reckoning of the souldiors of the court that in respect thereof hee neither regarded his promise nor that was right and just he would himselfe by force of arms take vpon him the defence of his owne honour and right so light esteemed by his father and reuenge the disgrace offered vnto him by others Whereunto Baiazet answered by the Cadelescher which is a man of greatest place and authoritie amongst the Turkes in matters concerning their superstition and therefore of them honoured aboue others as the sacred interpreter of their law that hee did neither well nor wisely without just cause to fall into so great rage and choller as by his speech and force to thinke to extort that good which was onely by loue and loyaltie to be gained whereas all things should be surely kept for him and the empire vndoubtedly descend vnto him if by vntimely hast hee did not marre that hope which hee ought by sufferance and patient expectation to cherish hee might as the Cadelescher told him learne by the late example and fortune of his brother Selymus what might be for his owne good and welfare and that it was a thing of far more danger desperatly to thrust himselfe headlong into such an action as hee could not possibly see the end of than moderating by reason his hot passions to expect with patience the oportunitie of time and fitnesse of occasion with the alteration of matters all tending to his good Achomates enflamed with anger and greefe of the repulse all the while the Cadelescher was deliuering his fathers message gaue him many sharpe taunts and had much adoe to stay himselfe from offering of him violence oftentimes threatening him that in short time both his father should deerely buy the changing of his purpose and the souldiours of the court their trecherous dealing and so sending him away with this short answere hee presently rise with his armie and passing through BITHYNIA cruelly spoiled the country in his returne to AMASIA There dayly more and more enflamed with the greefe and the indignitie of the repulse before receiued hee determined to inuade the lesser ASIA that if it should so fall out that hee must needs by force of armes trie his right against either of his brethren he might therein vse the wealth of that rich prouince Whereby if it should chance that he should by the practise of any faile of the whole empire yet he should at the leastwise be possessed of the one halfe therof and be the readier for all euents hauing all those great and rich prouinces in his power Wherfore calling vnto him his two sonnes Amurathes and Aladin yong princes of great hope after he had greeuously complained of the vnkindnesse of his father Baiazet and of the injuries done against him by his enemies in the court he declared vnto them that there was now no hope left for him to obtaine the empire except they would forthwith enter into armes with him and so together with him defend both his and their owne right and honour against the mallice and injuries of their enemies which he said would be an easie matter to doe by surprising the lesser ASIA if they would courageously aduenture vpon it for as much as all PISIDIA LYCAONIA PAMPHYLIA with the sea coast of IONIA were not as then kept with any armie or nauie and as for his brother Corcutus there was no great doubt to bee made of him who according to his quiet disposition would bee content either to sit still or els in regard of his just quarrell take part with him or if he would needs intermeddle his quiet estate with the troubled and so enter into arms might easily be thrust out of whatsoeuer he possessed as for the gouernours of the rest of the prouinces he doubted not but that they would also yeeld either to his commaund or fortune Wherefore hee willed them to plucke vp their hearts as men of courage and to goe into the countries thereabouts to take vp men and whatsoeuer els were needfull for the warres These gallants of their owne youthfull disposition readie ynough for such a matter and now encouraged with their fathers persuasion did what they were by him commaunded and had in short time raised a notable armie of voluntarie souldiours of whom the greatest part were of seruile condition But Achomates himselfe besides his old armie which hee had in former time lead against the Persian rebels leuied new forces also and called forth into the field all the able men that were to be found in the cities round about and so running through the prouince proclaimed himselfe king of ASIA and such as would not forthwith yeeld vnto him those he and his two sonnes in diuers places prosecuted with all hostilitie by which meanes many cities especially such as were but weakely fortified partly for feare partly by constraint were deliuered ouer vnto him After that he entered with his armie into LYCAONIA and the borders of CILICIA where by embassadours and often letters he requested Mahometes his brothers sonne who then gouerned those countries to aid him in his just quarell against them who by craftie and sinister persuasions had to his dishonour and disgrace withdrawne his fathers good will from him and so farre seduced him as that hee was determined to appoint another successour in the empire than him his eldest and first begotten sonne which their mallice he would as he said preuent by force of armes recouer his right which his father knowing to be due vnto him was about to haue put him in possession of whilest he yet liued had he not by the sinister practise of others beene hindered for the recouerie whereof if Mahometes would out of his prouince aid him with men and victuall and so further his just cause he promised that he should find a farre better vncle than he had found a father and that his present friendship should in time be most amply and bountifully requited Wherunto Mahometes answered that he could not do what his vncle had required except he were so commanded by his grandfather Baiazet whom alone he acknowledged for his dread soueraign that it was not for him to judge whether he did right or otherwise That he would not in his life time resigne the empire to his sonne But this he said he was not ignorant of that he was not to yeeld his obedience to anie other so long as he liued possessed of the empire to whom both his father Tzihan Shach whilest he liued and himselfe also had giuen their oath of obedience and loyaltie Wherefore it were good for him to pacifie himselfe least in seeking vntimely reuenge of his enemies he should to the offence of all men wrong his father and by too much heat and hast ouerthrow both his hope and honour which of right should be most great if he could but in the meane time haue patience and stay himselfe a while Aâ—homates who expected nothing lesse than such an answere but
would by an happie exchange make the Turkish empire the seat of their warres and to turne into the Turkes dominions the terrour slaughter and other calamities of warre which had so many yeares afflicted the Christian common-weale But by how much the more the joy was amidst such daily calamities and teares so much greater was the sorrow so great an hope to be come to nought and men to be so blinded with the darknesse of enuie and disdaine that they could not so much as thinke with what dishonour and danger of the common state they should shrinke from so just so honourable and so needfull a seruice including in it selfe the generall good of all Christendome When posteritie shall consider what things might then haue beene done and the deuises whereby the common cause was ouerthrowne it will worthily blame and greatly lament so notable a victorie and fit opportunitie sent as it were from heauen for the effecting of great matters to haue been let slip and passed ouer so lightly regarded This made that they who before had reposed all their hope in armes had now no other confidence or hope of their welfare but in concluding of peace Truly the Venetians both spoke and thought honourably of king Phillip as of a most faithfull just deuout and honourable prince yet greatly blaming his officers and others of great authoritie about him as men more regarding their owne priuat than the good of the Christian common-weale In these perplexities of the Venetians king Phillip promised them to set forth a greater and stronger fleet against the next yere and to be sooner in readinesse with all his forces and warlike prouision and so to help them in all he might who for all that gaue small credit vnto those promises for that with the like they had been oftentimes before deceiued And therefore as trusting most vnto their owne strength they with all carefulnesse and expedition entertained mo souldiors of whom some they put into their fleet the rest they placed in their garrisons in CRETE in DALMATIA and their frontier townes in EPIRVS Neither were the Turkes then idle as the report went yet were they thought to manage that warre with greater fame than strength for they had of purpose giuen it out That they would the next Spring with diuers armies inuade the Venetian territories in CRETE in DALMATIA in EPIRVS yea and in ITALIE it selfe and with their innumerable multitude both of horse and foot so ouerwhelme the Venetians that they should not be able possibly to hold out This more too they brauely vaunted of but in deed Vluzales comming to CONSTANTINOPLE had brought his fleet so shaken and so weake as that it seemed not possible but in long time to be againe repaired and furnished with souldiors and marriners in stead of them that had been lost some in fight but moe by the contagiousnesse of the infection But howsoeuer the matter stood the Venetians carefull with the expectation of great matters and in small hope of good successe comparing their owne strength with the strength of the enemie yet were they no lesse discouraged with the delayes and crosse dealing of the confederats than with all the prouision of the enemie It stucke in their minds how that the Spaniards at such time as CYPRVS might haue beene defended delayed their comming so long that NICOSIA â—â—â—ng lost it was time to returne Neither could they forget that lingering delay to haue beene the cause of the great mortalitie amongst their men lying in the fleet at IADERA They remembred also that the commodities which of so notable a victorie were most plentifully to haue beene reaped were by the slender prosecuting of the same so sparingly taken that the former dangers still remained And that Don Iohn who ought by appointment to haue beene at CORCYRA in the beginning of Summer was scarcely come thither in the latter end of August and that he in the third yeare of this warre at such time as their fleet was with great labour and charge againe repaired would not or listed not to aduenture to haue againe ouerthrowne the enemies fleet but in the very action to haue alwayes trifled away the greatest part of Summer before his Spaniards could set forward and when hee might safely haue come to CERIâ—O to haue called backe Fuscarinus and the rest then facing of the enemie and euen readie to haue giuen him battell It was then secretly suspected the Spaniards to haue stayed of purpose and to haue dallied on the time that the Venetians hauing spent their forces might be the more exposed and subject to their injuries It stucke fast not in their minds onely but euen almost in their eyes what things had happened of former times in their confederations with that nation They were grieued in the space of three yeares an hundred times twentie hundred thousand duckats to haue beene to little or small purpose spent in that warre Besides that they doubted least the Flemmings with their confederates should so entangle the king of SPAINE in defending of his owne territories as that he should not be at leisure to send any aid into the East in which case what hope or helpe were they to looke for How should they then defend the rest of their Seigniorie in the East How should their emptie cofers suffice to maintaine so great armies both by sea and land as might withstand so puissant an enemie Long were the discourses and effectuall the persuasions that the Venetians had amongst themselues to induce one another and all in generall more circumspectly to consider not onely what had alreadie passed or was presently in hand but also right warily to foresee what would be the course and what the euent of a matter so important and betime to breake off the confederation which they had alwayes found to haue stood them in small stead In reuoluing of these things onely one remedie seemed most effectuall for the curing of their afflicted state which was By desisting from warre to conclude a peace with the Turke howsoeuer which they were the rather in good hope to obtaine for that diuers speeches concerning the same had passed at CONSTANTINOPLE and were from thence againe reported at VENICE All men thus enclining to peace the Senat referred the proceeding therein vnto M. Antonius Barbarus their embassadour who all the time of these wars had lien in safe custodie at CONSTANTINOPLE willing him therein to vse the helpe of the French embassadour who had alwayes beene a persuader of peace Selymus hauing got the island of CYPRVS and diuers other places from the Venetians and yet well wearied with the harmes and losses he had himselfe receiued both by sea and land was also desirous ynough of peace So that the French embassadour might as it was thought haue got a reasonable and indifferent peace if he had but expected the opportunitie of time But he whether mooued with the common harmes or some other secret causes to him best knowne in
In the meane time it was discouered that his steward had long before plotted with the Turke to haue betraied the castle and had for certaine yeares past receiued of him a yearely pension Vpon which occasion the Abbot caused both the messenger and his owne steward to be apprehended and so fast bound hand and foot to be cast out at a window of the castle into the riuer of Saw The Bassa seeing his messenger not to returne sent another to the Abbot grieuously threatning him if he did not send him backe againe his messenger wherunto the Abbot answered That he had dismissed him certaine daies before and therefore maruelled if he were not as yet returned neuerthelesse concerning his demaund that he was resolued to yeeld the monasterie vnto the Bassa against whose forces he saw himselfe vnable to hold it requesting only that it would please him to send some men of account to receiue it at his hand for that it would be no small dishonour vnto him to deliuer it vp vnto common souldiors The Bassa glad of this message sent forthwith certaine principall men of great account hoping now without any losse to haue that strong place yeelded vnto him which had so long time stood in his way Three daies after certaine troupes of horsemen sent from the Bassa came to the monasterie as was appointed and finding the gates open entred first the noblemen and after them fiue hundred others or thereabouts who were no sooner within the gates but that the portculleis was let fall and certaine murthering pieces secretly placed in the court for that purpose discharged with the violence whereof the Turkes that were alreadie entred were most miserably rent in pieces their heads armes and legs flying in the ayre when presently the garrison souldiors starting out of their lurking places made a quicke dispatch of all them that had escaped the furie of the great artillerie The rest of the Turks shut out hearing the noise and crie of them within turning their horses betooke themselues to speedie flight The great Bassa hearing of this slaughter of his men and how he had been deceiued swore in great rage by his Mahomet to rase this monasterie downe to the ground and to plucke the Abbots skin ouer his eares and so by threatning letters gaue him to vnderstand as followeth Hassan Bassa of Bosna vnto the Abbot of Siseg It is not to thee vnknowne how often we haue sent vnto thee our messengers with letters declaring vnto thee our loue and good will requesting thee in friendly â—ort and without farther resistance to yeeld vp vnto vs thy fortresse of SISEG not longer to be by thee holden Vnto which our request thou hast hitherto most wilfully at thy pleasure opposed thy selfe not without the slaughter of our men and in so doing hast giuen cause vnto the great Sultan to ouerthrow and rase that thy fortresse wherof thou for the emperour wilt needs be the chiefe Thinkest thou it will be for thy good or yet well taken that thou hast so shamefully and perfidiously circumuented and slaine our embassadours and seruants sent vnto thee Nay assure thy selfe that if Mahomet grant vs life we will neuer giue ouer the siege of that thy fort wherein thou so much trustest vntill I haue before thy face ouerthrowne it and if thy God shall giue thee aliue into my hands haue pluckt thy skin ouer thine eares to the great reproach and shame of the Christians for I am fully resolued not to depart from this place but to continue the siege thereof vntill I haue it Let a little time yet passe and thou shalt see thy selfe on euerie side besieged thy fort with mo and greater pieces of artillerie than euer battered and our power strong enough to constraine thee Thou hast hitherto put thy greatest hope comfort in the Banne Erodius for whom by the helpe of Mahomet we are much too strong In briefe we are of nothing more carefull than how to get thee into our power which if we doe looke not for any mercie at our hands Neither was the Bassa vnmindfull of his promise or of the losse he had receiued but now in the beginning of Iune with an armie of thirtie thousand horse and foot came and besieged the fortresse of TRENSCHIIN which with continuall batterie and often assaults he at length tooke sacked the towne slew most part of the inhabitants except eight hundred or thereabouts of the younger sort whom he carried away with him into captiuitie And being prowd of this victorie remoued thence by a bridge which he had made passed ouer the riuer and so the twelfth of Iune came and encamped before the monasterie of SISEG and after vaine summons giuen to the same the next day caused his great ordinance to be planted and with great furie thundring against the wals in short time ouerthrew the new tower in the fall whereof two of the Christian canoniers perished This furious batterie he maintained by the space of ten daies without intermission giuing no time of rest vnto the besieged so that it seemed not possible for the monasterie to be any long time defended if it were not with speed relieued The bishop of ZAGRABIA and Rupertus Eggenberg Generall of the emperours forces that then were at ZAGRABIA gaue knowledge thereof to Andrew lord Auersberg Gouernour of CAROLSTAT crauing his aid and counsell who calling togither his owne forces raised a good number both of horse and foot and called also vnto him the bordering horsemen of KARNIA and CRAINIA who the seuenteenth day of Iune met all togither not far from INSTAVVITZ and there taried that night The next day passing ouer the riuer Sauus neere vnto ZAGRABIA they joyned themselues with the emperours forces and marched the nineteenth day in good order to SCELINE where they expected the comming of Countie Serinus The twentith day Peter Herdelius with his Hussars and the lord Stephen Graswein came into the campe with many of those light horsemen whom the Hungaâ—ians call Vscocchi The one and twentith day they lodged at GRADIVM still expecting the comming of the Countie Serinus who otherwise busied could not come The next day after a souldior sent out from the besieged came into the campe who gaue the captaines to vnderstand that except they made hast that day to relieue the distressed monasterie it would vndoubtedly be lost for that the enemie had made it saultable and would that night giue the assault and the defendants doubting how they should be able to maintaine the place began before his departure thence to thinke of composition with the enemie Vpon which newes the captaines forthwith began to consult among themselues what course to take in so doubtfull and dangerous a case where Auersberg was of opinion That it were best to march on to giue the enemie battell with whom also agreed the lord Rederen The rest of the captains being of a contrarie mind for that the strength of the Christians compared to
written by me as meaning in any thing to preiudice thy better iudgement but to leaue it to thy good choice in such diuersitie of reports to follow that which may seeme vnto thee most true By which courtesie thou maiest hereafter encourage me to performe some other worke to thy no lesse contentment So wishing thee all happinesse I bid thee farwell From Sandwich the last of September 1603. Thine in all dutifull kindnesse R. KNOLLES The names of the Authors whom we especially vsed in the collecting and writing of the Historie of the Turks following ABrahamus Ortelius Achillis Traducci Aeneas Syluius Pont. Alcoranum Turcicum Antonius Sabellicus Antonius Bonfinius Antonius Pigafetta Antonius Guarnerius Augerius Busbequius Bernard de Girard Blondus Foroliuiensis Caelius Secundus Curio Dauid Chytreus Franciscus Sansouinus Henricus Pantaleon Iacobus Fontanus Ioannes Leunclauius Laonicus Chalcocondilas Lazarus Soranzi Leonardus Chiensis Leonardus Goretius Marinus Barletius Martinus Chromerus Nicephorus Gregoras Nicetas Choniates Nicholaus Honigerus Nicholaus Reusnerus Paulus Iouius Philippus Lonicerus Petrus Bizara Sebastianus Monsterus Thomas Minadoi Theodorus Spanduginus Germanicae Continuationes Relationum Historicarum Andreae Strigelij Theodori Meureri Iacobi Franci THE GENERAL HISTORIE OF THE TVRKES BEFORE THE RISING OF THE OTHOMAN FAMILIE WITH ALL THE NOTABLE EXPEDITIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN PRINCES AGAINST THEM THE glorious Empire of the Turkes the present terrour of the world hath amongst other things nothing in it more wonderfull or strange than the poore beginning of it selfe so small and obscure as that it is not well knowne vnto themselues or agreed vpon euen among the best writers of their histories from whence this barbarous nation that now so triumpheth ouer the best part of the world first crept out or tooke their beginning Some after the manner of most nations deriue them from the Trojans led thereunto by the affinity of the words Turci Teucri supposing but with what probabilitie I know not the word Turci or Turks to haue beene made of the corruption of the word Teucri the common name of the Trojans as also for that the Turks haue of long most inhabited the lesser ASIA wherein the antient and most famous citie of TROY sometime stood No great reason in my deeming yet giue the authors thereof leaue therewith to please themselues as well as some others which dwelling much farther off borrow or rather force their beginning from thence without any probabilitie at al and that with such earnestnesse as if they could not elsewhere haue found any so honourable ancestours Othersome report them to haue first come out of PERSIA and of I wot not what citie there to haue taken their name neither want there some which affirme them to haue taken their beginning out of ARABIA yea and some out of SYRIA with many other far fet deuises concerning the beginning and name of this people all seruing to no better purpose than to shew the vncertaintie thereof Amongst others Philip of MORNAY the noble and learned Frenchman in his woorthy worke concerning the truenesse of the Christian religion seemeth and that not without good reason to deriue the Turks together with the Tartars from the Iewes namely from the ten Tribes which were by Salmanazar king of ASIRIA in the time of Oseas king of ISRAEL caried away into captiuitie and by him confined into MEDIA and the other vnpeopled countries of the North whose going thither is not vnaptly described by Esdras where among the great Hords of the Tartars in the farthest part of the world Northward euen at this day are found some that still retaine the names of Dan Zabulon and Nepthaly a certaine argument of their discent whereunto also the word Tartar or Tatar signifying in the Syrian tongue remnants or leauings and the word Turke a word of disgrace signifying in Hebrew banished men seemeth right well to agreee Besides that in the Northern countries of RVSSIA SARMATIA and LYTHVANIA are found greater store of the Iewish nation than elsewhere and so neerer vnto the Tartarians still the mo whereunto Io. Leunclauius the most curious searcher out of the Turks antiquities and monuments addeth as a farther conjecture of the discent of those barbarous northern people from the Iewes That in his trauell through LIVONIA into LYTHVANIA in the countrie neere vnto the metropoliticall citie of RIâ—A he found there the barbarous people of the Lettoes quite differing in language from the other countrey people of the Curons and Estons no lesse barbarous than themselues who had alwaies in their mouths as a perpetuall lamentation which they with doleful moanes daily repeated abroad in the fields Ieru Ieru Masco Lon whereby they were thought to lament ouer IERVSALEM and DAMASCO as forgetfull of all other things in their antient countrey after so many worlds of yeeres and in a desolat place so far distant thence And Munster in his description of LIVONIA repeating the like words reporteth That this rude people being demaunded what they meant by these words so often and so lamentably by them without cause vttered answered That they knew no more than that they had beene so of long taught by their ancestors But to leaue these opinions concerning their beginning so diuers and vncertaine and to follow greater probabilities as concerning the place from whence they came it is vpon better ground thought by diuers others and those of the best historiographers That this barbarous nation which hath of late brought such fatall mutations vpon so great a part not of Christendom onely but euen of the whole world tooke their first beginning out of the cold and bare countrey of SCYTHIA induced thereunto both by the authoritie of the greatest Cosmographers as by most apparant reasons Pomponius Mela the describer of the world reckning vp the people neere vnto the great riuer TANAIS the bounder of EVROPE from ASIA Eastward amongst others maketh expresse mention of the Turks in these words Geloni vrbem ligneam habitant Iuxta Thyrsagete Turceque vastas syluas occupant alunturque venando Tum continuis rupibus late aspera deserta regio ad Arympheos vsque permittitur The Geloni inhabit a citie of wood And fast by the Thyrsagets and Turks possesse the vast forrests and liue by hunting Then a rough and desart countrey with continuall rocks is spaciously extended euen as far as vnto the Arympheians Plinie also in like manner reckning vp the nations about the fennes of MaeOTIS agreeing with that Mela reporteth saith Deinde Euazae Cottae Cicimeni Messeniani Costobocci Choatrae Zigae Dandari Thussagetae Turcae vsque ad solitudines saltuosis conuallibus asperas vltra quos Arymphet qui ad Riphaeos pertinent montes Next vnto them are the Euazae Cottae Cicimeni Messeniani Costobocci Choatrae Zigae Dandari the Thussagets and Turks vnto the desarts rough with wooddie vallies beyond whom are the Arympheians which border vnto the Riphean mountaines And Ptolomie in the description of SARMATIA ASIATICA maketh mention of the Tusci whom many
into the rest that for safegard of their liues they betook themselues to flight some one way some another neuer thinking themselues in safetie so long as they were within the greedie tyrants reach wherof shortly after ensued no small troubles to the shaking of the state of the whole empire Isaack Comnenus the emperour Emanuels nigh kinsman tooke his refuge into CIPRVS kept that island to himselfe Alexius Comnenus Emanuels brothers son fled into SCICILIA there stirred vp William king of that island against Andronicus who with a great army landing at DYRRACHIVM tooke the city so from thēce without resistance passing through the heart of MACEDONIA spoyling the countrey before him as he went met his fleet at THESALONICA which famous city he also tooke by force most miserably spoiled it with all the countrey therabout in such sort as that he brought a great feare euen vpon the imperiall citie it selfe vnto which so great euils Andronicus entangled with domesticall troubles not knowing whom to trust was not able to giue remedie although for shew he had to no purpose sent out certaine of his most trusty ministers with such forces as he could spare For the majestie of his authoritie growing still lesse lesse the number of his enemies both at home and abroad daily encreasing the fauor of the vnconstant people who now began to speake hardly of him declining he vncertain which way to turne himselfe rested wholy vpon tyrannie proscribing in his feare not only the friends of such as were fled whom he distrusted but somtimes whole families together yea that for light occsions somtime those who were the best of his fauourits whose seruice he had many times vsed in the execution of his crueltie So that now no day passed wherin he did not put to death imprison or torture one great man or other Wherby it came to passe that the imperiall citie was filled with sorrow heauinesse euery man hanging the head and with silence couering his inward griefe not without danger to haue been then vttered Amongst many others appointed to this slaughter was one Isaack Angelus a man of great nobilitie whom Hagiochristophorites the chiefe minister of Andronicus his tyrannie and for the same by him highly promoted suspecting as one that bare no good will to the emperour cause enough of death came to his house to apprehend him finding him at home after some few hot words commanded him to follow him Whereat the noble man making some stay and abhorring the verie sight of the wretch as vnto him ominous and fatall Hagiochristophorites himselfe began to lay hands on him reuiling his followers that they had not foorthwith drawn him out of his house by the haire of his head vnto the prison by him appointed For they touched with the honour of the man and mooued with compassion forced him not but stood still as beholders Isaack seeing himselfe thus beset and no way now left for him to escape resoluing rather there presently to die than shortly after to be murdred in prison drew his sword as the rest were about to haue laid hands vpon him and at the first blow cleft the wicked head of Hagiochristophorites downe to his shoulders and so leauing him wallowing in his owne blood and like a desperat man laying about him amongst the rest made himselfe way through the middest of them And so embrued with blood with his bloodie sword yet in his hand running through the middest of the citie told the people what he had done and crying vnto them for helpe in defence of his innocencie fled into the great temple there to take the refuge of the sanctuarie where he had not long sit in the place where the guiltie flying thither for refuge vsed to sit confessing their offence craue pardon of such as go in and out but that the temple was filled with the multitude of people flocking thither out of all parts of the citie some to see the nobleman some to behold what should become of him for all men thought that he would before the going downe of the sunne notwithstanding the reuerence of the place be drawne thence by Andronicus put to some shamefull death Thither came also Iohn Ducas Isaacks vncle and his sonne Isaack to increase the tumult not for that they were any thing guiltie of the death of Hagiochristophorites but for that they had before become sureties vnto the suspitious tyrant for their kinsman Isaack he likewise for them by whose trespas they well knew themselues now brought into no lesse danger than if they had been abettors therunto And beside them also many other there were which standing in doubt of their owne estate fearing the like might happen to themselues prickt forward with hard speeches the common people flocking thither instantly requesting them to stay there and to stand by them now at their need being so injuriously wronged whose pitifull complaints moued right many to take part with them At which time also no man yet comming from the emperor being as then out of the citie to represse the sedition nor any of the nobilitie opposing themselues no friend of Andronicus appearing none of his bloodie ministers or officers shewing themselues nor any that did so much as speake a good word in his behalfe or in dislike of the tumult the boldnesse of the seditious people increased euerie man in so great libertie saying what he list and after their rude manner one encouraging another So spent Isaack that long night not thinking God wot of an empire but still expecting the deadly stroake of Andronicus Yet had he with great entreating so preuailed that diuers of the assembly shutting the church dores and bringing lights into the church staied there with him all night and by their example caused some others to stay also The next morning by the breake of the day were all the citizens flockt againe vnto the temple cursing the tyrant to the deuill as the common enemie of mankind wishing vnto him a shamefull death and the honour of the empire vnto Isaack At that time by fortune or rather God so appointing it Andronicus was out of the citie at his pallace of MELVDINVM on the East side of PROPONTIS where he was by nine a clocke at night certified of the death of Hagiochristophorites and of the tumult of the people yet that night stirred he not either did any thing more but by short letters aduised the people to pacifie themselues and not by foolish rebellion to cast themselues into farther danger In the morning Andronicus his fauourits began to shew themselues and to do what they might to haue appeased the tumultuous multitude yea and presently after came Andronicus himselfe and landed with his imperiall gally at the great pallace in the citie But with the inraged people naught preuailed either the persuasions of the one or report of the presence of the other for they all as
Sultan himselfe with all the power he then had to be hardly beset by his enemies and in danger to haue lost the day when as Ertogrul but newly come into the countrey and willing to doe the Sultan seruice and awaiting all opportunities for the commending of himselfe and his followers vpon the suddaine vnlooked for with foure hundred men came vpon the backs of the Tartars then almost in possession of a great victorie and so forcibly charged them that vnable to indure the charge and to maintaine the fight against the Sultan whose men encouraged by this vnexpected aid as by succour sent from heauen began now to fight with greater courage being both before and behind hardly beset they as men in despaire of the victorie they had before assured themselues of turned their backes and fled After which good seruice the Sultan honourably welcommed this new come Turke giuing him his hand to kisse as the manner of the nation is and highly commending his valouâ— commaunded a rich cloke to be cast vpon him amongst those Easterne nations a great honour and all his souldiors to be bountifully rewarded and presently after gaue vnto Ertogrul and his Turks a countrey village called SUGUTA betwixt the castle of BILEZUGA and the mountaine TMOLUS in the greater PHRIGIA in which village they might liue in in Winter and vpon the aâ—oresaid mountaine and the mountaine ORMENIUS betwixt the riuers SANGARIUS and LICUS feed their cattell in Summer And yet not so contented thus to haue honoured him in whom he saw such approoued valour committed to his protection that side of the countrey wherein he dwelt being in the very frontiers of his kingdome which his charge he so well looked vnto that all the countrey thereabout before much infested with the often incursions of the enemie was by his vigilant care and prowesse well secured Thus is Ertogrul the Oguzian Turke with his homely heardsmen become a pettie lord of a countrey village and in good fauour with the Sultan whose followers as sturdie heardsmen with their families liued in Winter with him in SUGUTA but in Summer in tents with their cattell vpon the mountaines Hauing thus liued certaine yeares and brought great peace vnto his neighbours as well the Christians as the Turks before much troubled with the inuasions of the Tartars it fortuned that the Christians of CARA-CHISAR a castle thereby called by the antient Greekes Melanopyrgon and of later time Maurocastron that is to say the blacke tower or castle wearie of their owne ease and of the peace they had by his meanes enjoyed fell out with him and euill intreated both him and his people Which their ingratitude he taking in euill part thereof and of the wrongs by them done vnto the Turks so grieuously complained vnto the Sultan that he therewith mooued raised a great armie and so himselfe in person came and besieged the castle But lying there at the siege newes was brought him That the Tartars with a great armie vnder the leading of one Baintzar were entred into CARIA and there spoiling the countrey had taken HERACLEA For the repressing of whom the Sultan was glad to rise with his armie yet leauing a sufficient strength behind him for the continuing of the siege vnder the charge of Ertogrul Beg for so the Turks now called him The Sultan afterwards encountering with the Tartars at BAGA ouerthrew them in a great battell whilest Ertogrul in the meane space hardly besieged CARA-CHISAR wherein fortune so much fauoured him that at length he tooke the castle the spoile whereof he gaue vnto the souldiours reseruing onely the fift part thereof as due vnto the Sultan which he sent him for a present together with the captaine of the castle whom he had taken aliue which captaine the Sultan afterward inlarged and restored again to him his castle for the payment of a yearely tribute which he truly paied during the life of the Sultan but he dying about two yeares after he refused any more to pay it and so reuolted from the Turks Sultan Aladin founder of the Aladinian kingdome for so the Turks call it being dead at ICONIUM after him succeeded Azatines his eldest sonne and after him Iathatines his yoonger brother who slaine by Theodorus Lascaris the Greeke emperour as is before declared after him succeeded in that kingdome another Iathatines the sonne of Azatines who was by the Tartars expulsed and his kingdome subdued as in the former part of this historie it appeareth After which time the Selzuccian familie there also by the Tartars in the lesser ASIA depressed retained scarce the name and shaddow of their former majestie and glorie In which troublesome times and confusion of the state Ertogrul well beaten and wearied in the world kept himselfe close in his house at SUGUTA as well contented therewith as with a kingdome seeking by all meanes to keepe peace on euery side with his neighbours as well Christians as others In which quiet kind of life hee sweetly passed ouer the troublesome times of Mesoot the sonne of Kei-Cubades and of Kei-Cubades the sonne of Feramuzin both Sultans but the great Tartars tributaries and raigning but at their pleasure vntill the time of the second Aladin the sole last heire of the Iconian kingdome before by the Tartars deuided which was no few years All which time Ertogrul liued quietly at SUGUTA as one amongst many other of the Iconian Sultans subjects wisely considering the fall of the Selzuccian Sultans both in PERSIA and at ICONIUM as also the ruine of his own house and familie both from royall state brought almost vnto nothing and therefore with patience taking the world as it came and making a vertue of necessitie contenting himselfe with a little bare himselfe kindly towards all men In which contented kind of life he grew to great yeares with his three sonnes greatly beloued and honoured of their neighbors as well Christians as Turks and no lesse fauoured by the second Aladin then Sultan than he had been of all the Sultans before him whom the yoong men his sonnes after the manner of their nation forbidding them with emptie hands to salute their princes oftentimes visited with one present or other In all which his sonnes were many good parts to be seene yet so as that in Othoman was easily to bee perceiued a greater courage and spirit than in the other two his brethren which was the cause that he was the more of all them of his tribe regarded but especially of the youthfull and warlike sort which commonly resorted vnto him when he went to hawke or hunt or to other delights of the field the counterfeits of warre and was of them commonly called Osman Gazi that is to say Osman the warlike In this frontier countrey neere vnto SUGUTA the dwelling place of old Ertogrul had Sultan Aladin diuers lieutenants and captaines gouernors of his castles and strong holds vpon those frontiers with whom Othoman was well acquainted and vnto whom he for friendship
mistie and the Moone giuing no light many of them vnawares came vnto the Greeke gallies and there flying the smoke fell into the fire for being lightened of their money they were by them forthwith without any pitie slaine also But the Genowaies slew not all their prisoners but onely such as had brought with them the greatest store of coine least afterwards bewraying the same it should haue beene sought after by the Greekes the rest they cast into bonds of whom some they sent vnto the emperour othersome they kept to themselues as their owne prisoners Thus by the valour and good conduct of this worthie deuout captaine the Turks were for that time againe chased out of EUROPE and the countrey of THRACIA deliuered of a great feare Now by that we haue alreadie written is easily to be seene the chiefe causes of the decay and ruine of the Greeke empire to haue been First the innouation and change of their antient Religion and ceremonies by Michael Paleologus whereof ensued a world of woes then by Couetousnesse coloured with the name of good husbandrie the vtter destruction of the chiefe strength of the empire next vnto that by Enuie the ruine of the great False suspect the looser of friends Ambition honours ouerthrow Distrust the great minds torment and Forreine aid the empires vnfaithfull porter opening the gate euen vnto the enemie himselfe wherunto foule Discord joyned as shall be foorthwith declared what wanted that the barbarous enemie could desire for the helping of them in the supplanting of so great an empire But againe to our purpose Michael companion with his father Andronicus in the empire had by his wife Marie two sonnes Andronicus who was afterward emperour and Manuel surnamed the Despot and two daughters Anne maried vnto Thomas prince of EPIRVS and Theodora married to the prince of BVLGARIA of all these the old emperour Andronicus their grandfather so entirely loued Andronicus his nephew as that in comparison of him he little seemed to regard either his owne children or the rest of his nephews wishing them all rather to perish than him which many supposed him to do as purposing by him the better to establish the succession of the empire in his house as also for his excellencie of wit and comelinesse of person the likenesse of name also happily furthering his kind affection For which reasons he caused him to be alwaies honourably brought vp in his court as not willing to spare him out of his sight either day or night But when he was out of his childhood and growne to be a lustie youth at which time mens hot desires are commonly most vehement he began to contemne all chastisement and gouernment especially in so high a calling and in the prime of his youth Besides that his companions became vnto him the ministers and persuaders of all those vaine delights which vnstaied youth most desireth and at the first began to lead him foorth to walke the streets to hauke to hunt and to haunt plaies and afterwards to night walks also not well beseeming his state which riotous course of life when as it required great expence and his aged grandfather gaue him but a certaine spare allowance for his conuenient maintenance he acquainted himselfe with the rich marchants of GENOVVAY which dwelt at PERA Hereof rose hard taking vp of money great debt fine deuises how to come by coyne with secret consultations and purposes of flight For when hee saw his grandfather old Andronicus long to liue and his father Michael like to succeede him he had no hope of aspiring to the empire whereupon his ambitious thoughts and impotent desires long time tormenting his haughtie heart suggested vnto him such purposes For when as hee would not obey his grandfather as his tutor nor follow other mens counsels as a child hee sought after the emperiall libertie and abundance of wealth that he might haue that was sufficient for himselfe and wherewith to reward others as the followers of an emperour Which seeing he could not doe his grandfather yet liuing and his father raigning he sought after the soueraigntie of other principalities and countries one while after ARMENIA as belonging vnto him in the right of his mother the king of ARMENIA his daughter another while after PELOPONESVS and sometime hee dreamed of LESBOS and LEMNVS and other the fruitfull Islands of the Aegean sea which when it was secretly told sometime to his father and sometime to his grandfather he was now crossed and reprooued of the one and afterwards of the other And to passe ouer many other his youthfull prancks hee vsed in his night walks secretly to repaire vnto a certaine gentlewomans house more honourably borne than honestly quallified which woman a certaine gallant and another Adonis no lesse affected than himselfe wherewith he highly offended as with his riuall appointed certaine ruffians and fencers to watch her house But vpon a certaine time about midnight Manuel the Despot his yoonger brother seeking after him chanced to passe that way where these watchmen lay who seeing him hasten by and not knowing him in the darke and supposing him to haue been the man they looked for the gentlewomans best beloued set vpon him and so wounded him that he fell downe for dead from his horse but being by and by after known by others comming in he was taken vp and so halfe dead carried vnto the court Which outrage in the morning being knowne vnto the emperour cast him into a great heauinesse as beholding not the time present onely but wisely considering what was like to ensue in the time to come also But Manuel the Despot being dead of the wounds there receiued and the report therof brought vnto Michael the yoong emperour his father then lying at THESSALONICA strooke him to the heart with so great a griefe that falling sicke with the conceit thereof hee shortly after died Andronicus the vnstaied youth neuerthelesse holding on his woonted course with a secret purpose to haue fled became thereby still more and more suspitious vnto his aged grandfather not a little carefull vnto what end those his violent passions would at length tend And therefore appointed one Syrgiannes a man of great credit and authorie in the court in whom as in a reconciled enemie he had most vnaduisedly reposed too much trust to insinuat himselfe into the youthfull princes acquaintance and fauour that so sounding him and his secret designes he should not possibly be able without his knowledge to step aside which of all things the old emperour feared most as the beginning of greater troubles This Syrgiannes being a man of great place and of a subtill wit was sometime himselfe suspected of aspiring and therefore as vpon the misprision of treason was by the old emperor imprisoned but afterwards by him again inlarged and receiued into fauour was now put in trust warily to obserue the doings of the yoong prince But he not vnmindfull of the wrong before done vnto him and in
assurance of himselfe and his state in so great a danger And first he sent vnto his nephew come halfe way to forbid him from entring the citie and to tell him That it was a great folly for him being so manifest a traitour both vnto his grandfather and the state to thinke his traiterous purposes to bee vnknowne vnto the world and beside in way of reproofe to rehearse vnto him how many occasions he had giuen for the breaking of the league with his grandfather first in taking away the money from the collectors whereof the state neuer stood in more need by reason of the diuision of the empire which required double charge then in that hee had in the citie euerie where displaced such gouernours and magistrats as his grandfather had sent thither and placed others at his pleasure with many other like facts declaring his treacherous aspiring mind for which he was not without cause by his grandfather forbidden to enter the citie After that the old emperour by secret letters craued aid of Crales prince of SERVIA and Demetrius the Despot his sonne who was then gouernour of THSSALONICA and the countries adjoyning commaunding him with Andronicuâ— and Michael his nephews gouernours of MACEDONIA with all the forces they were able to raise and such aid as should be sent vnto them out of SERVIA with all speed to joyne together and to go against the yoong emperour But these letters thus written vnto the prince of SERVIA the Despot and others as is before said were for the most part intercepted by such as the yoong emperour had for that purpose placed vpon the straits of CHRISTOPOLIS and the other passages especially such as were written in paper yet some others in fine white linnen cloth and secretly sowed in the garments of such as carried them escaped for all their strait search and so were deliuered And in truth nothing was done or about to be done in CONSTANTINOPLE but that the yoong emperour was by one or other aduertised thereof whereas the old emperour on the other side vnderstood nothing what his nephew did abroad or intended For all men of their owne accord enclined vnto him some openly both bodie and soule as they say and such as could not be with him in person yet in mind and good will were euen present with him and that not onely the common sort of the citizens of CONSTANTINOPLE but the chiefe Senatours the great courtiers yea and many other of the emperours neerest kinsmen also who curiously obseruing whatsoeuer was done in the citie foorthwith certified him therof Amongst whom was also Theodorus the marques one of the old emperors owne sons who many years before by the empresse his mother sent into ITALY and there honorably married was by his prodigall course of life there growne far in debt so that leauing his wife and children behind him he was glad after the decease of his mother to flie vnto his father at CONSTANTINOPLE and there now liued who beside that he most honourably maintained him in the court and bestowed many great things vpon him paid also all his debts which were verie great All which fatherly kindnesse he forgetting went about most Iudas like to haue betraied his aged father For he also dreaming after the empire and for many causes but especially for that hee was in mind religion manners and habit become a Latine by him rejected thought he could not do him a greater dispite than by reuolting vnto the young emperour so that the neerer he was in blood the more he was his fathers vnnaturall enemie Shortly after Demetrius the Despot hauing receiued the emperours letters at THESSALONICA called vnto him Andronicus and Michael his nephews the gouernours of MACEDONIA with whom joyning all his forces and dayly expecting more aid out of SERVIA he first spoiled the yoong emperors friends and fauourits in MACEDONIA giuing the spoile of them in all the cities and townes of MACEDONIA vnto their souldiours who made hauocke of whatsoeuer they light vpon and whosoeuer seemed any way to withstand them or dislike of their proceedings their goods and lands they confiscated and draue the men themselues into exile Neither was the yoong emperour Andronicus in the meane time idle but secretly sent out his edicts into all parts of the empire yea into the verie cities of CONSTANTINOPLE and THESSALONICA and ouer all MACEDONIA whereby he proclaimed vnto the people in generall a releasement of them from all tributs impositions and payments and frankly promised vnto the souldiours and men of war the augmenting of their pensions and pay which were no sooner bruited but that most men were therewith mooued both in word and deed to fauour his proceedings doing what they could to further the same and by secret letters inuiting him to hasten his comming into the citie who thereupon comming to RHEGIVM by his embassadours sent from thence requested the old emperour Either to giue him leaue according to the league betwixt them to come into the citie or else to send him certaine of the chiefe of the nobilitie and cleargie with some of the better and more vnderstanding sort of the Burgers and citizens also vnto whom he might frankly speake his mind for them faithfully to deliuer the same againe vnto the emperor his grandfather and the people Which requests the old emperour perceiuing to be full of deceit and trecherie for a good space answered thereunto nothing at all but stood all silent as doubting which to graunt for to suffer his nephew to come into the citie he saw was dangerous the cittizens as he well knew being for the most part enclined to reuolt vnto him so soon as they should once see him within the gates and to send any forth vnto him as he desired might be as he feared an occasion of some tumult to be after raised in the citie for he knew that his nephewes drift therein was openly by faire words and secretly with great gifts and large promises first to gaine them and by them the rest of the citizens Both which things being dangerous he made choice of the easier and sent forth vnto him two of the most noble Senators two of the most reuerend bishops two other graue prelates and foure of the cheefe burgesses of the citie vnto whom at their comming vnto him hee in the open hearing of all men deliuered this premeditated and craftie speech It is not vnknowne vnto the world you my subjects to haue alwaies been vnto me more deare than I haue been vnto my selfe and how that I haue not vpon any ambitious conceit or desire of the sole gouernment against my grandfathers good will gone out For you see how that I neither spare mine owne life or attend my pleasure for the care I haue of you I come not vnto you compassed about with a guard of armed men as is the manner not of kings only for the enuie of their high place but of others also of farre meaner calling whom
if it shall please God that our forces may once meet and joyne together in so happie a warre shall the Christian commonweale haue any cause to sorrow or be agreeued with the issue and euent of our fortune For vnto those fifteen thousand good souldiors which lately discōfited Alis Bassa on the borders of MACEDONIA my purpose is to joine as many moe vnto them with all which strength as soone as conueniently I may I will begin to set forward ready to follow your ensignes to all euents whatsoeuer And so fare you well from CROIA the third of August 1444. These letters being dispatched away vnto the king Scanderbeg forthwith began to leauie his forces And first of all he caused with new supplies to be made strong all those companies wherwith he had ouerthrowne Alis Bassa not suffering any one of them to absent himselfe from this expedition Vnto whom being in number fifteen thousand all men of approoued valour hee joyned other fifteen thousand moe no lesse valiant than they such a power as hee neuer either before or after raised for the recouerie or defence of his kingdome And so furnished with all things necessarie for so honourable a war cheerefully set forward accompanied with the vowes and hope of all his most faithful and louing subjects But being come to the borders of SERVIA he found the strait and difficult passages of that rough countrey shut vp by George the Despot lord thereof a man adorned with all the graces of nature but otherwise a verie wicked damned Atheist and a Christian but in name only who but lately before restored vnto his kingdome by the helpe of king Vladislaus hauing changed his mind did now mightily cleaue vnto the Turke his sonne in law by whom he had before been himselfe exiled and in fauour of his quarell and despight of the Hungarians but especially of Huniades had stopped vp the waies and passages whereby Scanderbeg was with his armie to passe who by his embassadour sent of purpose vnto the Despot complained to him of that wrong putting him in mind of the perjurious dealing of Amurath with him notwithstanding he had maried his daughter and of the great pleasures the Hungarians had done him of both which he had good proofe requesting him if it were but in regard of the common cause of Christianitie to giue vnto him as vnto his friend by whom hee was neuer in any thing wronged passage and not to staine himselfe with the perpetuall note of infamie That he being a Christian prince and of late so mightily oppressed by the Turk should now to the great hinderence of the Christian cōmon weale take part with him against his friends and deliuerers But what auaileth praiers or requests bee they neuer so reasonable with a man set downe to mischiefe Scanderbeg out of hope by any other meanes to open his way but by plaine force resolued so to doe although it much grieued him to spend those forces vpon a Christian prince which he had prepared against the capitall enemie both of himselfe and all good Christians old Amurath the Turkish Sultan But whilest he thus discontented spendeth his time with his armie vpon the borders of SERVIA beset with many difficulties Vladislaus prickt forward by the continuall solicitation of Iulian the Cardinall or else drawne on by his owne ineuitable destinie hauing assembled a great armie of valiant and couragious souldiours out of HVNGARIE and POLONIA yet in number farre inferiour to that he had the yeare before for that most of the voluntarie souldiours were returned home set forward from SEGEDINVM and in the beginning of Nouember a time vnfit for wars passed ouer DANVBIVS and entring into BVLGARIA came to NICOPOLIS the Metrapoliticall citie of that kingdome but then in possession of the Turks where he burnt the suburbs therof and in that fruitfull countrey therabouts refreshed his people three or foure daies where he also mustred his armie and tooke a view thereof at what time Dracula Vaiuod of VALACHIA a man of great experience in martiall affaires being then present and considering the small number of the kings armie began to persuade him to retire saying Hee had sufficiently learned by his owne harmes to deeme aright of the power of the Turkish Sultan who as hee said was wont many times to carie more men with him into the fields in his disport of hauking and hunting than was there in the kings campe wherefore he should doe well not to expose those his small forces vnto so manifest perill in such vnseasonable time of the yeare but to reserue them vnto a more fit oportunitie when hee might with greater power encounter his puissant enemie This his counsaile most men of greatest experience and not caried away with other priuat respects thought wholesome but the Cardinall authour of this fatall warre extolling with great words the last yeares victorie obtained against the Turke with glorious promises of great aid as well by sea from the Pope and the Venetians as by land from the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE and other Christian princes augmenting also the great troubles in ASIA and promising an easie and happie successe vnto these wars in EVROPE persuaded the king that Dacula his speech proceeded either of ignorance vpon a superficiall judgement which her made of the kings power there present without regard of further strength from his friends or else of the priuat respect of his owne securitie in regard of a commodious league made a little before betwixt him and the Turke So that the poore prince seeing his counsell mightily impugned by the Cardinall and not so well taken as it was meant by him stood in doubt whether to leaue him to his owne fortune and himselfe to his quiet peace or casting off the Turkish league to joyne with the king in this chance of warre but at length resolued as a martiall minded man preferring the vncertaine glorie of the field before his owne assured rest said vnto the king Seeing that either your princely fortune which hath euer hetherto fauoured your high attempts else the hope of friends helpe which I pray God faile you not at your need or the secret designement of your destinie vnable to be auoided doth draw your majestie into a different opinion from me that your resolution which I cannot by reasonable persuasion alter I will as the suddenesse of time and my small abilitie will permit most gladly further And therewith presented vnto the king his sonne with foure thousand horsemen well appointed to serue him in these wars wishing vnto him such good successe as he himselfe desired Afterward when he was about to take his leaue of the king he preferred vnto him two lustie yong men perfect guides for that countrey with two horses of incredible swiftnesse and with teares standing in his eies said vnto him Take this small gift in good part as a poore refuge to flie vnto if your fortune happe to faile you which I tremble to thinke vpon
their soueraigne so desirous of reuenge offered to spend their liues in that seruice whose forwardnesse he seemed not to refuse howbeit he had in his mind alreadie plotted another manner of reuenge He was not ignorant what great matters his father Amurath had brought to passe by sowing discord amongst the princes of GRaeCIA which fowle practise he purposed now to put in practise himselfe There was at that time many famous chieftains in EPIRVS of Scanderbeg both beloued and trusted amongst whom he was in hope to find some one who for desire of wealth or promotion might be allured to giue some desperat attempt against the life or state of Scanderbeg Of all others Moses Golemus of DIBRA a man honourably descended was most inward with Scanderbeg and for his prowesse and experience in martiall affaires of all men accounted the best captaine in all EPIRVS next vnto Scanderbeg himselfe him the craftie tyrant most desired to alienat from Scanderbeg as one fittest to serue his purpose and easiest without suspition to be delt withall because he commonly lay with a strong garrison in DIBRA vpon the verie frontiers of EPIRVS Wherfore he directed his letters vnto the gouernor of SFETIGRADE commanding him by all meanes he could possibly deuise to withdraw Moses from Scanderbeg and not to spare for any gold or golden promises whereby to allure him promising also vnto the gouernour himselfe great preferments if hee could winne him Vpon receit of which letters the gouernor began forthwith carefully to deuise how he might best attempt the matter he had in charge where after many deuises he at last thought vpon a shrewd-headed fellow one of the Christians which dwelt in SFETIGRADE whom for that he was a Christian he might without suspect vse as an instrument in so dangerous and important an action This Christian the gouernour called vnto him and after he had with great gifts and large promises woon him to vndertake the matter he sent him away fully before armed with plenteous instructions full of treason and deceit When this subtill messenger was come vnto Moses and vnder pretence of great and secret matters of importance had obtained to speake with him in priuat he after some discourse had of matters well worth the hearing began at length vnder the couert of faire glozing words to vtter his poison Shewing vnto him as a messenger from the gouernor the great and good opinion the Turkish emperour had of long time conceiued of his valour and prowesse for which cause his heroicall nature could not but honour him although he were his enemy and therewith also maruell that he being a man of that worth could be contented to be commaunded by Scanderbeg whose state was by him chiefly vpholden whereas if he would doe wisely and changing his affection follow Mahomet an emperour of greatest magnificence and power he should quickly in his court find such honourable entertainment as were to be preferred before the state of Scanderbeg or if the soueraigntie of EPIRVS his natiue countrey did better please him he might easily be thereunto aduanced by joyning his owne endeuour vnto Mahomets great power It pleased Moses well to heare his owne praises a thing incident vnto hautie minds and he liked well that he was so fauoured of the Turkish emperour but the hope of the kingdome of EPIRVS began to worke in him new conceits and moued him more than all the rest Such is the force of ambitious thoughts that they make a man forget all things saue themselues so glorious a thing it is to stand in the highest place For all that Moses neither in word or countenance made any semblant of liking or disliking the message Which the wily messenger taking for a secret consent and hartely glad that he had been so well heard not desiring as then any further answere craued leaue to depart promising in short time to returne to him againe After the departure of this messenger many troubled thoughts began to arise in the mind of Moses his mirth was changed into melancholy and the cheerfulnesse of his countenance was abated his hautie thoughts were his solitarie companions and the imagined kingdome the idoll he in secret worshipped so that in short time he seemed vnto the wiser sort as a man altogither metamorphosed Some were so bold as for to aske the cause of the messengers comming vnto whom he answered That he was one from whom he receiued intelligence of matters concerning the good of the state which his answere was holden for true for who durst once mistrust Moses Whilest he was thus tossed vp and downe with his owne thoughts as a shippe with the billowes of a wrought sea the same slie messenger according to his promise came againe and for his more credit in secret brought with him such presents as well might seeme to haue beene sent from the Great Turke with his message better framed than before Of all which that was sent Moses is reported to haue receiued nothing but the worst which was the verie treason it selfe And so returned the messenger with answere That he could not but in good part accept of the Turkish emperours great fauours and for the rest of his requests whatsoeuer he should chance to doe therin he should not from thenceforth find him any great enemy commanding the messenger at his departure no more to repaire vnto him about that matter for feare of suspition After that it chanced that Scanderbeg came into DIBRA to see how all things stood there and to consult with Moses for the besieging of SFETIGRADE which citie it grieued him to see in the possession of the Turkes Moses to auert Scanderbeg from that enterprise wherein hee must of force be driuen to shew himselfe told him That he vnderstood of late by a certaine messenger which came to him out of SFETIGRADE that the citie was so well stored by the Turks of all things necessarie for the defence thereof that it were but lost labour to attempt any thing against the same wherefore hee aduised him rather to besiege BELGRADE not that BELGRADE which is situated vpon the riuer of Danubius but another of the same name in the confines of EPIRVS then holden by the Turkes but distant from SFETIGRADE about an hundreth and fortie miles of the taking whereof there seemed to be more hope By this persuasion Scanderbeg resolued with himselfe to make prouision for the besieging of BELGRADE And forasmuch as his souldiours of EPIRVS alwaies vsed to the field were not so fit for the besieging of townes he thought it good to pray aid out of ITALY from his old friend Alphonsus king of NAPLES with whom he had been of long time acquainted and vnto him much beholden Wherefore he sent two of his noblemen embassadours vnto him with certaine rich presents and familiar letters of this purport Our souldiours of EPIRVS know only how to fight with men and them to vanquish with wals they know not how to deale You
matter propounded as followeth I haue before this at other times by long experience often noted most noble Senatours that in all our greatest consultations of matters most concerning our common state some are alwayes so addicted or rather wedded vnto their owne conceits that they can hardly with patience endure to heare the reasonable opinion of others contrarie to their owne the cheefe cause of our slow resolutions Wherefore I haue thought it good breefely at this time to call vpon you for resolution for as much as I see we must of necessitie take vp armes be we neuer so loth or vnwilling For to my vnderstanding you doe but betray the state in delaying the time to make present warre vpon the barbarous enemie Yet many principall men amongst vs aduise vs to beware that wee doe not rashly or vnaduisedly determine of matters of so great consequence and thinke it requisit that we should send embassadours vnto the tyrant to expostulate with him his vniust dealing in breaking his faith and league and withall to request him to obserue the conditions of the peace before agreed vpon if happily he may rather by persuasion than by armes be mooued to change his purpose and if by this meanes nothing may be obtained then at length they thinke it necessarie to resolue to make warre vpon him They alledge further That if we shall attempt warre our citties in the continent bordering vpon the Ionian in PELOPONESVS with diuers others of ours in the firme land will not bee able to hold out very long but for want of necessaries must needs perish with the first of the trouble besides that if those places shall be wasted and spoiled great losse as they say shall ensue thereby vnto most of vs in priuat the greatest motiue perhaps wherefore they thinke it most conuenient to deferre the warres and for that purpose to send our embassadours vnto him Of which embassage first by your leaue a few words At such time as these our embassadours men of great wisedome and reach not long since came vnto him he had them in no regard but dalying off the time with fraudulent deceitfull and glosing speeches did indeed such things to the contrarie as we least hoped wherefore I cannot well deuise if we should send them or such others againe what especiall thing of all that we then gaue them in tharge they should now propound vnto him hauing alreadie said what is to be said except they should say That whereas we are not of sufficient strength and power to wage warre against him we would be glad to decide the matter by talke and by that simple meanes to redresse our iniuries and vpon the matter to shew our selues prest and readie to fall to agreement with him according as shall stand with his good pleasure and liking Truly this were good plaine dealing but it will not serue our turne ARGOS is alreadie taken from vs and he maketh open war vpon vs wherein he doth but prooue our courage and trie how long we will put vp these iniuries If we will quietly disgest these he will then confidently and without feare proceed further but if we shall as best beseemeth vs valiantly resist him he shall be glad of such rest as wee shall giue him and when hee knoweth not well which way to turne himselfe shall be as glad as we to lay downe armes and to seeke for peace whereas if we shall doe otherwise I feare we shall repent our selues when it will be too late It is reported that as soone as he was come into PELOPONESVS he went himselfe in person vnto EVBoeA to view the cittie of CALCIS and going a second time out of PELOPONESVS sounded the depth of the passage and came within the sight of the cittie of purpose to haue assaulted it if he had found oportunitie at which time he himselfe rid ouer that strait of the sea betwixt BoeOTIA and EVBoeA with his horse and curiously viewed in what place he might most conueniently passe ouer with his armie to besiege the cittie Verely these are the most manifest signes of war whereby any man may sufficiently prooue that he hath long since resolued so soone as he is readie to make warre vpon vs whilest we are yet dreaming in the middest of our long consultations Hee will proceed in the warres he hath begun and cutting vs short augment his owne dominions Then will hee blame his lieutenants and captaines as authors thereof but yet still be doing that best serueth his purpose And whilest no man opposeth himselfe against him his power dayly encreasing he will doe the best he can suddainely to swallow vs vp being vnprouided For he may easily raise great forces that by sufferance of others maketh himselfe of great strength there where hee had before no footing Shall we then say that we haue no warres with this encroching tyrant Some I know feed themselues and others also with vaine hopes saying That he will neuer turne his forces vpon vs nor ruinate our estate although he might at ease doe it wherefore say they let vs refraine from warres and vse our peace and quietnesse yet omitting nothing in the meane time that shall bee needfull for our safetie But for as much as it plainely appeareth vnto all men by that which is before said That he hath alreadie indeed proclaimed warre against vs inuading our countries surprising our citties and killing our people Whether thinke you it more expedient or profitable for vs to sit still and suffer our dominions to bee taken from vs or rather by open warre to make the barbarous king know the greatnesse of our power and strength For if we shall enter into open warrre wee being in armes sufficiently prouided for all euents and with carefull eye attending all his attempts shall easily auoid both himselfe and all his deuises who if hee bee suffered to run still on forward with his prosperous successe people will dayly more and more fall vnto him in hope to liue the better as his friends For which cause I thinke it better to preferre an honourable warre before a doubtfull peace As for delay it hath hurt may great States and our selues most of all whereby wee haue in sort betrayed the empire of GRECIA with the wofull emperour himselfe when as this tyrant battered the wals of CONSTANTINOPLE for our traffique was much holpen by the Grecians whom we then left to themselues After that we despised and reiected the pittifull complaints of the princes of PELOPONESVS who with teares craued our aid and now wee see that famous countrey lost and fallen into his hands through our sloth and negligence Of late when as the king of BOSNA humbly requested our aid and promised fully to requite our courtesie and whatsoeuer els we should doe in his behalfe we suffered his kingdome to be lost and himselfe to be cruelly murdered of the Turkes For all these things by vs thus neglected we cannot escape the infamous report of all
but especially the great Bishop by whose meanes they were in good hope to bee greatly strengthened Pius the second of that name was then the great Bishop who at first answered the Venetian embassadours That he must take away the little Turke before hee had any thing to doe with the great meaning thereby Sigismundus Maletesta prince of ARIMINVM whom he deadly hated for that he tooke part with the French against the Aragonians Howbeit the warres in ITALIE being well appeased Pius still sollicited by the Venetians made great preparation against the Turkes giuing it out That hee would in person himselfe goe vnto those warres and by his authoritie then much regarded procured great aid out of GERMANIE FRAVNCE SPAINE and other countries also farther off at which time also voluntarie men in great numbers resorted out of all parts of Christendome into ITALIE readie to aduenture their liues in those religious warres At the same time also the Venetians had with much adoe by the working of Paulus Angelus Archbishop of DIRRACHIVM persuaded Scanderbeg to renounce the league which he had before made with the Turke and to enter into arms againe which he presently did and vpon the sudden spoyled the borders of the Turks dominions next vnto him Wherwith Mahomet was no lesse troubled than with all the rest of the great preparation of the Christians against him fearing that as it was then reported he should be made generall of the Christian armie which Mahomet feared might tend to the vtter ruine of his kingdome so dreadfull was the name of Scanderbeg amongst the Turkes Wherefore thinking it most expedient for his affaires to reconcile him if it were possible by his embassadour sent for that purpose writ vnto him as followeth Sultan Mahomet Emperour of the East and of the West vnto Scanderbeg prince of the Albanenses and of the Epirots greeting I haue alwayes had thy fidelitie and vpright dealing in great admiration most noble prince Scanderbeg for which cause I thought it a thing incredible that thou being a prince of such an heroicall and princely perfection should so inconsideratly and without any occasion breake the faith and league which thou not long since solemnely contracted with me For as I am aduertised thou hast entred into the confines of our dominions with a great armie and with fire and sword destroying all that thou couldest hast caried away with thee a great bootie Of which thing I know right well that the Venetians are the onely cause by whose counsell and persuasion thou hast been set on to doe this deed and seduced by their allurements and subtill persuasions hast made war vpon me and art become the faithlesse breaker of thine owne league and of the sacred law of nations Yet doe I little or nothing blame thee therefore regarding more the cause of the ignominie than the despight it selfe and lay the blame vpon them who haue alwayes been my foes and capitall enemies rather than vpon thee But alas what is this vnto me Scanderbeg that thou hast done which possesse so many and so large dominions Diddest thou thinke to doe so great hurt vnto our kingdome by spoiling a little peece of our countrey and by stealing our cattell more like a theese and robber than an open enemie Which thing I yet account not woorth the name of an iniurie But if thou thinke it so good proceed in these thy doings for I make more account of thy friendship and loue than of whatsoeuer is to me dearest because as thou knowest I haâ—e alwaies borne vnto thee an especiall fauour and loued thee most entirely And therefore as oft as I call to remembrance our tender yeares and old familiaritie whilest we liued together in my fathers court at HADRIANOPLE I cannot but thinke my selfe bound vnto thee in all courtesie And therfore my good Scanderbeg I most heartily request and entreat thee That we renuing the former conclusions of peace may of new confirme the same by solemne oath wherewith if the former peace had beene established thou wouldest not haue suffered thy selfe to haue been now of the Venetians so circumuented or seduced It is therefore needfull that we now againe for euer confirme a league and peace betwixt vs by solemne and sacred oath on both sides which if thou shalt doe as I hope thou wilt and in this be aduised by me thou with thy posteritie shall vndoubtedly alwayes raigne in peace and in safetie possesse whatsoeuer is yours Whereas if thou shalt do otherwise beleue me it will repent thee and that right quickly Thou knowest alreadie my force which whether thou be able to withstand or not thou were best to bee well aduised The poore princes thy neighbors the Venetians thy seducers cannot deliuer thee from my forces and power Doest thou not see the Grecians almost all rooted out before thy face the emperours of CONSTANTINOPLE and TRAPEZOND by vs depriued of their empires the princes of SERVIA and RASCIA destroyed the king of BOSNA put to death and all the kingdomes of ASIA with many other kings and princes moe vanquished and ouerthrowne and made subiect vnto mee Wherefore Scanderbeg I aduise thee in this to follow my counsell keepe thy promise and so beleeue me thou shalt not be deceiued Concerning these matters we haue giuen further commaundement to our embassador and seruant Mustapha which commeth vnto thee vnto whom doubt thou not to giue credence in any thing Farewell from our imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE the 7 of May 1463. Scanderbeg hauing by the afore said messenger receiued these letters and well considered of the same returned answere as followeth The champion of Christ Iesus George Castriot otherwise called Scanderbeg prince of the Albaneses and Epirots to the most excellent Mahomet king of the Turks greeting You maruell most noble Mahomet that my souldiors as you say contrarie to our league and the conditions of our peace haue entered into your confines and from thence caried a great bootie Of which thing you say the Venetians are the authors whom you call your mortall enemies inferring afterward that you are little therewith offended for that you are a most mightie prince and can easily disgest such vnkindnesse for the great loue you beare vnto me and the rather for that I did it deceiued as it pleaseth you to say by others All these things you can easily forgiue and forget so that I will by solemne oath confirme the same conditions of peace that were in our former league betwixt vs agreed vpon And thereunto you do greatly vrge me you admonish and counsell me to follow your aduise as tending to the great profit and securitie of me and my posteritie least happily whilest I seeke to please the Venetians I incur your heauie displeasure Besides this the more to terrifie me you reckon vp as it were in a catalogue the people nations kings and princes by you ouercome and subdued But what is that which is so strange I pray you and which you
neerer first arriued but finding the empire alreadie possessed by Corcutus his younger sonne and himselfe excluded he in the griefe of his heart poured forth most grieuous complaints before God and man calling heauen and earth to witnesse of the great wrong and injurie done vnto him by the prowd Bassaes. And what by teares and humble obtestations what by great gifts and greater promises but most of all by the earnest labour solicitation of Cherseogles the Viceroy of GRaeCIA and the Aga or captaine of the Ianizaries both his sons in law preuailed so much with the great Bassaes and soldiors of the court that Corcutus being of a mild and courteous disposition ouercome by their entreatie and the reuerence of his father resigned vnto him the imperiall gouernment which he presently tooke vpon him with the generall good liking of the people and made Corcutus gouernor of LYCIA CARIA and IONIA with the pleasant and rich countries thereabouts allowing him a great yearly pension for the better maintenance of his estate with promise also of the empire after his decease and so sent him away to his charge where he most pleasantly liued during the raigne of his father Baiazet giuing himselfe wholy to the studie of Philosophie which made that he was afterwards lesse fauoured of the Ianizaries and other men of warre Zemes thus preuented by his elder brother and vnderstanding by his friends how all things stood at CONSTANTINOPLE and that Baiazet was alreadie possessed of the empire returning with great speed raised a puissant armie in the countries which were vnder his commaund and marching through the heart of ASIA the lesse by the way as he went tooke into his possession such cities and strong places as he thought best and so entring into BYTHINIA tooke the great citie of PRVSA the auntient seat of the Othoman kings Purposing in himselfe that as Baiazet had shut him out of EVROPE so he would also in requitall thereof exclude him out of that part of the Turkish empire which is beyond HELLESPONTVS in ASIA and to make himselfe lord thereof Wherein fortune at the first seemed vnto him most fauourable all the people wheresoeuer he came yeelding vnto him obedience as vnto their prince and soueraigne so that in short time he seemed both vnto himselfe and to others in strong possession of that part of the empire Of these his proceedings Baiazet hauing intelligence and perceiuing the greater part of his empire now in danger to bee lost and doubting farther that Zemes his ambitious mind would hardly rest therewith long contented for remedie of so great a mischeefe leuied a strong and puissant armie wherewith he passed ouer into ASIA and came to NEAPOLIS a citie of ANATOLIA neere whereunto Zemes lay with his armie strongly encamped As Baiazet was vpon the way against his brother Achmetes the great Bassa in the confession of all men the best man of warre and most expert captaine amongst the Turkes and of all others most entirely beloued of the Ianizaries came and vnarmed presented himselfe vpon his knees before Baiazet his sword hanging at his saddle bow to the great admiration of many who could not but wonder to see so worthie a cheefetaine of so great place in time of seruice without any apparent cause in such humble manner to appeare before his soueraigne as if he had had nothing to doe with armes It chanced many yeares before in the mortall warres betwixt Mahomet the late and great emperor of the Turkes and Asymbeius Vsun-Cassanes the king of PERSIA that Baiazet hauing the leading of the right wing of his fathers armie had not martialled it in so good order as was to Mahomet his liking for which cause he commaunded this Achmetes to goe and set that part of the battell in better order Which his soueraignes commaund whiles hee most skilfully performed Baiazet taking it in euill part as tending to his owne disgrace in great choller threatened the Bassa to find a time when he would be reuenged vpon him But he being a man of great spirit and one that durst both do and say much perceiuing his meaning bid him do what pleased him and laying his hand vpon his sword solemnly vowed That whensoeuer he came to command as emperour he would neuer after weare sword in field the remembrance wherof was the cause that he then came in manner aforesaid readie to serue if he were thereto commaunded or otherwise to endure what so his princes pleasure was Baiazet perceiuing that the vnkindnesse so long before conceiued was not yet disgested in token of grace stretched out to him his scepter and taking him vp commaunded him to girt his sword vnto his side and not to remember that which he had long before both forgiuen and forgotten And knowing right well that he was a most valiant and expert captaine made him Generall of his armie to the great contentment of the Ianizaries and the rest of the armie who so soone as they saw him gaue out diuers great shouts for joy as if victorie had most assuredly attended vpon him Achmetes taking vpon him the charge came and encamped so neere as he could to Zemes and so lay by the space of ten daies during which time many sharpe skirmishes were made with diuers fortune sometime the one side preuailing and sometime the other At length the matter was brought to a generall battell wherein after a long and cruell fight and great slaughter on both sides the fortune of Baiazet conducted by the policie of Achmetes preuailed against Zemes. Who seeing his armie ouerthrowne betooke himselfe to flight and came to ICONIVM in which flight many of Zemes his followers were taken prisoners whom Baiazet would haue pardoned and enlarged but that by the persuasion of Achmetes he changed his mind and to the terrour of others suffered them all to be put to the sword Zemes doubting after this ouerthrow to fall into his brothers hands and finding no means to make head againe when he had stayed three daies at ICONIVM caused his treasure plate jewels and other things of great valour and light carriage to be trussed vp and taking with him his mother and his two yong children a sonne and a daughter accompaied with a small retinue fled into SYRIA then part of the dominion of Caytbeius commonly called the great Sultan of AEGYPT and SYRIA It was not long after the departure of Zemes from ICONIVM but that Baiazet came thither with his armie to haue surprised him but vnderstanding of his flight he took order for the peaceable gouernment of that part of his empire And so hauing suppressed that dangerous rebellion and againe reduced that troubled part of his empire to his obeisance returned with victorie to CONSTANTINOPLE The distressed prince Zemes trauelling through SYRIA came at length to HIERVSALEM where he stayed a good space deuoutly visiting the monuments of that most auntient and famous citie From thence he trauelled into AEGYPT where at his
his safe conduct come vnto him into his island of the RHODES Which his request the Great Master easily graunted deeming the flight of so great a prince from the Turke to be a thing much profitable to the Christian commonweale and thereupon he presently sent forth certaine gallies to fetch him from the troublesome coast of CICILIA But before these gallies were come Zemes was enforced by the sudden accesse of his enemies for the auoiding of present danger to go aboord on that ship which he had prouidently before prepared to be in readinesse for such purpose And hauing put a little from the shoare shot backe againe an arrow with letters made fast vnto it directed vnto his brother Baiazet containing as followeth Thou knowest most vnkind and cruell brother that I flie not vnto the Christians the mortall enemies of the Othoman family for hatred of my religion or nation but enforced thereunto by thy iniurious dealing and dangerous practises which thou incessantly attemptest against me yea euen in my extreame miserie But this assured hope I carrie with me that the time will come when as thou the author of so great wrong or thy children shall receiue the iust guerdon of this thy present tyrannie against thy brother It is reported that when Baiazet had read these letters he was so troubled in mind that for certaine daies he gaue himselfe wholy to mourning and heauinesse and would in no wise be comforted insomuch that he was brought into the campe by the Bassaes as a man halfe distraught of his wits shunning for a season all mens speech and companie Zemes sailing to the RHODES was there honourably receiued of the Great Master and all the rest of the knights of the order to whom in their publike assembly three daies after he openly declared the causes of the discord betwixt his brother and him alleadging for the colour of his rebellion That although Baiazet were his elder brother yet that he was borne whilest his father yet liued in priuat estate vnder subjection and commaund long before hee possessed the kingdome and so no kings sonne whereas hee himselfe was the first borne of his father being an emperour and so not heire of his fathers priuat fortune as was Baiazet but of his greatest honour and empire and yet not of such an hautie mind but that he could haue beene content to haue giuen place vnto his brother so that he could haue beene contented likewise to haue granted him some small portion of the empire wherein he might safely haue liued as a poore prince and his brother but that such was his pride as that he would not vouchsafe to suffer him to liue so much as a poore priuat life in anie corner of so large an empire and was therefore by his vnnaturall and tyranous dealing enforced to craue aid of the Christian princes Of whom for so much as he had alwaies heard much honour he was in good hope to find succour and reliefe in that his distressed estate protesting vnto God and the world that if euer it should be his good fortune by their meanes and helpe to obtaine the empire he would neuer be vnmindfull of so great a benefit but to make with them a perpetuall and inuiolable peace and so to rest their fast friend for euer The Great Master on the other side comforting him with cheerfull speeches promised to keepe him in safetie from the furie of his brother and farther to commend his cause to the other great kings and princes of Christendome This exiled prince Zemes was about the age of eight and twentie yeares when he came to the RHODES of stature tall somewhat corpulent and well limbd gray eied but looking something a squint hooke nosed and in the middle rising in such manner as the Persians commend in their kings of colour browne spare of speech and by nature cholericke a great feeder so that he seemed rather to deuoure his meat than to eat it much delighted in swimming and to lie abroad in the night pensiue and melancholy which men imputed to his great cares neuer merrie but in the companie of the graund Master a religious obseruer of his superstition from which he could neuer be drawne during the long time he liued in exile learned as among the Turkes so that he writ the historie of his fathers life But leauing him in safe keeping with the Graund Master of the RHODES let vs againe returne to the course of our historie Baiazet hauing now the second time chased away his brother after he had well quieted that part of his troubled kingdome in ASIA returned againe to CONSTANTINOPLE carefully attending when some new motion should be made by his brother to his farther disquiet But after he vnderstood that he was with the Great Master of the RHODES he sent certaine of the Bassaes amongst whom Achmetes the great souldiour is reported to haue beene one vnto the Great Master requesting him to deliuer vp Zemes offering for him a wonderfull summe of money Which dishonourable request when it could by no meanes be obtained the same embassadors in the name of their master concluded a peace verie commodious for the Rhodians wherein amongst other things it was agreed That the Great Master should keepe Zemes in safe custodie so that he should no more trouble the Turkish empire in consideration whereof and for his honorable vsage Baiazet should yearly pay vnto the Great Master thirtie thousand duckets the first of August which was afterward accordingly paied It fortuned that whilest Achmetes the great Bassa emploied in matters abroad was absent from the court Baiazet discoursing with the other Bassaes his graue counsellors vpon his late expedition into ASIA against his brother seemed to be highly offended with the vntrustinesse and doubtfull faith of some of his greatest captaines and souldiours yet vpon whom he might justly lay the blame he well knew not although it seemed by his talke he should somewhat distrust the great captaine Achmetes Hereupon Isaack the most auntient Bassa of the court and of greatest authoritie next vnto Baiazet himselfe whose daughter a ladie of exceeding beautie Achmetes had long before married but doubting that she had yeelded her honour to the wanton lust of Mustapha the eldest sonne of Mahomet the late emperoer had put her from him and would by no meanes be reconciled for which cause there was a secret hatred euer after betwixt those two great Bassaes perceiuing the emperours discontented and suspitious humor and desiring nothing more than the destruction of Achmetes tooke hold vpon this opportunitie and by all meanes he could deuise encreased the suspition of the treason which had alreadie too much possessed the jealous emperour sometimes craftily imagining intelligence to haue passed betwixt Zemes and Achmetes and forthwith amplifying his power and authoritie which as hee said was so great with the Ianizaries and souldiors of the court that they by reason of his often imploiments were wholy at his deuotion
our hard fortune liue and serue vnder thy worthie conduct Selymus for that he right well knew Gazelles both for his vertue and valour wherewith valiant men win credit euen with their greatest enemies and also desiring to joyne in league and friendship with the Arabians or rather Alarbes whom he knew of all others to be most to be feared receiued them all courteously appointing vnto euery one of them an honourable pention and persuading them to forget their old estate willed them to looke for farre greater things of his bountie Not long after when as the Moores and wild Arabians with certain Mamalukes that were fled to the citie of ACHASIA made incursions into the countrey about CAIRE and oftentimes did cut off the Turkes which went any thing farre from the citie to seeke abroad for forrage he sent Gazelles with part of his armie to represse them who hauing quickly woon and sackt ACHASIA and slaine most part of those aduenturers to his own great praise and the wonderfull contentation of Selymus honourably returned in lesse time than was expected In the meane time Tomombeius in the countrey of SEGESTA which is on the other side of Nilus towards CYRENAICA miserably beset with so many mischeefes began to make head againe There were come vnto him a strong companie of Mamalukes from ALEXANDRIA which he had by letters sent for out of the garrison of that citie and many others had followed him in his flight from CAIRE And there were not wanting many great men amongst the Arabians and Moores the inhabitants of that countrey which promised him their helpe and furtherance Beside that many of the Aegyptians whose houses and families were become a prey and bootie vnto the insolent Turkes promised him That if he would by night come to CAIRE they would raise such a tumult in the citie as should easily worke the confusion of the Turkes for as much as they all hauing endured most horrible indignities and villanies could no longer abide those most insolent men to rage and raigne ouer them They sent him word also that the Turkes huge armie was now brought to a contemptible number most part of them being slaine in the battell at CAIRE and the rest being for the greatest part brought to extreame weaknesse with wounds and sicknesse For which causes as Tomombeius his forces encreased dayly so hope also which neuer failed the poore vanquished and distressed king began now also to reuiue in his inuincible heart aboue the condition of his miserable estate So that fawning fortune which euen then most cruelly despightfully went about vtterly to supplant him of all other distressed princes most miserable seemed but then first to change her frowning countenance and to promise vnto him more happie and prosperous successe Whilest Tomombeius was making this preparation one Albuchomar an Aegyptian for authoritie and wealth the greatest man by farre in all the countrey of SEGESTA whether it were to auert the miserie of the present warre out of his countrey or els by the pleasure of his reuolt to gaine the good liking of Selymus vpon whom all things seemed to fawne came and certified him both of Tomombeius his strength of the new practises of the citisens of CAIRE Wherupon Selymus caused strong watch and ward to be kept in all places of that great citie and such citisens as hee suspected to fauour Tomombeius hee shut vp into the castle which being before abandoned by Tomombeius was then together with the citie in his possession and placed all alongst the riuer boats furnished with men and artillerie to keepe and defend the farther banke of Nilus and to impeach Tomombeius his passage ouer Yet considering with himselfe with how great danger he had so many times fought with those desperat enemies and what a difficultie it would be to intercept Tomombeius protracting the warre in those vast and vnknowne countries and still preparing greater forces without whom he could nothing assure himselfe of all his former victories to proue if he might be woon by clemencie and bountie he resolued to send embassadours vnto him to persuade him to lay downe armes and after so many ouerthrowes at length to acknowledge the fortune of the victor and withall to promise him vpon the faith of a prince That if he would come in and submit himselfe he should of the courtesie and bountie of the conqueror vpon conditions reasonable repossesse that his late kingdome which he should neuer be able by force to regaine But if he would needs desperatly proceed to make head againe forgetting this offered grace together with his owne disabilitie he should afterward when the matter was againe tried by battell by his owne just desert neuer more find at the hands of his angrie enemie any regard of his princely state or dignitie For Selymus seeing himselfe by the course of his victories drawne into a farre countrey and not without cause fearing with so small a power as hee had left to bee oppressed in that so great and populous a citie euen with the very multitude men of doubtfull faith thought it better by some honourable composition to assure himselfe of some great part of that he had woon than by going on to thrust himselfe with his armie into new dangers with the hazard of all Besides that he was certainely aduertised That the Mamalukes before fled into diuers countries were in euery place leuying new supplies of horsemen and that the fleet which was gone into the Arabian gulfe against the Portingales was dayly expected at the port SVEZZIA wherin were three thousand Mamalukes vnder the leading of Amyrases and Ray Salomon two expert captaines with great store of good brasse ordinance by which good helpes Tomombeius stood in faiâ—e possibilitie to recouer his former losses and to returne againe to CAIRE whether he was by his secret friends most earnestly inuited But aboue all things the care he had of the Persians most induced him to thinke of peace for feare that if the Bassa whom he had left at the mountaine TAVRVS should not be able to withstand the forces of the Persian king he should so be excluded out of ASIA the lesser and SYRIA also before his fleet could from CONSTANTINOPLE arriue with new supplies of men and victuall at ALEXANDRIA Wherefore hee sent certaine of the most reuerend of his Turkish religious and with them some of the most honourable Aegyptians embassadours to Tomombeius who passing ouer Nilus into the countrey SEGESTA were without further hearing with more than barbarous crueltie slaine by certaine Mamalukes which chaunced vpon them thinking thereby to gratifie Tomombeius as yet not knowing of any such matter to manifest their affection towards him as also that they were not desirous of any peace with the Turkes This proud and insolent fact vtterly brake Selymus his patience and shortly after made an end of that mortall warre together with the honour of the Mamalukes For he being a man of an hot and cruell
souldiours in defence of the common Christian cause so much preuailed with the princes of the empire and the embassadours of the free estates that they highly commended his forwardnesse and all other matters for that time set apart agreed all with one consent at a prefixed day to send vnto VIENNA such warlike forces as they had in any time before set forth for the defence of the Christian religion and the majestie of the empire Whereupon he wrot vnto Alphonsus Vastius his lieutenant Generall in ITALIE and one of the greatest captaines of that age that he should without delay call together the old captaines and to leuie so many companies of harquebusiers as they possibly could and with them and the Spanish souldiors to repaire forthwith vnto him into AVSTRIA He also enjoyned Andreas Auria his admirall that hee should with like diligence rig vp a strong fleet of gallies and marchants ships and to goe against the Turkes nauie into GRaeCIA At the same time he sent for his choise horsemen out of BVRGVNDIE and the low countries and many noble gentlemen and old soldiours out of SPAINE for the guard of his owne person he entertained twelue thousand Germanes such as had longest serued in his warres in ITALIE ouer whom commaunded Maximilian Herbersthene and Tamisius both famous captaines At the same time Clement the seuenth then bishop of ROME although his cofers were greatly emptied by the late Florentine warres which had cost him ten hundred thousand duckats yet to make some shew of his deuotion in so dangerous a time with the great good will he bare vnto the emperor after he had with greeuous exaction extorted from the cleargie a great masse of money whereunto his rich cardinals contributed nothing as if it had been a thing vtterly vnlawfull for them in so good a cause to haue abated any jot of their pontificall shew in the court of ROME sent the young cardinall Hyppolytus Medices his nephew being then about twentie yeares of age a man indeed fitter for the warres than for the church as his legate vnto the emperour accompanied with mo good captaines than cleargie men and his cofers well stuffed with treasure whose comming to RATISBONE was vnto the emperour and the Germanes very welcome for besides that hee was a young gentleman of very comely personage and exceeding bountifull he entertained for those warres besides the companie he brought with him eight â—housand Hungarian horsemen of all others best acquainted with the Turkish warres King Iohn vnderstanding that the formost of Solymans great armie were come as farre as SAMANDRIA in SERVIA thought it now a fit time to wring from king Ferdinand such townes as he yet held in HVNGARIE wherefore he sent Aloisius Grittus whom Solyman had left as a helper for his estate to besiege STRIGONIVM which is a citie of HVNGARIE situat vpon the side of Danubius about thirtie miles from BVDA the castle whereof was at that time holden with a strong garrison of king Ferdinands whereunto for all that Grittus laid such hard siege both by the riuer and by land that the defendants doubting how they should bee able to hold out especially if Solyman should take that in his way as it was most like he would sent for releefe to Cazzianer a warlike captaine then gouernour of VIENNA and generall of all king Ferdinand his forces by whose appointment certaine small frigots were sent downe the riuer of Danubius from POSSONIVM well manned who suddainely setting vpon the Turkes fleet which so kept the riuer that nothing could that way be possibly conueyed either in or out of the castle should by their vnexpected comming open that way but Grittus hauing intelligence thereof by certaine Hungarians which though they serued king Ferdinand made no great account to flie sometime to the one part sometime to the other as best fitted their purpose presently resolued to send his fleet vp the riuer and by his sudden comming to oppresse his enemies in like sort as they had thought to haue done him And the more to encourage his souldiours hee promised great rewards to all such as should performe any extraordinarie peece of seruice in that action and so hauing thorowly furnished all his fleet with good souldiours but especially with Turkish archers sent them vp the riuer to seeke their enemies who fearing no such matter as men surprised with the same mischeefe they had prepared for others were at the first exceedingly dismayed yet considering that they were reasonably well prouided for their comming although they yet wanted such helpe as Cazzianer had appointed to send them they thought it a great shame to flie and therefore putting themselues in order of battell came downe the riuer and with great courage encountred their enemies There began a sharpe and cruell fight many being slaine and wounded on both sides but at last they of POSSONIVM not able longer to endure the deadly shot of their enemies and especially of the Turkish archers who with their arrowes sore gauled both the souldiours and the marriners they turned their backes and fled in which fight of sixtie frigots which came from POSSONIVM onely thirteene escaped with Corporanus the Generall all the rest being either sunke in the fight or els taken by the enemie being run ashore and forsaken by the Possonians trusting more vnto their legs by land than their oares by water Besides this losse of the frigots there was slaine of the Possonians almost fiue hundred After this victorie Grittus hoping that they in the castle of STRIGONIVM despairing now of releefe and fearing the comming of Solyman would not long hold out left off to batter or vndermine the castle wherewith he perceiued he little preuailed purposing by lying still and keeping them in the castle from all releefe to enforce them in time to forsake the place Thus whilst the deuided Hungarians with their owne hands inconsideratly sought one anothers destruction with the ruine of their countrey Solyman the great enemie of all Christians was readie at their backes to deuour both the one and the other as in few yeares after he did Much about this time the old Spanish souldiors in ITALIE drawne together by Vastius as the emperour had before commaunded were come to the Alpes In this campe of one sort of men and other was aboue twentie thousand whereof almost the third part was not seruiceable for the old souldiors enriched with the long warres in ITALIE and the spoile of the rich countrey of LVMBARDIE wherein they had of late beene billited brought with them all their old gotten spoiles and substance not forgetting so much as their women and whatsoeuer els serued their pleasure for carriage whereof they drew after them a great multitude of carriages and vnnecessarie people all which serued for no other vse but for the soldiors pleasure and to consume victuals Which their licentious wantonnesse Vastius desiring to reforme gaue straight commaundement thorow all the campe That they should leaue
present our selues before the gates of TVNES Then shall it be at your pleasure to appoint whom you will haue to gouerne the Numidian kingdome it shall be vnto me glorie enough when the greatest part of AFFRICKE conquered shall be peaceably deliuered into your hands at your returne with the triumphs of PERSIA But by the way as I returne I assure you vpon mine owne priuat so to vse the matter that the Christians shall also haue good cause to bewaile their calamities and if I hap to meet with Auria he shall haue smal cause to reioyce of the mischiefe he hath done for him alone I challenge to persecute as my proper and peculiar enemie both for the remembrance of the harmes we haue receiued at his hands and for the despight I haue at his fame who once taken out of the way the seas shall be open onely to you and your fleets And beleeue me he that shall be able to commaund the seas shall easily also subdue the kingdomes by land But Solyman who after the manner of wise princes vsed well to consider and afterward with ripe judgement to resolue of such matters as he had with attentiue eare hearkened vnto commending Barbarussa for his forwardnesse in his seruice for that time brake vp the counsell Not long after a decree was made according to Abraham the great Bassa his aduise That Barbarussa should be joyned as fourth with the other three chiefe Bassaes of Solymans counsell and be made great Admirall so that all the islands ports and people all alongst the sea coast thorow out Solymans empire should be at his commaund and that it should be lawfull for him to take vp such marriners and souldiours for seruice at sea as pleased him in what place soeuer This being solemnly proclaimed Solyman with his owne hand deliuered him a scepter and a sword willing him by worthie deeds to performe what he had promised After which Aiax and Cassimes the two great Bassaes with the captaine of the Ianizaries brought him with exceeding pompe from the court to the Nauie at which time was carried before him all the tokens of his new obtained honour And toward the maintenance of that warre at sea he had deliuered vnto him out of Solymans treasures eight hundred thousand duckets and eight hundred Ianizaries But for as much as much it was that he did in the seruice of Solyman and more is of him hereafter to be spoken it shall not be amisse here to present vnto the view of the world the sterne but liuely countenance of this so famous a man who liuing kept all the Mediterranean in feare as it is by Boisardus expressed togither with the Elogium following BARBARVSSA Littora te Hesperiae timuere vtriusque Lybesque Oppressi dextra succubuere tua Nunquam te Lypare Corcyraue diliget harum Cum sis immeritos depopulatus agros The coasts of ITALY and SPAINE of thee were sore afraid And so the Moores did stoupe to thee by thy right hand dismaid LYPPAROS will thee neuer loue ne yet CORCYRA strong For that thou causelesse didst to them so great and open wrong Barbarussa sped of that he desired staied not long after at CONSTANTINOPLE but departing out of HELESPONTVS with eightie gallies and certaine galliots shaped his course towards ITALIE leauing Amurathes a sea captaine with twelue gallies to transport Solyman and his armie readie to set forward against the Persian ouer that narrow sea into ASIA Who after hee had so done ouertooke Barbarussa at METHONE who holding on his course to AFFRICK and sodainly passing the strait betwixt ITALIE and SICILIE brought a great feare vpon both the countries but passing by the bay of HIPPONA alongst the coast of the lower CALABRIA he set vpon the towne of S. Lucidius called in auntient time TEMPSA which although it stood vpon a rocke and was reasonable well walled yet such was the violence of the Turkes assault that it could not be defended but was taken with so much more hurt to the inhabitants for that the Maior of the towne to keepe the people from flying away had lockt vp the gates on the other side of the citie from the enemie From thence he with rich spoile and many prisoners went to CITRARIVM where he had learned of his prisoners a fleet of gallies was in building This towne forsaken of the inhabitants for feare he tooke without resistance ransaked and burnt it where he also fired seauen gallies not yet altogither finished But after he was come with his fleet as farre as the island CAPRI within the sight of NAPLES such a terrour was strucke into the minds of all that dwelt alongst that coast that it was thought if he had landed and gone directly to NAPLES the Neapolitanes would for feare haue abandoned the citie But holding on his course he came to PROCHITA which he tooke and rifled so passing by the port of CAIETA which he might easily haue taken he came to SPELVNCA a towne in the hithermost part of the kingdome of NAPLES They of the towne dismaied with the sudden arriuall of so great a fleet yeelded the same without resistance The enemie entring the towne tooke twelue hundred prisoners Pelegrinus a chiefe man amongst them of SPELVNCA was fled into the castle him Barbarussa commaunded to yeeld which if he would presently doe he promised to let him go free but if he should stand vpon his defence he threatned in short time to make him repent his foolish hardinesse with the vtter destruction both of himselfe and the towne The fearefull gentleman without delay came out of the castle and fell downe at his feet who according to his promise gaue him his libertie and with rare courtesie restored to him his wife his sonne and niece whom hee had taken prisoners who receiued them with many teares falling from their eyes for joye The same night also two thousand Turkes came from the fleet thorow the rough and bushie mountaines to the citie FVNDI ten miles distant from SPELVNCA in the vttermost borders of the kingdome of NAPLES conducted as was thought by certaine Italians of that countrey who a few yeares before taken at sea and ouerwearied with the heauie burthen of the Turkish slauerie had reuolted to the Mahometane religion But such was the suddennesse of their comming and their celeritie in entring the citie that Iulia Gonzaga the paragon of ITALIE and the chiefe prise which they sought after had scarce time to get to horse halfe naked and so with much difficultie to escape into the mountaines It is reported that Barbarussa which thing he himselfe afterwards seemed not to denie moued with the same of her incomparable beautie and wonderfull perfection desired exceedingly to haue taken her as a present for Solyman The citisens were for most part either slaine or taken prisoners by the Turkes who loded with the spoile of the citie returned againe to the fleet Another part of Barbarussa his fleet came to TARRACINA which the
from CAIRE to SVETIA a port of the Red sea called in antient time ARSINOE From which place eightie miles distant from CAIRE the antient kings of AEGYPT seeking by vaine and wonderfull workes to eternise the memorie of themselues had with incredible charge cut thorow all that maine land so that vessels of good burthen might come vp the same from ARSINOE to CAIRE which great cut or ditch Sesostris the rich king of AEGYPT and long after him Ptolomeus Philadelphus purposed to haue made a great deale wider and deeper and therby to haue let in the Red sea into the Mediterranean for the readier transportation of the Indian merchandise to CAIRE and ALEXANDRIA Which mad worke Sesostris preuented by death could not performe and Ptolomeus otherwise persuaded by skilfull men in time gaue ouer for feare least by letting in the great South sea into the Mediterranean he should thereby as it were with another generall deluge haue drowned the greatest part of GRaeCIA and many other goodly countries in ASIA and with exceeding charge in steed of honour haue purchased himselfe eternall infamie Yet by the singular industrie of Solyman the eunuch who with seuere commaundement enforced all the people of the countries therabouts to the furtherance of the building of that fleet he had with wonderfull celeritie in short time new built eightie tall ships and gallies at ARSINOE and furnished them with men and all things else needfull for so long a voiage At which time he vpon a quarrell pickt without cause but not without the good liking of Solyman most injuriously confiscated the goods of the Venetian merchants at ALEXANDRIA and CAIRE and thrust the marriners into his gallies as slaues With which fleet in most warlike manner appointed Solyman the Bassa accompanied with Assan-beg commonly called the Moore of ALEXANDRIA a most famous pirat and an excellent seaman set forward against the Portingals and sayling thorow the Red sea and so Eastward by the gulfe of PERSIA came at length as far as the great riuer Indus where with all his power he assaulted DIVM a castle of the Portingals scituate vpon the mouth of that great riuer but in conclusion after he had many daies besieged the castle both by sea land and tried the vttermost of his strength he was so repulsed by the Portingals that he was glad to forsake the siege and leauing his great ordinance behind him for hast returned backe againe to ADEN a citie of great trade in ARABIA FELIX Where discouraged with the euill successe he had against the Portingals because he would be thought to haue done something he allured the king of that rich citie to come vnto him vpon his false faith before giuen for his safe returne but as soone as he had him aboord he like a perjured wretch hanged him vp at the yards arme of his Admirall galley and so surprising the citie enriched himselfe with the spoile thereof The like barbarous crueltie he vsed at ZIâ—YTH another famous port of ARABIA where the pilgrims of the East doe commonly land when they after the manner of their superstition come to visit the temple of their false prophet at MECHA The king of which place togither with all his nobilitie he cruelly murthered contrarie to his faith giuen and so trauelling himselfe by land to MECHA as if he had been some deuout pilgrim sent backe his fleet by the Moore to SVETIA hauing performed against the Portingals nothing at all At the same time Solyman by the persuasion of Lutzis and Aiax the Bassaes of greatest authoritie about him now that Abraham was dead turned all his forces from the Persians as men agreeing with him in the cheefe points of his Mahometane superstition with purpose to conuert the same vpon ITALIE wherunto he was earnestly sollicited by Iohn Forrest the French kings embassadour then lying at CONSTANTINOPLE of purpose to incite Solyman against Charles the emperour assuring him that he was not of such power as at one time to defend APVLIA against him and the dukedome of MILLAINE against the French king who as he said was determined that Summer to inuade that part of ITALIE And to further the matter about the same time one Troilâ—s Pignatellus a noble gentleman sometime commaunder in Charles the emperours armie but then exiled out of NAPLES fled vnto Solyman and for so much as hee was a man of name and like to doe him great seruice in the inuasion of APVLIA as one which knew the countrey well and promised vnto him good successe in that warres was by Solyman honourably entertained amongst his Mutfaracas which is a certaine companie of horsemen for their approued valouâ— chosen out of all nations hauing the free exercise of their religion whatsoeuer without controulement and are onely bound to attend vpon the person of the great Turke when he goeth to warres The cause of his reuolt was for that the viceroy of NAPLES had executed Andrew his brother one of the knights of the RHODES But being now grown into great fauour with Solyman and the Bassaes and oftentimes called to counsell in the preparation of that warre casting off all naturall loue of his countrey ceased not by all meanes to persuade Solyman to inuade the same assuring him that the people of APVLIA and SALERNE oppressed with grieuous tribute and exactions by the emperours officers would at the first reuolt especially if they saw any of the French nation to cleaue vnto And that which mooued him more than all the rest the auntient Turkes told him into what a feare all ITALIE was strucken at such time as Achmetes the Bassa hauing taken HYDRVNTVM had vndoubtedly conquered not onely the kingdome of NAPLES but the citie of ROME also and all the rest of ITALIE had not the vntimely death of Mahomet his great grandfather interrupted the course of that victorie Which persuasions wrought such effect in Solyman that he once fully resolued for the inuasion of ITALIE made such expedition both by sea and land that he himselfe in person was come with two hundred thousand men vnto AVLONA the most conuenient port of MACEDONIA for the transporting of his armie before it was thought in ITALIE that he was set forward from CONSTANTINOPLE where he had not long stayed but Lutzis Bassa his Admirall accompanied with Barbarussa sayling alongst the coast of PELOPONESVS and EPIRVS and so passing by CORCYRA where Hieronimus Pisaurius Admirall of the Venetian fleet lay with his gallies after mutuall salutation done after the manner of sea by shooting off their great pieces in token of friendship put into the hauen of AVLONA also Solyman not purposing to lose any time and hauing ITALIE now in his sight commaunded Lutzis and Barbarussa to passe ouer with the fleet vnto OTRANTO and to prooue the minds of the people that if the first enterprise fell out well he might presently follow after with all his armie With them went also Troilus Pignatellus as forward to
waded ouer in which time Cazzianer entred oftentimes into counsell with the other captaines what course to hold for the better proceeding in that warre Where diuers men were of diuers opinions some said it were best to leaue EXEK and to besiege a castle of the enemies thereby called VILLACH others more wearie than the rest were of opinion That it were better there to stay vntill the rest of the aid and the victuall which they dayly expected were come But the greater number which also preuailed vrged the first determination of going directly to the enemie at EXEK for that longer delay would but breed further danger and there was in the campe as they said both strength and victuall sufficient for the obtaining of the victorie if they would make an end of their needlesse consultations and not protract the warre vntill Winter were come on whereby they did nothing els but cause the souldiors to thinke that they were afraid to meet the enemie and secretly to steale away backe againe into their countries Whereas if they would like resolute men march on forward against the enemie who at other times trusting most vnto his multitudes and now hauing no great power would neuer abide the sight of the Christian armie bringing with it so much artillerie but would forthwith forsake the place and neuer shew his face for as much as the Christian men at arms would as they said easily breake thorow and ouerthrow the naked Turkish horsemen if they durst abide the field The young soldiors who as yet had neuer made proofe of the Turks manner of fight did with such cheerefulnesse like of this resolution that they thought two dayes staying a long delay of so readie and easie a victorie Wherefore it was resolued vpon presently to set forward and therupon the armie was mustered where vpon view taken there was found to be ten thousand horsemen for diuers troupes of Germans were come to the campe after the time of the first setting forward of the armie a more gallant companie of horsemen both for the strength of their horses and goodly furniture of the men had seldome been seene in an armie so suddenly raised But the footmen selected out of all the prouinces was greatly deminished being now in number scarce eight thousand strong for many were sicke in the campe others wearie of the long journy lingering behind were stolne away and generally all they which were left moyled with dirt and myre by reason of the deepenesse of the rotten way wet thorow with raine and almost statued with cold and therto pincht with hunger were thought scarce able to endure the hardnesse of the present war After that commaundement was giuen That euery souldior should carrie with him three dayes victuall and proclamation made That no man should vpon pain of death take any Turke prisoner although he yeelded himselfe or charge himselfe with any spoile before the battell were fully ended for as much as the captaines would afterwards deuide the spoile of the enemie amongst the souldiors This proclamation thus made thorow the campe they set forward towards EXEK the third day they came to a certaine valley about three miles from EXEK where they encamped The next day a companie of Turkes shewed themselues which was by the great ordinance repulsed The day following the enemie sallied out of the towne and skirmished oftentimes with the Christians in which skirmishes many were slaine on both sides but moe wounded of the Christians for that the Turkes had pollitickely mingled certaine Ianizaries harquebusâ—ers and archers with their horsemen who vsed to that manner of fight sore gauled the Christian horsemen For which cause the Generall forbad all such light skirmishes as purposing to keepe his strength whole against the generall day of battell commaunding his cannoniers so to place the great ordinance as might most annoy the enemie if he should shew himselfe by troupes within the danger of the shot which was so well performed that the Turkes sallying forth receiued thereby great hurt the deadly shot flying thorow the middest of their companies The same day Symon bishop of ZAGRAâ—IA came into the campe with his horsemen and a certaine prouision of victuall whereby the feare of the want before conceiued was well eased Mahometes perceiuing that the Christians were not longer to be drawne to those harmefull skirmishes but that he must bring his men in danger of the great shot to annoy them by another meanes sent many small boats manned with harquebusiers and small pieces of ordinance into the lake neere vnto the campe so to keepe the Christians from watering there and with those small pieces shot oftentimes into the campe Neere vnto the valley where the Christians lay was a hill whereupon stood a village wherein were placed certaine companies of Turks to skirmish as occasion should serue with the Christians for displacing of whom the whole armie was put in order of battell and the great artillerie bent vpon them that they should not with their light skirmishes after the manner of the Turkish fight trouble the order of the armie Which thing the Turks perceiuing and that they were not able to hold the place set fire on the towne and so retired to EXEK The Christians keeping on their march came to the top of the hill from whence they might see EXEK stand about two miles off in a faire plaine neere vnto the banke of Dranus all which low ground betwixt the hill and EXEK was so subject to the castle that it was thought a matter too full of danger to attempt that way to batter the castle and to expose the armie to the ineuitable furie of the enemies shot Wherefore descrying a rising ground on the further side of the citie equall with the top of the wals they thought it best to remoue their campe thither and on that side to plant their batterie against the citie But to come to that place was thought a matter of no small trouble for they must set a compasse three miles on the right hand thorow a forrest by a foule and troublesome way before they could come to the place they desired for the armie was not so great as to besiege the citie round wherein were not as is reported aboue sixteen thousand men neither was there such store of victuals in the campe but that the armie was like soone to feele the want thereof without a continuall supplie whch would hardly be had the enemie still besetting euery passage and with their light horsemen scouring about all the countrey of purpose to keepe them from victuall For which cause some were of opinion That it were best for them there to stay where they were vntill such time as both more aid and better store of victuals were come vnto them but others of contrary mind said the enemie was but barely stored with victuall himselfe and therefore could not long hold out which they said they vnderstood by certaine Christian fugitiues and that
all that grieued with the losse of CYPRVS gaue not so ouer but repairing their nauie with thirtie gallies wherein were embarked six thousand souldiors woon a castle in EPIRVS called MARGARITA and also recouered the towne of SVPPOTO which the Turkes had that Sommer before taken from them but now hearing of this ouerthrow did vpon the approach of the Venetian fleet againe forsake it The gallies also of CRETE conducted by Canalis intercepted many of the Turkes vessels laded with captiues and the spoiles of FAMAGVSTA as they were passing thence to CONSTANTINOPLE Although vpon the late obtained victorie a certaine reconciliation had beene made betwixt Don Iohn and Venerius yet of the former dissention remained an inward heart-burning of one of them against the other for which cause the Spaniards requested the Venetians to appoint an other Admirall in his place Venerius was now indeed a man of great yeares and his strength far spent yet for that in his aged bodie rested great wisedome and courage and that they thought him for his great deserts worthie all honour they were wonderfull loath and vnwilling therein to gratifie the Spaniard for why they well knew there was no other cause of the Spaniards prowd hatred but that he had stood against them vpon the honour of the Venetians and farther they liked not that the Spaniard should so presumptuously prescribe vnto them whom they should place or displace in or out of their honourable offices Neuerthelesse not forgetting what commoditie came by concord and what euils of discord and that they might not against so mightie an enemie well spare the helpe of the Spaniard they resolued to make choise of some other who succeeding Venerius might with one consent manage their wars togither with Don Iohn and Columnius There was then one Iacobus â—uscarinus their chiefe Gouernour in DALâ—ATLA who but a little before had notably fortified IADERA and the other frontier towns and for the space of fourteene moneths had notably repressed the furious incursions of the Turkes of him then absent and not desirous of the place as of a man of worthie desert the whole State by generall consent made choise for their Admirall and Generall by sea against the Turke which most honourable place he receiued not with all the solemne ceremonies thereto belonging at VENICE as the manner was but at IADERA from whence he in the Admirall gallie sent for that purpose by Aloysius Grimanus his successour in IADERA sailed ouer to CORCYRA where he found the old Admirall Venerius with no lesse care prouiding for all things than if he should himselfe haue still continued the warre Of which great care Fuscarinus at his comming eased him by taking it wholy vpon himselfe Whilest Fuscarinus thus lay making his preparation against the next Spring at CORCYRA Sara Martinengus who had the charge of the Adriaticke by the counsell of Venerius who was now returned to VENICE vpon the sudden landed his men and besieged CASTRO NOVUM a strong towne of the Turks in the borders of ISTRIA where at his first comming he tooke the suburbs and had in short time brought the towne to great extremitie But in the height of his hope to haue woon the towne hearing that the Beglerbeg of GRECE was with great power comming thither he was glad to raise his siege and with all speed to get him againe to sea The Turkes in like manner to distresse the strong towne of CATARO holden by the Venetians in the borders of DALMATIA built a great and strong fort vpon the passage from sea to the town wherein they placed great store both of men and artillerie in hope by keeping them of the towne from all reliefe by sea at length to gaine the towne which they had many times in vaine attempted by force for by land it was alreadie enuironed with the cruell enemie possessing the countrey round about it Iacobus Superantius the great Prouidetour then lying at CORCYRA with the Admirall vnderstanding how CATARO a towne of no small importance was thus both by sea and land by the enemie distressed with twentie gallies manned with the most choise souldiors could be pickt out of the whole fleet tooke vpon him the rasing of the fort and relieuing of the towne Superantius with this select companie and certaine other gallies which met him by the way came by night before the mouth of the bay of CATARO and there diuiding his fleet left the one part thereof at anchor before the fort and with the other himselfe couragiously passed by the fort further into the bay at whom the Turkes out of the fort made diuers shot but by reason it was darke to small purpose In passing by Superantius tooke such view as he could of the fort and by and by began on that side to batter the same as did also the other gallies on the other side and withall landed their men on both sides who vpon signall giuen ran resolutly to the fort and by plaine force entring the same preuailed vpon the fearefull Turks and put them to the sword euerie mothers sonne so that of all that great garrison was not one left aliue to carrie newes of the slaughter This fort was in length fiue hundred paces but not strong towards land from whence no such feare was doubted In it was taken seauenteene great pieces of ordinance with much faire armour and great abundance of victuals and seauen galliots which lay at anchor vnder the fort CATARO thus relieued Superantius with victorie returned againe to CORCYRA Fuscarinus the Venetian Admirall with all things in readinesse hauing long lien at CORCYRA expecting the comming of the confederats as was before appointed sent Superantius the Prouidetour with fiue and twentie gallies to MESSANA to hasten the comming of Don Iohn and to attend vpon him by the way But comming thither and thinking to haue found a great fleet and a strong power in good forwardnesse to haue set forward he found such small preparation as well shewed the Spaniards small care for repressing of the Turke and that they would not be verie forward in the seruice intended Which filling him with griefe and indignation caused him to complaine vnto himselfe of their vnfaithfulnesse and to bewaile the state of his countrey with the whole Christian common-weale for Don Iohn had before solemnly promised vnto the Venetian embassadour that all things should be in readinesse against the appointed time but now a great part of Sommer was past when scarce some few companies and about fiftie gallies were met togither at MESSANA and when Auria would come with the rest no man could tell So that the carefull Prouidetour stood now no lesse in doubt of the Spaniards delay than of the Turks furie Selymus after the great ouerthrow he had receiued at the islands CVRZOLARES for feare he should be driuen quite out of the sea was aboue all things carefull for the renewing of his nauie And hauing partly new built partly repaired
Moldauians withdrew themselues of purpose out of sight vnto the armie which then lay in a low valley behind an hill not to be discouered vntill a man were almost vpon it The Vayuod suspecting the enemie to be at hand deuided his horsemen in number thirtie thousand into thirtie companies and placing before euery companie certaine field pieces so marched readie to giue battell His footmen in number many a rude and homely kind of people but vnto him of all others most faithfull and armed with such countrey weapons as they had he placed by themselues So marching on he came to another hill from whence he might not farre off easily descrie the huge armie of the enemie and how he had been by the treason of Czarnieuiche deceiued whereupon he presently sent for him who sent him word backe againe That he could not now come the enemie being so nigh at hand but that he should forthwith see him in the field as forward as the forwardest against the enemie Czarnieuiche had then vnder his commaund thirteene thousand of the most choice souldiors in the armie who vpon the signall of battell on both sides giuen for the Turkes were now also readie first according to his promise set forward as if it had beene to haue giuen the onset but being come neere vnto the enemie forthwith as he had before agreed caused his ensigne to be let fall and his men with their caps vpon the points of their speares and swords in token of their voluntarie yeelding and submission to bow downe their heads and bodies whom the Turkes with their speares and launces holden vp on high joyfully receiued as their friends or rather as men taken to mercie The rest of the armie almost discouraged with this so sudden a reuolt of so great a man retired in hast to the Vayuod crying out vnto him that all was lost But he nothing discouraged therewith as a most resolute man in the most sudden dangers with comfortable words cheared them vp willing them as couragious men to follow him against the enemie whom they in all things exceeded excepting number which alwayes gaue not the victorie The Turkes perceiuing the Moldauians lately reuolted vpon the joyning of the battell as men in conscience wounded to shrinke backe thrust them perforce into the head of their battell making of them no more account but to blunt the enemies swords and such as hung backe they themselues slew vpon whom as false traitors the Vayuod caused his field pieces to be most furiously discharged so that most part of these trecherous men there slaine some by the Turkes some by their owne friends receiued the just reward of their infidelitie and treason accompanied with perpetuall infamie Ouer the dead bodies of these traitors the Turkes comming on were at the first notably encountered by the Moldauians and after a most cruell fight as if they had beene discouraged began to retire but indeed of purpose to haue drawn the Christians before they were aware within the danger of their great ordinance and ambushes which they had before aptly and couertly placed for that purpose Which Suierceuius well acquainted with the Turkes finenesse perceiuing with much adoe staied their further pursute and so auoided the danger prepared for them The Turks deceiued of their expectation came on againe afresh with no lesse furie than at the first whom the Christians right valiantly receiued and made with them a most cruell and mortall battell wherein many both of the Turkes and Christians fell and neuer rise againe But what was so small a power against such a world of men After long fight the Moldauians oppressed with the multitude of their enemies began to giue ground and seeing no other remedie but either to flie or to die betooke themselues to flight wherein most part of them were slaine the furious enemie still hardly pursuing them at the heeles of the Cossackes were left onely two hundred and fiftie The horsemen the chiefest strength of the Vayuod thus by the treason of Charniauiche ouerthrowne the Vayuod with twentie thousand footmen and such horsemen as had now after the battell joyned themselues vnto the footmen retired vnto a towne not farre off which he but a little before had rased but was now glad in the ruines thereof to fortifie himselfe against the sudden and furious assaults of the Turks who the same night so beset the Vayuods campe with such a multitude of men that no man could go in or out of the campe or the vttermost part of that hugie armie be from any place descried The next day which was the eleuenth of Iune the Turkes shot diuers great shot into the Vayuods campe but to small purpose for the Christians had for so short a time notably fortified themselues within the ruines of the old towne Which the Turks well perceiuing and withall considering how hard and dangerous a matter it would be to assault the Vayuod in his strength they sent messengers vnto him to persuade him without delay to yeeld himselfe and to repose more trust in the mercie of the Turks than in his owne broken forces especially in his so hard distresse being so beset as that he could not possibly escape and out of hope of all reliefe and therefore should by such voluntarie yeelding seeke for grace of his enemies rather than by a desperat obstinacie to cast himselfe into a most certaine destruction where no mercie was to be expected Whereunto the Vayuod answered That he was not ignorant into what danger he was brought rather by the treason of Charniauiche and his followers than by the valour of the enemie yet had left with him a strong power of most valiant and resolute men who would in his quarrell and defence of themselues sell their liues verie deare vnto the Turks neuerthelesse that to auoid the farther effusion of bloud he could for his part be content to yeeld vnto his hard fortude so that the great commaunders of the Turks armie would condiscend vnto such reasonable conditions as he should propound and for the performance thereof giue him their faith not once or twise but seauen times by solemne oath to be taken Of this his offer the Turks accepted willing him to set downe the conditions which were first that the Polonian Cossackes might in safetie depart into their countrey with their horses and armour then that they should without any violence offered to his person send him aliue and in good safetie vnto the great emperour Selymus before him to answere his owne cause as for the Moldauians he said he needed not to couenant any thing for that the injurie offered vnto them tended also to the hurt of the emperor himselfe and of him whom he should appoint Vayuod whose subjects they were These conditions as reasonable were well liked of the Turkes and so according to his desire confirmed seauen times by the solemne oath of euerie captaine and commaunder in the armie both for
downe Euen so with many others moe must perish my renowne R. Knolls THE LIFE OF AMVRATH THE THIRD OF THAT NAME SIXT EMPEROVR OF THE TVRKES THe death of the late emperour Selymus was for feare of the insolent Ianizaries notably concealed by the great Bassaes vntill such time as Amurath his eldest sonne then in ASIA by speedie messengers aduertised thereof about twelue dayes after arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE and there receiued into the Seraglio tooke possession of the empire the fiue and twentith day of September solemne amongst vs Christians for the natiuitie of our Sauiour Christ Iesus He was about thirtie or as some write seuen and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne of a manly stature but pale and corpulent wearing his beard thin and long in his countenance appeared not the fierce nature of the Othoman princes being indeed himselfe of a peaceable disposition a louer of justice and in the manner of his superstition very zealous The roiot and excesse growne amongst the Turks by his fathers euill example he reformed by his owne temperance and the seuere punishment of notorious drunkards yet is it reported that he would oftentimes himselfe drinke plentifully of wormewood wine he was much subject to the falling sicknesse and sore troubled with the stone more spare handed than was for the greatnesse of his state and yeelding more to the counsell of his mother his wife and sister than of his great Bassaes which was of many imputed to him for simplicitie At his first comming to CONSTANTINOPLE to appease the murmuring of the Ianizaries grieued to see themselues so disappointed of the spoyle of the Christians and Iewes which they were wont to take in the vacancie of the empire he beside the vsuall largesse which the Turkish emperours at their first entrance into the empire bestow vpon them augmented also their dayly wages and graunted them this priuiledge That their sonnes as soone as they came to be twentie yeares old should be enrolled amongst the number of the younger Ianizaries and be partakers also of their immunities wherby he woon their fauors exceedingly And immediatly to rid himselfe of all competitours he after the vnnaturall manner of the Turkish policie caused his fiue brethren Mustapha Solyman Abdulla Osman and Tzihanger to be all strangled in his owne presence The mother of Solyman pierced through with the cruell death of her young sonne as a woman ouercome with sorrow desperatly strucke her selfe to the heart with a dagger and so died At which so tragicall a sight it is reported that Amurath let some teares fall as not delighting in such barbarous crueltie but that the state and manner of his gouernment so required In the beginning of his reigne he established diuers wholesome lawes altered the coyne and bountifully relieued the poore And albeit that he was of a mild and peaceable nature yet because he would not seeme to degenerate from the Othoman princes his progenitors he prosecuted his fathers warres and by the Tartars called Praecopenses in the moneth of October in the yeare 1575 entred into RVSSIA part of the Polonian kingdome where he burnt and destroyed two hundred noblemens houses besides an infinit number of townes and villages made great slaughter of the poore countrey people and carried away great numbers of cattell and prisoners bound in thongs made of raw hides But whilest they were deuiding the spoyle with Peter the new Vayuod of VALACHIA who had before solemnely promised to giue the Tartars no passage that way the Polonian Cossackes who had lien waiting for their returne vpon the riuer Borysthenes brake into the Tartars countrey and there requited them with like harme and brought backe with them a number of old captiues who little expected that their so sudden deliuerance The Polonians at this time were at variance among themselues about the election of their new king Henry Valois their late king being the last yeare after the death of Charles his brother the French king secretly stolne from them into FRAVNCE to take vpon him that kingdome after whose departure some of the Polonian nobilitie made choice of Maximilian the emperour othersome no lesse enclining vnto the choice of the great duke of MOSCOVIE and some vnto others also Whereof Amurath vnderstanding and loth that either of those two great princes his enemies should be inuested or strengthened with that so great a kingdome and so neere vnto him to hinder that their election and to bring in another of lesse power and so lesse dangerous vnto himselfe euen in the beginning of his reigne wrote vnto the Polonians to that purpose commending vnto them Stephen Battor the Vayuod of TRANSYLVANIA for their king in manner as followeth Amurath God of the earth Gouernour of the whole World the messenger of God and faithfull seruant of the Great Prophet vnto the most honourable Nobilitie and Counsellors of the kingdome of POLONIA greeting It is not vnto the world vnknowne most honourable and mightie Senatours our noble progenitours to haue of long time and for many yeares holden good friendship and religious leagues with the kingdome of POLONIA For which cause it hath seemed good and reasonable vnto vs to put you in remembrance of this so auntient a league and bond of friendship for that we vnderstand your kingdome to be of late become destitute of a king by the departure of the noble king Henry your crowned king descended of the royall race of the French kings our friend who for the small regard you had of him so great and worthie a prince and for your disloyaltie is departed out of your kingdome without purpose of returning any more into POLONIA Whereupon as it is reported vnto vs but how truly we know not you passing ouer your said crowned king Henry are about to make choice of a nâ—w king and especially of Maximilian the emperour or of the duke of MOSCOVIE both men of running wits and of vs greatly hated for why you may well know they will bee troublesome and grieuous not vnto euery one of you onely but euen vnto vs also Wherefore be you ware that you be not deceiued and take heed least your confederations and leagues cannot long by their valour and prowesse be established and withall consider well the great dangers and losses which you may thereby fall into whereof we haue thought good to giue you a tast wherefore beware that heauier things befall not your State We know there are right noble and wise men amongst you which know better than they how to rule and gouerne and if so be it please you not to make choice of any of your owne nation there is not farre from you one Stephen Battor prince of TRANSYLVANIA a man of great honour and valour by whose labour and dexteritie you may easily procure the peace and quiet of your kingdome Whereas if you shall doe otherwise we take to witnesse your God and his seruant our Great Prophet to
vp in armes of stature great but of courage greater and painfull aboue measure not the least cause of his vntimely death All the time of this siege he tooke little rest either by day or night scarce so much as to lie downe vpon his bed in two or three nights togither The little meat he did eat he most part eat it standing or walking yea and sometimes on horsebacke he was a most seuere obseruer of martiall discipline which caused him to be of his souldiors both beloued and feared His bowels were with due solemnitie buried at KOMARA where he died but his bodie was brought backe againe to LVXENBVRG there to be honourably enterred with his auncestours About this time Theodore the Great duke of MVSCOVIA hearing of the warres betwixt the emperour and the Turke sent two embassadours with letters and presents to the emperour which embassadours comming to PRAGE the sixteenth of August accompanied with two hundred and fiftie horse were there by the emperours appointment honourably receiued and entertained And afterward hauing audience first deliuered the letters of credence from the Great duke reported to haue been of this purport Your Maiestie hath sent vnto vs your embassadour Nicholas Warkotsie requesting our brotherly aid against the hereditarie enemie of all Christianitie the Turkish Sultan Wherefore we also desiring to liue with you our deare and welbeloued brother in all perpetuall amitie and friendship send vnto you by our faithfull counsellor and seruant Michael Iwanowitze and Iohn Sohnie aid out of our treasurie against the said enemie vnto whom we haue also giuen other things in charge to be propounded to your Maiestie requesting you to giue vnto them in all things full credit Giuen in the great Court of our power at MVSCO in the yeare of the world 7103 and from the natiuitie of Christ 1595 in the moneth of Aprill What things in particular these embassadours were sent for was not commonly knowne but among others it is said That the Muscouite requested the emperour to send an embassadour vnto the Persian king to draw him also into the league with them against the Turke which embassadour should first come into MVSCOVIA and that way to passe into PERSIA The presents which the Great duke sent vnto the emperour were an hundred and fiftie thousand Florens of gold great store of most rich furs and pretious perfumes deemed to be of exceeding valour two white faulcons and three leopards aliue And Iwanowitze the embassadour himselfe presented vnto the emperour of himselfe certaine rich Turkie Persiâ—â—â— and Babylonian hangings and carpets certaine timbers of Sables with other rich furs no lesse pretious than Sables so many as eight porters could hardly carrie These embassadours tarried at PRAGE vntill the seuen and twentith day of December and then taking their leaue returned with the emperours answere to the duke But to returne againe vnto SRIGONIVM The Christians now possessed of the lower towne bent their whole batterie vpon the higher towne where it fortuned the fourteenth of August that the old Gouernour Alis-Beg whilest he was carefully walking from place to place to see where most danger was had his arme strucke off with a great shot of which hurt he presently died He was a man of great grauitie about the age of eight and twentie yeares and had of long time notably both gouerned and defended that famous citie the losse whereof was like enough to haue been vnto him greater griefe than was the losse of his life there Much about the same time also died the Aga of the Ianizaries being before mortally wounded Both the chiefe commaunders thus slaine the Ianizaries with the other souldiors and citisens made choise of the Bassa of NATOLIA who as is aforesaid escaped out of the late battell into the citie for their Gouernour who with heauie cheere tooke vpon him that forlorne charge The Christians not ignorant of the death of these two worthie men in whose great and approued valour they supposed the chiefe defence of the citie to haue rested were in good hope that now the rest would the more readily hearken to some good composition and therefore sent a messenger to demand if they would yet whilest there were some mercie left yeeld the citie Who though they had lost their chiefe commaunders with the greatest part of the garrison and were in great wants both of victuals and all things else necessarie for their defence yet their answere was in few words That they would hold it out euen to the last man The greatest cause of which their obstinat resolution was the strait charge the Bassa of BVDA had giuen them for the defence thereof besides that they accounted their citie holy as woon by their magnificent emperour Solyman whom the Turkes generally yet haue in a deuout remembrance and therefore thought it a great impietie to deliuer it vp vnto the Christians The next day after came Matthias the archduke into the campe who after he had well viewed the whole armie and the manner of the siege he called togither into his tent the chiefe commaunders namely the Marquesse of BVRGAVV his cousin Iohn de Medices the Florentine and the lord Palâ—i the Hungarian to consult with them what were farther to be done for the winning of the citie Shortly after he commanded the citie to be at once in two places assaulted which was by the Wallons and Germanes couragiously performed but such was the valour of the defendants that when the Christians had done what they could they were glad at last to giue ouer the assault and with losse to retire About this time came the duke of MANTVA with the three Counties his brethren to the siege and now the Turkes began againe to draw togither neere vnto BVDA there to make head for the reliefe of STRIGONIVM and to be reuenged of the losse they had there before receiued Whereof the Archduke hauing intelligence sent out against them eight thousand chosen souldiors out of the campe who suddenly setting vpon the Turkes in their campe before the rising of the Sunne made a great slaughter amongst them and tooke certaine prisoners of whom the Sanzacke of COPAN was one and so with victorie returned to the siege The besieged Turkes in STRIGONIVM vnderstanding of this ouerthrow of their friends from whom they expected most speedie reliefe and beside the terrour of the continuall batterie and still feared assaults pinched also with extreame wants of all things began now to faint Wherefore the Bassa with the other captaines ouercome with the aforesaid difficulties and the generall outcrie of the fearfull people resolued with one consent to come now to parley and vpon reasonable conditions to yeeld vp the citie whereupon a flag of truce was set vp and parley craued Which granted the Archduke after the going downe of the Sunne came into the lower towne where nine of the Turks attended his comming who entring into parley required that they might vnder safe conuoy with bag and baggage depart
gained the distressed citie But whilest they thus lay vpon the passages behold newes was brought vnto them how that the Bassa of BOSNA with the Sanzackes of SIGETH QVINQVE ECCLESIae and COPPAN with ten thousand Turkes were comming to oppresse them and to open the passages by them holden But they knowing their owne strength and nothing fearing so small a force stayed not for their comming but went to meet them and in a place of good aduantage waiting for them vpon their first appearance with great assurance and courage charged them brake their array and slew the greatest part of them together with the Bassa himselfe yet with so much adoe as that had not the lord Palfi in good time sent in vnto their aid certain companies of fresh men it was not without cause doubted but that the Haiduckes had been put to the worse aboue three hundred of them hauing there alreadie lost their liues The Tartars yet neuerthelesse in good number held on their way towards BVDA with purpose to haue ouerrun the countrey and so to haue withdrawne the Imperials from the citie but for as much as that base nation was knowne to be good for nothing but to rob and spoile the lord Swartzenburg his regiment only going against them and encountering them ouerthrew them in such sort that part of them being there slaine in fight and part for feare driuen into the Danubie the greatest number of them there most miserably perished Basta the emperours lieutenant in the vpper HVNGARIE at the same time lay at CASSOVIA with eighteene thousand men doubting least the enemies armie which he heard to bee at hand should come to besiege that citie In the meane time Ibrahim Bassa Generall of the Turkes forces came to SOLNOCH with an armie of fiftie thousand strong amongst whom were ten thousand Ianizaries but for all that vnderstanding that Basta nothing dismayed awaited his comming at CASSOVIA not thinking it good to goe any further his souldiors being alreadie wearie with long trauell neither yet safe there to stay so neere vnto his strong enemie retired backe againe to BELGRADE a place of more strength and securitie expecting a great fleet of ships which charged vpon the Danubius were to bring victuals for the armie as also for the reliefe of BVDA ALBA REGALIS and other such distressed places with diuers great pieces for batterie and other lesse artillerie vpon carriages with a number of ladders and other instruments of war declaring their purpose for the performance of some notable exploit all guarded with fiue thousand Turkes which conducted it vp the riuer Of all which the Imperials vnderstanding the lord Palfi dispatched his lieutenant with a conuenient power and the captaine of the Hussars with his followers all good and valiant souldiors to cut off this conuoy Who to make the matter short suddenly assailing them and so comming to handy blowes cut in peeces the conuoy and rifled the ships of whom the greater part were there sunke in the deepe riuer and so tooke an exceeding great bootie deemed to be worth a million of gold where amongst other things of great value there was found abourd an hundred thousand dollars which were all deuided amongst the souldiors as a reward of their trauell This great ouerthrow once knowne at BVDA ALBA REGALIS and the cities thereabouts brought vpon them a great feare yea the armie of Ibrahim grew thereby much discontented as being at once disappointed both of their victuals and their pay Besides that the Imperials ouerran all the countrey thereabout ransacking sacking and destroying the countrey villages and castles without mercie although the poore inhabitants offered them large contribution to haue staied their furie which would not bee accepted Vpon this notable ouerthrow also the lord Swartzenburg was determined with all his forces to come againe to the siege of BVDA in hope in so great a discomfiture and want of victuals to haue had it deliuered vnto him and for that purpose sent for certaine great pieces of artillerie to VIENNA But whilest things went thus well in the lower HVNGARIE colonell Rodoler of S. Andrewes in the vpper countrey tooke occasion also vpon this ouerthrow of the Turkes with fiue hundred horse and six hundred foot to shew himselfe with this small companie before AGRIA hauing yet left the greatest part of his forces a little off in secret ambush Which small companie the Bassa of AGRIA beholding presently put himselfe in arms and so sallying out began an hot and braue skirmish when suddenly the other souldiors left in ambush starting out and couragiously assailing their enemies brake their order put them to flight pursuing them at the heeles euen to the gates of the citie and had there beene a greater force of footmen it was verely thought that the Turks dismaied with the flight and altogether confounded had abandoned the defence of the place and the Christians euen then become masters of the citie which had beene the cause of their notable ouerthrow in the yeare 1596. Neuerthelesse they with great brauerie and small losse retired hauing slaine a great number of the Turkes and carrying away with them an hundred prisoners with a bootie of fiue hundred horse and much other cattell The free Haiduckes also strengthened with new supplies had done great harme in the countrey about BVDA scouring freely all ouer it finding none to oppose themselues against them for which cause the poore Christians which yet dwelt in that country rise vp against the Turks promising their obedience vnto the emperour and moreouer to the intent they might bee no more molested by the Imperials offered to take vp armes themselues against the enemie and to the vttermost of their power to hinder his passage both by land and water These same Haiduckes also had broken downe all the bridges which the Turkes had made betwixt BVDA and ALBA REGALIS to the end they should not that way commodiously bring either victuals or munition from the one place to the other And the lord Palfi and Nadasti vnderstanding by their espials That the Tartars deuided into three companies had ouerrun a great part of the country and with a great bootie were retiring towards BVDA presently went out against them and enforced them to fight which barbarous people better inured to filtch than to fight there lost all their liues together with that they had before stolne After which victorie these valiant men turning their forces against certaine other places of the Turkes there by tooke two of their castles with much rich spoile which castles they sacked and burnt together with the great towne of ZOINA breaking downe also the bridge vpon the riuer Traua Now at this time the Turkes at BVDA held themselues male content within the citie hauing no Gouernour their Bassa being before taken by the Haiduckes and they themselues pinched also with great want of victuals T Wherefore doubting some sudden attempt of the Christians as men dismaied they for their more
a little to tarrie by the tombe for that he had something in secret to say vnto the dead And so with his hands cast vp and close together as if he had prayed and his eyes fast fixed vpon the tombe he mooued his lips and secretly said something but what no man could tell Some said it was some charme or incantation But others more pleasantly conceited said and as it afterward appeared more truly that Andronicus did then triumph ouer the dead emperout Emanuell and reuell with his ghost with these or like words I haue thee now fast my cruell persecutor by whome I haue been driuen vnto many great extremities and hauing wandred almost all the world ouer haue thereunto beene made by thee a common by-word But now this tombe rising vp with seuen tops and prison out of which thou canst not start holdeth thee oppressed with a dead sleepe out of which thou shalt not be awaked but by the sounding of the last trumpe And now will I be reuenged of thy posteritie and satisfie my selfe as a lyon with a fat prey and take sharpe reuenge of all the wrongs thou hast done mee when I haue once possessed my selfe of this royall citie After that visiting all the emperours stately houses but staying in no place long hee disposed of all matters of state according to his owne pleasure Vnto the young emperour hee allowed hunting and other his vaine delights with keepers joyned vnto him to watch not onely his going in and out but also that no man should talke with him of any matter of importance For all the gouernment of the state he tooke vnto himselfe not for that he wished so well thereunto aboue others but so to driue from the court all them of the contrary faction to himself that were able to doe any thing and had before borne some sway The souldiors whose helpe he had vsed in aspiring to the gouernment he rewarded with great bountie all great offices preferments he bestowed either vpon his owne children or other his great fauourits diuers of the nobilitie of whom he liked not were by him in short time driueÌ„ into exile some were by him depriued of their sight some others cast in prison not knowing any cause why more than that they were by him secretly coÌ„demned for that they were of the nobilitie or had done some good seruice for the state or excelled for their personage or some other thing that grieued Andronicus or els for the sparke of some old displeasure which yet lay hidden as fire raked vp in the ashes So that the state of that time began to grow most miserable the trecherie euen of men neerest in blood seâ—king the destructioÌ„ one of another for to serue their own turns or to gratifie Andronicus most horrible not only one brother betrayed another but euen the father his son the son his father if Andronicus would haue it so Some accused their neerest kinsmen that they had derided Andronicus his proceedings or that without regard of him they more fauored Alexius the yong emperor then a great offence Yea such was the mischiefe of the time that many in accusing others were themselues accused charging others of treason against Andronicus were theÌ„selues charged by them whom they accused so clapt vp both together in one prison Neither were they of the nobilitie only which were enemies to Andronicus thus hardly dealt withall but euen some of his great fauorits and followers also For some whom but yesterday he had vsed most kindly and enrolled amongst his best friends vpon them to day he frowned and tyranized most cruelly so that you might haue seene the same man the same day as it is reported of Xerxes his admirall to be crowned and beheaded to be graced and disgraced Insomuch that the wiser sort deemed Andronicus his praisings to be the beginning of a mans disgrace his bountie his vndoing and his kindnesse his death The first that tasted of his tyrannie was Mary the daughter of Emanuell the emperour who for the hatred she bare vnto Alexius the late president and the empresse her mother in law had as is aforesaid aboue all other wished for his comming but was now by one Pterigionites sometime an Eunuch of her fathers corrupted by Andronicus hauing in his aspiring mind purposed the vtter destruction of all Emanuels posteritie cunningly poysoned as was her husband Caesar who liued not long after her poysoned also as was supposed with the same cup that his wife was Now amongst others of the late emperors house none had euer stood more in his light than had the faire empresse Xene the young emperours mother whom now he ceased not most bitterly though wrongfully to accuse as an vtter enemie both vnto the emperour and the state making as if he would leaue all and againe depart if she were not remooued from the emperour her sonne and by his cunning so incensed the giddy headed vulgar people against her that they came flocking vnto Theodosius the good Patriarch readie to teare him out of his clothes if he consented not vnto the remoouing of the empresse as Andronicus had desired So a counsell being called of such his fauorits and others as were not like indifferently to heare her cause but assuredly to condemne her the guiltlesse empresse after many things falsely laid to her charge was accused of treason as that she should by her letters haue solicited Bela king of HUNGARIE her brother in law to inuade BRANIZOBA BELLIGRADE two strong places belonging to the empire Whereupon she was condemned and shamefully cast into a most filthie prison neere vnto the monasterie of S. DIOMEDE Amongst other noblemen called vnto this wicked counsell were Leo Monasteriotes Demetrius Tornicius and Constantinus Petrenus who not yet altogether deuoted to Andronicus being asked their opinions concerning the empresse said They would be glad first to know Whether that counsell against his mother were called by the emperors consent or not With which speech Andronicus pearsed to the heart as with a sword in great rage start vp and said These are they which encouraged the wicked president to all his villanies lay hands vpon them Whereupon they of his guard in threatning manner shooke their weapons and swords at them as if they would euen presently haue slaine them And the tumultuous common people catching them by their cloaks as they came out pulling them some one way some another were so fierce vpon them as that they had much adoe to escape out of their hands with life Now lay the faire empresse but the other day one of the greatest princes of the East and honoured of all her subjects in great miserie and dispaire scorned euen of her base keepers euerie houre expecting the deadly blow of the hangman Yet was not the crueltie of Andronicus against her so any thing assuaged but greeuing that she yet breathed shortly after assembled againe the former counsell
with all things necessarie were with some other forces also shipped ouer into ASIA vnder the leading of Michael Paleologus the emperours eldest sonne and then his companion in the empire Who marching alongst the countrey came and encamped about MAGNESIA where the Turks at the first after their woonted manner retired themselues into the high mountaines and thick woods that from thence they might more safely learne what strength their new come enemies were of and what discipline of war they kept for they knew that vpon the comming of great armies many false reports did run and that things were made far greater than indeed they were as did of these also as of a people inuincible and therefore they thought it best so to protract the time vntill they might see in what sort best to deale with them But so houering ouer their heads and perciuing them oftentimes without order to roame abroad into the countrey seeking after prey for why they after the manner of mercenarie men spoiled their friends no lesse than if they had beene their enemies they came downe in good order from the mountaines from whence at the first they aduentured but a little but afterward they came on further and with greater confidence in such sort as that it seemed they would â—are long assault the yoong emperour in his campe Wherewith he with the rest discouraged without any stroke giuen retired the Turks still folowing him at the heeles For neither he neither the rest any thing considered the small number of their enemies but as drunken men whose heads filled with grosse vapours are deceiued in the greatnesse of the object that they see and oftentimes thinke one thing to be two so were they also in like manner with their owne feare blinded Beside that most commonly it falleth out that the armie which insolencie and iniurie forerunneth is appointed to destruction and by the fearfulnesse of it selfe ouerthrowne before the enemie set vpon it they themselues becomming enemies vnto themselues and God his iust vengeance appointing vnto them such an end as their deeds haue deserued neither was it like that they should do any great good that at their first setting foorth in steed of prouision carried out with them the bitter curses and execrations of their friends Michael the emperour seeing the Massagets flie and not daring with those few he had left to oppose himselfe against his enemies retired himselfe into the strong castle of MAGNESIA there to expect what would become of these mischiefes But the Massagets spoiling the countries of the poore Christians as they went marched directly vnto the strait of HELESPONTVS and there againe passed ouer into EVROPE as if they had beene therefore onely sent for ouer the riuer ISTER to shew the Turkes the sooner the way vnto the sea in ASIA For it was not many daies after but that Michael the emperour being returned to CONSTANTINOPLE the Turks comming downe with a great power subdued all the countries euen vnto the coast of LESBOS to the great weakning of the Greeke empire It was not long after these great sturs made by the Massagets but that one Ronzerius some time a notable pirate but as then a most famous captaine hearing of the great intertainment that the Greeke emperor gaue vnto strangers by messengers sent for that purpose offered vnto him his seruice in his wars against the Turks as had before the Massagets This Ronzerius of whom we speake had out of CATALONIA a prouince of SPAINE and out of that part of FRANCE which is called NARBONENSIS and some other places also gathered together a great number of base needie naked men yet lustie able bodies and fit for seruice either by sea or land with whom he manned foure tall gallies and so as a notable pirate long time robbed not onely the marchants trading too and fro in the Mediteranean but landing his men oftentimes in the rich islands carried away thence much rich spoile also vntill at length by the mischiefe he did being become famous and great wars then arising betwixt Charles king of NAPLES and Theodorus king of SICILIA he was by Theodorus sent for and requested of aid which hee liuing of the spoile easily graunted and so came vnto him with a thousand horse and as many foot all old expert souldiours whose good seruice stood the king in those wars in great steed But as the end of war is peace so at length vpon the euill successe of Charles a peace being concluded betwixt the two kings and confirmed by a mariage betwixt their children Ronzerius liuing altogether by his fortunes was to seeke for new intertainment both for himselfe and his men as hauing neither house nor certaine dwelling place to repaire vnto but being as needie men met together some out of one place some out of another in hope of bootie as their fortune led them In which case Ronzerius their generall thought it best to offer his seruice vnto the Greeke emperour in his warres against the Turkes whereof hee gladly accepted and so sent for him vnto whom hee shortly after came with two thousand good souldiours called after the proud Spanish manner by the name of CATALONIANS for that they were for the most part Spaniards of the countrey of CATALONIA Of whose comming the emperour rejoycing more than hee had cause as afterward by proofe it fell out in token of his greater fauour honoured him with the name of the Great Captaine and afterwards gaue him his neece Marie in mariage But within a while after when as one Tensa another Catalonian captaine sent for by Ronzerius was come thither also with more aid the emperour to gratifie them both gaue vnto Ronzerius the name of Caesar and vnto the other the name of the Great Captaine But when these new come captaines with their followers were to be transported into ASIA it is not to be spoken what harme they did by the way vnto the countrey people and in the villages alongst the sea coast abusing the men and women as their slaues and spending their substance at their pleasure for which they had many a bitter curse and this was their first yeares entertainment The next Spring they set forward to relieue the great citie of PHILADELPHIA being as then long besieged by the Turks and hardly bestead without with the enemie and within with extreame penurie and famine which good seruice they most valiantly performed and raised the siege For the Turks beholding the good order of these Latine souldiours their bright armour and couragious comming on rise presently and departed not onely from the citie but quite out of the emperours territorie Besides that in this armie were joyned vnto these Catalonians great numbers of the best souldiours of the Greeks and all the power of the Massagets so that had not the emperour expresly before commaunded not to pursue them too far it was by many thought all those cities and countries might then againe haue beene in short time recouered from the
towards him that then they should keepe themselues quiet without any shew of insolencie or discontentment but if he should in anger reproue him or threaten to punish him then vpon a signe giuen forcibly with their swords drawne to breake in vpon him and to kill him in the imperiall seat and without more ado to place young Andronicus his nephew in his steed But comming in and as his manner was taking his place next vnto his aged grandfather his desperat followers attending without he was indeed of him grieuously blamed and reproued for his former follies and euill course of life yet with such moderation and grauitie as that all seemed as it did to come of a most fatherly care and regard so that at that time no such outrage was committed as was by diuers his followers wished but the assemblie quietly dismissed and a solemne oath taken on both sides of the grandfather That he should not appoint any other to succeed him in the empire but his nephew and of the yong prince That he should neuer go about or attempt any thing to the shortening or hurt of his grandfathers life or empire But the conspirators thronging about him at his comming out fretted fumed at him as if he had broken his faith and oath before giuen them saying What greater wrong couldest thou do to vs than being by vs made strong and become dreadfull vnto thine enemies to dispose of thine affaires at thy pleasure to thine owne safetie and to leaue vs thy most faithfull friends and seruants in the diuels mouth to be deuoured For now they both doubted and feared least their conspiracie was discouered With which speeches he both discouraged and ashamed sent for Theodorus Metochita his grandfathers chiefe counseller requesting him to deale with his grandfather for the pardoning of all his followers as he had done for himselfe of which motion he disliking told him That he was to giue God thanks that he had himself escaped so great a danger and to him also as a meane for the safegard of his life although he entreated not for such traiterous persons with whom if he were well aduised he would haue nothing to do either think that they would euer be faithfull vnto him that respecting neither God nor man had so foul-broken their faith before giuen vnto the emperour his grandfather With which vnexpected answer of so great and graue a counsellor the prince not a little troubled and withall discontented stood a while as in a muse all silent reasoning as it were with his owne passions but afterwards commanding him without further reply to depart and the old companions of his follies resorting vnto him he by their persuasion entertained againe his former disloiall thoughts and designements which his grandfather vehemently suspecting and therewith not a little grieued would as if it had beene by inspiration oftentimes in his heauinesse say vnto them that were about him In our time is lost the maiestie of our empire and the deuotion of the Church Yet to preuent the worst he thought it good betime to lay hands vpon his suspected nephew and so to detaine him in safe keeping acquainting none therewith but Gerasimus the Patriarch and his ghostly father who straightway acquainted the prince therewith and was the cause that he hastened his flight flying himselfe before For he now certainly vnderstanding the danger he was in the night before he should haue beene apprehended with all the rest of the conspirators his complices in the dead time of the night fled out of the citie by the gate called GYROLIMNIA which gate all the rest being shut was still at his command for that he commonly vsed thereby at his pleasure very early to go out on hunting as he now pretended to do but the next day after came to Syrgiannes and Catacuzenus camp who then both lay with a great power at HADRIANOPLE expecting his comming The old emperour before the rising of the sunne aduertised of the flight of his nephew the same day commanded him to be proclaimed traitor proscribed with all his conspirators whosoeuer els should take his part And for the more suretie euery man in the citie was sworne to be loyall and faithfull vnto the old emperour and enemies vnto his nephew and his adherents But he on the other side proclaiming libertie and immunitie abroad in all the cities and villages in THRACIA so woon the hearts of the countrey people in generall that they resorted vnto him from all places in great numbers ready armed to doe whatsoeuer he should command them And to begin withall they first laid hands vpon the collectors of the emperours monie then abroad in the countrey whom they fouly intreated taking from them their money After that and yet seuen daies not expired almost an incredible number of horsmen footmen archers and others departed from HADRIANOPLE towards CONSTANTINOPLE vnder the leading of Syrgiannes in good hope at their first comming to take the citie being at discord in it selfe and most part of the meaner sort in hope of gaine fauouring their rebellious proceedings such as the seditious find in such rebellious tumults So hauing marched foure daies they came and encamped at SELYBRIA but as they were about to haue gone on farther the old emperour doubting least the citizens seeing so great an armie before the citie should therein raise some tumult or stirre to the endangering thereof thought good before to send embassadours vnto his nephew to proue if happily these so dangerous troubles might by their meanes in some good sort be appeased The chiefe of these embassadours was one Theoleptus bishop of PHILADELPHIA a man no lesse famous for his vertue than his wisdome and yet for both of all men honored and with them also was sent Syrgiannes his mother as of all others most fit to appease her sonne to persuade him not to approch the citie for that thereof might ensue much bloudshed and the destruction of the citie or at leastwise the vtter vndoing of manie whereof if he should be the authour how could he euer after liue in conscience quiet but that the torment thereof would follow him euen into his graue and therefore to request him to retire a little and so to come to talke and to demaund what he pleased Syrgiannes moued as well with the presence of the reuered bishop as with the prayers of his mother retired to the young prince which then lay about ORESTIAS whither the emperous embassadours came also with whom after long debating it was agreed That the young prince should in all royall manner hold all THRACIA from CHRISTOPOLIS vnto RHEGIVM and the suburbs of CONSTANTINOPLE and withall That such lands as the young prince had already giuen vnto his followers in MACEDONIA should still remaine vnto them which were such as yearely yeelded vnto them a right great reuenue And that the old emperour should hold vnto himselfe the imperiall citie with all the cities and prouinces of
iustus cum viderit vltionem The just shall rejoyce when he seeth the reuenge calling himselfe just and the emperours casting downe reuenge But the old emperour thus shut vp in his chamber differing nothing but in name from a prison not long after the state of his bodie ouerthrowne with greefe and corrupt humors distilling out of his head first lost one of his eyes and shortly after the other also and so oppressed with eternall darkenesse mingled as saith the Scripture his drinke with teares and eat the bread of sorrow being oftentimes to his great greefe most bitterly mocked and derided not of them onely which were by his enemies set to guard him but of his owne seruants also Not long after the yong emperour falling sicke in such sort as that it was thought he would not recouer Catacuzenus and the rest of his greatest fauorits and followers carefull of their own estate and yet doubtfull of the old blind emperour deuised many things against him but all tending to one purpose for the shortening of his daies But in the end all other deuises set apart they put him to the choice either to put on the habit of a religious and so for euer to bid the world farwell or els to take what should otherwise ensue the best wherof was either death exile or perpetuall imprisonment in the lothsome castle of forgetfulnesse For the putting whereof in execution Synadenus of all others to him most hatefull was appointed At which hard choice the old emperor as with a world of woes sodainly oppressed lay a great while vpon his bed as a man speechlesse for what could he do els except he had an heart of steele or adamant being then compassed about with many barbarous and mercilesse soldiors and his domesticall seruants kept from him and no man left that would vouchsafe to direct him being blind whither to go or where to stand But to make the matter short would he would he not they made choice for him thēselues polling and shauing him and casting a monkes habit vpon him changed his name after the manner of the religious and called him by the name of Anthonie the monke Glad was Esaeias the false Patriarch of this the hard estate of the old emperour for that now that he was professed a religious there was left no hope for him to recouer againe the empire either cause for himselfe to feare Yet he thought it good to be aduised in what sort remembrance should be made of him in the church prayers if any were at all from thenceforth to be made Whereof to be by the old emperour himselfe resolued he seeming to be very sorie for that which was done but purposing indeed therein to deride him sent vnto him two bishops to know what his pleasure was to haue done therein Vnto which their demaund he oppressed with heauinesse and fetching a great sigh euen from the bottome of his heart answered As in poore Lazarus appeared a double miracle That being dead he rise and being bound walked euen so was it to be done in me though in quite contrarie manner for loe being aliue I am dead as ouerwhelmed with the waues of calamitie and woe and being loose am bound not my hands and feet onely but my tongue also wherewith vnable to doe any thing els I might yet at least bewaile my woes and wrongs vnto the aire and such as by chance should heare me and vnto this most wofull darkenesse wherein I must for euer sit But shame hath closed my mouth my brethren abhorre me and my mothers sonnes account me for a stranger vnto them and the very light of mine eyes is not with me my friends and neighbours stood vp against me and all that saw me laughed me to scorne my feet had almost slipped and my footsteps were almost ouerthrowne for I fretted against the wicked when I saw the peace of the vngodly The emperours long agoe gaue great priuiledges vnto the Church euen those which it at this day enjoyeth and the Church gaue to them againe power to chuse whom they would to be Patriarchs Now concerning him that sent you I not onely nominated him vnto the Patriarchship but I my selfe made choice of him and preferred him before many other right worthie and most famous men being himselfe a man growne old in a poore priuat life neuer before preferred or for any other thing famous I will not say how often I haue holpen him and done him good But now when hee should againe haue relieued me in my calamitie he joyneth hands with mine enemies against me more cruell vpon me than any other bloodie handed executioner not ashamed to aske me how I would bee remembred in the church faigning himselfe to be ignorant and sorrie for mine estate much like vnto the Aegyptian crocodile of NILE which hauing killed some liuing beast lieth vpon the dead bodie and washeth the head thereof with her warme teares which she afterwards deuoureth together with the bodie But what to answere him vnto this his catching question I know not for if I shall say As an emperor I shall forthwith be slaine by them which for that purpose haue me in hold but if I say As Anthonie the monke it shall be taken as the franke confession of mine estate by them which haue craftely contriued mine ouerthrow as if I had not by compulsion but euen of mine owne free will put on this monasticall habit which God knoweth was neuer in my thought Hauing thus said he sent them away without any other answere vnto their demaund but sitting downe vpon his bed side said My soule returne again into thy rest for the Lord hath dealt well with thee neither spoke any one word more in declaration of his greefe his tongue there staied by his singular wisedome or els with the greatnesse of his greefe and so against his will in silence passing ouer his sorow his mind with the greatnesse of his woes ouercome and as it were astonished before the humors gathered into the braine could be dissolued into teares For as the Sunne sending forth his moderat beames draweth vnto it many exhalations and vapours but casting the same foorth more plentifully doth with his immoderat heat consume the same before they can be drawne vp so the moderat affections of the mind may haue their greefes by words and teares expressed but such as exceed all measure and with their vehemencie as it were ouerthrow the mind commonly make men to stand still mute silent or if they speak at all to speak idly and nothing to the purpose as men beside themselues or in an extasie But for the resolution of the question by the bishops demaunded the deuout Patriarch decreed That in the Church prayers he should be remembred before the emperor his nephew by the name of The most religious and zealous monke Anthonie which was done God wot for no good zeale to the poore blind man but the better to colour the
into ASIA and by the same ships returned souldiors as fast as he could into EUROPE so that he had in one day two hundred souldiors more brought ouer vnto him And manning such small vessels as hee had left about the castle sent Ezes-beg alongst the coast on EUROPE side to burne such shipping or vessels as he could find least the Christians should by them hinder his passage vpon the strait of HELLESPONTUS So in a few daies Solyman had transported into EUROPE two thousand good souldiors of the Turks whom he so gouerned that they did not in any violent sort injurie the vulgar Christians by reason whereof the common people began to like reasonable well of the Turks and to conuerse with them without feare This was the first comming ouer of the Turks into EUROPE with purpose there to conquer and inhabit vnder the fortune of the Othoman kings For albeit that some of that nation had at sundrie times before come ouer as men seeking after spoile or otherwise sent for yea sometimes by the Greeke emperours themselues yet neuer stayed they long but hauing done that they came for or els lost themselues returned back againe into ASIA vntill that now conducted by Solyman and possessed of the little castle of ZEMBENIC as is aforesaid they there tooke so fast footing as that they and their posteritie after them were neuer thence to be since that time remoued but still more and more encroching vpon the Christians haue vnto their Asian kingdome joyned a great part of EUROPE also to the terrour of the rest that yet remaineth as in the processe of this Historie shall if God will at large appeare About two miles from ZEMBENIC in CHERSONESVS was another castle called MAITO or more truely MADITVS which Solyman also tooke so that now he had gotten two castles in EVROPE both which he stongly manned After which time the Turkes in great numbers came out of ASIA into EVROPE ouer that narrow strait of HELLESPONTVS to dwell in CHERSONESVS and Solyman in stead of them to make roome for his Turkes sent Christians out of EVROPE to be placed amongst the Turkes in ASIA The report of this comming ouer of the Turkes into CHERSONESVS and of the taking of the castle of ZEMBENIC carried in post to CONSTANTINOPLE was sufficient to haue stirred vp any prouident or carefull men presently to haue taken vp armes for the recouerie of the lost castle and the driuing out againe of the barbarous enemies out of EVROPE before they had gathered any greater strength or setled themselues in those places but such was the carelesse negligence and great securitie of the proud Greekes that in stead thereof they to extenuate the greatnesse of the losse commonly sayd That there was but an hogstie lost alluding vnto the name of the castle and vainely as sayth a graue Father of their owne jeasting at that was not to be jeasted at and laughing at that was not to bee laughed but lamented for as in few yeares it prooued their foolish laughter being not without good cause conuerted into most bitter teares Solyman his strength so still increasing by the dayly comming ouer of the Turkes hee proceeded farther to spoyle the countrey of CHERSONESVS almost as farre as CALLIPOLIS distant from the castle ZEMBENIC about two and twentie miles after which pleasant citie the proud Turke began now to long Which the gouernour thereof perceiuing by the Turkes continuall encroaching vpon him raysed what power he was able to make and so went out against them all the rest of the Greekes in the meane time lying still as if they had beene a sleepe or that the matter had not concerned them but meeting the Turkes he was by them after a great conflict ouerthrowne and for sauegard of his life glad to flie into his citie after whom the Turkes following spoyled the countrey round about and in their returne by plaine force tooke the citie together with the castle also which hapned in the yeere of our Lord 1358 Where the madnesse of the Greeks was againe more than before to bee wondred at for the newes of the losse of CALIPOLIS being brought to CONSTANTINOPLE the people there made small account thereof although it was indeed a right great losse and much concerned the state but to extenuate the matter when they had any talke thereof in jeasting wise commonly said That the Turks had but taken from them a pottell of wine but by taking of such hogstyes and pottels of wine as they termed it the Turks in a few yeares after had gone so farre in THRACIA that Amurath this same Solyman his Nephew which now tooke from the Greekes the citie of CALLIPOLIS euen in the heart as it were of the Greeke empire placed his royal seat at HADRIANOPLE and immediately after him Baiazet his sonne hauing subdued all the countrey euen to the walles of CONSTANTINOPLE for certaine yeares layd hard siege vnto the imperiall citie it selfe and had no doubt then carried it had not the great expedition of the mightie Tartar prince Tamerlaine vnto Baiazet fatall in the meane time hapned whereby God so appointing it the prosperous succeedings of the Turkes were for a space well stayed that they should not before the time by him prefined deuour the reliques of the Greeke empire And it were to be wished that the Christians of our time also by their example warned would at length awake out of their dead sleepe who of late haue lost vnto the same enemie not the castle of ZEMBENIC or the citie of CALLIPOLIS but whole kingdomes as HVNGARIE and CYPRVS and are still faire in the way I say no more for greefe and foreboding of euill fortune But againe to our purpose Solyman hauing made this prosperous entrance into EVROPE and there got strong footing by speedie messengers certified his father what he had done and that it was expedient for him with all speed to send vnto him a great supplie of men of warre as well for the sure defence and keeping of the castles and forts by him alreadie gotten as for the further inuasion of the countrey This message was woonderfull welcome vnto Orchanes and whereas many families of the Sarazins at that present were come into the countrey of CARASINA to possesse the dwellings and places of them which in hope to better their estate were before gone ouer into EVROPE all these Sarazins hee commaunded to passe ouer into EVROPE likewise which they did accordingly seating themselus for a time in the countrey neere to CALLIPOLIS In the meane time Solyman omitted no oportunitie to enter further into the countrie winning small forts and holds and still peopling the same with his Turkes And on the other side they of CARASINA passed ouer into EUROPE placing thēselues as it were in a new world For which cause and for the great desire they had to extend the Turkish dominion and religion they refused no paines of warre so that all things at that time prospered with the
Amurath to be the sonne of Orchanes and Lulufer the daughter of the gouernour of the castle of IARCHISER as is before declared in the life of Othoman which Luluâ—er lieth buried by her husband Orchanes in PRUSA This great victorie gotten by Amurath against the Caramanian king and the other confederat princes was the true beginning of the greatnesse of the Othoman kingdome in ASIA wherewith the other Mahometan princes of the Selzuccian family were so discouraged that they were glad to submit themselues thus first vnto Amurath and after that vnto his sonne Baiazet vntill that Tamerlan the great Tartarian prince some few yeares after taking Baiazet prisoner in a great battaile at mount STELLA abated the Othomon pride and restored the other oppressed Mahometan princes to their old possessions and kingdomes Amurath returning homewards by the way tooke the citie of DESPOTOPOLIS and comming to CUTAIE brake vp his armie and so in triumph returned to his court at PRUSA Lazarus Despot of SERVIA in old time called MYSIA had sent a thousand armed men to Amurath in this the late Caramanian warre according to the conuention of the peace not long before made betwixt them some of which souldiours were with great seueritie to the terrour of others executed in CARAMANIA for transgressing Amurath his commandement This great warre being ended and the armie broken vp at CUTAIâ— they with others were licensed to depart into their own countrey Whose Generall whom they call the Vayuod returning home reported vnto Lazarus the Despot the successe of that war and withall in what cruell and tiâ—annicall manner the men he had sent were in that seruice vsed by the commandement of Amurath With whom said this Generall you without cause haue made a most dishonourable peace first by giuing your faith to such a miscreant and then in sending your loyall subiects in recompence of their good seruice to be so butchered at his pleasure beside the shamefull tribute which you yearely pay vnto him Whereas if it would please you in the depth of your wisedome but to know your owne strength you should find your selfe in warlike force and power nothing inferiour to the tirant for wee your seruants being in number but a handfull were in these his late wars a terrour vnto his enemies and by our valour and not his owne hee got the victorie ouer them What cause is there then that you should subject your selfe vnto your inferiour I know he cannot of himselfe bring into the field aboue fiftie thousand fighting men but admit he were able to bring a hundreth thousand are not you if you so please able to leuie a farre greater power and for all other warlike prouision you are ten fold better prouided than hee Besides that the mightie Christian princes will send you such aid against this hatefull and common enemie that being vnited with yours his Barbarian forces will be nothing in comparison of those which you shall then be able to bring into the field against him which no doubt the Christian princes will the rather doe as men desirous to quench this deuouring fire in another mans house rather than in their owne These words of the Vayuod so much mooued Lazarus that he determined in him selfe to breake that seruile league which he before had made with Amurath And for that cause sent his embassadour with secret instructions to the king of BOSNA in time past called ILLYRIA his neighbour whereof the cheefe point was to craue his aid against the Turke their common enemie By whom the king of BOSNA returned answere That it had been much better such consideration had been thought vpon before the foule contract full of disgrace both to himselfe and all other Christian princes was vpon a vaine feare by him rashly made with the Turkish tirant Yet for so much as things done could not bee vndone letting that passe which was remedilesse he promised to joyne with him his whole forces against so dangerous an enemie And therevppon appointing a place for an enteruiew met accordingly and there fully concluded all the articles of their confederation There was in the confines of BOSNA a castle called ALEXANDRIA the captaine whereof being a Christian was yet tributarie vnto the Turke wishing vnto him such good as men oppressed vse to doe to them by whom they are so wronged This captaine vnder the colour of friendship went to Amurath and in great secrecie opened vnto him the whole state of the kingdome of BOSNA and withall that the king thereof intended some great matter against him for preuenting whereof he offered his owne seruice and shewed some probable means how that kingdome might be brought into his subjection if hee would but send some worthie Generall with a conuenient power for the vndertaking thereof This wonderfully pleased the ambitious old tyrant who therefore commaunded a rich garment to be cast vpon the captaine which amongst the Turks is taken for a sure token of the kings great fauour and foorthwith appointed his tutor Lala Schahin according to this captains direction to inuade the kingdome of BOSNA Who joyning himselfe with this deceitfull captaine of ALEXANDRIA with an armie of twentie thousand men entred into BOSNA where ouerrunning a side of the countrey he without resistance tooke great booties and seeing no apparent cause of feare to doe the more harme by the aduice of the same captaine deuided his armie which he sent into diuers parts of the country the more to burne and spoile the same Of all whose proceedings the king of BOSNA by secret messengers from the captaine aduertised had in conuenient places laied strong ambushes for the intercepting of his enemies So that as Schahin was returning homeward with a rich bootie hauing then with him but a thousand men suddenly appeared in his way thirtie thousand Christians well armed which Schahin seeing thinking it follie to oppose so few against so many would haue presently fled but the rest of the gallants that were with him presuming of their good fortune and loth to loose their rich prey would needs first skirmish with the Christians in which desperate conflict they were almost all slaine and the spoile they had taken all recouered by the Christians As for Schahin he was glad by shamefull flight to saue himselfe The like mishap befell the other Turks in the other parts of BOSNA who for the most part were likewise intercepted and slaine so that of twentie thousand scarce fiue thousand returned home Whilest these things were doing in EUROPE Amurath with great triumph at NEAPOLIS married the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE his daughter whose two sisters were also giuen in marriage to his two sonnes at which time he with great solemnitie circumcised three of Baiazet his sonnes At this time also returned Iazigi Ogli whom he had before sent embassadour to the Sultan of AEGIPT in requitall of the honourable embassage before to him sent from the said Sultan Now Amurath vnderstanding of the losse of his men in BOSNA with
but vnto the whole state and kingdome of EPIRVS also and not the domesticall and ciuile miseries of your own countrey onely but the publicke calamities also and those opprobrious disgraces done against the Christian faith and religion in generall now oppressed I will not say extinguished and that is if you with your victorious forces will succour vs in this extremitie of our affaires not yet altogether desperate Hereunto doe all the princes of HVNGARIE and POLONIA and all other men of courage inuite â—ou Iulian the Cardinall of S. Angell entreateth you with all those deuout and courageous Christians which long since here with vs and readie in armes wish for nothing more than the presence of your victorious ensignes Which so faire an occasion by God himselfe now offered if you refuse not will in all mens judgement bee a sure meane to vanquish and ouerthrow our common enemie the Turke and to driue him quite out of EVROPE wrongfully by him of so long time possessed I neede not therefore as I suppose to vse any kind of persuasion vnto you in this cause and quarrell the defence whereof doth purchase vnto vs health light and libertie but being neglected I feare and abhorre to forbode what may ensue thereof Wee Christians haue beene too too slacke and backeward in helping one another the flame hath now well neere consumed vs all whilest no man thought it would haue come neere himselfe What doe we see of the Greeke empire what of the Bulgurians and Seruians yea mine owne losses and manifold calamities alreadie and yet also to bee endured who is able to recount The braue and most valiant princes the surest bulwarkes and defences of the kingdome of HVNGARIE from time to time lost and the puissant armies with one and the same fatall chaunce of warre consumed and brought to nothing who is able to reckon vp Insomuch that there is no house wise or matrone in all HVNGARIE which is not in some measure partaker of this heauinesse All this doe the Christian princes heare of and yet the miserable estate and condition of their allies can nothing mooue any one of them but suffer vs thus as a sacrifice for the rest to be on all parts exposed to the rage and furie of the common and mercilesse enemie Onely Eugenius the most holy bishop of ROME and Philip duke of BVRGVNDIE haue not refused to beare a part of the burthen of this our afflicted fortune The one hath sent hither his Legâ—â— Iulian the Cardinall with notable and puissant succours and the other with his fleet at sea and comâ— as farre as HELLESPONTVS so much as in him lieth doth notably hinder the Turkes passage into EVROPE And one other hope there is not now farre from vs and that is your helpe whereof we are so desirous which we require of you mooued thereunto partly by your valour so well knowne and partly in regard of the imminent perill and common danger of vs all And albeit we are not ignorant how euill you may be at leisure to take such an expedition in hand for the late troubled estate of your affairs and your new recouered kingdome as yet scarcely well established yet notwithstanding let it not withhold you or keepe you backe assuring you that as this expedition cannot be but vnto you most honourable euen so this your present desert shall not be bestowed vpon vngratefull or thankelesse men but that which you shall now first begin and vndertake for our preseruation dignitie we will from henceforth and euer continue for your glorie and for the increase of your greatnesse Fare you well from our regall citie of BVDA the fourth of Iuly 1444. Of this the kings motion Scanderbeg liking well and thinking it farre better now in so fit a time with his owne forces joined vnto the Hungarians his friends throughly to busie Amurath than in short time after himselfe alone to sustaine his whole power by the generall consent of the Albanian princes his confederats and allies yeelded vnto his request in liberall tearmes promising him by his letters in good time to be present with him with thirtie thousand good souldiors The copie of which letters I thought it not amisse here to set downe also Scanderbeg prince of the Epirots vnto Vladislaus king of HVNGARIE and POLONIA greeting Your letters most inuincible king I haue with like joy and contentment receiued which I in the generall assembly of my cheefetaines hauing caused publickly to be read there was not any one of them which was not of opinion but that so just an occasion of war by you offered was forthwith to be joyfully on our behalfe also embraced And so euery man doth both publickly and priuatly affirme That nothing could haue happened vnto them more acceptable from God than that they might by some notable seruice testifie their gratefull minds and bind vnto them so excellent a prince as also to giue so fit succors vnto the Christian commonweale In which forwardnesse of my people I my selfe tooke great contentment and pleasure both in regard of your selfe and in the behalfe of the publicke and common cause seeing my men of warre and all other my subjects of what state or degree soeuer without any persuasion vsed on my part to be so cheerefully and couragiously minded in defence of the faith and of the Christian religion and so well affectioned towards your most royall majestie And to say the truth who is he if he be not hatefull vnto God and man albeit there were no question of religion or of the common danger that would refuse so just and lawfull a warre for such a king as vnto whom alone we 〈◊〉 and ought to attribute That we Christians doe not onely raigne but euen liue breath and enjoy the libertie of our speech Who would not willingly take vp arms and aduenture himselfe into most manifest and certaine danger for the people of HVNGARIE by whom in all ages the Christian commonwealâ— hath with their so many trauels and so much of their blood beene so mightily supported and defended who euen from the very cradle haue beene continuall enemies vnto our enemies and haue as it were euen vowed themselues for the honour of the Christian religion and name Would God most mightie and redoubted Vladislaus it had beene in my power to haue brought vnto you such forces to this honourable warre as were answerable vnto my courage and desire then happily EVROPE should not longer lie in this ignominious estate oppressed by Amurath neither should the fields of VARNA or BASILIA so often smoke with the blood of the Hungarians nor euery corner of MACEDONIA with the blood of the Epirots both nations being as it were become the expiatorie sacrifices of others sinnes and offences we all now by turnes perish whilest euery man thinketh himselfe borne but for himselfe alone But why do I vnto my selfe poure forth these vaine complaints Truly it neither repenteth me of my forces neither as I suppose
of the warre and of the lamentable calamitie enâ—uing thereof From the battaile of VARNA Amurath returned to HADRIANOPLE hauing lost the greatest part of his best souldiors and there with great solemnitie buried the bodie of Carazia viceroy of EVROPE slaine in that battaile and then calling together all his nobilitie againe resigned vp his kingdome vnto his sonne Mahomet retiring himselfe vnto MAGNESIA where he liued a solitarie and priuat life hauing before vowed so to do in the great feare he was in in the late battaile against Vladislaus but after hee had a short time performed these his vowes in that obscure and melancholie life he wearie thereof as some suppose as not a little reuiued with the late victorie or els solicited by Caly Bassa and other great counsellours returned againe to HADRIANOPLE resuming vnto himselfe the gouernment of the kingdome to the great discontentment of his ambitious sonne Mahomet Scanderbeg yet sticking in the borders of SERVIA and hearing what had happened vnto king Vladislaus with the Hungarians was therewith exceedingly greeued and hauing now lost the hope whereupon he had vndertaken that so great an expedition resolued to returne home again into EPIRVS Neuerthelesse to be in some part reuenged of the wicked Despot he with his armie forcibly brake into his country and there did exceeding great harme In his returning homewards great numbers of Hungarians and Polonians lately escaped from the slaughter at VARNA repaired vnto him whom he according to the extremitie of their fortune courteously releeued and furnishing them with such things as they wanted prouided them shipping to RAGVSA from whence they might in safetie returne into their owne countries Thus by the disloyaltie and trecherie of the faithlesse Despot of SERVIA was Scanderbeg stayed from being present at the bloodie battaile of VARNA to the vnspeakeable losse of the Christian commonweale for it could not be but that so many thousands of most resolute and expert souldiors vnder the leading of so worthie a cheefetaine must needs haue done much for the gaining of the victorie And what more glorious sight could a man haue wished for than to haue seene so puissant an armie in the field against the sworne enemie of Christendome directed by two such valiant and renowned cheefetaines as neuer either before or since their time was seene the like in one battell against the enemies of Christ and the Christian religion They were both men of inuincible courage of exceeding strength and agilitie of bodie wise prudent and subtile both of long time exercised in the Turkes warres the greatest terrour of that nation and most worthie champions of the Christian religion being therein both very zealous Of the two Huniades was at that time accounted the better commaunder and the more polliticke as a man of greater experience in martiall affaires by reason of his greater yeares which was well counteruailed by Scanderbeg his perpetuall good fortune still as it were attending vpon him by his experience afterwards gotten as in the course of his historie well appeareth Amurath aduertised of these proceedings of Scanderbeg as also of the great harmes by him done in MACEDONIA and that the frontiers of his dominions bordering vpon EPIRVS were by his furie vtterly wasted and spoiled and his people there for most part slaine and that the rest had for feare forsaken their dwellings and left the countrey desolate and vnpeopled was therewith exceedingly mooued Yet for so much as he still stood in dread of the Hungarians and was now himselfe clogged with yeares and therefore more desirous of rest considering also the young yeares of his eldest sonne Mahomet as yet vnsit for the gouernement of so great and troublesome a kingdome with the perpetuall good fortune of Scanderbeg and mallice of Huniades he thought it not best to conuert all his forces vpon him but to proue if he could cunningly draw him into some dishonourable peace for a time that so he might afterwards at leisure bee the better reuenged of him For which cause he writ vnto him letters mixt with grieuous threats and some faigned courtesies as followeth Amurath Ottoman king of the Turkes and emperour of the East to the most ingratefull Scanderbeg wisheth neither health nor welfare I neuer wanted honourable preferments to bestow vpon thee all the while thou diddest liue in my court of all others most vnkind Scanderbeg but now I want words wherewith to speake vnto thee thou hast so highly offended my mind and touched mine honour that I know not in discretion what words to vse vnto thee but of late one of my domesticall seruants For neither will hard speech moliâ—e the naturall fiercenesse of thy proud disposition neither art thou worthie of better which hast farre exceeded all hostilitie And because thou wouldest omit no occasion to prouoke me hast of late proceeded to that point of follie that thou hast had thine owne affaires and the welfare of thine owne subjects in small regard by confederating thy selfe in armes with the Hungarians against me It greeueth mee to rehearse other thy vnkindnesse and as it were to touch those sores if my mind would euer suffer me to forget the same or that thy so manifold horrible treasons and strange examples of a most vnthankfull mind were to be couered with silence Yet I thought good to aduertise thee although perhaps too late least that thy vnstaied heat doe vntimely ouerthrow thee with thy vnluckie kingdome and then thou wouldest make humble confession of thy long transgression when thou hast lost thy selfe and leâ—t no hope of refuge in thy desperat estate We haue hitherto sufficiently suffered thy manifold iniuries thou hast sufficiently prouoked the majestie of the Othoman empire with wrong and contumelious despight and I with patience haue borne all these thy contempts Thinkest thou that my armie by thee betrayed vnto the Hungarians shall be vnreuenged Thinkest thou that so many cities and townes 〈◊〉 EPIRVS by thee rent from the bodie of my empire with my garrisons there slaine shall be forgotten Or thinkest thou with thy late committed outrages to escape my reuenging hands Remember the destruction of mine armie vnder Alis Bassa the wasting and burning of my dominions and lately the Hungarian warres by thee so far as in thee was countenanced with the territories of George the Despot of SERVIA my father in law by thee spoiled At length amend thou gracelesse man and expect not farther whether my indignation will breake out Let not these trifling allurements of thy good fortune so puffe vp thy foolish desires and sharpen thy conceits that thy miserable fortune afterwards may moue euen thy greatest enemie or my selfe to compassion I would thou shouldest at length remember my courtesies if any sparke of humanitie remaine in thy sauage nature and make me not longer sorrie that I haue so euill bestowed the same And although it is not the part of an honourable mind to rehearse those things which we haue in bountie bestowed
so much maruell at most noble Mahomet Is it not for that my souldiors did that in the confines of your dominions whereof they were of right sorrâ—e and had therof to me complained that your souldiors had before done the like in their goods and possessions Wherefore if they also vpon a militarie brauerie as is your manner of phrase haue made themselues whole and done one shrewd turne for another reuenging iniurie receiued and not inferring any of new there is no cause that you should either thinke it strange or blame me I would my selfe haue restrained my souldiors although they were greeuously iniuried I will plainely confesse vnto you a â—roth I would haue appeased their angrie minds enflamed with desire of reuenge if you a prince of all others most rich and bountifull would either haue taken order that full restitution might haue beene made vnto them of all such things as they had lost or els would with condigâ—e punishment haue chastised the insolencie of your souldiors which you would seeme to couer with the tearme of militarie wantonnesse or brauerie an excuse scarce currant amongst children For although offences are in all places greeuous yet ought they most of all so to be deemed in martiall affairs What I pray you would you haue me to take it for a lasciuiousnes in your men of war especially when I had receiued so great losse when as you might with a word first haue restrained them from doing of it and at your pleasure corrected them after the deed was done Wherfore most excellent Mahomet take you also in good part these our tearms which you haue accustomed hitherto most gloriously to giue and sell vnto vs whilest you alwaies couer your reach with some excuse or shew of right As for that in excusing me vnder colour of old acquaintance and friendship you inuey against the Venetians verely you do them wrong for why those good iust and vertuous princes are not to be slandered by you as seducers of me or others Beside what need that inuincible state to enter into counsell with me or as it pleaseth you to say to allure me to fall at ods with you or to prosecute you as their enemie Who of themselues yea I say of themselues alone when occasion shall require are able to dare you in plaine battell and to abate your pride Further whereas you aduise me to reiect their friendship your labour is therein but lost for what man is so desperat or hated of his subiects that would not chuse rather to erre with that most honorable Senat than to be in the right with you especially I who haue of long time been confederat with them and am of all others vnto them most deere which you for all that had no regard of but according to your vntrustie dealing breaking in sunder the bonds of peace spoiled and wasted their territorie in PHLOPONESVS Neither can your great threats terrifie me which you after the Turkish manner thunder poure out against me except I will be ouerruled by you for it is the part of an Albanese both to endure when need shall require and also to do such things as beseeme a man of courage You cannot make me afraid being but a small prince with my honorable friends the Venetians And what are you so great an emperor of the East and of the West and of all parts of the World as you vainely tearme your selfe Truly you make me smile and other Christian princes laugh you to scorne in vsurping falsely to your selfe the stately stile of the emperor of the World What possesse you in ASIA the greater verely nothing Is all yours in ASIA the lesser not so What haue you in EVROPE except THRACIA MYSIA part of GRECIA and PELOPONESVS with the Isle of MYTILENE As for AFRICKE you neuer set your foot therein Is this to be emperour of all the world But suppose suppose I say woorthie Mahomet that all from the farthest part of the Ocean were yours you ought not therefore so to swell as to contemne all others Cease to boast and learn now if you can the speciall but true examples of humane fragilitie Where are now the Assyrians which sometime swayed the world Where be the Medes where the Persians and to be short where are the Romanes the great commaunders of all Verely Tamerlane the Scythian king called the terror of the world was far greater than you who in triumph drew before his chariot thy great grandfather Baiazet in chains who had before gained so many victories whom neuerthelesse he ouerthrew in the plains of ARMENIA with three hundred thousand Turks hauing in his armie as is reported twelue hundred thousand men greater than Xerxes or Darius whose armies couered the seas and dried vp the riuers before them as they went yet for all this noble Mahomet they are all cast out by him that casteth out all nations the finger of the highest hath brought them all to nought Wherfore learn to know your selfe to be a man also Trust not too much to the multitude of your souldiors and strength of your armies for oftentimes great and puissant armies haue been ouerthrowne with far lesse as all histories beare witnesse whereof it is commonly said Thou shalt not praise the valor of the Generall before he be brought to the triumph And do you not thinke Mahomet that God will fauour the better cause you know you well know that all your kingdome is violently gotten that it is wrongfully and vniustly possessed for which cause I am not afraid not only to withstand you when you shall come being so great a prince but also valâ—antly and couragiously to dare you into the field and by the power of God both to hope for haue a notable victorie ouer you We haue souldiors also which know how to vse their weapons to march before their enemies and how to beare themselues in the heat of the battell Wherefore to that you sâ—y vnto me for the new confirming of the former league you labour now but in vaine to circumuent mee with such faire gloses I haue your faith in such distrust and your friendship in detestation for as much as you cunningly and subtilly after the manner of your ancestors whatsoeuer you do or whatsoeuer you promise vnto me it tendeth all to no other end than to thrust me out of my kingdome Yet thus long I haue by Gods helpe well escaped all your policies all your crafts and deceits But I hope there will in short time be an end of all these matters when all your sleights and deuises shal not ease you neither your working head or Turkish pride any thing profit you It is not I alone that so much stomacke you there commeth after me a great number of Christian princes Behold the whole chiualrie and glorie of the Christian commonweale is in armes and comming against thee with all their force all the kings and princes of Christendome haue combined themselues together with the great Bishop
and so hardly laid vnto them that notwithstanding their great number they began now againe to wauer and shrinke backe Which thing the tyrant perceiuing from the mount in great rage commanded his canoniers as fast as they could to discharge the great ordinance into the breach without anie regard of his owne men so that togither with them he might also kill some of the Christians and withall imperiously commanded his captaines with all their force and power to maintaine the assault threatning them with most horrible death if they returned without victorie Hereupon the assault was againe renewed euery man in shew at least set downe there to doe his last deuoire But the great ordinance still playing vpon the breach slew manie of the Turkes as well as of the Christians Thrise the great shot fell amongst the Turkes themselues and rent in sunder a great number of them which were formost to the great discouragement of the rest whereof the tyrant had small regard so that togither with them he might also diminish the number of the defendants Neuerthelesse such was the desperat furie of the enemie that the citie was in no small danger to haue been euen presently taken had not fresh supplies come from other places of the citie which they were appointed vnto who with great courage resisted the enemie Yet the Turkes farre exceeding in number and fresh men continually stepping vp in stead of them which lay by heapes vnder their feet and serued them in stead of steps to get vp to the rampiers maintained a long and terrible fight at which time the great ordinance also sore annoied the defendants so that with one shot whereby the greatnesse of the harmes done at other times may be gathered eighteene of the Christian defendants were slaine As for arrowes they flew as thicke as haile into the citie so that they obscured the light of the day and lay in most places of the street a span thicke so that for the space of a moneth after the inhabitants vsed no other fuell to burne but Turkish arrowes It was a ruthfull sight to haue seene the bodies of the valiant Christians rent in sunder with the great shot and pieces of them cleauing vpon euerie wall thereabout euerie street was stained with their bloud the great ordinance continually thundred churches and houses came ratling downe yea the heauie countenance of the ayre it selfe seemed to bewaile the miserie of the poore Christians besides the noise of trumpets drums and other instruments of warre with the horrible crie of the hellish Turkes was so great and hideous that it seemed as if heauen and earth should haue gone togither nothing was to be heard but the verie terrour of the eare nothing to be seene but death and the verie instruments of death And now in this extremitie a fearefull crie ran through the citie That without present helpe all would be lost at the great gate Wherupon not onely they which were whole which were the fewest in number but they also which lay wounded or sicke in their beds cheering vp themselues with weapons in their hands ran with speed to the place where the danger was chusing rather there to die than to be slaine in their beds Thus whilest the Christians of all sorts and from all parts of the citie ran desperatly to the gate the Turkes were on euerie side hardly pressed and in great number slaine yet fresh men still comming vp as if they had sprung out of the earth the deadly fight was by them still maintained For the Turkes on the one side for feare of the tyrant laboured with might and maine to win the citie and the Christians on the other knowing no hope left for them if they should be ouercome with no lesse resolution defended the same In this obstinacie of minds manie fell on both sides sometimes the Turkes seemed to haue the better and were straight way by the Christians put to the worse Which manner of mortall fight with doubtfull euent was continued most part of that day vntill that at length manie being on both parts slaine and the rest for most part sore wounded and hurt the furie of the assault began to assuage for the Turkes now wearie of that long and deadly fight and fainting with their wounds had no great stomacke to mount vp the rampiers where they saw no hope to preuaile but all things threatning present death Mahomet beholding the wonderfull slaughter of his men and that hauing done what was possible for men to doe they now fought as men discouraged and in despaire of victorie himselfe caused a retrait to be sounded which the Turkes no sooner heard but that they left the assault and without order ran to their tents as men halfe feared out of their wits Of this victorie the Christians as they had good cause rejoyced greatly yet was this joy mingled with much sorrow and heauinesse for the losse of such worthy men as were slaine in that assault manie of whose bodies they were glad to gather vp by peâ—cemeale some here some there some cleauing on this wall and some on that which they as the time would giue leaue honourably buried with the rest of the slaine At which time also they with all diligence and expedition repaired their breaches and put all things in such readinesse as if they should haue presently receiued a fresh assault Mahomet wonderfully grieued with the shamefull dishonour and great losse he had receiued at the last assault repented himselfe that euer he had taken the matter in hand wishing that hee had neuer heard of the name of SCODRA and in his choller and frantike rage most horribly blasphamed against God most wickedly saying That it were enough for him to haue care of heauenly things and not to crosse him in his worldly actions In which furie he descended from the mount and got him into his tent where he againe tormented himselfe with his melancholie passions by the space of two daies wherein he would neither be spoke withall or admit any man to his presence Vpon the third day he called a generall counsell of his commaunders and best souldiours and there openly before them all said That he was determined to giue the enemie a fresh assault for that being weakned with so manie assaults he could not possibly be able to hold out another and therefore hoped for an easie victorie But he had no sooner so said but that all they that heard him cried out with one voice to the contrarie saying That it was not by anie meanes to be attempted forasmuch as his best souldiours were alreadie slaine and the greater part of them that were left either sore wounded or brought to that weaknesse that they were not able to doe anie more seruice and that therefore it were better for them to kill one another or else himselfe to kill them one by one than to expose them to be so shamefully butchered by the Christians In this diuersitie of opinions
Achmetes Bassa the great champion of the Turkes a man reuerend and of great authoritie for his birth yeares and rare experience in martiall affairs and one by whom Mahomet had done great matters standing vp with pleasing speech calmed his furious mind and with substantial reasons persuaded him to desist from that his entended purpose and to take another surer course as followeth Your great valour and worthie praises inuincible emperour said he who is able to expresse the greatnesse wherof the mind of man cannot conceiue and my dull spirit but wonder thereat my tongue faltereth to speake of them neither would this time serue so much as to recount them It is of all men deemed a thing of great honour most dread soueraigne when a prince hath receiued a kingdome from his ancestors to be able in safetie to keepe and defend the same greater than this is it honourably to encrease and augment it so left but of a small thing by worthie prowesse to bring it to the highest type of worldly honour is of all other things the greatest Which most rare excellencie all men worthily ascribe vnto your perfection and felicitie and I of all others can thereof bring the most assured testimonie who haue oftentimes heard it of mine ancestors which following the fortune of the Othoman princes out of ASIA into EVROPE that your worthie predecessors at their first comming into EVROPE without offence be it said possessed but a corner thereof to whom you afterward by diuine appointment succeeding haue adioined so many prouinces kingdomes and empires as were tedious to rehearse them For who can worthily expresse how you haue in EVROPE subdued CONSTANTINOPLE the imperiall citie of the East empire with all THRACIA ACHAIA GRECIA PELOPONESVS BEOTIA THEBES and the noble citie of ATHENS the mother and nurse of all good learning The empire of TRAPEZOND with the emperour thereof is by you ouerthrowne the kingdomes of SERVIA and BOSNA with the princes of PELOPONESVS are by you gloriously vanquished You haue at your commaund twelue kingdomes in ASIA the lesser PONTVS BYTHINIA CAPPADOCIA PAPHLAGONIA CILICIA PAMPHILIA LYCIA CARIA LYDIA PHâ—IGIA NICHOMEDIA and NICEA with the famous citie of PRVSA Besides these IONIA DORIS SMYRNA COLOPHON EPHESVS MILETVM HALICARNASVS PERGAMVS with the countrey of TAVRICA are vnder your subiection The great countrey of ARMENIA hath felt your force the Islands of LESBOS CHIOS and EVEoeA are parts of your empire What should I speake of infinit people and nations by you most victoriously vanquished This may suffice for all that you haue gained from the Christians twentie prouinces and two hundred great citties For it were too long to rehearse the Mahometane kings and princes by you also vanquished in all your expeditions 〈◊〉 things haue yet giuen place to your fortune The antient monuments may now cease to extoll the praises of Caesar Scipio Pyrrhus Hanniball and other cheefetaines of ROME and forraine nations for why they are all inferior to you both for victories and countries subdued The Othoman familie is vndoubtedly fatall for soueraignetie all the world shall in short time come vnder your gouernment and all nations shall serue you As for this towne of SCODRA let it not so much greeue you worldly things as you know doe oftentimes deceiue our expectation in them fortune beareth great sway Yet for this matter quiet your selfe for I dare gage my faith vnto your imperiall maiestie that I will in short time find meanes that this citie shall stand at your deuotion Did not I of late bring into your subiection the impregnable citie of CROIA which you so long desired But whereas you would now agaiâ— forthwith attempt to win it by assault I therein craue your pardon in that I cannot be of that opinion but must needs thinke farre otherwise for to attempt warre and to be ouerthrowne is an easie matter for euery man to doe but to vanquish the enemie and to carrie away the triumph that right few men know He that consulteth of such great and weightie matters ought to be free both from furie and desire both euill counsellours The Christians of SCODRA are not in my opinion to be againe assaulted for in so doing you shall but lose your labour For if you could not subdue them your armie being then fresh and strong how shall you now ouercome them with much fewer and they wounded weake and feeble I haue viewed the whole campe and searched euery tent and found no place no tent yea scarcely any cabbin without groning sighing weeping or wailing in euery place was heauinesse sorrow mourning and death it selfe for in the last assault you lost thirtie thousand and more of your best souldiorâ— many moe are greeuously wounded and maimed none but he carrieth about him some signe that hee was there few or none there be that dare againe mount the hill to giue a fresh assault they are all afraid and discouraged Whom when I demanded how so great a feare was come vpon them and what was the cause they had so lost their wonted courage they answered me That it was the looke euen the very looke of them of SCODRA whose eyes did seeme vnto them to burne and sparkle with fire their sterne and terrible countenances said they haue strucke this terrour into vs. Wherefore I thinke it not good to giue a fresh assault with men so dismayed but rather to vse policie and delay against such resolute enemies This citie of SCODRA is the eye and head of all this prouince which the Venetians haue notably fortified and planted with store of ordinance and of all things els necessarie for defence thereof but especially with most valiant souldiors of purpose chosen out of many their garrisons for defence of this citie you haue not now to doe with the weake and effeminate people of ASIA but with the hard and rough people of EPIRVS And you know most mightie emperour the strength and courage of this nation it is now thirtie yeares that you haue made warre against this people and haue not yet altogether subdued them and how dangerous and chargeable this warre hath beene vnto you who knoweth not It is now six moneths since we came first before this citie we haue intrenched our selues round about it we haue day and night laid hard siege vnto it we haue battered it of long with eleuen cannons I speake not of other smaller peeces or engines of warre with all kind of shot and fire-worke and whatsoeuer els we could deuise We haue many times to our cost assaulted it what could be done by force strength or multitude of valiant men is alreadie done in the former assaults Nothing hath been left vnattempted no policie no direction hath wanted in your leaders neither courage in your souldiors What should I recount the innumerable great shot or speake of our arrowes and darts deliuered into the citie as showers of haile Did all this or any thing els we could doe any thing terrifie these defendants
vnwilling to be knowne When he had thus seene his father the court and the imperiall citie he went againe aboord and so with speed returned to MAGNESIA The report of this his doing had in short time filled both the citie and the court and was at last brought to Baiazet his eares which raised in his suspitious head manie a troublesome thought greatly fearing that in these slie practises lay hidden some secret and desperat conspiracie dangerous to himselfe and his other children Wherefore after long discourse had with the three great Bassaes then of his secret counsell concerning the matter to rid himselfe of all feare he resolued in anie case to take him away And therefore caused them in his name to write vnto Asmehemadi a gallant courtier and alwaies neere vnto Mahometes to poison him with a secret poison for that purpose inclosed in those letters sent vnto him with promise of great rewards and preferments for that his seruice to be afterwards receiued from the emperour Charging him withall that if he could not effect the matter he should so conceale it as that Mahometes should haue no distrust thereof the least suspition whereof would tend to his vtter destruction This Asmehemedi for some vnkindnesse bare a secret grudge against Mahometes which Baiazet knowing of made choise of him the rather And he on the other side partly to performe the old tyrants commaund and partly to reuenge his owne priuat vigilantly awaited all opportunities to bring to effect that he had in charge At length it fortuned that Mahometes hauing disported himselfe in his gardens of pleasure and being thirstie after his exercise called for drinke Asmehemedi alwaies at hand in a gilt boule fetcht him such drinke as he desired wherinto he had secretly conuaied the deadly poison sent from Baiazet Mahometes hauing drunke thereof in short time began to feele himselfe euill at ease and presently sent for his phisitions who thinking that he had but something distempered himselfe with drinking too much cold drinke in his heat perceiued not that hee was poisoned vntill that within six daies after he died Of whose death Baiazet aduertised could not abstaine from mourning although he himselfe had beene the onely author thereof and the more to manifest his heauinesse commaunded all the court to mourne with him and prayers to be made in their temples after their superstitious manner and almes to be giuen to the poore for the health of his soule His dead bodie was afterwards carried to PRVSA and there honourably buried with his auncestors Asmehemedi the traitour in reward of his vnfaithfulnesse towards his master was by the commaundement of Baiâ—zet cast into prison and neuer afterwards seene being there as it was thought secretly made away Now had Baiazet but three sonnes left Achomates Selymus and Corcutus Achomates gouernour of AMASIA was a man both politike and valiant but much giuen to pleasure and delight him Baiazet and most part of the great men of the court fauoured aboue the rest of his brethren except such as were before corrupted by Selymus Corcutus for his mild and quiet nature was of most men beloued but not thought so fit for the gouernment of so great an empire especially by the Ianizaries and souldiours of the court for that he was as they thought altogither drowned in the studie of philosophie a thing nothing agreeing with their humour Yet might Baiazet seeme to doe him wrong if he should not according to his promise againe restore him vnto the possession of the empire which he had almost thirtie yeares before receiued at his hands as is before in the beginning of his life declared But Selymus being of a more hautie disposition than to brooke the life of a subject vnder the commaund of either of his brethren and altogither giuen to martiall affaires sought by infinit bountie faigned courtesie subtile pollicie and by all other meanes good and bad to aspire vnto the empire Him therefore the Ianizaries with all the great souldiours of the court yea and some of the chiefe Bassaes also corrupted with gifts wished aboue the rest for their lord and soueraigne desiring rather to liue vnder him which was like to set all the world on a hurlie burlie whereby they might increase their honour and wealth the certaine rewards of their aduentures than to lead an idle and vnprofitable life as they tearmed it vnder a quiet and peaceable prince Whilest men stood thus diuersly affected towards these princes of so great hope Baiazet now farre worne with yeares and so grieuously tormented with the gout that hee was not able to helpe himselfe for the quietnesse of his subjects and preuenting of such troubles as might arise by the aspiring of his children after his death determined whilest he yet liued for the auoiding of these and other such like mischeefes to establish the succession in some one of his sonnes who wholly possessed of the kingdome might easily represse the pride of the other And although he had set downe with himselfe that Achomates should be the man as well in respect of his birthright as of the especiall affection he bare vnto him yet to discouer the disposition of his subjects and how they stood affected it was giuen out in generall tearmes That hee meant before his death to make it knowne to the world who should succeed him in the empire without naming any one of his sonnes leauing that for euery man to deuine of according as they were affected which was not the least cause that euery one of his sonnes with like ambition began now to make small account of their former preferments as thinking onely vpon the empire it selfe First of all Selymus whom Baiazet had made gouernor of the kingdome of TRAPEZOND rigging vp all the ships he could in PONTVS sayled from TRAPEZOND ouer the Euxine now called the Blacke sea to the citie of CAPHA called in auntient time THEODOSIA and from thence by land came to Mahometes king of the Tartars called Praecopenses a mightie prince whose daughter he had without the good liking of his father before married and discouering vnto him his entended purpose besought him by the sacred bonds of the affinitie betwixt them not to shrinke from him his louing sonne in law in so fit an oportunitie for his aduancement and withall shewed vnto him what great hope of obtaining the empire was proposed vnto him by his most faithfull friends and the souldiors of the court if hee would but come neerer vnto his father then about to transferre the empire to some one of his sonnes and either by faire meanes to procure his fauour or by entering with his armie into THRACIA to terrifie him from appointing either of his other brethren for his successour The Tartar king commending his high deuise as a kind father in law with wonderfull celeritie caused great store of shipping to bee made readie in the Ponticke sea and MoeOTIS but especially at the ports of COPA and TANA
peace and warres receiued their dayly wages and monthly payes in readie money of his treasurers and paymasters for defraying of which charge hee neuer wanted coyne hauing an inestimable masse of money alwayes in store in the seuen towers at CONSTANTINOPLE and his yearely tributes and reuenewes still exceeding all his charges by a fourth part The strength of the Persian king consisted in three kind of souldiours the first were they which were accounted soldiors of the court the second such as were by custome and dutie bound to serue him in his warres and the third such as were sent vnto him from the princes his neighbours and confederates Those which were accounted souldiors of his court had their certaine stipends and were altogether maintained of the kings charge of whom according to the old custome of the Persian kings they at certaine times receiue armour horses apparrell tents and wages euery one as he is in place and degree And being attended vpon with a gallant and strong garrison of these he maintaineth the majestie of his court especially when hee rideth in prograce The nobilitie and antient gentlemen of his countrey who hold lands and possessions discended vnto them from their ancestors or holden by the gift of the king are sent for in time of warres and are of dutie bound to performe such like seruice as the nobilitie and gentlemen of ITALIE FRAVNCE and SPAINE doe vnto their soueraigns these hardly amount to the number of twentie thousand whereof it is well if the third part come well armed the rest content themselues with headpieces and jackes and vse for their weapons either horsemens staues or bowes which they can most cunningly handle discharging their arrowes very neere vnto that they aime at either forward or backward They which come vnto him from forraine princes confederat or tributarie are commonly sent from the kings and princes of IBERIA ALBANIA and the countries bordering vpon MEDIA and ARMENIA who being halfe Christians beare a mortall hatred against the Turkes Hysmaell the Persian king had then vnder his dominion these great and famous countries ARMENIA the greater SVLTHANIA PERSIA ASSYRIA MESOPOTAMIA MEDIA and PARTHIA whereof ARMENIA is the chiefest famous for the great citie TAVRIS called in auntient time ECBATHANA this countrey yeeldeth vnto the Persian king his best footmen but his choice horsemen come from out of PERSIA and especially from SCYRAS called of old CYRIPOLIS next vnto them are from ASSYRIA the cheefe citie whereof is BAGADAT called in auntient time BABYLON The Medes and Parthians are of all others accounted the best archers next vnto the Scythians But now to returne againe from whence wee haue a little too farre stayed Selymus after his great expedition against Hysmaell wintering at AMASIA by his lieutenants and captaines in EVROPE and ASIA raised such a power that with the first of the Spring he entred againe into the confines of the Persian kingdome with a greater armie than before and that somewhat sooner than the extreame cold of that part of ARMENIA subject to the snowie mountaine TAVRVS would either well suffer or that the enemie thought it had been possible for him to haue so done There was vpon the further side of the riuer Euphrates a strong towne called CIAMASSVM situate a little aboue that place where the riuer Melas much celebrated by the Grecian Poets falleth into the riuer Euphrates which towne for the commodious situation thereof standing vpon the first entrance of the passage into ARMENIA the great the Persians had furnished with a strong garrison this towne Selymus thought good in any case to be master of by taking whereof and of some other holds thereabout he should open a faire way for himselfe into his enemies countrey Hysmael at the same time was gone with all his power against the Hyrcanians Bactrians and other sauage people dwelling neere vnto the Caspian sea then vp in arms against him which wished opportunitie Selymus taking and making a bridge ouer the riuer Euphrates passed ouer with his armie came before the towne and laied hard siege to the same before his enemies were well aware of his comming The Turkes at their first approch compassing the citie round with their huge multitude of harquebusiers and archers draue the defendants from the wals and still without rest or intermission bringing on fresh men as Selymus had before taken order and others at the same time breaking open the gates and in diuers places scaling the wals enforced the defendants to forsake their standings and to retire themselues into the market place where although they were before sore spent with labour and wounds yet did they there with wonderfull courage a great while notably withstand the multitude of their enemies still swarming in and in defence of their countrey like resolute men fought it out vnto the last man Selymus hauing taken and ransacked CIAMASSVM with two other small castles which the defendants had for feare before abandoned although he was with a deadly hatred and ambitious desire prickt forward against Hysmaell and thirsted after nothing more than the subuersion of the Persian kingdome yet he thought it not good further to enter into ARMENIA before he had out of those forrests and mountaines chased the mountaine king Aladeules who but the yeare before had most trecherously done him and his armie so many injuries in his returne from the Persian expedition For Aladeules not without cause fearing his owne estate as soone as he vnderstood that Selymus had againe taken the field and that he was come to the riuer Euphrates and so to CIAMASSVM speedily assembling his forces had in short time raised a great armie for the defence of himselfe and his kingdome purposing that if Selymus should goe farther into ARMENIA then after his wonted manner to looke on as a beholder and by the euent of the warre to take occasion of prey and by shutting vp the passages of his countrey at his pleasure to rob and spoile the Turkes in their returne Wherefore Selymus leauing a garrison at CIAMASSVM retired backe againe ouer the riuer Euphrates vnto the mountaine ANTITAVRVS where it was reported that his enemies lay This Aladeules as is aforesaid ruled ouer the rude and sauage mountaine people inhabiting the great mountaines TAVRVS and ANTITAVRVS which mountaines as it were linked together one to another run from the mountaines called SCODRISCI and the borders of CAPADOCIA with a perpetuall rising through many large prouinces and countries vnto the great mountaine AMAâ—VS and vttermost bounds of CILICIA The people of this countrey were by nature fierce and warlike more famous for nothing than for the want of all thing who as men dwelling in a rough and bare countrey could little or nothing profit by husbandrie yet in such places as would beare any pasture they had their breed of horses and cammels and did with all diligence vse grasing but the greatest part of their liuing consisted in hunting and stealing These
laied together hee said the Sultan might afterward vpon euen hand goe into the field if he should thinke it so much to concerne his honour to giue his enemies battaile But for as much as the greatest warres which at the first had most violent and most furious motions by the politicke enemies delay did most commonly in time grow calme hee should not therefore make too much hast to aduenture the fortune of battaile for that the errours of warre which many times chanced through the ouersight or rashnesse of the cheeftains might well of good men be lamented and detested but hardly or neuer recouered or amended Gazelles his graue and considerat speech had much moued both the Sultan and others yet the cheerefulnesse of the souldiors and foolish hardinesse of the Mamalukes did so fill Campsons eares that he could not hearken to so good and wholesome counsell for as soone as they heard certainely of the comming of the Turkes they began to leape and daunce and to rejoice among themselues that the time was come wherein they might make proofe of their valour and win to themselues honour For now as they said was come that time they had long wished for wherin they would by notable slaughter of their enemies aduance the honour and majestie of Campson their Sultan far aboue the fame of Caitbeius And some euen of the cheefe men about Campson vpon flatterie and vaine ostenâ—ation alledging how honourably and with what small labour they had before ouerthrowne the Turkes great armie at TARSVS persuaded him that the victorie would easily and without any great danger be gotten But especially Cayerbeius gouernor of ALEPPO and of the prouince of COMAGENA who after his warre ended was in reward of his foule treason by Selymus vnworthily preferred to the greatest honours of AEGYPT extolling with glorious words the faithfulnesse courage and valour of the Mamalukes and extenuating the strength and power of the enemie forced his wits to the vttermost to ouerthrow the wholsome counsell of Gazelles For this Cayerbeius for all his faire face bare a grudge in heart against Campson because he had some few yeares before poysoned his brother whom he had in jealousie being a man next to himselfe of greatest power wealth and authoritie amongst the Mamalukes and withall of an aspiring mind Whereupon Cayerbeius afterwards thinking it good to looke to himselfe and doubting the like practise to be intended against himselfe being as the manner of that kingdome was summoned to a parliament at CAIRE faigned himselfe sicke and would not come wherwith Campson was not a little offended yet for a time he thought it best to dissemble the matter and to await some fitter oportunitie for the taking away of that proud man so forgetfull of his dutie and bearing himselfe against his soueraigne as if he had been an absolute king in his owne prouince This he thought might most couertly be brought to passe if he should vpon the occasion of the present warre as it then fell out or els vnder the colour of going in person himselfe to the riuer Euphrates come to ALEPPO for it was the manner of the antient Aegyptian Sultans not to account themselues worthie of the name of a Sultan or great Generall before they had as Caitbeius had of late done encamped their armie vpon the side of the riuer Euphrates at the citie BYRTHA which standing vpon the banke of the riuer retaineth at this day both the antient name and fame and there with solemne pompe had in the sight of the armie forced their horses into the riuer to drinke giuing to vnderstand by that ceremonie the greatnesse of their empire and that they were readie by force of armes to proue that all those countries were their which lay alongst the riuer Euphrates from the mountaine TAVRVS vnto the deserts of ARABIA But the consideration of this war letted that hee did not at his first comming oppresse him because he deemed it to stand best with his present affaires and not yet knowing the purpose of Selymus to expect the motions of the Turkes and Persians and to deferre the execution of his wrath against Cayerbeius vntill the end of the warre for feare least the other Mamalukes dismayed with the hainousnesse of the suddaine fact should either reuolt from him or els raise some mutinie or rebellion in that populous citie For Cayerbeius had by his courtesie and bountie many strong companies in the armie fast bound vnto him and beside that was of greatest credit and authoritie with them of ALEPPO hauing in his keeping a strong citadell built vpon the rising of an hill in the middest of the citie which he kept with a strong and sure garrison But whiles Campson doth thus slowly and considerately purpose his destruction many of the Sultans secret friends to him more officious than faithfull secretly aduised Cayerbeius to beware of the Sultan and by some good meanes in time to prouide for his owne safetie He vnderstanding of the danger and thinking all delay deadly sent secret messengers vnto Selymus discouering vnto him the cause of his greefe and promising as occasion should serue to come ouer vnto him and to deliuer into his power the castle with the hearts of the citisens and all the strength of his owne horsemen thereby to prouide for his owne safetie to reuenge his brothers death and to further his victorie against Campson and for performance of promises on both sides required secret hostages to be giuen By the same messengers he also aduertised him what strength the Sultan was of persuading him in any case to make hast to giue him battaile before hee had gathered any greater power Selymus nothing doubted to condiscend to all that the traitor had requested promising of himselfe farre greater things than euer he had required assuring himselfe of the victorie if his enemie should lose so much of his strength by the reuolt of so great a commaunder Campson enforced by the generall consent of his souldiors and the violence of his ineuitable destinie then at hand rejecting the good and faithfull counsell of Gazelles at such time as Selymus was reported to be at hand resolued according to the counsell of the traitour Cayerbeius to dare him battell He lay conueniently encamped vpon the riuer Singa almost ten miles from the citie in such sort as that his souldiors might vse the benefit of the riuer and remoued from the houses and pleasures of the citie might yet neuerthelesse be easily releeued with the stoâ—e and plentâ—e thereof The Mamalukes were scarce in number twelue thousand but euery one of them according as he was of greater place or calling so had he attending vpon him moe seruants well furnished with horse and armour A goodly and inuincible armie if the battaile might haue been tried by true valour The Mamalukes wearing their beards long and rough with graue and sterne countenance hauing strong and able bodies vsed such cunning in all their fights and battailes that
You heard sacred fellowes in armes and valiant citizens of the RHODES these imperious and sorrowfull letters whereunto how we are to answere requireth no great deliberation we must as resolute men either yeeld or die all hope of victorie is gone except forraine aid come Wherefore if yâ—â— will follow my counsell let vs with weapons in our hands vntill the last gaspe and the spending of the last drop of our bloud like valiant men defend our faith and nobilitie receiued from our auncestours and the honour which we haue so long time gotten both at home and abroad and let it neuer be said that our honour died but with our selues This speech of the Great Master seemed vnto many heauier than the imperious commaundement of the Turkish tyrant and a great while men stood silent heauily looking one vpon another many with changing of their countenance and outward gesture more than by words expressing what they thought in heart At length a certaine Greeke priest with great compassion of mind as it seemed and teares trickling downe his cheekes brake forth into these words And I would also hold my peace if I were a priuat man and not first of all in so great and troubled an assemblie broach mine owne opinion But for as much as the regard of our common preseruation can wring a word out of no mans mouth and all men know that now is the time to speake and say what euery man thinketh best which shall neither alwaies nor long be graunted vnto vs I will not let it now ouerpasse and slip away Wherefore let vs suppose that no commaund of a most mightie prince besieging vs were come vnto vs but that I were reasoning as a priuat man with his neighbor or one friend with another by the fire side or in our cups without care without any great affection to either partie as men indifferent not liking or hating as men oftentimes doe of princes affairs which cencerne them nothing and then as I hope my speech shall be vnto you neither vnpleasant nor vnprofitable We Greekes and Latines with ioined armes haue now this six moneths withstood our deadly enemies not onely abroad before our wals but also in the very bowels of our citie without any forraine helpe which as we haue of long time all vainely looked for so are we now euery one of vs out of hope thereof And yet our enemie either moued with the secret goodnesse of God or els ignorant of our strength and forces spent with wounds slaughter sicknesse and perpetuall labour doth voluntarily offer that vnto vs which was of vs to be most of all desired and earnestly sued for Your publicke and priuat treasures the bodies of your selues your wiues and children he keepeth vnuiolated he taketh from vs only the citie which he hath for most part alreadie beaten downe and taken Worthie Great Master and you most valiant Knights I haue knowne your prowesse and valour in many battailes at sea but especially in this siege whereof seeing there is no more vse in this our desperat estate I doe appeale vnto your wisdome and discretion Sithence all is now the conquerors in that he leaueth vnto vs our liues and goods is to be accounted gaines and the yeelding vp of the citie and Island no losse which the victorious enemie alreadie commaundeth which although it be a heauie matter and greâ—uous vnto the nobilitie yet your fortune persuadeth you thereunto Wherefore if you be to be moâ—â—d with any compassion I account it better to yeeld than to be slaine your selues or to see your wiues and children by law of armes to be led away before your faces into miserable captiuitie and seruitude If any Christian compassion remaine in your warlike minds I beseech you seeke not the vtter destruction of this innocent people who I may with modestie say hath not euill deserued of you whom Christ Iesus whom the enemie himselfe would haue preserued That I say this which I speak vnto you for Christian charitie and for no other cause let this be a sufficient testimonie That so long as you were able to resist by your owne power or hoped for aid from forraine princes I neuer spake word or once thought of yeelding but now seeing the fatall ruine of all things about vs our common estate brought vnto the vttermost extremitie our deadly enemie in the heart of our citie no hope and that the warre cannot longer be protracted I wish you to yeeld and for my part had rather make choise of peace thâ—â— warre and to proue the enemies fauour than his furie Most of them there present were of the same mind with the priest But as nothing can be so reasonably spoken as to content all men so this speech was not of them all liked some there were though not many which considering the harmes they had done vnto the Turkes and doubting with what safetie they might yeeld themselues into the power of that faithlesse people had rather to haue fought it out to the last man and so to haue left vnto them a bloudie victorie Amongst these one bold spoken fellow stept forth and in presence of them all dissuaded the yeelding vp of the citie in this sort I haue not been with any thing more vnacquainted than to deliuer my opinion before princes or in such great and publicke assemblies being alwaies more desirous modestly to heare other mens opinions than impudently to thrust forth mine owne But now seeing extreame necessitie will not longer suffer me to keepe my wonted course of silence I will frankely speake my mind and tell you what in my opinion is to be answered vnto the heauie message and imperious commaund of the most perfidious tyrant This cruell enemie hath ouerthrowne our wall and is entred three hundred foot and more within our cittie and as a most troublesome guest liueth and conuerseth with vs as it were vnder the same roofe Such as list not longer to endure such an vnwelcome guest and troublesome neighbour persuade you because he is troublesome to giue him all But worthie and sacred knights I am of far different opinion neither doe I thinke a possession of 214 yeares is so lightly to be deliuered vp and the ground forsaken but rather that this troublesome intruder is in like manner to be himselfe troubled and with deadly skirmishes continually vexed whom after we had by force of armes and vndaunted courage maugre his head held out fiue moneths at length he brake into our citie not by any valour in himselfe but holpen by time which tameth all things and since his first entrance it is now almost fortie daies in which time for all his hast he hath scarcely got forward 130 paces hindered by the blockes we haue laied in his way and will not cease continually to lay if we be wise men and mindfull of our former valour Destroy me you heauenly powers before I see with these eies these sacred knights to yeeld vp this famous citie
a fresh charge giuen by Ferdinands horsemen who had now put to flight the right wing of Bodo his battell all Bodo his armie fighting most valiantly was disordered and put to flight Bodo the Generall labouring to restore the battell and to saue the ensigne to him before by the king deliuered was by the comming in of Paulus Bachitius with his light horsemen taken The other captaines seeing all lost and past hope of recouerie betooke themselues to flight all the kings artillerie and ensignes were taken by the enemie The king seeing the ouerthrow of his armie for safegard of his life fled into POLONIA Ferdinand his captaines following the course of the victorie entered into TRANSILVANIA where the people yeelding themselues at the first all the whole prouince submitted it selfe vnto the authoritie of Ferdinand Bodo and the rest of the noble men that were taken prisoners with the ensignes taken from the enemies were sent to Ferdinand But when Bodo hauing his libertie promised could not be persuaded to renounce his oath giuen to king Iohn and to beare armes against him he was by Ferdinand his commaundement cast into a darke dungeon where shortly after consumed with sorrow and greefe he miserably ended his life Shortly after Ferdinand the Hungarians generally submitting themselues vnto him was by their common consent saluted king and crowned with the same old crowne wherwith king Iohn had been crowned which the same Perenus a man of little constancie brought vnto him and with him was also crowned Anne his wife the only sister of the late king Lewes all which solemne ceremonies were celebrated at ALBA REGALIS the vsuall place for the coronation of the Hungarian kings Ferdinand by rare felicitie thus possessed of two kingdomes whereunto he was not borne returned into BOHEMIA and left his deputies for the gouernment of the kingdome of HVNGARIE These were Stephanus Bator whom hee appointed viceroy with whom he joyned Paulus bishop of STRIGONIVM who had also reuolted from king Iohn and made Berethsaxius secretarie and Alexius Tursonus a Morauian treasurer King Iohn thus miserably distressed and thrust out of his kingdome by Ferdinand fled to Hieronimus Lascus a man for his honourable discent and learned vertue of great fame and reputation amongst the Polonians who glad of so honourable a guest was more carefull of nothing than with all possible kindnesse and courtesie how to comfort him wrapt vp in so many calamities with the losse of his kingdome he frankely promised vnto him all his owne wealth which was not small for the recouerie of his former estate and that which more was for the reuiuing of his former felicitie the vttermost of his wit and deuise which in the compassing of all great matters was accounted wonderfull That bountifull entertainement of this poore king by Lascus was not altogether vnpleasant to Sigismund king of POLONIA although because he would not offend Ferdinand with whom he was joyned in friendship and aliance he seemed to most men plainly to forget himselfe in shewing so small kindnesse vnto king Iohn whose sister Barbara he had sometime married which was the cause that Lascus forgot no point of courtesie in entertaining his guest and yet the credit of Sigismund with king Ferdinand not toucht But when they had spent almost a month in consultation and debating of matters too and fro Lascus accustomed with his deepe wit sharply to reason and aduisedly to determine of most weightie causes at last rested vpon this one point That readie helpe in so hard and desperat a case was onely to be hoped for of the Turkish emperour Solyman being of opinion that he being a most mightie prince and of an honourable disposition answereable to his greatnesse would not reject the humble prayers of an oppressed and exiled king especially if that being by his mercie and power restored he could be content for so great a benefiâ— to hold his kingdome as of the bountie of the Othoman kings For Lascus saw that Solyman so great and proud an emperour was not so desirous of kingdomes whereof he had so many as could not easily bee reckoned then commaunding ouer a great part of the world as of glorie and renowne wherewith he vnderstood him to be wonderfully delighted aboue all other kings of the East naturally carried away with that windie vanitie This counsell as in effect it prooued was vnto king Iohn wholesome and reasonable if a man doe but respect the poore estate of a king so greatly wronged liuing in exile but respecting the Christian commonweale it was vndoubtedly most dangerous and lamentable for one mans particular profit to bring the whole state into most dreadfull and horrible danger but the sicke minds of worldly men liuing in small hope of doing well and at the point of desperation refuse no worldly remedies be they neuer so doubtfull or dangerous And not long after vpon this resolution with the king Lascus desirous by noble actions to encrease the honour of his name tooke the matter vpon him and went as embassadour from the exiled king to Solyman to CONSTANTINOPLE The report was that Sigismund did not only not stay him but secretly gaue him his safe conduct with letters of credence wherein he commended him vnto the Bassaes and other great men in Solymans court descended of the Polonian bloud as his faithfull and louing subject sent thither vpon an extraordinarie and speciall embassage Lascus as soone as he was come to CONSTANTINOPLE with wonderfull dexteritie had in short time woon the fauour not of the Bassaes only but of the other courtiers also presenting them with such gifts as might for the finenesse and rarenesse thereof rather than for the value as he thought be most acceptable and pleasing to their wiues for amongst that barbarous and corrupted people nothing is better welcome than gifts whether they proceed of simple good will or other respect is no great difference Amongst the great Bassaes at that time of greatest power and authoritie was Luftebeius or rather Lutzis who had married Solymans sister and Abraham borne at PARGA a base village in ACARNANIA brought vp in the court from his childhood with Solyman he was then visier or cheefe of the Bassaes and keeper of the emperors seale and was by his office to subscribe all such graunts or letters as passed from the emperour by which his great place and the speciall fauour he had with Solyman he in magnificence power and authoritie farre exceeded all the rest of the Bassaes doing whatsoeuer pleased himselfe and that with such soueraignetie and the good liking of Solyman that it was commonly said he was the commaunder of his thoughts Lascus thus insinuated into the court and oftentimes talking with the Bassaes without an interpretour for that hee could well speake the Sclauonian tongue the familiar speech of the Turkish courtiers earnestly solicited the kings cause wonderfully commending him for at his first comming after he had saluted Solyman and was about
and so charging the enemie performed the part not onely of a courageous cheefetaine but of a resolute and valiant souldior also rescuing with his owne hand Andreas Pontius a noble gentleman of GRANADO whom vnhorsed and sore wounded the enemie was readie presently to haue slaine had not the emperour by his comming in saued him deseruing thereby the Oken garland which the Romans by the name of Ciuica Corona gaue as an honour to such as had in battell saued a citisen About the same time it fortuned that thirtie thousand Moores came vpon the suddaine to haue surprised a little tower standing vpon a hill neere vnto the ruines of old CARTHAGE wherein the emperour had placed certaine soldiors for the keeping thereof because it was neere vnto his campe Before these Moores went a Numidian priest who bellowing out certaine superstitious charmes cast diuers scrols of paper on each side the way wherein he cursed and banned the Christians and now they had with fire and smoake brought the Christians in that tower to great extremitie when the emperour himselfe comming to their rescue with certaine companies of horsemen and footmen slew the conjuring priest with others and put the rest to flight The discomfiture of the Spanish horsemen caused many men to thinke that if the emperour should come to a set battell with the enemie he should find his horsemen too weak both for that they were but few in number and not to bee compared with the Numidians For which cause and diuers others certaine of the emperours graue counsellors but none of the best souldiours wished him not to proceed further in that dangerous warre but with speed to returne out of AFFRICKE for as much as he had woon honour enough by the taking of GVLETTA and the surprising of the enemies fleet whereby he had to his immortall praise and the common good of Christendome deliuered all the frontiers of the Christian countries in the Mediterranean from the danger and feare of those most cruell pyrats besides that the flix began to rage in his campe whereof many of his souldiors fell sicke and died dayly whereas on the contrarie part the mightie Numidian princes such as were Muleasses old enemies were reported to come in dayly to the aid of Barbarussa These vnseasonable speeches the emperour thought good to represse betime reasoning against the authors thereof with great grauitie as against men who with more feare doubted of the successe of things and the euent of the victorie than beseemed them whom for their constant resolution and good opinion conceiued of their discretion hee had chosen to be of his most secret counsell Saying that he desired not of them that their needlesse and dishonourable labour wherein they should shew themselues more carefull of his person than of his honour for as much as those things which he now alleadged should haue been said before the warre was taken in hand now by good hap halfe ended before hee euer passed ouer into AFFRICKE For he might as he said haue rested quietly in SPAINE and haue easily neglected and reiected the iniuries done vpon the sea coasts and the complaints of his subiects but he was as they well knew for most vrgent causes come thither whereas hee was resolued to satisfie the expectation of the world with a notable victorie or if God should otherwise appoint there to end his daies with honour Wherefore he willed them to cease farther to flatter him that was no way dismaid or to possesse the minds of his valiant souldiours with a vaine forboding feare and with resolute minds togither with him their chieftaine against the next day to expect what the fortune of the field should appoint for the full accomplishment of that war For he was as he said set downe to giue the enemie battell or if he refused the same to batter the wals of TVNES not doubting but that God would stand on his side in so good and so godly a quarrell The emperour leauing a sufficient garrison in the castle of GVLETTA commanded the breaches to be repaired and the great ordinance there taken to be laid vpon carriages which before after the old rude sea fashion lay bound in great vnweldie pieces of timber with yron rings fastned thereto and could not handsomely be handled or remoued too or fro After that when he had caused the countrey to be well viewed all about which betwixt the Oliue groues and the right side of the lake giueth a direct passage vnto the citie of TVNES he set forward with his armie in so good order that he still marched as readie to fight for feare of the pollicies and sudden assaults of the enemie On the left hand marched the Italians next vnto the lake on the right hand the Spaniards neere vnto the Oliue groues which in the manner of a great wood ran all alongst the countrey from the ruines of CARTHAGE almost to the wals of TVNES in the middest betwixt both marched the Germans next vnto them followed the great ordinance and after it the carriages of all the armie In the vauntgard was Vastius whom the emperour had made Generall of the armie and especially for that day in the rearward was the duke of ALâ—A with certaine troupes of chosen horsemen in the middle of the maine battell was the emperour and by his side Lewes his brother in law the king of PORTINGALES brother The Italians were conducted by the prince of SALERN the Spaniards by Alarco an auntient captaine and the Germans by Maximilian Eberstein But the emperour in his armour ceased not to ride from squadron to squadron with cheerfull countenance and full of hope recounting vnto them the former victories which they had gotten for him and telling them that he did that day expect of them a most honourable daies seruice for as much as they were to fight against the naked enemies of the Christian religion wherefore they should with resolute minds set downe themselues to endure the waight of their armour the painfulnesse of the march the heat of the Sunne and sand and the tediousnesse of the thirst arising therof vntill they might joine battell with their enemies where they should vndoubtedly by the goodnesse of God in whose quarrell they fought obtaine the victorie in the meane time they should with patience ouercome all difficulties comforting themselues with the vndoubted hope of a most rich prey which they were to expect of the spoile of a rich citie Whereunto euerie squadron answered with a great shout that he should not trouble himselfe with those matters which he had before rehearsed but to assure himselfe that they his souldiours would most patiently endure all extremities and not deceiue the expectation he had conceiued of their wonted valour but by valiant fight to make him emperour not of AFFRICKE but of ASIA also Now Vastius had withdrawne two companies of harquebusiers out of the Spanish squadron to skirmish with the Moores who continually followed in the taile
the destruction of his country as any of the rest He knowing that the great cities of HYDRVNTVM and BRVNDVSIVM were kept with strong garrisons of Charles the emperour leauing HYDRVNTVM on the right hand directed the Turks to a towne vpon the sea coast eight miles off called CASTRVM neere vnto which standeth a castle vpon a hill then belonging to Mercurinus Catinarius who being a man vnacquainted with warres and terrified with the sudden comming of the Turkes and persuaded by Troilus yeelded vp his castle vpon condition that the Turkes should offer no violence or injurie vnto him or his either in bodie or goods Vpon which condition the towne of CASTRVM was also deliuered vnto them But the Turkes especially the greedie marriners being got into the castle and the towne moued neither with the intreatie of Troilus nor the commaundement of Lutzis and Barbarussa rifled the towne and castle and carried away with them Mercurinus himselfe with all the floure of the people to their gallies as prisoners But Lutzis ashamed of such faithlesse dealing presently set Mercurinus at libertie againe At the same time also Solyman had by night sent ouer certaine troupes of light horsemen in great palendars which running all alongst the sea coast from TARENTVM to BRVNDVSIVM carried away with them both the people and cattell and whatsoeuer els came in their way by the space of fortie miles So that all that covntrey of SALENTINVM now called OTRANTO was filled with feare and danger and had not there stayed but was like ynough to haue ouerwhelmed all ITALIE by the comming ouer of Solyman wâ—â—h his whole armie had not the rashnesse of one Venetian captaine by vnexpected chance turned that tempest from the Italians vpon the Venetians themselues Alexander Contarenus a valiant captaine of the Venetians meeting with certaine of the Turkes gallies which would neither vaile their top sailes nor in token of reuerence and friendship discharge any of their great Ordinance as of dutie they ought to haue done in those seas where the Venetians commaunded offended with their proud insolencie fieâ—câ—ly assailed â—â—em and in fight sunke two of them wherein Vstamenes Gouernour of CALIPOLIS a man of no small reputation amongst the Turks was reported to haue perished Which outrage done by Contarenus in a most vnfit time to the great hurt of the Venetian estate as it appeared afterward was imputed to his owne priuat grudge which he bare against the Turks for that they had intercepted a ship of his as she was comming out of the East countries laden with rich merchandise so that it was thought that he to please himselfe in reuenging of his owne priuat injurie regarded not what might in that dangerous time ensue thereof to the common state A little before the comming ouer of the Turks into ITALIE Andreas Auria the emperors Admirall lying at MESSANA in SICILIA vnderstanding that Solyman was come with his armie to AVLONA and that his fleet was arriued there also put to sea directing his course towards the Islands of CEPHALENIA and ZACYNTHVS hoping as indeed it fell out to meet with the taile of the Turkes fleet for there according to his expectation he chanced vpon diuers of the Turks victuallers whom he easily tooke The marriners he chained in his owne gallies for slaues and furnishing his fleet with the victuall which was not for him prouided fired the ships Whilest Auria was thus beating too and fro in the Ionian sea it fortuned that Solyman sent Iunusbeius his cheefe interpreter a man whom he made no small account of with two gallies on a message to Lutzis his Admirall This proud Turke comming neere CORCYRA where the Venetian Admirall lay with his fleet offered scornefully to passe by without vailing which his pride tending to the disgrace of the Venetians certaine of the Venetian captaines not enduring set vpon him with such furie that the Turkes were enforced to run both their gallies on shore vpon the coast of EPIRVS neere vnto the mountaines called ACROCERAVNII where hauing escaped the danger at sea they fell almost all into the hands of the cruell mountaine people liuing for the most part by theft and waiting for wrackes as hawkes for their prey by these shauers the Turkes were stript of all they had and Iunusbeius with much adoe redeeming himselfe out of their hands returned to Solyman Auria sayling alongst the sea coast chanced vpon these gallies and finding them sore brused set fire on them For these vnkind parts the Turks were wonderfully offended with the Venetians and greeuously complained of them to Solyman although the Venetian Admirall laboured by all means he could to appease Iunusbeius and to excuse the matter as a thing done by great ouersight on both sides Vpon these small occasions the Turkes sought to breake off the league with the Venetians which fell out so much the sooner for that about the same time Auria sayling vp and downe in the Ionian sea and diligently looking into euery harbour to intercept such as stragled from the Turkes fleet happened by night to light vpon twelue of Solymans great gallies neere vnto CORCYRA all filled with his Ianizaries and choice horsemen of the court the best souldiors of the Turkes who had by land sent their horses to the campe by their lackies and were comming themselues with the Ianizaries by sea Auria falling vpon these gallies had with them a cruell and deadly fight For they as resolute men wishing rather to die than to yeeld vnto their enemies with inuincible courage maintained a most bloudie fight against Auria with his thirtie gallies excellently appointed vntill such time as most part of them were slaine and the rest sore wounded who seeing no remedie but that they must needs come into the hands of their enemies threw their scimitars ouerbourd because those choice weapons should not come into the hands of the Christians In this conflict Auria lost also many of his best souldiors yet hauing got the victorie and possessed of the gallies he ankered neere vnto CORCYRA there to take view of his owne harmes and the enemies but whilest he rid there at anker he was aduertised that Barbarussa was comming against him with fourescore gallies Wherefore knowing himselfe too weake to encounter so strong an enemie he departed thence and returned againe to Mâ—SSANA to repaire his fleet Solyman thorowly chafed with the losse of his gallies and best souldiors and with the double injurie done vnto him by the Venetians fell into such a rage that he cursed Barbarussa as one who in those warres had done him no good seruice and thundered out greeuous threats against the Venetians saying he was vnder the colour of an auntient league by them deceiued and greatly abused and that they were secretly confederated with Charles his enemie and had for that cause as they had alwaies holpen Auria with intelligence and all things necessarie receiuing him into their harbours and by their espials giuing him knowledge of the
pioners and wagoners wherefore euery captain was commanded to haue his soldiors in readinesse to set forward vpon the signe giuen which was by the sound of a shalme or hoboy which when it should be giuen was referred to the discretion of the Generall There were many which wonderfully disliked of this resolution and said openly that the enemie was fewer in number than their horsemen and pinched almost with like want of victuall besides that that the Turks durst neuer in just fight encounter with the Christian men at armes but like theeues assaile them vpon a sudden at some aduantage and by and by be gone againe and that the towne of GARA where the enemie lay encamped was not so strong but that it might be woon wherefore all things were to be proued and some great matter to be attempted of valiant men pâ—â—ched with wants for that to run away would be not onely a dishonour vnto the captaines themselues who ought alwaies to preferre their honor before their liues but also dangerous to them which respected nothing but life And if they should set forward in the night many would be lost in the woods and valour in the darke could not be knowne from cowardise besides that the Turkes as they said lay so nigh that it was not possible to depart without their knowledge especially if they should burne the powder or breake the great ordinance For which causes they thought it better to fight a battell with them and not to beleeue the false reports of new supplies come vnto them and that God would vndoubtedly giue them aid which were readie to lay downe their liues for their religion and glorie of the Christian name After all this they began to consult what was now to be done with the sicke and wounded souldiors which were before carried in wagons or amongst the other baggage of the armie for it was like that so great a multitude of sicke and wounded men vnderstanding what was decreed concerning the departure of the armie would as miserable forsaken men fill the campe with lamentation and mourning which it was thought would be also increased by the weeping and wailing of them which should neuer afterwards see their brethren kinsmen fellowes or friends so miserably and shamefully left behind and forsaken the noise whereof must needs come to the eares of the Turkes which lay within a small gun shot Wherefore it was determined that these sicke and wounded souldiors should be carried vpon the wagon and cart-horses and that such as were not able to stay themselues should be holden vp by other of more strength riding behind them vpon the buttocks of the horse In fiue to colour the matter they which were so desirous to go said that this their manner of departure grounded vpon good reason was not to be accounted a shamefull flight as some would tearme it but a right honest and necessarie manner of retiring for as much as they were stronger than their enemies in horsemen and equall also if not stronger in footmen although they were sore weakned with sicknesse Whilest these things were in counsell diuersly discoursed and the resolution set downe as is before said the matter was brought to this passe that euerie captaine with troubled judgement conceiued in himselfe secret cogitations far from the common good and without regard of shame and dishonour bethought himselfe how he might betake himselfe to flight the vncertaine hope of desired life On the contrarie part Mahometes vsing most certaine spies and aduertised euerie houre of all the distresses of the Christians and thereby presaging his future victorie did by most diligent watch and troupes of horsemen besetting the passages farre and neere most vigilantly attend euerie motion in the Christian campe of purpose that when the armie should rise and set forward he after his wonted manner might in the straits fit for his purpose set vpon them being deuided and dispersed one from another as they must needs in those troublesome passages for he had so placed his horsemen and footmen in the knowne tracts of those woods that he had shut vp the Christians as it were in a toile It was now almost midnight and the armie taking no rest so carefully expected the signe of setting forward that euerie little delay seemed to most men both tedious and dangerous so that many great captaines vpon a cowardly conceit would stay no longer but hasted to depart and to go before the rest without any leaue of the Generall The beginning of this mischieuous departure is reported to haue been begun by the common Hungarian horsmen which knowing the passages and waies thorow the woods made most hast to WALPO Ladislaus Mâ—rcus dishonourably following their example went the other way to his castle ZENTHVERZEBETH After them followed in great hast the Stirian horsemen without regard of shame led by Iohn Hanganot their Generall who was appointed to haue guarded the rearward Symon bishop of ZAâ—HAâ—IA fled in like manner knowne by his great lanterne wandring in the wood yet with lesse shame than the rest because he being a clergie man thought it not to belong to his vocation to put on armes or to go into battell In the meane time it was fearefully told to Cazzianâ—r That the Hungarian horsemen were fled and that Ladislaus and Hunganot with the Sâ—irian troupes were gone also and that all the rest of the armie not expecting the appointed signall were in like manner vpon flying With which report the cowardly and dismaied Generall waâ— so â—â—rrified that he presently got to horse quite forgetting the signall he should haue giuen for that he thought all the rest as he afterwards said to haue been gone before and as he was vnarmed betooke himselfe to flight leauing behind him for hast his tent stored with plate and other rich furniture In this tumult of them which so disorderly fled Lodronius that famous captaine was called vp and told by his seruants that the Generall was fled and gone to whom he answered againe without doubt it cannot be so that I should be so shamefully and perfidiously betraied of him and so as a man megred with long watching painfull labour laid himselfe downe againe to sleepe Not long after Mahometes hearing the stir that was in the campe rise with his Turks to assaile his enemies yet to be better assured what the enemie did he thought it good to stay for day light causing his men to stand still in order of battell and with wonderfull silence to expect the signe of setting forward which was giuen by the soft sound of a horsemans drum passing thorow euerie companie For the old captaine acquainted with many battels against the Christians doubting of their faigned flight would not vnaduisedly be drawne into battell but in a place commodious for his souldiours as one before â—ully set downe after his wonted manner to performe that seruice not by the hazard of one set battell but by dallying off the time with often
be brought vnto him by the receiuers he with his owne hand rewarded the souldiors some with gold some with siluer according to their deserts And causing all the prisoners which were not common souldiors to be brought forth he diligently viewed them and presently caused euery one of their names and the office they bare to be enrolled by his clarkes and vnto such as brought in the heads eares or hands of the Christians with rings vpon them he forthwith caused one reward or other to be giuen Lodronius when as by reason of his deadly wounds he was thought vnable to endure trauell or to be brought aliue with the other prisoners to CONSTANTINOPLE was slaine by his keepers and his head afterwards sent thither For as many noble gentlemen and amongst others Laurentius Streiperg and Dietmarus Losenstaine haue reported who raunsomed afterwards returned home againe to their wiues and children amongst the prisoners which were together with the faire ensignes and other gallant warlike furniture especially gilt amour and headpeeces presented by Mahometes his messengers to Solyman three of the greatest captaines heads were in a siluer bason there seene and knowne which were the heads of Paulus Bachitius the valiant Hungarian captaine Antius Macer Generall of the Carinthian horsemen and Lodronius Generall of the footmen which after the tyrant had looked asquint vpon as abhorring that loathsome sight hee with sterne countenance commaunded all the prisoners to be slaine But vpon the intercession of the Ianizaries who intreated for them as valiant men to whom they had at the time of their taking giuen their faith and might afterwards doe him good seruice he chaunged his countenance and saued many of them But Cazzianer flying to his owne castle was of all men accused as a wicked forsaker of his owne campe and ensignes and commonly railed vpon as the eternall infamie of his countrey and author of the publike calamitie so that it was reported that he durst neither go abroad nor shew his face for shame He was so generally hated that infamous libels made against him and the other captaines which had shamefully fled as he did were commonly sung in the streets by boyes in all the cities of GERMANIE Wherewith he was so much grieued that he requested of king Ferdinand that he might safely come to the court to answere whatsoeuer could be laid against him which his request the king easily graunted and when he came to the court receiued him with doubtfull countenance But when the hearing of his cause was by the king somewhat longer protracted than he would haue had it and he in the meane time kept vnder safe custodie impatient of such delay and halfe doubtfull whether he should be quitted or condemned thought it better to flie than to abide the triall So faigning himselfe sicke and scraping vp by little and little with his knife a bricke pauement vnder his bed and so in the night getting out first one bricke and after that another at length brake thorow the vault and with his sheets letting himselfe downe escaped hauing post horses readie for him without the castle Not long after as he was a man of a hastie and vnconstant nature despairing of his estate he fled to the Turkes Mahometes gladly receiuing him and beside his great entertainement promising him the gouernment of all CROATIA in manner of a tributarie king if he would faithfully serue Solyman and helpe him in the subduing of the cities of AVSTRIA After he had agreed vpon all the conditions of his reuolt that he might returne to Mahometes with some more credit he began boldly to deale with Nicholaus Sirenus a noble man of CROATIA and his deere friend as he supposed to reuolt with him assuring him that Solyman would deale as kindly with them both as he had before with king Iohn in the kingdome of HVNGARIE Sirenus promised him he would or at least made as if he promised to do what he desired and so agreed as it were vpon the matter promising to goe ouer with him to the Turke with a troupe of his best and most trustie horsemen But Sirenus considering with himselfe the heinousnesse and impietie of so great an offence changing his purpose chose rather to deale trecherously with his old friend fearing no such thing in his house than to offend both against God and his prince Wherefore after he had well feasted Cazzianer at his house he as a most cruell hoast caused him to be slaine and sent his head to king Ferdinand in reward whereof he receiued of the kings gift Cazzianer his castle with all his substance In the meane time the Venetians prouoked by the Turks with diuers injuries both by sea and land when as Solyman but a little before hardly besieging CORCYRA and with most barbarous crueltie wasting the island had broken the league and euen then by his lieutenant Cassimes Bassa besieged EPIDAVRVS and NAVPLIVM two of their cities in PELOPONESVS resolued without delay to make warres likewise vpon him who for a small trespas would admit no excuse or recompence Wherunto they were also animated both by Charles the emperour and Paulus the great Bishop who warned by the late and dangerous attempts of Solyman and Barbarussa thought it more for the safetie of their estates by giuing aid to the Venetians to keepe the Turks busied farther off than to suffer them to acquaint themselues too much with the ports of ITALIE or SICILIA Wherefore all the Winter following they laboured by their embassadours to set downe what number and what manner of ships what souldiours what money was to be prouided and how to be according to their estates apportioned for the setting forth of a strong fleet against the next Summer to be sent into GRaeCIA against the Turks At last it was agreed amongst these confederat princes by their embassadours at ROME That the emperour should furnish and set forth fourescore and two gallies the Venetians the like number and the bishop six and thirtie to make vp the number of two hundred gallies that the Venetians should lend vnto the bishop so many gallies readie rigged as he should desire to be furnished by him with marriners and souldiors and that the emperour and the state of GENVA should find sufficient shipping for the transportation of the land forces and victuall The Generals also of this great fleet to be set forth were at the same time appointed Andreas Auria for the emperour Vincentius Capellus for the Venetians and Marcus Grimmanus patriarch of AQVILBA for the Bishop to whom was joyned Paulus Iustinianus one of the cheefe Senators a man of great experience in sea matters It was also agreed that Ferdinand Gonzaga viceroy of SICILIE should haue the commaunding of the land forces and that whatsoeuer was got from the Turks in that expedition in GRaeCIA the Islands or DALMATIA should be all faithfully deliuered to the Venetians who had receiued so many injuries from the Turks The emperour also
king Iohn thought it now a fit time for him to recouer againe the kingdome of HVNGARIE which he had so long desired Whereunto he was also the more prickt forward by the persuasion of Alexius Torso Ferentius Gnarus Petrus Bachit Balthazar Pamphilus Erancus Capolnâ—tes Ianus Castellamphus and Casparus Seredus all noblemen or gentlemen of great account in HVNGARIE who in the former troubles following the part of king Perdinand against king Iohn liued now in exile these all with one consent told king Ferdinand That now or neuer was the time when they might be againe restored vnto their countrey with honor and that the warre might that Autumn be dispatched if he would make hast for as much as Winter comming fast on would stay the comming of the Turks and such noble men of HVNGARIE as tooke part with the queene did not verie well agree togither being vnwilling to be commaunded by George the Apostata monke who as they said with great cunning and dissimulation seducing the queene and possessing the treasure enjoyed all alone the power of a king and that they which for taking part with the right had long liued as banished men might now safely returne into their countrey and be honourably preferred by the queene the Bishop which all commaunded assuring them thereof if they would returne vnto the young kings court vnto their friends and auntient houses But they had as they said before giuen their faith vnto him as to a vertuous and faithfull prince whom they had preferred before one that was an Hungarian borne wherefore he should doe both vnaduisedly and vnkindly if letting slip the occasion presented he should deferre to make warre For what could be more dishonour to him so great a king and also emperour elect than by shamefull delay to forsake them being noble and valiant gentlemen which had followed his part and were then readie with strong troupes of horsemen to doe him the best seruice they could The German captaines in like manner persuaded him to take the matter in hand who as martiall men expecting some one preferment some another in the armie were desirous of honour pay and prey the chiefe comforts of their trauell and perill But Laschus the Polonian who in matters concerning peace and warre saw more than all they as he that knew the disposition of many princes and had seene the manners and fashions of diuers nations hauing trauelled thorow a great part of the world and oftentimes beene embassadour in the courts of the greatest princes was of a contrarie opinion and told king Ferdinand plainly That the kingdome of HVNGARIE was to be obtained rather by pollicie than by force by crauing it at Solymans hand to hold it of him by tribute as king Iohn did For said he that may by petition and faire entreatance be easily obtained of that heroicall prince who in his vaine humor oftentimes fondly seeketh after honour which will neuer be got from him by force of armes I thorowly know said he Solymans hautie mind and the proud disposition of his Bassaes he contemneth wealth and is cloied with so many kingdomes but they vpon their insatiable couetousnesse and exceeding pride desire nothing nor persuade him to nothing more than warre Wherefore it is good to beware that with the noise of this sudden warre you stir not vp the Turkes which lie readie as it were expecting such an occasion which cannot be withstood but by the vnited forces of the Christian princes which might by their generall consent be done but that their eyes blinded with fatall darknesse cannot see it and the vnitie of the Christians now desperate seemeth by God reserued to some better time seeing that of late the Christian kings are fallen off and cannot agree vpon the long expected peace Is not said he the French king deceiued of his hope and as he would haue it thought greatly dishonored with this late vnkindnesse which renewing his old wound will reuiue in him an endlesse hatred Away with all dissimulations enemie vnto graue counsels and let plaine truth although vnpleasant vnto princes eares preuent flatterie Vndoubtedly he being a prince of no base courage as it oftentimes falleth out with men thorowly grieued will in his anger as an enemie powre forth his gold whereof he hath good store to crosse the emperours dessignes to trouble the assemblies of the states of GERMANIE to withdraw the minds of the princes and with bountie to gaine them to himselfe who mightily enuying the imperiall dignitie woont to be indifferently giuen to them that best deserued the same to be as it were inuested in the house of AVSTRIA which in this perpetuall succession of so many emperours hath as it were got a right by long custome Wherefore they will secretly conspire togither and as notable lingerers by nature will either giue no helpe at all or else too late at such time as the Turkes garrisons shall come flying to the succour of the young king Neither is there any cause why any man should thinke that the gouernours of the Turks countries neere at hand will for the approach of Winter be slacke in this cause for they vndoubtedly making an honest and honourable shew will take vpon them the defence of the fatherlesse child and widdow of purpose to make an entrance to the secret desire they haue to gaine the kingdome to themselues for if you shall once ioyne with them in battell if the best happen and fortune fauour our first attempts truly you shall haue war without end with such an enemie which will bring with him wealth that will neuer be spent power not to be ouercome and courageous souldiors sworne to our destruction So will it come to passe and I pray God I be a false prophet that in seeking for the kingdome of HVNGARIE by warre you shall at length be glad to fight for AVSTRIA it selfe and your owne kingdome also This speech so moued king Ferdinand that although he purposed to goe on with the warre yet he thought it good by an honourable embassage to proue Solymans mind and purpose also which to doe no man was thought fitter than Laschus himselfe author of that counsell being vnto him very well knowne and familiarly acquainted with all the great Bassaes of the court which seruice Lascus refused not but being furnished with all things needfull for such an embassage departed from VIENNA towards CONSTANTINOPLE Yet for all that king Ferdinand persisting in his former purpose made withall preparation for warres trusting vpon the aid of the emperour his brother and the comming ouer of the Hungarians who euer thought it cause honest ynough for them to reuolt if it so stood with their present profit But before he would enter into open warres he sent Nicholas countie of SALMA to the queene to shew her the instruments of the last league betwixt the king her late husband and him to exhort her to yeeld vp the kingdome which by the late league was
another mans right and not by delaying of the matter to hurt both herselfe and her sonne for king Ferdinand offered to giue vnto the child the prouince of SEPVSIA as was before agreed betwixt the two kings expressely in the league and to the queene a great reuenew and whatsoeuer else she had in dowrie But if she would forget that lawfull league he threatened that neither the emperour Charles his brother nor he wanted force wherewith to recouer by strong hand the kingdome annexed to the house of AVSTRIA both by auntient right and the new consent of most of the Hungarian nobilitie The countie SALMA being receiued at BVDA hardly obtained to be admitted to the presence of the queene for George the Bishop and Vicche mistrusting her womanlike courage said she was not to be spoken withall by reason she was so full of heauinesse and sorrow and that they were of authoritie as the kings tutors and readie to giue him both audience and answere Which opinion of her weakenesse and want of judgement the queene being a woman of an heroicall and royall spirit tooke as tending so much to her disgrace that she said she would kill her selfe if the embassadors were not permitted to come into her chamber which was a darke roome hanged with blacke as the manner is and she sitting vpon a low pallet negligently attired as one that had no care of her selfe wan and pale coloured but as then shedding no teares yet with voice and countenance so heauie as might shew her teares to be rather dried vp with long mourning than that her sorrow was any thing abated for the desire of bearing rule had now so possessed her mind that she contemned all the dangers of imminent warre and for defence of her soueraignetie resolued with her selfe to call in the Turks After the countie admitted to her presence had with due reuerence and great protestation deliuered his message she demurely answered That such was the fortune of her sex and yeares that being bereft of the king her husband and perplexed with the dayly greefes both of bodie and mind she could neither take nor giue counsell but purposed in so weightie a cause to vse the aduice of Sigismund her father whose integritie and justice was such as king Ferdinand needed no other judge or arbitrator to end that controuersie Wherefore she requested a conuenient time and space wherein she might aske counsell of her father to whose just judgement she said she would stand as she thought the nobilitie of HVNGARIE would also Which small time of delay if it should be denied and that they would needs forthwith make warre vpon her she said that the emperor and king Ferdinand his brother should surely win no great honour if they should come to oppugne her a widdow consumed with teares and a young child yet crying in his cradle The countie so sent away when he was returned to king Ferdinand told him That the queene was altogether in the power of the Bishop and could neither say nor doe any thing but what she had before receiued from him for he only as he said commaunded all as for the rest of the nobilitie they shared amongst them the honours and preferments of the realme and as men desirous of credit and gaine had rather be the gouernours of the young prince than the seruants and waiters of a great and mightie forraine king all which he said he had both heard and seene Wherefore all the hope was in warre wherein such speed was to be vsed as that the queene with her sonne vnprouided and expecting the euent of their embassage from CONSTANTINOPLE might be driuen out of BVDA before they could take vp armes or well aduise themselues what to doe and that the queene sought delay but to make her selfe the stronger and in the meane time to call in the Turke and so to make a more dangerous warre Wherefore if euer he purposed to reigne in HVNGARIE he should forthwith cast off all other cogitations and make readie his forces with all speed possible Hereupon king Ferdinand furnished with money from Charles the emperour without delay raised a great armie which he sent downe the riuer Danubius to STRIGONIVM which citie had all the reigne of king Iohn continued faithfull to king Ferdinand The Generall of this armie was Leonardus Velsius a nobleman of RHETIA who for many causes thought it expedient first to open the way to BVDA for almost in the middle of the way stood VICEGRADE with a goodly castle vpon the top of an hill by the riuer side which towne but not the castle Velsius after nine dayes siege tooke with the losse of about two hundred of his men all the garrison souldiors therein being either slaine or taken prisoners with Valentinus Litteratus their captaine From VICEGRADE he passed ouer the riuer Danubius to PESTH which he tooke being forsaken of the enemie With like successe he tooke the citie of VACIA without losse and remoouing thence and crossing againe the riuer with his fleet came and encamped before BVDA so to terrifie the citisens and to discouer as farre as he could the purpose of the queene Where Perenus Stephanus Rascaius and Franciscus Francopanes bishop of AGRIA all men of great nobilitie amongst the Hungarians reuolted from the queene to king Ferdinand the Bishop was reputed for a man of great integritie and vpon meere conscience to haue gone ouer to Ferdinand yet was he by letters from George the kings tutor challenged to haue reuolted in hope by meanes of Charles the emperour to be made a Cardinall Velsius lay with his armie at the hot bathes about a mile and a halfe from the citie as if he would rather besiege it than assault it The Germanes lying there did fetch in bootie round about the country which was taken in euill part by the Hungarians on their side who seeing their owne cattell or their friends driuen away the villages burnt and the poore husbandmen bound and taken prisoners fell together by the eates oftentimes with the Germanes On the other side they of BVDA sending out their troupes of horsemen skirmished with the Germanes if they did but stirre out of the campe and well defended the villages from the injurie of the enemie for Valentinus Thuraccus Generall of the queenes power had taken into the citie a wonderfull number of light horsemen Whilest the armie lay thus encamped it fortuned that Balthasar Pamphilus a noble Hungarian straying out of the campe euen to the gates of BVDA desired the warders at the gate to giue him leaue to talke with Valentinus their Generall for that he desired to see his old friend and to conferre with him of certaine matters concerning the good of the common state Which thing being graunted by the Generall he was immediatly receiued into the citie with his troupe of horsemen Shortly after returning againe into the campe he reported how he had beene entertained by his old acquaintance in the
those countries were not many euerie man almost in the countrey be he neuer so poore keeping a horse to serue vpon Maylat beset with the multitude of his enemies and finding himselfe too weake to encounter them despairing also of aid from king Ferdinand whom he knew to be busied in a greater warre forsooke the field and fled againe into the strong towne of FOGARAS as he had done the yeare before when he was ouercharged by king Iohn his power for there as in a most strong place both by nature and fortification he had laid vp his greatest substance and prouision for the wars but especially the rich spoile he had long before taken from Grittus Achomates comming thâ—â—her with his power and perceiuing the place was not to be battered or taken by force but with much labour and long time thought it best to assay if he could ouercome him by craft and deceit Wherefore he sent a messenger vnto Maylat to persuade him to yeeld himselfe vnto Solyman and to make choise rather to be called of him his friend than to be judged his enemie of whom he might well hope of all goodnesse which had giuen whole kingdomes vnto his enemies promising that he would vse the vttermost of his credit which was not small and labour for him as his friend that he might feele the fruit of his clemencie and bountie and still enjoy the gouernment of TRANSILVANIA paying him some small yearely tribute as he had before requested for as much as he could take no course better being beset with so many enemies than to make his peace vpon reasonable conditions and that with as much speed as were possible in which doing besides that he should well prouide for his owne safetie he should also saue both his wealth and honour for Solyman was comming as he said with his victorious armie who would with assured death reuenge his vaine hope of holding out the siege if he should vpon a stubborne and obstinate mind then refuse to obay his commaund Whereunto Maylat who foresaw that it was better for him to make a certaine peace than to endure an vncertaine warre answered That he could be content to conclude a peace so that it were not vpon any hard conditions and would not greatly refuse Solymans commaund which was wont to be both reasonable and just wherefore vpon sufficient pledges he would come into the campe in presence to agree vpon the conditions of the peace and demaunded to haue Achomates his sonne a valiant young gentleman deliuered in hostage Which thing Achomates denied for that he had as he said before giuen him to Solyman as the manner was and therefore had ouer him no more power but he promised for him that was but one to giue foure of his best captaines Which offer Maylat misdoubting no deceit accepted and with a great and gallant retinue attended vpon came into the enemies campe where he was courteously and honourably receiued But the parley as it could not be conueniently begun immediatly after their first salutation so could it by no meanes be then ended but was deferred vntill the next day to the intent that the treacherous Moldauian might take his well acquainted and well knowne guest whom he had against that time inuited to a solemne banquet By that meanes the next day about the middest of dinner fortune so fauouring the intended treacherie Maylat who was of so proud and cholericke a nature that he could not well brooke the least indignitie was by occasion of some insolent speech of purpose ministred by the Moldauian guests put into such a fret that laying his hand vpon his sword he in a rage flung from the table at which time all the other guests starting vp also laid hands vpon him and tooke him fuming and in vaine crying out that he was shamefully betraied His followers were all forthwith stript of all their brauerie by the needie Moldauians and their horses and armour taken from them Whilest Maylat was yet furiously exclaiming of this treason in came Achomates who to seeme guiltlesse of the matter with deepe dissimulation sharpely reproued the false Moldauian that he had in doing so foule a fact shamefully violated the lawes of hospitalitie reuerenced of all nations falsified the faith which he had giuen him for his safetie and betraied the liues of such notable captaines as lay in hostage for him Whereunto the Moldauian as if it had been in contempt scornfully answered That he had vpon good cause taken Maylat prisoner and so would in safetie keepe him for Solyman vnto whom it onely belonged to judge whether he had justly or vnjustly detained him Not long after the strong towne of FOGARIS was deliuered with the hostages but whether by feare or by corruption of Maylats lieutenant is vncertaine So Valentinus Turaccus and Maylat two of the greatest noble men of HVNGARIE sufficient of themselues to haue restored the Hungarian kingdome first rent in sunder with ciuile discord and afterward with the inuasion of the Turkes fell into the hands of the enemie not vanquished in battell but deceiued by treason The towne being thus surrendred almost all the countrey of TRANSILVANIA was by Solymans consent deliuered to the young king vnto whom all the people most willingly submitted themselues and tooke the oath of obedience remembring that his father had almost for thirtie yeares space with great justice and quietnesse gouerned that prouince and with manie presents honoured the young king lying in LIPPA with the queene his mother and his two tutors the bishop and Vicche At the same time Charles the emperour at the importunat sute of his subjects of SPAINE had prepared a great force both by sea and land for the conquering of ALGIERS from whence the Turkish pirats did so infest all that coast of the countrey from GADES to the mountaines PYRENEI that the Spaniards all trade of merchandise being set apart were glad to keepe continuall watch and ward all alongst that coast for defence of the countrey Wherefore although he well knew of the comming of the Turks to BVDA and how hardly he was by the Lantgraue and others spoken of for leauing his brother so hardly bestead to go against a sort of pirats in AFFRICKE yet persisting in his former determination he departed out of GERMANIE into ITALIE where by the way hee was met by Octauius Farnesius his sonne in law Alphonsus Vastius his lieutenant by the Venetian embassadours neere to VERONA and so brought to MILLAINE where he was with great solemnitie joyfully receiued of the citisens and vnder a canopie of gold brought vnto the pallace he himselfe going in a plaine blacke cloake and a homely cap in mourning wise when as the women and vulgar people vpon a curious simplicitie expected to haue seene so great an emperour in his royall robes glistering with gold and pretious stone and the imperiall crowne vpon his head His heauie countenance answerable also to his attire was
any thing of the fleet fell into the bay amongst them before they were aware the bigger whereof Viscontes Cicada stemmed with his gallie and sunke him the other with wonderfull celeritie got into the hauen In the meane time Mendoza with his gallies had passed the promontorie of Apollo now called the cape of CASSINEVS and in token of honour saluting the emperour after the manner at sea with all his great Ordinance gaue him knowledge that the Spanish fleet was not farre behind In this fleet was aboue a hundred tall ships of BISCAY and the low countries and of other smaller vessels a farre greater number In these ships besides the footmen was embarked a great number of braue horsemen out of all parts of SPAINE for many noble gentlemen had voluntarily of their own charge gallantly furnished themselues with braue armour and courageous horses to serue their prince and countrey against the Infidels Ouer these choice men commaunded Ferdinand of TOLEDO duke of ALBA for his approoued valour then accounted a famous captaine These ships going altogether with sailes were not yet able to double the cape as did Mendoza with his gallies for now it was a dead calme howbeit the billow of the sea went yet high by reason of the rage of the late tempest and did so beat against the plaine shore that it was not possible to land the souldiors but that they must needs be washed vp to the middle which thing the emperour thought it not good to put them vnto and so to oppose them seasicke and thorow wet against the sudden and desperat assaults of their fierce enemies He also stayed for the comming of the Spanish ships for two causes first that he might with his vnited power more strongly assault the citie and terrifie the enemie then to communicat the whole glorie of the action with the Spaniards at whose request and forwardnesse and greatest charge he had vndertaken that warre Which fatall delay of two dayes although it was grounded vpon good reason did not onely disturbe an assured victorie but to the notable hurt of the whole armie opened a way to all the calamities which afterwards ensued In the meane while the emperour sent a conuenient messenger to Asanagas otherwise and more truly called Assan-Aga or Assan the eunuch who with a little flag of truce in his hand making signe of parley and answered by the Moores with like as their manners is went on shore and was of them courteously receiued and brought to Assan This Assan was an eunuch borne in SARDINIA brought vp from his youth in the Mahometane superstition by Barbarussa a man both politicke and valiant and by him left for the keeping of his kingdome of ALGIERS in his absence with Solyman This messenger brought into his presence required him forthwith to deliuer the citie first surprised by force and trecherie by Horruccius and afterwards to the destruction of mankind fortified by Hariadenus Barbarussa his brother to Charles the mightie emperour come in person himselfe to be reuenged on those horrible pyrats which if he would doe it should be lawfull for the Turks to depart whether they would and for the naturall Moores to abide still with their goods and religion wholly reserued vnto them vntouched as in former time and for himselfe he should receiue of the emperour great rewards both in time of peace and warres so that he would remember himselfe that he was born in SARDINIA and was once a Christian and accept of the fairest occasion which could possibly be offered for him to returne againe to the worshipping of the true God and to enjoy the fauour and bountie of the most mightie emperour and withall to reuenge himselfe of the cruell tyrant Barbarussa for the vnnaturall villanie done vnto his person But if he would needs dallie on the time and make proofe of the strength of so great a preparation he should vndoubtedly with the rest of his followers receiue the same reward of his obstinacie which they had to the example of others receiued at TVNES Wherunto the vngratious eunuch answered That he thought him altogether mad that would follow his enemies counsell and with a grinning countenance asked him Vpon what hope the emperour trusted to be able to win the citie the messenger pointing with his finger directly to the fleet told him That which you see with his great artillerie and valour of his souldiors both horse and foot Whereat the eunuch scornefully laughing replied And we with like force and valour will defend this citie and make this place alreadie famous for your ouerthrowes here twice now the third time of all others most famous by the emperours discomfiture It is reported that there was in ALGIERS an old witch famous for her predictions who had as it was said foretold the shipwrackes and miserie of Didaco Verra and Hugo Moncada to them of ALGIERS and also prefixed a time when as the Christian emperour aduenturing to besiege that citie should there receiue great losse both by sea and land The fame of which blind prophecie seruing fitly to confirme the hope of good successe in the minds of the vulgar multitude Assan so fed and augmented although hee himselfe being a craftie wise fellow beleeued no such vanitie that he did therewith not only encourage his owne souldiors but also strucke a terror into the minds of the weaker sort of his enemies seeing themselues cast vpon so dangerous a coast vpon the approch of Winter There was in garrison in the citie but eight hundred Turkes and most of them horsemen but such as whose valour and resolution farre exceeded their number For Assan had lost many of his best men some in fight against Mendoza and othersome at sea slaine or taken by Auria in CORSICA and in other places by the Rhodian Neapolitane and Sicilian gallies but many moe were by his leaue gone to aid the Moores against the Portingals the other multitude did scarce make vp the number of fiue thousand which were partly naturall Moores borne in that countrey and partly such as were born in GRANADO to whom was joyned many fugitiues out of the islands of MAIORCA and MINORCA who in former time hauing entred into rebellion and fearing condigne punishment were fled to ALGIERS and there reuolted to the Mahometane superstition But the captaines of the wild Numidians made vp a great number both of horse and foot which lying stragling without the citie in the open fields should night and day vex and molest the Christians This brutish people naturally enemies vnto the Christians had Assan with rewards and hope of a rich spoile allured out of the countries thereabout to aid him neither was it lawfull for any man to carrie his wife or children out of the citie into places of more safetie farther off or to shew any small token of feare paine of death being by the imperious eunuch proposed to whosoeuer should but looke heauily for feare of danger or speake a
should forsake the siege or continue it still whereof most of the Germanes best liked to be gone as the safest way though Vitellius some others spake earnestly to the contrarie At which time a spie comming in brought newes that Achomates Solymans lieutenant of the Europeian horsemen had passed ouer the riuer Sauus at BELGRADE and was comming to Dranus whose comming either cunningly fained or vainly beleeued caused the Germanes to make a short conclusion and to resolue flatly to returne to VIENNA fearing that if they should longer continue the siege they should be stayed against their wils by Achomates Which thing made many of the old Germane souldiors to hang their heads for shame and the Hungarians to curse both the Germanes and the hard fortune of their nation vainely wishing for a Generall in courage answerable to the strength of that great armie Segemenes perceiuing how much the Christian armie was discouraged by the last dayes euill successe early in the morning courageously sent out all the horsemen and after them certaine companies of footmen to relieue them in their retire who in many places skirmished with the Hungarians being nothing inferiour vnto them either in courage or skill and the matter was brought to that passe as if it had beene so agreed vpon that many of the most notable and expert souldiours on either side encountered together hand to hand in the sight of the Italians and Germanes the Hungarians mixt with the Turks and the Turkes with the Hungarians with such fidelitie that they regarded no other enemie but him whom euery one had singled out for himselfe as if it had beene in a triumph for exercise hand to hand It happened that a notable captaine of the Turks desired to see Vitellius who being shewed vnto him for he was easie to be knowne by his armour the Turke ran vnto him to embrace him for his honour and so departed About fiue hundred horsemen so encountered one another hand to hand that day of whom many were slaine or hurt The night following the batterie was remoued and the armie marched towards the riuer to the fleet The Turks perceiuing the Christians to be departed sallied out of the citie on all hands and with a great crie vpbraiding them of cowardise hardly pursued the rereward of the armie Vlamas was come ouer himselfe from BVDA and so eagerly followed the armie that it could hardly haue escaped without great danger had not Vitellius with his Italians made a stand and requested the Hungarian German horsemen to turne backe vpon the enemie which they at his request did and not onely repulsed the enemie but also put him to flight and in the chase slew many After which time the armie passed on quietly yet seuen hundred Germanes which were sicke and stragled behind the armie were by the Turks horsemen miserably slaine in the sight of their fellowes The Germans thrice foiled by the Turks first at EXEK then at BVDA and now at PESTH returned full of heauinesse and greefe as they which were now to forget the subduing of HVNGARIE and to become carefull of GERMANIE it selfe The armie comming to VIENNA was there broken vp and the Italians sent home into their countrey who for most part died by the way of infection taken in the campe in strange aire and a most queasie time of the yeare But to couer the shame of this vnfortunat expedition and to turne mens talke another way by some notable accident Petrus Perenus the noble Hungarian was the man pickt out for the purpose to fill mens mouthes He belayed with the enuie of the court was for suspition of aspiring to the kingdome of HVNGARIE by the commaundement of king Ferdinand apprehended by Liscanus a Spanish captaine in the castle of STRIGONIVM as a traitor and presently deliuered to Medices the Admirall to be conueyed vp the riuer to VIENNA Liscanus at the time of his apprehension most couetously and vncourteously tooke from him his chaine and a rich cloke lined with sables which indignitie done to so noble a gentleman so much offended the minds of the rest of the Hungarians that aboue twelue thousand of them thereupon presently returned home to their owne dwellings cursing the Germanes to the diuell This Perenus was one of the greatest peeres of HVNGARIE but of a most haughtie and magnificent mind so that hee would sometime haue almost an hundred goodly spare horses fit for seruice led before him without their riders would sometime speake too liberally against the barenesse of king Ferdinands court who polled by his courtiers hardly maintained his state which his surpassing magnificence and princely port was cause ynough for the other great courtiers to enuie at his estate and to seeke his ouerthrow who as men ouercharged with the burthen of another mans vertue wherof they neuer bore the least part and alwayes gaining by the deprauing of other mens perfection conspired together his ouerthrow and oftentimes pointing at him with their fingers would say That he sauoured of a crowne This notable man as he had many worthie vertues so was he not without cause noted of ambition and vnconstancie For after that king Lewes was lost he disdaining the preferment of Iohn the Vayuod to the kingdome of HVNGARIE tooke part with king Ferdinand against him in hope as it was thought to be next in honour vnto himselfe but after he saw king Iohn againe restored and his state strongly supported by Solyman and that all things stood doubtfull and tickle with Ferdinand he with like leuitie sought meanes by Abraham the great Bassa to be reconciled to king Iohn which was hardly obtained of him by the intercession of Solyman himselfe as is before declared to whom he gaue his sonne as pledge of his fidelitie After which time he liued in great honour and loyaltie all the raigne of king Iohn but after he was dead and saw George the bishop the kings tutor doing what he list to raigne like a king he disdained his gouernment and sollicited by king Ferdinand reuolted again vnto him and furthered him in what he could for the obtaining of the kingdome But now falling into the enuie of the court mallice found out matter ynough to worke his confusion First it was giuen out That his sonne who had many yeares beene detained in Solymans court as pledge of his fathers faith was euen then vnder the colour of a faigned escape come into TRANSILVANIA when as he had secretly agreed with Solyman that his father being a man much fauoured of the people should by promising them all possible freedome allure them to the Turkish subjection in reward of which good seruice he should be made gouernor of the kingdome of HVNGARIE and put in hope also to be made the tributarie king thereof if it should fortune the yong king to die Besides that it was accounted a thing very suspitious that hee had the Winter before vsed great kindnesse and friendship toward the
Turkish captaines by sending them great presents and receiuing the like againe And last of all his letters directed to certaine Hungarian captaines 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 owne disposition not easily to be persuaded to conceiue euill of the Germanes his countreymen were it neuer so apparant or true but of strangers any thing quickly beleeued and therefore caused him as is beforesaid to be apprehended But Perenus as he was brought by Medices the Admirall to VIENNA when he was come neere vnto the gate of the citie and heard that Phillippus Torniellus with certaine other braue captaines of his acquaintance were come to meet the Admirall he requested that the close coach wherein he rid might be opened and that he might haue leaue to speake to those noble and valiant gentlemen Which thing was easily graunted for that the nobilitie and approoued valour of the man seemed vnto them which had the charge of him vnworthie of such restraint of libertie or imprisonment yea or of the least suspition thereof So he turning himselfe towards them spake vnto them in this sort Wretched I noble gentlemen said he whom despightfull enuie hath circumuented guiltlesse but much more miserable king Ferdinand whom domesticall theeues bereaues of substance friends and honour all at once For so it commeth to passe that by this inconsider at wrong done vnto me he shall vtterly lose the loue and fidelitie of the Hungarian nation and may therefore for euer not without cause despaire for the obtaining of the kingdome of HVNGARIE sithence that it is not lawfull for me inferiour to none of my nation in birth and hauing for my good and faithfull seruice well deserued reward of a iust king so much as to reioice for the deliuerance of my sonne from the captiuitie of the Turks but that by my sinister fortune dreadfull death in stead of incomparable ioy must be presented to mine eyes For will these malicious pick-thanks guiltie of their owne cowardise the wicked contriuers and witnesses of my wrongfull accusation spare me being laid fast and in durance which neuer spared the kings honour For euerie man of what nobilitie soeuer be he neuer so guiltlesse when he is once in hold must be content to endure not what he hath deserued but what his hard fortune assigneth Yet my vpright mind and cleare consâ—ience which onely thing God the most iust iudge leaueth as a comfort to men in miserie wrongfully accused deliuereth me of this care and so will the Marquesse our Generall to whom I before vpon a mistrust foretold that such a danger would shortly befall me and that I had rather be slaine guiltlesse than to withdraw my selfe from triall which thing I told him at such time as I was so guarded with mine owne strength that I feared no mans force I beseech you doe me this honourable fauor as to request king Ferdinand in my behalfe quickly and honourably to proceed to the triall of my cause and according to his owne princely disposition and not the will of others to discerne betwixt his faithfull friends and faigned flatterers Truly wee are too too vnfortunat captaines if for a little euill successe we shall be so adiudged as men that had ouerthrowne their fortune Cazzianer peraduenture receiued the iust punishment hee had deserued for the shamefull forsaking and losing of the armie at EXEK when as he possessed with an vncouth feare forgot the dutie of a Generall more afraid of death than dishonour for when he had voluntarily committed himselfe to safe custodie be was so generally condemned of cowardise that despairing to defend his cause he brake prison and as wickedly as vnfortunatly reuolted to the Turkes But neither was I of late the Generall neither were we vanquished although we preuailed not but honourably retiring valiantly repressed the insolencie of the pursuing enemie As for the kingdome of HVNGARIE I might then well haue affected the same and easily haue deserued it at Solymans hands when as king Ferdinand after the death of king Iohn was making his preparation for that warre at which time my friends and followers at my deuotion with the loue of the Hungarians towards me seeming of no small importance for the obtaining of the victorie might haue ministred no vnreasonable or vnseasonable hope to haue drawne a man into courses not altogither beseeming a Christian Wherefore I haue and will so long as I liue fight against the Turkes if king Ferdinand shall shew himselfe an indifferent iudge in this accusation falsely surmised against me by the malice of mine enemies When he had made an end of speaking the Admirall courteously persuaded him to haue good hope in the clemencie of the most just king and shortly after performed his request for he and Torniellus taking the king as he was hunting entreated him to deale fauourably with Perenus For all that Perenus could not obtaine that his cause might be openly heard but was committed to safe keeping there to remaine in perpetuall prison but whether it was for the misprission of new treason or for reuenge of his old inconstancie is vncertaine Thus three the only great princes left of the Hungarian bloud equally worthie of the kingdome Valentine Maylat and Perenus snarled almost in like snares of enuie cut off all hope of raising a king to their seditious and therefore miserable countreymen when as Perenus lay too late bewailing his vnconstancie in perpetuall prison and the other two fast in chaines neere vnto the Euxine sea expected death the end of their miseries This end had the wars taken in hand against the Turks by the generall consent of the Germans in the yeare 1542 which many thought might worthily be compared with the greatest losses of those times When as king Ferdinand hauing in vaine spent a great masse of treasure the fittest stay for the imminent warre and lost the opinion before conceiued of the strength of GERMANIE had now as a weake prince and subject to injurie prouoked against him the Turkes bold enough otherwise but as then insolent for their late victories Polinus the French kings embassadour still following the Turkes court ceased not by all meanes to solicite Solyman with his gallies to aid the king his master in the inuasion of the dominions of Charles the emperour in ITALIE SICILIE and SPAINE In which sute he was so crossed by Solyman the eunuch Bassa then Vesier that he was almost in despaire of speed for the malitious eunuch being himselfe a great sea man and enuying the honor of Barbarussa who was to be imploied in that seruice sought by keeping him out of all honourable actions to diminish his former glorie and concerning the present protested openly as he sat in counsell that he saw no other cause why the Turkish emperour should to his great charge and the common danger send out such a
should be giuen Baiazet to fall into extremities if he should haue beene remoued alone Solyman to seeme indifferent commaunded them both to remoue vnto which commaund it was adjoyned that the farther they were off one from another they should be so much the neerer in mind and brotherly loue for as much as neernesse of dwelling of the Great did many times hinder their good agreement whilest by frowardnesse of officers and seruants many things are on both sides done to the grieuing of their masters and that they should in any case doe as they were commaunded and that he which stayed longest should not be free from the suspition of contempt Selymus made no long stay as he that knew a great part of all this to be done for his sake but Baiazet hung backe and being gone a little on his way stayed complaining the vnluckie prouince of AMASIA stained with the bloud of his late brother the noble Mustapha to be assigned vnto him as ominous and that he could be better contented with any prouince whatsoeuer than that where the deadly remembrance of the miserable end of the neerest to him in bloud should be euer before his eyes to the wounding of his heart Wherfore he requested that he might at least Winter in those places or els there from whence his brother was now departed but Solyman would in no wise hearken vnto him Now Selymus gone before certaine dayes journies with such troupes as his father had sent him beside his owne for feare of Baiazet who yet stayed loitering and trifling on the time suddenly returning and fetching a compasse about shewed himselfe at his brothers backe marching towards PRVSA in BITHINIA the auntient seat of the Turkish kings which he did not without the priuitie of his father who liked not of the lingering of Baiazet for what if he hauing gained the good will of the Ianizaries should haue gone either to PRVSA or directly to CONSTANTINOPLE what a danger might haue growne thereby to Selymus yea vnto the whole state in generall In this common feare Solyman thought it best for Selymus there to stay from whence they might most conueniently helpe one another if Baiazet should as was feared turn himselfe vpon either of them Yet was not Selymus so strong as to aduenture to joyne battell with his brother whom he knew readie to put all to the hazard of one day But whē Baiazet contrarie to his expectation saw Selymus behind him and that he had got nothing by his long delay but that his brother should be the vndoubted heire of the empire if his father should die which was then by reason of his sickly constitution of bodie daily more and more feared he writ vnto his father accusing his brother that he could not more manifestly in any thing declare how maliciously he was affected towards him than by taking that indirect course to no other purpose but to aspire vnto the empire and to haue a short cut ouer to CONSTANTINOPLE if he should haue any newes of his fathers death which he still gaped after which his longing if his fathers longer life should delay then by the secret ministers of his treason to dispatch him and by the murdering of him to possesse himselfe of the empire and yet neuerthelesse this man as a most dutifull and obedient sonne to be of him much made of and as it were put in his bosome Wheras he on the contrarie part meaning well into whose conceit neuer any such thought came but was euer at commaund was not had in any regard but cast off and contemned whose greatest request was but to shun an vnfortunat ominous prouince After that he conuerted his stile to prayers requesting againe of his father to gratifie him with some other prouince if it were but that from which his brother was departed or with any other whatsoeuer so that it were more luckie than that of AMASIA for answere whereof he said he would stay where he was to the end that finding fauour in his request he should not haue need further to retire but if he should not obtaine his request that then he was readie to goe whether soeuer his father should command It was not altogether for nought that Baiazet found fault with AMASIA being the manner of the Turks of the smallest things of all to diuine vpon the greatest But Solyman vnderstood the matter otherwise who not ignorant of his sonnes teares knew right well that he in them sought for nothing els but a more commodious place for him to raise new stirres in than was AMASIA so farre distant from CONSTANTINOPLE So Baiazet by many delayes did what he could to frustate his fathers appointment ceasing not in the meane time to augment his strength with new souldiors to prouide armour money and whatsoeuer els seruing for defence of himselfe and the impugning of his brother Which Solyman tooke in no other part than as intended against his owne person yet would he seeme as not to haue any such vnderstanding of the matter for why the warie old sire would not by taking knowledge thereof driue headlong his sonne who was alreadie running too fast of himselfe Besides that he was not ignorant that the eyes of all nations were bent vpon this discord of his two sonnes and therefore he desired by all meanes that these grudges might bee with as little stirre as was possible appeased Wherefore he answered Baiazet courteously That concerning his gouernment of AMASIA he could not alter it as resolutely set downe as well for his brother as himselfe and that therefore they should doe well to go◠both to their appointed places as he had before commaunded As for the rest they should be of good comfort for that he would take such order as that neither of them should haue just cause to complaine Partau Bassa the fourth of the great Bassaes of the court was appointed to goe with this message to Baiazet and Mehemet third of the same great Bassaes with like charge to Selymus because the matter should seeme to be done with all indifferencie and both of these great men commaunded not to depart from them they were sent vnto before they were both come vnto the places of their gouernment whereunto they were assigned Which Solyman wisely did to keepe them both within the compasse of dutie by the presence of such two graue counsellors Which thing Selymus tooke in good part but Baiazet not so who hauing resolued with himselfe to set all on a hurly burly thought nothing more vnfit for his designes than to haue one of his fathers greatest counsellors still at his elbow as Censor of all his speeches and doings wherefore hauing courteously entertained him rewarded him according to his abilitie he dismissed him though vnwilling to depart making this excuse That he would vse him as his patrone and defendour with his father for as much as he had no other in court to defend his cause promising not to be vnto him an
so many nations ouer whom he lorded but that there were many wearie of the present state and so desirous of nouelties vnto whom nothing could chance more fitting than the comming of Baiazet a noble and valiant young gentleman and that more was desperatly set that as yet he himselfe might of right rather seeme in the power of his guest than he in his And that therefore he was to alter the matter and not longer to entertaine him as his guest but to coupe him vp as a most dangerous wild beast Which to doe the easiest way was to disperse his power and so to take him vnawares for that he could not without much bloudshed be openly taken in the middest of his strength especially by the daintie Persian of long time not vsed to warre and as yet not come togither against Baiazets souldiors men of great actiuitie and experience So was the matter cunningly imparted vnto him for the dispersing of his forces and all the commodities to ensue thereof alleadged which Baiazet might not well gainsay although many of his wise followers men of great reach did shrewdly suspect the sequell But what could he refuse vpon whom necessitie lay so heauie where no other hope was left where he liued as it pleased another man and that againe to where once to doubt of the fidelitie of his hoast might be imputed to him for the greatest treacherie So these most valiant souldiors the poore princes faithfull followers neuer againe to see one another are dispersed into diuers countrey villages and bestowed where the Persians thought good Not many daies after at a time pickt out for the purpose they in number few and dispersed in a strange countrey were inclosed by many and slaine their horses armour apparell and whatsoeuer else became a prey vnto the murtherers At the same instant was Baiazet and his sonnes cast in bonds also and that to his greater griefe as many report taken as he was sitting merrily at dinner at the kings table The Persian king seemed to haue foreseene much in this his hard dealing with Baiazet as if that he being a valiant and couragious young prince and much better souldior than his brother should haue succeeded his father in his empire much trouble and perill might haue growen thereby both to himselfe and his kingdome And that it stood farre better with the safetie of his estate that Selymus a man wholy giuen to voluptuousnesse and ease should raigne ouer the Turkes in whose time he might as it were promise vnto himselfe all peace and securitie and therefore it was thought that he would neuer let Baiazet go aliue out of his hand but rather make him away in prison as if he had there died for melancholy and griefe Well he was assured that after he had slaine his followers and imprisoned himselfe and his sonnes hee would neuer be friends with him that had so notably wronged him Baiazet 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 solemne embassadour vnto the Turke with presents namely curious tents costly carpets an Alcoran containing the mysteries of their superstition and certaine strange beasts The cause of his comming was pretended to be for a reconciliation to be made betweene Solyman and his sonne which embassadour was honourably entertained and feasted by the great Bassaes. Now was poore Baiazet in small hope of life his cruell father still crauing to haue him deliuered into his hands to bee slaine and the Persian yet denying to deliuer him and seeming to defend him but not as was thought altogither faithfully Solyman left no meanes vnattempted to haue wrung him from the Persian sometimes he spake him faire putting him in mind of his league wherein it was agreed That they should both haue the same friends and the same enemies otherwhile he terrified him with great words and denouncing of warre except he would deliuer him his sonne he furnished with strong garrisons all the frontiers of his dominion towards PERSIA he filled all MESOPOTAMIA and the bankes of the riuer Euphrates with souldiors especially with them of his owne guard and such as he had before vsed in the battell against Baiazet ouer whom commaunded Mehemet Bassa the third of the Visier Bassaes and the Beglerbeg of GRECE for Selymus was soone wearie of the field and so betime returned home he also incited the Georgian people to take vp armes against the Persians who wisely answered That they had not such confidence in their owne strength as to prouoke king Tamas but let Solyman himselfe come with his armie and when they saw him present in the field then they knew what they had to doe and that he should then well see that they wanted neither discretion nor valour And because he would leaue nothing vnproued he made shew as if he would in person himselfe haue gone to ALEPPO in SYRIA and so haue on that side inuaded the Persian neither was the Persian king altogither out of feare hauing to his cost many times proued what Solyman was able to doe But the vnwillingnesse of the souldiors and their minds altogither estranged from that warre easily staied the raging Turke they detested that warre and forsboke their ensignes a great number of whom especially horsmen without leaue of their captaines returned to CONSTANTINOPLE and being commanded againe to the campe went indeed but with such countenance and cheere as well declared how they were affected and what they would doe if occasion serued for them to reuolt For which cause after that Solyman perceiued that Baiazet could not aliue be got from the Persian excusing himselfe by feare of reuenge by him whom he had so grieuously offended if he should by any meanes escape he thought it best to follow that which was next and to haue him there slaine which he was in good hope to compasse and the rather for that the Persian had but lately written vnto him That he could not but much maruell to see him deale so slenderly in a matter of so great importance That he on his part had sent him diuers embassadours and that he on the other side had sent him nothing but common messengers with papers which caused him to thinke that he made no great account of the matter wherefore he should doe well to send vnto him men of account and place which whom he might conferre and conclude also according to the waightinesse and exigence of the cause besides that he was as he said not a little in his debt for that Baiazet and his followers had beene vnto him no small charge before hee could get him into his power all which it were good reason that he should haue consideration of Whereby Solyman perceiued that money was the thing the Persian king sought after and therefore rather than he would in an vnfit time of his life entangle himselfe in a dangerous and vnnecessarie waâ—â—e he
bound together and so cast into the sea whose dead bodies were in few dayes after by the surge of the sea cast vp in the hauen MAIOR and knowne by their friends were by the commandement of the sorrowfull Great master honourably buried With which the enemies most barbarous crueltie he was so mooued that he commaunded that no Turke should from that time be taken prisoner but to be presently slaine And thereupon all that were before taken were foorthwith put to the sword and their heads cast ouer the wals on that side towards the enemie From the beginning of the siege to the taking of the castle of the Christians were slaine a thousand three hundred amongst whom were a hundred and thirtie of the sacred knights of the Order all worthie to be registred in the booke of euerlasting fame The castle S. ELMO thus lost Valetta although his mind as he had good cause was inwardly attainted with exceeding greefe yet made semblant otherwise because he would not daunt the minds of his souldiors telling them that nothing was happened vnprouided for or vnforeseene This was as he said the will of God and the chance of warre that sometimes one sometimes another should be ouercome and that cowardise not such valour as was in them that were gone gaue occasion to their liuing friends to lament yet that the enemie was not for that to be feared who had also receiued such a losse as he might thereby rather seeme conquered than a victorious conqueror wheras the losse of his knights was recompenced with honour and immortalitie things of themselues sufficient to enflame all noble minds to behaue themselues valiantly As for himselfe he said that trusting not in his owne strength but in the helpe of Almightie God he had not yet cast off the hope of victorie ouer the reliques of the discomfited enemie and that he well hoped they were all of the same mind wherein he most earnestly requested them to persist vnto the end When he had thus said he being a man armed against all fortunes withdrew himselfe a little aside where casting many things in his troubled mind he determined to send letters to Petrus Mesquita Gouernour of the citie of MELITA to certifie him and the knights of the Order that were at MESSANA and the Viceroy of the lost of S. Elmo the copie whereof because that in them euidently appeareth the Christian mind of him the Great master I haue thoght good here to set down as followeth Whilest these knights are setting forward in the meane time chanced the miserable misfortune of the castle S. Elmo which although it brought vnto vs that greefe you may easily imagine wee for all that as if it had happened by some secret appointment of God haue taken it in that part that he as a most mercifull father purposeth thereby to warne vs but not vtterly to destroy vs. Neither doe I thinke it lawfull to doubt of his mercie and power Yet for all that I may neuerthelesse complain that we are of them forsaken of whom it least beseemed So that in the space of seuen and thirtie dayes wherein our most valiant souldiors endured all the force of the enemie which truly was done rather by the power of God than of man we were holpen of our own which owe so much vnto vs not so much as with the least helpe which they might oftentimes haue sent vs. But I list to ascribe it whatsoeuer it is to God of whom alone as we haue hitherto receiued so many good things so rest we in hope hereafter to receiue also For for any thing that I can see we must not now trust to mans helpe for as much as we could by no letters no diligence no prayers no admonitions and to bee breefe by no commaunds moue them who of all others ought most to haue obeyed it The shortnesse of the time suffereth vs not to write to the Viceroy of these things it shall be your part to certifie both him and other our friends thereof who if they had obeyed our commaund or aided vs with neuer so small a supplie of soldiors happily we had not lost the castle S. Elmo in defence whereof we haue spent the best part of our souldiors Wherefore except the Viceroy make hast to deliuer vs from this siege I feare that he cannot in time come but especially if we be here besieged before the comming of those our small helpes which we as in a dreame haue promised vnto our selues and which we now scarce hope will be in time present For all that we doe not distrust of God his loue and prouidence by whose diuine inspiration the rare courage of the Viceroy being in short time stirred vp will hasten hither to relieue vs. For all our welfare consisteth in celeritie Our enemies hauing drawne all their fleet into the hauen MAâ—â—A MOXET are busied in cleansing the castle and repairing the breaches that they may afterward the better vse them against vs. Wherefore vpon the sight of these our letters send vnto vs the captaines Catherine Belcacar Belmest and Zoricius with their companies that we may vse their faithfull and valiant seruice God of his mercie send vs aid from some place and keepe you Fare you well from our castle S. Angelo the 24 of Iune 1565. Mesquita hauing receiued these letters commaunded a galliot foorthwith to be launched and therein embarked Masius Codonellus one of the knights to whom he deliuered both the letters of the Grand master to him and others of his owne almost of the same purport directed to the knights of the Order which lay at MESSANA requesting him with all speed possible to passe ouer with them into SICILIA In the meane time Mustapha the Turkes Generall sent a messenger to Valetta and with him an old Spanish captiue with promise of libertie if he would goe with his messenger to the towne to talke with Valetta concerning the yeelding vp thereof and to trie if he would by any meanes come to agreement who comming to the towne the Turke still waiting at the gate the Christian was let in and brought to the Great master to whom he declared what he had in charge from the Bassa But as soone as Valetta heard of the name of composition and yeelding he was so filled with indignation that had he not been a Christian he would presently haue commaunded him to haue been hanged Wherefore he gaue him choice either to tarrie still in the towne if he thought so good or els forthwith to returne and tell his companion that if he got him not packing quickly he would send him farther off with a great shot With this short answere the Turke suddenly returned into the campe Whereupon Mustapha fell into such a rage that he openly protested neuer from that time to forbeare any kind of crueltie against the Christians There was then with Mustapha one Philip of the most noble Graecian familie of Lascaris who of a boy taken
his knights and other souldiors as it were by diuine prouidence come vnto him with teares trickling downe his cheekes and his eies cast vp to heauen said I thanke thee O heauenly Father which hearest my prayers and forsakest not this thy little flocke beset round with most rauening Wolues These are the works of thine euerlasting goodnesse mercie and prouidence These new come souldiors requested of the Great master as a reward of their paines that they might be put in garrison into the towne S. Michaell a place now most laid vnto by the Turks which thing he commending their forwardnesse easily granted yet for all that remoued not the old garrison These fresh and couragious souldiors desirous of nothing more than to fight with the enemie the next day sallied out and hauing slaine two hundred of the Turkes and wounded as many more without losse of a man returned euerie mans sword imbrued with the bloud of his enemy Which thing Mustapha the Turkes Generall hearing knew it was they which lately came into the towne and therupon fell in rage with his captaines as that they had by their negligence entred But the suspition grew most vpon them which were appointed for the keeping of the vttermost part of the island which was the more increased for that three galliots of ALGIERS had withdrawne themselues away so that he neither trusted them nor the renegate Christians who as occasion serued fled daily from him For which cause he gaue out proclamation That none of them should lie by night out of the gallies that such as did otherwise should therefore be burnt or impaled vpon stakes and so changing his warders appointed Salec with his galliots whom he thought to be more faithfull for the keeping of the island And that neither they nor the Christians should be able to attempt any thing he chained togither diuers gallies in the entrance of the hauen MARZA MOXET and caused the rest of the fleet to ride neerer togither than before But because exceeding many were at that time sicke in the Turkes campe of the flix and other diseases three places were assigned for them one for the wounded men neere vnto AQVA MARTIA guarded with two thousand Turks another in the poupes of their ships and gallies for the Turks voluntaries and the third amongst the banks where the enforced Christians were cured At the same time Mustapha appointed Ochiall Bassa Gouernor of TRIPOLIS instead of Dragut before slaine who going thither with fiue gallies and hauing set all things in order there returned againe vnto the campe With him the Bassa had sent two ships loaded with corne to TRIPOLIS there to make bread whereof they began to feele some want in the campe He also sent Zaloch one of his Colonels to Solyman to certifie him of the winning of the castle S. Elmo and to deliuer vnto him the description of the isle of MALTA as they found it at their arriuall and farther to declace vnto him That he found the Malteses stronger and better prouided than was at his setting forth supposed Wherefore if it were his pleasure longer to continue the siege he should send a new supplie of men victuall and other warlike prouision which if he did he would then be in hope to take the other strong places of the island also though not so soone as was at the first supposed and that in the meane time whilest he expected answere he would not faile to doe what he possibly might And because he would not seeme to haue written an vntruth he began his batterie in fourteene places with seauentie great pieces of artillerie amongst which was three most huge basilisks for from the Gallowes promontorie to AQVA MARTIA and from thence to the castle S. Elmo wherin he had placed three hundred Ianizaries the Turkes had enclosed all that compasse with sundrie bulwarks trenches and mounts from whence they with their thundring shot day and night incessantly battered the townes and castles of S. Michaell and S. Angelo ouerthrew the wals beat downe the bulwarks and brake downe the houses in such terrible manner that scarce any could be safe therein which of all others most troubled the fearfull women and children But the Turks in their trenches rested in farre more safetie yet so that they durst not stray farre out of the campe but trusting vpon their multitude and not that many times without their losse being cut off by the horsemen of the garrison of MELITA who were euer readie at their heeles When the losse of the castle S. Elmo was knowne at ROME the citie was filled with mourning and heauinesse some were sorie for the dishonour othersome feared least the calamities of the Malteses should redound vnto themselues There was also amongst others a certaine enuious and foule mouthed kind of men altogither ignorant and vnacquainted with martiall affaires who shamed not to lay the blame of the losse of S. Elmo vpon the Grand master whom both his owne valour with the worthie testimonie of so many famous and valiant men as were there present with him as also this historie gathered out of the true light of things then done shall both for the time present and for all posteritie sufficiently acquite of so false a slander But he will easily blemish another mans name that spareth not his owne neither can ignorance rightly iudge of the counsels of the skilfull or cowardise of valiant deeds But to returne againe to our purpose we said before that three gallies were made readie at MESSANA in setting forth whereof they which had the charge vsed such diligence that the seauenth of Iuly they departed out of harbour In them besides the knights of the order was embarked six hundred Spaniards and three hundred of the great bishops souldiors conducted by Pompeius Columna the mariners were part hired part slaues to whom libertie was promised if they would lustily doe their endeuour to get into the hauen and to be accounted of as the rest of the souldiors were And because they would relieue the besieged not with men onely but with victuall also they put into the same gallies fiue hundred bushels of wheat beside gunpowder â—altpeter and lead for shot And although it was thought a most hard matter by the hauen it selfe to enter the island the Turks possessing both it and all the places thereabouts neuerlesse there was in the knights such an earnest desire to relieue their brethren that they promised both to themselues and others all things easie and safe but when they began to approach the island they sent a scout before to vnderstand by signes from the castle S. Angelo whether they were to proceed forward or not who comming so farre that they might discouer the signe perceiued thereby that they should retire Which thing the Turks perceiuing also presently with the smoake of their great ordinance and other things they so obscured the ayre as with a thicke cloud in such sort as that those signes
sute were made vnto Selymus for peace it would vndoubtedly be granted and farther promised to be himselfe an helper and intercessour for the same But finding the embassadour to cast many perils and to giue small credit vnto their talke who had before by trusting them deceiued him he did not so giue ouer the matter but referring the farther tempering with him vnto a more fitter time for the present he tooke opportunitie to enter into discourse with Selymus himselfe concerning the Venetians and told him that it was reported That they wearie of the long altercation they had had with the Spaniards concerning the league and now destitute of all hope and aid would now happily of their owne accord grant him that which they had before to him denied And perceiuing him not vnwillingly to heare so of them he proceeded farther in the matter to know his pleasure what he would haue done therein cunningly by the way of good counsell persuading him vnto that which he most wished himselfe to be done Immediatly after he secretly aduertiseth M. Antonius the Venetian embassadour That there was great hope of peace and that therefore the Senat should vnder the colour of exchanging of prisoners and redeeming of merchants goods send some fit man to CONSTANTINOPLE with whom he would in secret conferre of all such matters as might further the pacification This vnexpected newes from the embassador brought to VENICE was well heard of the Senat for they thought it much to concerne their State to haue a way opened whereby vpon tollerable conditions to make peace with the mightie tyrant if that the league betwixt them and the king of SPAINE could not be concluded Hereupon they made choise of one Iacobus Ragazonius to go about this matter to CONSTANTINOPLE This Ragazonius was a man of great spirit and dexteritie of wit to take any matter in hand and of a great reach and deepe judgement in the managing thereof and withall exceeding rich and of so good a carriage of himselfe as that he was therfore famous all which things were thought of great moment to win the fauour of that couetous and barbarous nation The Senat although they had not yet made proofe what men thought of the matter yet doubted they not but that vpon the report of the sending of this notable man men would thereof diuersly diuine euerie man according to his owne fantasie and that many of the wiser sort would indeed surmise as the truth was that he was sent for to intreat of peace although the exchange of prisoners and redemption of merchants goods were the onely things were openly pretended and the Senat although they thought it not amisse to haue it so vnderstood because such a suspition was like enough to stirre vp both the Pope and the Spaniard to accept of such conditions of the desired league as they had before rejected yet least the hope of the league which they for many causes thought good to cherish therby cut off might cause the Pope and the Spaniard both to be cold in the matter they certified both them and other Christian princes of the sending of Ragazonius yet of purpose concealing the secret drift of his going Ragazonius throughly instructed by the Senat was in a gallie conducted to RAGVSIVM which Gassan-beg the great Bassa Muhamets sonne Gouernor of LIBVRNIA vnderstanding met him vpon the frontiers and told him That he was sent by his father both to meet him and safe conduct him which the martiall man contrarie to the manner of the Turkes courteously performed honourably entertaining him and afterward sending him with a safe conuoy vntill hee was out of all danger Ragazonius comming to CONSTANTINOPLE was there by night secretly receiued into the citie and at first brought into a little base Inne and a guard set ouer him that he should speake with no man But after three dayes he was remooued to a much better place and presented with diuers kinds of daintie dishes of sundrie kinds of meats The effect of his message was to trie the Turks minds and after conference had with the embassadour to entreat of peace At length hauing accesse vnto the great Bassa Muhamet after he dad deliuered vnto him as he had in charge his message concerning the exchange of prisoners and marchants goods Muhamet asked him if he had nothing in charge from the Senat concerning a pacification to be made Whereunto he answered that he had but that he must first speake with the embassadour without whose aduice and counsell he was not of himselfe to doe any thing At that first encounter the Bassa to terrifie the messenger declared vnto him the innumerable multitude of the Turks horsemen and footmen which no nation as he vainely boasted was able by force or policie to withstand also his great and inuincible fleets at sea with whom all the power of the Christians vnited together was not able to encounter and much other such like strength and wealth of his and that the Venetians were now no more able to withstand Selymus than they were in times past to resist his father and his auncestors Yet he discoursed of this matter in such sort as not thereby to cut off the hope of the pacification but said That the Venetians should best haue prouided for the safetie of their state if at the first they had listened vnto him friendly and faithfully aduising them not to haue entred into armes in which doing they shewed more courage than power and that yet as the case now stood and that Selymus was in a most assured hope in short time to become lord and master of the whole island it should bee to their great good to preferre the fauour and good will of the Turks before warre and by the voluntarie yeelding vp of CYPRVS gaine vnto themselues perpetuall peace and tranquilitie As for the island it selfe it was not now worth the hazarding of so many dangers being destitute of inhabitants which were almost all either slaine or fled the cattell driuen away the towns ransackt and burnt and the whole countrey of late most pleasant and beautifull now so spoyled and vnpeopled that it could not of long time yeeld vnto him that should haue it any profit or commoditie Ragazonius being a coole and aduised man and withall perceiuing that the Bassa was not to be contraried in his talke so tempered his answere as that he shewed no token of feare neither let any word fall that might offend his eares saying That he was right glad that he had found so much fauour in his sight as to haue accesse and leaue to talke with so great a prince who for wisedome and grauitie excelled all the rest of the princes of the great emperours court who so farre as he might with his loyaltie towards his soueraigne had alwayes most graciously fauoured the Venetian state who also not ignorant of the vncertainetie of worldly things knew of all others best that on both sides were both men and
so meigre and faint as that they could scarcely hold vp their weapons The Christians vnderstanding of these things were in good hope that by continuing the siege they should without danger gaine a notable victorie For which cause Fuscarinus persuaded the Spaniards of whose constancie he doubted to hold it out as men of resolution shewing them that in the euent of this action rested for them for euer to be feared or contemned of the Turks who except they should be changed into fishes or into birds could not as he said without a notable ouerthrow escape their hands out of the Bay But vnto this his hope and counsell the euent was not correspondent For the Spaniards whether it were for the tediousnesse of the siege or for want of victuals or for the approch of Winter or els moued with some other reasons began to thinke of the matter diuersly and at the first a report was raised That the Christians giuing ouer the siege would shortly returne home and the reason was for that they wanted bisket and had scarcely victuals left for fifteene dayes which was to be reserued for their long journey home Besides that the approch of Winter did call them from the action and that hauing done what they might they could neuer draw the enemie forth to battell and that therefore hauing sufficiently and as farre as was possible alreadie discharged their duties they were now also to regard their safetie and to foresee that their fleet wherein the welfare of them all was reposed were not too farre endangered At the first these speeches were divulged by the common souldiours and marriners of small credit or reputation but afterwards by moe and they also men of better place and sort Yea Don Iohn himselfe whether it were to some other purpose or that he so spake in good earnest began to lay the fault vpon others why that hee so lately come from MESSANA should in so short time want victuals and all things els necessarie With these vnexpected reports and so farre different from the confederation the Venetian Admirall with the rest of the Venetian commaunders were exceedingly troubled and grieued aboue measure for it seemed not credible that they which but a little before were come from the most fertile and plentifull countrey of SICILIA in all ages the most faithfull and abundant granarie and storehouse of ITALIE both in peace and warre could so soone want victuals Could eighteene tall ships which ought by the capitulations of the league to haue come loaded with bisket victuals and other warlike and necessarie prouision become emptie or but to haue brought so much as might but suffice for a month onely If this were done without the knowledge of Don Iohn where was then the care of a Generall If he winking thereat where was his zeale to the confederation or to what purpose came he to CORCYRA was it to auert the Christian fleet hauing once or twice met with the enemie from doing any good vpon him Could it come into any mans head besides that in so doing he was therein to extinguish the glorie of a most certaine victorie like to worke the Turks confusion by the infamie of a voluntarie returne to encrease the glorie and renowne of his enemie and bring a perpetuall ignominie and disgrace vnto the honour of the Christians verely the Spaniards therein to shew themselues not so willing to haue the power of the Turks abated as the strength of the Venetians not encreased These things Fuscarinus and the Venetians sometimes fretted at amongst themselues and otherwhiles the Admirall himselfe expostulated the same with Don Iohn and Columnius and in the presence of the greatest counsellours shewed not onely how profitable but also how necessarie perseuerance was in all martiall affaires That it was an old and vsuall matter for men in besieging of their enemies to suffer many difficulties if they should hauing performed nothing returne with the fleet who would doubt but that both their labour and charge was againe the next yeare to be renewed And what could this delay be els but a prorogation of their further calamities That therefore it much concerned the Christian commonweale although they had not all things in abundance yet resolutely and with patience to endure the scarcitie of victuals If want of bisket were feared the Generall might easily remedie that matter by speedily sending for those ships which lay laded with victuals good store at TARENTVM which thing might in short time be performed In the meane time he promised to supplie the Spaniards wants with part of his own store and that he had rather his men should liue with roots than to let the enemies fleet coupt vp so to escape his hands That the desire to protect the honour of the Christians would ouercome all difficulties Besides that the matter would be but short if it were done at once in one continued course and would vndoubtedly be by them performed if they gaue not ouer the thing they had so well begun vntill they had accomplished it They as he said might in good safetie lie with their fleet in the ports of NAVARINVM SAPIENTIA and CAPRARIA whereas the enemie lying shut vp in the bay of MODON should haue but a bad and dangerous Winter harbour and October being now begun should in short time be in danger to perish with blustering stormes and rage of the sea familiar vnto that time of the yeare or els enforced with the extremitie of the weather and with want to aduenture into the open sea and with their weake forces to joyne battell What should therfore let why they should not for ten or for fifteene daies continue the siege as best beseemed the honour of themselues the valour of their souldiors and worthinesse of the Christian name What a terrour it would be vnto the enemie to see the Christians readie to endure all extremities and wants to gaine the victorie ouer the Turks Againe what dishonour and discredit would it be vnto themselues if they should suffer the enemie shut vp and not daring to fight to escape especially when as they might sitting still end the warre The Senat of VENICE he said most rested vpon the valour and courage of Don Iohn and therefore he requested him not to deceiue the great hope they had of him conceiued For how much should he himselfe blemish his owne honour if when he had before relieued the afflicted state of the commonweale he should now when it was most of all to be holpen forsake the same Which should not be much vnlike as if a man should with great labour purchase great store of pretious pearles and vpon an humourous passion cast them all into thâ— sea That men generally held a great opinion of him the Generall an honourable remembrance of his victorie and regard of his valour all which how much the more pregnant and honourable should they be by the second vanquishing and subduing the most mightie monarch of the world
the new king being diseased in his eyes little esteemed of his subjects besotted in affection towards his sonnes the facilitie to ouerrule the cheefe Gouernours of the Georgians and the people of SERVAN euill affected towards the new king and to be breefe whatsoeuer had in truth succeeded in PERSIA and might enflame the mind of the ambitious Sultan to conuert his forces against an enemie of small counsell and much confusion adding thereunto that neuer was there greater opportunitie to ouercome that king than now was offered and therefore wished him not in any case to let slip so faire an occasion as the Othoman kings had neuer before for the obtaining of so certaine and so glorious victories Amurath of long time wholly bent to marke the euent of the troubles in PERSIA now stirred vp with these aduertisements from Vstref setled himselfe more deepely in his former conceits to proue his forces in subduing the Persian king the auntient enemie of the Othoman emperors and his onely corâ—iuall and odious competitour in the East But no one thing did more enflame him thereunto than to thinke how he should haue to his enemie a king not acquainted with deeds of armes doting vpon his children and weakened with the dissention of his subjects and on the other side entering into the consideration of his owne forces of the infinit number of his men both horse and foot of the meanes he had to find money of his artillerie and engines of warre wherein he farre surpassed the Persians he did more and more resolue with himselfe to take the occasion that was now offered him to begin thâ— warre For the compassing of which his purpose he was greatly fauoured by the present state of Christendome at that time being wholly in league and amitie with him So not finding any thing contrarie to his designements he resolued at last to conferre with the cheefe Bassaes which had the gouernement of his empire Whether it were better vpon this occasion to begin the prepensed warre or if they thought not this opportunitie to be so fit then to lay it aside and to conuert his forces and counsell against the commonwealth of Christendome For such is the barbarous pollicie whereby this empire is mannaged That it is lawfull for them to breake any league be it by neuer so many promises or solemne oathes confirmed whensoeuer any enterprise is to be attempted for the aduauncing thereof So that although this warre could not be moued either against the Persians or Christians without breach of their promised faith yet among the manifold consultations that passed among the great Bassaes there was not any man found that made any account of that defect but all with one accord without further respect sought to set forward the ambitious desire of their proud lord and master At last after long consultation and large discourses it was agreed vpon by the great Bassaes Mahomet Sinan and Mustapha That it would be better and lesse danger to attempt warre against the Persians than against the Christian princes Mustapha among the rest preferring the valour of the Latines whereof he had made good triall especially at FAMAGVSTA before the armies and forces of the Georgians and Persians Whereby it is apparent to the world that neither the zeale of their religion nor any injurie receiued from the Persian king but onely the ambitious desire of Amurath to subdue a kingdome both in his owne conceit and other mens relations euill gouerned by an effeminate and sottish king and through ciuile dissention brought into great danger was the first prouocation of making this warre Vpon this resolution there arose new consultations touching the manner thereof and vpon what coast they should begin their journey for the more honourable successe thereof Which point Amurath greatly vrged protesting before his cheefe counsellours That he would not enter into that war except he were in great hope to beare away the victorie Some thought it most conuenient to send the armie to BABYLON and from thence to SYRAS called in old time PERSEPOLIS the cheefe citie of the countrey of PERSIA others there were that gaue aduise That the armie should be directly sent to TAVRIS there to erect strong fortresses and to take possession of all the country round about it and there wanted not some as it is reported that thought it better to send two seuerall armies for both the forenamed places and so by bringing the enemie into a straight to enforce him to yeeld to whatsoeuer should be of him required But Amurath durst not repose such confidence in his forces as to thinke that with his battels deuided and so weakened he should be able to conquer that enemie who had alwayes most valiantly fought against the monstrous and puissant armies of his auncestours And therefore firmely resolued with himselfe to send one onely armie and so with his vnited forces to seeke the ouerthrow of the enemie And so preferring the strong hope he had conceiued to conquer the countrey of SIRVAN and the cheefe cities of MEDIA the great before the difficultie of making warre vpon the coast of SCYRAS reposing also great hope in the notable help that was promised him by the Tartars called Praecopenses he confirmed the great Bassaes his counsellours in the same opinion and withall discouered vnto them a matter which to all of them but especially to Sinan seemed most strange namely that he was determined not to goe himselfe in person with his army but to send one of his worthiest captaines in his stead The causes why he so did were many but especially for that he was troubled with the falling sicknesse and feared greatly and that not without good cause least his sonne Mahomet being much fauoured of the people might peraduenture in his absence be vntimely aduaunced to the empire beside the dangers that he suspected at the hands of the Christian potentates and withall persuaded it to be vnto himselfe a great honour to performe those things by his seruants which had in those countries beene vnfortunatly attempted by his most noble predecessours in their owne persons While they were thus consulting about this expedition and the great Bassaes Sinan Mustapha and others made meanes to be sent as the soueraigne ministers of their lords designement he dispatched away sundrie postes and light horsemen with order to the Bassaes and Gouernors of VAN BABILON and ERZIRVM in the frontiers of his dominions That they should by often inrodes spoyle the townes and castles of the Persians and by all meanes to doe them what harme they could Which they were not slacke to put in execution and especially Vstref or rather Husreue Bassa of VAN who with often incursions did much mischeefe as well in the countries tributarie as subject to the Persian king A forcible preparatiue for greater troubles to ensue Now in these great preparations for the Persian warre which for many yeares after notably exercised the greatest part of the Turks forces to the
he would be content with CHARS and TEFLIS With these instructions the embassador departed and at length arriued at CHARS and so came to ERZIRVM and was from thence conducted towards AMASIA But when he came to SIVAS he found Sinan the Generall there encamped gathering togither his armie for the execution of his dessignments for Sinan vpon the arriuall of Mustapha departing from CONSTANTINOPLE the fiue and twentith day of Aprill was now come so farre on his way Of the comming of this embassadour the Turks receiued great joy and newes thereof was in post sent by Cicala Bassa to the court The Persian embassadour enformed Sinan of all that he had to treat with Amurath on the behalfe of king Mahamet and laboured earnestly to persuade him of the equitie of the cause and of his request declaring vnto him that for as much as both the nations were conjoyned vnder the law of Mahomet their common prophet though there seemed some small difference not worth those troubles it were a verie inconuenient thing for them to contend among themselues and to seeke the ouerthrow or vtter destruction of one another and that therefore he was in good hope to obtaine of Amurat this desired peace if he had no other cause wherewith he found himselfe agrieued as in truth he had not Wherefore he besought the Generall that he would with safe conuoy conduct him to Amurath to the end that if it were possible these bloudie wars might take end at the verie report whereof the rest of the world rejoiced and stood attentiuely waiting to see what would be the issue thereof This embassadour Sinan entertained after the best manner the rudenesse of his nature would afford and thinking that the verie fame of his valour had wrought in the minds of his enemies this resolution to come to demaund peace granted vnto the embassadour a sure conuoy to conduct him to CONSTANTINOPLE and wrote to Amurath in his letters all that he thought was fit to be demanded representing vnto him what great and important matters he hoped might now be obtained But before he dismissed the said embassadour he aduised him not to go to Amurath without resolution to offer vnto him some great good conditions and to yeeld vnto him all that countrey which he by force of armes had before conquered for he knew the mind of Amurath verie well that hee was resolued in himselfe not to yeeld so much as one hand breadth of that ground which he had woon with the sword Which motion of the prowd Bassa so troubled the embassadour that fearing he should not be able to conclude any thing he stood in doubt whether to proceed on his journey to CONSTANTINOPLE or to returne back againe into PERSIA but considering better what belonged to his duetie in so waightie a businesse and hoping to receiue more reasonable conditions from the mouth of Amurath himselfe he gaue large words to Sinan and so with a safe conuoy departed from SIVAS and by long journies came to SCVTARI and so passing ouer that little strait the fourth of August arriued at CONSTANTINOPLE The Persian king in the meane time stirred vp with the report of the Turks preparations to cause it to be noised that he likewise intended some important matters commaunded all the Chans and Gouernours of his kingdome to meet togither with all their forces at TAVRIS where he himselfe with the prince Emir Hamze his sonne met them And after many consultations there had for the repressing of the Turkish inuasion for as yet it was not certainly knowne what Sinan meant to attempt he resolued to send souldiors into GEORGIA towards TEFLIS whither of necessitie succours must be sent by the Turkes to them of the fort and withall determined also to go himselfe with all his armie from TAVRIS to CARACACH a place verie commodious and neere to guard both TAVRIS and SIRVAN being situat euen in the middest betweene the one and the other and there to expect the remouing of Sinan whose ambitious nature the king knowing doubted that he to surmount Mustapha would attempt some great enterprise yea peraduenture to run euen vpon TAVRIS But when it came to the point that hee should send some of his captaines into GEORGIA he made choise of such as had best experience of those countries and were neerest vnto them with whom he sent Tocomac also and the rest whose seruice he had before vsed against the Turkes commaunding them to joine their forces with Simon the Georgian and by all meanes possible to annoy the enemie whom if they should perceiue to bend for TAVRIS they should not faile to follow him to the end they might joine togither with him and so encounter the enemies armie All those captaines were resolute men and led with them ten thousand souldiors which being joyned with them of GEORGIA amounted to the number of thirteene thousand who arriuing at GENGE gaue knowledge to Simon of their comming and that in his behalfe they were readie to doe great matters Now was the Persian embassadour with all due honour receiued at CONSTANTINOPLE where he was honourably entertained by the great Bassaes of the court but especially by Mustapha who within two daies after suddenly died of a surfeit taken of eating too much of muske Mâ—lons and immoderat drinking of Zerbet a kind of pleasant drinke which the Turkes vse made of water and sugar but most men thought him to haue poisoned himselfe as fearing the former indignation of Amurath to be againe enflamed by the new complaints of the Persian embassadour against him for that he in the time of his Generalship had dishonourably suppressed certaine embassages sent from the Persian king which he now fearing to be called in question for the former stormes as yet scarce well appeased made himselfe now away After his death it was commonly reported that if he had longer liued he should haue been vndoubtedly strangled which to preuent he became the worthie executioner of himselfe that had most vnjustly caused others to be most shamefully murthered Which was the more like to be true and the rather beleeued for that the infinit wealth he had of long time scraped togither was immediatly after his death taken into the kings treasures some small portion thereof being left vnto his nephews a most certaine token of Amuraths indignation against him The Persian embassadour hauing audience the seauenth of August with many liuely reasons and much eloquence persuaded the Turkish emperour to desist from the warre begun as contrarie to the will and pleasure of their common Prophet Mahomet as also to the peace which was so roially and with so many capitulations not long before concluded betweene Tamas and Solyman his grandfather and was not to haue been broken and warres raised but vpon some great quarrell or injurie done which the Persians had not at any time offered but had alwaies wished vnto him all happinesse as they had manifestly declared by sending vnto him an embassage to that
then proceed in his wars and so obtaine most glorious conquests This his aduise so little pleased the effeminat king that in stead of the great opinion he before held of him he now conceiued an enuious affection against him and a further suspition fostred by the great ladies of the court especially Amuraths mother That Sinan had thus counselled the king himselfe to go in person not for any good could come therof but onely that so he might find meanes for the prince his sonne to make himselfe king and to driue out his father Which suspition was in such sort nourished in the mind of Amurath especially being assured of the great affection which the prince carried towards Sinan and he likewise towards him that he resolued to rid him out of his sight and so depriuing him of all charge presently banished him the court and out of CONSTANTINOPLE to DEMOTICA a citie of THRACE from whence afterwards he by most humble supplication obtained to be remoued to MARMARA a little beyond SELYMBRIA And into his place of Visiership was preferred Sciaus Bassa who had married Amurath his sister an Hungarian borne a goodly personage and of honorable judgement but aboue all men a seller of justice and preferments and yet a great friend to the peace with the Christian princes which Sinan had alwaies most wickedly maligned The Persian captaines in the meane time with their spoiles and diuers of their enemies ensignes were with great joy receiued at home in PERSIA but when the discord that fell out betweene Mahamet Bassa and Mustaffa the Georgian was also reported the former joy was redoubled euerie man being of opinion that these discords might bee great impediments vnto the Turkes further attempts into PERSIA which it was feared they would the next yeare attempt to the great danger of NASSIVAN and TAVRIS Vpon which occasions the Persian king perceiuing that he could not haue a fitter opportunitie to employ himselfe against Abas Mirize his sonne then with him it disgrace determined with himselfe to leaue the matters on this side of his kingdome in their present state and to march toward HERI whereunto he was earnestly solicited by his elder sonne Emir Hamze Mirize but especially by Mirize Salmas his Visier Vpon which resolution committing the defence of REIVAN NASSIVAN and that side of his kingdome to Emir Chan Gouernour of TAVRIS he set forward himselfe with his army towards CASBIN and so marching through diuers prouinces arriued at length at SASVAR being on that side the chiefe of all the cities subject to the jurisdiction of HERI which citie he tooke by force and without delay caused the Gouernour thereof to be beheaded although he alleadged a thousand excuses for himselfe and objected a thousand accusations moe against the seditious Visier The king after this departing thence and hauing also put to death certaine captaines and Sultans that were accused by the Visier to be confederats in the rebellion of his sonne he arriued at last at the desired citie of HERI Verie strong is this citie by situation compassed about with a good wall and watered with deep channels of running springs conuaied into it by Tamerlane their founder or restorer besides that there was in it many valiant captaines enemies to Mirize Salmas readie to lay downe their liues in defence of themselues and of Abas their lord so that the winning thereof could not but proue both long and difficult As soone as the king approched the citie he felt in himselfe many troubled passions arising of griefe and pietie it grieued him to thinke that hee should beget so gracelesse a sonne who in stead of maintaining his state and honour should seeke his ruine and destruction it grieued him also to remember the bloud of his subjects before spilt vpon so strange an occasion and scarcely durst he enter into the cogitation thenceforward to shed any more of the bloud of his people Neuerthelesse being still more and more solicited by his Visier he attempted to vnderstand the mind of his sonne and if it might be possible to get him into his hands But whiles the king trauelling with these thoughts lay with his armie before HERI Abas Mirize in the meane time writ diuers letters to his father and to his brother wherein he besought them That they would make knowne vnto him the occasion of this their stirre For if desire of rule had moued them to seeke the depriuation of him being their sonne and brother from the honour hee lawfully possessed and which his father himselfe had procured for him of his grandfather Tamas they ought to abandon that imagination for that he was alwaies readie to spend his wealth and his bloud togither with his estate in their seruice and acknowledged his father to be his good father and king But if they were not induced hereunto for this cause but by a desire to reuenge some trespasse that he had committed to the prejudice of the crowne of PERSIA or his fathers honour he was most readie to submit himselfe to any amends and with all reason to yeeld vnto them the kingdome yea the whole world and euen his owne life the rather to satisfie their minds with a more full contentation With twise and thrise reading ouer were these affectionat letters considered and disgested and at last both the father and the brother perceiuing in them such liberalitie of words and ouercome with pitie or if not with pitie yet with great admiration and contentment they determined to put the matter in practise and moderating their desire of reuenge to attempt the reducing of the yong mans mind to some good passe Whereupon they wrote backe vnto him That no greedie desire to vsurpe his gouernment had induced them to make so great a voyage to trouble so much people and to shed such aboundance of bloud but onely his disobedience and presumption in that he had caused himselfe to be called the king of PERSIA and had not sent so much as one captaine to aid them in the late warres against the Turkes Glad was Abas the yong prince when he vnderstood the accusations that were laied against him hoping to make it manifest before all men how the king and his brother were misinformed in these particularities and therefore incontinently did write backe vnto them That if they would faithfully promise him honourably and without any outrage to receiue his embassadours he would send vnto them such euident matter and so cleare information touching those his accusations as that they should not onely clearely perceiue that there was neuer any such kind of though in him but also that he had alwaies desired laboured the contrarie and would moreouer open vnto them such matter as in respect of other men and not of himselfe might cause their comming to proue profitable and commodious to all the kingdome of PERSIA Which his request they both solemnly promised faithfully to performe being verie desirous to vnderstand what those strange
nature and religion had conceiued a mortall hatred against the Spaniards whereunto might not a little auaile the porâ—â— in AFFRICKE whereinto the Turkes fleet might at all times in safetie retire And in briefe that which was of greatest importance to the better successe of this war the French king and the queene of ENGLAND had of their owne accord promised the continuation of their warres and that the French king should inuade NAVARRE and by force of armes recouer the right he pretended vnto that kingdome whilest in the meane time the queene of ENGLAND should not only trouble him in the West Indies and other places of the Ocean towards the North and the West but might also stirre vp new broiles in the kingdome of PORTINGAL where most part of the people with great impatiencie beare the prowd commaund of the Spaniard as persuaded and that truly all their prosperitie and quietnesse to haue been lost togither with their last king their true and lawfull soueraigne For he at peace with the kings of FRANCE and ENGLAND exceedingly thereby enriched his subjects by traffique whereas since they fell into the hands of the Spaniard they daily complaine of their new losses and dangers by reason of his perpetuall wars Moreouer that there was to be found great store of exiled Spaniards dispersed here and there which being malecontent and wearie of the Spanish gouernment were fled not only out of PORTINGAL but euen out of ARAGON other parts of his kingdome which now liuing in FRANCE ENGLAND and CONSTANTINOPLE both secretly and openly liberally offered great helpes the like whereof many of the Moores also promised All which togither seemed to promise a most easie expedition and certaine victorie if any should vpon the sudden inuade SPAINE for that there was almost no vse of armes the inhabitants at home seldome times exercising themselues therein neither in places needfull hauing any ordinarie garrisons and but few horses fit for seruice And that in fine it was to be considered SPAINE to be greatly bared of men which knew how valiantly and couragiously to mannage armes for the often choise they make of them which are almost daily transported into the Indies ITALIE and the Low countries whereby the strength of his countrey must needs be exceedingly impaired so that if they should be inuaded with any strong and mightie armie they might seeme hardly able to be holpen or defended by their owne people but should need of the aid and helpe of the other neere prouinces subject vnto this kingdome which if they should be either letted or stay to come in good time they should leaue so much the more easie victorie vnto their enemies In the fift place were they which went about to persuade Amurath to breake his league with the Venetians vsing reasons rather probable than true although they might seeme vnto the Turkes lesse doubtfull for that men easily and willingly beleeue such things as they themselues desire These men went about to proue no expedition to be of lesse difficultie than this as judging of things present by the euent of former warres passed wherein the Turks had alwaies taken something from the Venetians who to redeeme their peace were diuers waies enforced to satisfie the Turks That the Venetian common-weale was affraid of the Turkes and abhorred warre was manifest they said in that that in all actions it had propounded vnto it selfe peace as the end thereof and after the manner of their auncestors neuer entred into warres but enforced thereunto and would happily vpon the first denouncing of warres willingly depart with certaine places forfeare of greater harme or to be vtterly ouercome as it appeared they did in the yeelding vp of CYPRVS The power and force whereof was not so great as that it could alone stand against the great Sultan and to confederat it selfe with others would require no small delay for the great and many difficulties which commonly vsed to arise in making of leagues not being now so conjoyned with the Spaniard as in times past of whose aid it being of late destitute was constrained to make an hard peace with Selymus And if so be the Spaniard would needs joyne himselfe vnto the Venetians against the Turkes yet that he could by no meanes affourd vnto them such aid and supplies as were of necessitie to be required vnto so great a war he himselfe being in his warres otherwise so entangled as for all other confederation they could make without him to be but weake and to no purpose That which the Pope could do herein to be but little for albeit he should according to his dutie exhort other Christian princes to giue aid and to stirre them vp vnto this warre yet that beside some little supplie of mony hardly drawne out of his owne cofers and the ecclesiasticall reuenues he could scarcely performe any thing more or when he had done his vttermost deuoire could but joyne fiue gallies of his owne vnto the Venetian fleet which with the gallies of the duke of SAVOY of the knights of MALTA and of the Florentines could but make a fleet of some twentie gallies which was but a small matter Besides that the Turkes were persuaded that betwixt the Venetian state and the other Christian princes was no such friendship and good agreement as the greatnesse of the imminent danger of that warre and as the necessitie of the cause would require and that hitherto their treasures had beene so exhausted in paying the debt they were run into in the last warre and in building of fortresses that happily they were not now so furnished with coyne as was requisit for the defraying of so great a warre And vnto this warre against the Venetians consented almost all the Visier Bassaes differing only in this Where or against what place of the Venetian territorie this warre were to be first begun some naming one place and some another for diuers reasons them therunto leading which for breuitie we passe ouer Othersome of the Bassaes in the sixt place rejecting all the former opinions concerning the warre to be taken in hand would haue had all the forces of the Othoman empire as well by land as sea to haue beene conuerted against ITALIE for that otherwise the Turkes should neuer come vnto the Monarchie of the whole world whereunto as at a marke they had directed all their actions except they did first subdue ITALIE For that this countrey as the centre of the whole world was wont to giue both counsell and aid vnto the rest of the limbes whereby the deuices of others were crossed and that the Romanes had at length commaunded ouer all the world especially for that they held in possession this countrey Hereat did the Hunnes the Alani and Gothes the Vandales the Frenchmen Spaniards and Saraâ—ins direct all their thoughts and cogitations In fine they concluded That no expedition could be taken in hand more honourable or profitable than this for that ITALIE was as a queene amongst
sent when as our embassadour shall haue with you appointed any certaine time wherein it may be sent And we also assuredly hope so to preuaile with your Emperour that on your part the places within our territories by your people forcibly possessed together with all such things as haue beene wrongfully taken away may be againe restored and the fort of PETRINIA rased The Bassa of BOSNA also who we think would haue beene kept within the compasse of dutie if you had at that time held the place of the chiefe Visier and whosoeuer els guiltie of the wicked breach of the league to be worthily according to their deserts punished and displaced and your soldiors seuerely charged not to make any further incursions nor to do any thing that may tend to the breach of the league as we likewise shall with new and straight commaunds most carefully restraine our garrison souldiors vpon our frontiers from all such excursions and enemies actions But of these things our embassadour is more fully and at large to entreat with you vnto whose speech we desire such credence to be giuen as vnto our owne and we will so prouide that you shall haue good proofe of our great good will towards you From PRAGE the eight of March 1593. Vnto which the emperours letters Sinan returned answere as followeth Sinan Bassa cheefe Visier to Amurath the third Emperour of the Turkes vnto Rodolph the second Emperour of the Romanes greeting By these we giue your Maiestie to vnderstand That two of your Maiesties letters were brought hither before wee were chosen and confirmed cheefe Visier in this most royall Court wherein your Maiestie excuse your selfe and shew the causes why the sending of the wonted Presents hath beene so long deferred by laying the fault vpon the insolencie of our garrison souldiors in BOSNA and the breach of the publicke peace Which your letters being by vs read before our most mightie emperour his Highnesse in great choller burst out into these words And thy sonne the Beglerbeg of BVDA hath still hitherto writ and giuen vs to vnderstand that the vsuall Presents would certainely come and that the king of VIENNA would not in any case consent vnto the breach of the league or of the amitie betwixt vs and him and yet for all that the presents are not hitherto come wherefore thy sonnes writings and relations are not true But now the Bassa of BOSNA hath sent word vnto the Court that your Maiestie will not send them and all your doings to be but meere deceit and fraud For which cause our most mightie Emperour hath remooued my sonne from his place in BVDA and rewarded the Bassa of BOSNA with honorable garments wheras my sonne is for your Maiesties sake displaced Now on our behalfe nothing is done against the peace but our souldiors as with a bridle kept in whereas on your Maiesties part excursions and harmes into the territories of our emperor neuer cease especially into BOSNA whereinto your souldiors haue of late in warlike manner broken although they were by our garrisons ouercome their great ordinance taken and brought hither vnto the Court Wherefore seeing the case so standeth your Maiestie is to resolue vs vpon two points whereof the first is Whether you be minded to keepe friendship with vs as beseemeth and to send hither the two last yeares Presents or not and the second Whether you will set at libertie our captiue Sanzacks or no Now if your Maiestie shall be content to keepe the league and within these two months next to send the two yeares Presents as also to dismisse our Sanzackes the league shall on our part be likewise vndoubtedly kept your territories shall be in no case molested such Christian captiues as your Maiestie shall require be enlarged and a most firme and sure friendship by vs continued Whereas if you shall vpon any cause or excuse longer delay the sending of those honourable Presents and vnto these our demaunds send vs nothing but certaine vaine and windie answeres let God on high be therefore for euer praised for now our most mightie and victorious emperour who wanteth neither abilitie nor power hath commaunded That we our selfe should in person goe in this warre and putting our confidence in the highest with the armie of the right beleeuing Turkes to come into those parts And therefore assure your Maiestie that we will not faile there to encounter you at which time shall appeare vnto the world what is by God our Creator whose holy name be for euer blessed in his deepe wisedome preordained and set downe for vs. Wherefore seeing that all which concerneth the league together with the safetie and quiet of our people on both sides is vnto your Maiestie thus declared you are to consider the end and to follow our good aduice whereas if otherwise you shall be the cause of the breach of this so wholesome a peace and vnitie which we hitherto haue so sincerely and firmely kept the excuse thereof both in this world and in the world to come shall lie vpon your selfe Now we request of you no more but forthwith to send vs answere of these our letters As for the rest well may he speed that taketh the right way From CONSTANTINOPLE the last of the month Giuma Zuleuel in the yeare of our holy Prophet Mahomet 1001. Yet for all these faire offers of peace thus made by Sinan Bassa in his letters was his purpose nothing lesse than to haue performed the same seeking onely to haue drawne the two yeares Presents from the emperour amounting to a great summe of money and so neuerthelesse to haue prosecuted the intended warre the emperour being the onely man of whom Amurath his great master had amongst all the Christian princes made choice of to exercise his force vpon Of all which things the emperour was not ignorant being thereof as we said fully before by his embassadour aduertised from CONSTANTINOPLE These troubles of the Spring thus past ensued the Sommer much more troublesome for Hassan Bassa of BOSNA chiefe authour and deuiser of all these broiles ceased not for the encrease of his credit to worke what mischiefe he could against the Christians that bordered vpon him This great Bassa mortally hated the Gouernour or as some call him the Abbot of SISEâ— a strong castle situat vpon the borders of that part of CROATIA yet holden by the Christians where the riuer Kulp falleth into the famous riuer of Sauus or Saw and was in deed the verie bulwarke of that countrey the cause of which his hatred is reported to haue beene this The yeare before the Bassa had sent a messenger to this Abbot to require him to deliuer the castle or monasterie vnto him which messenger for certaine daies the Abbot entertained with many honourable speeches learning in the meane time of him so much as he possibly could of the Bassaes intention with what power in what place and with what engines he had determined to besiege the castle
true and inseparable member thereof whereunto the prince and all the states of TRANSYLVANIA should bind themselues by solemne oath But yet that at such time as the heires male should faile in the line of the present prince and that the countrey of TRANSYLVANIA should according to these present conditions be deuolued to the crowne of HVNGARIE as well his present imperiall and royall majestie as his successours should keepe inuiolate the auntient lawes priuiledges and customes of that countrey and alwayes appoint one of the nobilitie of TRANSYLVANIA to be Gouernour or Vayuod of the same and no other stranger Thirdly that his majestie should acknowledge the prince of TRANSYLVANIA for an absolute prince and by speciall charter confirme vnto him the title of Most excellent Fourthly that his imperiall majestie should procure one of the daughters of the late Archduke Charles his vncle for a wife for the prince that as they were now to be joyned in league so they might be joyned in affinitie also Fiftly that the emperour should procure him to bee made one of the order of the Golden Fleece Sixtly that the prince might with more cheerefulnesse and securitie make warre against the common enemie his imperiall and royall majestie should not at any time howsoeuer things fell out forsake the said prince or any of the countries subject vnto him and euen now presently to aid him according as the present occasion required and afterward if greater need should be with greater helpe whether it were by his Generall of CASSOVIA or others and this giuing of aid to be on both sides mutuall and reciprocall according as the necessitie of the one or other part should require and that where most need was thither should most helpe be conuerted Seuenthly that the sacred Romane empire should take vpon it the protection and defence of the prince and his territories And that his imperiall majestie should create the said prince and the princes his successours princes of the empire yet so as that they should haue neither voice nor place among the said princes Eightly that whatsoeuer castles towns cities or other places of strength should by their common forces be taken or recouered from the common enemie at such time as his imperiall majestie should send into the field a full armie should be all his majesties But such places as the prince should by his owne forces or policie gaine from the enemie should remaine vnto the prince himselfe Yet that what places soeuer the prince should recouer which at any time before belonged to the kingdome of HVNGARIE before it was taken by the Turke those he should forthwith deliuer to his majestie as soone as reasonable recompence were by him therefore made vnto the prince Ninthly his sacred majestie should promise of his owne bountie to giue vnto his excellencie sufficient aid for the fortifying and defence of such places as should be thought necessarie for the behoofe of the Christians as again the said prince should likewise promise not to spare his own cofers or forces that the same places should be throughly fortified and defended for the behoofe of his majestie and the common good of the Christian commonweale Lastly that for as much as the euents of warre are vncertaine and many things suddenly happen contrarie to mens expectation if such necessitie should chance vnto his excellencie or his successours which mishap God forbid that hauing spent themselues they should not be able longer to defend their state and countrey but that the mightie enemie preuailing they should at last be enforced to forsake the same in this their extremitie his imperiall royall majestie should promise both for himselfe and his successors within the space of one moneth to assigne some certaine place in some other of his dominions where the said prince and his successours might honourably liue And the like regard to be had also of other such principall men as should together with the prince aduenture their liues and liuings in defence of the Christian commonweale Which articles of confederation agreed vpon and solemnly confirmed the same embassadors were with all kindnesse bountie and magnificence dismissed and sent back again vnto the prince who was not himselfe in the meane time idle but labouring by all the meanes he could to draw vnto him Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA a man of no lesse worth than himselfe and Aaron the Palatine of MOLDAVIA both of them then the Turkes tributaries and by them to alienate from the Turke both those countries that so with their combined forces they might the better defend their libertie and withstand their common enemie wherein he did so much and preuailed so farre with them both that casting off the Turks obeisance they shortly after to the great benefit of the Christian commonweale and no lesse hinderance of the Turkes proceedings in HVNGARIE joined hands both together with him for the recouerie of their lost liberty Which reuolt of these bordering princes for that it so much concerned the common good as that the safegard of AVSTRIA and of the remnants of HVNGARIE with some good part of GERMANIE also is euen by them that in those matters saw much not without cause supposeâ— to haue rested therein and that this noble Vayuod of whom much is to be said hereafter was the second actor herein it shall not be from our purpose to see the manner of his reuolt also from the Turke as we haue alreadie the Transyluanians For the more euidence whereof as for the honour of the man whilest he liued a most worthie member of the Christian commonweale we will a little step backe to see how he obtained of the Great Turke this so honourable a preferment as was the Vayuodship of VALACHIA not without his reuolt long now to be holden Alexander the late Vayuod of VALACHIA a Moldauian borne and by Amurath himselfe promoted to that dignitie proud aboue measure of this his so great a preferment as also of his owne nobilitie and the deceitfull fauour of fortune still fawning vpon him not onely oppressed his people himselfe with intollerable impositions but to be in farther fauour with the Turkes brought into that countrey too much before exhausted such a companie of them as that they seemed now almost wholly to haue possessed the same oppressing the poore Christians the naturall inhabitants with new exactions and more than tyrannicall injuries euen such as were not elsewhere by the Turkes themselues vsed not onely breaking at their pleasure into their houses and despoyling them of their goods but taking tythe also of their children as if it had beene of their cattell a thing neuer before there seene and for the satisfying of their beastly lust rauishing their wiues and daughters euen in the sight of their husbands parents with diuers other such outragious villanies not with modestie to be rehearsed So that by this meanes he had violently taken from his Christian subjects all hope of recouerie of their auntient libertie had it
not as sometime it falleth out in these worldly things both vnto men and commonweales which brought vnto the last cast euen as it were to the bottome of dispaire by the goodnesse of God contrarie to all hope find sometime such vnexpected helpe and reliefe as that thereby they beyond their hope euen to the astonishment of the world mount vp againe vnto a greater lustre of their state than was that from which they before fell it had euen so by the singulaâ— mercy of God now happened vnto the Valachians not knowing which way to turne themselues There was at CRAILOVVA a citie in the confines of VALACHIA towards the confines of the Hungarians and Turks where the gouernour of these borders is for the defence thereof with a strong garrison alwayes resiant a noble gentleman called Ion Michael sonne to Peter the Palatine of that countrey the aforesaid Alexander his predecessour who as he was vnto the people for the honour of his father the prerogatiue of his birth the comelinesse of his person and talnesse of his stature well knowne so was he for his zeale towards the Christian religion his loue towards his countrey his kindnesse towards his equals his courtesie towards his inferiours his vpright dealing his constancie and bountie vnto them no lesse gracious and for other the noble vertues of his heroicall mind and naturall disposition for the performance of great matters his deepe wisdome and quicke foresight his sweet and pleasing speech void of all affectation vnto all good men most deare whose fame both for the honour of his house and of his owne vertues still more and more encreasing and rife in the eares of Alexander the Vayuod was the cause that he commaunded him as the readie or rather naturall competitour of his state and honour to be secretly apprehended and so taken out of the way whereof he by good fortune hauing intelligence and carefull of his owne health for safegard of himselfe fled first into HVNGARIE and there not staying long God so directing him went to CONSTANTINOPLE in the yeare 1591 to sue for the Vayuod his place all the nobilitie of his countrey and the prouinces thereunto adjoyning secretly rejoysing thereat About which time the chiefe and most graue of the Valachian nobilitie and counsellours prostrating themselues at the feet of Amurath most grieuously complained vnto him of the manifold and intollerable injuries they had alreadie sustained and were still like to endure without hope of redresse from Alexander their Vayuod and the followers of his Court the Turks garrisons and marchants with plentifull teares orderly declaring many his most foule and detestable facts and afterward highly commending Ion Michael for his rare vertues as the true heire of their prouince most humbly requested Amurath either to haue him appointed the lawfull Gouernour of their countrey or els some other place by him assigned for them to dwell in wishing any where to liue rather than vnder the heauie commaund of so mercilesse a man as was Alexander For the furthering of which their sute Michael his vncle by the mothers side a Greekâ— borne and a man for his exceeding wealth in great fauor in the Turks Court spared for no cost So Michael by the goodnesse of God was by Amurath with great solemnitie created Vayuod of VALACHIA and the oppressed and almost forlorne state of that sometime most flourishing countrey by little and little well relieued although not altogither without most sharpe and violent remedies such as extremities oft require began now againe to lift vp the head and to aspire vnto the auntient libertie and honour thereof At the beginning of whose happie soueraigntie Alexander his predecessour in his owne conscience guiltie of his euill and shamefull gouernment of that so notable and great a prouince and now in feare to be called to account secretly fled But certaine yeares after remouing to CONSTANTINOPLE with his wife and there attempting diuers euill meanes for the obtaining of the Palatinat of MOLDAVIA and for those his vnlawfull practises accused by the Palatines Agent he was by the commandement of Amurath taken in his owne house and there in his princely apparell most miserably strangled vpon Palme sunday in the yeare 1597 about six yeares after his departure out of VALACHIA Michael thus made Vayuod of VALACHIA long it was not but that it fortuned the reuerend father Cornelius de Nona sent from Pope Clement the Eight vnto the Great duke of MVSCOVIE in his returne conferring with Sigismund the Transyluanian Prince and Aaron the Palatine of MOLDAVIA enformed them of the great consent of diuers zealous Christian princes for the maintenance of the warre against the dangerous and common enemie with many graue and effectuall reasons persuading them but especially for that they were themselues Christians in that Christian quarrell to joyne vnto them their forces also raised in those their countries neere vnto the great riuers Danubius and Nester but vnto Michael the Vayuod of VALACHIA he could not for diuers his other important businesses then come whom for all that the aforesaid Transyluanian prince Sigismund his neighbour desirously sought to draw into the fellowship of that warre euen for the same reasons almost wherewith he had been himselfe mooued First by diuers great reasons remouing such doubts as might justly seeme to hinder him from giuing therunto his consent and then by declaring the Turkish insolencie daily increasing with the infinit grieuances by them deuised against the miserable Valachians when as the incursions of the Turks or Tartars or their passages that way no lesse troublesome than their inroads was almost euerie moneth to be feared their armies as friends to be in Winter and Sommer receiued their souldiors to their great charges relieued and their commaunders and captaines rewarded VALACHIA thus impouerished was not able as he said to pay the great sums it did alreadie owe neither was to expect any releasement of the euils it was wrapped in much lesse was it able to suffice vnto the grieuous exactions to be thereunto by them afterwards imposed None of his predecessours as he told him and as truth was had for many yeares now past for any long time or with any securitie held their state or gouernment but that either by the calumniation of the enuious or bribes of their ambitious competitours brought into suspition with the Sultan they were violently thrust out or most cruelly put to death In briefe he said it was a wise mans part not without most manifest waightie reasons to promise vnto himselfe better fortune or more assurance of his state than had his vnfortunat predecessours before him but warned by their harmes betimes to prouide for his owne safetie By which persuasion he so preuailed that the Vayuod whose name whose fame whose wealth and life togither with his subjects was all thereby endangered although he would not for the waightinesse of the matter at the first yeeld thereunto yet assuredly promised with
countries by the prince Who if he had not then gained the victory the Chancelour had not now holden MOLDAVIA but the Turke whose quarrell he seemed rather to fauour than the princes The Chancelour to colour this his inuasion pretended That the countrey of MOLDAVIA did of auntient right belong vnto the kingdome of POLONIA which the Transyluanians tooke to be no other but meere and open wrong This supposed title such as it was the Chancelor had so fashioned out vnto the king and the states of that kingdome that they referred it to his discretion to inuade the countrey and remoouing the Vayuod placed by the prince to place another in his stead and the rather to persuade them laboured by many forced reasons to shew the power of the Transyluanian prince to be so far inferiour vnto 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 Turke Which if it should so come to passe then should the Polonians haue an vntrustie 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 Turke might be kept farther off from POLONIA Which occasion he said was not longer to be delaied but now betime to be laid hold vpon persuading himselfe to find such grace and fauor with the Turkish emperor as that he should be therewith right well contented which was like ynough for a time to be for that the Transyluanian should thereby be much weakened By these and such like reasons framed to serue his owne turne the Chancelour so preuailed with the king and the states of the kingdome that he receiued from them as I said full authoritie to proceed in the matter as he did and as is before declared to the great trouble of the prince and benefit of the Turke the late chosen Vayuod not long after opening a way in three places for the Tartars into TRANSYLVANIA one by the countrey of SICVLI another by the way that leadeth to ALBA IVLIA and the third by VALACHIA The Transyluanian prince seeing the countrey of MOLDAVIA by the practise of the Chancellour thus taken from him and disseuered from the other vnited prouinces to the great weakening of his state after the flight of Sinan sent certaine companies both of horse and foot to Stephen the late Vayuod but now driuen out by the Polonians to prooue if happily he could by that meanes driue out the Polonians againe and recouer his former dignitie With this aid sent from the prince and others that fauoured his quarrell he joyned a bloudie battell with the Polonians but being therein by them ouercome and taken and for a space kept as the prince feared to haue beene deliuered vnto the Turke he was by them as is reported cruelly afterwards put to death This foule dealing of the Polonian in MOLDAVIA much grieued many good Christians as tending to the generall hurt of the Christian commonweale For which cause the Emperour by his embassadours sent for that purpose vnto the Polonian king sought to persuade him to desist from such inuasion of the Transyluanian prince by his Chancellour as nothing standing with his honour and that some good reconciliation might be made betweene the prince and the Cardinall Bator and his brother the princes vncles authors of all these troubles To which purpose also the Pope sent a messenger with like instructions and letters vnto the king persuading him not so to prosecute his warres against the prince but to turne his thoughts vnto a more peaceable and Christianlike course especially with him with whom he was so neere linked in mariage To the like effect he writ also vnto the Cardinall Bator and after many graue admonitions peremptorily cited him to ROME But for as much as the proceedings of the Polonian against the prince are more plainely to be gathered by the Popes letters vnto the king it shall not I hope be mistaken if I here set them downe thus as I find them by others reported Pope Clement the eight to our best beloued sonne in Christ Sigismund by the grace of God king of POLONIA with the benediction Apostolicall sendeth greeting By how much greater affection of fatherly loue we embrace your maiestie in the Lord so much the more feruently we wish all your actions to be adorned with the greatest commendation of true godlinesse and wisedome both before God and men Whereof it proceedeth that we are so much the more vehemently and grieuously moued if we heare any such thing of you as may seeme not agreeable to your vertue and approued zeale toward the Catholike religion or tending to the obscuring of the glorie of your name as is now brought vnto vs concerning the affaires of MOLDAVIA whereof not without great griefe we write vnto you And to rehearse things a little before past With what earnestnesse and feruencie dealt I with you that for Gods cause and the defence of the health and libertie of the Christian commonweale against the tyrannie of the Turkes you would combine your selfe with our most dearely beloued sonne Rodolph the Emperour and diuers other Christian princes and that you should not let slip so notable an occasion so worthily to deserue of God of the Catholike faith and of the Christian commonweale in generall And albeit we then thought as well for many your owne priuat respects as also of your kingdomes That you were to be borne withall and excused if you did not now openly descend into this confederation of the Christian princes against the most mortall and common enemie neither apertly ioyne your forces or giue aid for the repressing of his insolencie yet we alwayes assured our selues that no let should in any case proceed from you whereby either the Emperour or the other Christian princes should be the rather hindered iustly to prosecute their iniuries or to cast off from their necks the heauie yoke of the most cruell tyrant whose desire of soueraignetie is not comprised within the compasse of any bounds But that you should in fauour of the Turkes impugne the Catholike princes and defendors of the Christian faith and so ioyne hands with the enemies of the Crosse of Christ as that by your helpe their force and furie should be encreased and ours not only weakened but in the very course of victorie hindered and cast into most grieuous perils this we haue not onely not thought of you but not so much as once suspected yea and can now scarce be persuaded to beleeue those things to bee done by you which are reported vnto vs as most true and vndoubted For the report goeth That you hauing intelligence with the Turkes and Tartars haue with them conspired and namely against our welbeloued sonne Sigismund prince of TRANSYLVANIA who with inuincible courage fighteth the battels of the Lord and least he should be able to abate the
it the seat of a perpetuall war from whence PODOLIA RVSCIA and the lesser POLONIA might be with continuall incursions wasted euen before our faces concerning which matter they now dispersed their letters wherein they published the power and authoritie giuen them from the grand signior exhorting the people of that country to receiue the same A whole day we fought with this multitude our men alwaies by the goodnesse of God hauing not onely the vpper hand but without any notable losse also yet not without great slaughter of theirs and would to God I had had such strength as that not onely the conditions of peace but euen the enemies themselues might haue beene in my power But when we were oftentimes come to parle they still requiring the same and so at length vnto conditions of peace if such were giuen them as whereby this onely kingdome had without the wrong of any other beene deliuered from so great and sudden a danger what reasonable man could find fault therewith if we should haue preferred the health and welfare of our country whereunto all good men owe all they haue before other mens profits But now these things were so done as that it was no lesse prouided for the good of the neighbour Christians yea and happily not the least for theirs who for the same slander this kingdome vnto your Holinesse the furie of Sinan Bassa was by this meanes â—â—pressed who whilest he feared to be shut vpon the straits by our armie now come into MOLDAVIA and expected the Tartars comming spent almost all the rest of the Summer idely and without any thing doing The Tartar himselfe was not onely turned from the bowels of Christendome whereinto hee had purposed as the yeare before to haue entered we hauing with our owne breasts receiued his force and furie but being brought vnto conditions was expressely enioyned in a most short prefined time and without any more harme doing to returne againe into his country by the selfesame way he came and by no other whereby it is come to passe that vntill this day Christendome hath not this yeare yet felt the Tartars weapons But vnto TRANSYLVANIA and HVNGARIE what a space and power was giuen for them to gather their strength and forces together and out of the same places to oppose them against the enemie when as our armie kept them safe at their backes and eased not onely MOLDAVIA but VALACHIA and TRANSYLVANIA also of that care Whereas if this cause of delay had not been obiected vnto the Turks first and after vnto the Tartars not to say anything of the Turkes the Tartars at the very selfesame time that the Tâ—â—â—syluanian armie was gone into VALACHIA against Sinan might haue broken into TRANSYLVANIA before it could haue returned home or els marching directly towards that armie might haue met with it out of TRANSYLVANIA As for MOLDAVIA which together with the memorie of the Christian name yet left in it had vtterly perished was most manifestly preserued by the comming of our armie Which what end it would haue had if the enemie might at his pleasure haue raged as he did in the farther VALACHIA those most bitter remembrances in it yet at this day smoking doe well declare out of which it is well known moe thousands of Christian captiues to haue beene carried away into most wofull captiuitie than almost out of any other prouince in all the time of these miserable warres Which although it bee thus yet boast we not thereof neither send we any triumphant letters vnto your Holinesse nor brag we of our good seruice done for the Christian commonweale contenting our selues with the conscience of the thing it selfe In the meane time we are accused vnto your Holinesse but for what cause If any man complaine for the taking of MOLDAVIA I will not say it was by them before willingly forsaken whilest I was yet in the frontiers thereof but that this kingdome hath a most auntient right vnto it and such a right as that when our kings being busied in their warres against the Muscouite the Cruciat Teuronâ—o brethren or others some others also troubling the state thereof it for a time became a prey vnto the Turkish tyrants yet in all the leagues made or renewed betwixt this kingdome and them was still excepted That all such things as the Palatine of MOLDAVIA was of dutie to performe vnto the king should by him still be performed Which kings of POLONIA and namely Augustus himselfe the last of the Iagellonian race appointed diuers of those Palatines themselues Which although they be things most manifest yet hauing more regard vnto the welfare of that prouince as a Christian countrey than of our right we restored the same into the same state wherein it hath beene for many yeares before these wars Wherefore if any man thinke any thing done whereby the enemies of the crosse of Christ might be eased or strengthened or the defendors of the faith hindered it is so farre from any such thing to be done that rather as is before declared the enemies force is repressed and auerted and greater meanes giuen to the Christians afront to impugne them the enemie being at their backes by vs shut from them But I feare that they haue not fully enformed your Holinesse how these things were done who haue reported vnto your said Holinesse not onely the name of the Turkes to haue beene proclaimed together with the Polonians in MOLDAVIA but also the name of the Tartars the proper enemies of the Polonians and by the power and decrees of them three as it were confederat together things to haue beene ordered in MOLDAVIA Which their complaint if it tend to that end as if a confederation were made with them I frankely confesse certain conditions to haue been giuen them but such as whereby is prouided not only for the quiet and securitie of this kingdome but no lesse also for the whole Christian commonweale as is before declared All which things for all that although they were done for the good of this kingdome and all Christendome in generall yet were they so done that they were all by me referred vnto the kings maiestie and the states of the kingdome so that at this present the kingdome is at free libertie either to ioyne in confederation with the rest of the Christian princes or if that cannot vpon certaine and indifferent conditions be agreed vpon yet with no mans iniurie or hurt to ratifie this ioyned with the health and good of a great part of the Christian commonweale onely God graunt that the Christian princes may seriously thinke both of this so Christian a confederation against the common enemie and striue also all together against the enemie with their weapons and not with misreports and slanders one against another They are not to assaile the enemies feet but his throat neither is the seat of the warre to be placed in the borders of POLONIA where it concerneth themselues much to haue all things
appointed time about midnight committed themselues with all that they had vnto the conduct of them of STRIGONIVM sent out of purpose for them by whom they were in safetie brought to STRIGONIVM Amongst them were many rich men who brought with them good store of coine with an exceeding great number of cattell Vnto these newcome guests Palfi assigned certaine fields betwixt STRIGONIVM and VIVARIA on the North side of Danubius where they so commodiously liued as was possible in so troubled an estate of a countrey Shortly after six hundred garrison souldiors of LIPPA seeking after bootie and aduenturing too farre into the enemies territorie were discouered by the Turkes scouts and so beset by the Turkes and Tartars billeted in the countrey about TEMESWAR that there was no way left for them to escape Which they well perceiuing resolued among themselues as became valiant men to fight it out euen vnto the last man and with no lesse resolution performed what they had before determined for being on euerie side beset and hardly charged by their enemies they as men before resolued to die although scarce one to twentie fought most desperatly seeking for nothing else but to sell their liues as deare as they could vnto their enemies and so fighting were all slaine except some few which by great fortune escaped leauing vnto the enemie a right bloudie victorie Yet by this losse of so great a partie was the garrison of LIPPA greatly weakened which the enemie knew right well and thereupon began forthwith to prepare to besiege the towne Which Barbelus the Gouernour a most valiant man wisely foreseeing sent in post vnto the Transyluanian prince to request him with all speed to send him foure or fiue thousand good souldiors with which power he doubted not by the helpe of God to be able to defend the towne against all the forces the enemie was at that time able to bring against it Vnto whom the prince without delay sent eight thousand who all in safetie in good time arriued at LIPPA for shortly after their arriuall fortie thousand of the Turkes and Tartars came and sat downe before the towne enclosing it on euerie side and so lay for certaine daies without any thing doing worth the speaking of they of the towne in the meane time doing them all the harme they could with their great shot which they sent amongst them not sparingly But they had not thus long lien but that newes was brought into the campe that the Transyluanian prince was with a great power comming thither to relieue the towne whereupon they presently rise and retired to the place where they had before encamped about two miles from LIPPA where certainly vnderstanding that the prince neither was neither could in short time be in such readinesse as was before reported they forthwith returned and more straitly besieged the towne than before They had now brought with them seuenteene pieces of batterie eight wagons laded with shot and pouder and fortie six others laded with scaling ladders and other warlike prouision thus appointed they began to batter the towne and afterwards gaue therunto diuers desperat assaults which the Christians valiantly receiued and still with great slaughter repulsed their enemies For that strong towne was with towers and bulwarkes flanking one another so fortified that out of them the Christians with their murthering pieces made great spoile of their enemies and still enforced them with losse to retire no bullet almost flying in vaine In the heat of one of these assaults the Gouernour caused one of the gates of the towne to be set open hauing before within in the towne placed sixteene great pieces at the verie entrance of the same gate charged with all kind of murthering shot vnto which gate as of meere desperation set open by the defendants the Turkes and Tartars desirous of reuenge came thronging as thicke as might be thinking to haue thereby entred when suddenly and as it were in the turning of an hand they were with the aforesaid murthering pieces cut downe as with a sithe and so againe and the third and fourth time before they could cleare themselues of the danger thereof their heads armes legges and other rent limbes flying in the ayre most miserably to behold Neuerthelesse the siege was by them continued and the often assaults so resolutly maintained as if they had thereon purposed to haue gaged all their liues But this so obstinat a resolution was by an vnexpected accident when they least thought conuerted into such a desperat feare and astonishment that they vpon the sudden no man forcing them forsooke their trenches wherein they lay encamped and leauing behind them their tents their great ordinance and whatsoeuer else they had they betooke themselues to a most disordered flight The Transyluanians who by chance were euen then comming thither pursuing them slew diuers of them and tooke some others of them prisoners At this siege the Bassa of TEMESVVAR himselfe was mortally wounded and Hamat Sanzacke of GIVLA with diuers others of good place slaine and foure thousand of the common souldiors The cause of the Turks so great and sudden feare was this Whilest the Bassa of TEMESVVAR lay at the siege of LIPPA as is aforesaid they that were left in the citie fearing no harme liued in great securitie in the meane time the Gouernour of LVGAZ sent out six thousand souldiors towards TEMESVVAR now in the absence of the Bassa to seeke after bootie who comming to TEMESVVAR with great speed rifled the suburbs of the citie slew all the Turks they could light vpon and set at libertie a thousand captiues and so hauing trussed vp their bootie set on fire all the suburbes and departed Which fire grew so great and so terrible that it was plainly seene into the campe at LIPPA making a shew as if the whole citie had beene on a light fire Which so daunted the hearts of the Turkes at the siege that they presently fled as is before said leauing all that they had behind them The Transyluanian all this while busied in raising of his armie and prouiding of things necessarie for the maintenance of his warres was come into the confines of HVNGARIE towards TEMESVVAR euen as the Turkes fled from LIPPA At which time certaine Hungarian Heidons that serued him getting ouer Danubius not farre from NICOPOLIS tooke PLENIA a little towne of the Turkes which they ransacked and burnt and hauing slaine in the countrey thereabout aboue three thousand of the Turks returned with a rich prey vnto the prince Not long before the Christians had surprised CLISSA a strong frontier towne of the Turks in DALMATIA not far from SPALATO which towne the Bassa of BOSNA sought now againe to recouer and thereto layed hard siege for the reliefe wherof Leucowitz gouernour of STIâ—â—â— and the other prouinces thereabouts belonging to the house of AVSTRIA and the gouernâ—â—â— of ZENG with a fleet of two and fortie ships wherein they had embarked foure thousand
better managing of this yeares warres against the Turke he appointed duke Mercurie who had drawne a great number of Frenchmen both horse and foot out of FRANCE Generall of all his forces sending Ferrant Gonzaga surnamed the Lame whom for his approued valour and experience in martiall affaires he had sent for to MANTVA gouernour into the vpper HVNGARIE So the souldiors now day by day by companies resorting from diuers parts into AVSTRIA were from thence sent vnto such places as were by the Turkes most molested so to represse their often incursions as in many places they did For eight thousand of the Turkes going out vpon the sudden to haue surprised PAPPA were by the garrison souldiours of that place encountered and ouerthrowne And on the other side whilest Ferdinand the Archduke was assembling his people in CROATIA for the defence of that countrey against the incursions of the enemie six thousand Turks without resistance entring the same as farre as BVCCARI and burning the countrey villages as they went had taken many prisoners with a great bootie of cattell and so merrie and out of feare being about to haue returned were suddenly set vpon by the Countie Serinus in certaine straight and troublesome passages where they least feared any such matter and ouercharged also with their prey were I say easily by him for the most part ouerthrowne and the rest put to flight and so the prisoners with all the rest of the bootie againe recouered At which time also one of the imperiall colonels with fifteene hundred horse making an inrode into the countrey about ALBA REGALIS and meeting with the Turkes and Tartars thereabouts slew six hundred of them and tooke diuers of their captaines prisoners Six thousand other Tartars also at this time returning out of HVNGARIE home towards their owne countrey were by the Cossackes neere vnto the Blacke sea set vpon with such force that many of them being slaine the rest for feare ran into the sea leauing all the prey they had got in HVNGARIE vnto their enemies In the heat of these broiles the noble lord Palfi gouernour of STRIGONIVM a man that all his life long had done great seruice for his prince and country whom we haue so often in this historie remembred died the three and twentith of March in his castle at BIâ—ERSPVRG to the great griefe of many especially the Hungarians his countreymen And for that STRIGONIVM so neere vnto the enemie required in his stead to haue a right valiant and couragious gouernour the emperour appointed the lord Swartzenburg to that charge the same still running that Ibrahim Bassa would come thither with the great armie he was in prouiding if the peace went not forward which was now still lesse and lesse hoped for by reason of his prowd and insolent demaunds But whilest these troubles with such others too long to rehearse thus passed in diuers paâ—ts of this miserable countrey of HVNGARIE twelue hundred Frenchmen and Wallons in garrison at PAPPA a strong frontier towne of the emperours in the lower HVNGARIE for want of pay began to mutinie For which cause it was thought good to the chiefe commanders to haue them thence remooued and others placed in their roume Which they perceiuing and withall knowing themselues too strong for the rest of the garrison all Hungarians or Almaines not partakers of their conspiracie they first resolued to thrust their owne captaines out of the towne as lets vnto their desires and then laying hands vpon Michael Marotti the paymaster and other the Hungarian and Dutch commaunders with their souldiors tooke from them their weapons and caâ—â— the said Marotti with the other captaines and some of the better sort of their souldiors into yrons exacting of the rest as well Hungarians as Dutch in number about a thousand persons a thousand duckats threatening otherwise to deliuer them into the hands of the Turkes and albeit that Marotti offered for his libertie eighteene hundred duckats yet would they not bee so contented but spoyling both him and the rest of all that they had with their apparrell and weapons furnished such Turkes as were there prisoners and so sent them away to ALBA REGALIS and afterwards rifling euery mans house as if they had beene enemies tooke from them whatsoeuer pleased themselues and that which worse was to encrease these outrages compacted with the Turkes of ALBA REGALIS and BVDA for the pay which they said the emperour ought them to deliuer them the towne certifying them withall how that the lord Swartzenburg within two daies was comming with money to giue them contentment promising if hee came into the towne to deliuer him with the same into their hands or to bee the more sure of him they might if they so pleased intercept him at the passage ZESNEGKH whereby he must needs come For the more credit of which their wicked purpose they sent an ensigne of the emperours as a token vnto the Turkes at ALBA REGALIS who for all that altogether belieued them not yet willing farther to trie them sent them for hostages two Chians for whom the rebels sent also two others of the better sort of them to ALBA REGALIS with conclusion that the fiue and twentith of Iune at the furthest the money should be paied and the towne deliuered For the receiuing whereof and for feare of some hidden treason the Turkes and Tartars began to make themselues strong the Imperials also doing what they might for the appeasing of so dangerous a tumult So the tenth of Iune the lord Swartzenburg with two thousand horse and foot came within two miles of the towne and from thence sent foure and twentie horsemen to dissuade the rebels from yeelding the towne vnto the Turks and to tell them that they should shortly receiue their pay who shamefully deriding them sent them backe againe as wise as they came so that Swartzenburg perceiuing himselfe with so small forces to be able to doe nothing against them neither yet by faire meanes to persuade them retired againe to RAB vntill some greater strength were come vnto him Immediatly after doctor Petzen Councellour for the warres a man of great authoritie grauitie and wisedome was by Matthias the Archduke with foure hundred horse conducted to PAPPA to see if he by his discretion could haue dissuaded them from their so vngodly a purpose for the yeelding of the towne vnto the enemie whom they not onely refused to heare although he spake vnto them most kindly but also bent their muskets and harquebusies vpon him threatning to kill him if he did not forthwith depart When shortly after twentie of the Hungarians imprisoned in a cellar in the towne brake out and comming to RAB brought newes thither That the Frenchmen and Wallons in PAPPA were at variance among themselues about the yeelding vp of the towne vnto the Turkes some better minded than the rest not willing to consent thereunto insomuch that they in the castle shot at them in the towne and
onely of the citie of ANCYRA and the countrey thereabout three hundred thousand duckats so by exacting of great summes of money from the country people such as be his enemies heaping vp great treasures for the maintenance of his warres Now though Mahomet the Turkish emperour had called home Mahomet the Visier Bassa out of HVNGARIE to goe against the rebels into ASIA as is aforesaid yet had hee before prouided that for the better assurance of his townes and territories in HVNGARIE the Tartar Han with a great power of his Crim Tartars should euen against that time come downe into that countrey Which rough and needie people dwelling neere vnto the fennes of MEOTIS for pay or prey alwaies readie to doe the Othoman emperours seruice setting forward vnder the leading of their great Han himselfe and of his two sonnes and by plaine force breaking through VALACHIA though not without great losse of their men being fought with by the Valachians and free Haiduckes a whole day were now in the latter end of December with their huge companies come into HVNGARIE the Han himselfe with fortie thousand to QVINQVE ECCLESIae and his sonnes with twentie thousand moe into POSSEGA a fertile countrey lying betweene the great riuers Sauus and Drauus where they spoiled as well the Turkes as the other poore Christians pretending all that frontier countrey with the whole commaund thereof to be giuen vnto them by the Turkish emperour in reward of their seruice But long they lay not there quiet but that to shew for what they came they enforced the Christians thereabout to victuall CANISIA for the Turkes and so breaking into STIRIA not farre from CORAMANT the neerest fortresse of the Christians towards CANISIA carried away aboue two thousand Christians captiues and shortly after surprising KETSCHEMET a great and populous towne slew most part of the inhabitants and carried away the rest prisoners Othersome of them also at the same time making an inrode to SHARVAR and hauing burnt twentie countrey villages downe to the ground carried away thence about a thousand soules into most miserable captiuitie and thraldome They also at their first comming relieued them of BVDA the lord Nadasti with his Hussars who before kept them from victuals not being able for the great number of them now longer so to doe By them also the Turkes encouraged tooke and burnt certaine places possessed by the Christians neere vnto BVDA putting them all to the sword that they sound therein So that the poore countrey of HVNGARIE neuer to be sufficiently pitied with the rest of the countries and prouinces belonging vnto the house of AVSTRIA and confining vpon the Turke were not so much eased by the calling home of the Visier Bassa with his armie as they were now annoyed by the comming of these roagish Tartars a people wholly euen from their infancie giuen to the spoile Against whom for all that the Christians besides their ordinarie garrisons began now euen in the depth of Winter to oppose some other of their forces also the Palatine of Râ—ENE sending ten companies of horsemen to POSSONIVM from thence to be sent to SHARVAR for the defence of STIRIA and Collonitz but lately knighted by the emperour for his part raising foure hundred horse a thousand Hussares and three thousand of the free Haiduckes for the repressing of those Tartars the duke of BRVNSVVICKE also at that time for the same seruice sending thither a thousand horse with two thousand foot against those sworne enemies of the Christian Religion The troubles of this yeare thus ouerpast ALBA REGALIS being by the Christians lost PESTH with some other places woon TRANSYLVANIA recouered BVDA besieged the Visier Bassa returned and the Tartars come into HVNGARIE Ianuarie with a sharpe frost began to open the next yeare euen this which now is viz. 1603 by force whereof the riuers in many places but especially in those more Easterly countries were not onely frosen ouer but seemed rather wholly turned into yse Danubius that great riuer for all his swift course being then also as it is often so hard frosen that men and carts might safely passe too and fro thereupon In which so hard a season the Turkes in garrison at BVDA hauing once vpon the frosen riuer braued the Christians in PESTH and the two and twentith of Ianuarie comming out the second time in like brauerie were by two hundred of the Christian souldiors of PESTH put to flight vpon whom the Turkes in greater number returning chased them likewise backe againe euen to the bridge whereby they were to haue passed the ditch into the citie which now drawne vp for feare of greater harme from such a number of the Turkes as were now coâ—e out the poore souldiors so shut out and too weake for so great a power of their enemies were there all euery man slaine the Turkes themselues with little harme returning to BVDA But within a few daies after one Lehner a captaine of the Christian garrison grieued more than the rest with this so great a dishonour and certainly vnderstanding that certaine of the chiefe of the Turkes of BVDA with two captaines and a great traine of gallant gentlewomen were for their pleasure gone to the hoat bathes neere vnto BVDA taking with him threescore muskitiers went in hast ouer the riuer vpon the I se to salute them in their bath and to wish it might be vnto them wholesome who comming suddenly vpon them as they were merrie and bathing of themselues and not dreaming of any such danger slew all the men except one boy the gentlewomen in the time of the conflict naked as they were running as fast as they could vnto the citie feare hauing in them ouercome the modestie of their sex Which exploit done the captaine leauing the Turkes slaine in the bath now become red with their bloud returned with his souldiors the same way he came to PESTH after whom they of BVDA stirred vp with the crie of the fearefull women sent out certaine of their garrison after them but to no purpose for why they were in safetie before got home By continuance of this frost by reason that victualâ— could not be sent downe the riuer the souldiours in garrison at PESTH were driuen to such wants as that dogs and cats were accounted good meat amongst them About this time also the Ianizaries and Spahi the Turkes best souldiours perceiuing the warres against the rebels in ASIA not to haue beene so well managed as they could haue wished and as in truth they might haue beene many of their captaines and commaunders as it was thought secretly fauouring and furthering the rebels proceedings whereby much of their bloud had beene spilt and many a good man through their carelesnesse lost to the small good of their Sultan rise now vp in a tumult and so as men enraged beset the house of the chiefe of the Visier Bassaes. Who much dismaied therewith and vnderstanding the cause of their discontentment went in hast
gally who generally grieued to see him so great a commaunder to let slip so faire an opportunitieâ— But he fearing to come any neerer came to an anchor and moued not neither gaue any signe of comfort or reliefe to the besieged Which thing the Turkish king quickly perceiuing and therwith encouraged hauing now in diuers places beaten downe the wals and made them sauâ—table brought on his men to the breaches promising them the spoile of the citie with many other great rewards and hie preferments according to their particuler deserts whereof he said he would himselfe be an eye-witnesse Hereupon the Turkes gaue a most fierce and furious assault which the defendants with inuincible courage receiued and made such slaughter of them that the ditches were filled and the breaches made vp with the bodies of the dead Turkes But such was the number of that populous armie the greatest strength of the Turkes that the liuing little felt the losse of the dead Mahomet continually sending in new supplies of fresh men in steed of them that were slaine or wounded So that one could no sooner fall but two or three slept vp in his roome and so successiuely as if new men had sprong out of the bodies of the dead Twise they had euen woon the breaches and were both times with wonderfull slaughter beaten out againe This deadly and dreadfull assault was maintained a whole day and a night without intermission At length the defendants being for the most part slaine or wounded and the rest wearied with long fight and vnable to defend the towne now assaulted almost round retired from the breaches into the market place and there like resolute men sold their liues at a decre price vnto the Turkes Amongst the slaine Christians were found the dead bodies of manie notable women who seeing the ruine of the citie chose rather to die with their friends in defence thereof than aliue to fall into the hands of their barbarous enemies Mahomet being now become lord of the citie and hauing lost fortie thousand of his Turks in that siege in reuenge thereof caused all the men that were found in the citie aliue to be put to most cruell death especially the Italians vpon whom he shewed his tyrannie with most exquisit and horrible torments Paulus Ericus gouernour of the citie with a few others who with him were fled into the castle without resistance deliuered the same vnto him vpon his faithfull promise that they might in safetie depart but after that he had got them into his power the perfidious tyrant without regard commaunded them all to bee cruelly murthered The gouernours daughter a maiden of incomparable beautie was amongst the rest taken prisoner and for her rare perfection by them that tooke her presented to Mahomet as the mirrour of beautie The barbarous tyrant greedie of so faire a prey sought first by flattering words and faire persuasion to induce her to consent to his desire but when hee could not so preuaile he fell into an other vaine and began to shew himselfe in his owne nature threatning her with death torture and force worse than death it selfe if shee would not otherwise yeeld vnto his appetite Whereunto the constant virgin worthie eternall fame answered so resolutely and so contrarie to the tyrants expectation that hee being therewith enraged commaunded her to bee presently slaine The horrible and monstrous crueltie with the filthie outrages by that beastly and barbarous people committed at the taking of that cittie passeth all credit CHALCIS thus woon the rest of that fruitfull island without farther resistance yeelded vnto the Turkish slauerie vnder which it yet groaneth This calamitie happened to the Venetian state or rather to say truely to the generall hurt of the Christian common-wealâ— in the yeare of our redemption 1470. Canalis the Venetian Admirall who all the time of the siege had in the sight of the cittie lien at anchor as a looker on fearing now that the cittie was lost to bee set vpon by the Turkes fleet hoised saile and laded with dishonour returned in hast vnto VENICE where hee was by the commaundement of the Senat committed to prison and afterward with all his family exiled to VTINVM Shortly after when Mahomet was departed with his armie out of EVBoeA and his fleet returned to CONSTANTINOPLE the Venetians with their gallies attempted to haue vpon the sudden surprised the cittie a little before lost But Mahomet had therein left so strong a garrison that when the Venetians had landed their men they were againe enforced to retire to their gallies and to forsake their island CHALCIS thus lost with all the island of EVBoeA the Venetians chose Petrus Mocenicus a valiant and discreet gentleman Admirall of their fleet instead of Canalis and by their embassadours sollicited Sixtus the fourth of that name then bishop of ROME and Ferdinand king of NAPLES with Lewis king of CYPRVS and the grand master of the RHODES to joyne their forces together with theirs against the great and common enemie which thing all the aforesaid Christian princes promised them to doe And the more to entangle the Turke they at the same time sent Caterinus Zenus their embassadour with rich presents vnto Alymbeius Vsâ—n-Cassanes the great king of PERSIA to incite him on that side against the Turke in which negotiation Zenus so well behaued himselfe that the next yeare following that great king tooke vp armes against Mahomet and had with him mortall warres as shall be in conuenient place hereafter declared Mahomet not ignorant of these proceedings of the Venetians and that they did what they might to stirre vp as many enemies as they could and to bring him if it were possible into hatred with the whole world and well knowing how much he had offended the minds of the Christian princes with the crueltie he had of late vsed against them of CHALCIS thought it not best as then further to prouoke them and so happily to bring all at once about his eares but for a season to lie still at CONSTANTINOPLE as if he had beene desirous now to liue in peace not meaning further harme hoping therby that although he concluded no peace with any of them which indeed he was not desirous of yet that tract of time might mitigate the hainousnesse of the fact and coole the heat of their displeasure whereby it came to passe as hee wished that nothing worth the speaking of was that yeare attempted against him And because the Persian king was the man of whom he stood most in doubt hee sought by his embassadours to pacifie him and to withdraw him from the league of the Christians requesting him if it were for nothing els but for the communitie of the Mahometane religion wherein they well agreed and were thereby the professed enemies of the Christians to withdraw his hand and in their cause to cease to take vp armes vrging now for that it so stood with his purpose the zeale of religion whereas
otherwise he regarded as was thought no religion at all But Zenus the Venetian embassadour lying continually in the Persian court so wrought the matter with Vsun-Cassanes that hee told the Turkes embassadours plainely That he could not nor would not longer endure the manifest injurie and wrong done vnto him by the Turkish king and farther that hee had made a faithfull league with the Christian princes and therefore would to the vttermost of his power make it knowne vnto the world that he would effectually performe what thing soeuer he had promised and so dismissed them now no lesse discontented than were before the Persian embassadours at such time as they returned from the Turkes court hauing obtained nothing they then requested concerning the emperour of TRAPEZOND The yeare following Mocenicus the Venetian Admirall with his fleet arriued in the Isle of LESBOS where he did great harme From thence hee passed the bay of ADRAMITTIVM into the lesser ASIA and sore spoiled the countrey about PERGAMVS After that hee landed againe at CNIDVS vpon the coast of CARIA where he tooke a great bootie and so hauing done the Turkes exceeding much harme in ASIA all alongst the sea coast opposit to GRaeCIA he returned laden with spoile towards PELOPONESVS In his returne about the promontorie of MALEA vpon the coast of PELOPONESVS he met with Richaiensis comming vnto him with seuenteene gallies from king Ferdinand by whom hee was certified that the great Bishops fleet was readie to come forth also After mutuall gratulation as the manner at sea is the Admirals joining their fleets in one landed at METHONE now called MODON then a citie of the Venetians in PELOPONESVS where after they had well refreshed their souldiours and taken in fresh victuals they put to sea againe and sailing through the Islands landed in ASIA where they were at their first landing encountered by the countrey Turkes whom at last they put to flight and by the space of foure daies tooke what pillage they could in the countrey where the souldiours found great store of rich bootie especially of Turkie carpets which are there made in great abundance From thence they sayled to HALICARNASVS which is a part of CARIA where sometime stood the stately tombe which queene Artemesia built for her husband Maâ—solus accounted amongst the wonders of the world where they tooke a wonderfull spoile There came vnto them Nicholas Bishop of MODRVSSA with twentie gallies sent from the great Bishop whom the other two Generals welcommed with great joy At the same time also came thither two gallies from the great master of the RHODES With this fleet of 85 gallies they sailed to the Isle of SAMOS oueragainst EPHESVS sometime a place of great fame but then altogether desolate and vnpeopled there to consult for their further proceeding in those warres Loosing from SAMOS they tooke their course alongst the coast of ASIA and landed at ATTALIA the cheefe citie of PAMPHILIA a place of great trafficke where they found in the suburbes of the cittie great store of many rich commodities brought thither out of AEGIPT and SYRIA whereof they tooke what pleased them and burnt the rest together with the suburbes Vnto the cittie it selfe they began to lay siege but perceiuing that it was not without great losse of their men to be taken they departed thence and running all alongst the coast of PAMPHILIA burnt and destroied what came in their way and so returned backe againe to the RHODES where they met an embassadour from Vsun-Cassanes the Persian king to the bishop and the Venetians for great ordinance whereof that so mightie a prince was altogether vnfurnished Of this embassador they vnderstood that Vsun-Cassanes was entered into league with the Christian princes and now busie in making preparation against the Turke At which time Mahomet requited the Venetians with no lesse harme in EPIRVS and DALMATIA than they had done to him in ASIA for now that Scanderbeg was dead the Turkes mightely preuailed vpon the weake princes of EPIRVS and ALBANIA with the countries adjoyning The Christian fleet departing from the RHODES landed in the countrey of the Myndians a part of CARIA and with great spoile returned to the Island of NAXOS one of the CYCLADES from whence king Ferdinand his gallies returned home laded with much rich spoile for now the yeare was farre spent Yet after the departure of the kings gallies Mocenicus with the Legate returned backe againe into ASIA and there landing their men tooke the famous citie of SMYRNA in IONIA and when they had taken the spoile thereof set it on fire At which time also they did great harme about CLAZOMENE not far from SMYRNA So Winter drawing now fast on they returned laded with the rich spoiles of ASIA the Legate into ITALIE and Mocenicus to METHONE The insatiable desire of soueraignetie whereunto the Turkish king was naturally enclined had continually armed him not onely against the Christian princes but against others also euen of his owne superstition making no great difference betwixt the one the other if so he might extend his dominion He had long before vnder the pretence of a friendly parley craftely circumuented the king of MYSIA a countrey in ASIA and hauing got him within his danger cruelly put him to death and by force subduing his kingdome left not one of the kings blood aliue After that he inuaded CILICIA which the Turkes call CARAMANIA where the two young brethren Pyramet and Cassambet raigned and draue them both out of CILICIA of whom Pyramet the elder fled for refuge to Vsun-Cassanes Cassambet the yonger assisted by his old friends sought by force of armes to recouer againe his inheritance wrongfully by the Turkes possessed and was besieging certaine townes vpon the sea coast which being taken from the Turkeâ— would easily draw all the rest of the kingdome after them Mocenicus the Venetian Admirall being now with the first of the Spring come vpon the coast of CILICIA at the request of Cassambet landed certaine companies of his men vnder the leading of Victor Superantius and certaine peeces of great artillerie wherewith he so battered the wals of SICHINVM that hee enforced the Turkes therein to yeeld vp the citie which he deliuered to Cassambet In like manner he tooke the citie of CORYCVS which he also restored to Cassambet At last hee laid siege to Sâ—LEVCIA which standeth vpon the riuer ORONTES and was built by king Seleucus one of the successors of Alexander the Great distant from the sea about fiue miles the Gouernour of this citie discouraged with the sight of the great artillerie deliuered the citie to the Venetian captain who by the appointment of the Admirall restored the same to Cassambet Who by this meanes brought againe into his kingdome gaue great thankes vnto the Admirall promising both for himselfe and for his brother to be alwayes friends vnto the Venetians Mocenicus departing from CILICIA landed his men in LYCIA and harried that countrey all
things should fall out well which were warily and aduisedly considered and resolued vpon The matter thus on both sides debated and nothing done they returned with the fleet into the port of NAVARINVM This proceeding as it diuersly mooued the Spaniards and the Venetians so brought it foorth diuers speeches euerie man speaking in fauour of his owne nation The Spaniard openly vaunted that he had most prouidently resolued for that how deere the counsell of the Venetian Admirall would haue cost if it had beene followed the thing it selfe as he said shewed by the extreame danger thereof presented not in the doubtfull opinion of men but laied open before their eies The Venetians on the other side more desirous of battell the neerer they had seene the opportunitie to haue preuailed vpon the enemie the more impatiently they endured so assured a victorie to haue beene let slip out of their hands and thereof spake accordingly The Christians lying at NAVARINVM consulted of many things what they were best to take in hand and resoluing at last by sea and land to besiege the castle of MODON which kept the passage into the bay and defended the Turks fleet they returned againe thither and landed seauen thousand of their best souldiors to besiege the castle And at the same time appointed the galeasses with certaine gallies to batter it also from sea which the more commodiously to doe they joyned two of their greatest gallies togither side to side which they made fast with masts and strong ropes and so bourded them cleane ouer whereon as on a platforme they placed gabions all afront filled with earth and great ordinance betwixt to haue battered the castle But when this engine in manner of a floating fort should haue performed the seruice for which it was deuised it prooued vnseruiceable after it had with much adoe been brought thither being readie to sinke with the waight of the great ordinance and other things wherewith it was ouercharged For which cause and for that they vnderstood a great number of horsemen to be come into the towne they gaue ouer the siege vainly begun and put againe with their fleet to sea It fortuned at the same time that a tall ship of VENICE departing from ZACYNTHVS and comming alongst the coast of PELOPONESVS with prouision for the fleet was descried by the enemie who thinking to doe the Christians a great dishonour if they could almost in the sight of their fleet surprise her they sent out certaine light gallies to haue taken her Vluzales in the mean time with the rest of his fleet lying in the verie mouth of the bay readie to come out if the Christian fleet should once stirre to relieue her Which the Christians perceiuing and well hoping that so the enemie would be drawne to battell sent out Columnius with his gallies to rescue the ship and others also which lying aloofe might get in betwixt the Turks gallies and the bay Don Iohn and the Venetian Admirall lying readie to haue giuen battell if Vluzales should haue come foorth But the Christians comming on with a small gale the enemie being afraid by shooting off of certaine warning pieces within the bay in time called backe the gallies that were alreadie gone out of the bay who all forthwith came in excepting Mahomet the nephew of Barbarussa a most famous captaine amongst the Turkes who as one of great courage and desirous of honour staied a little without the bay with greater courage than discretion expecting who should assaile him Him the Marques S. Crucis set vpon and had with him a great and terrible fight but in the end the Marques preuailing slew Mahomet with all his Turks and with honour carried away the gallie So the dishonor which Vluzales would haue done the Christians fell vpon himselfe hauing in his owne sight lost one of his best captaines with his gallie The next day because the yeare should not passe without something done nor the hope of so great a preparation come to nothing the Christians determined to besiege the castle of NAVARINVM which was in auntient time called PYLVS more famous for nothing than for that it was the natiue place of old Nestor The citie of NAVARINVM standeth vpon a rising ground stretching somewhat into the sea whereinto it hath a large prospect and a faire large hauen but subject to the Northwind It is defended with a point of the maine running compasse into the sea whereon standeth an old castle Some sent before to view the situation of the place brought word backe that the castle might in three daies be woon The performance of which exploit was committed to Alexander Farnesius prince of PARMA whom the Venetians furnished with munition and victuall He landing with two thousand Italians a thousand Spaniards and fiue hundred Germans began with twelue great pieces to batter the castle And albeit that the batterie was planted so farre off as that it did the enemie no great harme yet happily the enterprise had taken effect if by taking the straight and troublesome passages through a rough and thicke forrest the citie had been kept from reliefe but for as much as those passages were left free the enemie cunningly opposed policie against force for sallying out of the citie they gaue the Christians an hot skirmish and in the meane time whilest the Christians were so busied by a port toward the forrest on the other side of the citie receiued in great number both of horse and foot The report of this new come aid caused the prince to raise his siege and to goe againe aboord And now rested all the hope of the gaining of the towne in the strength of the fleet and that not small for that the Turkes not relieued with victuals by land were by the confederates kept from them also by sea for at that time the Turks were troubled with two great mischeefes the plague and famine For no prouision had there beene made as in a thing not feared and that little being spent that was in the towne they were enforced to seeke for victuals further off which comming but sparingly as in time of dearth was oftentimes by the way intercepted by the souldiors that lay about in the countrey villages wanting victuals no lesse than they in the citie And the moe men the Beglerbeg of GREECE brought down for defence of the sea towns so much the more the wants of all things dayly encreased So that no man doubted but that in short time all would be brought to extreame penurie What a death the mortalitie had made the want of men in the gallies well declared for many of the gallies for lacke of marriners and souldiors were sent away into EVBoeA or left at MALVASIA or carried away to CONSTANTINOPLE Those which stayed in the bay of MODON were scarce an hundred gallies and fortie galliots and they so slenderly manned that the greatest gallies had scarcely an hundred and twentie men left in them and they