereof for which outrage coming to Tauris the Captains were all by the commandment of Hysmael executed and Techellis himself to the terror of others burnt alive year 1509. The next year which was the year 1509. the fourteenth day of September chanced a great and terrible Earthquake in the City of Constantinople and the Countries thereabouts by the violence whereof a great part of the Walls of that imperial City with many stately Buildings both publick and private were quite overthrown and thirteen thousand People overwhelmed and slain The terror whereof was so great that the People generally forsook their Houses and lay abroad in the Fields yea Bajazet himself then very aged and sore troubled with the Gout for fear thereof removed from Constantinople to Hadrianople but finding himself in no more safety than before he left the City and lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. This Earthquake indured by the space of eighteen days or as the Turks Histories report a month with very little intermission which was then accounted ominous as portending the miserable calamities which shortly after hapned in the Othoman Family After this Earthquake ensued a great Plague wherewith the City was grievously visited and for the most part unpeopled But after that the Earthquake was ceased and the Mortality asswaged Bajazet caused the imperial City to be with all speed repaired and to that purpose gave out commissions into all parts of his Dominions for the taking up of Workmen so that there were at once in work eighty thousand Workmen who in most beautiful manner in the space of four months again repaired the ruins of that great City Bajazet had by his many Wives eight Sons and six Daughters which lived to be Men and Women grown and the Sons all Governors in divers Provinces of his large Empire whom the Turkish Histories reckon up in this order Abdullah Zelebi Alem Scach Tzihan Scach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Muhamet Yet Antonius Utrius a Genoway who long time lived in Bajazet his Court and as he of himself writeth waited in his Chamber at the time of his death reckoning up the Sons of Bajazet maketh mention but of these six Sciemscia Alemscia Achomates Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus naming the forenamed by names something differing from the other Sciemscia the eldest Governor of Caramania for his towardliness most dearly beloved of his Father died a natural death before him and was of him and his Subjects greatly lamented Alemscia died in like manner of whose death as soon as he was advertised by mourning Letters written in black paper with white Characters as their manner of writing is in certifying of heavy news he cast from him his Scepter with all other tokens of Honour and caused general mourning to be made for him in the Court and through all the City of Constantinople by the space of three days during which time all Shops were shut up all trading forbidden and no sign of mirth to be seen and for a certain space after the manner of their Superstition caused solemn Sacrifices to be made for the health of his Soul and seven thousand Aspers to be given weekly unto the Poor His dead body was afterward with all Princely Pomp conveyed to Prusa and there with great solemnity buried Tzihan Governor of Caria and Muhamet Governor of Capha upon their Fathers heavy displeasure were by his commandment both strangled Of his other four Sons Achmet otherwise called Achomates Machmut or Mahometes Corcut or Corcutus and Selymus the second namely Mahometes was of greatest hope and expectation not given to sensuality or voluptuous pleasure as Achomates his eldest Brother neither altogether bookish as was Corcutus nor yet of so fierce and cruel a Disposition as Selymus but of such a lively Spirit sharp Wit bountiful Disposition and Princely Carriage of himself that in the judgment of most men he seemed already worthy of a Kingdom Which immoderate favour of the People caused his elder Brother Achomates yea and Bajazet also himself to have him in no small jealousie as if he had affected the Empire and was in short time the cause of his untimely death which thing he nothing doubting hastened as fatal things are by such means as he lest feared might have procured any such mortal distrust or danger Most of Bajazet his Children were by divers Women yet Achomates and this Mahometes were by one and the same Mother for which cause Mahometes took greater pleasure in him than in any his other Brethren although it were not answered with like love again Achomates was Lord and Governor of Amasia and this Mahometes of Magnesia who desirous to see the manner of his Brothers Life and Government disguised himself with two of his familiar and faithful Friends as if they had been religious men of that Order which the Turks call Imâ—lier These men are for the most part comely Personages born of good Houses who in cleanly Attire made after an homely fashion do at their pleasure wander up and down from Town to Town and Country to Country noting the disposition and manners of the People whereof as fitteth best their purpose they make large Discourses afterwards to others they commonly carry about with them silver Cymbals whereon they play most cunningly and thereunto sing pleasant and wanton Ditties for which idle delight they receive Mony of the People as an Alms given them of Devotion These are the common corrupters of youth and defilers of other mens beds men altogether given to ease and pleasure and are of the Turks called The religious Brethren of Love but might of right better be termed Epicurus his Hogs than any
upon another Mans weakness and necessity have encreased his insatiable desire and not granted them Peace being brought low and forsaken except they would deliver unto him the Islands of Cephalenia Zacinthus and Corcyra a matter no less grievous than the destruction of the very City of Venice it self So that the great Embassadors Vastius and Hanebald who came of purpose to have hindred the League with the Turk by their great diligence wrought nothing more effectually than that the Venetians the better foresâ—eing the danger of their State should as they did make haste to conclude the same for it falleth out in Mens purposes and Actions That a good and happy success otherwise well hoped for is oftentimes marred with too much diligence and care Neither was it any doubt but that Hanebald was sent by the French King but for fashion sake and secretly underhand by Pellicerius the old Embassador perswaded the Venetians to hasten the conclusion of Peace with Solyman Which as Badoerius their Embassador was carefully soliciting the matter at Constantinople and being loath to yield the strong Cities which Solyman required offering unto him in stead of them a great sum of Mony Solyman took him up with threatning words as a shameless Dissâ—mbler earnestly protesting That he would never grant him Peace without the yielding of those Cities rehearsing unto him the most secret points of his Embassage and how that he was authorized from the Decem-Viri to yield them unto him which thing the Embassador little thought Solyman had known year 1540. Wherefore Badoâ—rius so shamefully reproved and standing in doubt of his life seeing the greatest secrets of his Embassage revealed to Solyman and his Bassaes was glad to accept of Peace by yielding unto him Nauplium and Epidaurus two Cities in Peloponnesus and with them Nadinum and Labrania two Castles of Dalmatia to the great grief of the whole Senate for granting whereof the Common people ignorant of the secret Decree of the Decem-Viri and supposing that Badoerius had given away that which he had no authority to give were so inraged against him at his return that there was much ado to save the guiltless Man from exile and his Goods from confiscation although the Traitors were then known which had discovered the Secrets of the State unto the Turks These were Mapheus Leonius a Senator and Constantinus Cobatius Secretary to the Colledge of the Decem-Viri and Franciscus Valerius one of the Senators base Sons the Traiterous disperser of the Turks Mony for the corruption of others who with other his Complices were for the same Fact hanged in the Market-place when as Leonius and Cobatius were a little before fled into France About the same time which was in the Year of our Lord 1540 died Ioannes Sepusius King of Hungary Solymans Tributary after whose death ensued great Wars in Hungary and the lamentable subversion of that flourishing Kingdom for the better conceiving whereof it shall not be amiss with as much brevity as the plainness of the History will permit to open the causes and grounds of the endless calamities which afterwards ensued and never took end until that warlike Kingdom was to the great weakning of of Christendom utterly subverted King Ferdinand and this tributary King Iohn had with like desire of Peace and quietness made between them a League profitable to them both as their Estates then stood rather than honourable yet most welcome to the Hungarians who divided into Faction and having followed some the one King and some the other enjoyed nevertheless their Lands and Goods by the benefit of this Peace the Towns and Castles being still kept by them in whose possession they then were at the making of the Peace In the capitulations of which Peace it was comprised That Ferdinand should from thenceforth call Iohn by the Name of a King whereas before he had both in his common Talk and Letters called him by the Name of the Vayvod only It was also expresly set down in the same Articles of Peace and subscribed by the Hands of divers of the Nobility of Hungary That if King Iohn should die King Ferdinand should succeed him in the whole Kingdom of Hungary which condition was suppressed and kept very secret for fear of Solyman who accounted of that Kingdom as of his own gotten by Law of Arms and bestowed upon King Iohn as upon his Vassal neither was it to have been thought that if he should have known thereof being of a haughty mind by nature and not able to endure an injury he would have suffered that Kingdom got and defended with so great danger and cost to be by the Will of an unthankful Man transferred unto his Enemy This matter of so great importance was as it is reported by Hieronimus Lascus Embassador for King Ferdinand to Constantinople revealed unto Solyman and the Bassaes to bring King Iohn into hatred So much did this noble Gentleman for his rare Vertues otherwise greatly to have been commended yield unto his grief and desire of revenge when after the death of Aloysius Grittus he fell from the friendship of King Iohn being as is before declared by him committed to Prison and hardly afterwards enlarged at the request of King Sigismund Whereupon Solyman being exceedingly angry with King Iohn called him unthankful Churl and turning himself about to Luâ—zis Bassa his Brother in Law said How unworthily do these two Christian Kings wear their Crowns upon their faithless Heads who as shameful deceivers are not afraid either for worldly shame or fear of God for their profit to falsifie their Faith But King Iohn understanding thereof and wonderfully fearing his own Estate did by good Friends and rich Presents pacifie Solyman again laying all the blame upon King Ferdinand as better able to bear it Not long after King Iohn having set his Kingdom in good order and strongly fortified the City of Buda being now far stricken in years at the earnest request of most of the Nobility of Hungary and other his best Friends married Isablla the Daughter of Sigismund King of Polonia a gracious Lady and of great Spirit which King Sigismund had long before married Barbara King Iohns Sister after whose death he married the Lady Bona Sfortia the Daughter of Ioannes Galâ—acius Duke of Millain by whom he had this Lady Isabella whom King Iohn now married Which Marriage Solyman liked well of having many times by way of talk before condemned the single life of the King but King Ferdinand liked thereof nothing at all plainly foreseeing that the Hungarians if the King should chance to have a Son would forthwith look upon him as their natural King and reject himself as but a Stranger This young Queen in short time as he had feared conceived with Child and was now very big when King Iohn was enforced to make an expedition in person himself against Maylat famous for the death of Aloysius Grittus and Balas both Governours of Transylvania whereof
on the part of the Emperor to carry forward two such important Wars by several ways And in the first place to secure the New Conquests it was thought necessary to encourage the Bulgarians and Rascians who had made a Defection from the Turks and submitted themselves intirely to the Service of the Emperor and as a means to secure those People Count Marsigli the Chief Director and Surveyor of the Fortifications was dispatched to erect a Fortress in some Place or other the most convenient for Defence and Protection of those People for which no place could be situate so advantageously as that of the Iron-Gate which would very much have secured the Christian Conquests and been a good Frontier between which and Adrianople there was not the least Fortification in all that vast Country nor from thence to the very Walls of Constantinople Tho' the Emperor was greatly burdened by a War against France and at the same time against the Turk yet all Care was taken both in one and the other The Imperial Chamber issued out vast Sums to Recruit the Militia in Hungary to Remount their Artillery and provide all sorts of Ammunition and Provisions for the next Campagne with which the Magazines both in Servia and Sclavonia were supplied as also Carriages Bridges Boats and all sorts of Warlike Preparations which were carried on by the great Industry of Count Caraffa Commissary-General In the mean time the Turks made continual Incursions into Bosnia along the sides of the Rivers Unna and Câ—lpa but without much Success they being on all sides streightned in their Quarters and Marches by the Germans For Piccolomini having notice that the Pasha of Bosnia designed to over-run all the Country near the Save detached some Parties of Hungarians and Germans from the Garrison of Proot to discover the Actions of the Turks and being in the night time advanced some Leagues into the Enemies Country they surprized the Town of Lisnia and set Fire to it and killed all the Garrison consisting of 500 men some few only excepted which they carried away Prisoners But the Confusion at the Ottoman Court was much greater by reason of a new Rebellion in Asia carried on by Yedic a famous Robber in that Country and Partner with Yeghen Pasha whom we mentioned in our Treatise of the last Year the which continued for some time before it was appeased and Yedic cut off But before we touch upon that Story it will be necessary to declare the Fate of Yeghen who had forced himself upon the Government and obliged the Vizier to Create him Seraskier which happened in this manner After that Yeghen had fled from Belgrade he quarrelled with Noradin Galga Son of the Tartar Chan upon which Noradin being a Man of a high Spirit called him Coward and pitiful mean spirited Rascal fit for nothing but to Command a Band of Thieves and Robbers at which Yeghen who looked on himself as Seraskier or General of the Army was so enraged that shaking his Topuz at him which is a kind of Iron-Mace carried by the Turks on the side of their Horses Saddle caused him to be Strangled before the Eyes of many of the principal Men belonging to the Tartarian Court. The News of this Affront and Outrage committed on the Son the very hopes of the House highly enraged the Chan his Father who studying Night and Day a Revenge wrote to the Grand Signior and Grand Vizier in the most resenting Terms possible against Yeghen urging that that insolent and unhumane Robber was to be destroyed without which the Cause of the Musselmen could not be Blessed nor any Fortune be expected against their Enemies But the Grand Vizier thinking himself under some Obligations to Yeghen who had the Year before saved his life before Nissa when the Janisaries mutinying for want of Pay he being then Janizar-Aga conspired to Strangle him In remembrance of which being now advanced to the sublime Office of Grand Vizier he endeavoured to sweeten the matter and render the case of Yeghen as plausible as might be But such was the Misfortune of Yeghen that the Tartar Chan coming in Person to Adrianople to consult on such Measures as were necessary to be taken for the succeeding Campagne he fell on his Quarrel with Yeghen who had put his Son to Death urging to the Divan that there was an unavoidable necessity for putting Yeghâ—n to Death as the Cause and â—omenter of all the Mutinies in the Army and the Rebellions in Asia Yeghen being advised by his Friends and Correspondents of which he had many at the Ottoman Court of the Complaints and Endeavours of the Tartar Chan against him found himself not only thereby defeated of his expected Confirmation in the Office of Seraskier but in danger of the Evil which the Wiles and Accusations of an irreconcilable Enemy at the Court might bring upon him Wherefore abandoning himself to Despair he began again to practise all sorts of Villainy to rob Villages and Towns entertaining all sorts of Robbers Murderers and People accustomed to Spoil arrogating to himself a power of creating Pasha's and exercising all sorts of Violence and Cruelty upon the Inhabitants of Romelia or Greece And moreover he wrote to his Friends and Acquaintance in Asia particularly to Yediâ— to Declare in favour of his Cause which was also supported by the Authority of the Gâ—and Vizier But the Grand Seignior and the Divan entertaining Sentiments different to those of the Vizier consulting the necessity there was of gratifying the Chan issued immediate Orders to the Pasha of Sofia to suppress the Incursions of Yeghen and to Call to his Assistance the Nefiran which are like our Trained-Bands or Militia of the Country to seize and take either Dead or Alive this Yeghen Pasha who had violated the Laws of their Prophet Mahomet and encouraged and fomented all the Rebellions in Asia This dismal News struck Yeghen with a sudden Amazement so that not knowing where to find any safety in the Parts where he remained all the World conspiring his Destruction he resolved to retire into Allania and betake himself to the Aid and Protection of his old and faithful Friend Mamoot Bei Oglu it having been suspected for some time at the Port that this Yeghen whensoever he should be droven hard would endeavour to shelter himself in Albaniâ— under protection of this Mamoot Bei means were contrived before-hand with a thousand fair Promises made to Mamoot Bei that whensoever Yeghâ—n should come for Refuge under his Command that he should do that Service to the Sultan as to betray him or cut him off Accordingly Yeghen putting himself into the hands of his ancient Comrade Mamoot was received by him with outward Joy and the most Endearing Terms of Love and real Sincerity that could be expressed and desiring him to continue with him for some days he promised him all security to joyn with him in his
the Sultan would not go this Year to the War but only in appearance and that he would only be upon the Defensive avoiding all Fights and Encounters in the Field And as to the Moscovites the Reports were various and full of uncertainty All this time the Sultan remained at Sophia chearful and much pleased to understand that the Polanders had declared the Prince of Conti for their King which could not but produce a Peace with that Kingdom and an Union with that Crown which tho' not true yet it gave the Turks hopes of an Addition of 30000 Coruzzi unto their Forces against the Germans who as they did assault Tokay the last Year with good Success so they were full of hopes to do the like for this also with the Possession of several other Castles and Fortresses But then it was thought necessary that Tekely should be sent to them with Title of King of Hungary which when the Sultan understood with the good Tydings That Bihatz did bravely defend it self with Assurances of conserving the same against all Enemies it was esteemed News of such Importance that the Grand Seignior gave Commands to the Grand Vizier to Write the News into all Parts and particularly unto Tekely That the Grand Seignior had declared him King of Hungary for which the Sultan had sent him a Commission with a Letter the Superscription of which was Orla Maggiar Croli which signifies in the Hungarian Language To the King of Hungary To which were added also some Purses of Money for defraying the Charges of his Journey and adorning his Equipage This Command came very unfortunately at this time for Tekely who was then grievously afflicted with the Gout and preparing for Recovery of his Health to pass over to the Baths and Medicinal Waters of Prusia or Bruscia which fall from that Mountain which was anciently called Mount Olympus But what was worse the Chiauses came furiously upon him at Prusia and without Compassion Complement or good Manners threw him into a Carr like a Log to make him a King without any Respect which was most miserable for him for he had not only the Gout but had a Paralytical Distemper upon him so as that he was seized with a Palsie in his Head Neck and Arms And in this manner he was carried Day and Night in a Waggon until he came unto the sight of the Sultan All this time the Sultan remained at Sophia whilst the Army or greatest part thereof marched towards Belgrade and some into Bosnia and having received some Advices out of Asia That the Rebels of that Country were inclinable to a Submission and made some Evidences as if they intended to return to their Duty and Obedience The Sultan became very much pleased and put himself that time into an excellent Humour and thereupon was induced to dispatch several Aga's into Anatolia with Letters written under his own Hand in an Humble and Caressing Style not usual for any Sultan before that time to Write Swearing In the first place To grant Pardon to all and a general Amnesty to such as should return to their Duty of Obedience Secondly he swore That he would do Iustice to all in their Iust Demands and Pretensions Thirdly That he would give every Man satisfaction Fourthly That he would damnifie no Man either in his Goods or Estate or Life but on the contrary reward every Man according to his Deserts provided that they became Obedient and Deserted the Party of the Male-contented Beys or Pasha's against whom are so many Examples of God's Vengeance and Iustice Of which he advised them well to consider before they entered into a March which would conduct them to his Terrible and Affrighting Presence which if they did not accept and do he Swore That he would make up a Peace with the Christians and March in Person into Anatolia there to take Vengeance upon them for their Offences and extirpate the whole Race of those who have taken up Arms against the Mussulman Cause for which by the Laws of the Alcoran they are to Die and without Mercy to suffer Death This News being carried to the hearing of the Male-contents about 10000 of them Deserted the Cause and proceeded to pass over from Anatolia into Europe and without any delay took the nearest way to reach and overtake the Army of the Sultan to hasten which the Grand Seignior wrote Commands to the Chimacam and Bostangibashi to prepare Quarters for them in the Imperial Gardens and Houses as they passed and that they should in all their Maâ—ches want nothing of Refreshments nor those who are unprovided want Arms or any other thing necessary for the War amongst which there were 3000 Bostangees fitted out for the War from the Grand Seignior's Seraglio's And such Rigorous Courses were spread over all the Countries of the Lesser Asia that those Laws and Commands of the Sultan being put into execution it was believed impossible for any Embroils or Seditions for ever after to arise in the Lesser Asia tho' they could not but be some times apprehensive of Troubles from Persia for since the time that this King was Crowned he was always esteemed a Troublesome and a Dangerous Enemy to the Turks for tho' he was not wanting in his Courtships and Embassies to the Ottoman Court as we have seen yet he was still encouraging the Georgians and the Persians in the Parts of Basora to be troublesome to the Turks The Sultan still remained at Sophia where having Advices from the Frontiers he dispatched away a Capugibashee to his Mother the Valide Soltana giving her to understand That his Forces had fallen upon a Body of Germans which he had routed and taken the strong Fortress of Titul in which he had put all the Garrison to the Sword and did not doubt but speedily to enter into Transylvania from whence he promised to send his Mother a Present of some fine Young Ladies to attend and wait upon her and to be conducted by some of those Black Eunuchs which were attending at that time upon his Person After such Vapours and Boastings as these which the Sultan expressed to his Mother it was not judged to be longer Honourable for the Grand Seignior to remain at Sophia a place so far distant from the Ottoman Camp in Hungary whereupon marching with the Main Body of his Army slowly and in good Order Messengers were sent unto Sarchan Pasha then at Belgrade who was then the General and esteemed an excellent Soldier and a Couragious Man and well acquainted with the Countries about those Confines to hasten his March to meet the German Army And so also the Sultan followed and arrived in good time to joyn the Main Body of the Front about Titul In the Relation of which Battel there were two Accounts sent from Constantinople one of the 29th of October and another of the 5th of November Such as were on this side of the Tibiscus and saw the Battel report That the Rout consisted
Spahees of Asia and Europe Their Pay. * Killer Odasi †Hazna Odasi ‖ Called Taraki * This is done that the Grand Signior may not be cheated by having the Pay continued to those who are dead Sons of Spahees Accidental gains to the Spahees Their Discipline * Called in Turkish Kassem Vlofast How they have lost their honour Their beginning Their numbâ—r Their Habit The Ianizaries of whom composed The Novices Their Quarters * Called Kiahaia-Begh The manner in making Ianizaries Their Pay. Their Diet Cloathing Mutinies Hazoda The Ianizar Aga. The publick Treasury of the Ianizaries Officers The Ianizaries Chambers Officers of the Chambers Ianizaries married * Called Haniarres Serdars Epist. 3. de Legatu Turcico * Ogiacks signifies a Family as also a Military Family so Spahi Ogiagbi the Order of the Spahees Sovischeri Ogiagbi the Militia of Ianizaries c. Lord Anno 1679. Anno 1679. Mr. Gabriel Smith and Mr. Iohn Ashley He was afterwards Grand Vizier and cut off with the Grand Seignior Draco Bey tortured The Ragusean Ambâ—ssador Imprisoned The Secretary of Holland drubb'd The Character of Kara Kiâ—ja Pleasures of the Court. Fire in Constantinople The Vizier Marries his Daughter Faction against the Vizier The Vizier Treats the Christian Ministers with Scorn the French Ambassador imprisoned Matter jugled between the Turks and Franâ—e Troubles on the English Merchants A Trick put on the English Ambassador The Venetians in trouble The Venetian Bailo Imprisoned The Dutch in Troubles A. D. 1681. An Oke is 2. l. ¾ English. Things doubtâ—ul with Moscovy The Cause that mov'd the Vizier to cut off his Kâ—ja The Viziers Kaja strangled The Vizier designs a War on the Emperor The Original of the Troubles in Hungary The Emâ—eror's Grant to the Hungarianâ— Anno. 1523. The Hungarians complain Câ—unt Serini 's Lady disgusted The Deputies make their Complaints to The Emperor Emeâ—ic a Iâ—suâ—t hindâ—rs an agreement with the Hungarians The Deputies return with dissatisfaction The Evils thereof The Malecontents assemble at Kivar Count Nadasti Plotâ— how to Poison the Empror A Treaty held with the Turk The Turks hearken to the Hungarians The Grand Vizier at Candia dismisses the Agents from the Rebels Conditions demanded of them by the Tuâ—ks 1670 Kuperlee unwilling to break with the Emperor A Plot disâ—overed A Diet aâ— Cassovia The Emperor declares against it The Chiefs are cited to Newsol Count Staremberg Imprisoned The Malecontents offer their aggrievances to the Emperor Sereâ—â— unresolved He submits to the Emperor Oâ—â—â—rs made 〈◊〉 Priâ—ce Lubkoviâ—z to â—â—â—ini Serini esâ—pes out of â—hiacaâ—â—rno Are made Prisoners Preparations for a War made by the Emperor Ragotski labours to make his Peaâ—e with the Emperor The Loyal Hungâ—â—ians Petition the Empâ—ror The Turks alarm'd at the coming of German Forces on the Frontiers Gâ—â—eral Spoâ—ke 's Answer to the Turâ—â— Ragoâ—ski Parâ—oned Sâ—rini jusâ—ifies himâ—elf Nadasti betraâ—s Serini Erschet stands out Surrendâ—rs on Conditions Cassovia yields Zemplin refusâ—s to take Gâ—rman Garrisons The Malecontentâ— fly in o Mâ—ldaâ—iâ— Murâ—n â—ieldeâ— Nagiâ—erenâ—◠〈◊〉 Nadaâ—ti discovered to be in thâ— Plot. 〈◊〉 Pardon deny'd The Reasons why the Emperor denâ—es to allow them The three Counts are put to death Their Children change their Names Count Tekeli the Father Rebels Old Tekeli dies His Castle is surrender'd Fears from Apafi Apafi maintains the Cause of the Malecontents The Emperor alarm'd hereat trâ—ats his Subjâ—cts more mildly The Tuâ—kâ— refuse to assist the Malecontents The Reasons why The Emperor sends Presents to the Grand Seignior The Estates of the threâ— Counts converted to the use of the Emperor Conditions made with Prince Ragotski The Inâ—abitants and Soldiers of Cassovia Fight A Diet at Preâ—burg The Deputiâ—s afraid to meet The Declaration enfâ—rced The Hungarians repent but too late The Emperor alters the Government of Hungary The character of the Grand Master of the Teuâ—onicle Order The good Goveâ—nment of the Vice-King The Clâ—rgy disturb the quiet of the Country A War breaks out The time chosen for the War. Colonel Soyer defeated The Imperialists râ—venge themselves The Roman Clergy seize on the Protestant Churches A Bloody Ouâ—rage committed It is revenged The obstinacy of the Malecontents The aggrievances of the Hungarianâ— Cruelties exercised in both sides 1673 Tâ—â— Turks unâ—â—râ—â—and asâ—iâ—t â—â—e Mâ—lâ—â—ontents Oâ—â—er Cruelties perâ—ormed The Popish Bishops seize the Livings of the Hungarian Clergy The Prince Lubkovitz suspected and his Estate seiz'd The Tuâ—ks joyn with the Malecontents The Emperor assembles a Diet aâ— Presburg The People possess'd with Zeal to their Religion A Treaty renew'd at Presburg Apafi seeks a quarrel The Maleâ—â—ntents hold a Conference together 〈◊〉 Hoâ—â—â—â—y A nâ—w Vizier arrives at buda Anâ— to Prince A â—aâ— without â—fâ—ect 〈…〉 Sâ—hâ—â—la and Scheiâ—â—◠〈…〉 to the Tuâ—ks The Turks grow proud with concessions Debâ—â—zin taken by Count Strazoldo The Tuâ—kâ— much enraged thereby Disowned by the Emperor The Rebells refuse to Treaâ— The Vizier makespeace with the Poles The Reasons for it The Malecontents have success against the Imperialists They grow proud therewith Smith and Barâ—gotzi defeated Advices of the Death of the Grand Vizier Achmet Kupâ—â—ogli Kara Mâ—stapha madâ— Viziâ—r resolves upon â— War. War not as yet denounced and why The Pashas of Hungary Order'd to aid the Malecontents Incursiâ—ns made by the Turks New Overtures made to the Malecontents Their Obstinacy A Plot against Apafi The King of Poland gives leave to some of his Troops to serve the Malecontents The Poles March into Transilvania Two Polish Gentlemen Revolt Their Treachery discover'd The substance of Smith's Letter to the Poles A Fight between the Impâ—rialists on one side and the Poles and Taâ—tâ—rs aâ—â— Hungarians on the other Thâ— Tartars Raâ—y The Imperialists overthrown The praises of Boham and other Officers The Poles and Malecontents joyn A Convoy with Money and Provisions taken by the Malecontents 1500 of the Imperialists revolt to the Enemy Kops his Cruelty For which he his blamed at Vienna Count Tekeli appears in the War. The Malecontents increase in their Forces The Emperor sends to treat with the Malecontents and with the Turks The Malecontents propose to Elect a King of their own Pedipol procures a Commission to be Prince of Transilvania He is opposed by Apafi and overcome The Emperor 's ill Successes Representments of the Assembly at Altembourg The Emperor's Council qualifie them Wessellini â—is death Is sâ—cceded by Tekeli Tekeli 's first designs He is in Love with the Princess Ragotski Tekeli defeats the Troops of the Princess Ragotski Dowager The Emperor publishes a Maniâ—est Tekeli offers new Aggrievances Passports given to meet at a Diet. The Dâ—et disappointed and how The Preceeding and Actions of Tekeli Some of the Imperialisâ—s revolt Tekeli Master of the Field Tekeli writes Letters Tekeli takes Esperies and Aâ—va The Tartars Plunder and Burn. Count Lesley 〈◊〉 thrown Tartars in Moravia Duke John. Colonel Josua A Fight near Alsol Bistrick taken Filek Esterhasi defeats a Body of the Turks A
covert malice of the Greek Emperor forthwith to appear For besides that they trusting unto his promises had brought little or no Provisions over with them the Country People by his appointment brought nothing unto them to fell as before and they of the Towns and Cities shut their gates against them as they marched not affording them any thing but at an extream rate for which they would first receive their Mony by Ropes cast down from the Walls and then deliver them what they pleased therefore yea and oftentimes nought at all Among many other vile practises not beseeming Christians the mischievous Greeks to poyson the Soldiers mingled Lime with the Meal which they sold unto the Army whereof many of the hungry Souldiers greedily feeding died Whether the Greek Emperor were privy thereunto or no is not certainly known but certain it is that he caused counterfeit Mony to by coined of purpose to deceive them and in brief there was no kind of mischief to be practised against them which either he himself devised not or set not others to devise to the intent that their Posterity terrified by this so unfortunate an expedition might for ever be afraid to take the like in hand again And that nothing might be wanting that malice could devise he had secret intelligence with the Turks themselves concerning the strength of the Army plotting unto them the means how the same might best be defeated whereby it came to pass that some part thereof was by Pamplano a Captain of the Turks overthrown near Bathis and many slain But attempting to have done the like unto that part of the Army that passed through Phrygia they were themselves overtaken in their own device and overthrown with a great Slaughter After which the Turks in great number to stay the Christians further passage kept the River Maeander encamping upon the farther Bank of that winding River with a most huge Army There these worthy Christians right well declared that it was but their Patience that the Grecian Legions that had before so long followed them with their Countries and Cities they had passed by were not to them become a Prey For the Emperor coming unto the River side where was neither Bridge nor Boat to pass over and finding the great Army of the Turks on the other side ready to give him battel if he should adventure the River with their Archers standing upon the very Bank Side he retired a little out of the danger of the Shot and there encamping commanded his Souldiers to refresh themselves and their Horses that night and to be ready against the next morning to joyn battel with their Enemies they were so far come to seek for Little rest served him that night early in the morning before day he arose and arming himself put his whole Army in order of battel as did also the Enemy on the other side of the River with their Battalions orderly placed and their Archers upon the Bank side ready to give the first Charge on the Christians if they should adventure to come over Both Armies thus standing in readiness the one in sight of the other and nothing but the winding River betwixt them the Emperor before resolved to fight with cheerful Countenance and Speech encouraged his Men as followeth That this expedition was of us taken in hand for Christ his sake and for the glory of God and not of man you know right well fellow Souldiers For for this cause having contemned a pleasant life at home voluntarily separated from our nearest and dearest Friends we indure miseries in forreign Countries we are exposed unto dangers we pine with hunger we quake with cold we languish with heat we have the earth our bed the heaven our covering and although we be noble famous renowned rich ruling over Nations yet wear we always our gorgets as necessary bonds and are with them and our armour loaded as was the greatest Servant of Christ Peter surcharged with two chains and kept with four quaternions of Souldiers But these Barbarians divided from us by this River to be the Enemies of the cross of Christ whom we of long have desired to encounter withall in whose blood as David saith we have vowed to wash our selves Who is there that knoweth not except he be altogether blockish and will not with open eyes see nor open ears hear If we wish to ascend straight way into Heaven for neither is God unjust that he knoweth not the cause of this our journey or will not in recompence give unto us the immortal Fields and shady dwellings of Paradice which having forsaken our own dwellings have chose rather for his sake to die than to live if we call to remembrance what things these men of uncircumcised hearts do commit against our Friends and Countrymen if we remember what grievous tortures they inflict upon them or if we be any thing touched with the compassion of their innocent blood unworthily spilt stand now couragiously and fight valiantly and let not any fear or terror daunt us Let these Barbarians know that by how much Christ our Master and Instructer doth excel their false Prophet and Seducer author of their vain impiety so much are we superiors unto them in all things Seeing therefore we are an holy Camp and an Army gathered by the power of God let us not cowardly lose our selves or fear for Christ his sake honourably to adventure our lives For if Christ died for us how much more right is it that we for him should die also Unto this so honourable Expedition let us also give an honourable end Let us fight in Christs name with a most assured hope of an easie Victory For none of them I trust shall be able to abide our force but shall all give way even to our first Charge But if we shall die which God forbid there shall be an honourable place of our burial wheresoever we shall for Christ fall Let the Persian Archer for Christ his sake strike me I will die in assured hope and with that Arrow as with a Chariot I will come unto that rest which shall be to me dearer than if I should with a base ordinary kind of death in my sins end my days in a bed Now at length let us take revenge of them with whose impure feet our Kinsmen and Christian Brethren trodden down are gone into that common Sanctuary in which Christ our Saviour Equal and Associate to his Father is become a Companion of the Dead We are those mighty men we all have drawn our Swords which stand about the lively and divine Sepulchre as about Solomons bed Wherefore we that be free born let us take out of the way these Hagarens the Children of the Bondwoman and let us remove them as stones of offence out of the way of Christ whom I know not why the Grecians feed up as greedy Wolves to their own destruction and with shame fat them with their blood when as with couragious
obstinacy defending the same and the other of the contrary Faction now countenanced by the Emperor without modesty or measure insulting upon them whereof arose exceeding great stirs and troubles especially in the beginning of hiâ— Reign to the great benefit of the incroaching Turks who in the mean time ceased not by all means to increase their Territories in Asia and not only there but in the Islands of the Miditerranean Sea also For Andronicus by the death of Charles King of Sicily delivered of the greatest fear for which both he and his Father before him had to their great cost and charge both built and maintained a strong Fleet of Gallies now perswaded by some whose actions and speeches were after the manner of the Court all framed unto the Princes Appetite as the readiest way to thrive without respect of the common good to spare that needless charge as they termed it which yearly cost him more than any thing else had discharged all his Mariners and Sea-men and commanded all the Gallies to be laid up some in one â—reek some in another where neglected and not looked unto they in time for the most part rotted and perished As for the Mariners they went some one way some another as their Fortunes led them to seek â—or their Livings in forreign Countries even with the Emperors Enemies and some gave themselves to Husbandry thinking it better by doing something to live than by sitting still to perish Which good Husbandry at the first seemed to be very profitable unto the Emperor but especially unto such as being near unto him and courteously given made small reckoning of all other the most necessary defences of the Empire in comparison of hoording up of mony until that it was afterward too late by experience found hereof to have sprung many great mischiefs unto the great weakning of the Greek Empire For besides that the Turks without let did great harm on the Sea the Pirats now out of fear of the Emperors Gallies at their pleasure took the Spoyl of the rich Islands in the Mediterranean and robbed the Towns all along the Sea-coast to the unspeakable grief of the poor Country People and yet not so contented came with their Gallies sometime two sometime three sometime more as it were in contempt even close unto the imperial City Yea the Venetians were so bold as upon a right small displeasure to rifle and afterward to set fire upon the Suburbs thereof which they would hardly have adventured had the Emperors Fleet been preserved and maintained in the wonted Strength At the same time also Andronicus the Emperor to the great hindrance of the Affairs of the Empire and advantage of the forreign Enemy was not a little troubled with a jealous Suspition of his Brother Constantine commonly called Porphyrogenitus as if he had sought to have aspired unto the Empire seeking by all means to win unto himself the love and favour of all men but especially of the Nobility both at home and abroad and so by that means to mount unto the height of his desires All which as most men thought were but meer Slanders maliciously devised by such as envying at his Honour and taking occasion by the Emperors Suspition ceased not to increase the same until they had wrought his unworthy destruction The first ground of this false Suspition in the Emperors head was for that this Constantine even from his Childhood was for many causes better beloved of the old Emperor his Father than Andronicus as better furnished with those gifts of Nature which beautifie a Prince and of a more courteous Bahaviour than was his Brother insomuch that had he not been the younger Brother his Father could willingly have left him his Successor in the Empire This was one and the chieâ—est cause of the Emperors grudge and the ground of his Suspition Yet was there another also and that not much less than this for that his Father in his life time had of long thought to have separated from the Empire a great part of Thessalia and Macedonia and to have made him absolute Prince thereof and had haply so done had he not been by death prevented which thing also much grieved Andronicus and the more incensed him against his Brother Which his secret hatred he for all that according to his Wisdom cunningly dissembled not only during the time that his Father lived but three years after his death also making shew of the great love and kindness towards him that was possible Constantine in the mean time of such greatest revenues as were by his Father assigned unto him reaping great profit most bountifully bestowed the same upon his Followers and Favourites and others that made sute unto him as well the meaner sort as the greater and with his sweet Behaviour won unto him the Hearts of all men for Affability and Courtesie in high degree easily allureth mens minds as do fair flowers in the Spring the Passengers Eyes This was that precept of the wise Indians That the higher a Prince was in Dignity and the more courteous he shewed himself unto his Inferiors the better he should be of them beloved He therefore that should for the two first causes blame Constantine should do him wrong as both proceeding not of himself but of his Fathers too much love but in the third he was not altogether blameless for if for want of experience he prodigally gave such gifts as for the most part might have beseemed the Emperor himself he ignorantly erred yet did he not little offend but if he knew that for his profuse bounty he could not be unsuspected of his Brother and yet without regard held on that course he was greatly to be blamed therein For if nothing else might have moved him yet he should have considered to what end the like doings of others in former times had sorted and how many it had brought to untimely end So although perhaps that Constantine meant no harm unto his Brother or any way to supplant him yet did these things not a little increase and aggravate the former Suspitions and open the Ears of the Emperor his Brother unto such calumniation as commonly attendeth upon immoderate bounty But to return to our purpose this honourable Constantine then lived in Lydia but lately married and in good hope long to live being not past thirty years old but pleasantly spending the time with his Wife at Nymphea in Lydia at such time as he was thus secretly accused unto his Brother the Emperor thought it good as upon other occasions of business to pass over into Asia himself but indeed with a secret resolution upon the sudden to oppress his Brother unawars as by proof it fell out For at his coming over Constantine fearing nothing less was forthwith apprehended with all his greatest Favourites of whom one Michael Strategopulus sometime a man in great Authority with the Emperor his Father and of all other for wealth honour and noble acts most famous
War is Peace so at length upon the evil success of Charles a Peace being concluded betwixt the two Kings and confirmed by a Marriage betwixt their Children Ronzerius living altogether by his Fortunes was to seek for new Entertainment both for himself and his men as having neither house nor certain dwelling place to repair to but being as needy men met together some out of one place some out of another in hope of booty as their Fortune led them In which case Ronzerius their General thought it best to offer his Service to the Greek Emperor in his Wars against the Turks whereof he gladly accepted and so sent for him unto whom he shortly after came with two thousand good Souldiers called after the proud Spanish manner by the name of Catalonians for that they were for the most part Spaniards of the Country of Catalonia Of whose coming the Emperor rejoycing more than he had cause as afterward by proof it fell out in token of his great favour honoured him with the name of the Great Captain and afterwards gave him his Neece Mary in marriage But within a while after when as one Tenza another Catalonian Captain sent for by Ronzerius was come thither also with more aid the Emperor to gratifie them both gave unto Ronzerius the name of Caesar and unto the other the name of the Great Captain But when these new Captains with their Followers were to be transported into Asia it is not to be spoken what harm they did by the way unto the Country people and in the Villages alongst the Sea-coast abusing the men and women as their Slaves and spending their substance at their pleasure for which they had many a bitter curse and this was their first years entertainment The next Spring they set forward to relieve the great City of Philadephia being as then long besieged by the Turks and hardly bestead without with the Enemy and within with extream Penury and Famine which good Service they most valiantly performed and raised the Siege For the Turks beholding the good order of these Latinâ— Souldiers their bright Armor and couragious coming on rose presently and departed not only from the City but quite out of the Emperors Territory Besides that in this Army were joyned unto these Catalonians great numbers of the best Souldiers of the Greeks and all the Power of the Massagets so that had not the Emperor expresly before commanded not to pursue them too far it was by many thought all those Cities and Countries might then again have been in short time recovered from the Turks which they had before taken from him But in Kingdoms appointed unto ruine fair occasions help not for the stay thereof yea the greatest helps provided by the worldly wise by a secret commanding Power above being oftentimes converted to the destruction of that they were provided for the safeguard of as it now fell out with the Emperor and these Spanish Souldiers for this Service done the Greeks returned home as did the Massagets also But these Catalonians with Ronzerius their General roaming up and down the Emperors Territories in Asia did there great harm turning their Forces as Enemies upon them whom they were sent for to relieve alledging that they had not their pay according to the Emperors promise and that therefore they must live upon them that had sent for them and deceived them So were the poor people in every place spoiled their Wives and Daughters ravished their Priests and aged Fathers tortured to confess such secret store as they had all was subject unto these dissolute Souldiers rage and lust yea many of them that had nothing to redeem themselves upon the greedy Souldiers imagination having their hands or feet or some other part of their bodies cut off lay by the high-ways side begging an half-peny or a piece of bread having nothing left to comfort themselves with more than their miserable voice and fountains of Tears with which their Wrongs and Miseries worse than those they had sustained by the Turks the Emperor much grieved and well the more for that they were done by him whom he had entertained to relieve them but what remedy his Coffers were so bare as that he was not able to do any thing for the redress thereof Ronzerius having thus spoiled the Emperors Country in Asia and left nothing that pleased either him or his with all his Power passed over into Europe and leaving all the rest of his Army at Calipolis with two hundred of his men went unto the young Emperor Michael then lying with a small Power at Orestias in Thracia to demand of him his pay or if need were to extort it from him with threats with whose Insolency at his coming the Emperor more offended than before his Souldiers there present perceiving the same with their drawn Swords compassing him in fast by the Court slew him with certain of his Followers the rest fled in all hast to Calipolis to certifie their Fellows what had happened Thus by the death of Ronzerius the young Emperor had thought to have discouraged the Catalonians and abated their pride as like enough it was to have done yet in proof it fell not out so but was the cause of far greater evils So when God prospers not mens actions the best falleth out unto the worst and their wisest devices turn to meer follies for the Catalonians at Calipolis hearing of the death of Ronzerius their General first slew all the Citizens in the City and notably fortified the same took that as their Refuge Then dividing their Souldiers into two parts with one part of them manned out eight Gallies which under the leading of the great Captain Tenza robbed and spoiled all the Merchants Ships passing the straits of Hellespontus to or from Constantinople the other part left in the City in the mean time foraging the Country all about them But Tenza shortly after encountring with a Fleet of the Genowayes well provided for him was by them overthrown and most of his Gallies sunk and himself taken but yet afterwards redeemed by his Fellows and so again inlarged Now the Catalonians at Calipolis somewhat discouraged with the loss of their Fleet and so many of their men for certain days kept themselves quiet within their Walls not knowing well what course to take for they feared both the Massagets and Thracians them for that they had upon light causes abused them and slain divers of them in the late Asian War and these for that they had but even the other day burnt their Houses and spoiled their Labors in the Country there by for which and other their Outrages they utterly despaired of the Emperors Favor whom they had so highly offended But that which most of all terrified them was for that they looked for every day when Michael the young Emperor who as then lay not far off should with a great Power come to assault them for fear of whom they cast a deep Ditch about the
inviting him to hasten his coming into the City who thereupon coming to Rhegium by his Embassadors sent from thence requested the old Emperor either to give him leave according to the League betwixt them to come into the City or else to send him certain of the chief of the Nobility and Clergy with some of the better and more understanding sort of the Burgers and Citizens also unto whom he might frankly speak his mind for them faithfully to deliver the same again unto the Emperor his Grandfather and the People Which request the old Emperor perceiving to be full of Deceit and Treachery for a good space answered thereunto nothing at all but stood all silent as doubting which to grant for to suffer his Nephew to come into the City he saw was dangerous the Citizens as he well knew being for the most part inclined to revolt to him so soon as they should once see him within the Gates and to send any forth unto him as he desired might be as he feared an occasion of some tumult to be after raised in the City for he knew that his Nephews drift therein was openly by fair words and secretly with great gifts and large promises first to gain them and by them the rest of the Citizens Both which things being dangerous he made choice of the easier and sent forth unto him two of the most noble Senators two of the most reverend Bishops two other grave Prelates and four of the chief Burgesses of the City unto whom at their coming unto him he in the open hearing of all men delivered this premeditated and crafty Speech It is not unknown unto the World you my Subjects to have alwaies been unto me more dear than I have been unto my self and how that I have not upon any ambitious conceit or desire of the sole Government against my Grandfathers good Will gon out For you see how that I neither spare mine own life or attend my pleasure for the care I have of you I come not unto you compassed about with a Guard of armed men as is the manner not of Kings only for the envy of their high place but of others also of far meaner calling whom disaster fortune banished from their Parents and Kindred hath enforced to wander here and there with death also before their Eyes Let any man tell me how I came by these wounds which I yet bear in my body but in fight with the Enemies of my Country which pass over out of Asia into Thracia or else dwelling near unto Isther do with their incursions from thence miserably waste that side of Thracia which is next unto them For I to tell you the very truth seeing the old Emperor by reason of his great years to become slothful and blockish and not possible to be awaked out of his drowsie sleep neither any whit to grieve when as the poor Christians his Subjects were both by day and night some as Sacrifices slain by the barbarous Enemies some carried away into most miserable Captivity and the rest poor and naked to be driven out of their Houses and Cities not to speak in the mean time of the greater mischiefs in Asia and how many Cities have been there lost through the old Emperors sloth and neglience when I saw these things I say strucken with a piercing grief which my heart could not indure I went out for two causes either by some kind of honourable death to end my grief together with my life or else to the uttermost of my power to stand my Country in some stead For by no means it can come to pass but that a man and he that hath of long time reigned must at length become loathsome unto his Subjects and encur their deadly hatred For why God hath made nothing in this life immutable and firm whereby it cometh to pass as we see that all worldly things joy and delight in change But if a man will as it were force Fortune to his desire and strive to bind things unto a certain firm and constant course he shall but lose his labour and in vain strive against nature But whatsoever is contrary unto nature or exceedeth the just bounds thereof hath in it neither comfort nor delight This was it that caused the wise men to say and to leave to us as Rules Not to dwell too long upon any thing and a measure to be the fairest vertue For you see how that my Grandfather being grown to great years and having reigned so long I may almost say as never did any but he is become hateful unto all his people and yet regardeth not either how to discharge himself of so great a burthen or how to relieve the declining State of the Empire or so much as grieveth to see the Successors of the Empire to die before him For my Father is dead without any fruit of the Empire except the bare Title only and others also nearest to him of blood and far younger than hâ— are dead likewise and happily I my self may die also before I shall receive any profit thereof for what can more easily happen especially unto a man that shunneth no danger and regardeth not his life But some perhaps will suspect me of Ambition for departing from the Emperor my Grandfather and for refusing to be ruled by him Which thing I neither flatly deny or altogether confess For might I see the Empire increase and the bounds thereof inlarged I could willingly content my self and at my ease take my rest chearing my self up with such hope as do they that bear with their Cooks making them to stay long for their dinner in hope thereby to fare the better But seeing the State of the Empire daily to decline from evil to worse and the miserable people carried away Captives or slain by their Enemies even at the Gates and under the Walls of the Imperial City what deem you me then to think For most men ease their present grief with the hope of future good although the same be but vain But unto me is not left even such vain hope unto my false comfort And can you marvel at the impotent affection of the Great Alexander of Macedon grieved and displeased to see his Father to heap Victory upon Victory and to cut off all the hope of his Sons glory by leaving him so few occasions of War and not think me to whom you see the quite contrary is chanced and from whom not only the hope of the Empire is cut off for the wasting thereof but even the course of a quiet life to fret and grieve thereat Moved herewith and not able longer to indure it at length I rise up and requested of the Emperor my Grandfather but a thousand men at Arms promising him by the Power of God with them to preserve the Cities in Bithynia and to drive his Enemies further off before that having them they should pass over the strait and besiege the Imperial City of
lay at the Town of Aegiolus in Galatia in great security having about him but a small Power for that he fearing no danger had at that time dispersed his Army to seek after Pillage abroad in the Country Mahomet taking hold of this opportunity marched thither with great celerity and suddenly setting upon Cara Dulet overcame him In which Conflict Cara Dulet himself was shot through the Head with an Arrow and slain and his Army utterly discomfited Mahomet returning back to Amasia with Victory refreshed and rewarded his Souldiers yet no less careful for the safety of his Kingdom than before Shortly after he was advertised that Cubad Ogli with a great Army laid hard Siege to the City of Caesaria in Capadocia and was like in short time to take it if it were not speedily relieved By taking of which City that Tartar Prince was like to make a great Entrance to the hazarding of the whole Country Wherefore Mahomet having his Army always in readiness marched day and night with such speed to Caesaria as that he was upon Cubad Ogli before he was aware of his coming and there slew most of his Souldiers and put him with the rest to flight After that he returned into Cubad Ogli his Country in Pontus and grievously spoiled and destroyed the same at which time he also by force won the strong Castle Peltae in the Confines of Phrygia Immediately after that Inael Ogli another of Tamerlanes Captains which at their pleasure without let forraged all the Countries of the lesser Asia during the time that Tamerlane made his abode within the Turks Dominions upon the sudden entred into Capadociâ— with an Army of twenty thousand fighting men killing the Inhabitants and spoiling the Country before him so that the people for fear left their dwellings and fled into the Woods and Mountains to hide themselves from his fury Whereof Mahomet hearing was therewith exceedingly grieved and wrote unto him as followeth Sultan Mahomet unto the Prince Inall Ogli WHereas without any just or Lawful Cause or any War proclaimed you have invaded Our Kingdom and cease not cruelly to kill Our Subjects by God committed to Our Protection and to spoil their Wealth and Labours to the great disturbance of the Mahometan Commonweal and make no end of your malice and cruelty you do therein quite digress from the Manners and Laws of the true Mahometans or right Believers For if thou wouldst not only be accounted but indeed be a true Musul-man thou shouldst forthwith depart out of my Kingdom with thine Army thou shouldst not thus shed the innocent blood or without cause thus wrong my people but forasmuch as thou knowest not what beseemeth thee neither wilt listen unto good Counsel but wilfully proceed in thy wicked purpose falsly perswading thy self this my Kingdom to be destitute of a lawful Inheritor and therefore dost so great Wrong and Injury unto the Defenders of the true Mahometan Religion I would thou shouldst know that I with my so often Victorious Army will shortly by the Power of God come against thee and in plain Field according to thy deserts chastise thee Therefore whilst thou yet maist reclaim thy Self and proceed not too far in thine obstinacy too late Repentance did never man yet good Thus much We thought good to advise thee that thou shouldst not be ignorant of Our purpose but mightest so better consider and dispose both of thy self and thine affairs In the year after the departure of the great Prophet Mahomet 806. Unto which Letters Inall Ogli returned this Answer in writing Prince Inall Ogli to Mahomet WHy dost thou Mahomet with such Letters provoke me why dost thou so uncivilly taunt me being thy self but a Boy and in truth a very Child It beseemeth thee not to have entred into these Countries or to lay hands thereon wrongfully gracing thy self with the Title of a Sultan Neither is there any cause why thou shouldst complain that I should lie in wait or seek after thy Life thy Kingdom or any thing that thine is I challenge unto my self this Kingdom but none of thine out of which it is reason for thee as a wrongful intruder of thy self to depart whom otherwise I will forthwith thrust out and joyn the same unto the rest of my Territories Wherefore except thou without delay get thee packing and cease to oppose thy self against my designs I denounce unto thee all the Calamities of War and wish thee with speed to prepare thy self to battel for that I mean shortly to meet with thee This year of our great Prophet 806. Shortly after Mahomet according to his promise meeting with this Tartar Prince by plain force overthrew him and had of him a notable Victory The like good hap he had also not long after against Coster Ogli and Kiupeck Ogli two other Tartarian Captains at the Castle of Chara-chizar and the Plain of Artuck-Ova And hearing that one Mesites a Turk had fortified himself in the Ruins of Sebastia and from thence spoiled the Country round about he sent Bajazet one of his Bassaes against him who in short time took him and brought him bound unto him by whom he was adjudged to die But seeing in the man an invincible courage and contempt of death at such time as he should have been executed moved therewith he gave him his pardon for which he ever after continued unto him faithful and did him great Service Mahomet having many times thus vanquished the stragling Tartarian Princes which had sought the spoil of his Country became thereby famous amongst the great Commanders of Tamerlane his Army insomuch that the bruit of his name came at length to Tamerlanes Ear yet lying in the lesser Asia who as he thought it not worth his Greatness and Labour himself in Person to go against so great an Enemy so he thought it not good or convenient quite to neglect him but by some other means if he could to overtake him For which purpose he began to speak many times very honourably of him highly commending his great valour and forwardness in so tender years And calling for Bajazet told him what great commendation he had heard of his Son Mahomet and that he was therefore very desirous to see him where if he found that true which was reported of his great Vertues he would bestow one of his Daughters upon him in Marriage with many other great Preferments and therefore willed Bajazet to write unto him Not to doubt to come unto him to the great good both of himself and his Father Which thing Bajazet at the first doubting the worst requested Tamerlane not to believe that of his Son being yet very young and not worthy of so great a Favour Nevertheless partly perswaded by Tamerlane his Protestations and importuned by him that might now command him he with an evil will wrote to his Son Mahomet to such effect as Tamerlane required With which Letters and others of like purport from himself with many rich
words staid that had already turned their backs performing in every place all the parts both of a worthy Commander and valiant Souldier as the necessity of the time and place required In the heat of this battel Fortune yet favouring neither part but both fighting with all their Power the Transylvanian Prisoners that in great number were kept in the Camp wishing rather to die than to be carried away into Captivity and thinking it now or never time for them to attempt their deliverance with one consent brake asunder their Bonds and with such Weapons as first came to hand set upon their Keepers of whom they slew a great number and so desperately issuing out into the battel incouraged their Country-men and discouraged their Enemies Yet was the battel hardly fought though not altogether with like courage or for like cause for why the Transylvanians fought for their Country their Wives their Children their Lives their Liberty their Religion and Altars but the Turks for the rich Prey they had before taken and that they were by Victory in hope of But at length the Turks by the breaking out of the Prisoners who laid about them like desperate men out of hope of the Victory began by little and little to retire and the other on the contrary part by this unexpected Aid encouraged and quickly finding the Enemies fainting fought more fiercely than before Mesites seeing his Army thus in every part wavering was therewith exceedingly troubled but presently after beholding some of his men retiring as if they had fled and other some flying outright and no means to stay them for safeguard of his life turned his Horse and fled also after whom the Hungarians followed with most terrible execution as men desirous of the blood of them that had done them so great harm In this chase Mesites himself with his Son were both slain the report of whose death in the pursuit added swiftness unto the Hungarians to the encreasing of the slaughter of the Turks whom for the desire of Revenge they ceased not for certain days to pursue unto the top of the Alps. In this battel were slain of the Turks 20000 and of the Hungarians about 3000. Huniades with this Victory recovered all the Prey the Turks had taken of the spoil of the Country together with their Tents and Baggage unto whom at his return into the Camp a wonderful number of the poor Captives came and falling at his feet and kissing them gave God thanks for their deliverance by him some called him the Father some the Defender of his Country the Souldiers their invincible General the Captives their Deliverer the Women their Protector the young Men and Children their most loving Father In all which joyful Acclamations no honourable Additions were heard which in the judgment of all men worthily agreed not with his deserts He again with tears standing in his eyes courteously embraced them rejoycing at the publique good and himself giving most hearty thanks unto God commanded the like to be done in all Churches of that Province Sometime he commended the Souldiers Valour and in general the peoples Loyalty The Nobility and worthy Captains he extolled by name according as their deserts had been in that notable Battel not detracting any thing from any mans worthy praises part of the spoil of the Turks he appointed unto devout Uses and the other part he divided amongst the Souldiers and willing as it were with the first Fruits thereof to gratifie King Uladislaus and the Despot of Servia then present with him he sent a great Waggon with ten Horses which they could scarce draw laded with the Turks Ensigns and the chief of their Heads where the Heads of the Bassa and his Son stood formost and above them was placed an old Turk sometime well known unto the Despot who in this order presented unto them is said to have thus delivered his Message as followeth Huniades your Majesties most humble Servant and the most honourable Despots Son sendeth unto you this part of the spoil gained by this late Victory lest he should seem to defraud you of the honour of the battel happily fought under your good Fortune These heads of the Asian Nobility he sendeth you for a Present that you should not want the assured Testimony of so notable a Victory these are two Princes heads the one of Mesites Bassa the General and the other of his Son the rest are the heads of the other great Commanders and Sanzacks All these witness the greatness of the late slaughter and exhort you to greater Atchievements What your Royal Majesty for the natural instinct of Piety and Religion ingrafted into you may hope for and what an occasion of Immortality and Glory is offered unto you Huniades wisheth you hereby to consider and humbly requesteth that general Supplications may be commanded and a great Army provided forasmuch as all men suppose that the Turk will gage his whole Forces and leave nothing unattempted in revenge of so great a slaughter of his people Having ended his Speech he shewed unto them the grisely mortified heads which the Nobility and others there present earnestly beheld and wondred at especially the King and the Despot who by Letters further understanding the whole proceeding of the War and fortune of the Battel highly commended the discreet valour of Huniades together with the glorious Victory worthy as they said of a Roman Triumph for which Uladislaus commanded publick Supplications to be made in all Churches through Hungary and by honourable Messengers sent of purpose to Huniades gave him great thanks according to his Deserts with many rich Presents also commending his faithful and worthy Service and requesting him with like courage and care to prosecute the War so happily begun promising him That he should neither want Men nor Money or any thing else needful thereunto Upon this Victory the Countries of Moldavia and Valachia before Tributaries unto the Turks now revolted again unto the Hungarians to the great grief of Amurath and the fame of Huniades was in short time dispersed through all Europe and a general hope conceived of him as of one most like to be one of the greatest Champions of the Christian Commonweal as in his time undoubtedly he was The râ—port of this late Overthrow with the death of the Bassa Mesites and the loss of his Army being brought to Hadrianople much troubled the Turish Tyrant but most of all the Revolt of the two Countries Moldavia and Valachia So that full of wrathful Indignation and desire of Revenge he commanded a great Army to be raised against the next Spring with intent to have gone therewith himself but afterward upon better advice changing his purpose he committed the leading thereof unto one Shech Abedin Bassa corruptly called Sciabedin Bassa an Eunuch and yet nevertheless a right valiant and expert Captain and his Vice-Roy in Europe with Charge first to enter into Valachia and there having done what harm he could with Fire
things he was above all others both beloved and honoured of all the People of Epirus next to Scanderbeg himself At his first coming to Mahomet he filled not his Ears with great Promises and vain Praises of himself as had Moses but only excusing his own revolt laboured to perswade him That he had for just causes left his Uncle with a desire now faithfully to serve him And to that purpose spake unto him as followeth If it should please thee most noble Mahomet to call to remembrance the old injuries and antient displeasures by us committed against thine imperial Majesty we might seem now rather to have come hither to receive the just guerdon of our evil deserts than upon any hope of honour or preferment For what could have been done more in disgrace of the Othoman Empire than that you have seen long since done by us in the most dangerous time of the Hungarian War rather of a malicious and set purpose than for that we were just Enemies Whenas in the same perfideous course I my self being a helper and partaker therein for now no excuse is to be pretended for our doings more than repentance your Fathers Army was betrayed at Morava and the Kingdom of Epirus by great Treachery wrested out of your Fathers Hands the only cause of so many Calamities and of so much bloodshed But vain is this fear and our suspition needless with so wise and merciful a Prince especially for that my years then green and youth prone unto the harm of it self and a mind not resting upon his own resolutions deceived me I believed mine Uncle for the ignorant believe many things and allured with the desire of Soveraignty the proper disease of that age and too much credulous I forsook you and followed his promises but discretion growing with years I have by little and little perceived both the slie perfideous dealing of mine Uncle as also that my revolt from you was more hurtful unto my self than to any other Scanderbeg recovered and also enlarged the Kingdom of Epirus but not without my great labour and help I expected long time that he should have given me if not my Fathers whole Inheritance yet at least some part thereof as a small reward of my so great travel and danger Not long after he married a Wife and hath begot a young Heir a new Successor in his Kingdom unto me for shame of the World because I should not altogether lead a private life he hath assigned a base corner of Epirus where he enjoying the rest I might lead a poor and contemptible life In this case I had much ado to bridle my affections and could never digest that injury yet the iniquity of the time with the insolent disposition of the man compelled me to smother up my thoughts and to make fair weather lest finding some suspition he should craftily have intrapped me as he did of late George Stresie his Sisters Son whom wrongfully charged with feigned surmises he hath almost deprived of all his Possessions I would willingly have fled unto the Feet of your Highness I would gladly have forsaken my ingrateful Uncle with the stains of his infamous Kingdom but that the remembrance of the old Rebellion and many Injuries siththence done did make me afraid until that now God I think so appointing it I came most gladly following your most Royal Faith and Promise You had scarcely beckned unto me you had scarcely invited me having of long intentively waited every occasion but straight way I came with such speed as if I would have flown I lingred not I expected not either Scanderbeg or his evil hap or your more prosperous success as of late did Moses lest I might thereby justly seem either for fear or regard of some eminent danger rather to have provided for mine own safety than to have embraced your magnificence Neither have I left any thing for you in me to suspect nor any cause wherefore I should desire to return again into Epirus here are present most sure bonds of my love and faithful Pledges of my Loialty Behold worthy Mahomet you have whasoever is dear unto me yea whatsoever Nature could give pleasing unto men in the course of mans life These have I brought unto thee which should with violence have been taken from an Enemy such Pawns as might assure thee of the Faith of a most doubtful man. More than this I have brought nothing for in so great speed and secret departure I could not have regard of my Substance And if I might have had time to have trussed up my trash at leisure yet I know not how I should have thought it a kind of baseness to have brought with me any part of the poor reliques of mine old Fortune especially unto thee of all other the richest Only my Fidelity I lay down before thee for any thing greater I have not and if thou desire of me any other Bond for more assurance I refuse not whatsoever your Highness shall appoint for I came not hither to set down Covenants and Agreements of my self but to receive them from you I dare not promise to vanquish mine Uncle and to subdue Epirus with an Army of fifteen thousand men the misfortune of Haly-Bassa and other your Generals yea and the late and rare Victory of Sebalias with great bloodshed gained may serve for examples In me you shall neither want diligence nor faithful service as for other things concerning the event of this War and for the revenge of the injuries by you received you being a Prince of power invincible and of a most deep judgment are not to be advised by me your unskilful Vassal This Speech of Amesa seemed unto Mahomet free from all dissimulation forasmuch as he knew most part thereof to be true and his Wife and Children brought unto his presence confirmed the rest Wherefore commending his good affection he appointed him honourable entertainment referring other matters unto a further time Upon the approach of the Spring Mahomet desiring nothing more than to be revenged upon Scanderbeg entred into consultation with his great Bassaes concerning the invasion of Epirus unto which Counsel Amesa was by Mahomet admitted and his wicked device for the destruction of his Country of all others best liked After the matter had been long too and fro debated it was concluded That Isaac the great Bassa of Constantinople should with an Army of fifteen thousand be sent against Scanderbeg and Amesa with him having the charge of five thousand Horsemen and the Bassa to proclaim Amesa King of Epirus thereby to perswade the Epirots that Mahomet invaded Epirus rather for the displeasure he bare against Scanderbeg and for the advancement of Amesa than for any ambitious desire he had to take unto himself that Kingdom Great was the preparation for this War and the expectation thereof greater Flying Fame had in short time filled every corner of Epirus with the report of these News adding thereunto as the manner
had undoubtedly so done if some of his most expert and valiant Captains which might be bold with him had not sharply reproved him that having so populous an Army as scarcely felt that small loss he should once think of returning without Victory With which their comfortable perswasions he was again encouraged to give Battel Yet for his more safety he withdrew his Army into a Strait betwixt two Mountains and with his Carriages foâ—tified the front thereof as with a Trench behind which Carriages he placed his great Ordnance and on either side his Archers The Persians as men of great Valour and thereto encouraged with their former Victories came on as men fearing no peril to have charged the Turks even in their Strength presenting their whole Army before they were aware into the mouth of the Turks Artillery which suddenly discharged amongst the thickest of them brake their Ranks and took away a number of them Besides that the Persian Horses terrified with the unacquainted and thundering report of the great Ordnance were not to be ruled by their Riders but starting back ran some one way some another as if they had felt neither Bit nor Rider Which their confusion Mahomet perceiving presently took hold of the occasion offered and with his Horsemen fiercely charged them being now by themselves intangled and out of order Nevertheless the Persians made great resistance and slew many of the Turks but still fighting confusedly and out of order they were at the last inforced to flie in which Flight a great number of them were slain and their Tents also taken Zeinal Usun-Cassanes his eldest Son labouring to stay the Flight of the Persians was slain with a small shot So the Honour of the day remained with the Turks yet they had no great cause to brag of their winnings having lost in that Battel forty thousand Souldiers whereas of the Persians fell not above ten thousand Mahomet contenting himself with this dear bought Victory returned homewards and Usun-Cassanes leaving another of his Sons with his Army for the defence of Armenia returned likewise to Tauris But whilst the Christian Princes were in their greatest expectation what might be the Event of these Wars betwixt these two mighty Mahometan Kings they upon the suddain concluded a Peace and confirmed the same with new Affinity excluding the Christians quite out of the same This last Battel betwixt Mahomet and Usun-Cassanes was fought in the year of our Lord 1474 about four years before the death of Usun-Cassanes who died the fifth of Ianuary in the year 1478. In the time of these Wars died the noble Mustapha Mahomet his eldest Son at Iconium having spent himself with reveling amongst his Paragons or as some write commanded to die by his â—ather upon this occasion This youthful Prince upon a time coming to the Court to see his Father or as they term it to kiss his hand became amorous of the Wife of Achmetes Bassa a Lady of incomparable Beauty and Daughter to Isaac Bassa the chief men in the Turkish Empire next unto Mahomet himself but finding no means to compass her in whom his Soul lived he awaited a time when as she after the manner of the Turks went to bath her self and there as he found 〈◊〉 all disroabed shamefully forced her without regard either of his own Honour or of hers Of this so foul an outrage Achmetes her Husband with his cloaths and hat all rent for madness came and grievously complained to Mahomet craving vengeance for the same Unto whom Mahomet again replied Art not thou thy self my Slave and if my Son Mustapha have known thy Wife is she not my Bondslave he hath had to do withal Cease therefore thus to complain and hold thy self therewith content Nevertheless he in secret sharply reproved his Son for so hainous and dishonorable a Fact by him committed and commanded him out of his sight and as he was of a severe nature caused him within a few days after to be secretly strangled Nevertheless the wrong done unto the Bassa sunk so deep into his haughty mind as that he would never admit excuse therefore but put away his Wife the ground of the implacable hatred betwixt him and the great Bassa Isaac his Father-in-law and in fine the very cause of his utter destruction as is afterward declared in the life of Bajazet Mahomet delivered of his greatest fear year 1475. by the Peace he had lately concluded with Usun-Cassanes the Persian King was now at good leisure to imploy all his Forces against the Christians And bearing a deadly hatred against the Princes of Epirus and Albania with a wonderful desire to extend his Empire unto the Ionian and Adriatick that he might from thence but look toward Italy which he began now to long after he determined with himself first to subdue those Countries as standing in his way both for the invasion of Italy and of the Territories of the Venetians And forasmuch as the strong City of Scodra otherwise called Scutary then in the possession of the Venetians for the commodious Situation thereof seemed to give him the best entrance into the Countries of Albania Epirus Dalmatia and to such Cities as the Venetians held alongst the Sea coast he resolved there to begin his Wars This City was of great Strength as well for the natuaral Situation thereof as for the strong Fortifications therein made by the hand of man which thing Mahomet was not ignorant of but presuming of his own Strength and Power vainly perswaded himself that no place was now able long to hold out against him Wherefore having prepared all things fit for the besieging thereof he sent Solyman Bassa an Eunuch whom he made his Lieutenant General in Europe in the place of Amurath Bassa before slain by Usun-Cassanes with eighty thousand Souldiers to besiege Scodra This great Bassa according to his charge came and with great pomp incamped round about the City the 25 of May. Shortly after having planted his battery he began most furiously to shake the Walls and ceased not by all means he could devise to trouble the Defendants and when he had by force of the Canon done what he could gave divers sharp assaults unto the City but was still with great loss valiantly repulsed by them of the City Long it were to declare how often and in what terrible manner that warlike Bassa Mahomet his chief Captain attempted to have won the City as also to shew how they of Scodra directed by their worthy Governor Antoninus Lauretanus valiantly defended themselves and their City nothing was omitted that the Enemy could do or devise for the gaining thereof but all his devices and attempts were so met withal by the Defendants that they served him to no other purpose but to the destruction of his people Whilst the Bassa thus lay at the Siege of Scodra Mocenicus having received such commandment from the Senate came and joyned himself to Grittus the new Admiral who then lay with
power of the Turk without the help of such base minded Cowards In the mean time he commanded them to surcease from their mutinous talk threatning otherwise to make them examples to others what it is so much to forget themselves But these Spaniards shortly after better considering of the matter and what a dishonour it would be both to themselves and their Nation if they should so dishonourably be sent away repenting themselves of that they had done came and craved pardon of the Great Master and to redeem their former fault in all sallies and services during that Siege shewed themselves most valiant and forward men for all that the Great Master would never afterwards trust them in any service alone The Bassa attempting much and prevailing little thought it would much further his designs if he could by any means take the Great Master out of the way by whose careful policy he saw all his devices still countermanded wherefore to bring this his purpose to pass he practised by the means of one Ianus a Dalmatian to poyson him This Ianus having conceived this Treason from the Bassa was received into the City of the Rhodes as a Christian Fugitive fled from the Turks where he acquainted himself with one Pythius an Epirot of great familiarity with Marius Philelphus of late Secretary unto Damboyse but as then out of favour and in disgrace for that he was partaker with the Spaniards in the late mutiny Ianus by the means of Pythius whom he had now throughly corrupted sought after Philelphus who then as he right well knew lived discontented as a fit instrument whereby to work this Treason for that he was a man well acquainted with the Cooks and Butlers and other Servitors in the Great Masters House and himself yet there very conversant also Pythius presuming of his old acquaintance and familiarity with Philelphus and waiting upon his melancholy humor began to perswade him to revenge the disgrace he lived in and withal to shew him the means how to do it by poysoning the Great Master which might as he said fall out to his greater good than he was yet aware of Philelphus making semblance as if he had not disliked of the motion was desirous to know of him what farther benefit might thereby arise to him more than revenge To whom Pythius forthwith shewed the Bassaes Letters to Ianus whereby he assured him that whatsoever he should promise unto any man for the furtherance of the practice he would to the full perform the same Philelphus having got full understanding of the Treason presently discovered the same to Damboyse By whose commandment Ianus and Pythius were straitwaies apprehended and being examined confessed the Treason for which Ianus lost his Head and Pythius as he had well deserved was shamefully hanged Philelphus for his Fidelity was pardoned his former error and again received into the Great Masters favour The Bassa understanding that the Treason was discovered and the Traitors executed was much grieved therewith Nevertheless he ceased not with continual battery to shake the City but especially the Tower of S. Nicholas for the assailing whereof he made wonderful preparation Amongst other things he had framed a great Bridge staied with strong Ropes and Cables over a short fret of the Sea betwixt the place of his Battery and the same Tower whereon six men might march abreast in which device he reposed great hope But as the Turks were making fast this Bridge and had as they thought brought the work to a good perfection Gervaise Rogers an Englishman of great courage and very skilful in Sea matters found means by night to cut and break in sunder all the Ropes and Cables wherewith the Bridge was staid which now looâ—e was by the violence of the Sea quickly carried away and the Turks disappointed of their purpose For which good service he was by the Great Master honourably rewarded and of him in publick audience highly commended Yet was the furious Battery by the Bassa still maintained and a new Bridge framed upon small Boats and Lighters fast moored with Cables and Anchors and divers Pieces of great Ordnance placed in Fusts and Gallies So that the Tower was at one time battered both by Sea and Land the Defendants assailed with small Shot and Arrows innumerable and the Tower at the same instant desperately scaled But Damboyse had so placed his great Ordnance that with the force thereof the Bridge was broken in sunder four of their great Fusts sunk with great store both of Men and Ordnance the Defendants also in the Tower with Shot Timber Stones and other such like things provided for that purpose grievously overwhelmed the Turks that were scaling the Walls and beat them down with great slaughter This hot Assault was desperately maintained by the Turks from three a clock in the morning untill ten when the Bassa seeing no hope to prevail gave over the Assault having therein lost above two thousand five hundred men whose dead bodies shortly after driven on shore were spoiled by the Christians The same night two Mercenary Souldiers of Crete going about to have fled unto the Enemy were apprehended and put to death And George Frapaine who in the beginning of the Siege fled from the Turks now again vehemently suspected of Treason was executed also Thus neither Force nor Treason prevailing the Bassa because he would leave nothing unproved that might better his cause sent certain Messengers unto the Great Master offering to him in the name of the Turkish Emperor great Rewards with many honourable Preferments if he would yield up the City which he could not as they would have perswaded him long hold against so mighty an Enemy wishing him now in his declining estate not to refuse such honourable and princely Offers for fear he were afterwards constrained to accept of far worse or else through his desperate wilfulness plunge himself and his People into such extreme peril as should be impossible for him or them to find any way out of Whereunto the Great Master in brief answered That he would not willingly in his sure estate use the counsel of his Enemy neither in his greatest distress refuse chearfully to yield his Life unto Almighty God to whom he did ow it and that with far better Will than to yield up the City upon any conditions bear they never so fair a shew of honour or profit The Messengers perceiving his constant resolution rather to die than to yield his City began according to instructions before given them by the Bassa to temper with him another way and to perswade him to yield unto the mighty Emperor some small yearly Tribute or other Homage as an acknowledgment of his greatness and so to live as his Friend in Peace But the Great Master knowing by the woful example of others that in that small request lay included the beginning of the Turkish Thraldom and Slavery utterly refused to pay him the least Tribute or to do him the
humor Yet might Bajazet seem to do him wrong if he should not according to his promise again restore him unto the possession of the Empire which he had almost thirty years before received at his hands as is before in the beginning of his life declared But Selymus being of a more haughty disposition than to brook the life of a Subject under the command of either of his Brethren and altogether given to martial Affairs sought by infinite Bounty feigned Courtesie subtil Policy and by all other means good and bad to aspire unto the Empire Him therefore the Janizaries with all the great Souldiers of the Court yea and some of the chief Bassaes also corrupted with Gifts wished above the rest for their Lord and Sovereign desiring rather to live under him which was like to set all the World on a hurly burly whereby they might increase their Honour and Wealth the certain rewards of their Adventures than to lead an idle and unprofitable Life as they termed it under a quiet and peaceable Prince Whilst men stood thus diversly affected towards these Princes of so great hope Bajazet now far worn with years and so grievously tormented with the Gout that he was not able to help himself for the quietness of his Subjects and preventing of such troubles as might arise by the aspiring of his Children after his death determined whilst he yet lived for the avoiding of these and other such like mischiefs to establish the succession in some one of his Sons who wholly possessed of the Kingdom might easily repress the pride of the other And although he had set down with himself that Achomates should be the man as well in respect of his Birth-right as of the especial affection he bare unto him yet to discover the disposition of his Subjects and how they stood affected it was given out in general terms That he meant before his death to make it known to the World who should succeed in the Empire without naming any one of his Sons leaving that for every man to divine of according as they were affected which was not the least cause that every one of his Sons with like ambition began now to make small account of their former Preferments as thinking only upon the Empire it self First of all Selymus year 1511. whom Bajazet had made Governor of the Kingdom of Trapezond rigging up all the Ships he could in Pontus sailed from Trapezond over the Euxine now called the Black Sea to the City of Capha called in ancient time Theodosia and from thence by Land came to Mahometes King of the Tartars called Praecopenses a mighty Prince whose Daughter he had without the good liking of his Father before married and discovering unto him his intended purpose besought him by the sacred Bonds of the Affinity betwixt them not to shrink from him his loving Son-in-law in so fit an opportunity for his advancement And withal shewed unto him what great hope of obtaining the Empire was proposed unto him by his most faithful Friends and the Souldiers of the Court if we would but come nearer unto his Father then about to transfer the Empire to some one of his Sons and either by fair means to procure his favour or by entring with his Army into Thracia to terrifie him from appointing either of his other Brethren for the Successor The Tartar King commending his high device as a kind Father-in-law with wonderful celerity caused great store of shipping to be made ready in the Pontick Sea and Moeotis but especially at the Ports of Copa and Tana upon the great River of Tanais which boundeth Europe from Asia and arming fifteen thousand Tartarian Horsemen delivered them all to Selymus promising forthwith to send him greater Aid if he should have occasion to use the same These things being quickly dispatched Selymus passing over the River Borrysthenes and so through Valachia came at length to Danubius and with his Horsemen passed that famous River at the City of Chelia his Fleet he commanded to meet him at the Port of the City of Varna called in ancient time Dionysiopolis in the Confines of Bulgaria and Thracia he himself still levying more men by the way as he went pretending in shew quite another thing than he had indeed intended which the better to cover he gave it out as if he had purposed to have invaded Hungary But Bajazet a good while before advertised that Selymus was departed from Trapezond and come over into Europe marvelling that he had left his charge in Asia the Rebellion of Techellis and the Persian War yet scarce quieted and that upon his own head he had entertained forreign Aid to make War against the most warlike Nation of the Hungarians and farther that with his Army by Land he had seised upon the places nearest unto Thracia and with a strong Navy kept the Euxine Sea he began to suspect as the truth was That all this preparation was made and intended against himself for the crafty old Sire had good proof of the unquiet and troublesome nature of his Son especially in that without his knowledge he durst presume to take a Wife from amongst the Tartars and afterwards with no less presumption of himself raise an Army both by Sea and Land whereby he easily perceived that he would never hold himself contented with a small Kingdom so long as he was in hope by a desperat adventure to gain a greater Yet thinking it better with like dissimulation to appease his violent and fierce Nature than by sharp reproof to move him to farther Choler he sent unto him Embassadors to declare to him with what danger the Turkish Kings had in former times taken upon them those Hungarian Wars for example whereof he needed not to go no further than to his Grandfather Mahomet the Great who many times to his exceeding loss had made proof of the Hungarian Forces wherefore he should do well to expect some fit opportunity when as he might with better advice greater power and more sure hope of Victory take those Wars in hand Whereunto Selymus answered That he had left Asia inforced thereunto by the injuries of his Brother Achomates and was therefore come over into Europe by dint of Sword and the help of his Friends to win from the Enemies of the Mahometan Religion a larger and better Province for that little barren and peaceable one which his Father had given him bordering upon Hiberia and Cholchos bare and needy People living as Connies amongst the Rocks and Mountains As for the Hungarians whom they thought to be a People invincible and therefore not to be dealt withal he was not of that base mind to be daunted with any danger were it never so great and yet that in his opinion the War was neither so difficult or dangerous as was by them prentended forasmuch as the ancient prowess of that warlike Nation was now much changed together with the change of their Kings and their Discipline of
two or three days in a place Whilst he was thus travelling Selymus no less careful of the keeping of his Estate than he had before been for the obtaining of the same began now to doubt That if he should depart from Constantinople and with all his Forces pass over into Asia against his Brother Achomates Bajazet in the mean time might in his absence return to Constantinople and so again possess himself both of the City and Empire Wherefore to rid himself of that fear he resolved most Viper like before his going to kill his Father and so most unnaturally to deprive him of life of whom he had received life such is the cruel and accursed Nature of Ambition that it knoweth neither Father Mother Brother Wife Kindred or Friend no sometimes not her own Children the fury whereof was never in any one more pregnant than in this most monstrous and cruel Tyrant Selymus The readiest and most secret way he could devise for the effecting of this his damnable device which without great impiety could not be so much as once by him thought upon was to work it by poyson upon which resolution he secretly compacted with Haman a Jew his Fathers chief Physitian to poyson him promising him for his reward a Pension of ten Ducats a day during his life And for that men are oftentimes with terror and fear as well as with reward enforced to be the ministers of mischief he to be the more sure of this Jew prone enough for gain to do evil threatned him with most cruel death if he did not both secretly and speedily work this feat commanding him so soon as he had done it to return unto him to Constantinople The deceitful Jew moved both with the fear of death and hope of reward two great motives coming shortly after to Bajazet and finding him very weak seeming to be very careful of him told him That he would prepare for him a portion which should both restore to him his health and also strengthen his weak body if it would please him to take it the next morning early lying in his bed Bajazet nothing distrusting his old Physitian whom he had so often and so long trusted said he would gladly take it Early the next morning cometh the Jew with the deadly poyson in a Cup of Gold Bajazet yet sleeping which he set down in the Chair of State and so stood waiting untill the aged Prince should of himself awake But Bajazet sleeping soundly as oftentimes it chanceth when men sleep their last and withal somewhat longer than stood with the Jews purpose he presuming of his wonted practice awaked him and told him That the time to take the portion was almost past and asked him if it were his pleasure then to take it Bajazet doubting no Treafon willed him to bring it whereof when the Jew had taken the essay having before himself taken a preservative against that poyson he gave it to Bajazet to drink who chearfully drank it up the Physitian commanding them that waited in his Bed-Chamber and attended on his person to keep him well covered with warm clothes and not to give him any thing to drink until he had well sweat This cursed Jew having thus poysoned the aged Prince to avoid the danger of the Fact and to carry the first news thereof to Selymus secretly conveyed himself away and in hast fled to Constantinople But Bajazet attainted with the force of the Poyso began first to feel most grievous gripings in his Stomach the strong pain whereof appeared by his miserable complaining and heavy groaning in the midst of which torments he gave up the Ghost in the year 1512 when he had reigned thirty years The Turks report that he died a natural death but Antonius Utrius a Genoway who at that time served in Bajazet his Chamber and was present at his death reporteth That upon his dead Body the evident tokens of Poyson were to be seen His dead Body with all his Treasures were presently brought back again to Constantinople and delivered to Selymus who caused the Body of his Father to be with the greatest solemnity that might be buried in a most sumptuous Tomb in a Chappel near unto the great Mahometan Temple which he had before built for himself at Constantinople which Monument there remaineth this day to be seen His Servants were all by Selymus restored to their places which they before held in the Court in the time of their old Master excepting five of the Pages of his Chamber who lamenting the death of their Master above the rest had attired themselves all in mourning Apparel for which cause they were by the commandment of Selymus cast into prison where two of them were put to death the other three at the suit of Solyman Selymus his Son and of other two Bassaes were saved but being stript of their rich Apparel and whatsoever else they had gotten under Bajazet they were inrolled for Common Souldiers under Sullustares Bassa Of these three Antonius Utrius the Genoway before spoken of was one who after ten years miserable Captivity amongst the Turks at last escaped at such time as Selymus was by the Persian discomfited and with much ado returning again into Italy wrote the History of all such things as he himself had there seen with the calamities of Bajazet his House and a great part of the tyrannous Reign of Selymus Haman the false Jew as the same Author reporteth coming to Constantinople and expecting some great reward for his foul Treason by the commandmet of Selymus had his head presently struck off with this exprobration of his Treachery That opportunity serving he would not stick for reward to do the like against Selymus himself Of this Bajazet Ianus Vitalis writeth this Elogium Dum rerum exquiris causas dum procul Hunnes Carmannos Cilices Sauromatasque domas Bajazethe domi proles tua te petit armis Et te per fraudes amovet imperio Adjicit inde novum sceleri scelus tibi miscet Pocula lethiferis illita graminibus Intempestivos crudelis vipera foetus Per sua sic tandem funera rupta parit Quid tutum est cui sint ingentia regna Tyranno Si timant natos progeniemque suam In English thus Whilst that thou Bajazethes seeks of things the hidden cause And fain wouldst bring the Hunne and Russ under thy Turkish Laws Thy Son at home steps up in Arms against thy Royal Crown And by false Treason and Deceit finds means to pluck thee down Whereto he addeth mischief more and straight without delay By Poyson strong in glittering Bowl doth take thy life away The cruel Viper so brings forth her foul untimely Brood Who eat and gnaw her Belly out their first and poisoned Food Which things may Princes hold for safe that do great Kingdoms sway If of their Children they must stand in dread and fear alway Christian Princes of the same time with Bajazet the Second Emperors of
taken from Corcutus all hope of escaping by Sea so that he was fain to hide himself in a Cave near unto the Sea side not far from Smyrna living in hope that after a few days the Fleet would depart and so he should find some opportunity to escape After he had thus a great while in fear most miserably lived with Country Crabs and other like wild Fruit a poor Diet for a man of State and was with extream necessity inforced to send his man for relief to a poor Shephards Cottage thereby he was by a Country Pesant discovered to Cassumes who with too much diligence sought after his life and being by him apprehended was carried towards the Tyrant his Brother at Prusa Right welcome to Selymus was the report of his taking who as soon as he understood that he was within a days journey of Prusa sent one Kirengen-Ogli who of his squint look was called Chior Zeinal to strangle him upon the way and to bring his dead Body to Prusa This Captain coming to Corcutus in the dead time of the night and awaking him out of his sleep told him his heavy Message how that he was sent from his Brother Selymus to see him executed which must as he said presently be done Corcutus exceedingly troubled with these heavy news and fetching a deep sigh desired the Captain so long to spare his life until he might write a few short lines unto his Brother Selymus Which poor request being granted he called for Pen and Paper and readily in Turkish Verse for he had spent all his time in study reproved his Brother of most horrible Cruelty upbraiding him that he had not only most disloyally thrust his Father out of his Empire but also most unnaturally deprived him of Life of whom he had before received the same and not so content had most tyrannously slain his Brothers Children and now like an unmerciful wretch thirsted after the guiltless blood of himself and Achomates his Brethren At last concluding his Letters with many a bitter curse he besought God to take of him just revenge for so much innocent blood by him most unnaturally spilt And when he had thus much written he requested the Captain that it might together with his dead body be delivered unto Selymus So without any further delay he was according to the Tyrants command presently strangled The next day after when the dead body was presented unto Selymus he uncovered the face thereof to be sure that it was he and seeing a Paper in his hand took it from him but when he had read it for all his cruel nature and stony heart he burst out into tears protesting that he was never so much grieved or troubled with any mans death as with his for which cause he commanded general mourning to be made for him in the Court and with Princely solemnity buried his body Three days after he caused fifteen of those diligent searchers who first found Corcutus to have their Heads struck off and their bodies to be flung into the Sea saying That if he were by any extremity driven to fly and hide his Head they would not stick to serve him in like manner as they had done his Brother Now of all the Posterity of Bajazet remained none alive to trouble the cruel Tyrants thoughts but only Achomates and his two Sons who upon the approach of the Spring set forward with his Army from Amasia excited by the often Letters of his Friends who assured him that Selymus might upon the suddain be easily oppressed if he would with all expedition come to Prusa forasmuch as the Janizaries and Europeian Horsemen the undoubted strength of his Army were at that time absent and he himself as one hated both of God and Man could not in so suddain and unexpected danger tell what he were best to do or which way to turn himself wherefore they willed him without delay to hasten his coming and not to expect the milder Weather of the Spring lest in the mean time Selymus should call together his dispersed Forces God they said did oftentimes offer unto men both the opportunity and means to do great matters if they had the power to lay hold thereon and therefore he should do well now by celerity and courage to seek to better his evil Fortune which but a little before had bereft him of his Fathers Kingdom for if Summer were once come on he must either gain the Victory by plain Battel which would be a hard matter or else get him packing out of Cappadocia and all Asia the less Achomates who before had promised unto himself better success as well for the great Strength he had of his own as for the new supply of Horsemen he had procured from Hysmael the Persian King but especially for the hope he had that Selymus generally hated for his late Cruelty should in the time of the Battel be forsaken of his own Souldiers yielded to the perswasions of his Friends who with many pleasing words set before his Eyes glorious things easie to be spoken but hard to be effected Wherefore when he was come into Galatia with somewhat more than fifteen thousand Horsemen having for hast left his Footmen by easie marches to come after him Selymus advertised of his coming by speedy Messengers sent for his Horsemen to Prusa In the mean time whiles he is levying other common Souldiers and expecting the rest of his Forces Fortune which always favoured his attempts did then also avert the danger prepared for him by the unfaithfulness of his Followers and shewed to him the open way to Victory For Achomates secret Friends which were in Selymus his Camp continuing firm in their good will toward him did earnestly by Letters perswade him being already set forward and now come as far as Paphlagonia to make hast and to come before Selymus his Forces were come together for that he had sent for the Janizaries and Europeian Horsemen and did with all speed and diligence make all the preparation he could possibly which for all that would all come too late if he should upon the suddain come upon him before he were provided Which Letters being by chance intercepted gave Selymus certain knowledge both of his Brothers purpose and coming together with the Treason intended against him by his own Servants wherefore executing them who had writ those Letters he in their names caused others to the same effect to be written to Achomates perswading him with all speed possible to come still on and not to stay for his Footmen for that Selymus might easily be oppressed with a few Troops of Horsemen if Achomates would with speed but come and shew himself unto his Friends and Favourites who upon the first signal of Battel would raise a tumult in the Army and upon the suddain kill Selymus unadvisedly going to and fro in the Battel Which Letters so written Selymus caused to be signed with the Seals of them whom he had before
Sultan of Egypt After this Victory Selymus having in short time and with little trouble brought all the lesser Asia under his obeisance and there at his pleasure disposed of all things determined to have returned to Constantinople but understanding that the Plague was hot there he changed his purpose and passing over at Callipolis and so travelling through Grecia came to Hadrianople where he spent all the rest of the Summer and all the Winter following and afterward when the Mortality was ceased returned to Constantinople where it was found that an hundred and threescore thousand had there died of the late Plague Hysmael the Persian King whose Fame had then filled the World hearing of the arrival of Amurat sent for him and demanded of him the cause of his coming The distressed young Prince who but of late had lost his Father together with the hope of so great an Empire and now glad for safegard of his life to fly into strange Countries oppressed with sorrow by his heavy Countenance and abundance of Tears more than by Words expressed the cause of his coming yet in a short strained Speech declared unto him how that his Father his Uncle with the rest of his Cousins all Princes of great Honour had of late been cruelly murthred by the unmerciful Tyrant Selymus who with like fury sought also after the life of himself and his Brother the poor remainders of the Othoman Family who to save their lives were both glad to fly his Brother into Egypt and himself to the Feet of his Imperial Majesty Hysmael moved with compassion and deeming it a thing well beseeming the greatness of his Fame to take the poor exiled Prince into his protection and to give him relief willed him to be of good comfort and promised him Aid And the more to assure him thereof shortly after gave him one of his own Daughters in marriage For it was thought that if Selymus for his Tyranny become odious to the World should by any means miscarry as with Tyrants commonly falleth out that then in the Othoman Family sore shaken with his unnatural Cruelty none was to be preferred before this poor Prince Amurat besides that it was supposed that if he should invade him with an Army out of Persia that upon the first stir all the lesser Asia mourning for the unworthy death of Achomates would at once revolt from him who for his Cruelty and shameful Murthers had worthily deserved to be hated together both of God and Man. Wherefore in the beginning of the Spring Hysmael furnished Amurat his new Son in Law with ten thousand Horsemen willing him to pass over the River Euphrates at Arsenga and to enter into Cappadocia as well to make proof how the People of that Country were affected towards him as of the strength of the Enemy after whom he sent Vasta-Ogli the most famous Chieftain amongst the Persians with twenty thousand Horsemen more with charge That he should still follow Amurat within one days journy and he himself with a far greater power staid behind in Armenia doubting to want Victual if he should have led so great an Army through those vast barren and desolate places whereby he must of necessity pass Amurat marching through the lesser Armenia year 1514. and entring into the Borders of Cappadocia had divers Towns yielded unto him by his Friends some others he took by force which he either sacked or else quite rased and brought such a general fear upon the Inhabitants of that Province that the People submitting themseves unto him all the way as he went it was thought he would have gone directly to Amasia had not Chendemus an old Warlike Captain whom Selymus had left for his Lieutenant in Asia with a great Army come to meet him at Sebastia which at this day is called Sivas This Chendemus had also long before advertised Selymus both of the preparation and coming of the Persians as soon as he had learned by his Espials That they were passed the River Euphrates Upon which news Selymus came presently over into Asia and commanding all his Forces to meet together at Prusa had with wonderful celerity levied thereabout forty thousand common Souldiers Which so soon as Amurat understood as well by such Prisoners as he had taken as by advertisement from his Friends although he was very desirous to have fought with Chendemus yet doubting that if Selymus should with his wonted celerity come against him he should be intangled in the Straits of the Mountain Antitaurus he retired back again to Vasta-Ogli But Selymus who all that year had in his haughty thoughts been plotting some such notable exploit as were worthy his greatness standing in doubt whether he should by Sea and Land invade Hungary the Rhodes or Italy at that time sore shaken with Civil Wars having now so fit an occasion given him by the Persian to the great joy of all Christendom converted himself wholly unto the East and in thirty days march came to Arsenga Where joining his Army with Chendemus when he understood that his Enemies having harried the Country were again retired prickt forward with the grief of the injury and desire of revenge with hope of Victory he resolved to follow after them foot by foot and forthwith to enter into Armenia the greater the principal Province of the Persian Kingdom But the difficulties of this notable expedition which were in Counsel propounded by them which had best knowledg of those Countries were great and many all which by his own good hap and invincible courage he himself afterwards overcame for the Souldiers which had in short time already marched by Land out of Illyria Epirus and Macedonia into Cappadocia must of necessity in this long expedition take upon them new labors they were to endure the sharp and pinching cold of the huge Mountain Taurus and by and by after the most vehement and and scortching heat in the Plains of Armenia the lesser with extream Thirst Hunger and most desperate want of all things and well the more for that the Persians in their Retreat spoiling the Country as they went had utterly destroyed all that might serve for the use of man of purpose to leave nothing to their Enemies but want of all things if they should pursue them besides that his most expert Captains stood in no small doubt of the petty Princes of Armenia the less and the Mountain King Aladeules whom they were to leave behind them at their backs without any great assurance of their Frindship who they well knew would leave them if any thing should happen otherwise than well to Selymus either in the Battel or for want of Victuals or in the strait passages For they were to be relieved with Victuals from the Armenians and Aladeules Forces then in readiness were neither for number nor power to be contemned who also with Castles commodiously placed and strong Garrisons at his pleasure commanded all the straits passages and entrances which led out of
strangled him with a Rope and that he might be the better seen and become more contemptible to all that passed that way they hanged him up by the neck upon an Iron Hook in an Arch of the same Gate and so left him to the worlds wonder Palearius propounding him as a mirror both of the better and worse fortune for all men to look upon aptly describeth both his happiness and misery in these few Verses following Non fuit in toto Rex aeque Oriente beatus Nec magis in toto Rex Oriente miser Quam dolor Egypti olim Tomombeius auro Ingenti atque armis ditione potens Captus ab hoste fero miserum simul atque beatum Exemplo potis est commonuisse suo Quid rides temere quid fles vis te cohibere Et natum post hac te meminisse hominem Mi traheum induto gemmis auroque corona Cingebat fulgens diadema caput Mi quandam ornabant pretiosa monilia collum Nunc fractam vili respice fune gulam In English thus In all the East a King more blest was no where to be found Nor in the East one more accurst liv'd not upon the ground Than Tomombeius Egypts grief sometime for store of gold Of power great for Martial Force and Kingdom he did hold But taken by his cruel Foe may good example be Both to the happy and distrest of mans uncertainty Why do'st thou fondly laugh Why do'st thou vainly cry Canst thou from henceforth stay thy self and think th' art born to die My Garments were the Royal Robes I wore the Crown of Gold With richest Stones most richly set most glorious to behold My neck adorn'd with richest Gems which I did sometimes wear But now trust up in shameful Rope behold me hanging here This misery befel Tomombeius the thirteenth of April in the year 1517 upon the Monday in Easter Week There were many which shed tears to behold that so cruel and lamentable a spectacle who by their woful countenance and pitiful lamentation seemed to detest that foul and unworthy death of their late Sultan notwithstanding that the Janizaries reproved them therefore and threatned them with death who like giddy braind Fools as they termed them enured to the slavery of the Mamalukes joyfully and thankfully accepted not of their deliverance for the Egyptians were as yet uncertain of their Estate and therefore as men in suspence not without cause stood in doubt what should become of themselves fearing lest the Turks a warlike Nation and a terror to all the Princes of Europe and Asia nothing more courteous than the Mamalukes should with no less insolency rage and tyrannize over them under their warlike and cruel Emperor Besides that the woful sight of Tomombeius hanging in the Gate as the unworworthy scorn of Fortune wonderfully wounded their hearts for why it was yet fresh in their remembrance that he with the good liking of all men and general favour of the Nobility with good fame rose up all the degrees of Honour both in Field and Court unto the height of Regal Dignity and therefore grieved the more to see him by inevitable Destiny cast down headlong so shamefully to end his Life and Empire together A notable spectacle undoubtedly amongst the rarest examples of worldly fragility both to the happy and unfortunate the one not to be too proud or too much to flatter themselves in their greatest bliss and the other to learn thereby with patience to indure the heavy and unworthy changes and chances of this wretched and miserable world And so much the more did Tomombeius so hanging move men to compassion for that the Majesty of his tall and strong body and reverend countenance with his long and hoary Beard well agreed with his imperial Dignity and Martial disposition The same fortune with Tomombeius ran also divers of the Princes of the Mamalukes with some others of the common sort also Tomombeius thus taken out of the way and all the Mamalukes almost slain and no power of the Enemy to be heard of in all Egypt to renew the War Selymus dividing his Forces sent them forth with his Captains to take in the Countries and Provinces of Egypt lying further off They of Alexandria after the battel of Caire having thrust out the Garrison and easily surprised the Castle of Pharus which the weak defendants chose rather upon hope of present reward to deliver than with doubtful event to defend yielded themselves many daies before unto the Turks Damiata also called in ancient time Pelusium opened their Gates and submitted themselves to the Victors There was no City betwixt the River of Nilus and the Borders of Iudea and Arabia which yielded not to the obedience of Selymus The Kings also of Africk bordering upon Cyrenaica Tributaries or Confederates of the Egyptian Sultans sent their Embassadors with Presents to Selymus There remained now none but the wild Arabians a People never to be tamed and especially they of Africk who having lost many of their Friends and Kinsmen in aiding Tomombeius would not as it was thought submit themselves unto the Turkish obedience This wandering king of People living for most part by Theft had filled the Countries from Euphrates where it runneth by the Palmyrens with all the inner parts of Egypt and Africk unto the Atlantick Sea with huge multitudes of men and being divided into many Companies under divers Leaders have no certain dwelling places but live an hard and frugal kind of life in Tents and Waggons after the manner of the Tartars their greatest Wealth is a good serviceable Horse with a Launce or a bundle of Darts they were alway at discord and variance amongst themselves by reason whereof they could never agree for the expulsing of the Mamalukes who otherwise had not been able to have stood against them if they should have joyned their Forces together So that the late Egyptian Sultans seemed to hold their State and Empire among so populous a Nation rather by their discord than their own strength wherefore Selymus having now by fit men upon his Faith before given allured many of their Chieftains and greatest Commanders to Caire honourably both entertained and rewarded them By whose example others moved came also in dayly and having received their rewards gave the Oath of their Allegeance to Selymus Others which could by no fair promises or words be won being cunningly intercepted by other Captains and delivered to Selymus indured the pains of their vain obstinacy and malice The other remote Nations toward Aethiopia as they had in former time rather acknowledge the friendship than the command of the Egyptian Sultans so now induced with the fame of the Victory easily joyned in like amity with the Turk About the same time Selymus sent certain Troops of Horsemen to Suezzia a Port of the Red Sea of old called Arsinoe about three days journey from Caire in which Port Campson the great Sultan a little before the coming of the
and thirty Paces hindred by the Blocks we have laid in his way and will not cease continually to lay if we be wise Men and mindful of our former Valour Destroy me you heavenly Powers before I see with these Eies these sacred Knights to yield up this famous City of the Rhodes the ancient Bulwark of Christian Religion unto our merciless Enemies polluted with the infamous Superstition of Mahomet who besides the insatiable thirst they have of our Blood how faithless and mischievous they are by Nature if we know not we need not make example of our selves but we may take example by the calamity of Constantinople the late misery of Euboea and that which later was of Methone as also by the Mamalukes at Caire miserably slain contrary to the League contrary to the Faith and Promise by the Turkish Emperor himself before given What do you â—ot remember how the Death of the most noble Captains at Belgrade was of late procured by the falshood craft and deceit of the same faithless Miscreants Let us then being Men of Wit and Understanding trust these mad Beasts let us give our selves into their power which hâ—ve no regard of right or reason of Religion or any thing else whose Covetousness and Cruelty it is hard to say which it greater which for these many years have plotted and laboured nothing more than how by policy or force they may utterly root out the Name of the Rhodians which they so deadly hate They keep us shut up and besieged now the sixth Month feeling together with us extream dangers and endless labour slain by heaps before our Walls and Fortresses and cannot be removed hence with Thunder Lightning Storms Tempâ—sts and all the Calamities of Winter a time which giveth intermission to all War both by Sea and Land so desirous they are of Revenge and greedy of our Blood and that not altogether without cause for we have also shed theirs and gladly would still so do if it lay in our power But seeing it seemeth good unto God otherwise and that we are surprized with inevitable necâ—ssity yet let us whilst we are at liberty and have power our selves by honourable death amongst the Christian Ensigns eschew the Torments and Reproaches which our cruel Enemies hope to inflict upon us so shall we enjoy eternal Fame and Glory prepared both in Heaven and Earth for such as honourably die in defence of their Prince and Country which Honour it becometh not them to envy unto thy most noble Name and Vertue worthy Grand Master which having for many years enjoyed the commodity and profit of Peace and greatly enriched by Bounty of this sacred Military Order refuse now to bear this last burden of War. At these words an ancient Greek for his Wisdom and Discretion of great Reputation both with the Greeks and Latins perceiving his Countrymen wrongfully touched and the desperate holding out of the City vainly perswaded took hold and interrupting this young Gallant in answer of that he had said spake as followeth That grief of mind and desperation can make Men rather Eloquent than Wise as you have many times heard before this so you might this day perceive also most valiant Gentlemen for advised modesty never falleth into obloquy neither confoundeth falshood with truth it desireth not the slaughter of the Citizens it perswadeth not fury nor exhorteth Men to madness but it is by nature so engraffed in many that when they cannot by their own Wisdom and Policy deliver themselves from their troubles they yet seek to draw others into the fellowship of the same danger so greedy have malice and misery always been of company But if you worthy Commander will give me also leave to speak a Man amongst his Countrymen not of meanest Place and Authority which thing both the present Calamity and urgent Necessity might of you easily obtain I would alledge such reasons and lay down such matter as should not only refel the copious and glorious words of this sharp witted Orator scrap'd together of purpose to flourish out the matter but also such as might stir your mind to that which is honest profitable and necessary expulsing hatred fear trouble or despair This Gentleman whom we all know not only to be a vehement Orator but somtime a Man most terrible whereas for all his great words he is by nature mild and so mild that he never had the heart to kill nay not so much as lightly to wound any one of them whom he calleth barbarous mad cruel whose perfidious dealing he detesteth whose cruelty he accurseth whose manner of living he exclaimeth against as altogether without Law without Reason without Order without Regard and now in time of Truce and whilst the Showers of Arrows Iron Bullets Fire and Stones doth cease creeping out of his Cave maketh much ado and keepeth a great stir and not knowing in what danger he is doth now with glorious words call upon death whereof he hath hitherto shewed himself too much afraid and all forsooth as he said lest he should be enforced to endure the mocking and scorning of the Enemy But this is meer Pride not Christian Fortitude or Humility But our Enemy neither threatneth nor purposeth any such matter nothing so perfidious or cruel as he would make him rubbing up the slaughter at Caire Euboea Methone and Constantinople Cities taken either by Force or warlike Policy and not yielded by composition upon faith given betwixt the besieger and the besieged who because he would spare us will not suffer us to do that whereby we should undoubtedly perish But whereof proceedeth this new found Clemency This unwonted favour toward the People of the Rhodes I am not of the Tyrants Privy-Counsel neither ever curiously sought after the reason of another Mans Bounty but am glad to receive it when I need it Yet for all that I will not dissemble w hat I think in a matter so doubtful he is willing as I suppose in this Siege and Conquest of the Rhodes to shew unto other Nations whom he purposed to invade both his Power and his Patience lest always satisfying his cruel Nature he should make desolation in places he would Reign over and so for ever alienating the Minds of Men he inforced to fight with all Men with Fire and Sword by which Rigour he hath not so much hurt his Enemy as himself For this cause as I suppose he leaveth unto us life and goods lâ—st whilst he in going about to take them from us by force and we seeking to keep them by desperatness we should both fall into great destruction no less lamentable unto the Conqueror than to the vanquished Besides that if he should kill all here truly he might then enter the Breaches of the City on the Bodies of the dead no Men now left alive to resist him But Lerus is shut up Arangia is strongly Fortified Lyndus is by Situation impregnable here he knoweth are Weapons Armor and Men here he must begin
Army was to pass and so to gaul them in their passage and when they could keep the place no longer to flie back to another and so from place to place and in the open places he had his Troops of light Horsemen which were ever busie in one place or another of the Army By which means the Christians in their March received much harm which grieved them the more for that no great power of the Turks was any where to be seen together but stragling Companies which as they were commanded sometime would come on with a fierce charge and by and by retire again and with their Arrows and Falcon Shot from places of advantage assail them At one of these Straits somewhat bigger than the rest Paulus Bachitius one of the Hungarian Captains in whom the Souldiers generally reposed their greatest trust was slain with a Faulcon Shot with divers other of the valiant Hungarians who seeing there a greater number of the Turks than they had seen in other places thought to have done some good service upon them his death brought a general fear upon the whole Army forasmuch as both then and at other times without him they never had any good success against the Turks Yet in that skirmish the Hungarians to revenge the death of their Captain did with such force repulse the Enemy that they caused him after he had lost many of his men to run away and leave his small Field-Pieces behind him But such was was the weakness or cowardise of the Christian Footmen and the agility of the Turks especially the Janizaries that they with their shot out of the Woods staid the Hungarian Horsemen from the pursuit of their Fellows and recovered their small Field-Pieces before they could be carried away by the Christian Footmen wherewith they did again forerun the Army and still trouble it as before The Christians beset with these dangers and almost spent for want of Victual seeing no means to relieve their weak Bodies nor any hope to comfort their fainting Spirits did generally fear some extream calamity to ensue and so much the more for that it was reported that Mahometes still expected fresh supplies from Belgrade Samandria and Nicopolis and many of the Hungarian light Horsemen stole away from them as careful of their own safety neither did they see any comfort in the dismaid Captains who at other times were wont with chearful and couragious words to relieve the Souldiers if they saw them any thing discouraged But when they were come into a fair open Field near unto a Town called Gara they were advertised That the Enemy had in the Woods before them whereby they were to pass cut down great Trees cross the waies so that neither their great Ordnance nor Waggons nor yet their Horsemen could possibly pass that way but that they must needs break their order This once bruted through the Army filled them with all heaviness and desperation and so much the more for that Ladislaus Moreus and others which knew the Country well said there was but two ways to escape the one through the Woods about ten miles space to Walpo which by reason of the Trees cut down cross the ways by the Turks was not to be passed but they must needs leave behind them their great Ordnance and Carriages the other towards the Castle of Zenthuerzebeth which was in Ladislaus Moreus his Country certain miles distant from Gara by taking of which way the Enemy by reason of the straightness of the passage must of necessity be inforced to give over his pursuit Yet for all that it was in Counsel resolved upon to take the way through the Woods of Walpo for that there was Victual enough and in the Castle of Walpo was kept Mony sent from King Ferdinand sufficient to pay the Souldiers for all that Winter And so leaving the great Ordnance behind them and burning the Powder and whatsoever else could not well be carried on Horseback to set forward with all speed As for the Trees they said they would be well enough removed and the way opened by the Pioniers and Waggoners wherefore every Captain was commanded to have his Souldiers in readiness to set forward upon the sign given which was by the sound of a Shalm or Hoboy which when it should be given was referred to the discretion of the General There were many which wonderfully disliked of this resolution and said openly that the Enemy was fewer in number than their Horsemen and pinched almost with like want of Victual besides that the Turks durst never in just Fight encounter with the Christian men at Arms but like Theeves assail them upon a suddain at some advantage and by and by be gone again and that the Town of Gara where the Enemy lay encamped was not so strong but that iâ— might be won wherefore all things were to be proved and some great matter to be attempted of valiant men pinched with wants for that to run away would not only be a dishonour unto the Captains themselves who ought always to prefer their honour before their Lives but also dangerous unto them which respected nothing but Life And if they should set forward in the night many would be lost in the Woods and Valor in the dark could not be known from Cowardise besides that the Turks as they said lay so nigh that it was not possible to depart without their knowledge especially if they should burn the Powder or break their great Ordnance For which causes they thought it better to fight a Battel with them and not to believe the false reports of new Supplies come unto them and that God would undoubtedly give them aid which were ready to lay down their Lives for their Religion and Glory of the Christian Name After all this they began to consult what was now to be done with the sick and wounded Souldiers which were before carried in Waggons or among other Baggage of the Army for it was like that so great a multitude of sick and wounded men understanding what was decreed concerning the departure of the Army would as miserable forsaken men fill the Camp with lamentation and mourning which it was thought would be also increased by the weeping and wailing of them which should never afterwards see their Brethren Kinsmen Fellows or Friends so miserably and shamefully left behind and forsaken the noise whereof must needs come to the ears of the Turks which lay within a small Gun-shot Wherefore it was determined that these sick and wounded Souldiers should be carried upon the Waggon and Cart-Horses and that such as were not able to stay themselves should be holden up by other of more strength riding behind them upon the Buttocks of the Horse In fine to colour the matter they which were so desirous to go said that this their manner of departure grounded upon good reason was not to be accounted a shameful Flight as some would term it but a right honest and necessary manner of
to Medices the Admiral to be conveied up the River to Vienna Liscanus at the time of his apprehension most covetously and uncourteously took from him his Chain and a rich Cloak lined with Sables which indignity done to so noble a Gentleman so much offended the minds of the rest of the Hungarians that above twelve thousand of them thereupon presently returned home to their own dwellings cursing the Germans to the Divel This Perenus was one of the greatest Peers of Hungary but of a most haughty and magnificent mind so that he would sometime have almost a hundred goodly spare Horses fit for service led before him without their Riders and would sometime speak too liberally against the bareness of King Ferdinands Court who polled by his Courtiers hardly maintained his State which his surpassing magnificence and princely Port was cause enough for the other great Courtiers to envy at his Estate and to seek his overthrow who as Men overcharged with the burthen of another Mans vertue whereof they never bore the least part and always gaining by the depraving of other Mens perfection conspired together his overthrow and oftentimes pointing at him with their fingers would say That he favoured of a Crown This notable Man as he had many worthy Vertues so was he not without cause noted of ambition and unconstancy for after that King Lewis was lost he disdaining the preferment of Iohn the Vayvod to the Kingdom of Hungary took part with King Ferdinand against him in hope as it was thought to be next in honour unto himself but after he saw King Iohn again restored and his State strongly supported by Solyman and that all things stood doubtful and fickle with Ferdinand he with like levity sought means by Abraham the great Bassa to be reconciled to King Iohn which was hardly obtained of him by the intercession of Solyman himself as is before declared to whom he gave his Son as a Pledge of his Fidelity After which time he lived in great Honour and Loyalty all the Reign of King Iohn but after he was dead and saw George the Bishop the Kings Tutor doing what he list to reign like a King he disdained his Government and solicited by King Ferdinand revolted again unto him and furthered him in what he could for the obtaining of the Kingdom But now falling into the envy of the Court Malice found out matter enough to work his confusion First it was given out That his Son who had many years been detained in Solymans Court as a Pledge of his Fathers Faith was even then under the colour of a fained escape come into Transylvania when as he had secretly agreed with Solyman that his Father being a Man much favoured of the People should by promising them all possible Freedom allure them to the Turkish subjection in reward of which good service he should be made Governour of the Kingdom of Hungary and put in hope also to be made the Tributary King thereof if it should fortune the young King to die Besides that it was accounted a thing very suspicious that he had the Winter before used great kindness and friendship toward the Turkish Captains by sending them great Presents and receiving the like again And last of all his Letters directed to certain Hungarian Captains were produced wherein he seemed to promise them as his Friends and Followers greater entertainment than agreed with his present Estate All which things King Ferdinand of his own disposition not easily to be perswaded to conceive evil of the Germans his Countrymen were it never so apparent or true but of Strangers any thing quickly believed and therefore caused him as is before said to be apprehended But Perenus as he was brought by Medices the Admiral to Vienna when he was come near unto the Gate of the City and heard that Philippus Torniellus with certain other brave Captains of his acquaintance were come to meet the Admiral he requested that the close Coach wherein he rid might be opened and that he might have leave to speak to those noble and valiant Gentlemen Which thing was easily granted for that the Nobility and approved valour of the Man seemed unto them which had the charge of him unworthy of such restraint of liberty or imprisonment yea or of the least suspicion thereof So he turning himself towards them spake unto them in this sort Wretched I noble Gentlemen said he whom despightful envy hath circumvented guiltless but much more miserable King Ferdinand whom domestical Thieves bereave of Substance of Friends and Honour all at once For so it cometh to pass that by this inconsiderate wrong done unto me he shall utterly lose the love and fidelity of the Hungarian Nation and may therefore for ever not without cause despair for the obtaining of the Kingdom of Hungary sithence that it is not lawful for me inferiour to nâ—â—e of my Nation in Birth and having for my good and faithful service well deserved râ—ward of a just King so much as to rejoyce for the deliverance of my Son from the Captivity of the Turks but that by my sinister fortune dreadful death in stead of incomparable joy must be presented to mine Eies For will these malicious Pick-thanks guilty of thâ—ir own Cowardise the wicked Contrivers and Witnesses of my wrongful Accusation spare me being laid fast and indurance which never spared the Kings Honour For every Man of what Nobility soever be he never so guiltless when he is once in hold must be content to endure not what he hath deserved but what his hard fortune assigneth Yet my upright mind and clear conscience which thing only God the most just Iudge leaveth as a comfort to Men in misery wrongfully accused delivered me of this care and so will the Marquess our General to whom I before upon a mistrust foretold that such a danger would shortly befal me and that I had rather be slain guiltless than to withdraw my self from Trial which thing I told him at such a time as I was so guarded with mine own strength that I feared no Mans force I beseech you do me this honourable favour as to request King Ferdinand in my behalf quickly and honourably to proceed to the Trial of my Cause and according to his own princely disposition and the will of others to discern betwixt his faithful Friends and fained Flatterers Truly we are too too unfortunate Captains if for a little evil success we shall be so adjudged as Men that had overthrown their Fortune Cazzianer peradventure received the just punishment he had deserved for the shameful forsaking and losing of the Army at Exek when as he possessed with an uncouth fear forgot the duty of a General more afraid of death than dishonour for when he had voluntarily committed himself to safe custody he was so generally condemned of Cowardise that despairing to defend his Cause he brake Prison and as wickedly as unfortunately revolted to the Turks But neither was I
began to grow doubtful of his own safety for that they being but few although Men of good worth were to withstand the infinite number of such Enemies as oftentimes used most desperately to expose their lives to all manner of dangers This their fear was also encreased by the coming of certain Messengers from Solyman who understanding of what Nations the Garrison consisted sent unto the City three of his own Guard one a Spaniard another an Italian and the third a German all Renegate Christians that every one of them might without an Interpreter speak unto their Countrymen in their own Language These Men admitted into the City offered great rewards and large entertainment in the Name of Solyman to such as would in time yield denouncing all torture and extremities unto them which should endure the summons of the Cannon Whereunto it was answered by the Captains That those faithful and valiant Souldiers who had reposed their last hopes in their Arms were neither to be won by gifts nor terrified with threats With which answer the Messenger returned and the same day the Turks great Ordnance were planted upon the Hill before the Gate of the City and the weakest parts of the Walls round about the City so well pickt out by the Turks to be assaulted as that they could not more skilfully or commodiously have been chosen out of them which had within most diligently viewed every thing so that it is to be thought that the Christians wanted not only Fortune against the Turks but also Faith amongst themselves Salamanca distrusting the Fortifications of the Suburbs retired into the City contrary to that he had before vainly boasted Achomates General of the European Horsemen laid siege to that part of the Wall which was next to the Bishops Gardens Ulamas the Persian besieged the Tower near unto the Gate towards Buda The Asapi or common Souldiers were by their Captains brought on to dig Trenches and cast up Mounts as was thought most convenient It is incredible to be spoken with what fury the great Ordnance were discharged without ceasing insomuch that the Tower with a great part of the Wall near unto it shaken with continual Battery fell down with such violence as if all had been shaken with a most terrible Earthquake neither was any Man able to stand upon the Walls but that the Janizaries with their Harquebusies out of their Trenches and from their Mounts would most certainly fetch him off and many which stood within farther off were with the Turks Arrows falling from high as if it had been out of the Air grievously wounded But that which most troubled the Defendants and did them greatest harm was the Stones which beaten in sunder with the great Shot and not to be avoided did with their Pieces kill or maim the Souldiers near hand With which dangers they were enforced to forsake the uttermost Wall and to cast up new Fortifications within that they might with less danger defend the place Neither in the Enemy wanted courage to assail the Breach thrice they desperately attempted to have entred and were always with loss repulsed In which assaults amongst others Bultaces Sanzack of Selymbria and a Man of great account among the Turks was lost Whilst the Defendants were thus busied many of the Souldiers and Mariners which came up the River with all things necessary for the Army from Buda went on shore and lay in the Suburbs of the City in such security as if there had been no Enemy nigh which thing they in the City perceiving suddainly sallied out upon them fearing no such matter and slew many of them before they could arm themselves and drave the rest of their Fleet so that betwixt fighting and flying there was about two hundred of them slain Zimar a Persian Admiral of the Fleet in rescuing of them which to save their lives fled unto the River was shot through with a small Shot and slain Whilst these things were in doing and the Turks having in many places sore shaken the Wall did with greater force daily assail the City and the Defendants with their continual loss and out of all hope of relief were more and more discouraged an old Calabrian Engineer which had long time served King Ferdinand fled out of the City to the Turks who being courteously entertained by Solyman and examined by the Bassaes of many things concerning the strength and state of the City satisfied them in all that they desired and further directed them in planting their Batteries in places most convenient for the speedy taking of the Town In the mean time whilst the Turks were with restless labour battering the Walls and working in their Mines it fortuned that a gilt brazen Cross which stood upon the top of the Steeple of the Cathedral Church was by the continual shooting of the Turks thereat at length beaten down at the sight whereof it is reported that Solyman after the superstitious manner of that Nation taking the chance as a token of good luck cried out presently Strigonium is won Liscanus and Salamanca fearfully consulting of the event of the Siege and secretly conferring together resolved to save themselves and to give up the Town Liscanus was no great Souldier and yet by continual spoil grown exceeding rich and therefore thought it but folly to buy the Name of a resolute Captain at too dear a price with the loss of his Life and Wealth The like feeling was also in Salamanca who preferred the safety of himself and of that which he had got in long service before all credit and honour were it never so great This their purpose was not kept so secret but that it was noised abroad amongst the common Souldiers of whom almost the third part was now either slain or with wounds or sickness grown weak yet were they all of opinion generally that they were still strong enough to defend the Town But the under Captains and Antients using to flatter their Generals liked well of the motion to yield unto Solyman upon reasonable conditions rather than to expose themselves to most certain death which should nothing better King Ferdinands cause Not long after an Antient was by night let down over the Wall and having by an Interpreter received the Turks Faith called forth Salamanca that he might upon better conditions go through with them for the yielding up of the Town Who without further delay coming out went to Achomates before he went commanding them which defended the Water Tower next to the River side a place of great danger for safegard of their lives to get them into the City who terrified with that news and hastily retiring were by the vigilant Turks which lay at the siege thereof perceived who suddainly breaking in slew such as were not yet gone and possessed the Castle But Salamanca being brought before the great Bassaes when he had stood upon many nice terms and required many things to have been granted him obtained no more but
yet had nor never shall I will therefore my self provide that thou nor none for thee shall ever hereafter in such sort shamefully triumph over a poor crooked Wretch And having thus much said stab'd himself with his own Dagger into the Body whereof he in short time died Which so soon as it came to the old Tygers Ears it is hard to say how much he grieved His dead Body was by his Fathers commandment carried from Aleppo in Syria to Constantinople and afterwards honourably buried on the other side of the Haven at Pera. For all this bloody Tragedy his covetous mind was not so troubled but that he could forthwith command all Mustapha's Treasures and Riches to be brought to his Tent which his Souldiers in hope to have the same given among them for a Prey willingly hasted to perform In the mean time the Souldiers which were in Mustapha's Camp not knowing what was become of their Master seeing such a multitude of Souldiers thrusting into their Camp without all order to repress their tumultuous insolency stept out in their Armor and notably repulsed them not without much Bloodshed At length the noise of this stir was heard by the rest of the Kings Souldiers who seeing the Tumult to increase more and more ran in to help their Fellows so that in short time there began a hot skirmish and cruel fight on both sides insomuch that two thousand were slain and more wounded neither had the broil so ended had not Achomat Bassa a grave Captain and for his long experience of no small Authority amongst the Souldiers kept back the Janizaries and staid their fury and turning likewise to Mustapha's Souldiers by gentle and mild words and courteous perswasions in this manner appeased their rage What my Brethren said he will you now degenerating from your ancient Loyalty for which you have been for so many Ages commended impugn the command of the great Sultan our dread Sovereign Truly I cannot sufficiently marvel what thing should move you whom I have hitherto proved to have been most worthy and valiant Souldiers in this civil conflict to draw those Weapons against your Fellows and Brethren which you have most fortunately used against the Enemies of the Othoman Kings except you mean thereby to make your selves a joyful spectacle unto your Enemies who grieving to see themselves overcome by your Victorious Weapons may yet rejoice among themselves to see you turn the same one upon another Wherefore my Sons for your ancient honours sake be careful that you do not by this your insolency lose the reputation of your Wisdom Loyalty and Valor for which you have hitherto been above all others commended reserve these your Weapons which you have now too too much used among your Fellows against your Enemies of whom you may get more Praise and Honour This Speech of the old Bassa so mollified the stout Souldiers that they freely permitted all that was in Mustapha's Tents to be carried to Solymanâ— but so soon as the death of Mustapha was blown into the Ears of the Janizaries and the rest of the Army in Solymans Camp another Tumult rose among them worse than the first They were quickly all up in Arms again and with a great noise confused with Tears and Lamentation as they were in rage and fury brake violently into Solymans Pavillion with their drawn Swords which struck the Tyrant into such a fear that destitute of all Counsel in himself he was about with the extream peril of his life to have fled but being holden by his Friends and making a Vertue of Necessity upon the suddain adventured to do that which at better leisure he would scarcely have thought upon for going forth out of his Tent but with a pale and wan Countenance he spake unto the enraged Souldiers thus What Broil is this what Stir what so great Insolency what mean your inflamed fierce and angry Looks know you not your Sovereign and him that hath power to command you Have you so resolved to stain the ancient and invincible honour of your selves and your Ancestors with the Blood of your Lord and Emperor Whilst he was yet thus speaking the Souldiers boldly answered That they denied not but that he was the Man whom they many years before had chosen for their Emperor but in that they had by their own Valour got for him a large and mighty Empire and in like manner preserved it that was therefore of them done that he should for the same govern them vertuously and justly and not to lay his bloody hands without discretion upon every just Man and most wickedly embrue himself with innocent Blood and that they came thither armed they did it as they said moved with just cause to revenge the unworthy death of guiltless Mustapha and that for that matter he had no just cause to be angry with them Wherefore they required that they might publickly clear themselves of the Treason whereof they were accused by Mustapha's Enemies and that the Accuser might be brought forth to justifie his Accusation protesting that they would never lay down their Weapons until the Accuser made his appearance in Jugdment and commenced his Accusation judicially upon pain to endure the like punishment if he failed in proof Whilst these things were in doing the hainousness of the late committed fact caused every Man to shed Tears so that Solyman himself seemed to be sorry for the Murther so lately by himself committed wherefore he promised unto the Souldiers whatsoever they required and did what he could to appease their angry minds For all that they in the mean time lest he should craftily slip away and deceive them of that he had promised and of the expectation of such things as they had required with a marvellous care and diligence all kept Watch and Ward Solyman to appease this fury of the Janizaries deprived Rustan Bassa of all his Honours and took from him his Seal whereof he had the keeping and delivered it to Achomates Bassa But Rustan worthily strucken with fear and horror seeing himself now in no safety in his own Tents fled secretly to Achomates asking his Counsel what were best for him to do and what Course to take in so doubtful and dangerous a case To whom the Bassa answered that it were best for him to use the great Emperors advice and to do what he commanded Which answer well satisfied Rustan and so he which of late gave other Men access unto the Emperor at his pleasure was now glad by his old Acquaintance and Friends to prefer this poor suit To know his pleasure what he would have him to do from whom he received this answer That he should incontinently without further delay get him out of his sight and out of the Camp which the Bassa said he could not conveniently do being by his displeasure and the Souldiers rage disfurnished of all things necessary for his departure Whereunto Solyman sent him answer
secret commiseration of his inevitable Destiny or that he had by Loyalty or other means so won her Favour is not known but every Man saw that if it had lien in her Power she would undoubtedly have preferred him before his elder Brother Selymus and have placed him in the Empire but she must needs give way to her old Husbands Will firmly and irremovably set down that the Destinies so permitting none should reign after him but his eldest Son Selymus Of which his purpose and resolution Bajazet being not ignorant began most circumspectly to look about about him if he could by any means frustrate that forcible necessity and exchange his certain destruction with an Empire in which his deep and dangerous cogitations he was not a little comforted by the favour and love of Roxolana his Mother and of Rustan the great Bassa his Brother in Law who together had in any other matter been able to have overruled the aged Emperor Whereupon he resolutely set down himself rather to end his days by making proof of good or bad Fortune than upon the death of his Father which by Course of Nature could not now be far off to be as a Sacrifice basely butchered by some vile Hangman of his Brothers Bajazet so resolved and now already fallen out with his Brother Selymus took occasion upon the general discontentment of the People and others for the unworthy death of Mustapha their late joy to begin those stirs which he had before with himself plotted and so to make a Head whereunto he might afterward join the Body also for why that worthy Mustapha had left behind him so great desire of himself that now it wearied many to live after him they had so placed all the hope of their good Fortune in him unto whom nothing was more desired than to revenge the wrong done unto him or else to run the same hard Fortune with him othersome guilty of the immoderate Affection they had born unto him yet living and fearing to be called to give an account thereof thought any state better and more assured than that wherein they presently stood and therefore sought all occasions of new stirs how to set all in an hurly burly only a Captain was wanting Mustapha could not again be revived yet might he be strongly supposed to live This device pleased Bajazet as best fitting his purpose being not ignorant of this disposition of the People Wherefore by certain of his most faithful and trusty Followers he found out a certain obscure Fellow of a notable audacity which should take upon him the Name and Person of Mustapha whose Stature also and Countenance and Proportion of Body differed not much from Mustapha himself he as if he had by chance escaped first began to shew himself in that part of Thracia which is above Constantinople and lieth toward Danubius not far from the Countries of Moldavia and Valachia and was for that cause both fittest for Rebellion and also best stored with Horsemen who of all others most honoured Mustapha Hither he comes as if it had been from a long journey slenderly accompanied and as if he had been desirous at the first not to have been known his Followers being demanded as it chanced who it was did rather fearfully give them that asked occasion to ghess than plainly to tell them that it was Mustapha neither did he himself much deny it whereby the People became more and more desirous to know him Which beginning thus laid he afterward began to rejoyce of his fortunate coming thither and to give God thanks for his safe arrival there amongst his Friends he tells them That at such time as he was sent for by his Father he durst not come into his sight or commit himself unto him in his Fury but by the counsel of his Friends to have with great promises perswaded one that was marvellous like unto himself to go in his stead by whose danger he might make proof of his Fathers mind towards him who before he was admitted to the speech of his Father was without hearing miserably strangled and so cast out before his Pavilion at which time there were many as he said which perceived the deceit but the greater part remained in error deceived with the Lineaments and Countenance of the miserable dead Man who was much altered with the terrible pains of death and supposing it to have been him indeed that was slain Which thing as soon as he understood he thought it not good longer to stay but presently to flie and to provide for his own safety and so flying with a few of his own Followers thereby the more secretly and safely to escape and having passed above Pontus by the People of Bosphorus was now come thither where he was in good hope to find much help and comfort in the Fidelity of his Friends whom he requested not now to forsake him or to make less account of him disgraced by the malice of his Step-Mother than they had before in time of his Prosperity For that he was aminded to revenge the injury done unto him and by force of Arms to defend himself for what else had he now left being by no other means preserved but by the death of another Man that he had sufficiently proved how his Father stood affected towards him and that he now lived by his mistaking not by his Kindness The cause of all which his troubles was his Stepdame who as he said with her inchantments led the silly old Man now almost doating for Age and mad for love whither she would at her pleasure and by her Agent Rustan Bassa forced him forward headlong into all kind of mischief but that God be thanked he wanted not his Friends by whose help he would find a way out of these miseries and take revenge of his Enemies for why he had as yet couragious Hearts and the Janizaries with the greater part of his Fathers Family on his side and that great multitudes of People would flock unto him upon brute of his Name so that they which did now mourn for him as dead in number many would by heaps run to help him being alive so that they there present would only courteously receive him as a Guest and protect him now distressed till such time as his welwillers and Friends might repair unto him And this at last he gave out not in secret but openly to all Men wheresoever he came The same things did they also report whom he made the People to believe to have been the Companions of his Flight which was also confirmed by divers of good Account and Authority whom Bajazet had before dealt withal to that purpose So that a great number of Men altogether unknown to Bajazet were by that means seduced for this matter was so cunningly wrought that many of them that had known Mustapha alive and seen him laid dead before his Fathers Pavilion yet listed not greatly to believe that which they knew but easily suffered
they had been Feasants or Partridges his Drink was the common Drink of all living Creatures even fair Water By which frugal kind of Diet they provide both for the health of their Bodies and the sparing of their Purse and that I marvelled the more at it was the time that their great Fast or to speak after our fashion their Lent was at hand at which time with us Christians even in well ordered Cities much more in Camps all Rings with Playing Dancing Singing Crying Quaffing Carousing and in brief with Madding and Phrensie So that it is not vainly reported That a Turk sent about that time Embassador into Germany coming home reported That the Christians on certain days did riot and became mad until they besprinkled with a certain kind of Ashes in the Church came to themselves again and so recovered and that it was a wonderful thing to see how much they were changed by the efficacy of that remedy that they seemed not to be the same Men meaning indeed the disordered manners of the Christians at Shrovetide and the Ceremonies used on Ashwednesday Which thing they to whom it was told so much the more marvelled at for that the Turks have many medicines which cause madness but few or none which presently easeth the same And they upon those days that go before their great Fasts change nothing of their wonted manner of Life to the worse but rather contrariwise prepare themselves to abstinence by taking somewhat from their usual fare the better to endure the suddain change of their Fast which they so precisely observe that upon their fasting days they will not so much as taste a Cup of Water or wash their Mouths with Water all the day long before the Stars appear in the Sky which maketh their Fasts especially in Summer when the days be long and hot to be unto them very tedious Whiles I thus lay in the Camp there came unto me one Albertus a learned Man with certain Presents from the Emperor to Solyman which were certain gilt Plate and a most curious Clock which was carried upon an Elephant like a Castle and some Crowns to be dispersed among the Bassaes which Solyman would needs have presented unto him in the Camp in the sight of the whole Army to make it the better known what friendship was between him and the Emperor and that he needed not to fear any danger from the Christian Princes But to return again to Bajazet from whom we have a while digressed he after the Battel at Iconium had retired himself to Amasia the place of his Government as though he would have now there quietly lived if his Father would so give him leave He had now satisfied his youthful desires and grief and seemed willing from thenceforth to satisfie his Fathers better expectation and therefore ceased not by Letters and fit Men to prove his Fathers mind Neither did Solyman shew himself strange from such a reconciliation at first he easily gave the Messengers audience read his Sons Letters and courteously returned answer so that it was commonly reported in the Camp that the Father and the Son would agree and that the old Man would pardon the youthful Prank already past so that he would from thenceforth remain dutiful But all this was by the Counsel of the Bassaes nothing but deep dissimulation in the crafty old Sire until he had shut up Bajazet and so got him alive into his hand for it was feared lest he despairing of pardon should with such a power break into the Borders of Persia now the only place left for his refuge as might prevent the watchful diligence of his Lieutenants upon those Frontiers whom Solyman charged by continual Letters so to stop all the passages into Persia as that there should not be any crany for Bajazet to flie out by In the mean time if any came within his reach that were suspected to have taken part with Bajazet or favoured his proceedings those he caused to be tortured and secretly made away and among them some whom Bajazet had of purpose sent to excuse themselves For Solyman fearing lest Tamas the Persian King more mindful of his old Quarrels than of the late enforced Peace should hardly with much ado suffer his Son to be got out of his hands if he should flie thither and so again raise a long and dangerous War did therefore what he possibly might to oppress him before he should come thither Which his purpose although it was covered with all secrecy yet was it not hidden from some of Bajazet his Friends by whom he was oftentimes warned not to trust his Father but to beware of Treason and in any case speedily to provide for his own safety But Solyman thinking he had now so provided as that he could by no means escape and happily the more to deceive his Son appointed to return with his Army to Constantinople the day after their Easter day But Bajazet upon the very Feast day having performed the solemnities thereof commanded all his things to be trussed up at Amasia and so set forward upon his unfortunate Journy towards Persia knowing right well that he went to the ancient Enemy of the Othomaâ— Family but yet fully resolved to make proof of any Mans mercy rather than to fall into the hands of his angry Father Now were they all set forward except such weak Souls as were not thought able to endure the labour of so long a Journy among whom was left Solyman Bajazet his youngest Son but then newly born which guiltless Babe with his Mother Bajazet thought better to leave unto the mercy of his Grandfather than to take him with him a poor Companion of his woful and miserable flight whom Solyman as yet uncertain of his Fathers Fortune commanded to be Nursed at Prusa Bajazet so gone from Amasia used â—uch celerity in his Travel that almost in every place he prevented the fame of his coming and light upon many that were appointed to have staid his passage before they were ready or aware of his coming The Bassa of Sebastia he thus deceived There was two ways whereof the one of them being intercepted would greatly hinder his Journy and that the Bassa had already taken wherefore he sent certain as if they had been Fugitives to tell the Bassa that he was already gone the other way Which the Bassa believing left the place he had before taken and rising with all his power to pursue him the other way whereby it was told him he was gone left that way free and open for him to pass by The Bassa of Erzirum he deceived also by another not much unlike shift from whom when he was not far distant and knowing that in passing through his Country he was to endure great danger he set upon him with a wile sending unto him certain of his Followers with commendations who afterwards lamentably complaining of the young Princes calamity to move the Bassa to
distressed Prince and the rather for that in the mean time all things were seriously plotted that might tend to his destruction Which were no sooner grown to their full ripeness but there was of purpose a motion made That such a multitude as followed this young Prince lay so close together that there was not in one place Victual sufficient for them and that it was therefore more convenient to have them billited in the Country thereabouts which would be more commodious as well for the better victualling of them as for divers other purposes also Truth was that Tamas the Persian King far unlike his noble Father Ismael stood in doubt left he brought up a Serpent in his Bosom Yet there were many which thought that it was not the Persians mind at first to have destroyed Bajazet but to have been thereunto enforced by the practice of some of his Familiars and Followers who not regarding the courtesie of the Persian King nor the Laws of Hospitality perswaded Bajazet to thrust him out of his Kingdom whereof there was many evident Tokens And among other things it was told King Tamas that one of Bajazets chief Captains should say What mean we Why stay we to kill this heritical King and to possess his Kingdom For we shall no doubt by his Treachery all come to destruction And that upon such occasion the King was constrained to condescend to a device more necessary than honourable Bajazet had no great power but most of them were valiant Men and Souldiers of great experience ready to adventure upon any thing of whom the Peâ—sian not without cause stood in some fear He knew his Kingdom to be neither ancient nor yet well assured as gotten by his Father by the counterfeit shew of a reformed Religion and who could assure him but that amongst so many Nations over whom he Lorded that there were many weary of the present State and so desirous of novelties Unto whom nothing could chance more fitting than the coming of Bajazet a noble and valiant young Gentleman and that more was desperately set that as yet he himself might of right rather seemed in the power of his Guest than he in his and that therefore he was to alter the matter and not longer to entertain him as his Guest but to coupe him up as a most dangerous wild Beast Which to do the easiest way was to disperse his power and so to take him unawares for that he could not without much Bloodshed be openly taken in the midst of his strength especially by the dainty Persian of long time not used to War and as yet not come together against Bajazets Souldiers Men of great activity and experience So was the matter cunningly imparted unto him for the dispersing of his Forces and all the Commodites to ensue thereof alledged which Bajazet might not well gainsay although many of his wise Followers Men of great reach did shrewdly suspect the sequel But what could he refuse upon whom necessity lay so heavy Where no other hope was left Where he lived as it pleased another Man and that again too where once to doubt of the fidelity of his Hoast might be imputed to him for the greatest Treachery So these most valiant Souldiers the poor Princes faithful Followers never again to see one another are dispersed into divers Country Villages and bestowed where the Persians thought good Not many days after at a time pickt out for the purpose they in number few and dispersed in a strange Country were enclosed by many and slain their Horses Armor Apparel and whatsoever else became a prey unto the Murtherers At the same instant was Bajazet and his Sons cast in Bonds also and that to his greater grief as many report taken as he was sitting merrily at Dinner at the Kings Table The Persian King seemed to have foreseen much in this his hard dealing with Bajazet as if that he being a valiant and couragious young Prince and much better Souldier than his Brother should have succeeded his Father in his Empire much trouble and peril might have grown thereby both to himself and his Kingdom and that it stood far better with the safety of his Estate that Selymus a Man wholly given to voluptuousness and ease should reign over the Turks in whose time he might as it were promise unto himself all peace and security and therefore it was thought that he would never let Bajazet go alive out of his hand but rather make him away in Prison as if he had there died for melancholy and grief Well he was assured that after he had slain his Followers and imprisoned himself and his Sons he would never be Friends with him that had so notably wronged him Bajazet thus shamefully imprisoned Messengers ran continually too and fro betwixt the two old Princes Solyman and Tamas Amongst the rest the Persian King sent a solemn Embassador unto the Turk with Presents namely curious Tents costly Carpets an Alcoran containing the Mysteries of their Superstition and certain strange Beasts The cause of his coming was pretended to be for a reconciliation to be made between Solyman and his Son which Embassador was honourably entertained and feasted by the great Bassaes. Now was poor Bajazet in small hope of life his cruel Father still craving to have him delivered into his hands to be slain and the Persian yet denying to deliver him and seeming to defend him but not as was thought altogether faithfully Solyman left no means unattempted to have wrung him from the Persian sometimes he spake him fair putting him in mind of his League wherein it was agreed That they should both have the same Friends and the same Enemies otherwhile he terrified him with great words and denouncing of War except he would deliver him his Son he furnished with strong Garrisons all the Frontiers of his Dominion towards Persia he filled all Mesopotamia and the Banks of the River Euphrates with Souldiers especially with them of his own Guard and such as he had before used in the Battel against Bajazet over whom commanded Mehemet Bassa the third of the Visier Bassaes and Selymus the Beglerbeg of Grece for Selymus was soon weary of the Field and so betime returned home he also incited the Georgian People to take up Arms against the Persians who wisely answered That they had not such confidence in their own strength as to provoke King Tamas but let Solyman himself come with his Army and when they saw him present in the Field then they knew what they had to do and that he should then well see that they wanted neither discretion nor valour And because he would leave nothing unproved he made shew as if he would in person himself have gon to Aleppo in Syria and so have on that side invaded the Persian neither was the Persian King altogether out of fear having to his cost many times proved what Solyman was able to do But the unwillingness of the Souldiers and
the Persian fashion seven Staves of Silver seven Scimiters with red Scabberts seven Bows with Arrows and Quivers all wrought with Gold and precious Stones he presented also many other Carpets called Tefâ—ich made of the finest Lawn and so large that seven Men could scarcely carry one of them All the Faulcons were dead by the way The Presents which the Embassador gave unto the Great Turk in his own Name were also these An Alcoran a Pavilion fair and large certain Scimiters Bows and Arrows richly garnished with certain Carpets of Silk and Camels hair After which Presents so delivered and Reverence done unto the Great Sultan by the Embassador and thirty of his Followers all in Cloth of Gold he returned to his Lodging very honourably accompanied as well by the Turks as them of his own Retinue First besides many others there were a great Company of the Spahies and Chiauses and other Courtiers mounted upon goodly Horses well furnished and in decent order here might a Man have seen store of Cloth of Gold Velvet Damask and other kinds of Silk After these there followed about three hundred Persian Horsemen apparelled after their manner some with Gowns made of divers little pieces of Taffata of sundry Colours representing the Pictures of Men Women Horses and other Beasts and some of them embroidred with Flowers and Fruits of sundry sorts some had also Gowns of Cloth of Gold but not so fair as the Turks and some of Velvet but very few of Cloth for that the Persians have no great plenty either of Velvet or yet of Cloth except such as they have from the Portugals that travel into those Eastern Countries yet of Silk and Wool it appeareth they have great plenty most part of their Gowns being of Wool quilted with Bombast After these Horsemen followed many Persian Footmen peradventure all Servants after whom came the Turkish Horsemen and last of all came a Horse of the Embassadors led by a Persian after which Horse followed two hundred Janizaries and in the Rearward of all came the Embassador alone gorgeously attired both himself and his Horse He himself was invested with crimson Velvet mingled with some other Colours his Saddle and Bridle were all bedeckt with Jewels the Caparison of his Horse was all embroidred with Turquoies and other precious Stones the Horn upon the top of his Turbant which the Turks call Metevenchia was altogether wrought with Gold and set with precious Stones in brief upon every part of his Body hanged Jewels of great price After the Embassador followed about an hundred and forty Persian Horsemen and others of his Court apparelled as before some well some ill according to their Ability Now although the Persians as is to be thought shewed all their Pomp yet they made nothing so fair a shew as did the Turks neither are they so fair Men of complexion being for the most part of a swarft and brown Colour and rather little Men than otherwise not much unlike to the Spaniards The Embassador being departed the Presents were all brought and shewed to Selymus who allowed for their ordinary Charges five hundred Ducats a day for that indeed their number was great and their Beasts many These Expences bestowed upon the Embassadors do presently begin as soon as any of them enter into his Dominions and end so soon as the business for which they come is finished But long it was not but that this Embassador having concluded a Peace betwixt the two great Princes Tamas and Selymus and dispatched such matters as he came for returned home again into Persia. The Venetians also now at this same time by their Embassadors sought to renew the League they had made with the great Turk now expired which as it was easily obtained so was it of small assurance Selymus the next year quarrelling with them and raising new Wars to the great hurt and disturbance of that State as shall forthwith appear Selymus now at Peace with all the World a thing of the Turks not much desired began to think of Works of Charity year 1569. and purposing to build a magnificent Temple at Hadrianople for his own Sepulture with a Monastery a Colledge and an Alms-House as had his Father and other his Ancestors before him at Prusa and Constantinople led thereunto with a vain and superstitious Devotion was troubled with nothing more than how to endow the same with Lands and Revenues sufficient for the maintenance of so great a Charge for that that the Mahometan Kings are by their Superstition prohibited to convert any Lands or Possessions to such holy uses other than such as they have with their own Sword won from the Enemies of their Religion which they may as they are perswaded as a most acceptable Sacrifice offer to their great Prophet which Devilish perswasion ferveth as a Spur to prick forward every of those ambitious Princes to add something to their Empire This his devout purpose once known wanted not the furtherance of many ripe Heads devising some one thing some another as they thought best fitted his humor But amongst many things to him presented none pleased him so well as the Plot laid for the taking of the rich Island of Cyprus from the Venetians a Conquest of it self sufficient both for the eternizing of his Name and performance of his own charitable Works intended with a large overplus for the supplying of whatsoever wanted in his Fathers like devout Works at Constantinople But that which moved him most of all was the glory of such a Conquest which as his Flatterers bare him in hand might make him equal with any his Predecessors who in the beginning of their Reign had usually done or attempted some notable thing against the Christians Hereupon the matter was by Selymus propounded to the great Bassaes to be considered of without whose Advice and Counsel the Turkish Emperors seldom or never take any great Wars in hand Amongst these grave Counsellors Muhamet the chief Visier Bassa a Man of greatest Authority unto whom Selymus was beholden that he had so quietly obtained the Empire and a secret Friend unto the Venetians seemed much to mislike of that motion perswading Selymus not to yield thereunto alledging beside the danger and uncertainty of the expedition that his Father Solyman at the time of his death had charged him straily that the League with the Venetians should be religiously kept and that he could not with his Honour without just cause so quickly break the League which he himself had but a little before most solemnly confirmed But Mustapha the second Bassa sometime Selymus his Tutor and therefore of him much honoured with Pial Bassa the Admiral both envying at the great honour of the Visier Bassa so mightily impugned that he had before said and so importuned Selymus with the shew both of Honour and Profit attending that action as also with the easiness thereof a great part of the Venetian Arsenal being but a little before burnt and their
their Dominions with new Fortifications and Garrisons as did also the King and the Pope in Italy for why no Ship or Gally could now look out of any Port but it was presently surprised and taken by the Turks which with the sundry calamities before received so confounded the Venetians that they in their Assemblies and Consultations seemed rather to quake for fear than after their wonted manner gravely to consult how the Enemy was to be repulsed Yet for the more safety of their City and for fear lest the Turks Fleet should forcibly break in upon them they strongly fortified the Passages through the Rock or Bank which defended the City from the Sea and kept continually twelve thousand Men in readiness in the City for the more assurance thereof All the Turks Fleet being again met together Partau and Haly departed from Aulona the twenty sixth of August and sailed directly to Corcyra which little Island seemed to be compassed in round with the great Enemies Fleet. Partau Bassa at his first arrival there landed eight hundred Horsemen and a thousand Foot who ranging up and down the Island did great hurt and burnt the very Suburbs of the City At which time the Garrison Souldiers sailing out upon them with a thousand Horsemen and five hundred Foot slew a great number of them and amongst the rest one Paphus Rays a Man of great name Thus the Turks Fleet having done wonderful harm in the Venetian Territory as well in the Islands as upon the Frontiers of Dalmatia enriched with the spoil of those Countries and carrying away with them fifteen thousand most miserable Captives departing from Corcyra arrived all in the Bay of Corinth now called the Gulf of Lepanto where we will for a while leave them to ride in safety At such time as this great Fleet the terror of that part of Christendom first put into the Adriatick Venerius the Venetian Admiral then lying with fifty Gallies at Corcyra and fearing if he staied there longer to be enforced with so small a power to fight against so strong an Enemy or else so to be shut up that he could not joyn his Forces with the Spanish Fleet which was daily expected upon the coming of the Fleet departed thence to Messina there more commodiously and more safely to attend the coming of Don Iohn of Austria General of the Spanish Forces At his coming Columnius met him with twelve Gallies which the Great Duke of Florence had sent in the aid of the Confederates and three Gallies of Malta who only were yet come thither and with great honour received him Not long after M. Antonius Quirinus and Antonius Canalis came thither also with sixty and two Gallies before appointed by the Venetians for the relief of Famagusta but now called back again to joyn with the rest of the Fleet and in short time the Gallies of Sicily arrived there also At last after long expectation in the later end of August came Don Iohn with the Spanish Fleet a Man then about four and twenty years old in whom wanted no honourable parts his Mothers blemish only excepted who although he was most dear unto his Father Charles the Fifth yet left he him nothing by his Will but only at his death commended him unto his Son Philip as his Brother The Venetian and the Popes Admirals hearing of his coming went to meet him and that with such triumph and joy that all the former heaviness before conceived of his long staying was turned into gladness with most assured hope of triumphant Victory Their doubled Forces and two great Fleets joyned in one encouraged them above measure filling all the West with the expectation of some great matter The Venetian Fleet consisted of an hundred and eight Gallies six Galleasses two tall Ships and a great number of small Galliots Unto them were joyned twelve Gallies of the Popes of whom Columnius was Admiral And with Don Iohn the General and Auria the Spanish Admiral came fourscore and one Gallies of whom three were from the Knights of Malta In this Fleet beside Mariners were reckoned to be twenty thousand fighting Men an Army not only beautiful for shew as consisting of most choice Bodies but indeed most strong and puissant old beaten Souldiâ—rs almost throughout it in every place intermixed with others of less skill many known to be Men of great experience rich and lusty Bodies were by name called forth to this so honourable service and divers other of great Nobility as well old Men as young and lusty Gallants for the natural hatred they bear unto the common Enemy came and as voluntary Men chearfully thrust themselves into that religious War every of which Noblemen as they were greater by birth or power so had they drawn after them a greater number of their Favourits and Followers strong and able Bodies of their own charge bravely armed who sought for no other pay for their pains and danger but by some notable Victory to eternise their names or honourably to spend their lives in so just a quarrel as for the defence of the Christian Faith and Religion Amongst these most honourable and resolute Men were three of greatest mark Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma in time to be the honour and glory of Italy his native Country whose untimely death in the Low Countries even his honourable Enemies lamented and being dead is not without cause and worthy desert accounted amongst the most politick and famous Leaders of our age The second was Franciscus Maria Prince of Urbin a young Man honourably descended and of an invincible courage And the third Paul Iordanus Ursinus an honourable Gentleman of the Family of the Ursini in Rome All the power of the confederate Princes thus met together at Messina and all things now in readiness a Counsel was called by the General to resolve what course to take in those most dangerous Wars against so puissant an Enemy unto which Counsel were admitted only Don Iohn the General himself and Aloysius Rechezenes of some called Requisenius great Commander of Castile the General Lieutenant or rather director of his actions Sebastianus Venerius the Venetian Admiral and Augustinus Barbadicus General proveditor of equal authority and reputation with the Admiral and one Secretary Marcus Antonius Columnius the Popes Admiral with Pompeius Colonna his Kinsman The chief point whereon these great Commanders were to resolve was Whether they should adventure the general fortune of a Battel against so strong an Enemy or only seek to defend the Frontiers of their own Dominions Which question as all other of like sort was of divers diversly phantasied every Man pleasing himself with his own reasons Requisenius Don Iohn his chief Counsellor without whom he willingly did nothing and undoubtedly a Man of great valour and experience speaking first said That the Enemies strength was necessarily to be known before they committed all to the fortune of a Battel and that therefore delay was to be used lest
Gradium still expecting the coming of the County Serinus who otherwise busied could not come The next day after a Souldier sent out from the besieged came into the Camp who gave the Captains to understand that except they made haste that day to relieve the distressed Monastery it would undoubtedly be lost for that the Enemy had made it assaultable and would that night give the assault and the defendants doubting how they should be able to maintain the Place began before his departure thence to think of composition with the Enemy Upon which news the Captains forthwith began to consult among themselves what course to take in so doubtful and dangerous a case where Aversberg was of opinion that it were best to march on and to give the Enemy Battel with whom also agreed the Lord Rederen the rest of the Captains being of a contrary mind for that the strength of the Christians compared to the Turks was too weak and therefore they thought it better in time to retire whilst they yet might than to hazard unto most manifest peril the lives of so many valiant men at so great odds At which counsel Aversberg was at the first much moved but afterwards as he was a man of great eloquence plainly set before them the necessity of the Cause and with lively Reasons cheared up the fearful Croatians notably perswading them all in general to but their whole trust and confidence in God to whom it was as easie to give Victory by few as by many and to fight like valiant men for their Religion their Countrey their Lives their Wives their Children and Friends and whatsoever else they held dear against that cowardly Enemy whose valour never brought him into the Field but only the vain trust he had in his multitude and would therefore no doubt easily be put to flight if he should contrary to his expectation find himself but a little hardly laid unto With these and other like Reasons he prevailed so much that they all yielded to his opinion and with one consent resolved to go against the Enemy and to do what they might to relieve their besieged Friends So upon a sign given the whole Army in number not above 4000 forthwith removed and with great speed hasted towards the Enemy and being come within a mile of the Camp put themselves in order of Battel The Turks by their Espials understanding of the approach of the Christians brought all their Horsemen over the River of Kulp by a Bridge which they had made and having put themselves in order came on to joyn Battel with the Christians who had in their Vauntgard placed the Croatians and Hussars in the left wing them of Carolstat and the Hasquebusiers of Karnia in the right wing the borderers of Carainia all Horsemen in the main Battel the rest of the Souldiers with the Horsemen of Silesia under the conduct of Sigismund Paradise the Rereward was inclosed with three Companies of the Emperors Souldiers The Croatians and Hussars in the Vantgard gave the first charge upon the Enemy but having for a good space made a great Fight they were about to have retired and discouraged with the multitude of the Enemies were even upon the point to have fled when Aversberg General of the Christian Army came on with his Squadron and not only restored the Battel but so resolutely charged the main Battel of the Turks that the Bassa was constrained at the first to retire and afterwards to fly after whom all the rest of the Army followed The Christians still keeping their array pursued them with great speed and coming to the new made Bridge before them took from them that passage to the great discomfiture of the Turks who seeing the miserable slaughter of themselves and no way to escape ran headlong some into the River Odera some into Kulp and were there for the most part drowned the rest were all slain by the Christians before determined not to take any Prisoners In the mean time the Turks that remained at the Siege understanding of the overthrow of their fellows set fire on their Powder and other Provision and so in great fear betook themselves to flight Whose Tents the Christians immediately after took and in them nine great pieces of Artillery and good store of great Shot of 44 and 45 pound weight apiece with the sumptuous Pavilion of the Bassa and much other rich Spoil which was all carried into the Monastery of Siseg The number of the Turks slain in this Battel and drowned in the Rivers is of divers diversly reported but most agree upon 18000. And amongst them was Hassan Bassa himself found in the River near unto the Bridge known by his most rich and sumptuous Apparel and near unto him Mahomet-Beg and Achmet-Beg In other places were also found the dead Bodies of Saffer-Beg the Bassaes Brother of Menibeg Haramatan-Beg Curti Beg O perd Beg and Goschus the Bassaes chief Counsellor and Master of his Houshold But of all others the untimely death of Sinan-Beg Amurath's Nephew his Sisters only Son sent thither to have learned the Feats of Arms under Hassan the great Bassa was of the Turks most lamented Of 20000 Turks that came over the River Kulp scarcely 2000 escaped This so great a Victory obtained all the Army of the Christians went thrice about the Monastery and every time falling all down upon their knees gave unto God most hearty thanks for the same as by him miraculously given and not by themselves won and afterwards made all the shew of joy and gladness they could possibly devise Siseg thus delivered and the Turks Army overthrown the Christians with all speed laid siege to Petrinia the strong new Fort of the Turks which they for the space of five days most furiously battered but hearing that the great Governour of Graecia whom the Turks call the Beglerbeg of Romania was with a great power coming to the relief of the Fort they raised their Siege brake up their Army and returned every man to his wonted charge Whilst these things were in doing at Petrinia a Post came from Constantinople to Buda who brought thither the first news of the overthrow of Siseg for the report thereof was not as yet come to Buda wherefore the Bassa called unto him the Messenger Authour of so bad News and diligently examined him of the truth thereof who told him That at his departure from Constantinople nothing was there known of that loss but that upon the way as he came he met with divers Horsemen but lately escaped from the slaughter who told him of a certainty that the Bassa was slain and his Army destroyed Whereunto the Bassa of Buda replyed That he was happy in his Death for that if he had by chance escaped he should for his Indiscretion undoubtedly have suffered some other more shameful Death at the Court. When News of the aforesaid Victory was brought to the Emperour at Prague he commanded publick Prayers with
Castle carrying with him the Treasurer Now Sinan the General being come with his Army to Buda resolved with himself to begin his Wars in that part of Hungary with the siege of Vesprinium This Episcopal City was by Solyman the great Turk taken from the Christians in the year 1552 and again by them recovered about fourteen years after about the year 1566 since which time untill now it had remained in the hands of the Christians Sinan without delay marching with his Army to Vesprinium compassed the City round and encamping as he saw good planted his Battery wherewith he continually thundered against the City The Christians there in Garrison easily perceiving that the City was not long to be holden against so great a Power placed divers Barrels of Gun-powder in certain Mines they had made under the Walls and Bulwarks of the Town with Trains that should at a certain time take Fire Which done they departed secretly out of the City in the dead time of the Night hoping so in the Dark to have escaped the hand of the Enemy which they did not so secretly but that they were by the Turks descried and most of them slain Ferdinand Samaria Governour of the City after he had for a space valiantly defended himself fell at last into the Enemies hand and so was taken alive together with one Hofkirke a German Captain The Turks entred the City the sixth of October striving who should get in first for greediness of the Prey when suddenly the Powder in the Mines took fire and blowing up the very foundations of the Walls and Bulwarks slew a number of the Turks that were within the Danger thereof and wonderfully defaced the City From Vesprinium the Bassa removed with his Army to Palotta and gave summons to the Castle but receiving such answer as pleased him not he laid siege unto it with all his Power Which at the first Peter Ornand Captain of the Castle chearfully received but being afterward without any great cause discouraged the Castle as yet being but little shaken and but one man slain and the rest of the Souldiers ready to spend their Lives in defence thereof he sent unto the Bassa offering to yield the Castle unto him so that he with his Souldiers might with Bag and Baggage in safety depart Of which his offer the Bassa accepted and granted his Request But he was no sooner come but of the Castle with his Souldiers and ready to depart but the faithless Turk contrary to his Oath and Promise caused them all to be cruelly slain except only the Captain and two other After that the Bassa without any great Labour took in all the Country thereabouts near unto the Lake of Balaton Now at last though long first about the middle of October the Christians began to muster their Army in number about 18000 all good and expert Souldiers with which Power they shortly after passing over Danubius at the first encounter with the Turks put them to the worse slew a great number of them and rescued a number of poor Christian Captives In the latter end of this Month County Hardeck Governour of Rab and General of the Christian Army in that part of Hungary departing from Comaria with all his Power came and laid siege to the strong City of Alba Regalis which by the Force of his Artillery he in short time made assaultable but in assaulting the Breaches was by the Turks there in Garrison notably repulsed So having made sufficient proof both of the Strength and Courage of the Defendants and perceiving no good could be done without a long siege for which he was not as then provided after Consultation had with the rest of the Captains he resolved to raise his Siege which he did the second of November removing that day but half a mile from the City because he would be sure of all his Army But as he was about the next day to remove News was brought him by his Espials that the Enemies Power was at hand and even now almost in sight which proved to be so indeed For the Bassa of Buda by the command of Sinan Bassa the General was come forth with thirteen Sanzacks and twenty thousand Souldiers thirty Field-pieces and five hundred Waggons laden with Victual and other Warlike Provision to raise the Siege and to relieve the City and was now even at hand comming directly upon the Christians whereupon the County assisted by the County Serinus the Lord Palfi the Lord Nadasti Peter le Hussar and other valiant Captains of great Experience with wonderful Celerity put his Army in order of Battel and so courageously set forward to encounter the Enemy The Bassa seeing the Christians marching towards him took the Advantage of the higher Ground and from thence discharged his Field-pieces upon them which mounted too high by good hap did them little or no hurt at all The Christians for all that desirous of Battel and nothing regarding the Disadvantage of the Ground but calling upon the Name of the Almighty mounted the Hill and joyning Battel with the Turks by plain force constrained them to flie In this Army of the Turks being for most part Horsemen were about five thousand foot and many of them Ianizaries who in flying oftentimes made stands and wounded many and yet nevertheless were almost all there slain with many others amongst whom were three great Men the Sanzacks of Strigonium Setchine and Novigrade seven Chiaus and many other men of mark the most valiant Captains of the Turks Borderers The Lord Nadasti with some others taking view of the Turks that were slain and lost in this Battel deemed them to have been at the leaâ—t in number eight thousand few Prisoners were saved all being put to the Sword with caused Sinan to swear by his Mahomet never more to spare any Christian All the Turks Artillery Waggons and Provision became a Prey unto the Christians many Ensignes were there found and Weapons of great Value It is hard to be believed how much this Victory encouraged the Christians and daunted the Turks Whereupon the County with great Joy brought back his Army to Alba Regalis and encamped near the Bulwark called Stopasch where the Turks most feared to be assaulted Palfi Nadasti and some others earnestly perswaded with the County not to depart from the City before he had won it but he considering the hard time of the year the strength of the City which was now full of Souldiers by reason of them that were fled in thither from the late overthrow with the want of things necessary in his Army to maintain a longer Siege and fearing also after long lying to be enforced with Dishonour to forsake it would not hearken to their Perswasions but calling a Council resolved to raise his Siege and to content himself with the Victory he had already gotten which was afterward imputed unto him for more than an oversight So setting Fire upon the Suburbs of the City he rose with
Valachia and Moldavia do so abound with Corn and Cattel that they plentifully serve the Imperial City of Constantinople not only with Corn and Flesh but also yearly send at the least 150 Ships thither by the black Sea laden with other kind of Victuals Of which so great Commodities the Turks were now deprived by the revolt of the aforesaid Countries The Prince leaving a strong Garrison in Tergovista sâ—t forward with his Army towards Bucaresta hoping there to have found Sinan But he hearing of the loss of Tergovista and thinking himself in no good safety at Bucaresta fled thence also to Zorza The Prince coming to Bucaresta found it abandoned by the Turks and so took it without resistance yet had therein certain Field-pieces with good store of Shot and Powder left there by Sinan Having there stayed a while for the manning of the Place he set forwards again towards Zorza and that with such speed that he overtook great numbers of the Turks all whom he put to the Sword so that the Fields betwixt Bucaresta and Zorza were in many Places covered with the dead Bodies of the Turks Nevertheless he could not make so great haste marching still in good order but that the fearful Bassa disorderly hasting was about some six hours or more before come to the Bridge he had with great charge made over the River of Danubius Over the hithermost part of which Bridge being in length about a mile was Sinan with the greatest part of his Army before the coming of the Prince got over into an Island in the midst of the River wherein he had at his coming over incamped but doubting now there to stay with all the speed he could got him over the other part of the Bridge also unto the farther side of the River with so many of his Men as in so short time possibly could Where to stay the farther pursuit of the Prince he brake the Bridge on that side and set it on fire and thereby cut off also many of his own men that were not as yet come over Whom the Prince inclosing forced many of them into the River where they perished the rest flying into the Island were by the Christians fiercely pursuing them either there slain or seeking by the other part of the Bridge to have got over whereof the farther end was before broken down by Sinan and the hither end toward the Island now cut off by the Christians were together with the Bridge carried away by the violence of the River and so altogether perished Other some of the Christians in the mean time took the Bridge that leadeth unto the Castle of Zorza which standeth compassed about with an Arm of Danubius and being not very great was kept by a Garrison of seven hundred select Souldiers Unto which Castle the Prince presently laid siege the resolute Souldiers being not by any means to be perswaded to yield it up but to hold it out even unto the last man and after he had sore battered it by plain force took it and put to the Sword all the Garrison Souldiers he could lay hands upon About an hundred of these Turks seeing they must needs fall into the Power of their Enemies desperately leapt from the top of the Castle into the River where not one of them escaped being all either drowned or slain with small shot In the winning of this Castle two hundred and fifty of the Christians were lost and many wounded but of the Turks and Tartars betwixt the eighteenth and the last of October perished above six and twenty thousand In this Castle were taken thirty nine great Pieces with such store of Armour and other warlike Provision as might have served for an whole Kingdom and four thousand Christians beside Women and Children whom Sinan had taken out of Valachia restored to their former Liberty With whom the Prince after he had set all things in order returned in great Triumph to Tergovista and so afterwards to his Palace at Alba-Iulia where as also at Claudiopolis and other Cities through his Dominions he caused publick Prayers with Thanksgiving to Almighty God to be devoutly made for so great a Victory as did also Michael the Vayvod in Valachia who in all these great Wars against the Turks was nothing inferiour unto the Transilvanian himself A greater loss than this the Turkish Emperour received not at Land in many Years before being by this so happy and victorious a Prince and the Revolt of these three Countries deprived of so much Territory as they had not from the Christians of long time gained It was by some of them of the better sort of the Turks that were taken reported That Sinan Bassa should oftentimes say That this young Transilvanian Prince had bereft him of all the Honour and Renown he had with great travel got in the course of his long Life and that although he had escaped his hands yet that he feared he would be the cause for him in these his great years even in the winding up of all to lose his Life together with his Goods and Honour Now was the Transilvanian Prince's Name after the Overthrow of this great Bassa become dreadful unto the Turks and also famous through all Christendome Whilst this worthy Prince was thus busied in this Expedition against Sinan he caused the Castle of Ienna standing upon the High-way between Temeswar and Giula to be besieged by certain of his Captains appointed to that Service in which Castle lay one of the Turks Sanzackes with a Garrison of seven hundred Turks who much troubled such as passed that way They now brought to some Extremity and terrified with the Success of the Prince offered to give up the Castle so that as Souldiers with their Scimiters by their sides they might in safety be brought to Panoda Which their Offer being accepted of and they now upon their way the Hungarian light Horse-men that should have conducted them informed that these Turks now under their charge had secret Intelligence with the Turks in Garrison at Giula and Temesware That they should lie in Ambush for them near Panoda and so cut them off by the way set upon these Turks whom they should have conducted and cut the Throats of four hundred of them and yet still holding on their way met with these Turks that lay in Ambush for them whom they after a sharp Skirmish overthrew and having slain a great many of them put the rest to flight By the taking of Ienna the ways thereabout were quieted especially for them of Waraden The Sanzack of Ienna reported That Mahomet had a little before sent word unto his Bassaes and Sanzanckes in Hungary That such Castles and Towns as they thought were not to be defended against the Christians they should betimes as occasion served yield them up or forsake them so to spare the needless loss of his good Souldiers of whom he had with so many Towns and strong-holds lost no small number
belong unto the Kingdom of Polonia which the Transilvanians took to be no other but mere and open wrong This supposed Title such as it was the Chancellor had so fashioned out unto the King and the States of that Kingdom that they referred it to his Discretion to invade the Country and removing the Vayvod placed by the Prince to place another in his stead and the rather to perswade them laboured by many forced Reasons to shew the Power of the Transilvanian Prince to be so far inferiour unto the Turks that it was to be feared he should at length be thrust out of all his Dominions and so they together with Moldavia become subject to the Turks which if it should so come to pass then should the Polonians have an untrusty and troublesome Neighbour and that therefore it were better that Moldavia were possessed by them that were better able to defend it than was he that so the Turk might be kept farther off from Polonia Which occasion he said was not longer to be delay'd but now betime to be laid hold upon perswading himself to find such Grace and Favour with the Turkish Emperour as that he should be therewith right well contented which was like enough for a time to be for that the Transilvanian should thereby be much weakened By these and such like Reasons framed to serve his own turn the Chancellor so prevailed with the King and the States of the Kingdom that he received as I said full Authority to proceed in the matter as he did and as is before declared to the great trouble of the Prince and benefit of the Turk the late chosen Vayvod not long after opening a way in three places for the Tartars into Transilvania one by the Country of Siculi another by the way that leadeth to Alba-Iulia and the third by Valachia The Transilvanian Prince seeing the Country of Moldavia by the practice of the Chancellor thus taken from him and dissevered from the other united Provinces to the great weakning of his Estate after the flight of Sinan sent â—ertain Companies both of Horse and Foot to Stephen the late Vayvod but now driven out by the Polonians to prove if haply he could by that means drive out the Polonians again and recover his former Dignity With this aid sent from the Prince and others that favoured his Quarrel he joyned a bloody Battel with the Polonians but being therein by them overcome and taken and for a space kept as the Prince feared to have been delivered unto the Turk he was by them as is reported cruelly afterwards put to death This foul dealing of the Polonian in Moldavia much grieved many good Christians as tending to the general hurt of the Christian Commonweal For which cause the Emperour by his Ambassadors sent for that purpose unto the Polonian King sought to perswade him to desist from such Invasion of the Transilvanian Prince by his Chancellor as nothing standing with his Honour and that some good Reconciliation might be made between the Prince and the Cardinal Bator and his Brother the Princes Uncles Authors of all these Troubles To which purpose also the Pope sent a Messenger with like Instructions and Letters unto the King perswading him not so to prosecute his Wars against the Prince but to turn his Thoughts unto a more peaceable and Christian-like course especially with him with whom he was so near linked in Marriage To the like effect he writ also unto the Cardinal Bator and after many grave Admonitions peremptorily cited him to Rome But forasmuch as the Proceedings of the Polonian against the Prince are more plainly to be gathered by the Pope's Letters unto the King it shall not I hope be mistaken if I here set them down thus as I find them by others reported POpe Clement the Eighth to our best beloved Son in Christ Sigismund by the Grace of God King of Polonia with the Benediction Apostolical sendeth greeting By how much greater affection of fatherly Love we embrace your Majesty in the Lord so much the more fervently we wish all your Actions to be adorned with the greatest commendation of true Godliness and Wisdom both before God and Men whereof it proceedeth that we are so much the more vehemently and grievously moved if we hear any such thing of you as may seem not agreeable to your Vertue and approved Zeal toward the Catholick Religion or tending to the obscuring of the Glory of your Name as is now brought unto us concerning the Affairs of Moldavia whereof not without great grief we write unto you And to rehearse things a little before past with what earnestness and fervency dealt I with you that for God's Cause and the defence of the health and liberty of the Christian Commonweal against the Tyranny of the Turks you would combine your self with our most dearly beloved Son Rodolph the Emperor and divers other Christian Princes and that you should not let slip so notable an occasion so worthily to deserve of God of the Catholick Faith and of the Christian Commonweal in general And albeit we then thought as well for many your own private respects as also of your Kingdoms That you were to be borne withal and excused if you did not now openly descend into this Confederation of the Christian Princes against the most mortal and common Enemy neither apertly joyn your Forces or give aid for the repressing of his Insolency yet we always assured our selves that no let should in any case proceed from you whereby either theEmperour or the other Christian Princes should be the rather hindered justly to prosecute their Injuries or to cast off from their Necks the heavy yoke of the most cruel Tyrant whose desire of Sovereignty is not comprised within the compass of any bounds But that you should in favour of the Turks impugn the Catholick Princes and Defenders of the Christian Faith and so joyn hands with the Enemies of the Cross of Christ as that by your help their force and fury should be encreased and ours not only weakened but in the very course of Victory hindered and cast into most grievous perils this we have not only not thought of you but not so much as once suspected yea and can now scarce be persuaded to believe those things to be done by you which are reported unto us as most true and undoubted For the report goeth That you having Intelligence with the Turks and Tartars have with them conspired and namely against our well-beloved Son Sigismund Prince of Transilvania who with invincible Courage fighteth the Battels of the Lord and lest he should be able to abate the force and attempts of the most proud Enemy which by the singular mercy of God he hath hitherto above his own power performed but rather be enforced much to fear his own Estate a new Vayvod and Prince as it were by a triumvirate Authority and compact to be placed in Moldavia and him by the Turks You and the
from him by the Polonian Cossacks and certain of his Retinue slain was there taken for a Spy and so sent to Vienna where at his first Arrival he was well used in a common Inn but the night following being taken in his Chamber by the Martial was so clap'd fast in Prison with as many Irons upon him as he could bear and all his Followers with Gyves upon their Legs compelled as Slaves daily to work in the Town-ditch About this time also Sigismund the Transilvanian Prince whom hitherto all men admired as a man even sent from Heaven for the benefit of his Country and of the Christian Commonweal by a wonderful change gave a most manifest token of a divers and unconstant Nature to the great wonder of the World for having broken the Agreement made with the Emperour the last Year and being secretly in Post returned out of Silesia into Transilvania and again taken upon him the Government as is before declared and having withal requested himself and the Transilvanians his Country-men to be discharged of the Oath of Obedience and Loyalty by them before given unto the Emperour and the City of Veradinum with the Country thereabout to be again restored unto him and the Emperour pausing thereupon did now doubting of his own Ability for the keeping of that Country in the beginning of this year 1599 by his Ambassadors the Bishop of Alba-Iulia and Stephen Paschai his Chancellor sent of purpose unto the Emperour request him to have the first Agreements again renewed and the Principality of Trebnits in Moravia to be added unto the two Dukedoms of Oppel and Ratibor in Silesia with fifty thousand Duckats to be yearly paid unto him out of the Chamber of the Empire and a general Pardon to be given unto all the Transilvanians that following him had of late revolted from the Emperour and their antient Liberties to be again unto every one of them confirmed With all which Conditions obtained at the Emperour's hands as of him that saw how needful it was for him by any means to keep that strong Country in his power the same Ambassadors with their dispatch returned from Prague the nineteenth of April But Sigismund in the mean time at home was entred into new Conceits with certain of the Polonian Nobility far differing from the former agreement with the Emperour and having sent for one of the Turks Chiaus from Constantinople and for his Cousin Andrew Bathor the proud Cardinal out of Borusia and so meeting with them in an obscure Village in the Confines of Transilvania towards Polonia accompanied with certain of the chiefest of the States of his Country there in the Presence of the Polonians and of the Turkish Ambassador resigned all the Right and Title he had in the Country of Transilvania unto the Cardinal his Cousin commanding all the States there present to swear unto him their Obedience and Fidelity who shortly after together with the Polonian Ambassador sent one of his especial Favourites to Constantinople to desire safe conduct for his Ambassadours to be sent thither to conclude of all matters with the Turk Which Messengers so sent together with the Polonian Ambassador were both courteously received in the Turks Court and as with an especial favour rewarded with right sumptuous Garments and charge given them That the Cardinal within three Months next should send thither a solemn Ambassador with the old accustomed Tribute by the Turk demanded Thus through the Inconstancy of the Prince the Ambition of the proud Cardinal and the foul Collusion of the Polonian the Country of Transilvania one of the strongest Fortresses of that side of Christendom falling from the Obedience of the Emperour and so in sort bereft from the Christian Common-weal became again tributary unto the Turk most good men detesting the Lightness of the one the Ambition of the other and the Sliness of the third Now the Turks of Buda not able longer to endure the great Famine therein had most earnestly requested relief from the other Turks their Friends in Hungary who on all hands ran to have relieved them but coming near thereunto could not put therein such Provision as they had brought for the relief of the same being letted so to do by the Imperials who about a League off diligently attended every motion of the Enemy from whence the Lord Swartzenburg in the night secretly approaching one of the Gates with his Followers thought with a Petard to have broken it open and so to have entered Which his Device taking not effect as did that at Rab the Gate being within strongly fortified by the Enemy he was inforced to depart being also discovered by the Turks from the Wall. Now shortly after the Bassa of Buda with six hundred Horse issuing out of the City to have met with Victuals that were coming thither fell into an Ambush of the Haiduckes who after their manner fiercely encountered him and putting him to flight took him Prisoner his Horse in his Chase falling under him whom his Souldiers seeking to rescue there began a new Skirmish encreasing their former Overthrow with the loss of the greatest part of them that were left amongst whom the Bassa's Son with the Aga of the Janizaries there lost their Lives also Which Conflict thus ended the Bassa was with safe Conduct brought to the Camp and there with great Threats inforced to reveal the state of his City with other the secret designs of the Turks Whereupon the Haiducks returned again towards Buda seeking by all means to stop the coming of Victuals thither so in hope at length to have gained the distressed City But whilst they thus lay upon the Passages behold News was brought unto them how that the Bassa of Bosna with the Sanzacks of Sigeth Quinque Ecclesiae and Coppan with 10000 Turks were coming to oppress them and to open the Passages by them holden But they knowing their own Strength and nothing-fearing so small a Force staid not for their coming but went to meet them and in a place of good advantage waiting for them upon their first appearance with great Assurance and Courage charged them brake their Array and slew the greatest part of them together with the Bassa himself yet with so much ado as that had not the Lord Palfi in good time sent unto their Aid certain Companies of fresh men it was not-without cause doubted but that the Haiducks had been put to the worse about three hundred of them having there already lost their Lives The Tartars yet nevertheless in good number held on their way towards Buda with purpose to have over-run the Country and so have withdrawn the Imperials from the City but forasmuch as that base Nation was known to be good for nothing but to rob and spoil the Lord Swartzenburg's Regiment only going against them and encountering them overthrew them in such sort that part of them being there slain in fight and part for fear driven into Danuby the greater number
to vanquish resolutely set down and well armed against men dismayed half naked and surprised In which Conflict above a thousand of them being slain and a thousand of Horses of Service taken the rest fled amongst whom Bethlin himself with his Bassa flying were glad by swimming to save themselves amidst a thousand Chances and Dangers of their Lives The Bassa of Temeswar advertised of this Overthrow by one of them that was fled from the same presently he sent forth his Lieutenant with a good number of men to relieve the vanquished Turks who by the way understanding of the general Overthrow of them whom he was sent forth to relieve as also of the Strength of his Enemies and that he was come too late to the relief of his Friends retired as fast as he could with his men back again homeward toward Temesmar But being in their Retreat discovered and hotly pursued by these men imbrued with the Blood of their Enemies and yet breathing with Victory they were by them overtaken even almost at the Gates of their City and there as men before overcome with fear and overwhelmed with despair cut in pieces without any Fight or Resistance by them made beseeming men of their sort the Lieutenant himself being there slain also After which Exploits done the County turning towards Iula chanced to light upon certain Companies of Turks loaded with Booty which they had got in roaming abroad into the Country thereabout whom he pursued even unto the Gates of the Town which they â—ound shut against them for that they within the Town seeing the Christians even at the heels of their Companions had shut their Gates neither durst now open the same for fear lest the Christians should together with them enter the Town and so become Masters thereof Who so shut out by their own Friends were there all by the Christians slain even in the sight of their Companions not daring to let them in nor able to relieve them After which Massacre done the Christians not yet so contented burnt the Suburbs of the Town and so loaded with the Spoils of their Enemies departed The County after so many honourable Exploits in a small time by him performed returned to Lippa where he arrived the five and twentieth of September and from thence afterward advertising Basta the Emperour's Lieutenant General of these his Exploits done caused ten of the Turks Ensigns all stained with their own Blood to be presented unto him as the sure Tokens of his good Service done But to return again unto the Siege of Strigonium the greatest Exploit by the Turks intended for this Year from which we have from the occurrent of the same time a little strayed The Visier Bassa perceiving by the valiant and resolute Defence of our men how little he prevailed in this Siege and that it was like enough to tend at length to his Dishonour thought it good once again to prove if he might by Composition gain that which he was now almost out of hope by Force to obtain And to that purpose caused a motion to be made unto the besieged for a Treaty to be had concerning a Peace and a Day appointed for the same Unto which motion for Peace the Imperials although they had no hope at all of any Peace to be concluded easily yielded lest they might be thought obstinately to have rejected the same Whereupon Commissioners were on both sides appointed to meet together to conferr of the matter And so for the Emperour Althem himself with Ferdinand Collonitz and Frederick of Hohenlo County of Rhene were appointed near unto the Rascian Town to meet with the Turks Commissioners to hear what they would say Howbeit the Commissioners on both sides being met at the Place aforesaid all their Conference was but vain and to no purpose the Turks still urging the yielding up of Strigonium and the Imperials as earnestly refusing the same So that the Treaty for Peace being broken off and the Commissioners departing the Siege was more cruelly by the Turks continued than before Now there were in the Turks Army lying at the Siege certain Companies of Cossacks Men for their Pay indifferent to serve any Prince of what Religion soever Which serviceable Men in Number seven hundred had agreed together the 28 th of September by night to forsake the Turks Camp and to come unto the Christians Of which their Purpose and Design the Visier Bassa having by some untrusty amongst them got knowledge caused the Foot-men of these Companies to be apprehended and slain the Horse-men in the mean time making themselves way over the Bellies of such as would have stayed them fled and escaped some of them to Komara and some to Dotis Threescore of these Cossacks being by the Turks hardly pursued adventured to swim over Danubius and so all naked came to Colloniâ—z by whom they were courteously entertained and apparelled And within three days after two hundred Horse-men more of the same Cossacks came unto Collonitz also who marching in good order unto the head of the Christian Camp were there sworn unto the Emperour's Service and in token of their Loyalty there discharged their Pistols thrice Which Horse-men Collonitz divided among the rest of his Troops as having before time had good experience of the Courage and good Service of divers such others of their Fellows By these fugitive Souldiers it was understood that the Janizaries in great number up in Mutiny against the Visier Bassa would have inforced him to have raised the Siege and so to have departed The cause of their so great Discontentment as they pretended was the manifest and assured danger of their Lives with little or no hope at all for the gaining of the Place they themselves being still exposed to the Dangers both of the Siege and of the Field having the besieged on head of them armed with an assured Resolution and the Christian Army at their Backs of known Valour and Experience besides that the Place it self was as they said impregnable being at all times to be relieved by reason that it commanded over the Danuby which might always relieve it both with Men and Victuals and that therefore after that they had satisfied their Honour by giving of an Assault or two unto the Fort of St. Thomas they had resolved to arise and to be gone And much about this time viz. the Nine and twentieth of September in the night time was a most dreadful fiery Impression seen in fashion much like a Rain-bow of a fiery red colour which beginning over Cockera and rising higher over Strigonium at length vanished away over the Fort of St. Thomas The sight whereof much troubled the Beholders thereof as well the Christians as the Turks such strange Meteors and Apparitions being oftentimes the Presages of the ruine of them to whom they appear In the mean time whilst the Turks thus lay before Strigonium at the Siege of Saint Thomas's Fort the Lord Basta Lieutenant-General of
forthwith calling together the States of Enseric declared unto them all that was done in the Assembly at Presburg And for as much as that Assembly was chiefly to that end appointed That the Kingdom of Hungary should not altogether be pluck'd away from the Empire and that after the revolt thereof the greatest harm to be done by the Incursions and spoyling of the Enemies would lie upon the Countries of Austria he advised them so to look unto themselves and carefully to provide for the Common-weal as that having Money always in readiness to maintain an Army they might with all convenient speed go to meet with the Haiducks if haply they would not conform themselves unto the Articles of the Pacification but again raise new Broils that so they might defend and preserve their Country from their Outrages About the beginning of this Spring when as Ierome Prince of Valachia was dead leaving behind him a Son but thirteen years old the Emperour admitted him as yet not capable of the Government under Tutors unto the Succession of his Heritage Which thing the Valachians being by no means willing to endure and bearing themselves upon the help of the Turks went about to make choice of another instead of their Prince of late dead For which cause the Princess Widow by Letters certified Polloscie her Son in Law of this Outrage and Injury of her Subjects and having obtained of him a great sum of Money and therewith raised an Army of ten thousand good Souldiers went forth against the Valachians and in open field overcame them in so bloody and terrible a Battel that having slain five thousand of the Valachians and Turks she had over them a notable Victory and by that means preserved the Principality of that Country for her Son. The Great Duke of Florence had hitherto done great harm with his Fleet unto the Turks in the Mediterranean Sea for which cause a Messenger about this time coming unto him in the Great Sultans Name promised him great Matters if he would from thenceforth forbear to hurt and pursue the Turks Gallies Which his Request served the Turks to no other purpose but as it were to put Oyl unto the Fire For the Duke afterward caused new Gallies to be made and his Fleet increased and therewith did more harm than formerly he had done Now although that after the ending of the Assembly at Presburg Illishascius and George Turson had delivered unto the Haiducks the Articles of the Pacification and commanded them from thenceforth to keep themselves quiet yet for all that could they not yet be perswaded to hearken unto such their Counsel for that they being Men still accustomed to the Wars and living by their Swords could not endure to fall to Husbandry and such other Labours For which cause they of the Country about Gymeric writ unto them which dwelt in the Country about Nusol Letters to this effect That forasmuch as they being divers times certified of the miserable estate of their Neighbours had refused to come to aid them they should yet now remember how necessary a thing it were with their conjoyned Minds and Forces to help one another for that the Haiducks having now passed the River of Teise were broken into that Province and were run as far as Budnoc neither were they minded so to stay but to rob and spoil all the Country before them if they were not with speed encountred And the rather for that but a few days before they had received thirty thousand Hungarian Duckats from the Turks whom they now acknowledged for their Lords with Horses and other Gifts to be divided among their Leaders and Captains and moreover daily expected Aid from the Tartars who in great Numbers lay about Belgrade Wherefore seeing it could not be expressed what great harm and loss was by the Haiducks done as well unto the Noblemen themselves as to the common Country-men that they should therefore thereof give their Neighbours to understand and with all speed to take up Arms against the same rebellious Haiducks Not long after about the latter end of March Proclamation was made by the Commandment of Matthias the Arch-duke throughout all Austria That every man should provide himself to take up Arms. The cause whereof men diversly suspected howbeit that unto this Proclamation was this Reason joyned That the Arch-duke was determined himself to go about the fourteenth of April into Moravia and there to gather together all his Power as well Hungarians as Austrians and Haiducks for the War he was to take in hand There were also Letters in the Arch-dukes name sent unto the Vassals of Austria to give them to understand That whereas they were not ignorant what for the obtaining of Peace and Defence of these Countries had of late been decreed at Presburg and that all the States of Enseric had approved the report thereof received from their Deputies and so promised their help and aid unto the Arch-duke as if that he himself would take in hand any Expedition they would joyn themselves unto him and together with him to live or dye yet that there were some which being more desirous of War than Peace did not only not rest upon the former Pacification but gathered an Army also in the Borders of Moravia with a purpose to make an inroad as well into Moravia as into Austria it self For which cause the States of Moravia also were enforced for defence of themselves to raise an Army and to crave help from their Neighbours And that therefore seeing the Arch-duke mindful of his promise for the common Defence of the Countrey was resolved to bestow his Life and all his Fortunes and in his own Person to undertake an Expedition unto those Places from whence the greatest danger was to be feared to fall upon those Countreys necessity then required that the States themselves also should suffer nothing to be wanting on their behalf but every one of them together with their Servants forthwith to joyn themselves unto the Arch-duke and to the uttermost of their power to endeavour themselves to deliver them and theirs from death and destruction That God in whose name this Expedition was by them to be taken in hand as by the lovers of Peace might so in short time make an end of all tumults and grant unto those Countries wished Peace and quietness And that therefore they were to be admonished That according to the tenor of the Decree made at Presburg they with such a number of Horse and Foot as they could upon the sudden raise at a day to be shortly after named unto them should joyn themselves unto the Arch-duke and not to suffer any thing to let them in so doing So that if haply any chance or sickness should happen unto their General yet notwithstanding that they should send their Power under the leading of some other man seeing that the Arch-duke himself spared not to adventure his Life and Fortunes and if God should see
transport the People in one whereof were ninety five Persons embarked all of them Pasâ—a's Aga's and chief Officers of the Court the Vessel was over-set by a sudden gust of Wind and all the People drowned excepting three Sea-men which saved themselves by swimming More considerable were the Mischiefs by Fire For on occasion of some Fire-works made in one of the Grand Signior's Chiosks or Houses of Pleasure the Fire took so fiercely on the Tavan or wooden Works of the Sieling that it endangered the whole Palace and had consumed all but that many Hands and active Men gave a stop to the farther Progress This Fire was but a fore-runner of a greater which began the 16 th of September in that part of the City of Constantinople which is called Aiacab being between the Wall and the Port where live Taverners Butchers Fishmongers and others who sell Provisions The Fire took first in one of those Houses which had been a Tavern and are Buildings only made of Deal-boards and Timber which combustible Matter flamed out so violently that it took hold on all the Houses round and was so quick in its Motion as if it had taken by a Train or that some wicked People with Fire-balls had employed themselves in the Mischief the Fire took its Course against the Wind burning on one side and the other to the Historical Pillar and to the Moschs of Sultan Mahomet and Sultan Selim so that in a short time one third of the City was reduced to Ashes It is difficult to express the lamentable Destruction was made hereby what Riches what Palaces and Moveables were consumed in it there being twenty thousand Houses reported to be burnt which Misery is best represented by the remembrance of our calamitous Incendiation at London the greatest difference between one and the other was that that at Constantinople was more quick in its Motion for it burnt a larger compass of Ground in one third of the Time than ours did at London for that City for the most part consisting of slight Buildings of Wood met not the resistance which ours sometimes did against the Walls of Brick and Stones The Fire being extinguished and Men having time to lament and think began to impute the Cause and Fault to those whom they most suspected sometimes they accused the Persians for having fired the City for which Crime one of them the next Year suffered Death Some attributed the Cause of all to the Janiâ—aries and that they out of hatred to the Inhabitants or for the sake of Plunder if they did not begin yet at least increased the Fire which they the more suspected because the Janisaries refused not only to work themselves alledging that they expected Orders from their Aga but likewise hindered and discouraged others Howsoever the Grand Signior not wanting on his own part to contribute all Assistance possible sent four thousand Men out of his Seraglio to work about the Fire not excusing the very Officers of his Royal Chamber from contributing their Authority and personal Aid some of which ventured far into the Fire to demonstrate their Courage Activeness and Obedience to the Commands of their Emperor but all this was too little against an obstinate and an invincible Enemy for the Fire flamed and proceeded until it wanted Nourishment and Food to consume In fine twenty thousand Houses were burnt two hundred Moschs and the Library of the Mufti which for the Number of the Arabick and Persian Books was curious and of high esteem The Albengs or Habitation of the Janisaries containing three hundred Chambers of which each Chamber was capable to receive four hundred Men were all burnt and reduced to Ashes The which fatal and miserable Spectacle did a little touch the Heart of Sultan Morat so that he gave out considerable Sums to comfort the Distressed who had most suffered by this Calamity and to raise from its Ashes his consumed and languishing Constantinople which being revived and flourishing was again miserably consumed by Flames in the Month of April 1660. But such is the beneficial and commodious situation of that Place and the Riches thereof by Trade and the Presence of the Ottoman Court that the Inhabitants again rebuilt it in fewer Years than could be imagined But now to return to the Grand Signior at Adrianople we find him resolutely designed to make a War upon Poland to which he was induced by the Perswasions of Abassa and the present conjuncture of Advantage to join with the Moscovite it seeming great Policy not to suffer the Countries of Moscovy to be over-run or the Poles who is a warlike and dangerous Nation to grow Puissant and Powerful by his Success and Conquest over his Neighbours Wherefore Preparations were made on all sides for the War great Quantities of Provisions and Ammunition were sent into Moldavia by way of the Black Sea and the Danube The Tartar Han sent word that all his Forces were in readiness and expected nothing but their Orders to march The Beglerbey of Greece made his Rendezvous at Philippolis with an Army of thirty thousand Men where he attended to join with the Forces of Bosna Silistria and other parts of Europe Moldavia and Walachia made an appearance of Levying Men and joining with the Turk but their Hearts were towards the Poles with whom they kept a secret correspondence and would be ready to adhere on the least Opportunity In short the Army of the Turks was so great and all his Affairs in that readiness that he scorned to incline an Ear to Propositions of Peace in which Opinion Abassa humoured and perswaded him that the Poles were so fearful of his Forces that they had already yielded to Terms of compounding for a yearly Tribute All which proved false for in the mean time Vladislaus King of Poland remitting nothing of the Heat and Vigour of his War against the Moscovites he was so succesful therein that he forced an Army of eighty thousand Men which he had besieged in their Camp to lay down their Arms and surrender themselves which was an Action scarce to be credited at least to be parallel'd in any History and with this Conquest he might have proceeded to the Capital City of Mosco and concluded the War and that Empire But God's Providence which governs all things altered this Counsel and diverted those victorious Arms to the Siege of Bial which Town being well fortified and garisoned withstood many Assaults of the Enemy and blunted the Spirits and Swords of the Conqueror for losing much time in this Siege other Towns made use of the Opportunity to provide and fortify themselves whilst the Poles growing weary and wanting Pay raised divers Mutinies and Seditions in the Camp. These Difficulties and Inconveniences inclined the King Vladislaus to bend a favourable Ear to the many Supplications and Instances which the Moscovites made for Peace So that the Plenipotentiaries being assembled it was agreed that the Dutchy of Smolesco and Czernieschou which
Days where he was honoured with a Visit of the Sultan News also came at the same time that Tauris or Ecbatan on the Borders of Persia was miserably ruin'd by an Earthquake and what was worse the Sultan himself was seized with an Apoplexy which turned to a Paralytical Distemper the Cause whereof was attributed to his excessive use of Women to whom he was so immoderately addicted that he consumed his Days and Nights in their Apartments This Disease which is raâ—ely or never cured being joined to a Report given out by his Ladies that notwithstanding his Venereal Heat he was yet Impotent as to Women created a Belief or at least a strong probability that he might die without Issue which caused high Confusion in the Counsels of the Grandees that no Design could make any chearful Progress until Provision was first made for Supply of the Ottoman House for the Succession of the Tartar was in no manner convenient or secure but rather that the Throne should be furnished with the Son of a Sister or of a Niece than to subject themselves to the Rule and Passions of a Foreign Prince And though the Sultan did afterwards recover his Health yet all suspected and feared that by the immoderate Heat of his Venerial Inclination he would die without Children every one discoursing as moved by his Passion or his Interest About this time arrived an Ambassador at Constantinople from the Softa of Persia bringing a Ratification of the Peace who was so much the more welcome by how much more the present Conjuncture rendred it advantagious and being ushered in with exceeding rich Presents raviâ—hed the Hearts of the Turks whose good Nature melts and dissolves with the sight or hopes of Gifts In Dalmatia near the Confines of Zara the Turks made Incursions on the Venetian Territories and caused some Disturbances but being chastised by an Ambush laid for them whereby about two hundred of them perished all Matters were again reconciled and the Peace renewed And now one would imagine that the Design against Asac by such diversity of Obstructions were absolutely laid aside which though they were of that Importance and especially the fear of Ibrahims's Death to detain the Vizier at Home yet he thought fit to prosecute the Design under the Command of the Pasha of Silistria to whom he had committed the Conduct of this War. The Pasha proud of his Charge rejoiced to be imployed in a War wherein he apprehended so little difficulty and prognosticated to himself nothing but Glory and Victory esteemed the Defendants for no other than Fishermen and better experienced to sail their Boats and govern their Saiks in the Black Seas than to draw up an Army in the â—ield or defend their Walls This Confidence was farther increased by an Embassy at the same time from the Moscovite who not only renounced all Assistance or Concernment for that Town but renewed with them his Friendship and Articles of ancient Agreement The Ottoman Army besides Janisaries and other Turks consisted of Moldavians and Walachians and a great number of Tartars which at first entred into their Trenches and besieged the Town but here they rested not securely by reason of the frequent Sallies the Besieged made upon them and more especially by the Mines which they sprang to the terror and damage of their Enemies The Turks moved hereat made furious Assaults but were as valiantly repulsed by the Defendants who threw scalding Water and Pitch and burning Sulphur upon the Assailants so that not being able to take the Town by Force they retired to their Trenches and deliberated in what manner by fair Promises and Mony they might invite them to Surrender Hereupon the Captain-Pasha the Tartar Han and others tried the Efficacy of large Proffers of Priviledges to the Town their Country and Inhabitants with a Gratuity of twelve thousand Hungers of Gold But these Promises could make no more entrance into their Hearts than the Turks could do into their Walls which they seemed resolute to defend wanting neither Provision nor Ammunition nor courage for the War but on the contrary side all these were wanting in the Turkish Camp so that fifteen days passed without any Action until they were supplied by the arrival of certain Brigantines and light Vessels dispatched with all expedition with the necessaries of War At the coming of which the Turks prepared for another Assault which they continued uncessantly for the space of seven days but were received with that â—igour by the Besieged that they could not gain one palm or inch of ground So that at length with disgrace and discouragement they were forced to give over their Attempt despairing to gain the Town in the time and with the Force which was allotted for this Enterprize With this ill Success Extremity and Famine pinched the Turks in their Trenches so much that an Ox was sold for fifteen Zechins a Lamb for three and a Measure of Barley which served a Horse for one time for a Dollar so that at length they were forced to raise the Siege and the Captain Pasha by tempestuous Weather was constrained to shelter his Fleet in the Port of Caffa In their return Home the General was fearful of having forfeited his Head the Commanders were silent and ashamed of their Success and the Souldiers discouraged famished and poor for they had lost three thousand Spahees seven thousand Janisaries and eight hundred other Souldiers besides Moldavians Walachians and Tartars those that survived of the Foot were naked and many sick the Spahees were without Horses with which they were supplied by the Tartars and in fine so unsuccessful were all Matâ—ers that the Veteran Souldiery avouched that they never endured a more cruel nor a more miserable War. And now we shall end this Year 1641 with the ruin of Emir Guimir a Persian by Birth a Favourite and yet Traitor to his Natural Prince This Emir in the last Wars which Sultay Morat waged against Persia was entrusted with an Embassy and with Conduct of part of his Army but he betrayed both to the Turk under whose Protection he took Sanctuary and obtained great Gifts and Preferments for a Reward and Price of his Treachery Sultan Morat afterwards bestowed a magnificent Seraglio upon him situated on the Bosphorus enriched him with a vast Treasury and what is more with his Favour making him his Companion in his Pastimes and his Confident in his serious Counsels It waâ— he that first perswaded the Sultan to drink Wine in which both of them were beastly intemperate and mighty and valiant to bear until the heat thereof having extinguished the natural heat of their Stomachs it became too cold and crude unless corrected or fortified with Rach or distilled Spirits The Fumes of such strong Drinks were the cause of the extravagant Actions which Morat practised in his Life and afterwards became the means to hasten his Death whose days being ended it was time also for prosperous Wickedness to expire and to
Friends of Mortaza who wanted not in the Court to represent them with some Compassion arguing that his flight was not of Contumacy or Contempt to his Masters Protection but an effect of natural Preservation which worked so far on the Grand Signior that he immediately sent for the Vizier to enquire of him the State and Condition of Mortaza The Vizier to defend himself and make good what before he had counselled his Master aggravated his Adversary's Crimes and his Disobedience and Flight to an inconsiderable King with which and some other light Excuses and Perswasions that the removal of such a Person was agreeable to the present State of Affairs and conducing to his own Security easily pacified the Mind and Affections of the Grand Signior but no sooner was he returned to his House but advice was given him that the Emaum of Mortaza or his Priest or Chaplain was then at Constantinople whom the Vizier immediatly sent for and without any Plea or Indictment struck off his Head and threw his Body into the Sea on pretence that he was sent thither as a Spy for hisMaster and to give Intelligence anda beginning to Rebellion year 1662. These were his colours and allegations for his deserved Death for Governours though never so wicked and so absolute and that have no need to render any other cause to the World of their actions than their own will yet esteem it necessary to act under the specious guise of justice and in the good opinion of the multitude The Aga of Babylon encountred the same Fortune for Mâ—rtaza giving place he thought it fit for himself to do the like resolving for Constantinople but being intercepted in his Journey by the new Pasha his Head was struck off and his Journey shortned But that which again renewed the trouble and fears of the Vizier was a report that the late Kahya-begh degraded at Adrianople was secretly returned to the City and lived concealed giving such Orders to the Janizaries as tended to Mutiny and Insurrection and that the pretences and reports of his being gone to Damascus and thence in his holy Pilgrimage to Mecha were but all false stories to conceal his Residence at Constantinople This set the Vizier all on fire and made him tremble with the thoughts of it wherefore search was made for him day and night but not found for in reality he was gone on his designed Journey only it was the misfortune of his Kahya or Steward as before it was of Mortaza's Emaum to fall into the Viziers hands who being beaten to confess where his Master was died afterwards of the blows But notwithstanding that Mortaza was fled yet the Vizier laid not aside his fears and thoughts concerning him not knowing how soon he might be recalled home and seated in his place ofwhich various Examples are extant in Turkish History and therefore he sent orders to Mahomet Pasha his late Kahya now Pasha of Daâ—biquier as General with the knowledge and consent of the Grand Signior and to the Pashaws of Aleppo Erzirum and others near adjacent to prepare and assemble what Force was necessary to constrain the King of the Curdi to surrender Mortaza into their hands But whilst these matters were in agitation some unexpected troubles in Georgia diverted their Arms and held them for some time in suspense not knowing what the issue might be The Original and Ground thereofwas this After Sultan Solymâ—n had taken Eâ—zirum it was agreed in the Capitulations between the Turks and Persians that of the seven Provinces of Georgia anciently called Iberia but now as sâ—pposed to have received the Denomination from St. George the Cappadocian Martyr there had in great esteem and reverence three should be tributaries to the Turk and three to the Persian all govern'd by Achic-bash as head and supream Prince to whom the Seventh should also be subjected without acknowledgment to either in payment of which Tribute they continued most willingly lest for default thereof the importation of Salt of which their Provinces afford none should I be hindred either from the Turkish or Persian Dominion And now it happened that Achic-bash dying his Wife married again who to gratifie her new Lover was contented to have the eyes of her Son put out who was the lawful Heir to the Government This Fact was so hainously received by the Princes of the three Provinces under the Persian that with common consent they elected one to succeed Achic-bash and extorted the power out of the hands of the Amâ—rous Traitor The Princes of the three Provinces under the Turk alarm'd hereat made insurrection resolving rather than any Foreigner to set up one of the Kindred of Achic-bash which the Persian Provinces better understanding approved likewise and for confirmation and maintenance of their choice assembled an Army of Threescore thousand men The Pashaws tending towards Curdi were surprized in their March with the news of these disturbances in Georgia and not rightly apprehending the causes of these sudden commotions gave an arrest to the progress of their Arms inclining towards the parts of Georgia to be in a readiness to suppress all designs against the Ottoman Dominions so that the thoughts of War against the Curdi was for some time laid aside The news of these troubles did also alarm the Port with which also came a report That six hundred Tents of the Kuzilbashees which are the best sort of Persian Horsemen were pitched nigh the Confines of the Grand Signiors Territories so that Orders were dispatched to the aforesaid Pashâ—ws to watch the motion and issue of those Affairs but those storms blowing over by the establishment of Achic-bash the Turkish Forces proceeded on their first design against Mortaza marching to the pass of the Country of the Curdi which is very steep asperous and rough The whole Kingdom being as it were one Mountain of dangerous and difficult access hath hitherto preserved the Inhabitants from the Ottomon Subjection The entrance thereunto being strong by Nature is also fortified with several Castles the chief of which possessed by Mortaza is called Zizri and the People there abouts Zezidi The Turkish Army being arrived at this pass Mahomet the Pasha of Darbiquier appointed General as we have said before ordered five hundred of his select men to enter within the pass which the Curdi perceiving with little opposition put to flight being so commanded by the General the unadvised Curdi eagerly pursuing the enemy left the pass naked and undefended supposing their whole victory and success to consist in the Rout of those few Whereupon the Turkish Army wisely possessed the pass and got between the Curdi and their place of Retreat and laying the Siege to the Castle required them either to surrender themselves or else Mâ—rtaza and his Complices into their hands The Curdi perceiving themselves thus hardly beset and in a manner defrauded their Garison which possessed the pass without the Confines the Enemy gotten possession of the Gate which opened to
blood to men as well as sap and moisture unto Vegetables These Reasons being represented with all humility to the Grand Signior he seemed to rest satisfied and his heat of visiting Adrianople for the present allayed And in the mean time that the design against Germany might be the more covertly carried it was given out that the preparations were intended against the Venetian Territories in Dalmatia viz. Zara Sebenico and Cataro and Proclamation was made that all Souldiers should prepare themselves for the Wars against the next Spring In which Interim no accident intervening which might bring matters to an accommodation and better understanding the daily Skirmishes on the Frontiers made the Controversie every day more difficult to be reconciled and the breach the wider The Count Serini also proceeded in finishing the Fortification he had lately raised near Canisia and the other Commanders of the Cesarean Army seeing the great progress of the Turks in Transilvania secured Claudiopolis Somoswar Sechilhid Clewar alias Coloswar and Betlem with some other Towns and Fortresses The Turks on the other side under the Command of Ali Pasha penetrate into the very Center of Transilvania and conceiving a jealousie of War from the passages before mentioned lost no time to take their advantages so that the Pasha of Varadin not contenting himself with that Country and limits formerly prescribed for maintenance of his Fortress adjoined to his Jurisdiction what Villages and Towns he thought fit the whilst the poor Prince Michael Apafi though made by the Turks durst not lift a hand or interpose the least Obstacle or Impediment to his quiet progress or peaceable possession which so harrassed the People of the Country and wrought that misery and destruction therein that the Prince deprived of his power in Government and disabled by oppression to pay his Annual Tribute had no hopes of redress but from the assistance of Divine Providence governing the hearts of Christians and Turks to compassionate the misery of his Country Wherefore he craved the assistance of the Emperor and of the King of Poland acquainting other Christian Princes more remote of the sad estate of the Christian Cause he sent also his Ambassadors to the Port with most submissive Letters to the Vizier complaining against the Pasha of Varadin and craving his Commands for retirement of his Army within their due and ancient bounds Letters were also directed to the Publick Representatives of Christian Princes residing at Constantinople one of which was directed to the Earl of Winchelsea his Majesties Ambassador which being that which may conduce to the more full understanding of the present deplorable Condition of Transilvania I thought fit to be here mentioned Excellentissime Domine Amice observandissime AFflictiones Regni Transilvaniae quibus per complures annos justo Dei Iudicio castigatur toti Orbi Christiano manifestae sunt nec possumus non fateri inter duos Potentissimos Monarchas adeo indies hoc Regâ—um coangustari ut nisi extraordinaria Dei clementia aliquod subsequatur levamen vix immo ne vix quidem diu duraturum credamâ—s Sed ut ad rem proximius collimemus Potentissimus Imperator per Legatos Regni nostros nunc reduces Clementissimum suum patrocinium pollicetur interim autem Passa Varadinensis non contentus Villis ac Pagis ad dictam Arcem pertinentibus usque ad meditullium plane Transilvaniae metu Mortis integras ad deditionem cogit Regiones quae nunquam eidem Arci applicatae fuerant nec possible est Principatum Transilvaniae iis ademptis ulterius persistere Tributumque annuum persolvere posse Qua de re tam Potentissimum Imperatorem quam Supremum Vezirium denuo requirere cogimur vestram quocirca Excellentissimam Dominationem confidenter rogamus eo quo convenientius putaverit modo continuo nostro Oratori opitulari eaque qua pollet Authoritate Caâ—sam promovere ne gravetur rem non saltem Transilvaniae verum quoque Christianitati perutilem factura nosque ad vincula amicitiae arctissâ—me devinctura cui felicem vitam precamur manemus indubitati Datum in Castris ad Pagum Koozard positis die 26 Septembris An. Dom. 1662. Excellentissimae Dominationis vestrae Amicus Benevolus Michael Apafi In English thus Most Excâ—llent Lord and most worthy Friend THe Miseries of Transilvania with which for many years by the just Judgment of God we have been afflicted are manifest to all the Christian World nor can we but confess how between two most Potent Monarchs our Principality is so daily straitned that unless through the extraordinary Mercy of God we obtain some relief we believe not our selves longer able to subsist But to come nearer to our Business The Most Potent Emperor by his own Ambassadors and ours now lately returned hath promised us his most Gracious Protection yet notwithstanding the Pasha of Varadin not content with the Towns and Villages appropriated unto his Castle hath entered into the very middle of Transilvania and hath compelled for fear of death those Provinces entirely to yield themselves which never before were belonging to his Fortresses which being taken away it is impossible for the Principality of Transilvania longer to subsist and pay its annual Tribute wherefore we are constrained again to beseech the most Potent Emperor and the Supream Vizier as also we confidently desire your Excellency in that manner which your Excellency judges most convenient to be assistant to our Agent and with your Authority to countenance our Cause in which your Excelleney will not only perform a matter beneficial to Transilvania but to all Christendom and oblige us for ever with the Bonds of friendship and praying for all happiness of Life and Prosperity to your Excellency we remain your undoubted Friend Given in our Camp at the Village Koczard the five and twentieth day of September 1662. Your Excellencies Loving Friend Michael Apafi This Letter was received by His Majesties Ambassador with that humanity as was agreeable to his Noble Nature and with that sense of the Christian Cause as became a Religious Minister of the Faith's Defender and an Answer returned thereunto full of affectionate Piety and Compassion But it was feared that the time was elapsed and the Disease proceeded too far to admit a gentle Cure for it could not probably be expected that the Vizier should upon fair words or perswasions or by the force of passionate and Rhetorical expressions be induced to let slip the fair opportunity of an intire and total subjection of Transilvania And the truth is herein lay the ground of the great Quarral between these two Emperors for ever since the Defeat of Chimianus or as the Transilvanians call him Kemenius the Turk swallowing in his thoughts the intire subjection of that Country designed to reduce it to the Government of a Pasha rather than of a Christian Prince though elected at the Ottomon Port and in order thereunto advanced beyond the Limits of the ancient bounds and
the Grand Signior himself at which were only Forty Coftans given out which coming from so Grand a Personage were in value multiplied much above the number given by the Vizier The Presents brought by the Amdassadour were as followeth A Looking Glass of about a man's height in a silver Frame standing on a pedestal of Silver â—urning round on every side Two great Basons of Silver supported with three Pillars at three Corners a man's Body and a half high adorned with several Figures at one Pillar was fastned a gilded Bason over which was a Fountain Cock for the Water to run through Two great gilded Basons â—ull of holes at the Bottom to make a Passage for the Water Twelve Silver Candlesticks every one about Two Ells high Six Silver Flower-Pots Twelve gilded Ewers for sweet Waters Twelve Silver Dishes with Covers made after the form of Turkish Turbants all gilded within side Twelve gilded Dishes for Confects set upon Pedestals of Silver One round Table of Silver upon a Pedestal of about half an Ell after the manner of the Turkish Tables with many Devices Four Guns with Silver Stocks and one Cutlash of Silver Two great Writing Desks of Jaspar-Stone with Prospectives within Two other of Ebony Wood and Tortoise shell in-laid with Gold and Silver One great Ice Vessel and one great Drinking Pot of Silver Four Pieces of Spanish Tapestry wrought with Silver Fourteen Clocks with Turkish and Christian Figures A Grota with a Clock in it and a Case of Virginals which sound with the motion of Water that runs through it A Cupboard an Ell high adorned with Bosses of Silver in which was a Salt-box Candlesticks and other appurtenances thereunto A large Chest with Figures of Silver gilded A high Writing Desk of Silver gilded with many Boxes and Drawers which for the Art and Invention is not to be described Presents to the Valede or Queen Mother An embroidered Cushinet to sow upon in which was a Looking-Glass and a Virginal sounding of it self A large Looking-Glass in a Silver Frame Two Silver Candlesticks of an Ell and half high A Basket of Silver rarely worked and engraven Four great Cups To the Great Vizier Twelve Silver Platters with Covers Two Silver Candlesticks ¾ of an Ell high Twelve Silver Plates handsomly worked for Confects One Basket of Silver engraven Fourteen very large Silver Cups For other Ministers to be bestowed as occasion was Thirty two Clocks of several sorts some with Turkish and others with Christian Figures Twenty one Watches gilded Seven gilded Basons and Ewers The Weight of the Silver all together amounted unto Three thousand five hundred pound weight These were the Particulars of the Presents sent from the Emperor to the Grand Signior from whom he received the live value by the Ottoman Ambassadour And though this Relation may seem impertinent to the Weight of History yet in regard on such minute things many times greater matters depend and thereby the curiosity of the Reader satisfied I thought it not from our purpose to insert a List thereof This year gave the first Beginning to trade between the Ottoman Dominions and that of Genoua For in Company of the German Ambassadour in condition of a private Person came the Marquess Durazzo a Nobleman of Genoua with Letters from that Republick to the Grand Signior and Great Vizier importing their desire of friendship and commerce with the Ottoman Port. This design of opening a door to a new Trade was commenced and carried on wholly by the contrivance and power of the Family of the Durrazzo's falsly founded on the course allay of Money then currant in the Turkish Territories which proved not long durable as will appear by the Sequel This Marquess being arrived at Constantinople declared his Message which if favourably accepted an Ambassadour or Resident with Merchants should be sent to hold a Trade in the Turkish Dominions In answer whereunto the Vizier replied according to the usual complement That the Arms of the Port are always open to those who desire to entertain a friendship and correspondence with it But because in former days Ambassadours from Spain and Genoua having like promises of admission were notwithstanding through the union of the English and French and Venetians obstructed in their passage and forced to return home though one of them as far as Scio in his way and the other as Ragusa therefore this Marquess in remembrance hereof pressed the Vizier farther in his promise desiring him to give him the assurance that what opposition might be made to the contrary by other Ministers he would yet keep firm to that word he had given to his Republick The Vizier constantly promised that he would and if any other Ambassadours were not pleased with the friendship and Treaty of that day they might seek their remedy as they pleased and if they pleased might have liberty to depart The Marquess being satisfied with this assurance took Letters to his Republick in assurance thereof and Articles were given and Priviledges for Trade signed according to the Tenour of other Capitulations And being herewith dispatched he returned home by Land and the next year appeared again himself in the Person of Ambassadour Extraordinary to the Ottoman Court where after high and considerable Presents and great Expences made chiefly supported by the House of Durazzo a Resident was seated at Constantinople and a Consul at Smyrna where we will leave them for a while and some years after God willing take an account of the profit and loss this progging Nation had made by this Embassy and Trade But before we leave this point it will be worth our noting how hainously the French Ambassadour Monsieur La Haye took this entertainment of the Genoese in regard he was so concerned against his admission that he declared to the chief Ministers of State how he had received Orders to oppose the entrance of the Genoese Nation as highly prejudicial and obstructive to their Trade and in fine to acquaint the Grand Signior that in case he resolved to entertain them his Master would withdraw his Ambassadour and Nation and therefore they ought to consider whether a new Friend and an inconsiderable Republick ought to be perferred before the known and approved acquaintance of the powerful Empire of France But whatsoever the French Ministers were able to act to the contrary the Genoeses kept their stations in which they were the better secured by those frequent occasions of disgust his most Christian Majesty in defence of the Christian Cause had given to these Enemies of the Christian Faith. The Great Vizier and the German Ambassadour being now both at the Ottoman Port the Wars were concluded and every one began to dispose his affairs to a quiet and a reposed life But this Empire being still by God's Providence in a condition of growth and augmentation could not remain long in Peace nor long in health without exercise and action Wherefore no sooner was Germany at ease than the Visier
caverns and bowels of the Earth into the Air the soil became so brittle crumbling and as it were sandy and like ashes that it seemed not capable longer enduring of the Pick-ax or theShovel and was so porous that the light of some Mines glimmering into the others Traverses easily discovered each others Mines whereby it became equally a trade and custom to steal Powder Howsoever the Venetians so closely worked with those Props and Arts that they formed a considerable Mine which on the first of December they sprang with so much success that they wholly overthrew a Battery of the Turks directed against St. Andrea and buried all their Cannon But these French Gallants intended not from the first of their design to make this War their Trade or the Town of Candia their place of habitation but as Passengers or Pilgrims whose souls are active and hate idleness to give the World some proofs of their Valour and so away wherefore La Fueillade their General pressed Morosini to give leave that he and his Fellow-Souldiers might make a Sally and enter into the Enemies Trenches so as to yield a divertisement to those on the Walls and perform that Action and Enterprise for which they had designed and undertaken this Voyage of which some of them were so impatient that they would not expect Orders for their Sally as the Chevalier De Tresmes who alone entred into the Enemies Works and returned with his Sword all bloody at which La Fueillade his Commander was so incensed that he reproved him with this short reprehension I would as gladly see a Butcher as you Others by this example scarce refrained from the like amongst which Monsieur De Ville Franche drew a Turk by force from his Trench and brought him to the foot of the Bastion but there he was forced to quit his Prize for being shot in the Leg with a Pistol-bullet soon after dyed of the wound By these examples the Commanders seeing it impossible to repress or abate the mettle of these vigorous Spirits their bridle was taken off and licence given to make their excursion so that all things being ordered and contrived for a Sally before break of day in the morning they sâ—â—â—ntly issued forth and leaping into the Enemies Quarters valiantly mingled with them cutting and hewing down all before them their Banner was a Crucifix carried in the Front by Father Paul a Caâ—uchâ—n Fryer who little regarding those who followed him proceeded with his Ensign as unconcâ—rned as if he had been in Procession which so animated the Souldiery that like men conducted by miracle they broke through the gross Body of the Enemies Force and so violent they were in their combate and so intent to their business that they neither observed the multitudes of the Enemy which came upon them nor the signal of their Commander for a Retreat until at length discovering their danger they made speed with some disorder to return having lost an hundred and twenty Gentlemen in this rencounter whose heads being cut off as the custom of the Turks is were pitched upon the Pikes end and ranked before the door of the Viziers Tent amongst which the head of the Marquess Doradour did beyond all the others draw the eyes of the Turks who admired the clearness of his complexion and fairness of the hair which being breaded in tresses for the more convenience in fighting made death it self beautiful and was at the same time both his Enemies glory and their compassion The French having thus evaporated their fury with this Phlebotomy there not remaining above two hundred and thirty after this Sally of all those six hundred brought into Candia Monsieur La Fueillade with his reliques departed at which time the whole strength of the Town consisted of about seven thousand stranger Souldiers four thousand Inhabitants and two thousand Savoyards which was too weak a Garrison to resist so potent an Enemy so formally and strongly incamped unless supplied with new Recruits Wherefore the Dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburg mindful of their Christian Brethren in this distressed Siege contributed three Regiments towards their relief consisting in all of three thousand three hundred men The first under Count Waldeck the second under Molleson and the third under Count Radesfeld They made their Muster first at Verona and imbarking at Venice the 28 th of March on the 12 th of May 1669. they arrived aâ— Candia These valiant Souldiers desiring to ease the long besieged Companies demanded the Guards of Sabionera and St. Andrea which being by this time become hot and dangerous stations were not disputed with that heat of honour as formerly but were easily yielded to the fresh and new-come Souldiery Many now and various were the assaults which the Enemy made upon the Town hoping to carry it by dint of Sword but the Christians unweariedly maintained their valour and courage and particularly the Lunenburghers whose gallantry deserved its due praise and reward Their General Count Waldeck whilst he undauntedly incouraged his men and openly exposed himself on the Works received a mortal wound of which soon afterwards he dyed but before he expired he assembled together his Fâ—llow Souldiers and incouraged them in the Holy cause they were come to maintain giving them as a Farwel-Sermon instructions and perswasive arguments to a godly life and having confessed his owns sins in the presence of them all he resigned his spirit into the â—ands of his Creator leaving not only his own Forces but the whole Town disconsolate for the loss of so able a Commander And now the time of year approaching whereiâ— the Town expected its ultimate Relief and the Union of all the Princes of Christendom for raising the Siege which had continued for the space now of about two years the valiant Christians full of hopes daily animated each other casting their eyes to Sea-ward promised a reward to the first Descryer of the long desired Fleet. The Turks also being advised of the expected Succours resolved if possible to perform the business designed before their arrival and thereupon made one of the greatest assaults that ever was yet given to the Town in which though the Christians behaved themselves with all valour imaginable yet the Turks still gained farther footing and advantage And now it fared with the Town after every storm as it doth with a physical body after every accession of a Feaver which though it intermits for some time yet it leaves the Patient always more weak and debilitated than before Wherefore the Christians increasing in care and diligence the Captain-General disarmed several of his Gallies to supply the Town with what Force he could possibly contribute and the Engineers imployed their brains for destruction of the Enemy so that they fell again to their Mines and sprang one which took good effect soon after they sprang seven others after which four more near the Revelin of St. Spirito which blew up many Turks ruined their Lodgings and buried
up and turned her Head about upon which the Executioners being again called back the Cord was a second time applied and wrung so hard with the haft of a hatchet that at length she was dispatched and the News carried to the Royal Chamber The black Eunuchs immediately took up the Corpse and in a reverend manner laid it stretched forth in the Royal Mosch with about 400 of the Queen's Slaves encompassing it round about with Howling and Lamentations tearing the Hair from their Heads after their barbarous fashion moved compassion in all the Court. This Work being over the Vizier having given thanks to the Ichoglans or Pages for their pains gave order to produce the Banner of Mahomet which is carefully and reverently kept in the Treasury which being produced obliges all of that Faith from seven Years and upward to arm and come under it The Banner being brought forth with a rich Covering was advanc'd with great shouts of Allah Allah and carried by the Ichoglans out of the chief Gate of the Seraglio where it was shewn to the People who with wonderful admiration and devotion beheld their glorious Standard order was also given to proclaim through the whole City the Procession of the Heavenly Banner for they say that the Angel Gabriel brought it to Mahomet in the time of a great War made against the Christians as an infallible Sign and Evidence of Victory The opinion of this superstitious Flag so prevailed as it brought not only the Young and Healthful to fight under it but Sick and Old and Women judged themselves obliged to run to the defence of this Holy Ensign The news hereof and the death of the old Queen coming to the old Chamber of the Janisaries several of them and those also of the principal Heads began to murmure that it was now necessary to lay aside their private Interests and have a respect to their Faith and their Souls for should they oppose the Heavenly Banner they should run themselves into the State of Gaurs and Infidels and become liable to the same censure or punishment which is inflicted upon unbelievers But in the new Chambers Bectas endeavoured to remove this apprehension from the mind of his Souldiers by large Presents both of Gold and Silver perswading them to uphold their Fame and Reputation for that the Grand Signior and his Mother were Enemies to their Name and Designs and resolved to abase or destroy the order of that Militia and with assurance of Victory and encouragement against a People unarmed and undisciplined animated them to fight and to make the business more easie advised them to fire the City in several parts that so the People might be diverted and divided for safety of their own Goods and Dwellings But this proposition took not with the Officers and Souldiers who had many of them Houses and Possessions of their own in Constantinople but put them into great Distractions and Divisions in their Counsels In this pause came an Officer from the Grand Signior who to venture his life had the promise of a good Reward with a command in Writing which he threw in amongst them and galloped away as fast as he could crying out as he rode He that comes not under the Banner of the Prophet is a Pagan and his Wife divorced The Writing was taken up and carried to the presence of the principal Officers which being opened and read was to this purpose Bectas Aga I have made Pasha of Bosna Kara-chiaus I have made Captain-General of the Sea Kul-kahya I have made Pasha of Temiswar and Kara Hassan Ogle I have made Janisar Agasi and I require at sight of these Presents that every one of you upon pain of Death and ruine of his Family repair to his Duty and Station In this instant came news that the old Chamber of Janisaries had left their station and were run under the Banner without Arms and had refused Bectas's Mony and deserted his Cause and that the Spahees in great Troops and the Jebegees who command the Ordnance approached with Artillery to beat upon their Chambers The Spahees came thundring in upon the Janisaries in remembrance of their past Injuries and had certainly cut them off had not the Vizier with his Sword in his hand by good and bad words restrained them and appeased their Animosity The Janisaries of the new Chamber proclaimed their new Commander and visited him with their usual form of Congratulation running afterwards confusedly â—nder the Banner Kara Hassan the new elected Aga of the Janisaries went to the Seraglio to thank the Grand Signior for the Honour done him and with ten of his principal Friends was admitted to the Grand Signior's Presence who humbly kissing the Ground received the accustomed Vests and with some Admonitions was fairly dismissed and ordered to reduce his Janisaries to better Obedience By this time Bectas Kuskahya and Kara Chiaus with some of their Favourites remained wholly abandoned looking one upon the other full of Complaints and Railings each at other for the miscarriage of the Action But since it was not now time to condole but to save their Lives every one made to his House First Bectas fled to his Home where having ordered his Affairs he clothed himself in the Albanian fashion and escaped to the House of a poor Man formerly his Friend and Confident but the next day being discovered by a Youth was taken and being set on a Mule was with the scorn and derision of the People conducted to the Grand Signior's Seraglio and there strangled This Person was held in so much detestation by the common People that after his Death the Cooks and inferiour sort of Servants run Spits and Pitch-forks through his Body and plucking the Hairs out of his Beard sent them for Presents to their acquaintance through all Constantinople saying These are the Hairs of that Traitor who gloried that before he would lose his Head there should be raised a Mountain of Heads as high as St. Sophia But Kulkahya being come to his House filled his Portmantles with Gold and Jewels and accompanied with sixty Horse resolved to fly to the Mountains of Albania places so inaccessible that they have never yielded to the Turkish Yoke but finding himself hotly pursued in his Journey and that it was impossible to escape with so great a Number freely distributed a great part of his Gold upon his Retinue and thanking them for their Affection and good Intentions dismissed them all excepting one Servant with whom he journied with four laden Horses with Gold Jewels and other Riches and perceiving that this also was too great an incumbrance they buried a Treasure to the value of 600 thousand Dollars in the Country as they travelled which was afterwards found out by certain Shepherds who disagreeing about the division thereof the Matter came to be known to the Judg of that Country who seised upon it all and sent it to the Grand Signior's Treasury But Kulkahya travelling still farther with his
last with much importunity he told what great Abuse there was in the Butchery that the Shambles were ill served that he had missed the usual proportion of Flesh that morning for his Janisaries Chamber and what Punishment he was likely to suffer for having come short only one moment of his due time He added further That the Vizier and other Officers were negligent in rectifying these mean and low Disorders being wholly taken up in enriching themselves and intent to their own Interest But if I were first Vizier I would not only cause great plenty of Flesh in this City but at all times of the day it should be found by those who wanted it And now what benefit have either you said he by hearing this Story or what release am I like to have of Punishment by repeating it to you The Grand Signior afterwards returning Home and considering of the Discourse the Janisaries Cook had made him whether to prove the Abilities of the Man or because he conceived Providence had offered this Encounter or that Princes delight to exercise their Power in creating great Men from Nothing he sent immediatly for the Dervise who being come into his Presence and sensible of the familiar Discourse he had made him trembling cast himself down at his Feet supposing that the free Language he used of the Vizier and the Government was the cause he was now to lose his Life But it happened quite contrary for the Grand Signior encouraging him to lay aside his fear told him he was resolved to make him first Vizier to try an Experiment whether he was able to amend those Abuses he complained of And that herein he might not transgress the Degrees whereby he was gradually to pass he first made him chief of his Chamber the next day Captain the day following Aga or General of the Janisaries and thence with one step to be great Vizier who not only remedied the Abuse in the Shambles according to his promise but proved a famous and excellent Minister of State. And though Examples of the like nature are frequent among the Turks yet this may serve at present to shew in part the Fortune and Fate by which Men are raised and the unconstancy of Greatness and Glory amongst the Turks above any other part of the World besides It was a hard Problem in the Turkish Policy which as a wise Prime Vizier proposed to certain Pashaes amongst other Questions What courses were possible to be found out for a first Vizier to maintain and continue his Office and acquit this so dangerous Charge from the hazard and uncertainty to which it is liable For you see Brothers said he how few enjoy or grow Old herein their Vertue their Care and their Innocence are no protection some remain a Day a Week a Month others protract the Thred to a Year or two but at length they are to use our own Proverb like the Aâ—t to whom God gives Wings for their speedier destruction The Pashaes were for a while all silent not knowing what Reply to make or how to resolve so difficult and knotty a Point until Kuperli who was then the most ancient and perhaps the wisest Pasha as the Actions of his following Life have sufficiently testified first replied That in his Opinion the only and most probable Means for a tottering Vizier to fecure himself is to divert the Mind of the Grand Signior and other working Brains upon some Foreign War for Peace is that which corrupts the Dispositions of Men and sets them on work to raise themselves with Intestine and Civil Evils when War busies their Spirits and employs them to gain Renown and Glory by Martial Actions by which means Plots and Treachery are droven from our own Homes Consiliis astu res externas moliri arma procul habere Tacit. Lib. 6. And it is possible that Achmet the Son of Kuperli who began the last War with Germany might go upon this Maxim of his Fathers for in all Matters of his Government he is observed to walk by the same Rules and Directions which were bequeathed to him as well as his Inheritance And yet for all this doubful Estate of the Prime Viziers some have been known to manage this Office eighteen or nineteen Years and afterwards wearied with Care and Pains to acquit it by a natural Death from whence this Question may arise Whether the Favour or Displeasure of the Prince depends on the Destiny or Fortune we are born to or whether humane Counsel can assign a way between Contumaciousness and Flattery wherein to steer free from Danger and Ambition Vnde dubitare cogor fato sorte nascendi ut caetera ita Principum inclinatio in hos offensio in illos an sit aliquid in nostris consiliis lice atque inter abruptam contumaciam deforme obsequium pergere iter ambitione periculis vacuum Tacit. Lib. 4. But we find but few Examples of this kind for if Viziers have been Evil their own Cruelty and Covetousness have hastned their Fate if Good their Merits have been their Ruin lest the great Benefits their Merits have procured to their Prince should seem to want Reward or be dangerous or difficult to requite Beneficia eousque laeta dum videntur exsolvi posse ubi maltum antevenere pro gratia odium redditur Tacit. Lib. 4. The Revenues of the first Vizier which issue immediately from the Crown and are certain appendages to the Office are not great being not above 20000 Dollars yearly which arise from certain Villages in Romelia the rest of the Immense Riches which accrues to this Charge so full of Cares and Danger flows from all the Quarters of the Empire For no Bâ—shaw or Minister of Trust enters his place without his Present and Offering to the first Vizier to obtain his Consent and purchasea continuance of his Favour Those that have Governments abroad have always their Agents at Court who with Gifts continually mollify the Vizier's Mind entreating him to represent their Service to the Grand Signior in an acceptable and grateful manner And though at the Equinoctial in the Spring all Pashaes and any that have Governments of note are obliged to make their Presents to the Grand Signior of considerable value at which time the first Vizier neither will not want his own acknowledgments he is yet farther treated by all Persons with Sums of Mony as the Nature of their Business is which is not secretly but boldly and confidently demanded and the Bargain beaten as in matters of Merchandize and Trade and Justice and Favours made as vendible and set as publick to sale as Wares and Commodities are in the Shops and Places of common Mart so that if the first Vizier proves covetous as commonly they do who are raised from nothing and used always to thrift and resolves to lose nothing of what he may get his Income is incredible and may equal that which is the Rent of the Grand Signior and in a few Years amass
the Ends of the Empire for hereby Christians become the Instruments of Torment to their own Brethren Outrages and Spoils may be the more boldly acted more Turkish Officers employed on every slight Occasion on gainful Messages and the People by long Oppressions living under the Jurisdiction of a Prince who can rather spoil than protect may be reconciled more willingly to the Turkish Government and learn to value the Gentleness and Power of a Pasha compared with the remembrance of their former Agrievances But of this Government they will rather let them imagine the Ease and Sweetness than enjoy it for were a Pashaw the Governor the Power of a Turk would be concerned for their Protection he would esteem himself their Patron and his Honour engaged in their Defence by which Means these Countries would be relieved in a great measure of Extortions and Violences which is not so beneficial to the Turk as the present miserable Estate in which they remain Moldavia called by the Turks Bugdan was first made Tributary to the Turks by Mahomet the Great but under the small Tribute of 2000 Crowns per Annum afterwards Bogdanus Vayvod thereof Anno 1485 fearing to become absolute Vassal to the Turk taking to his Association the Kingom of Poland took up Arms against Selymus the Second by whom being drawn out from his Country Iohn a Moldavian born but one who had embraced the Mahometan Superstition was preferred by Selymus to the Principality but no sooner was he setled therein but he returned to his former Religion for which cause the Turk taking into his assistence the Province of Walachia made War upon Moldavia but Iohn the Vayvod by treachery losing his Life this Province fell totally into the Power of the Turk and was united to his Empire in the Year 1574. The Tribute in those days of this Province is recorded in the Turkish History to have been 40000 Zechins or 80000 Dollars but now whatsoever may be reported the Tribute of these Countries is or was the Reader may take this following Account for what is certainly paid being related to me from one who had many Years been employed for Vayvod both in Moldavia and Walachia by the Turk viz. the yearly Tribute of Moldavia is 1. To the Grand Signior 120 Purses of Mony each Purse containing 500 Dollars makes 60000 Dollars 2. Ten thousand Okes of Wax each Oke being two pounds and a half English weight 3. Ten thousand Okes of Honey 4. Six hundred Quintals of Tallow for the Arsenal 5. Five hundred Ox Hides 6. Five hundred Pieces of Canvas for Cloathing and Shirts for the Slaves and others Services for the Gallies 7. One thousand three hundred and thirty Okes of Wax for the service of the Arsenal 8. To the chief Vizier ten Purses of Mony or 5000 Dollars and a Sables Fur for a Vest. 9. To the Viziers Kahija or chief Steward one Purse or 500 Dollars 10. To the Tefterdar or Lord Treasurer the same as to the Kahija This is the ordinary and annual Tribute this Country acknowledges to the Supremacy of the Sultan and it were well and happy for this People were it all but there are so many accidental Expences Pretensions and Artifices of the Turks framed and contrived Messages merely to extract Mony and Presents from this oppressed and harassed People as do more than equal and sometimes double the charge of their yearly Tribute To which you may add the Price paid for the Principality which is every three Years set to sale and is To the Grand Signior 150 Purses or 75000 Dollars To the Valede or Queen-mother 50 Purses or 25000 Dollars To the Grand Signior's Favourite who is commonly some handsome young Youth 10 Purses or 5000 Dollars And to the Kuslir Aga or chief Black Eunuch who is Superintendent over the Ladies in the Seraglio 10 Purses of Mony. And lastly To the Prime Vizier and other Officers for as much as they can beat the Bargain All which Mony is taken up at Interest at 40 or 50 per Cent. and sometimes on condition to be doubled and this is done by Men who having no Estates of their own the Debt comes to be charged on their Country which is pillaged and poled for it to the very Bones first to satisfy the Price of the Principality with the Interest-mony for what it is valued then to pay the annual Tribute then to satisfy the multitude of covetouâ— Turks who like so many Vultures pursue after the Skeleton of this consumed Carkass And lastly the Prince himself must take his Accounts and take his Measures to be capable for the future after he hath laid aside the Ornament of his Office to live in some proportion agreeable to his past Condition and this is neither done moderately nor modestly but with a covetousness and greedy Appetite commonly incident to the nature of Men born of mean Parentage and educated with the parsimony of a scanty House who also thereunto add many grains of allowance to the limits of ther Gains in consideration of the yearly Gratuities they must make to reconcile the Friendship of the Turkish Ministers whereby they may enjoy protection for their Persons and Estates The State and Condition of the Province of Walachia is not better but rather worse and more afflicted than that of Moldavia for this Country is now equally with the former in the sole and entire disposal and possession of the Turk to whom it became first Tributary under their own Princes in the time of Sultan Bajazet Afterward in the Year 1462 Mahomet the Great undertook the entire Conquest of it then governed by its Vayvod Wladus whose younger Brother supported by the Turks and Factious Party in that Country possessed himself of the Principality contenting himself to be Vassal to the Turkish Empire afterwards in the Year 1595 Michael and Vayvod thereof joining himself with Sigismund of Transylvania and with the Vayvod of Moldavia waged a long and terrible War against the Turks until Revolutions Unquietness and Factions have so spent them as that they are at length become another addition to the Empire of the Turks who now impose on them a heavy Yoke and strait Curb not to be imputed to any thing more than to Divine Justice which takes occasion to exercise a hand of Severity against the unseasonable negligence Sedition and Variance of Christians amongst themselves at a time when the common Enemy to their profession attended only the opportunity of their own Dissentions to enter and devour them The Tribute of Walachia to the Grand Signior was formerly 120 Purses of Mony or 60000 Dollars yearly according to that of Moldavia and so still continued had not lately Mathew the Vayvod about the Year 1655 grown rich and therefore forgetful of his Condition having by Friends and large Presents at the Port procured a continuation of his Office for the space of nineteen or twenty Years rebelled against the Turk taking false measures of his
they remaining with the hatred whilst the Prince under colour of performing Justice procures both Riches and Fame together If it be suspected that any great Man intends to make Combustion or Mutiny in his Government or that his Wealth or natural Abilities render him formidable without farther inquisition or scrutiny all discontent of the Grand Signior is dissembled and perhaps an Horse a Sword or Sables Vest is reported to be presented and all fair Treatment is counterfeited until the Executioner gets the Bow-string about his Neck and then they care not how rudely they deal with him just like the Birds in Plutarch who beat the Cuckow for fear that in time he should become a Hawk And to make more room for the multitude of Officers who crowd for Preferments and to act the cruel Edicts of the Empire with the least noise times when a great Personage is removed from his place of Trust and sent with a new Commission to the Charge perhaps of a greater Government and though he depart from the Regal Seat with all fair demonstrations of Favour before he hath advanced three days in his journey triumphing in the multitude of his Servants and his late Hopes the fatal command Overtakes him and without any Accusation or Cause other than the Will of the Sultan he is barbarously put to death and his Body thrown into the Dirt of a foreign and unknown Country without solemnity of Funeral or Monument that he is no sooner in the Grave than his Memory is forgotten And this methinks is somewhat agreeable to the crafty Policy of Tiberius who sometimes would commissionate Men for Government of Provinces to whom before-hand he had designed not to permit licence to depart the City Postremò eò provectus est ut mandaverit quibusdam provincias quos egredi urbe non erat passurus Hence are apparent the Causes of the decay of Arts amongst the Turks of the neglect want of care in manuring and cultivating their Lands why their Houses and private Buildings are made slight not durable for more than ten or twenty Years why you find no delightful Orchards and pleasant Gardens and Plantations and why in those Countries where Nature hath contributed so much on her part there are no additional labours of Art to complete all and turn it to a Paradise for Men knowing no certain Heir nor who shall succed them in their Labours contrive only for a few Years enjoyment And moreover Men are fearful of shewing too much ostentation or magnificenâ—e in their Palaces or ingenuity in the pleasures of their Gardens lest they should bring on them the same Fate that Nabal's Vineyard occasion'd to his Master and therefore Men neglect all application to the Studies of Arts and Sciences but only such as are necessary and conducing to the mere course of living for the very Fear and Crime of being known to be Rich makes them appear outwardly Poor and become naturally Stoicks and Philosophers in all the points of a reserved and cautious Life And here I am at a stand and cannot conclude this Chapter without contemplating a while and pleasing my self with the thoughts of the Blessedness the Happiness the liberty of my own Country where Men under the protection and safe influence of a gratious and the best of Princes in the World enjoy and eat of the Fruit of their own Labour and purchase to themselves with security Fields and Manors and dare acknowledg and glory in their Wealth and Pomp and yet leave the Inheritance to their Posterity CHAP. XVIII The several Arts the Turks use to encrease their People is a principal Policy without which the greatness of their Empire cannot continue nor be encreased THere was never any People that laid Foundations and Designs of a great Empire but first thought how to make it populous and by which means they might best supply them with People not only sufficient for the Sacrifice and Slaughter of the War but for the Plantation of Colonies Possession and Security of what the Sword hath conquered We never underderstood how one People alone that was Martial and by successes in War had framed a large Empire was able from the mere original of its own Stock to abound with issue of natural Subjects to bear proportion with the stronger Nations nor how a handful of People with the greatest Policy and Courage in the World was able to embrace a large extent of Dominion and Empire It is true that Alexander did with an Army for the most part composed of Macedonians as it were in a Rant make a Conquest of the best part of the Eastern World but this Empire like a Ship that had much Sail and no Ballast or a fair Tree over-charged with Boughs too heavy for its Stem became a Windfall on a sudden The Turks therefore during the continuance of their Empire have not been ignorant of this Truth for no People in the World have ever been more open to receive all sorts of Nations to them than they nor have used more Arts to encrease the number of those that are called Turks and it is strange to consider that from all parts of the World some of the most dissolute and desperate in Wickedness should flock to these Dominions to become Members and Professours of the Mahometan Superstition in that manner that at present the Blood of the Turks is so mixed with that of all sorts of Languaâ—es and Nations that none of them can derive his Lineage from the ancient Blood of the Saracens The Romans who well knew the benefit of receiving Strangers into their Bosome called this freedom they gave Ius Civitatis whereby Foreigners became as lawful Possessours of Estates and Inheritances and had as much right to the common Priviledges as any that were born in the Walls of Rome and this Ius Civitatis was given to whole Families so that as Sir F. B. says well that the Romans did not over-spread the World but the World it self The English call it Naturalization the French Enfranchisement and the Turks call it Becoming a Believer for they joining with it a point of Religion not only the Proffers of the Goods of this World but also of Delights in the World to come make the Allurements and Arguments the more prevalent and it being an Opinion amongst them as over all the World that it is a Meritorious Work to create Proselytes scarce any who hath Mony to purchase a Slave but will procure one young and fit for any Impression whom he may name his Convert and gain Reputation amongst his Neighbours of having added to the number of the Faithful Of all this Number which yearly are added to the Professors of Mahomet none can retreat on lower Terms than Death and Martyrdom for Christ which causes may whose Consciences though touched with the sense of the denial of their Saviour yet having not Grace or Courage to assert their Faith on so hard a Lesson grow desperate or careless and die
any grant of savour or dispensation The Mahometan Religion tolerates Christian Churches and Houses of Devotion in places where they have been anciently founded but admits not of holy Buiâ—dings on new foundations they may repair the old Coverings and Roofs but cannot lay a Stone in a new place Consecrated to Divine Service nor if Fire or any accident destroy the Superstructure may a new strength be added to the foundation wherewith to underprop for another Building so that at last the Christian Churches in those Dominions must necessarily come to ruin as many already have submitted to the common fate of time And as it happened in the great and notable Fires of Galata first and then of Constantinople in the year 1660 that many of the Christian Churches and Chapels were brought to Ashes and afterwards by the Piety and Zeal of Christians scarce re-edified before by publick order they were thrown down again into their former heaps being judged contrary to the Turkish Law to permit Churches again to be restored of which no more remained than the meer foundation CHAP. III. The Arts wherewith the Turkish Religion is propagated THE Turks though they offer the specious outside of the foregoing toleration yet by their Law are authorized to enforce Mens Consciences to the profession of their Faith and that is done by various arts and niceties of Religion For if a man turn Turk his Children under the age of 14 years though educated with other Principles must be forced to the same persuasion Men that speak against the Mahometan Law that have rashly promised at a time of distraction or drunkenness to become Turks or have had a carnal knowledge of a Turkish Woman must either become Martyrs or Apostates besides many other subtilties they have to entrap the Souls of Christians within the entanglements of their Law. It is another Policy wherewith the Mahometan Sect hath been encreased the accounting it a Principle of Religion not to deliver a City or Fortress by consent or voluntary surrender where Mosques have been once built and Mahometanism professed And therefore the Turk no sooner enters a Town by Conquest but immediately lays foundation for his Temples thereby imposing an obligation of an obstinate and constant resolution on the conscience of the defendants which many times hath been found to have been more forcible and prevalent on the spirits of men than all the terrours and miseries of Famine Sword or other calamities It is well enough known upon what different interests Christianity and Mahometanism were introduced into the World the first had no other enforcements than the persuasions and Sermons of a few poor Fishermen verified with Miracles Signs and Inspiration of the Holy Ghost carrying before it the promises of another life and considerations of a glorified spirituality in a state of separation but the way to it was obstructed with the opposition of Emperours and Kings with scorn and contempt with persecution and death and this was all the encouragement proposed to Mankind to embrace this Faith but Mahometanism made its way with the Sword what knots of Argument he could not untie he cut and made his spiritual power as large as his temporal made his precepts easie and pleasant and acceptable to the fancy and appetite as well as to the capacity of the vulgar representing Heaven to them not in a spiritual manner or with delights unexpressible and ravishments known onely in part of illuminated Souls but with gross conceptions of the beauty of Women with great Eyes of the duration of one act of Carnal copulation for the space of sixty years and of the beastly satisfaction of a gluttonous Palate things absurd and ridiculous to wise and knowing Men but yet capable to draw multudes of its professours and carnal defenders of its verity And this Doctrine being irrational to the better sort of judgments causes the Lawyers who are men of the subtilest capacities amongst the Turks to mistrust much of the truth of the Doctrine of Mahomet especially the assertions relating to the condition of the other life For the representation of the delights of the next World in a corporeal and sensual manner being inconsistent with their reason leads them to doubt the truth of that point and so wavering with one scruple proceed to a mistrust of the whole System of the Mahometan Faith. One would think that in such men a way were prepared for the entertainment of a Religion erected on more solid principles and foundations and that the Jews might gain such Proselytes to their Law from which a great part of the Mahometan superstition was borrowed or that the Christians might take advantage in so well disposed subjects to produce something of the Mystery of Godliness But the first are a people so obnoxious to scorn and contempt esteemed by the Turks to be the scum of the World and the worst of men that it is not probable their Doctrine can gain a reputation with those to whom their very persons and bloud are vile and detestable nor is it likely the Christians will ever be received by them with greater Authority and more favourable inclination untill they acquit themselves of the scandal of Idolatry which the Images and Pictures in their Churches seem to accuse them of in the eyes and judgment of the Turks who are not versed in the subtile distinctions of Schoolmen in the limitations and restrictions of that Worship and the evasions of their Doctours matters not onely sufficient to puzzle and distract the gross heads of Turks but to strain the wits of learned Christians to clear them from that imputation But to return to our purpose The propagation of the Mahometan Faith having been promoted wholly by the Sword that persuasion and principle in their Catechism that the Souls of those who die in the Wars against the Christians without the help of previous acts of performance of their Law or other Works are immediately transported to Paradise must necessarily whet the Swords and raise the Spirits of the Soldiers which is the reason that such Multitudes of them as we read in History run evidently to their own Slaughter esteeming their Lives and Bodies at no greater price than the value of Stones and Rubbish to fill Rivulets and Ditches that they may but erect a Bridge or Passage for their fellows to assault their Enemieâ— The success of the Mahometan Arms produced another argument for the confirmation of their Faith and made it a Principle That whatsoever prospers hath God for the Authour and by how much more successfull have been their Wars by so much the more hath God been an owner of their Cause and Religion And the same argument if I am not mistaken in the times of the late Rebellion in England was made use of by many to intitle God to their Cause and make him the Authour of their thriving Sin because their wickedness prospered and could trample on all holy and humane Rights with impunity And I have known that
accompanied his Pipe with Tears and Sighs He was an excellent Musician and a deep Philosopher endued with those supernatural vertues as enabled him to work Miracles clear and notorious to all the world he was an Hermite called in Arabick Abdal went with his head bare and his body full of wounds without a Shirt or other Cloathing besides a Skin of some wild Beast thrown about his Shoulders at his Girdle he wore some fine polished Stone on his Wrists instead of Diamonds and Stones of value he wore counterfeit Jewels which carried a luster and fair appearance with them this man was called Sanâ—one Kalenderi who was continually singing Arabick Sonnets and according to them Musical Airs making also harmonious compositions so artificially that he seemed another David But how strict and sober this Santone was his Disciples or Proselytes are of another temper being wholly given up to jollity and delights they banish all kind of melancholy and sadness and live free of cares passions or torments of the mind and have this saying amongst them This day is ours to morrow is his who shall live to enjoy it and therefore studiously attend to lose no moment or least part of their pleasure but consume their time in eating and drinking and to maintain this gluttony they will sell the Stones of their Girdles their Earings and Bracelets When they come to the house of any rich Man or person of Quality they accommodate themselves to their humour giving all the Family pleasant words and chearfull expressions to persuade them to a liberal and free entertainment The Tavern by them is accounted holy as the Mosch and believe they serve God as much with debauchery or liberal use of his creatures as they call it as others with severity and mortification And the Turks say That in the Hegira 615 the Christians became Masters of Ierusalem by reason that the Institutour of this Order of the Kalenderi who had a chief hand in the Government of the City was found drunk when it was assaulted CHAP. XVIII Of the Edhemi THE original Founder of this Order was one Ibrahim Edhem concerning whom the Disciples themselves or Followers recount things very obscurely and tell us Stories that his Father was a Slave and Abasme by Nation and went one day under the Fort Horanan to discourse with Ibnimâ—lik King of Cairo that he was a man very comly facetious and sober in his carriage always desiring to please God continued in the Moschs reading the Alchoran and in prayer day and night with his face prostrate on the ground and often repeating these words O God thou hast given me so much Wisedom as that I know clearly that I am in thy direction and therefore scorning all Power and Dominion I resign my self to the speculation of Philosophy and a Holy Life His Servants seeing this his devout way of living applied themselves to the imitation of his Austerity and abandoning all greatness and vanities of the World applied themselves to solitude and mortification their superfluous Garments they bestowed upon the Poor giving to those whose necessities required them Their food is Bread made of Barley and Pray frequently with Fasting and their Priors apply themselves to a faculty of Preaching Their principal Convents are in Cities of Persia especially Chorasan Their Cloathing is of a course thick Cloth upon their heads they wear a Cap of Wooll with a Turbant round it and about their necks a white Linen Cloth striped with red In the Desarts they converse with Lions and Tigres salute them and make them tame and by the miraculous power of Divine assistence entertain discourse with Enoch in the Wilderness This and many other wild discourses they make of this Edhem but because there are but few of this Order in Constantinople being most appropriated to Persia I could not receive so particular an account of their Rule and Institutions as I have done of others CHAP. XIX The Order of Bectash THE original Founder of this Religion is of no ancient memory or standing nor had his Birth or Education amongst the Santones of Arabia from whence most of these superstitious pretenders have had their beginning but one of those that was an Army-Preacher that could fight as well as pray of whom my Learned Hogia gives me this account In the time says he that the Warlike and Victorious Sultan Amurath passed with his Army into Servia and overcame Lazarus the Despot of that Countrey and slew him in Battel Bectash was then a Preacher to Amurath who amongst other his Admonitions forewarned him of trusting the Servians but Amurath out of his couragious spirit relying on his own Wisedom and Force admitted a certain Nobleman called Vilvo upon pretence of doing him homage to approach near him and kiss his hand who having his Dagger ready and concealed stabbed Amurath to the heart and with that blow made him a Martyr Bectash knowing that this treacherous death of his Prince must needs also be the cause of his for being so near his person and prophesying of this fatal stroke sought not to prevent it but made preparations for his own death And in order thereunto provided himself with a white Robe with long Sleeves which he proffered to all those which were his Admirers and Proselytes to be kissed as a mark of their obedience to him and his Institutions from this action the custome hath been introduced of kissing the sleeve of the Grand Signior The Religious of this Order wear on their heads white Caps of several pieces with Turbants of Wooll twisted in the fashion of a Rope they observe constantly the hours of Prayer which they perform in their own Assemblies they go Cloathed in White and praise the Vnity of God crying Hu which is may he live and by these means obtain the Grace of God. This Santone hath many millions of Disciples and Followers now all the Janizaries of the Ottoman Porâ— are professours of the same Religion This Bectash at his death cut off one of his sleaves and put it upon the head of one of his Religious men part of which hung down on his shoulders saying After this you shall be Janizaries which signifies a new Militia and from that time begun their original institution so this is the reason why the Janizaries wear Caps falling behind after the manner of Sleeves called Ketche This Hagi Bectash was a person exceedingly attractive in his conversation holy to admiration a Man of great Worth and Majestick in his comportment he was buried in the City Kyr where they have many Convents and Religious followers who always praise and adore God and thus far my Hogia informs me But whatsoever he says this Order is the most abhorred in the World by the Kadizadeli because that Bectash left it to the free will of his Disciples either to observe the constant hours of prayer or not by which great liberty and licentiousness is entred amongst the Ianizaries who are Souldier-like not over zealous or
men not knowing how to comport themselves in prosperity growing mutinous and ambitious to have a hand in the Government became Confederates with the Ianizaries in conspiracy against the Life of their true Sovereign Sultan Osman to which Treason adding other Insolencies they justly were deprived of the favour of Sultan Morat and Sultan Ibrahim the terrours also of their late Sedition remaining freshly still impressed in the memory of this present Emperour Sultan Mahomet when they complotted against his own and his Mothers Life is the cause they have gone still declining from the degree of their pristine honour and eâ—â—eem for the Prince as he is the Fountain of Honour so is his countenance and favour the spirit and life which gives a lustre and sparkling to those Titles and Riches he hath conferred other Seditions hastned the ruine of their reputation and in the year 1657. when the Visier Mahomet Kupriuli on occasion of his Expedition against Ianova summoned the Asian Spahees to the Rendezvous in Hungary who instead of yielding obedience to the command of their General elected a new Captain a Spahee of their own rank called Hassan Aga preferred to be Pashaw of Aleppo whose name at that time I remember upon the hopes of the dissentions he might create amongst the Turks was greatly famed and celebrated over all Christendom These Combustions in Asia headed by the chief Enemy to the Visier caused Kupriuli to leave many of his designs against Transilvania uneffected and to clap up a Peace on reasonable and moderate terms of honour that so he might hinder the progress of a dangerous evil which now threatned and approached the Capital City for by this time Hassan Pashaw being arrived near the Walls of Scutari began to treat by way of Petition to the Grand Signior and represent that out of his zeal to the good of his Majesty and his Empire he had undertaken a long march to inform him of the corruption of his Ministers and the miscarriages of Government his tender years as yet not having ripened his judgment to penetrate these evils which with time his understanding would discover to be too inveterate and incurable All the oppressions and aggrievances of the Soldiery he seemed to object to the cruelty and oppression of Kupriuli and in appearance had nothing but thoughts of the honour and safety of the Grand Signior's person and doubtless this man was unfit to manage such a design for he entertained scruples of Conscience and a remorse and tenderness in spilling Mahometan Bloud considerations which are incomptable with the condition of a Rebel for who hath the impiety to draw his Sword against his Prince must stop at no bars either of Divine or humane right to maintain it This gave advantage to Kupriuli to effect his design upon his Enemy for in the interim of this Treaty Mortaza Pashaw of Babylon was commanded to possess the City of Aleppo and Hassan after many fair messages and promises from the Grand Signior and the Visier was persuaded to return again to Aleppo to capitulate with Mortaza concerning those points and aggrievances he sought to have redressed it being alledged to him that Mortaza had received instructions to treat and a Plenipotentiary power to grant and firm as far as should be reasonable and honourable for the Grand Signior to condescend Hassan with this easie answer returned toward Aleppo near which place he credulously committed himself into the hands of Mortaza who no sooner had him within his Tents but he concluded all controversies and capitulations by the decision of his head from his body The whole Army of Spahees immediately with the fall of their General was scattered and divided themselves but about three hundred of them being apprehended by Mortaza were sent to Constantinople where in the presence of the Grand Signior within the Walls of the Seraglio at Scutari they were all executed since which their pride hath ever been declining and their name become so odious amongst the people that upon the very nominating a Spahee the vulgar were ready to run upon them with stones or other Weapons that came next to hand so that now the Spahees are much eclipsed in their ancient fame and honour There are besides these two foregoing sorts of Spahees other four the first called Sag Vlefigi that is appointed to march on the right hand of the Spahaoglani and carry white and red Colours The second is Sol Vlefigi whose place is on the left hand of the Selahtari which carry white and yellow Colours The third Sagureba that is Soldiers of Fortune that are to march on the right hand of the Sag Vlefigi and carry green Colours The fourth is Sol Gureba whose place is to march on the left hand of the Vlefigi and carry white Banners but these four sorts of Spahees are raised and listed according to necessity and occasions of War and are obliged to all services and duties their pay is from 12 Aspers to 20 a day and are capable according to their merits of being promoted to one of the superiour Orders There is also another sort of more elevated Spahees called Mutafaraca who issue out from the Seraglio with more favour than the ordinary sort of Spahees and are four or five hundred in number their pay is forty Aspers a day and have always the obligation or duty on them to serve and attend the Grand Signior when he goes in progress for pleasure from one Village to another And thus much shall serve to have declared in brief concerning the institution and discipline of the Spahees also of the Militia of the Turkish Horse we shall now proceed to declare something of their Infantry CHAP. VII Of the Janizaries THE next main sinew of the Ottoman Power is the Order of Ianizaries which is as much as to say the new Militia and their Antiquity may be deduced from Ottoman the first King of the Turks but because they received honours and privileges from Amurath their third King our Turkish History accounts that to be the time of the first Original it is certain that in his time they were modelized and certain Laws prescribed both for their education and maintenance when by the counsel of Catradin otherwise called Kara Rusthenes Amurath's Prime Visier it was ordained that for the augmentation of this Militia every fifth Captive taken from the Christians above the age of fifteen years should be the dues of the Sultan who at first were to be distributed amongst the Turkish Husbandmen in Asia to learn and be instructed in the Turkish Language and Religion Their number at first was not accounted above six or seven thousand now with time they are encreased to the number of twenty thousand effective men but were there a list taken of all those who assume this title of Ianizary and enjoy their Privileges though not their Pay there would be found above 100000 six or seven go under the name of one Ianizary for gaining by this
with a notable speech perswadeth the Venetians to take up Arms against Mahomet the Great 264 a. At Vienna a strange Accident of two Citizens 842 a. Vienna by Solyman besieged 411 a b. badly fortified ib. b. the Walls blown up 413 a. thrice aâ—saulted ib. a. worthily defended 413 b. Solyman glad to forsake the siege 414 a. Villerius chosen Great Master of the Rhodes 382 b. his Letters to Solyman 384 a. his careful provision for defence of his City 385 b. 387 a. his notable speech unto the Rhodians ib. a. his worthy Commendation 390 a. in vain craveth Aid of the Christian Princes ib. b. recovereth the Spanish Bulwark from the Turks 395 b. his resolute Opinion concerning Solyman's demand for the yielding up of the Rhodes 399 b. his answer unto Solyman offering unto him most honourable entertainment 403 a. he departeth from the Rhodes with his Knights upon New-years-day 404 a. Visnovisky a valiant Prince poisoned by a Priest 932 a. A Vision in the Air at Modina Talnobi 953 b. Uladislaus King of Polonia chosen also King of Hungary 178 a. sendeth Ambassadors unto Amurath lying at the siege of Belgrade 179 a. goeth himself in Person against the Turks 188 b. taketh Sophia ib. b. spoileth Bulgaria 189 a. highly commendeth Huniades for his good Service ib. b. enfâ—rced with the Difficulty of the paâ—â—age of the Mountain Hemus retireth with his Army 190 a. by the perswasion of Huniadâ—s and others retireth and in vain seeketh to have opened the Mountain passage 191 b. in his retreat much troubled with the Turks 192 a. in great Triumph returneth to Buda ib. b. upon most honourable Conditions concludeth a Peace with Amurath for ten years 197 a. by solemn Oath confirmeth the League he had made with Amurath ib. a. absolved of that his Oath by Julian the Cardinal of S. Angel resolveth for the prosecution of his Wars against the Turks 199 a. by his Ambassadors and Letters craveth Aid of Scanderbeg ib. b. setteth forward against the Turks 201 b. fightetâ— the great and unfortunate battel at Varna 202 b. is there himself slain 203 a. Ulusales in the battel of Lepanto taketh twelve of the Venetian Gallies 590 a. seeing the rest of the Turks fleet discomfited flieth himself ib. a. is by Selymus the next year sent out with two hundred Gallies against the Venetians and their Confederates 602 a. meaning nothing less maketh shew of battel 604 b. cunningly retireth ib. b. flieth from Navarinum into the Bay of Modon 607 a. returneth with his weak Fleet to Constantinople 612 a. Uranacontes by Scanderbeg appointed Governor of Croia against the coming of Amurath 220 b. with chearful speech encourageth his Soldiers 221 a. rejecteth Amurath's Presents and threatneth the Bassa by whom they were sent 225 a. The Uscoques what manner of People they are 943 a. Uâ—trof Bassa of Van inciteth Amurath to make War against the Persians 654 b. by Amurath commanded to begin the War which he readily performeth 655 b. Usun-Cassanes the Persian King sendeth Ambassadors with Presents to Mahomet the Great 344 b. marrieth Despina the Daughter of Calo Johannes Emperour of Trapezond 278 b. in a great battel overthroweth Zenza the Persian King and killeth Cariasuphus his Son the last of the Posterity of the Mighty Tamerlane 279 a. in a great battel overthrown by Mahomet the Great 280 a. his death ib. a. W WAlpo treacherously yielded unto the Turks and the Traitors justly rewarded 497 a. The Walloons overthrow the Turks and Haiducks at Presburg 864 a. War betwixt the Grand Seignior and the King of Poland and the cause why 963 a. War in Barbary 900 a. Wars by Amurath the Third proclaimed against the Emperor Rodolph 86 b. Waswood an old Ianizarie his presumptuous speech unto Mahomet the Great Sultan 745 b. taken out of Prison by the rest of the Ianizaries 746 a. Water dear sold 447 b. The Wife of Prince Coresky being Prisoner in Tartary sendeth a Messenger to seek her Husband 941 b. who brings her Tidings of him 942 a. and ransoms her ib. b. Wiglase in vain attempted by the Haiducks 861 b. Wihitz the Metropolitical City of Croatia taken by the Turks 714 b. William King of Sicilia invadeth the Tirant Andronicus's Dominions taketh the City of Dyrrhachium passeth through Macedonia and spoileth the Country meeteth with his Fleet at Thessalonica which he also taketh by force and spoileth 36 a. William Long-Espie Earl of Sarisbury with a band of tall Soldiers goeth into the Holy Land 72 a. his stout answer unto Earl Robert the French Kings Brother 73 b. valiantly fighting is slain ib. b. Wladus Prince of Valachia putteth Mahomet the Great in fear 246 b. Wladus cruel 247 a. dieth in battel against the Turks ib. b. Wine for a space running down the Streets of Constantinople as if it had been Water after a shower of Rain 798 a. Wolfgangus Hoder upon the Danubius doth good service against the Turks 412 b. X. XAycus Pay-Masâ—er of the Rhodes intrapped by the Turks and sent Prisoner to be tortured at Constantinople 386 b. Xene the fair Empress the young Emperour Alexius's Mother maliciously accused of Treason and so wrongfully condemned 34 a. by the commandment of Andronicus sâ—rangled in Prison and so poorly buried 34 b. Xerif troubleth the Kingdoms of Fez and Morocco 914 a. his beginning ib. a. his Children grow potent ib. a. they kill the King of Morocco ib. a. fâ—ared by the King of Fez ib. a. dissention between the Brethren and eldest taken Prisoner by the younger ib. b. Xerif Mahomet assaults the King of Fez ib. b. Xiphilinus by Alexius sent over to Andronicus dealeth unâ—aithfully in his Message 32 a. Y. YOland Daughter to King John crowned Queen of Jerusalem and after by her Father given in marriage to Frederick the Emperor 67 b. Z. ZAcharias Groppa fighteth a Combat with Alhemaze a Turk 254 a. Zachel Moyses the Transilvanian Prince's Lieutenant in battel overthrown by Basta 798 b. â—lieth unto the Turks 800 a. Zacynthus Neritus and Cephalenia taken by Achmetes Bassa 291 a. Zamoschie the Great Chancellor of Polonia staieth the Tartars from the invading of Moldavia 755 b. invadeth Moldavia himself 756 a. his Letters unto Clement the Pope in defence of himself and of that he had done in Moldavia 759 a. driveth Michael the Vayvod out of Valachia and placeth another in his stead 788 b. Zanius the Venetian Admiral with a Fleet of 117 sail cometh to Corcyra 574 b. he with the Confederates setteth forward towards Cyprus ib. b. upon the foul disagreement of the great Commanders returneth 577 b. discharged of his Office and sent in bonds to Venice 878 a. Zeffer Bassa recovereth the Government of Bosna from Zellaly and shortly after dieâ—h 841 a. Zellaly formerly a Rebel in Asia reconciled to the Grand Seignior cometh into Bosna 832 a. defeateth Zeffer Bassa the Governour of that Province and seateth himself therein ib. a. by the Grand Seignior sent for to the Port 832 b. refuseth
Garrisons or Regiments respectively All Counties and Cities who by their Deputies shall appear before the Commissioners in order to such Reconciliation shall have safe Pasports to go and return with all security As to matters of Religion the Worship of God and Restitution of Churches all the particulars agreed unto and promised at the last General Diet held at Edemburg shall be perform'd and inviolably maintained As to the Statute made in the year 1655 concerning the Coronation of the King of Hungary on which various Glosses and Interpretations have been put which have caused great disorders and disturbances the same shall be referr'd to the next Convention of the States to consider thereof and Decrees therein what shall be most agreeable to the Fundamental Constitutions of the Nation So that a true and impartial Interpretation being put on all things as well in Religious as in Temporal Matters a good and lasting Peace and right understanding may pass between the King and his People And as to those who shall not take hold of this Golden Scepter now held forth unto them with this opportunity and within the time limited It is declared That they are excluded from Mercy and are guilty of all the Miseries which shall fall upon themselves and their Country and shall be Prosecuted as Rebels Outlawed and Felonious Persons and such as are never more to be receiv'd into Grace or Pardon To put this Commission into Execution were appointed the Duke of Loraine the Count Kinski Chancellor of Bohemia the Baron of Abele and Count Vinceslat of Altheim who were to open the same at Presburg on the 15 th day of February But in regard nothing was declar'd explicitely in this Decree touching Liberty of Conscience the Exercise of the Protestant Religion and the Conservation of Privileges it seemed so short and narrow and incomprehensive of the Cause for which the Malecontents had so long contended that very few thought it worthy the acceptance Howsoever some there were who being convinced by the Success of the Emperor that they had engolfed themselves in a desperate Interest embraced the offers of the Imperial Pardon such were the Baron of Baragotzi who abandoning Tekeli's party Fled with Three hundred Hussars into his Castle of Zakwar The Count Humanai and some other Hungarian Lords followed his Example and fortified themselves in the Castle of Angwar The Barons Ladislaus Francis Baragotzi Schienissi Clebai and Malkai intending a like Revolt were seized and by Order of Tekeli were put to Death With all these Misfortunes the Spirit of Tekeli being nothing abated but rather raised with Rage and Despair he Issued out a Proclamation of his own in Imitation of that of the Emperor's in which with an Imperial Stile he declared Pardon to all such as should within a time limited return to the defence of the Malecontented party of which he had owned himself the Head and Protector And for their better Encouragement he laid out a Project of constituting a Republick by which all the Nobility and many of the Commonalty should come to bear a share in the Government And to punish those who had Revolted from him he marched with a Body of 10.000 Men of his own and a considerable force of the Turks under the Command of the Pashas of Buda and Agria to Besiege Count Baragotski in his Castle of Zakwar of which Count Rabata having advice he presently marched with all his Forces against them which Tekeli fearing declin'd an Engagement in a Season when the Winter was scarce past but on a suddain turning his design on the Castle of Angwar which was defended by the Count of Humanai he took it by force in three Days time and carried away the Count himself to Cassovia where he cut off his Head. To revenge these Insults the Lituanians whom the King of Poland had left behind him in their Winter-quarters made frequent Incursions upon the Countries of the Malecontents especially into the County of Sepusa burning their Villages and carrying away their Cattle But this Militia remain'd not long in those parts before they were recalled by the King of Poland out of Hungary either because he was informed that his Soldiers deserted daily or else out of some pique or discontent of being refused to be Mediatour and Guaranty for the Peace with the Malecontents for which Reason he declared That he would not concern himself in a War against Tekeli and his Complices but against the Turks only to which the Articles of Alliance did oblige him and to no other The Spring being now advanced and Tekeli at Cassovia he Wrote a Letter from thence to the Pope Dated the 12 th of April wherein he represented That ever since the last year he was very desirous to put an end to the Troubles of Hungary upon those Terms and Conditions which were agreed with the Baron Saponara And being not able to obtain from the Emperor a Grant to constitute the King of Poland Guaranty of this Treaty he was forced to take new Measures and to support Himself and his Interest under Protection of the Turks which his Enemies interpreted to be a Renuntiation of his Christianity But he sacredly protested to his Holiness that he took up Arms for no other Reason and Cause than the Defence of his Country and to conserve himself from entire Ruin having had the experience of many years that the Emperor was in no State or Condition to defend him That He and his Party did not deserve the Odious Name of Rebels considering that the Arms they took up were in Defence only of the Liberties and Privileges granted unto them by the ancient Kings of Hungary and particularly by King Andrew the II. whose Letters are conserved amongst the Archives of the Vatican which if his Holiness would be pleased to inspect and examine he would easily find that those Articles have been so far from being performed that they have been wholly laid aside and violated in every particular That as to his own Person he hath been despoyled of his Estate and made an Exile in the very tender years of Youth with others of the Hungarian Nobility who could never obtain redress upon their complaints but instead thereof received Sentence of Death by corrupt and partial Iudges without any regard to the formalities prescribed by Law. And tho' in this Cause not only Protestants but great numbers of Catholicks were concerned amongst which George Lippa Archbishop of Gran was one a Person very Zealous for Restoration of those Liberties which the Emperor had Sworn to maintain when in the year 1655 he had received the Crown of Hungary at Presburg yet nothing could avail towards moderating the violent Proceedings of that Council by which the Emperor was governed so that having no other remedy they were enforced as their last Refuge to have recourse unto their Arms not with design to act against the Catholick Religion or to the prejudice thereof either in Hungary or elsewhere
it was the Nest and Sanctuary for Pyrates and Robbers who in the times of Peace continually infested Corfu Parga and Pazò the News thereos was satisfactory and pleasing to all the Inhabitants of that Coast So that when the Captain General on the 13 th of November enter'd into Corfu he was there received with loud Acclamations extolling the Glory of his constant and continued Successes with joyful remembrance and with particular Thanks for having reduced the Castle of Gomenizze which had long been an ill Neighbour and had much annoy'd and infested their Seas Thus were the Affairs of the Turks ruinous as well at Sea as at Land in Hungary and in the Morea the Pasha overthrown at Esseck was called Siaus and so was the Captain Pasha or Admiral of the Gallies as if there had been something of Misfortune in the Name Siaus who was Admiral of the Fleet had formerly been Mosaip or Favourite and in his younger Years being a comely Person was much beloved by the Grand Seignior he was always in his Presence and ever had the Honour to be Familiar with him in Conversation to be Clothed like his Master and to Ride equal with him on the right Hand which is the inferiour place with the Turks But he that had always been educated in a Court was upon the tryal found unfit and unable to perform the Office of an Admiral at Sea and therefore was order'd to leave the care and conduct of the Fleet to Mazzamama so called because he had killed his Mother but he was a good Sea Officer bred up in the Gallies from his youth and one of the Beys of the Archipelago of which there are Twenty four in number who are obliged to Arm and Man their Gallies at their own Cost and Charge having in Consideration thereof the Haratch or Pole-money of the Islands setled on them for their Maintenance He was the Son of a Captain Pasha killed by the English in Fight at Sea for which cause he hath ever since declared his Hatred and Malice against our Nation He was a very fat and corpulent Man afflicted much with a Fistula in Ano which he cherished by excessive Eating and a Sedentary Life using no other Exercise than what he received by the motion of his Gally Siaus Pasha being discharged from his Office of Admiral was made Generalissimo of all the Land Forces in the Morea but he was as unfit to Command an Army as he was a Fleet for he was no Soldier nor of any experience in a Camp and besides he was affected with an incurable Lameness in one of his Knees whereby he could neither Walk nor mount on Horse-back without help His Success was agreeable to his Abilities for as we have said his Forces were defeated his Kaya or Lieutenant killed and he himself with difficulty escaped When the News of these ill Successes came from the Morea Hungary and other parts the Court at Adrianople used all imaginable Arts to conceal the losses the Curriers were order'd to come privately by Night into the Town and none durst to Cabal or Discourse of News which was the cause that nothing but Lies were whisper'd about the Town Upon these Emergences frequent Councils were held at which the Mufti Kadileschers or Chief Justices Reis Effendi or Secretary of State and Ianizar-Aga all firm and entire Friends to the Grand Vizier were always present and assistant to him by which unusual method of proceeding in this Court he gave the World to understand that acting nothing of himself he was not to be blamed or censur'd for the Success or to be accountable for the miscarriages of the War. And whereas there were several Murmurings amongst the People and in the Army especially against the Vizier for not going to the War he publickly desired the Grand Seignior's leave and commands to go to which when the Sultan seem'd inclinable the Council unanimously opposed it representing that it was never accustomary nor decent for the Emperor to send his Representative with his Seal and Authority without a Royal Army or without expectation of performing some Signal Enterprize And that on any other Terms or Circumstances than these his going would be Prejudical and Dishonourable It was farther alledged That the attendance on the Vizier would consist of many useless Mouths and the occasion of business draw many Followers to his Court who must necessarily consume a great part of those Provisions which would be more usefully emploied for the use and sustenance of the Camp. But the best Excuse of all was the ill state of the Vizier's health concerning which there were various Reports sometimes it was said that he was desperately ill then again that he was recover'd then that he was relapsed some said that he was Sick in Policy others in Reality but what seemed most probable was that he was afflicted with the Spleen by reason of which all kind of ill News made a sensible alteration in him The Cares which constantly tormented him kept his Mind always bent and increased the pain in his Side which kept him from Repose These matters with Sixty six years of Age were Afflictions sufficient to weary out and harass a Body much more strong and robust than his Thô formerly he had the Report and that not without reason of a bad Man yet after his being Vizier his Comportment was with all Justice and Moderation and thô naturally he was Passionate yet striving with his Temper he became mild and easie in his Conversation Our English Nation in Turky were sensible of this great change of his Humour for he became kind to them which is extraordinary in a Turk without other advantage to himself than his usual and regular Presents It was impossible but that the whole Empire even as far as to Basora to Babylon or Bagdat and the most remote parts of the East should feel the dire effects of this unfortunate War little Money was stirring and Trade interrupted the want of which affects the Publick as much or more than private Members The Grand Seignior was forced at the beginning of the last Campaign to disfurnish his Coffers in the Seraglio of all the ready Money in Cash for the Riches there consists for the most part in Jewels and rich Furniture rather than in Banks of Money After which about the middle of the Summer they ransacked the Treasury of the Stables and took out from thence in Silver and Gold Stirrups and other Horse-furniture which they caused to be Coined with 30 l. per Cent. Allay to the value as was reported of Two thousand Purses which made just a Million of Dollars Misfortunes and Scarcity made the Soldiers mutinous upon every small occasion and averse from going to the War The Lord Treasurer was removed from his Office and made Pasha of Damascus and sent to supply the place and charge of Siaus Pasha killed at Esseck and order'd to repair the Bridge and defend that Pass A Party of
2 d of September 1686 which gave the capital City of the Kingdom of Hungary into the Hands of the Emperor after it had remained in Possession of the Turks ever since the Year 1529 when it was taken by Solyman There were kill'd only Four hundred Soldiers and about Two hundred wounded for where is a great Consternation there is seldom much Bloud spilt on the victorious side Of the Turks about Three thousand might be slain and Two thousand made Captives of which last the Kahya to the Pasha of Buda or his Deputy was made Slave to the Elector of Bavaria the Aga or Commander of the Ianisaries to the Duke of Loraine as also the Mufti the Treasurer the Hasnadar or Privy-Purse to the Pasha the Sâ—cretary to the Pasha with several other Officers of Note Many others were taken and kill'd who endeavour'd to make their escape over the River some of them being overtaken by the Talpatz in their swift-rowing Boats and others taken or kill'd by the Garrison of Pesth at their landing on the other side but still was the City all this Night in continual Flames and Confusion for the Turks had conserved diverse Stores of Powder and Fire-works in places near the Attacks which were not regarded by the Christians when they first enter'd the Town where the Fire encreasing and running from House to House at length touching the Magazines they blew all up with so terrible a noise that the General began to suspect some Treason and fear'd that all the Town was min'd in subterranean Vaults but considering afterwards the place from whence the Blow came it soon appear'd that it was all nothing but an Accident howsoever with that and other terrible Blows very few Houses in the City remained standing and the Roofs uncover'd only the principal Church of the City was not much damnified and the chief Magazine or Store-house was conserved by the great Care and Diligence of Count Rabata Commissary General with another containing vast quantities of Powder and other warlike Provisions A stop being put as we have said by the Authority of the Generals unto the Slaughter and the Fury of the Soldiers growing cool they began to hearken to the voice of their Commanders who with good Words and promises of Reward prevail'd with them to apply themselves to the extinguishing of the Fire which by the assistance of God was in a few Hours overcome But a more wonderful deliverance by the Hand of God's Divine Providence was the discovery of two Mines under the Castle charged with Ten thousand Pounds of Powder which the Turks reserved for their last and parting Blow which had they taken Fire would not only have destroyed the remainder of the City with the Walls and Bulwarks but therewith buried the greatest part of the Assailants in the Ruins and given a sad occasion or cause of Rejoycing and Triumph to the surviving Conquerors but the Turks amidst this great Consternation had forgot these Mines or else abstained from that desperate Attempt in hopes of Life This was the Fate of this great and strong City of Buda the Capital of all Hungary and Residence of the Beglerbei of that Kingdom under whom are Twenty Sangiacks He is stil'd the Vizier of Buda and esteem'd after the Grand Vizier Azem and the Pashas of Grand Cairo and Babylon who are always entitul'd Viziers the next in order of Superiority and because his Station is on the Frontiers and Neighbour to such a Formidable and Martial People as are the Germans they commonly chuse Men of Valour and Conduct for that Employment of which we have had a good Proof and Evidence in the Person of the late Pasha who decently Died on the Breach amidst the croud of Common Soldiers This City was at first taken by Solyman the Magnificent in the Year 1526 and afterwards in the Year 1527 was subdu'd by Ferdinand the I. King of Bohemia Brother to Charles the V. In the Year 1529 Solyman regain'd it by Treachery of the Garrison and after it laid Siege to Vienna it self which after many bloudy Assaults he was forc'd to raise in hast and confused Precipitation After which Buda sustain'd eight several Sieges without any Effect The first was by Ferdinand King of Bohemia in the Year 1530 which he was forced to raise with shame and loss The second was by the same King under the Conduct of his General Leonard Festius in the Year 1540 but the King dying the Siege was raised The next Year being 1541 the General Rogensdorf laid Siege a third time to that City which again was reliev'd by a powerful Army under the Command of Solyman The Marquess of Brandenberg in the Year 1542 made an appearance as if he had a design upon Buda and came so near as to Attack Pesth but being repuls'd thence with some loss he return'd back into Germany In the Year 1598 the Count of Swartzemburg having by a Stratagem taken Rab from the Turks marched thence towards Buda and in the Month of October laid Siege thereunto with the Forces of Mathias the Arch-Duke which after thirty Days time he was forced to raise by reason of the continual Rains And what is observable the Turks did the like at Waradin on the Frontiers being under the same Inconveniences The Christians made an Attempt to 6 th time upon this City in the Year 1602 under the Conduct of General Rosworm And thô they had ruin'd the Bridge over the Danube and taken by force the City of Pesth yet being overtaken by the rigour of the Winter-season they were forced to desist from that Design The 7 th Siege was laid in the Year 1684 by Charles Duke of Loraine Generalissimo of the Imperial Forces and of the other Princes of Germany which after many bloudy Assaults was again raised as we have at large declared in the Historical Treatise of that Year But now at length after many Battles unfortunate to the Turks this Fortress was forced to surrender to the said Duke of Loraine being over-whelm'd by the Power and Valour of the Christians and taken in the sight of the Ottoman Army Commanded by the Grand Vizier himself in which was the Flower of the Turkish Troops but having lost the best and bravest of their Soldiers in former Battles and discourag'd by a Series of evil Successes their Courage fail'd them and no wonder when they were generally possess'd with an Opinion that God fought against them in sense of which so soon as the City was taken the Vizier with such Precipitation raised his Camp and marched away that he was forc'd to burn a great part of his Baggage to prevent the falling of it into the Hands of the Enemy And indeed it was no wonder that the Vizier with fear and dread should hasten away for the Duke of Loraine had dispatch'd Count Budiani with Six thousand Hungarians to march in pursuit of him whilst he with the other
year 1692. designed to Negotiate the Peace together with Monsieur Colyer the Ambassador of Holland between the Emperor and the Sultan Achmet as we have â—aid being Dead an end was put for the present to that Negotiation and the Ambassador of Holland returned back from Adrianople without being able to effect any thing in order thereunto the Resolution of continuing the War was the loud Report and Discourse common in the Mouths of all People and that no Treaty should be set on Foot until the Recovery of Buda from the Germans and of Morea from the Venetians and herein were the Turks more animated by the Assurances of the French Ambassador that his Master was sending two great Men of War from France laden with Bombs Granadoes Carcasses and with all sorts of Military Preparations and with them 200 French Engineers and Gunners of great Experience in the Management of Fire-Works and other Warlike Instruments fit and proper both for Sea and Land And farther to show his Zeal in this Cause the Ambassador promised to go himself in Person to the War. To give more life to the Ambassador's Words the Son-in-Law to Tekeli returned from France and in the beginning of this Year arrived at Smyrna whence immediately without any stop or stay he took Post for Adrianople being fully freighted with Letters and Promises from the French King to the Sultan and presents to the Chief Officers of State to perswade them to Continue and Maintain the War so that now all Thoughts and Imaginations of a Peace were vanished and laid aside Wherefore in order to a War a Project was laid by the two Cadileskers or Chief Justices to raise both Men and Money by a more easie way and manner than had formerly been done for these being the Chief Justices on whom all the other Inferiour Justices of the Empire depended an Exact and Secret Calculate was made of the true Number of the Spahees and of the People in the several Provinces and Districts through the whole Empire This Calculate was secretly carried to the Vizier and Mufti where after it had been very seriously debated it was well approved as a Means to ease the Publick Treasury by a more equal Tax on all Villages and Towns according to the Number of the Inhabitants and hereon a great Foundation was made of raising many Thousands of Men and much more Money than the last Year During all this time the Turks remained in great apprehension of some suddain Insurrection of the Arabs and discontented Militia in Asia and whereas the greatest danger appeared to be in the Parts and Country of Sebaste or Sivas a Teftish Pasha or General Inquisitor was sent with a strong Party of Horse to enquire after all loose People Vagabonds or such as could give no good Account of themselves with a full Power of Life and Death which the Turks commonly execute with all Rigour and Arbitrary Power imaginable I have known a Teftish Pasha sent into Asia to enquire after Vagabonds with a Party of 500 Men who pitching his Tents near some Town or Village into which he hath sent some of his Men to take up such Persons as the People should offer to them for disorderly Livers the which being brought before the Pasha the Imaum or Parish Priest hath also been cited and fetting the Persons before him in Rank and Order it hath been demanded of the Imaum Whether such a Person be a Good Man or not How he Lives What Trade he follows Or Whether he comes constantly to the Mosche to Prayers according to the Rules which the Alchoran requires In case the Imaum answers that he knows him not or his Way of Living or that he is not a Good Man he is immediately without other Process Accusation or Proof Hanged up upon some Tree or Bough which is near to the Pasha's Camp. Howsoever this could not hinder two Princes of the Arabs belonging to Arabia Deserta from Robbing and Infesting the Countries about Damascus who gave a stop to all Mahometan Pilgrims going to Mecca until they had paid such Cafar or Head-Money for their Passage as they demanded and until the Grand Seignior had paid them a very considerable Sum in Gold for what was in Arrears due formerly from the Mahometan Pilgrims In the mean time an Ambassador from Persia to the Grand Seignior arrived at Scutari which is a Town in Asia on the other side of the Water just opposite to Constantinople to which Place upon the News hereof the Chimacam sent over four Commissaries to Entertain him The Train and Equipage of this Ambassador was very Noble and Great having an Attendance with him of 338 Persians bravely Mounted on Horse-back and richly Habited with 60 Camels laden with Presents for the Grand Seignior and his Court consisting of very rich Persian Carpets interwoven with Gold as also many Vests of Cloth of Gold besides other Gallantries and Rarities of that Country with an Elephant and 12 White Camels This Ambassador stayed not more than a Night at Scutari before he passed over into Europe and continued his Journey to Adrianople where the 2d of the Month of February he made a Solemn and a Stately Entry he was a Person of a Comely Stature of a Chearful Countenance Prudent and Generous in his Behaviour which are Qualities greatly taking in all Courts of the World. In his Retinue he had the Sons of several Princes of Persia which served to add unto the Splendour and Grandeur of his Embassy He was Lodged by Command of the Sultan in that Magnificent Palace of Kara Mustapha the late Vizier which was richly Furnished for him but there was no great need of any of the Turkish Moveables for he had spread the Rooms with his own Rich Carpets and other Coverings the like of which had never been seen in the Ottoman Court. Moreover all the Kettles and Utensils of the Kitchin were all of Silver together with the Tables such as never any Ambassador had before And for better Adornment of this Noble Palace there were certain Fountains which spouted Water as high as the Upper Story of the House The Original Intention of this Embassy was designed at first to Congratulate the coming of Sultan Solyman to the Throne but the News of Solyman's Death meeting the Ambassador on the Road and that Sultan Achmet his Brother had succeeded to his Place the Ambassador staid on the way for other Instructions which were not altered at the Persian Court in any other manner than only to change the Name of Solyman in the Credential Letters to that of Achmet The Turks hastned the Return of this Ambassador so much as was possible howsoever his Departure could not be precipitated before the usual and common time of other Ambassadors to whom it is the Custom to show the Lutfé or the solemn manner of giving out the Pay to the Janisaries in the Divan where the Ambassador is Treated with a Dinner at the Vizier's Table but this
Selymus with his Army passeth over the River Achomates strangled Amurat and Aladin the Sons of Achomates fly the one into Persia and the other to Egypt Amurat spoileâ—h Cappadocia Selymus râ—sâ—lveth to invade the Persian Chendemus â—assa disswades Selymus from going any further against the Persians Chendemus Bassa by the commandment of Selymus slain Selymus senâ—eth oâ—t his Scouâ—s who do râ—turn with bad news Selymus passeth over Araxes Hysmael sends an Herald to Selymus Selymus his answer unto Hysmael The order of Selymus his Battel Hysmael with thirty thousand Persians giveth Battel to Selymus with three hundred thousand Turks The great and mortal Battel between Hysmael and Selymus Vasta Ogli slain The terror of the Battel between Selymus and Hysmael The Persian Tents taken by the Turks The Ianizaries in mutiny against Selymus Selymus in passing the River Euphrates receiveth great loss Selymus cometh to Amasia The former History as it is reported by Jo. Ant. Mâ—â—navinus a Genoway present at doing thereof Selymus and Hysmael compared together Hysmael majestical Selymus tyrannical Hysmael courteous Selymus churâ—ish The Persians better Horsemen than the Turks The cause why Hysma â— came with so small an Army againsâ— Selyuâ—us The Countries â—â—bject to Hysmael Selymus with a new Army entreth into Armenia Aladeules his Kingdom Aladeules flies into the Mountains Aladeules taken and brought to Selymus is put to death Selymus invadeth Hungary Selymus goeâ—h to Iconium The causes moving Campson to fall out with Selymus The order of the Mamalukes The imperious Government of the Mamalukes in Egypt Judea and Syria The beginning of the Government of the Mamalukes in Egypt The moderate and happy Government of Campson Campson his answer to the Embassadors of Selymus Selymus converteth his Forces from the Persians against Campson Selymus encourageth his Souldiers to go against the Mamalukes The wholesome Counsel of Gazelles for protracting the War. A secret grudge between Campson and Cayerbeius Governor of Comagena The Mamalukes notable Souldiers The order of Campson his Battel The order of Selymus his Battel The death of Campson Aleppo delivered to Selymus by Cayerbeius the Traitor The dead Body of Campson laid out for all men to view Paulus Jovius Illust. virorum Elog. lib. 4. Selymus coming to Damasco Notable discipline in Selymus his Army Tomombeâ—us by the general consent of the Mamalukes chosen Sultan of Egypt Gaza yielded to Sinan Sinan advertised of the coming of Gazelles goeth secretly to meet him The Battel between Sinan Bassa and Gazelles Selymus doubting Sinan Bassa to have been lost becometh Melancholy News of Sinans Victory comforteth Selymus Sinan Bassa goeâ—h to meet Selymus as he was coming to Gaza Tomombeius 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 of Selyâ—â—s by an 〈◊〉 way makâ—s great confusion in Tomombeâ—us Camp. Christian Canoniers serve the Turks against the Egyptians The order of Selymus his Army Sinan Bassa General of the Field Sinan Bassa with most of his Followers slain by Bidon Mustapha with his Asian Souldiers overthroweth the left Wing of the Sultans Army Selymus causâ—th the Diadare and valiant Captain â—idon to be slain Tomombeius his purpose discovered to Selymus TheEgyptians diveâ—sly afâ—ected toward the Mamalakes The description of the great City of Caire The Pyramids of Egypt Selymus encourageth his Souldiers to the wining of Caire A most mortal Battel fought in Caire A long and terrible Fight Caire taken by Selymus Gazelles his speech to Selymus Albuchomar discovereth to Selymus the power of Tomombeius and the treachery of them of Caire The causes moving Selymus to send Embassadors to Tomombeius Selymus his Embassadors slain by the Mamalukes Tomombeius distresseth the Turks in passing the bridge made over Nilus The Mamalukes give a fresh charge upon the Turks The Mamalukes put to flight Tomombeius taken and brought to Selymus Tomombeius tortured The miserable and of Tomombeius last Sultan of Egypt Paulus Jovius Illust. virorum Elog. lib. 4. The Egyptians in doubt of their Estate bewail the death of Tomombeius Selymus câ—nningly reduceth the Arabians to his obedience Of this Cortug-Ogli see more in the life of Solyman Cayerbeius the Traitor made Governor of Caire and Egypt Jonuses envieth at the prâ—ferment of Cayerbeius Selymus commanded the Wages of his Souldiers to be left in Garrison at Caire to be augmented Selymus calleth for Jonuses Bassa to answer the matter The answer of Jonuses Bassa The death of Jonuâ—es the great Bassa Jonuses Bassa jealous of his fair Wife Manâ—o The fair Lady Manto cruelly slain by her jeâ—lous Husband The cause why Hysmael invaded not Selymus wholely busied in the Egyptian Wars Selymus purposing to invade the Christians struck in the Reins of his Back with a Cancer The death of Selymus The 〈◊〉 judgment of God. Phi. Lonicerus Turcicae Historiae Tomo primo lib. primo Selymus before his death commendeth the tuiâ—ion of his Son Solyman to Pyrrhus the Bassa The bloody and tyrannical Precepts left by Selymus to his Son Solyman which he afterward most assuredly kept as is to be seen in his life following Solyman hardly perswaded that his Father was dead Gazelles Governor of Syria rebelleth against Solyman Gazelles slain Belgrade won by Solyman Philippus Villerius chosen great Master of the Rhodes Cortug-Ogly the Pyrat perswadeth Solyman to besiege the Rhodes Solymans Letter to Villerius Great Master of the Rhodes The answer of Villerius to Solymans Letter Solymans Oration to his Men of â—ar declaring his purpose of bâ—siâ—ging the Rhodes Solyman maketh preparation against the Rhodes Villerius prepareth to make resistance against the Turks Solymans Letter to Villerius Pyrrhus Bassa his Letter to Villerâ—us The answer of Villerius to Solymans Letter Villerius his answer to Pyrrhus the Bassa his Letters Villerius advertised of the coming of the Turks Fleet. The carefulness of the Grand Master Villerius his Oration unto the Rhodians Solymans threatning Letters to the Rhodians The Rhodians for fear of the Turks destroy their Suburbs and places of pleasure without the City The fear of the Country People The Chancellor his Speech perswading the Rhodians â—o fight with the Turks Gallies The worthy commendation of the Great Master The Turks Fleet descried at Sea troubleth the Rhodians The order of the Turks Fleet The Great Master by his Embassadors craveth aid of the Christian Princes The commendation of Prejanes The description of the Rhodes A Turkish Woman Slâ—ve conspireth to fire the City The painfulness of the Turks Pioniers The Turks deceived by the Christian Mariners Solyman cometh into the Camp. Solymans cholerick Oration to his Souldiers Apella a Traitor The Turks battery The English Bulwark blown up The Turks assault the English Bulwark the second time and are again repulsed Mustapha Bassa â—alleth into disgrace with Solyman The English Bulwark assaulted the third time by Mustapha The Turks Ensigns advanced to the top of the walls are again cast down Another breach made in the Walls The Great Master his oration unto his Knights The Turks assault the City in five places at once
Turks Empire The bounds of the Turks Empire in Europe Affrica and Asia The Greatness of the Turks Empire The four chief Cities for Trade in the Turks Empire The Othoman Government meer tyrannical The means whereby the Turkish Emperours preserve themselves in so absolute a Sovereignty Four things wherein the greatest strength of the Othoman Empire consisteth The Turks ordinary Revenues and why they are no greater The Turks Casualties more than his ordinary Revenue The Turks Timariots of greater value than his Revenues The two chief Pillars of the Othoman Empire The great use of the Timariot Horsemen in the Turks Empire The number of the Timariots The Spahi Ulufagi and Carapici Seminaries of the great Offices in the Turks Empire The Acanzii The Janinizaries the second strength of the Turkish Empire What manner of Children are taken up to make Janizaries of The Azamoglans are such untrained Youths as are taken up to become Janizaries but yet are not of their Order The manner of their bringing up The daily Pay of the Janizaries and Spahi The Janizaries Insolent Their great Priviledges and Royalties The Order of the Janizaries in our time much imbased The Turks Asapi in what small regard they are had The great Commanders of the Turks Empire The great Authority of the Visier Bassaes. The great Authority of the Beglerbegs 1 The Beglerbeg of Romania chief of the Beglerbegs of the Turks Empire in Europe 2 The Beglerbeg of Buda 3 The Beglerbeg of Temeswar 4 The Beglerbeg of Bosna 5 The Beglerbeg of Coffe or Capha The Beglerbegs of the Turks Empire in Asia The great Power of the Turk in the Mediterranean and Euxine Sea. From whence he hath his chief Seamen 6 The Denizi Beglerbeg the Turks great Admiral to be accounted sixth of the Beglerbegs The Princes as well Mahometans as Christians upon whom the great Empire of the Turk confineth and of what Power they be in comparison of the Turk The Persian too weak for the Great Turk The Portugals too strong for the Turk in the East-Indies Prester Iohn too weak for the Turks The King of Morocco and the Turk both in doubt of the King of Spain The King of Polonia unwilling to meddle with the Turk or the Turk with him The Emperour with the rest of the Princes of the House of Austria together with the Aid of the Germans have much ado to defend themselves against the Turk The Venetians by Policy rather than by force maintain their State against the Turk The King of Spain of all other Princes that border upon the Turk best able to wage War with him Why the Turk is not to be thought invincible neither his Power so strong as in shew it seemeth to be The signs of the declining of the Turks Empire * Ayack in Turkish signifies a Foot. Amurat installed * Which is a dispensing of Mutton to the Poor * The chief City of the Krim Tartar †Gherey the Name of the Family Tâ—e form of 〈◊〉 Cossacks Boats. Bethlem Gabor desires assistancâ— against the Empâ—ror The Siege raised at Bagdat the Turks overthrown Duke of Weymar and Count Mansfelt join with the Prince of Transylvania The Emperor's Army defeated Peace concluded between the Emperor and Gabor Another Expedition into Persia. Proposition made by the Persian for a Peace Rejected by the Turk The Pirats of Tunis and Algier trouble the Seas A Fight at Sea by mistake Proposals of Accommodation with Abassa Erzirum besieged The Siege raised New Troubles from Tartary The Ianisaries mutiny They consent to treat with Abassa Abassa reconciled to the Grand Signior The Vizier and Abassa make their Entry into Constantinople The Iews at Constantinople how treated The Tartars ovâ—rthrown by the Polanders The Death of Bethlem Gabor The Widow of Bethlem Gabor perswaded to quit her Government The Principality offered to Ragotski Ragotski chosen Prince A Victory gained bythe Turks over the Persians The difficulty of sending Men into Persia. The Cossacks trouble the Turks The Disorders in the Ottoman State. The Vizier prepares to besiege Bagdat The Siege The Siege raised The Poles and Turks make Peace TheCossacks and Tartars compared Troubles in Hungary The G. Signior afrighted with Lightning Illay retaken from the Turks The Vizier deprived of his Office. Mutiny of the Spahees joined with the Ianisaries The Vizier strangled by Order of the Grand Signier Rebellion in Anatolia Mutinies at Buda Troubles in Moldavia The French Interpreter impaled The Peace made with Persia and speedily broken Perswasions for a War against the Empeâ—or A Peace made between the Emperor and Grand Signior Preparations of War made against Emir Facardin A Fight of the whole Turkish Fleet against two English Ships The Capt. Pasha slain Tâ—â— Son of Facardin 〈◊〉 And is strangled * A sort of Vessel or Ship so called by the Turks Morat exercises several Acts of Tyranny Morat destroys the Taverns Hangs a Venetian Merchant Tâ—e Turks make War on the Poles A Fight between the Turks and the Poles An Ambassador sent to the G. Signior from Poland The several Mischiefs by Water and Fire A terrible Fire at Constantinople Reasons for a War with Poland The Victory which the Poles obtained over the Moscovites They make a Peace The Turk sends an Ambassador into Poland to desire a Peace Abassa strangled Articles of Peace agreed between the Poles and the Turks A Difference between the French Ambassador the Captain Pasha The French Druggerman hanged The Sieur Marcheville forcibly sent away Acts of Cruelty The G. Signior returns to Scutari The G. Signior resolves to go to Persia iâ— Person Bethlem renews his Complaints to theGrand Signior His Reasons to be re-instated The Turks send an Army into Transylvania Ragotski implores Aid from the Emperor It is debated in Council The Emperor refuses Succour to Ragotski Ragotski obtains Succoâ—rs underhand The Turks enter Transylvania They sight with Cornis Are overthrown Peace is made Morat at Erzrum The Grand Signior's Patience Labours Revan betrayed and surrendred by Emir Gumir Rejoycing and a Festival kept for it at Constantinople The Turks enter farther into Persia. Tauris destroyed Festival for return of the G. Signior 1636 His avâ—rsion to Tobacco Revan râ—gained by the Persian The Grand Signior's Severity Cruelty Disturbances in Poland and Hungary The Turks confirm the Peace with Poland Send Forces against Ragotski Mutiny â—n the Turkish Army Van besieged by the Persians Fifteen thousand Turks killed in an Ambush Mutiny of the Souldiers A new Vizier sent to the Army A Persian Ambassador sent to the G. Signior Troubles in the lesser Tartary Cantemir makes a new Colony He is overthrown by the Tartar Han. Cantemir put to death The King of Tartary killed Bechir Gherey ordained K. of Tartary Asac besieged Is taken by the Cossakâ— The Cause of the Civil War between the Poles and Cossacks The Cossaks Country described Preparations for the War in Persia. The extravagant Pleasures and Cruelties of Morat The March
Prisseren 1689. Novemb. The Arnouts list themselves And formed into regular Troops Piccolomini 's Death Decemb. Prince of Holstein Commands the Army 1689. Decemb. Mustapha Aga comes to renew the Treaty of Peace The French and Court of Rome obstruct the Peace The Reasons for which the Peace was obstructed 1689. January Thâ— Venetian 〈…〉 Napoli de Romania 1689. January The Venetians in some distress The Doge sick February A Convoy with Money and Provision arrives from Venice 1689. February Turkish â—oâ—ces landed at Negropont March. Morosini reâ—ovâ—rs his Health Negropont supplied 1689. March. Malvasia blâ—â—ked up Liberachi â—ncamped He purposes to joyn with Bossina Thâ— Venetians fâ—ar the incâ—â—ase oâ— Liberachi 's Foâ—ces 〈◊〉 Remedy A Plot laid against Liberachi A Ploâ— agaâ—nst Liberachi Dambi sâ—nt to him Is kindly received by Liberachi Their Conferâ—nce Liberachi excuses his coming over to the Venetians Ali Bey disturbs the Discourse Liberachi his Compliment sâ—nt to the Doge Dambi departs The Troops embarked The Doge sails for Culuri Some fears for the Convoy coming from Venice The Duke of Guadagne joyns the Fleet. Two Venetian Gallies lost A Relation of the state of theTown 1689. May. June The Malta Gallies arrived the 24 th The Venetian Convoy arrives 1689. June Visits made to the Dogâ— The Complements returned The Result of a Council of War. Liberachi thâ—â—atâ—ns 〈◊〉 nâ—ar â—alona Hâ—â—â—â—hts aâ—â— iâ— defâ—ated July The Nâ—â—row of Corinth fortâ—fâ—â—d The Plagâ—◠〈◊〉 out 1689. July Malvasia blocked up The Malta Gallies permitted to cruise abroad A Storm endangers â—he Gallies Reinforcement sent â—o the Narrow of Corinth The Bombs annoy the Town Thâ— Gallies of Malta return â—hâ—y go agaâ—n to Sea. Cornaâ—â— joyns the Fleet. Attempt to burn the Vessels of the Town 1689. August But without effect Venier Caraccioli killed Are greatly lamented The Turks make a Saâ—ly Somâ— Oltramarines put to â—â—ight The Seraskier keeps a Guard on Negropont The Ships batter the Town Septemb. The Doge sick of a Fever 1689. Septemb. The Doge returns â—ome The Gallies of Malta separate from the Fleet. The Doge at Ragusi October Spalato Octob. 3d The Doge makes his Quarantene at Spalato Novemb. 1689. Novemb. Theyr joycâ— for the Succâ—ssâ—s of Pr Lewis of Baden The Pâ—atcicâ— givâ—n to the Doge Decemb. Tâ—â— Dâ—gâ— departs from Spalato and arrives at Venice 1690. January The Germans defeated Count Montecelli Attacked by the Tartars He makes his Escape with some loâ—s Casseneck surrendred Corbelli destroys the Palanca of Bellingesh The Germans get an Advantage The Tartars barbarous Usage of the poor People They return to Budziack Nissa iâ— want of Provisions February Canisia 〈◊〉 to capitulatâ— 1690. February Places taken and burnt March. The Rascians faithful to the Emperor 1690. March. Canisia treats Answer to the Garrison of Canisia Hostages given The Emperor ratifiâ—â— thâ— Treaty April The Tâ—on surrendred 1690. April The Cannon and Ammunition and Provisions taken therein The Situation of Canisia Incursions made into several places Some Skirmishes The Turks worsted Several small Parti â—eâ—gage May. Nissa provided 1690. May. 〈…〉 Fâ—ies Berkowitz taken by a Captain of Dalmatia Sea Robbers Land. Berniâ— surpriâ—â—â— by the Christians The Grand Vizier marches to the Camp at Nicopolis June The Palanca of Bellanasch surprized and taken 1690. Juâ—e Radimir abandoned by 〈◊〉 Turks A Booty taken from the Hussars 〈…〉 Tuâ—ks 〈…〉 Great Waradin 〈◊〉 Câ—sâ—â—e 〈◊〉 Bellanasch surrenâ—red July 〈◊〉 Turks 〈◊〉 Strahina 1690. July Pernich stoâ—med taken Tekeli declared Prince of Transilvania The Tartars râ—tire from Widin Corbelli reinforces the Troops in Servia August 1690. August The Christian Camp at Alexin Pyroth taken Nissa invested A Sally made from the Town General Heusler defeated 〈◊〉 Doria sold for 60 Rix Dollars Tekeli's Letter to his Princess The Princesâ—'s Answer Widin invâ—sted Pr. Lewis at â—agodina Nissa straitly Besieged And Attacked Septemb. Widin surrendered The Garrison marches and joyns with Pr. Lewis 1690. Septemb. Nissa 〈◊〉 Semendâ—â—a 〈…〉 P. Lewis in Transilvania October The Grand Vizier invests Belgrade 1690. October The Duke of Croy at Belgrade The Steeple of theCastle takes fire Again on fire and blows up A great slaughter thereby All the Magazines of Powder and Provâ—sâ—ons 〈◊〉 up Belgrade taken The Duke of Croy escapes with the Generals The Germans quit tâ—e 〈◊〉 of Great-Waradin P. Lewis continues his march And beats several Parties of the Enemy Tekeli flies from place to place 1689. October H◠〈◊〉 inâ—o Walachia Esseck summoned The Answer to the Summons The Turks repulsâ—d Novemb. 1690. Novemb. A Salley made from the Town A stratagâ—m to deceive the Tuâ—ks It succeeds to the terrour of the Turks The Turks raise the Siege by a pannick fear Ioy at Vienna Decemb. P. Lewis complimented by all the States of Transylvania C. Tekeli in a sad C ndition 1690. Decemb. P. Lewis prepares to fight the Turks The Turks return with loss â—o Temeswaer Orsouâ— sâ—rrendred to the Turks The 〈…〉 of Francisco Morosini The Prais of Morosini The Venetians resolve to besiege Napoli di Malvasia The Town battered They Capitulate Malvasia delivered up The Venetians design upon Valona Septemb. They Land. Cannina battered The Turks overthrown in the Field The Fort of Cannina capitulates 1690. Septemb. Cannina surrendred Persons of Quality killed The Turks abandon Valona The Pasha of Arzigovina designs on the Greeks Hâ— attacks Nixichi Is beatâ—n off The Pashâ— taken Prisoneâ— Filiporich takâ—â— A Seaâ—â—gâ—t The two 〈◊〉 St. Iseppo S. Mark attaâ—kâ—d by 10 Turkish Visâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Maâ—k 〈…〉 Valiâ—r killed The St. Iseppo sinks The Turks despise â— Peace The English Trade in a bad condition The Turkey Trâ—de in a bad condition The Turkey Ships arrive in England January The Prince of Hanover killed 1691. January â—acket takâ—n and burned As also a Fort called Waradin February 〈◊〉 Turks of Great Waradin 〈◊〉 1691. February â—â—veraâ— Skirmishâ—s Novi delivered to the Turks The Turks worsted The Garrison of Lugos make a sally Are put to fâ—ight The Town and Castle of Lugos taken The Garrison of Bech makes a Salley The Garrison of Segedin surprize Chonad March. Irrick surprizâ—â— â—ith much Booty taken A Pasha pursues thâ—m buâ— reâ—iâ—es Percilia routs a Body of Tartars Karakowar taken 1691. March. May. 1690. June 1691. June Sir Will. Hussey chosen Ambassador for Turky The Grand Vizier not inclined to a Peace The Turks in hopâ— of Victoâ—y under this Grand Vizier The English Ambassador hastens to Constantinople And makes his Entry Tâ—â— Dâ—ath of Sultan Solyman Sâ—â—â—an Achmet Bâ—â—â—hâ—r of Solyman pâ—oclaimed Emperor The Châ—ract r of Sultan Achmet Solyman interred The Grand Vizier confirmed The strength of the Turkish Army Principal Men in Asia put to Death The Copper Money the cause of trouble August The Character of Sultan Achmet The force of the Turkish Army The French Ambassador perswades to a Battle Sir William Hussey at Constantinople Tâ—e Friendship between the Turks and French. August Câ—unt Marsigli 1691. August The March of the