lay at the Town of Aegiolus in Galatia in great security having about him but a small Power for that he fearing no danger had at that time dispersed his Army to seek after Pillage abroad in the Country Mahomet taking hold of this opportunity marched thither with great celerity and suddenly setting upon Cara Dulet overcame him In which Conflict Cara Dulet himself was shot through the Head with an Arrow and slain and his Army utterly discomfited Mahomet returning back to Amasia with Victory refreshed and rewarded his Souldiers yet no less careful for the safety of his Kingdom than before Shortly after he was advertised that Cubad Ogli with a great Army laid hard Siege to the City of Caesaria in Capadocia and was like in short time to take it if it were not speedily relieved By taking of which City that Tartar Prince was like to make a great Entrance to the hazarding of the whole Country Wherefore Mahomet having his Army always in readiness marched day and night with such speed to Caesaria as that he was upon Cubad Ogli before he was aware of his coming and there slew most of his Souldiers and put him with the rest to flight After that he returned into Cubad Ogli his Country in Pontus and grievously spoiled and destroyed the same at which time he also by force won the strong Castle Peltae in the Confines of Phrygia Immediately after that Inael Ogli another of Tamerlanes Captains which at their pleasure without let forraged all the Countries of the lesser Asia during the time that Tamerlane made his abode within the Turks Dominions upon the sudden entred into Capadociâ with an Army of twenty thousand fighting men killing the Inhabitants and spoiling the Country before him so that the people for fear left their dwellings and fled into the Woods and Mountains to hide themselves from his fury Whereof Mahomet hearing was therewith exceedingly grieved and wrote unto him as followeth Sultan Mahomet unto the Prince Inall Ogli WHereas without any just or Lawful Cause or any War proclaimed you have invaded Our Kingdom and cease not cruelly to kill Our Subjects by God committed to Our Protection and to spoil their Wealth and Labours to the great disturbance of the Mahometan Commonweal and make no end of your malice and cruelty you do therein quite digress from the Manners and Laws of the true Mahometans or right Believers For if thou wouldst not only be accounted but indeed be a true Musul-man thou shouldst forthwith depart out of my Kingdom with thine Army thou shouldst not thus shed the innocent blood or without cause thus wrong my people but forasmuch as thou knowest not what beseemeth thee neither wilt listen unto good Counsel but wilfully proceed in thy wicked purpose falsly perswading thy self this my Kingdom to be destitute of a lawful Inheritor and therefore dost so great Wrong and Injury unto the Defenders of the true Mahometan Religion I would thou shouldst know that I with my so often Victorious Army will shortly by the Power of God come against thee and in plain Field according to thy deserts chastise thee Therefore whilst thou yet maist reclaim thy Self and proceed not too far in thine obstinacy too late Repentance did never man yet good Thus much We thought good to advise thee that thou shouldst not be ignorant of Our purpose but mightest so better consider and dispose both of thy self and thine affairs In the year after the departure of the great Prophet Mahomet 806. Unto which Letters Inall Ogli returned this Answer in writing Prince Inall Ogli to Mahomet WHy dost thou Mahomet with such Letters provoke me why dost thou so uncivilly taunt me being thy self but a Boy and in truth a very Child It beseemeth thee not to have entred into these Countries or to lay hands thereon wrongfully gracing thy self with the Title of a Sultan Neither is there any cause why thou shouldst complain that I should lie in wait or seek after thy Life thy Kingdom or any thing that thine is I challenge unto my self this Kingdom but none of thine out of which it is reason for thee as a wrongful intruder of thy self to depart whom otherwise I will forthwith thrust out and joyn the same unto the rest of my Territories Wherefore except thou without delay get thee packing and cease to oppose thy self against my designs I denounce unto thee all the Calamities of War and wish thee with speed to prepare thy self to battel for that I mean shortly to meet with thee This year of our great Prophet 806. Shortly after Mahomet according to his promise meeting with this Tartar Prince by plain force overthrew him and had of him a notable Victory The like good hap he had also not long after against Coster Ogli and Kiupeck Ogli two other Tartarian Captains at the Castle of Chara-chizar and the Plain of Artuck-Ova And hearing that one Mesites a Turk had fortified himself in the Ruins of Sebastia and from thence spoiled the Country round about he sent Bajazet one of his Bassaes against him who in short time took him and brought him bound unto him by whom he was adjudged to die But seeing in the man an invincible courage and contempt of death at such time as he should have been executed moved therewith he gave him his pardon for which he ever after continued unto him faithful and did him great Service Mahomet having many times thus vanquished the stragling Tartarian Princes which had sought the spoil of his Country became thereby famous amongst the great Commanders of Tamerlane his Army insomuch that the bruit of his name came at length to Tamerlanes Ear yet lying in the lesser Asia who as he thought it not worth his Greatness and Labour himself in Person to go against so great an Enemy so he thought it not good or convenient quite to neglect him but by some other means if he could to overtake him For which purpose he began to speak many times very honourably of him highly commending his great valour and forwardness in so tender years And calling for Bajazet told him what great commendation he had heard of his Son Mahomet and that he was therefore very desirous to see him where if he found that true which was reported of his great Vertues he would bestow one of his Daughters upon him in Marriage with many other great Preferments and therefore willed Bajazet to write unto him Not to doubt to come unto him to the great good both of himself and his Father Which thing Bajazet at the first doubting the worst requested Tamerlane not to believe that of his Son being yet very young and not worthy of so great a Favour Nevertheless partly perswaded by Tamerlane his Protestations and importuned by him that might now command him he with an evil will wrote to his Son Mahomet to such effect as Tamerlane required With which Letters and others of like purport from himself with many rich
words to utter his poyson shewing unto him as a Messsenger from the Governour the great and good opinion the Turkish Emperor had of long time conceived of his Valour and Prowess for which cause his heroical Nature could not but honour him although he were his Enemy and therewith also marvel that he being a man of that worth could be contented to be commanded by Scanderbeg whose state was by him chiefly upholden whereas if he would do wisely and changing his affection follow Mahomet an Emperor 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 Soveraignty of Epirus his native Country did better please him he might easily be thereunto advanced by joining his own endeavour to Mahomets great power It pleased Moses well to hear his own Praises a thing incident to haughty minds and he liked well that he was so favoured of the Turkish Emperor but the hope of the Kingdom of Epirus began to work in him new conceits and moved him more than all the rest Such is the force of ambitious thoughts that they make a man forget all things save themselves so glorious a thing it is to stand in the highest place For all that Moses neither in word or countenance made any semblance of liking or disliking the Message Which the wily Messenger taking for a secret consent and heartily glad that he had been so well heard not desiring as then any further answer craved leave to depart promising in short time to return to him again 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 cheerfulness of his countenance was abated his haughty thoughts were his solitary Companions and the imagined Kingdom the Idol he in secret worshipped so that in short time he seemed to the wiser sort as a man altogether metamorphosed Some were so bold as for to ask the cause of the Messengers coming unto whom he answered That he was one from whom he received intelligence of matters concerning the good of the State which his answer was holden for true for who durst once mistrust Moses Whilst he thus was tossed up and down with his own thoughts as a Ship with the Billows of a rough Sea the same slie Messenger according to his promise came again and for his more credit in secret brought with him such Presents as well might seem to have been sent from the Great Turk with his Message better framed than before Of all which that was sent Moses is reported to have received nothing but the worst which was the very Treason it self And so returned the Messenger with answer that he could not but in good part accept of the Turkish Emperors great favours and for the rest of his requests whatsoever he should chance to do therein he should not from thenceforth find him any great Enemy commanding the Messenger at his departure no more to repair unto him about that matter for fear 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 City it grieved him to see in the possession of the Turks Moses to avert Scanderbeg from that enterprise wherein he must of force be driven to shew himself told him That he understood of late by a certain Messenger which came to him out of Sfetigrade that the City was so well stored by the Turks of all things necessary for the defence thereof that it were but lost labour to attempt any thing against the same wherefore he advised him rather to besiege Belgrade not that Belgrade which is situated upon the River of Danubius but another of the same name in the Confines of Epirus then holden by the Turks but distant from Sfetigrade about an hundred and forty miles of the taking whereof there seemed to be more hope By this perswasion Scanderbeg resolved with himself to make provision for the besieging of Belgrade And forasmuch as his Souldiers of Epirus alwaies used to the Field were not so fit for the besieging of Towns 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 unto him much beholden Wherefore he sent two of his Noblemen Embassadors unto him with certain rich Presents and familiar Letters of this purport Our Souldiers of Epirus know only how to fight with men and them to vanquish with Walls they know not how to deal You Italians as I understand have skill in that kind of service and take pleasure therein wherefore now at this present I have need of your help and cunning There be certain Towns of our Enemies in Epirus yea almost in the heart of our Kingdom which eye-sore I have of long desired if it pleased God to take out of my sight but being occupied with continual Wars had no leisure until now happily to attempt any thing against them This time I have chosen as most fit to satisfie my desire both for the seasonableness of the time of the year and for that Mahomet spareth me leisure whose fury I have twice calmed You understand in few words what I have need of all other things are almost in readiness and we only look for your help Lend me such Souldiers as know how to fight a far off I mean Harquebusiers and Canoniers for of others we have store plenty But happy is Apulia my Alphonsus under thy Government from whence men fit for all services may be drawn as out of a most plentiful treasury Whensoever we have requested men fit for service either in Peace or War you have beautified both our Court and Camp. By you the Kingdom of Epirus hath been supported with civil Policy and warlike Strength all sort of People of what condition soever yea every corner of Epirus soundeth forth thy praise both at home and abroad But for mine own part I do so lovingly embrace your kindness and so firmly retain the remembrance of your deserts towards me that sometime I wish you that fortune although in so doing I may seem unkind which as the common saying is proveth but getteth not Friends to the intent that you might by some more certain proof know how much I am to you devoted When Scanderbeg had sent away his Embassadors he with all diligence began to provide things necessary for the Siege of Belgrade wherein he had purposed also to have used the service of Moses But he now in heart a Traitor both to his Prince and Country and a Friend to Mahomet found many excuses to stay at home in Dibra alledging first that it was to be thought that so soon as the Turkish King should hear of the Siege of Belgrade he would invade some part of Epirus thereby to withdraw his Enemies from
Imperial City was filled with sorrow and heaviness every man hanging the head and with silence covering his inward grief not without danger to have been then uttered Among many others appointed to this slaughter was one Isaac Angelus a man of great Nobility whom Hagiochristophorites the chief Minister of Andronicus his Tyranny and for the same by him higly promoted suspecting as one that bare no good will to the Emperor cause enough of death came to his house to apprehend him and finding him at home after a few hot words commanded him to follow him whereat the Nobleman making some stay and abhorring the very sight of the Wretch as unto him ominous and fatal Hagiochristophorites himself began to lay hands on him reviling his Followers that they had not forthwith drawn him out of his house by the hair of his head unto the Prison by him appointed For they touched with the honour of the Man and moved with pity forced him not but stood still as beholders Isaac seeing himself thus beset and no way now left for him to escape resolving rather there presently to die than shortly after to be murdred in Prison drew his Sword as the rest were laying hands upon him and at the first blow cleft the wicked head of Hagiochristophorites down to his shoulders and so leaving him wallowing in his own blood and like a desperate man laying about him amongst the rest made himself way through the midst of them And so imbrued with blood with his bloody Sword yet in his hand running through the midst of the City told the people what he had done and crying unto them for help in defence of his Innocency fled into the great Temple there to take the Refuge of the Sanctuary where he had not long sat in the place where the guilty flying thither for Refuge used to sit and confessing their Offence crave 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 City some to see the Nobleman some to behold what should become of him for all men thought that he would before Sun-set notwithstanding the reverence of the place be drawn thence by Andronicus and put to some shameful death Thither came also Iohn Ducas Isaacs Uncle and his Son Isaac to increase the tumult not for that they were any thing guilty of the death of Hagiochristophorites but for that they had before become Sureties unto the suspitious Tyrant for their Kinsman Isaac and he likewise for them by whose trespass they well knew themselves now brought into no less danger than if they had been Abettors thereunto And beside them also many other there were which doubting of their own estate and fearing the like might happen to themselves pricked 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 pitiful complaints moved many to take part with them At which time also no man yet coming from the Emperor being as then out of the City to repress the Sedition nor any of the Nobility opposing themselves no Friend of Andronicus appearing none of his bloody Ministers or Officers shewing themselves nor any that did so much as speak a good word in his behalf or in dislike of the tumult the boldness of the seditious people increased every man in so great liberty saying what he list and after their rude manner one incouraging another So spent Isaac that long night not thinking God wot of an Empire but still expecting the deadly stroke of Andronicus Yet had he with great intreating so prevailed that divers of the Assembly shutting the Church doors and bringing Lights into the Church stayed there with him all night and by their example caused some others to stay also The next morning by break of day were all the Citizens flockt again unto the Temple cursing the Tyrant to the Devil as the common Enemy of mankind wishing unto him a shameful death and the honour of the Empire unto Isaac At that time by fortune or rather God so appointing it Andronicus was out of the City at his Palace of Meludinum on the East side of Propontis where he was by nine a clock at night certified of the death of Hagiochristophorites and of the tumult of the people yet that night stirred he not neither did any thing more but by short Letters advised the people to pacifie themselves and not by foolish Rebellion to cast themselves into further danger In the Morning Andronicus his Favourites began to shew themselves and to do what they might to have appeased the tumultuous Multitude yea and presently after came Andronicus himself and landed with his Imperial Gally at the great Palace in the City But with the inraged People nought prevailed either the persuasions of the one or report of the presence of the other for they all as upon a signal given and as men inspired with one spirit or stirred up with the same fury flocked together into the Temple of S. Sophia one encouraging another and scoffing at such as stood by as idle lookers on without Weapons in their hands reviling them and calling them rotten Limbs that had no feeling of the common harm After that they broke open the Prisons and set at liberty the Prisoners as fittest instruments to increase the Tumult who were not all notable Offenders of the Dregs of the People but many of them born of good Houses and for some light Fault or inconsiderate Word whereof every man was in those times bound to give an account or for some Friends Offence against Andronicus there laid fast These of all others most animated the people in such sort as they which before for fear of the danger did but softly murmure to themselves against Andronicus did now openly joyn with the rest of the base seditious Then might you have seen some with their Swords and Targets some also in their Armour but the greatest part armed but with Clubs and Staves and other such like rude Weapons Arms of Fury hastily taken up in their Shops as by chance they came first to hand running forth in every place By this Assembly of the most furious and promiscuous People was Isaac hoised up and with a general applause saluted Emperor At which time one of the Sextons of the Church with a ladder took down Constantine the Great his Crown of Gold which for a Monument hung over the holy Altar and set it on Isaacs Head which he at the first seemed unwilling to wear not for that he was not desirous enough of the Empire but for that he feared the extream danger of the matter and thought those things that were then done to be but as it were a sick mans dream like enough straightway to vanish beside that he feared in so doing the more to exasperate Andronicus Which his Uncle Iohn Ducas as
Eldest Son and after him Iathatines his younger Brother who slain by Theodorus Lascaris the Greek Emperor as is before declared after him succeeded in that Kingdom another Iathatines the Son of Azatines who was by the Tartars expulsed and his Kingdom subdued as in the former part of this History it appeareth After which time the Selzuccian Family there also by the Tartars in the lesser Asia depressed retained scarce the name and shadow of their former Majesty and Glory In which troublesom times and confusion of the State Ertogrul well beaten and wearied in the World kept himself close in his house at Suguta as well contented therewith as with a Kingdom seeking by all means to keep Peace on every side with his Neighbours as well Christians as others In which quiet kind of life he sweetly passed over the troublesome times of Mesoot the Son of Kei-Cubades and of Kei-Cubades the Son of Feramuzin both Sultans but the great Tartars Tributaries and reigning but at their pleasure until the time of the Second Aladin the sole and last Heir of the Iconian Kingdom before by the Tartars divided which was no few years All which time Ertogrul lived quiet 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 ruin of his own House and Family both from Royal State brought almost unto nothing and therefore with patience taking the World as it came and making a vertue of necessessity contenting himself with a little bare himself kindly towards all men In which contented kind of life he grew to great years with his three Sons greatly beloved and honoured of their Neighbours as well Christians as Turks and no less favoured by the second Aladin then Sultan than he had been of all the Sultans before him whom the young men his Sons after the manner of their Nation forbidding them with empty hands to salute their Princes oftentimes visited with one Present or other In all which his Sons were many good parts to be seen yet so as that in Othoman was easily to be seen a greater Courage and Spirit than in the other two his Brethren which was the cause that he was the more by them of his Tribe regarded but especially of the youthful and warlike sort which commonly resorted unto him when he went to hawk or hunt or to other delights of the Field the counterfeits of War and was of them commonly called Osman Gazi that is to say Osman the Warlike In this frontier Country near unto Suguta the dwelling place of old Ertogrul had Sultan Aladin divers Lieutenants and Captains Governours of his Castles and strong Holds upon those frontiers with whom Othoman was well acquainted and unto whom he for Friendship sake oftentimes resorted but especially unto the Captain of In-Ungi for that he knew himself to be of him well beloved and therefore unto him very welcome So it fortuned upon a time that as Othoman being yet but young was going to make merry with the Governour of Eski-Chisar a Castle about four and twenty miles off called of the Greeks Palaeocastron by the way as he went at a place called Itburne a Town in Phrygia chanced there to see and afterwards to fall in liking of a fair maiden called Malhatun unto whom his affection dayly increasing he without his Fathers knowledge sent a secret Friend of his to intreat with her of Marriage Which after long discourse to her made concerning Othomans affection and request gave him answer that betwixt Othoman and her was great inequality a thing especially to be regarded and eschewed of such as wished to live a happy life in wedlock bands she was as she said but meanly born and therefore was not to expect so great a match whereas he could not want choice of other Maids of more worth and in all respects more answerable unto himself But among other causes why she gave him this answer one was for that some that wished her well and put into her head that Othoman meant not indeed to marry her but under that colour to obtain of her some few days pleasure had so having dishonoured her afterward again to cast her off which was indeed far from his thoughts for he the more inflamed with her modest denial the more desired her for his Wife In the mean time Othoman going again unto the Governour of Eski-Chisar and courteously by him entertained chanced as it oftentimes doth among familiar Friends in their merriments to fall in speech of his Love with greater affection than discretion commending her Beauty her Feature and gracious Perfections not dissembling also to her greater praise the repulse by him received at her hands Which the Governour hearing seemed greatly to like of his choice saying that she was by the Divine providence for so the Turks religiously use to speak appointed only for him to have But in the mean time secretly inflamed with the immoderate commendation of Othoman without respect of Friendship he began to grow amorous of her himself whom he had never seen so light is that foolish affection and that so far as that being otherwise a man of good discretion he was not able to conceal or cover these new conceived flames but that Othoman by certain conjectures and tokens perceived the same And yet dissembling the matter as if he had suspected nothing being risen from the Banquet calling unto him one of his trusty Servants sâcretly sent him away unto certain of the Maids Friends willing them in his name as they tendred her honour presently to send her away unto some safe place further off for fear she were not ere long taken from them by a great man more amorous of her person than respective of her honour And by and by after taking leave of his unfaithful Friend and bidding him farewel took his away to the Captain of In-Ungi whom he knew to be his dear Friend But whilst he there stayed certain days passing the time in hawking hunting and other youthful disports with the Captain his Friend the Governour of Eski-Chisar who commanded all the Country thereabout called Sultan-Ungi sent one of his trusty Servants to Iburne to see fair Malhatun and how all things went there Who coming thither and understanding of her secret departure and that by the advertisement from Othoman she was conveyed to certain of her Friends afar off at his return from point to point certified his Master thereof who exceedingly grieved with the report and fretting above measure to see himself so deluded by Othoman presently sent unto the Captain of In-Ungi being within his jurisdiction to command him without delay to deliver Othoman unto him But he loving of him well as a faithful man unto his Friend could with no threats or intreaty be perswaded so to do Wherefore the Governour in a great rage presently raising the greatest Power he was able to make came to
well knew not how to stay or what to do So being on every side circumvented and hardly charged most of them there fell excepting some few Horsemen whom the Greek Horsemen pursued unto the entrance of Chersonesus with purpose there to shut them up Philes coming thither also there upon those Straits encamped at which time the Emperor presently sent out five Gallies to keep the Straits of Hellespont so that no aid might be brought unto those Turks out of Asia Whilst these things thus went two thousand choice Horsemen came to the aid of Philââ out of Servia and the Potestate of Pera came by Sea also with eight Gallies more into Hellespontus to the aid of the Christians wherefore when the Grecians and the Servians had thus on the one side shut them up by Land and they that were in the Gallies on the other by Sea Philes with all his Power came and incamped about the Town and the Trenches wherein the Turks lay planting his battery against the Castle wherewith he greatly shook the same and made great Slaughter of the Turks and of their Horses and that not only by day but by night also But the Turks seeing death now present before their Eyes and no way left for them to escape for that they were so on every side both by Sea and Land inclosed thought good thus to adventure their lives resolving by night to set upon the Grecians rather than upon the Servians whom they had hitherto accustomed to overcome and whom they had with often Slaughters terrified that so the rest by them also happily discouraged they might so delay the assault but in attempting the same they perceived themselves much deceived finding them even at their first sallying out ready in Arms to receive them wherefore having in vain given the attempt as against a strong Fortress they were shamefully enforced to retire Yet were they not therewith so discouraged but that the straight Siege still continuing they gave the like attempt upon the Servians but being also by them in a like manner with loss repulsed they began now utterly to despair Wherefore the next day about midnight casting away their Arms they with their bosoms and pockets full of Coyn ran down unto the Sea-side towards the Gallies with purpose to yield themselves unto the Genowaies that were therein as fearing of them less harm as of men whom they had never hurt But the night being dark and misty and the Moon giving no light many of them unawares came unto the Greek Gallies and there flying the smoke fell into the fire for being lightned of their Mony they were by them forthwith without any pity slain also But the Genowaies slew not all their Prisoners but only such as had brought with them the most Coyn lest afterwards bewraying the same it âhould have been sought after by the Greeks the rest they cast into bonds of whom some they sent unto the Emperor othersome they kept to themselves as their own Prisoners Thus by the valour and good conduct of this worthy devout Captain the Turks were for that time again chased out of Europe and the Country of Thracia delivered of a great fear Now by that we have already written is easily to be seen the chief causes of the decay and ruin of the Greek Empire to have been First the Innovation and change of their ancient Religion and Ceremonies by Michael Paleologus whereof ensued a world of Wo then by Covetousnes covered with the name of good Husbandry the utter destruction of the chief Strength of the Empire next unto that by Envy the ruin of the Great false Suspition the loser of Friends Ambition Honors overthrow Distrust the great minds torment and foreign Aid the Empires faithless Porter opening the gate even unto the Enemy himself whereunto foul Discord joyned as shall be forthwith declared what wanted that the barbarous Enemy could desire for the helping of them in the supplanting of so great an Empire But again to our purpose Michael Companion with his Father Andronicus in the Empire had by his Wife Mary two Sons Andronicus who was afterward Emperor and Manuel sirnamed the Despot and two Daughters Ann married unto Thomas Prince of Epirus and Theodora married to the Prince of Bulgaria of all these the old Emperor Andronicus their Grandfather so entirely loved Andronicus his Nephew as that in comparison of him he seemed little to regard either his own 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 excellency of Wit and comliness of Person the likeness of name also happily furthering his kind affection For which reasons he caused him to be honorably brought up 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 grown to be a lusty Youth at which time mens hot desires are commonly most vehement he began to contemn all chastisement and government especially in so high a calling and in the prime of his youth Besides that his Companions became unto him the Ministers and Perswaders of all those vain Delights which unstaid youth most desireth and at the first began to lead him forth to walk the Streets to hawk to hunt and to haunt Plays 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 gave him but a certain spare allowance for his convenient maintenance he acquainted himself with the rich Merchants of Genoway which dwelt at Pera. Hereof arose hard taking up of Mony great Debts fine devices how to come by Coyn with secret consultations and purposes of Flight For when he saw his Grandfather old Andronicus long to live and his Father Micâael like to succeed him he had no hope of aspiring unto the Empire whereupon his ambitious thoughts and impotent desires long time tormenting his haughty Heart suggested unto himself such purposes For when as he would not obey his Grandfather as his Tutor nor follow other mens Councils as a Child he sought after the Imperial Liberty and abundance of Wealth that he might have that was sufficient for himself and wherewith to reward others as the Followers of an Emperor Which seeing he could not do his Grandfather yet living and his Father reigning he sought after the Soveraignty of other Principalities and Countries one while after Armenia as belonging unto him in the right of his Mother the King of Armenia's Daughter another while after Peloponesus and sometime he dreamed of Lesbos and Lemnus and other the fruitful 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 reproved of the one and afterwards of the other And to pass over many other
so fare you well From Croia the third of August 1444. These Letters being dispatched away unto the King Scanderbeg forthwith began to levy his Forces And first of all he caused with new Supplies to be made strong all those Companies wherewith he had overthrown Alis Bassa not suffering any one of them to absent himself from this Expedition Unto whom being in number fifteen thousand all men of approved Valour he joyned other fifteen thousand more no less valiant than they such a Power as he never either before or after raised for the Recovery or Defence of his Kingdom And so furnished with all things necessary for so honourable a War chearfully set forward accompanied with the Vows and Hope of all his most faithful and loving Subjects But being come to the Borders of Servia he found the strait and difficult passages of that rough Country shut up by George the Despot Lord thereof a man adorned with all the Graces of Nature but otherwise a wicked damned Atheist and a Christian but in name only who but lately before restored unto his Kingdom by the help of King Uladislaus having changed his mind did now mightily cleave unto the Turk his Son-in-Law by whom he had been before himself exiled and in favour of his quarrel and despight of the Hungarians but especially of Huniades had stopped up the waies and passages whereby Scanderbeg was with his Army to pass who by his Embassador sent of purpose unto the Despot complained to him of that wrong putting him in mind of the perjurious dealing of Amurath with him notwithstanding he had married his Daughter and of the great Pleasures the Hungarians had done him of both which he had good proof requesting him if it were but in regard of the common cause of Christianity to give unto him as unto his Friend by whom he was never in any thing wronged passage and not to stain himself with the perpetual note of Infamy That he being a Christian Prince and of late so mightily oppressed by the Turk should now to the great hinderance of the Christian Common-Weal take part with him against his Friends and Deliverers But what availeth Prayers or Requests be they never so reasonable with a man set down to mischief Scanderbeg out of hope by any other means to open his way but by plain force resolved so to do although it much grieved him to spend those Forces upon a Christian Prince which he had prepared against the capital Enemy both of himself and all good Christians old Amurath the Turkish Sultan But whilst he thus discontented spendeth his time with his Army upon the Borders of Servia beset with many difficulties Uladislaus prickt forward by the continual solicitation of Iulian the Cardinal or else drawn on by his own inevitable Destiny having assembled a great Army of valiant and couragious Souldiers out of Hungary and Polonia yet in number far inferior to that he had the year before for that most of the voluntary Souldiers were returned home set forward from Segedinum and in the beginning of November a time unfit for Wars passed over Danubius and entring into Bulgaria came to Nicopolis the Metropolitical City of that Kingdom but then in possession of the Turks where he burnt the Suburbs thereof and in that fruitful Country thereabouts refreshed his People three or four days where he also mustered his Army and took a view thereof At which time Dracula Vayvod of Valachia a man of great experience in Martial Affairs being then present and considering the small number of the Kings Army began to perswade him to retire saying He had sufficiently learned by his own harms to deem aright of the Power of the Turkish Sultan who as he said was wont many times to carry more men with him into the Fields into his Disport of Hawking and Hunting than was there in the Kings Camp wherefore he should do well not to expose those his small Forces unto so manifest peril in such unseasonable time of the year but to reserve them to a more fit opportunity when he might with greater Power encounter his puissant Enemy This his Counsel most men of greatest Experience and not carried away with other private respects thought wholesom but the Cardinal Author of this fatal War extolling with great words the last years Victory obtained agaist the Turk with glorious promises of great Aid as well by Sea from the Pope and the Venetians as by Land from the Emperor of Constantinople and other Christian Princes augmenting also the great Troubles in Asia and promising an easie and happy success unto these Wars in Europe perswaded the King that Dracula his speech proceeded either of ignorance upon a superficial Judgment which he made of the Kings Power there present without regard of further Strength from his Friends or else of the private respect of his own security in regard of a commodious League made a little before betwixt him and the Turk So that the poor Prince seeing his Counsel mightily impugned by the Cardinal and not so well taken as it was meant by him stood in doubt whether to leave him to his own Fortune and himself to his quiet Peace or casting off the Turkish League to joyn with the King in this chance of War but at length resolved as a Martial minded Man preferring the uncertain Glory of the Field before his own assured rest said unto the King Seeing that either your Princely Fortune which hath ever hitherto favoured your high Attempts or else the hope of Friends help which I pray God fail you not at your need or the secret designment of your Destiny unable to be avoyded draws your Majesty into a different opinion from me that your resolution which I cannot by reasonable perswasion alter I will as the suddenness of time and my small ability will permit most gladly further And therewith presented unto the King his Son with four thousand Horsemen well appointed to serve him in those Wars wishing unto him such good success as he himself desired Afterward when he was about to take his leave of the King he preferred unto him two lusty young men perfect Guides for that Country with two Horses of incredible switness and with tears standing in his Eyes said unto him Take this small Gift in good part as a poor refuge to flie unto if your Fortune hap to fail you which I tremble to think upon I pray God they be given in vain and so they shall if my Prayers may prevail Yet if necessity shall inforce you to use them you shall find them serviceable at your need And so taking his last Farewel of the King returned into Valachia Uladislaus marching on from Nicopolis toward Thracia took many Towns and Forts by the way which the Turks for fear yielded unto him at last he came to Sumium and Pezechium where the Turkish Garrisons trusting as much to the Strength of the places as to their own Valour stood upon their Guard
Bajazet was upon the way against his Brother Achmetes the great Bassa in the confession of all men the best man of War and most expert Captain amongst the Turks and of all others most entirely beloved of the Janizaries came and unarmed presented himself upon his knees before Bajazet his Sword hanging at his Saddle-bow to the admiration of many who could not but wonder to see so worthy a Chieftain of so great Place in time of Service without any apparent cause in such humble manner to appearâbefore his Soveraign as if he had had nothing to do with Arms. It chanced many years before in the mortal Wars betwixt Mahomet the late and great Emperor of the Turks and Assymbeius Usun-Cassanes the King of Persia that Bajazet having the leading of the right Wing of his Fathers Army had not martialled it in so good order as was to Mahomet his good liking for which cause he commanded this Achmetes to go and set that part of the battel in better order Which his Soveraigns Command whiles he most skilfully performed Bajazet taking it in evil part as tending to his own disgrace in great choler threatned the Bassa to find a time when he would be revenged upon him But he being a man of great spirit and one that durst both do and say much perceiving his meaning bid him do what pleased him and laying his hand upon his Sword solemnly vowed That whensoever he came to Command as Emperor he would never ware Sword in field the remembrance whereof was the cause that he then came in manner aforesaid ready to serve if he were thereto commanded or otherwise to endure what so his Princes Pleasure was Bajazet perceiving that the unkindness so long before conceived was not yet disgested in token of Grace stretched out to him his Scepter and taking him up commanded him to girt his Sword unto his side and not to remember that which he had long before both forgiven and forgotten And knowing right well that he was a most valiant and expert Captain made him General of his Army to the great contentment of the Janizaries and the rest of the Army who so soon as they saw him gave out divers great shouts for joy as if Victory had most assuredly attended upon him Achmetes taking upon him the Charge came and incamped so near as he could to Zemes and so lay by the space of ten days during which time many sharp Skirmishes were made with divers Fortune sometime the one side prevailing and sometime the other At length the matter was brought to a general battel wherein after a long and cruel fight and great slaughter on both sides the Fortune of Bajazet conducted by the policy of Achmetes prevailed against Zemes. Who seeing his Army overthrown betook himself to flight and came to Iconium in which flight many of Zemes his Followers were taken Prisoners whom Bajazet would have pardoned and enlarged but that by the perswasion of Achmetes he changed his mind and to the terror of others suffered them all to be put to the Sword. Zemes doubting after this Overthrow to fall into his Brothers hands and finding no means to make head again when he had staid three days at Iconium caused his Treasure Plate Jewels and other things of great value and light carriage to be trussed up and taking with him his Mother and his two young Children a Son and a Daughter accompanied with a small Retinue fled into Syria then part of the Dominion of Caytbeius commonly called the great Sultan of Egypt and Syria It was not long after the departure of Zemes from Iconium but that Bajazet came thither with his Army to have surprised him but understanding of his flight he took order for the peaceable Government of that part of his Empire And so having suppressed that dangerous Rebellion and again reduced that troubled part of his Empire to his Obeysance returned with Victory to Constantinople The distressed Prince Zemes travelling through Syria came at length to Ierusalem year 1482. where he stayed a good space devoutly visiting the Monuments of that most ancient and famous City From thence he travelled into Egypt where at his first entrance into the Country he was met by divers of the greatest Nobility of that Kingdom sent from the great Sultan by whom he was honourably conducted to Caire and there presented to Caytbeius of whom he was graciously welcomed unto whom after due Reverence done he declared the cause of his coming as followeth If it were not to me certainly known most Victorious that you are not ignorant either who I am or from whence descended or with what injury enforced after long and painful travel I am here arrived it would much concern me to use another manner of beginning of my Speech and with greater protestation of words to seek your gracious Favour But forasmuch as all these things are unto your most Royal Majesty sufficiently known as I do well perceive in this that your infinite Clemency hath entertained me with far greater kindness than I in such my adverse Fortune durst wish for much less request Now nothing remaineth for me to say more than justly to complain unto your invincible Majesty of the Wrong and Injury done unto me by Bajazet whom I may more justly term my cruel Enemy than kind Brother For he not contented to have taken unto himself my Fathers Empire by great tumult and slaughter hath with all Hostility and Force of Arms persecuted me his Brother excluded out of the Imperial City and then living in Bithynia troublesome neither to him nor any of his people and never rested until he had chased me out of the bounds of my Fathers Empire Neither hath the jealous desire of Soveraignty whereof my Father whilst he lived had him always in distrust so much moved him unto this so cruel Fact as a certain unnatural cruelty towards all his Kindred in general and mortal hatred against me his Brother in particular for he which is already possessed of the Empire and doth with all Hostility persecute a private person subject and exposed to his Injury that man thirsteth not after Soveraignty but after Blood neither desireth âe to Conquer but to Kill And whereas after my Fathers death great Troubles arose in Constantinople and many bloody Skirmishes were fought betwixt the Favorites of both of us it cannot with any truth be laid to my charge at done by mine advice or counsel I being at the same time so far from thence Neither am I justly to be blamed if that after my Fathers departure I put my self upon the way towards Constantinople especially being sent for thither by many my good Friends men of great Mark and Quality but his Fortune prevailing I gave place and lest my coming to the Imperial City might have been the occasion of new Troubles I returned aside into Bithynia and so to Prusa with purpose there to have rested in quiet if my Brother would have given
whom forsomuch as he had always heard much honour he was in good hope to find succour and relief in that his distressed estate protesting unto God and the World that if ever it should be his good Fortune by their means and help to obtain the Empire he would never be unmindful of so great a benefit but to make with them a perpetual and inviolable Peace and so to rest their fast Friend for ever The Great Master on the other side comforting him with chearful Speeches promised to keep him in safety from the fury of his Brother and farther to commend his Cause to the other great Kings and Princes of Christendom This exiled Prince Zemes was about the age of eight and twenty years when he came to the Rhodes of stature tall somewhat corpulent and well limb'd grey-eyed but looking something asquint hook-nosed and in the middle rising in such manner as the Persians commend in their Kings of colour brown spare of speech and by nature cholerick a great feeder so that he seemed rather to devour his meat than to eat it much delighted in swimming and to lie abroad in the night pensive and melancholy which men imputed to his great cares never merry but in the company of the grand Master a religious observer of the superstition from which he could never be drawn during the long time he lived in exile learned as among the Turks so that he wrote the History of his Fathers life But leaving him in safe keeping with the grand Master of the Rhodes let us again return to the course of our History Bajazet having now the second time chased away his Brother after he had well quieted that part of his troubled Kingdom in Asia returned again to Constantinople carefully attending when some new motion should be made by his Brother to his farther disquiet But after he understood that he was with the Great Master of the Rhodes he sent certain of his Bassaes amongst whom Achmetes the great Souldier is reported to have been one unto the Great Master requesting him to deliver up Zemes offering for him a wonderful sum of money Which dishonourable request when it could by no means be obtained the same Embassadors in the name of their Master concluded a Peace very commodious for the Rhodians wherein among other things it was agreed That the Great Master should keep Zemes in safe custody so that he should no more trouble the Turkish Empire in consideration whereof and for his honourable usage Bajazet should yearly pay unto the Great Master thirty thousand Ducats the first of August which was afterward accordingly payed year 1484. It fortuned that whilst Achmetes the great Bassa employed in matters abroad was absent from the Court Bajazet discoursing with the other Bassaes his grave Counsellors upon his late Expedition into Asia against his Brother seemed to be highly offended with the untrustiness and doubtful faith of some of his greatest Captains and Souldiers yet upon whom he might justly lay the blame he well knew not although it seemed by his talk he should somewhat distrust the great Captain Achmetes Hereupon Isaac the most ancient Bassa of the Court and of greatest authority next unto Bajazet himself whose Daughter a Lady of exceeding beauty Achmetes had long before married but doubting that she had yielded her Honour to the wanton lust of Mustapha the eldest Son of Mahomet the late Emperor had put her from him and would by no means be reconciled for which cause there was a secret hatred ever after betwixt those two great Bassaes perceiving the Emperors discontented and suspitious humour and desiring nothing more than the destruction of Achmetes took hold upon this opportunity and by all means he could devise encreased the suspition of the Treason which had already too much possessed the jealous Emperor sometimes craftily imagining Intelligence to have passed betwixt Zemes and Achmetes and forthwith amplifying his Power and Authority which as he said was so great with the Janizaries and Souldiers of the Court that they by reason of his often imployments were wholly at his devotion so that he might at his pleasure do more in Zemes his quarrel than should stand with the safety of Bajazet a matter well to be considered of and also carefully prevented For remedy of which dangers it was thought necessary that Achmetes at his return to Court should be taken away and slain Achmetes fearing nothing less than that which was contrived against him came after his wonted manner to the Court and was with the other great Bassaes invited to a solemn Supper which Bajazet had commanded to be prepared to solace himself after his travels as it was given out with his chief Bassaes. To this Royal Supper came Achmetes with the rest of the bidden Guests mistrusting nothing and was there sumptuously feasted by Bajazet who to make his Guests the merrier drank Wine plentifully himself causing them also to drink in like manner so that they were full of Wine a thing utterly forbidden by their Law yet daily more and more used especially by their great Men in their Feasts Supper now ended and the night far spent Bajazet in token that they were welcome and stood in his good Grace caused certain rich Robes of pleasing colours to be brought forth and to be cast upon every of his Guests one giving beside unto every one of them a fair giât Bowl full of Gold. But upon Achmetes was cast a Gown of black Velvet which among the Turks may well be called the Mantle of death being so sure a Token of the Emperors heavy Indignation as that it is death for any man once to open his mouth or to intreat for him upon whom it is by the Emperors commandment so cast Achmetes seeing himself now under the shadow of death and knowing it but vain to intreat for mercy as he was a man of great spirit brake forth and said Oh cachpogly which is as much as to say Thou Son of a Whore sith thou entendedst so much cruelty against me why didst thou not put it in execution before thou hadst inforced me to drink this impure and forbidden Wine and so casting his Eyes upon the ground sate still The other Bassaes having leave to depart giving thanks to the Emperor and craving pardon for their excess kissed the ground at his Feet and so departed with whom Achmetes offered to have gone out also but was forthwith commanded to sit still for that the Emperor had to talk with him in secret The Bassaes were no sooner departed but the terrible Executioners of Bajazet his wrath stept in and laid hands upon Achmetes to have slain him when one of the Eunuchs in greatest favour with the Tyrant standing by advised him not to be too hasty in executing of so great Man so entirely beloved of his best Souldiers and Men of War but rather to stay his Execution for a while to see how the matter would be disgested and in the mean time
of the free States that they highly commended his forwardness and all other matters for that time set apart agreed all with one consent at a prefixed day to send unto Vienna such warlike Forces as they had in any time before set forth for the defence of the Christian Religion and the Majesty of the Empire Whereupon he wrote unto Alphonsius Vastius his Lieutenant General in Italy and one of the greatest Captains of that age that he should without delay call together the old Captains and to levy so many Companies of Harquebusiers as they possibly could and with them and the Spanish Souldiers to repair forthwith unto him into Austria He also enjoyned Andreas Auria his Admiral that he should with like diligence rig up a strong Fleet of Gallies and Merchants Ships and to go against the Turks Navy into Graecia At the same time he sent for his choice Horsemen out of Burgundy and the Low-Countries and many noble Gentlemen and old Souldiers out of Spain for the guard of his own person he entertained twelve thousand Germans such as had longest served in his Wars in Italy over whom commanded Maximilian Herberstene and Tamisius both famous Captains At the same time Clement the seventh then Bishop of Rome although his Coffers were greatly emptied by the late Florentine Wars which had cost him ten hundred thousand Ducats yet to make some shew of his devotion in so dangerous a time with the great good will he bare unto the Emperor after he had with grievous exaction extorted from the Clergy a great mass of Mony whereunto his rich Cardinals contributed nothing as if it had been a thing utterly unlawful for them in so good a cause to have abated any jot of their pontifical shew in the Court of Rome sent the young Cardinal Hippolitus Medices his Nephew being then about twenty years of age a Man indeed fitter for the Wars than for the Church as his Legate unto the Emperor accompanied with more good Captains than Clergy-men and his Coffers well stuffed with Treasure whose coming to Ratisbone was unto the Emperor and the Germans very welcome for besides that he was a young Gentlemen of very comly Personage and exceeding Bountiful he entertained for those Wars besides the Company he brought with him eight thousand Hungarian Horsemen of all others best acquainted with the Turkish Wars King Iohn understanding that the formost of Solymanâ great Army were come as far as Samandria in Servia thought it now a fit time to wring from King Ferdinand such Towns as he yet held in Hungary wherefore he sent Aloysius Grittus whom Solyman had left as a helper for his Estate to besiege Strigonium which is a City of Hungary situate upon the side of Danubius about thirty Miles from Buda the Castle thereof was at that time holden with a strong Garrison of King Ferdinands whereunto for all that Grittus laid such hard Siege both by the River and by Land that the Defendants doubting how they should be able to hold out especially if Solyman should take that in his way as it was most like he would sent for relief to Cazzianer a warlike Captain then Governour of Vienna and General of all King Ferdinands Forces by whose appointment certain small Frigats were sent down the River of Danubius from Possonium well manned who suddainly setting upon the Turks Fleet which so kept the River that nothing could that way possibly be conveied either in or out of the Castle should by their unexpected coming open that way But Grittus having intelligence thereof by certain Hungarians which though they served King Ferdinand made no great account to flie sometime to the one part sometime to the other as best fitted their purpose presently resolved to send his Fleet up the River and by his suddain coming to oppress his Enemies in like sort as they had thought to have done him And the more to encourage his Souldiers he promised great rewards to all such as should perform any extraordinary piece of service in that Action and so having throughly furnished all his Fleet with good Souldiers but especially with Turkish Archers sent them up the River to seek their Enemies who fearing no such matter as Men surprised with the same mischief they had prepared for others were at the first exceedingly dismaied yet considering that they were reasonably well provided for their coming although they yet wanted such help as Cazzianer had appointed to send them they thought it a great shame to flie and therefore putting themselves in order of Battel came down the River and with great courage encountred their Enemy There began a sharp and cruel Fight many being slain and wounded on both sides but at last they of Possonium not able longer to endure the deadly shot of their Enemies and especially of the Turkish Archers who with their Arrows sore gauled both the Souldiers and the Mariners they turned their backs and fled in which Fight of sixty Frigats which came from Possonium only thirteen escaped with Corporanus the General all the rest being either sunk in the Fight or else taken by the Enemy being run ashore and forsaken by the Possonians trusting more unto their Legs by Land than their Oars by Water Besides this loss of the Frigats there was slain of the Possonians almost five hundred After this Victory Grittus hoping that they in the Castle of Strigonium despairing now of relief and fearing the coming of Solyman would not long hold out left off to batter or undermine the Castle wherewith he perceived he little prevailed purposing by lying still and keeping them in the Castle from all relief to enforce them in time to forsake the place Thus whilst the divided Hungarians with their own hands inconsiderately sought one anothers destruction with the ruin of their Country Solyman the great Enemy of all Christians was ready at their backs to devour both the one and the other as in few years after he did Much about this time the old Spanish Souldiers in Italy drawn together by Vastius as the Emperor had before commanded were come to the Alpes In this Camp of one sort of Men and other was above twenty thousand whereof almost the third part was not serviceable for the old Souldiers enriched with the long Wars in Italy and the spoil of the rich Country of Lumbardy wherein they had of late been Billited brought with them all their old gotten spoils and substance not forgetting so much as their Women and whatsoever else served their pleasure for carriage whereof they drew after them a great multitude of Carriages and unnecessary People all which served for no other use but for the Souldiers pleasure and to consume Victuals Which their licentious wantonness Vastius desiring to reform gave strait commandment through all the Camp That they should leave behind them all such unnecessary Baggage and appointed what Carriages should suffice for every Company Whereat the Souldiers began at the first to
in these or like words perswaded him to that War for the entrance whereunto we have thus far digressed What thing the Priests with loud voice use to pray for at such time as the Othoman Emperors enter into the Temple to pray the same thing do I also wish unto thee most mighty Solyman which is That thou shouldst remember thy Progenitors by Iustice and Religion to have got for thee this Empire than which more magnificent and richer the Gods have not given to any Fortune hath never deceived them that trod that way and thou hitherto hast so traced their steps that thou hast easily surmounted their Fame and Glory administring Iustice to thy Subjects and inflamed with the hope of eternal praise making continual War against the Enemies of our Religion the true office of a zealous Prince By this means is Belgrade taken Rhodes won the King of Hungary slain in Battel Germany twice harried and burnt so that Charles whom the Christians would make equal to thy self in power and valour with the great aid almost of all the Christian Nations terrified with the noise of thy Army shunned battel But forasmuch as Empires be they never so large or Victories be they never so glorious can either satisfie the greatness of an heroical mind or glut the same with glory thou hast therefore sent before thee thy victorious Ensigns against the Persians and Parthians that those Nations who have wickedly fallen from our Rites purified as it were by thy sacred Arms may be again reclaimed to the antient Rites of our Religion But be this unto thy greatness most honourable to attempt and glorious to perform let it only be lawful for me now grown an old man in the midst of Arms and dangers to declare what is expedient and briefly to open such things as I have by long experience learned to concern the augmenting of thy Fame and Empire elsewhere Neither would I have you to take this as presumptuously spoken of me for Fortune hath enough yea more than enough favoured my designs whom from a poor cottage and bare hope she hath promoted to glorious Victories great Riches yea unto the Title and Majesty of a King. But unto these things the Gods could give me nothing better than to be called for of thee and sent for in Counsel to discourse of matters of greatest importance wherefore my advice shall be unto thee faithful and with experience confirmed which although it be all that it seemeth old men can do yet in my sound Body remaineth such strength that I dare both promise and perform unto thee my good service at all assaies both by Sea and Land. For unto this only course have I bent my self day and night from my youth following the purpose and counsel of my valiant Brother Horruccius who to extend the bounds of our Religion persâcuted the Christians both by Sea and Land desiring nothing more than that thy Fleet and Power might once be joyned with my Forces and direction and so under thy good hap to be either a Commander or else commanded forasmuch as it grieveth me not to be commanded by my betters Of which my desires if the Gods shall make me partaker the Spaniards shall shortly be driven quite out of Africk thou shalt hear that the Moors are gone over into Spain to repossess the Kingdom of Granado that Tunes and Numidia are at thy command and not to speak of Sardinia and Corcyca that Sicilia is ours which once taken we shall starve up Italy and on every side distress it with our Fleet being now weak and brought low by the discord of the Princes and that part thereof both towards Sicilia and Macedonia ready to submit it self upon any condition so it might cast off the Spanish yoak Think not that either that Strength or Unity is now in Italy which was when thy great Grandfather Mahomet having taken Hydruntum brought a great fear not upon Italy only but upon other the Christian Nations also for by the good success of that War which all the Christian Princes could hardly withstand he had undoubtedly taken the City of Rome and so according to right and reason again united the Empire of the East and of the West as they were before in their ancient glory But he suddainly left the World rapt to Heaven that he might leave to thee according to the appoinment of the fatal Destinies and revolutions of the Heavens this work of absolute perfection And yet my purpose is not by putting thee in hope of so great and rare a Triumph to interrupt or hinder thee for turning thy power into the East against thy old and irreligious Enemies deserving all extremities for thy Navy shall be sufficient for me whereof thou shalt have no need in thy Wars so far within Land that whilst thou art conquering Asia Africa the third part of the World may in the mean time be brought under thy subjection also Where before all other things Muleasses is to be drivân out of Tunes a man of insatiable Covetousness unstaied Lust horrible Cruelty hated both of God and Man who having by Treachery slain eighteen of his Brethren or that which worse is cruelly burnt out their Eyes doth so reign alone that he hath left him neither Kinsman nor Friend For being as unthankful as perfideous he hath murdred all his Fathers Friends who with great travel had preferred him to the Kingdom so to make short payment for so great desert With this Beast we must have to do whom whilst no man loveth all men wish to perish The Numidians trouble him with dayly invasions whose injuries the infamous Coward endureth with such shame and reproach that it should seem he had rather to suffer them than revenge them And yet this effeminate Dastard holdeth in Chains many valiant Turks and acknowledgeth not your Imperial Name whereunto all men on every side sue for grace and which is not to be suffered exceedingly favoureth the Spaniards of Tripolis to the intent that Agis and Moses two valiant Turkish Captains may be driven out of the City This wild Beast disarmed of his Claws and Teeth we shall easily destroy if it be but for that we have with us Roscetes his Brother whom the Numidians wish and long for him must we use if it be but for a shew so shall the thing we desire be without Blood effected as soon as we shall but present our selves before the Gates of Tunes Then shall it be at your pleasure to appoint whom you will have to govern the Numidian Kingdom it shall be unto me glory enough when the greatest part of Africk conquered shall be peceably delivered into your hands at your return with the Triumphs of Persia. But by the way as I return I assure you upon mine own repute so to use the matter that the Christians shall also have good cause to bewail their calamities and if I hap to meet with Auria he shall have small cause to rejoyce of the mischief
Portugals because he would be thought to have done something he allured the King of that rich City to come unto him upon his false Faith before given for his safe return but as soon as he had him aboard he like a perjured wretch hanged him up at the Yards-arm of his Admirals Galley and so surprising the City enriched himself with the spoil thereof The like barbarous cruelty he used at Zibyth another famous Port of Arabia where the Pilgrims of the East do 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 together with all his Nobility he cruelly murthered contrary to his Faith given and so travelling himself by Land to Mecha as if he had been some devout Pilgrim sent back his Fleet by the Moor to Suetia having performed against the Portugals nothing at all At the same time Solyman by the perswasion of Lutzis and Aiax the Bassaes of greatest authority about him now that Abraham was dead turned all his Forces from the Persians as Men agreeing with him in the chief points of his Mahometan Superstition with purpose to convert the same upon Italy whereunto he was earnestly solicited by Iohn Forrest the French Kings Embassador then lying at Constantinople of purpose to incite Solyman against Charles the Emperor assuring him that he was not of such power as at one time to defend Apulia against him and the Dukedom of Millain against the French King who as he said was determined that Summer to invade that part of Italy And to further the matter about the same time one Troilus Pignatâllus a noble Gentleman sometime Commander in Charles the Emperors Army but then exiled out of Naples fled unto Solyman and forsomuch as he was a Man of name and like to do him great service in the invasion of Apulia as one which knew the Country well and promised unto him good success in that War was by Solyman honourably entertained amongst his Mutfaracas which is a certain Company of Horsemen for their approved Valour chosen out of all Nations having the free exercise of their Religion whatsoever without controulment and are only bound to attend upon the Person of the great Turk when he goeth to War. The cause of his revolt 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 favour with Solyman and the Bassaes and oftentimes called to counsel in the preparation of that War casting off all natural love of his Country ceased not by all means to perswade Solyman to invade the same assuring him that the People of Apulia and Salerne oppressed with grievous Tribute and Exactions by the Emperors Officers would at the first revolt especially if they saw any of the French Nation to cleave unto And that which moved him more than all the rest the ancient Turks told him into what a fear all Italy was strucken at such time as Achmetes the Bassa having taken Hydruntum had undoubtedly conquered not only the Kingdom of Naples but the City of Rome also and all the rest of Italy had not the untimely death of Mahomet his great Grandfather interrupted the course of that Victory Which perswasions wrought such effect in Solyman that he once fully resolved for the Invasion of Italy made such expedition both by Sea and Land that he himself in Person was come with two hundred thousand Men unto Aulona the most covenient Port of Macedon for the transporting of his Army before it was thought in Italy that he was set forward from Constantinople where he had not long staied but Lutzis Bassa his Admiral accompanied with Barbarussa sailing alongst the Coast of Peloponnesus and Epirus and so passing by Corcyra where Hieronimus Pisaurius Admiral of the Venetian Fleet lay with his Gallies after mutual salutation done after the manner at Sea by shooting off their great Pieces in token of friendship put into the Haven of Aulona also Solyman not purposing to lose any time and having Italy now in his sight commanded Lutzis and Barbarussa to pass over with the Fleet unto Otranto and to prove the minds of the people that if the first enterprise fell out well he might presently follow after with all his Army With them went also Troilus Pignatellus as forward to the destruction of his Country as any of the rest He knowing that the great Cities of Hydruntum and Brundusâum were kept with strong Garrisons of Charles the Emperor leaving Hydruntum on the right hand directed the Turks to a Town upon the Sea Coast eight miles off called Castrum near unto which standeth a Castle upon a Hill then belonging to Mercurinus Catinarius who being a Man unacquainted with Wars and terrified with the suddain coming of the Turks and perswaded by Troilus yielded up his Castle upon condition that the Turks should offer no violence or injury unto him or his either in body or goods Upon which condition the Town of Castrum was also delivered unto them But the Turks especially the greedy Mariners being got into the Castle and the Town moved neither with the intreaty of Troilus nor the commandment of Lutzis and Barbarussa rifled the Town and Castle and carried away with them Mercurinus himself with all the flour of the people to their Gallies as Prisoners But Lutzis ashamed of such faithless dealing presently set Mercurinus at liberty again At the same time also Solyman had by night sent over certain Troops of light Horsemen in great Palenders which running all alongst the Sea Coast from Tarentum to Brundusium carried away with them both the People and Cattel and whatsoever else came in their way by the space of forty miles So that all the Country of Salentinum now called Otranto was filled with fear and danger and had not there stayed but was like enough to have overwhelmed all Italy by the coming over of Solyman with his whole Army had not the rashness of one Venetian Captain by unexpected chance turned that Tempest from the Italians upon the Venetians themselves Alexander Contarenus a valiant Captain of the Venetians meeting with certain of the Turks Gallies which would neither vail their top Sails nor in token of reverence and friendship discharge any of their great Ordnance as of duty they ought to have done in those Seas where the Venetians commanded offended with their proud insolency fiercely assailed them and in fight sunk two of them wherein Ustamenes Governour of Calipolis a Man of no small reputation among the Turks was reported to have perished Which outrage done by Contarenus in a most unfit time to the great hurt of the Venetian Estate as it appeared afterward was imputed to his own private grudge which he bare against the Turks for that they intercepted a Ship of his as she was coming out of the East Countries laden with rich Merchandise so that it was thought
as on a Platform they placed their Gabions all afront filled with Earth and great Ordnance betwixt to have battered the Castle But when this Engin in manner of a floating Fort should have performed the service for which it was devised it proved unserviceable after it had with much ado been brought thither being ready to sink with the weight of the great Ordnance and other things wherewith it was overcharged For which cause and for that they understood a great number of Horsemen to be come into the Town they gave over the Siege vainly begun and put again with their Fleet to Sea. It fortuned at the same time that a tall Ship of Venice departing from Zacynthus and coming alongst the Coast of Peloponnesus with provision for the Fleet was descried by the Enemy who thinking to do the Christians a great dishonour if they could almost in the sight of their Fleet surprise her they sent out certain light Gallies to have taken her Uluzales in the mean time with the rest of his Fleet lying in the very mouth of the Bay ready to come out if the Christian Fleet should once stir to relieve her Which the Christians perceiving and well hoping that so the Enemy would be drawn to battel sent out Columnius with his Gallies to rescue the Ships and others also which lying aloof might get in betwixt the Turks Gallies and the Bay Don Iohn and the Venetian Admiral lying ready to have given Battel if Uluzales should have come forth but the Christians coming on with a small Gale the Enemy being afraid by shooting off of certain warning Pieces within the Bay in time called back the Gallies that were already gon out of the Bay who all forthwith came in excepting Mahomet the Nephew of Barbarussa a most famous Captain amongst the Turks who as one of great courage and desirous of honour staied a little without the Bay with greater courage than discretion expecting who should assail him Him the Marquess St. Crucis set upon and had with him a great and terrible fight but in the end the Marquess prevailing slew Mahomet with all his Turks and with honour carried away the Gally So the dishonour which Uluzales would have done the Christians fell upon himself having in his own sight lost one of his best Captains with his Gally The next day because the year should not pass without something done nor the hope of so great a preparation come to nothing the Christians determined to besiege the Castle of Navarinum which was in ancient time called Pylus more famous for nothing than for that it was the native place of old Nestor The City of Navarinum standeth upon a rising ground stretching somewhat into the Sea whereinto it hath a large prospect and a fair large Haven but subject to the North-wind It is defended with a point of the Main running with a compass into the Sea whereon standeth an old Castle Some sent before to view the situation of the place brought word back that the Castle might in three days be won The performance of which exploit was committed to Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma whom the Venetians furnished with Munition and Victual He landing with 2000 Italians 1000 Spaniards and 500 Germans began with twelve great Pieces to batter the Castle And albeit that the Battery was planted so âar off as that it did the Enemy no great harm yet happily the enterprise had taken effect if by taking the straight and troublesome passages through a rough and thick Forest the City had been kept from relief but forasmuch as those passages were left free the Enemy cunningly opposed policy against force for sallying out of the City they gave the Christians an hot skirmish and in the mean time whilst the Christians were so busied by a Port toward the Forest on the other side of the City received in great number both of Horse and Foot. The report of this new come aid caused the Prince to raise his Siege and to go again aboord And now rested all the hope of the gaining of the Town in the strength of the Fleet and that not small for that the Turks not relieved 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 mischiefs the Plague and Famine For no provision had there been made as in a thing not feared and that little being spent that was in the Town they were enforced to seek for Victuals further off which coming but sparingly as in time of Dearth was oftentimes by the way intercepted by the Souldiers that lay about in the Country Villages wanting Victuals no less than they in the City And the more Men the Beglerbeg of Graece brought down for defence of the Sea Towns so much the more the wants of all things daily encreased So that no Man doubted but that in short time all would be brought to extream penury What a death the Mortality had made the want of Men in their Gallies well declared for many of the Gallies for lack of Mariners and Souldiers were sent away into Euboea or left at Malvasia or carried away to Constantinople Those who staid in the Bay of Modon were scarce 100 Gallies and 40 Galliots and they so slenderly manned that the greatest Gallies had scarcely an hundred and twenty Men left in them and they so meager and faint as that they could scarcely hold up their Weapons The Christians understanding of these things were in good hope that by continuing the Siege they should without danger gain a notable Victory for which cause Fuscarinus perswaded the Spaniards of wose constancy he doubted to hold it out as Men of resolution shewing them that in the event of this action rested for them for ever 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 overthrow escape their hands out of the Bay. But unto this his hope and counsel the event was not correspondent for the Spaniards whether it were for the tediousness of the Siege or for want of Victuals or for the approach of Winter or else moved with some other reason began to think of the matter diversly and at the first a report was raised That the Christians giving over the Siege would shortly return home and the reason was for that they wanted Bisket and had scarcely Victuals left for fifteen days which was to be reserved for their long journey home besides that The approach of Winter did call them from the action and that having done what they might they could never draw the Enemy forth to battel and that therefore having sufficiently and as far as was possible already discharged their duties they were now also to regard their safety and to foresee that their Fleet wherein the welfare of them all was reposed were now not too far endangered At the first these Speeches
most suddain dangers with comfortable words cheared them up willing them as couragious Men to follow him against the Enemy whom they in all things exceeded excepting number which always gave not the Victory The Turks perceiving the Moldavians lately revolted upon the joyning of the Battel as Men in Conscience wounded to shrink back thrust them perforce into the head of their Battel making of them no more account but to blunt the Enemies Swords and such as hung back they themselves slew upon whom as false Traitors the Vayvod caused his Field-Pieces to be most furiously discharged so that most part of these treacherous Men there slain some by the Turks some by their own Friends received the just reward of their Infidelity and Treason accompanied with perpetual Infamy Over the dead Bodies of these Traitors the Turks coming on were at the first notably encountred by the Moldavians and after a most cruel Fight as if they had been discouraged began to retire but indeed of purpose to have drawn the Christians before they were aware within the danger of their great Ordnance and Ambushes which they had before aptly and covertly placed for that purpose Which Sujercevius well acquainted with the Turks fineness perceiving with much ado staid their further pursuit and so avoided the danger prepared for them The Turks deceived of their expectation came on again afresh with no less fury than at the first whom the Christians right valiantly received and made with them a most cruel and mortal Battel wherein many both of the Turks and Christians fell and never rose again But what was so small a power against such a world of Men After long Fight the Moldavians oppressed with the multitude of their Enemies began to give ground and seeing no other remedy but either to flie or to die betook themselves to flight wherein most part of them were slain the furious Enemy still hardly pursuing them at the Heels of the Cossacks were left only 250. The Horsemen the chiefest strength of the Vayvod thus by the Treason of Czarnieviche overthrown the Vayvod with 20000 Footmen and such Horsemen as had now after the Battel joyned themselves unto the Footmen retired unto a Town not far off which he but a little before had rased but was now glad in the ruins thereof to fortifie himself against the suddain and furious Assaults of the Turks who the same night so beset the Vayvods Camp with such a multitude of Men that no Man could go in or out of the Camp or the uttermost part of that huge Army be from any place descried The next day which was the 11 of Iune the Turks shot divers great Shot into the Vayvods Camp but to small purpose for the Christians had for so short a time notably fortified themselves within the ruins of the old Town Which the Turks well perceiving and withal considering how hard and dangerous a matter it would be to assault the Vayvod in his strength they sent Messengers unto him to perswade him without delay to yield himself and to repose more trust in the mercy of the Turks than in his own broken Forces especially in his so hard distress being so beset as that he could not possibly escape and out of hope of all relief and therefore should by such voluntary yielding seek for grace of his Enemies rather than by a desperate obstinacy to cast himself into a most certain destruction where no mercy was to be expected Whereunto the Vayvod answered That he was not ignorant into what danger he was brought rather by the Treason of Czarnieviche and his Followers than by the Valour of the Enemy yet had left with him a strong power of most valiant and resolute Men who would in his quarrel and defence of themselves sell their lives very dear unto the Turks nevertheless that to avoid the farther effusion of blood he could for his part be content to yield unto his hard fortune so that the great Commanders of the Turks Army would condescend unto such reasonable conditions as he should propound and for the performance thereof give him their Faith not once or twice but seven times by solemn Oath to be taken Of this his offer the Turks accepted willing him to set down the conditions which were First that the Polonian Cossacks might in safety depart into their Country with their Horses and Armor then that they should without any violence offered to his person send him alive and in good safety unto the great Emperor Selymus before him to answer his own cause as for the Moldavians he said he needed not to covenant any thing for that the injury offered unto them tended also to the hurt of the Emperor himself and of him whom he should appoint Vayvod whose Subjects they were These conditions as reasonable were well liked of the Turks and so according to his desire confirmed seven times by the solemn Oath of every Captain and Commander in the Army both for themselves and their followers Upon this agreement the Vayvod brought all his Army out of their Trenches wherein they had lien strongly encamped and there with heavy heart took his last leave of his Souldiers to the general grief of them all amongst whom he divided such Mony and Jewels as he had as a remembrance of his kindness And there in the âight of them all disarming himself accompanied only with Osmolius a Polonian went in manner of a suppliant to the Turks Camp where he had full four hours Talk with the great Commanders of the Army until that at last Capucius Bassa either offended with his Speech or unmindful of his Faith before given with his Scimitar upon the suddain struck him a great blow overthwart his Face and another cross the Belly whom so wounded and as yet but half dead the Janizaries took and cut off his Head which was forthwith set up upon a Lance for all Men to behold His dead Body they bound by the Feet unto two Camels and so shamefully tore it in pieces and happy was he that could get any little piece thereof or embrue his Sword with the least drop of his Blood. This was the lamentable and woful end of Iohn the Vayvod of Moldavia a right valiant and worthy Man shamefully murdred by the perfidious Turks who had he been more constant in the Christian Faith had not happily fallen into so great misery Whose woful âall may serve as a most notable example of the uncertainty of these worldly things for as no Man for a time had of the Turks more or more glorious Victories so in the end and as it were in demonstration of Mans fragility no Man perished more miserably The Vayvod thus perfidiously murthred the Turks with like Treachery forthwith set upon the Moldavians and slew them down right as Beasts appointed for the slaughter Which the Cossacks beholding and hoping for no better measure thrust themselves into the thickest of their Enemies and there valiantly
tragical a sight it is reported that Amurath let some tears fall as not delighting in such barbarous cruelty but that the state and manner of his Government so required In the beginning of his Reign he established divers wholsome Laws altered the Coin and bountifully relieved the Poor And albeit that he was of a mild and peaceable nature yet because he would not seem to degenerate from the Othoman Princes his Progenitors he prosecuted his Fathers Wars year 1575 and by the Tartars called Praecopenses in the month of October in the year 1575 entred into Russia part of the Polonian Kingdom where he burnt and destroyed two hundred Noble-mens houses besides an infinite number of Towns and Villages made great slaughter of the poor Country people and carried away great numbers of Cattel and Prisoners bound in thongs made of raw Hides But whilst they were dividing the spoil with Peter the new Vayvod of Valachia who had before solemnly promised to give the Tartars no passage that way the Polonian Cossacks who had lien waiting for their return upon the River Boristhenes brake into the Tartars Country and there requited them with like harm and brought back with them a number of old Captives who little expected that their so sudden deliverance The Polonians at this time were at variance among themselves about the Election of their new King Henry Valoys their late King being the last year after the death of Charles his Brother the French King secretly stoll'n from them into France to take upon him that Kingdom after whose departure some of the Polonian Nobility made choice of Maximilian the Emperour other some no less inclining unto the choice of the great Duke of Muscovy and some unto others also Whereof Amurath understanding and loth that either of those two great Princes his Enemies should be invested or strengthened with that so great a Kingdom and so near unto him to hinder that their Election and to bring in another of less power and so less dangerous unto himself even in the beginning of his Reign wrote unto the Polonians to that purpose commending unto them Stephen Battor the Vayvod of Transilvania for their King in manner following Amurath God of the Earth Governour of the whole World the Messenger of God and faithful Servant of the great Prophet unto the most honourable Nobility and Counsellors of the Kingdom of Polonia greeting IT is not unto the World unknown most honourable and mighty Senators our Noble Progenitors to have of long time and for many Years holden good Friendship and Religious Leagues with the Kingdom of Polonia For which cause it hath seemed good and reasonable unto us to put you in remembrance of this so antient a League and Bond of Friendship for that we understanding your Kingdom to be of late become destitute of a King by the departure of the Noble King Henry your Crowned King descended of the Royal Race of the French Kings our friend Who for the small regard you had of him so Great and Worthy a Prince and for your Disloyalty is departed out of your Kingdom without purpose of returning any more into Polonia Whereupon as it is reported unto us but how truly we know not you passing over your said Crowned King Henry are about to maâe choice of a new King and especially of Maximilian the Emperour or of the Duke of Muscovie both men of running wits and of us greatly hated For why you may well know they will be troublesome and grievous not unto every one of you only but even unto us also Wherefore be you ware that you be not deceived and take heeâ lest your Confederations and Lâagues cannot long by their valour and prowess âe established and withal consider well the great dangers and losses which you may thereby fall into Whereof we have thought good to give you a taste Wherefore beware that heavier 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 Govern And if so be it please you not to make choice of any of your own Nation there is not far from you one Stephen Bâttor Prince of Transylvania a Man of great Honour and Valour by whose Labour and Dexterity you may easily procure the peace and quiet of your Kingdom Whereas if you shall do otherwise we take to witness your God and his Servant our Great Prophet to destroy all your Wealth and Goods which together with your Selves your Wives and Children shall be given for a prey unto our Souldiers with the chief men of your Cities of Cracovia and Leperis Which for all that we say not as any thing at all doubting of your Fidelity and Constancy toward us As for the rest which it pleased us by word of Mouth to have told unto you we have given charge unto this our Embassadour and Counsellour unto whom our desire is that you should give full credence From Constantinople the last of September in the Year of our Prophet Mahomet 983 and first of our Reign This great Sultan's commendations so much prevailed with the Polonians that notwithstanding that Maximilian the Emperour was by the Archbishop of Gnesna and some others choosen King yet was that his Election by the greater part of the Nobility revoked and both he and the great Duke of Muscovy being passed over the Noble Princess Anne of the most honourable Iagellonian House chosen Queen of Polonia yet with this condition That she should marry Stephen the Vayvod of Transylvania to them by Amurath commended Who afterward elected King all the time of his Life right worthily governed that noble Kingdom not only defending the same in such state as he found it but also notably extending the bounds thereof enlarging it with such Territories as he by force of Arms got from his Neighbours especially the Muscovite Of this Election Amurath would oftentimes afterwards boast and say That he had given the Polonians their King. But of him and of the League made by him with Amurath more shall be said hereafter The year following great troubles arose in Persia year 1576 whereby the flourishing state of that most mighty Kingdom was sore shaken and opportunity given for the Turkish Emperour to invade the same which he laying hold upon entred into that bloudy War which to the great quiet of the Christian Common-weal for long time after exercised the Forces of those most puissant Princes one upon another For the better understanding whereof it shall not be amiss compendiously to set down the same troubles of the Persian Kingdom the very ground of the long and mortal War between those two most mighty Monarchs Old Tamas the Persian King Son to the noble Hismael who with great glory had more than fifty years worthily governed that large Kingdom and mightily withstood the often invasions of the Turkish Emperours now spent with years died the eleventh of May in the year 1576. leaving behind him
Villanies not with Modesty to be rehearsed So that by this means he had violently taken from his Christian Subjects all hope of recovery of their antient Liberty had it not as sometime it falleth out in these worldly things both unto Men and Common-weals which brought unto the last cast and even as it were to the bottom of despair by the Goodness of God contrary to all hope find sometime such unexpected Help and Relief as that thereby they beyond their hope even to the astonishment of the World mount up again unto a greater lustre of their State than was that from which they before fell it had even so by the singular Mercy of God now hapned unto the Valachians not knowing which way to turn themselves There was at Crailowa a City in the Confines of Valachia towards the Confines of the Hungarians and Turks where the Governour of those Borders is for the defence thereof with a strong Garrison always resiant a noble Gentleman called Ion Michael Son to Peter the Palatine of that Country the aforesaid Alexander's Predecessor who as he was unto the People for the Honour of his Father the Prerogative of his Birth the Comeliness of his Person and Tallness of his Stature well known so was he for his Zeal towards the Christian Religion his Love towards his Country his Kindness towards his Equals his Courtesie towards his Inferiours his upright Dealing his Constancy and Bounty unto them no less Gracious and for other the noble Virtues of his Heroical Mind and natural Disposition for the Performance of great Matters his deep Wisdom and quick Foresight his sweet and pleasing Speech void of all Affectation unto all good men most dear whose Fame both for the Honour of his House and of his own Virtues still more and more increasing and rife in the Ears of Alexander the Vayvod was the cause that he commanded him as the ready or rather natural Competitor of his State and Honour to be secretly apprehended and so taken out of the way whereof he by good Fortune having Intelligence and careful of his own Health for safeguard of himself fled first into Hungary and there not staying long God so directing him went to Constantinople in the year 1591 to sue for the Vayvod's Place all the Nobility of his Country and the Provinces thereunto adjoyning secretly rejoycing thereat About which time the chief and most grave of the Valachian Nobility and Councellors prostrating themselves at the Feet of Amurath most grievously complained unto him of the manifold and intolerable Injuries they had already sustained and were still like to endure without hope of redress from Alexander their Vayvod and the Followers of his Court the Turks Garrisons and Merchants with plentiful Tears orderly declaring his many most foul and detestable Facts and afterward highly commending Ion Michael for his rare Virtues as the true Heir of their Province most humbly requested Amurath either to have him appointed the lawful Governour of their Country or else some other Place by him assigned for them to dwell in wishing any where to live rather than under the heavy command of so merciless a man as was Alexander For the furthering of which their Suit Michael his Uncle by the Mothers side a Greek born and a Man for his exceeding Wealth in great Favour in the Turks Court spared for no cost So Michael by the Goodness of God was by Amurath with great Solemnity created Vayvod of Valachia and the oppressed and almost forlorn State of that sometime most flourishing Country by little and little well relieved although not altogether without most sharp and violent Remedies such as Extremities oft require began now again to lift up the head and to aspire unto the ancient Liberty and Honour thereof At the beginning of whose happy Sovereignty Alexander his Predecessour in his own Conscience guilty of his evil and shameful Government of that so notable and great a Province and now in fear to be called to account secretly fled But certain years after removing to Constantinople with his Wife and there attempting divers evil means for the obtaining of the Palatinate of Moldavia and for those his unlawful Practises accused by the Palatine's Agent he was by the Commandment of Amurath taken in his own House and there in his princely Apparel most miserably strangled upon Palm Sunday in the year 1597 about six years after his departure out of Valachia Michael thus made Vayvod of Valachia long it was not but that it fortuned the Reverend Father Cornelius de Nona sent from Pope Clement the Eighth unto the great Duke of Musâovie in his return conferring with Sigismund the Transilvanian Prince and Aaron the Palatine of Moldavia informed them of the great consent of divers zealous Christian Princes for the maintenance of the War against the dangerous and common Enemy with many grave and effectual Reasons perswading them but especially for that they were themselves Christians in that Christian quarrel to joyn unto them their Forces also raised in those their Countries near unto the great Rivers of Danubius and Nester but unto Michael the Vayvod of Valachia he could not for divers his other important Businesses then come whom for all that the aforesaid Transilvanian Prince Sigismund his Neighbour desirously sought to draw into the Fellowship of this War even for the same Reasons almost wherewith he had been himself moved First by divers great Reasons removing such doubts as might justly seem to hinder him from giving his consent thereunto and then by declaring the Turkish Insolency daily increasing with the infinite Grievances by them devised against the miserable Valachians when as the Incursions of the Turks or Tartars or their Passages that way no less troublesome than their Inroads was almost every Month to be feared their Armies as Friends to be in Winter and Summer received their Souldiers to their great charges relieved and their Commanders and Captains rewarded Valachia thus impoverished was not able as he said to pay the great Sums it did already owe neither was to expect any releasment of the evils it was wrapped in much less was it able to suffice unto the grievous Exactions to be thereunto by them afterwards imposed None of his Predecessors as he said and as truth was had for many years now past for any long time or with any Security held their State or Government but that either by the Calumniation of the Envious or Bribes of their ambitious Competitors brought into Suspition with the Sultan they were violently thrust out or most cruelly put to death In brief he said it was a wise mans part not without most manifest and weighty Reasons to promise unto himself better Fortune or more assurance of his State than had his unfortunate Predecessors before him but warned by their Harms betimes to provide for his own Safety By which Perswasion he so prevailed that the Vayvod whose Name whose Fame whose Wealth and Life together with his
from him by the Polonian Cossacks and certain of his Retinue slain was there taken for a Spy and so sent to Vienna where at his first Arrival he was well used in a common Inn but the night following being taken in his Chamber by the Martial was so clap'd fast in Prison with as many Irons upon him as he could bear and all his Followers with Gyves upon their Legs compelled as Slaves daily to work in the Town-ditch About this time also Sigismund the Transilvanian Prince whom hitherto all men admired as a man even sent from Heaven for the benefit of his Country and of the Christian Commonweal by a wonderful change gave a most manifest token of a divers and unconstant Nature to the great wonder of the World for having broken the Agreement made with the Emperour the last Year and being secretly in Post returned out of Silesia into Transilvania and again taken upon him the Government as is before declared and having withal requested himself and the Transilvanians his Country-men to be discharged of the Oath of Obedience and Loyalty by them before given unto the Emperour and the City of Veradinum with the Country thereabout to be again restored unto him and the Emperour pausing thereupon did now doubting of his own Ability for the keeping of that Country in the beginning of this year 1599 by his Ambassadors the Bishop of Alba-Iulia and Stephen Paschai his Chancellor sent of purpose unto the Emperour request him to have the first Agreements again renewed and the Principality of Trebnits in Moravia to be added unto the two Dukedoms of Oppel and Ratibor in Silesia with fifty thousand Duckats to be yearly paid unto him out of the Chamber of the Empire and a general Pardon to be given unto all the Transilvanians that following him had of late revolted from the Emperour and their antient Liberties to be again unto every one of them confirmed With all which Conditions obtained at the Emperour's hands as of him that saw how needful it was for him by any means to keep that strong Country in his power the same Ambassadors with their dispatch returned from Prague the nineteenth of April But Sigismund in the mean time at home was entred into new Conceits with certain of the Polonian Nobility far differing from the former agreement with the Emperour and having sent for one of the Turks Chiaus from Constantinople and for his Cousin Andrew Bathor the proud Cardinal out of Borusia and so meeting with them in an obscure Village in the Confines of Transilvania towards Polonia accompanied with certain of the chiefest of the States of his Country there in the Presence of the Polonians and of the Turkish Ambassador resigned all the Right and Title he had in the Country of Transilvania unto the Cardinal his Cousin commanding all the States there present to swear unto him their Obedience and Fidelity who shortly after together with the Polonian Ambassador sent one of his especial Favourites to Constantinople to desire safe conduct for his Ambassadours to be sent thither to conclude of all matters with the Turk Which Messengers so sent together with the Polonian Ambassador were both courteously received in the Turks Court and as with an especial favour rewarded with right sumptuous Garments and charge given them That the Cardinal within three Months next should send thither a solemn Ambassador with the old accustomed Tribute by the Turk demanded Thus through the Inconstancy of the Prince the Ambition of the proud Cardinal and the foul Collusion of the Polonian the Country of Transilvania one of the strongest Fortresses of that side of Christendom falling from the Obedience of the Emperour and so in sort bereft from the Christian Common-weal became again tributary unto the Turk most good men detesting the Lightness of the one the Ambition of the other and the Sliness of the third Now the Turks of Buda not able longer to endure the great Famine therein had most earnestly requested relief from the other Turks their Friends in Hungary who on all hands ran to have relieved them but coming near thereunto could not put therein such Provision as they had brought for the relief of the same being letted so to do by the Imperials who about a League off diligently attended every motion of the Enemy from whence the Lord Swartzenburg in the night secretly approaching one of the Gates with his Followers thought with a Petard to have broken it open and so to have entered Which his Device taking not effect as did that at Rab the Gate being within strongly fortified by the Enemy he was inforced to depart being also discovered by the Turks from the Wall. Now shortly after the Bassa of Buda with six hundred Horse issuing out of the City to have met with Victuals that were coming thither fell into an Ambush of the Haiduckes who after their manner fiercely encountered him and putting him to flight took him Prisoner his Horse in his Chase falling under him whom his Souldiers seeking to rescue there began a new Skirmish encreasing their former Overthrow with the loss of the greatest part of them that were left amongst whom the Bassa's Son with the Aga of the Janizaries there lost their Lives also Which Conflict thus ended the Bassa was with safe Conduct brought to the Camp and there with great Threats inforced to reveal the state of his City with other the secret designs of the Turks Whereupon the Haiducks returned again towards Buda seeking by all means to stop the coming of Victuals thither so in hope at length to have gained the distressed City But whilst they thus lay upon the Passages behold News was brought unto them how that the Bassa of Bosna with the Sanzacks of Sigeth Quinque Ecclesiae and Coppan with 10000 Turks were coming to oppress them and to open the Passages by them holden But they knowing their own Strength and nothing-fearing so small a Force staid not for their coming but went to meet them and in a place of good advantage waiting for them upon their first appearance with great Assurance and Courage charged them brake their Array and slew the greatest part of them together with the Bassa himself yet with so much ado as that had not the Lord Palfi in good time sent unto their Aid certain Companies of fresh men it was not-without cause doubted but that the Haiducks had been put to the worse about three hundred of them having there already lost their Lives The Tartars yet nevertheless in good number held on their way towards Buda with purpose to have over-run the Country and so have withdrawn the Imperials from the City but forasmuch as that base Nation was known to be good for nothing but to rob and spoil the Lord Swartzenburg's Regiment only going against them and encountering them overthrew them in such sort that part of them being there slain in fight and part for fear driven into Danuby the greater number
of Buda understanding and desirous in what he might to hinder that their forwardness whereof he doubted the Effects thought it best to betake himself to his old and cunning Practise for the treaty and concluding of a Peace with the Christians whereof he now made shew himself together with the rest of the Turks to be very desirous so by putting the Christians in hope thereof to make them the more remiss and negligent in their doings and to gain time of them until that the Turks great Army then in preparing might be brought down into Hungary To which purpose he in most âriendly manner thus writ unto the Governour of Strigonium WE know right well Noble Governour that you are not ignorant how that your Brother the Governour of Strigonium before you hath most earnestly embraced the Negotiation of Peace in such sort as that we cannot so much yield unto our ordinary Quarrels and Dissention but that we must give you to understand the Causes which have crossed and hindered the concluding of so great a good the last year now passed The first Let came by reason of the time chosen too late to be imployed in that Treaty for Peace when as now both the Armies were already on foot and even in readiness to joyn battel and could not be then stayed by that Intreaty nor be sent back again without some exploit doing each part had resolved upon their proper Designs and even chosen their Ground for Battel and were then hardly to be turned from that whereupon they were before resolved And albeit that during this last Winter the Treaty for the Peace was again begun and that the men of War on both sides in hope thereof rested unarmed and free from all Hostility a most fit time to have begân and ended this Treaty of Peace which hath been so much wished for of our Sovereign Emperour desired of his Subjects and requested by those of your Emperours with whom my dread Sovereign would confirm and contract a firm and continual Peace yet for all that since the departure of the Governour from Strigonium we see three Months to have been passed without any Letters at all or Message by word of Mouth brought unto us concerning this matter so that we have not any thing whereof to certifie our Sovereign Emperour And for asmuch as the course of time hath brought these two contrary Armies even unto the point of Battel and that they are marching one of them to encounter with the other and so enter into the lists of Honour we have thought good before to desire to know of you what we are to expect concerning the Peace We therefore request you as our very good Brother and Friend in what we may to stay the coming of our Armies into this Kingdom and to attend to that which may produce the conclusion of this Treaty being on our part most ready to lend both our care and desire to whatsoever shall be just and meet in this Treaty and necessary for the common good beseeching you to believe us in this Business and not to doubt of our good Will more affected to your good than is yours to our welfare whereof we in good time advertise you for that our Army which is now before Belgrade being once arrived here and marching in Field we cannot possibly cause it to return without something doing considering the great harms which under the assurance of your Faith given we have received from your People during the time of the Truce which they have many ways violated Which their evil dealing hath greatly incensed us against your men in Captivity with us and caused our Souldiers to shew great rigour against their Slaves we therefore attend your Answer and the return of your Brother to the end we may together resolve according unto Reason and Equity of that which shall be needful to be done for the common good and welfare Now for all this fair glosing it was no hard matter to guess at the Bassaes secret meaning for how desirous soever he seemed to be of Peace and willing to the furtherance thereof yet nevertheless true it is that during the time of all these fair shews the Turks having assembled their Garrisons on all sides had by Night surprised the Castle of Simnin upon the Christians slain part of the Souldiers therein carried away the rest Prisoners and most cruelly afterwards burnt the place so manifesting by their foul deeds the evil meaning of their fair and deceitful Words But now leaving the Bassa for a while unto his crafty Devices and passing over many small Skirmishes which happened in Hungary and Transilvania as not beseeming the Gravity of an History let us now out of Europe look over into Asia to see how the Great Turks Affairs there in the mean time went. The Rebellion in Asia was by the coming over of Zellaly and his Followers for a time somewhat weakened but not suppressed that pestilent Humour of Disloyalty having before infected the Minds of so many as that in short time after the Rebels were much stronger and the Rebellion much more dangerous than before for the appeasing and repressing whereof Cicala Bassa the old Renegade a man of great Experience and Service was as General sent over with a great and mighty Army into Asia where he needed not long to seek for his Enemies they being as ready as he either to give or to accept of Battel so that for men so on both sides resolved it was no hard matter to bring them to the Tryal of Battel which they with like desire and equal hope joyning there made a great and terrible fight the Bassa fighting for his Honour and the Rebel for his Life Howbeit that at length the Bassa after much bloodshed and great number on both sides slain being put to the worse fled with his Army altogether disordered and in rout having in that so dangerous a confusion of his People much ado to save himself With which so shameful an overthrow given him by the Rebel the Bassa who was more ashamed than discouraged again repaired his Army joyning thereunto great and mighty Supplies and so strengthned came now again the second time to revenge himself of the great dishonour which he had before received and utterly to suppress the Rebels who now finding themselves too weak to encounter with so great and mighty a Power wisely betime retired praying Aid of the Persian King who sent unto them his own Son with a great Army of good and valiant Souldiers which might have given the Bassa cause enough to have stayed his haste and to have been well advised how he joyned Battel with such desperate and resolute Enemies and now back'd with such strong Supplies but he being blinded with the Fury of his former loss and too much desirous to be thereof revenged with more haste than good speed came on and joyned Battel with these his Enemies now in readiness and well provided to receive him The
to vanquish resolutely set down and well armed against men dismayed half naked and surprised In which Conflict above a thousand of them being slain and a thousand of Horses of Service taken the rest fled amongst whom Bethlin himself with his Bassa flying were glad by swimming to save themselves amidst a thousand Chances and Dangers of their Lives The Bassa of Temeswar advertised of this Overthrow by one of them that was fled from the same presently he sent forth his Lieutenant with a good number of men to relieve the vanquished Turks who by the way understanding of the general Overthrow of them whom he was sent forth to relieve as also of the Strength of his Enemies and that he was come too late to the relief of his Friends retired as fast as he could with his men back again homeward toward Temesmar But being in their Retreat discovered and hotly pursued by these men imbrued with the Blood of their Enemies and yet breathing with Victory they were by them overtaken even almost at the Gates of their City and there as men before overcome with fear and overwhelmed with despair cut in pieces without any Fight or Resistance by them made beseeming men of their sort the Lieutenant himself being there slain also After which Exploits done the County turning towards Iula chanced to light upon certain Companies of Turks loaded with Booty which they had got in roaming abroad into the Country thereabout whom he pursued even unto the Gates of the Town which they âound shut against them for that they within the Town seeing the Christians even at the heels of their Companions had shut their Gates neither durst now open the same for fear lest the Christians should together with them enter the Town and so become Masters thereof Who so shut out by their own Friends were there all by the Christians slain even in the sight of their Companions not daring to let them in nor able to relieve them After which Massacre done the Christians not yet so contented burnt the Suburbs of the Town and so loaded with the Spoils of their Enemies departed The County after so many honourable Exploits in a small time by him performed returned to Lippa where he arrived the five and twentieth of September and from thence afterward advertising Basta the Emperour's Lieutenant General of these his Exploits done caused ten of the Turks Ensigns all stained with their own Blood to be presented unto him as the sure Tokens of his good Service done But to return again unto the Siege of Strigonium the greatest Exploit by the Turks intended for this Year from which we have from the occurrent of the same time a little strayed The Visier Bassa perceiving by the valiant and resolute Defence of our men how little he prevailed in this Siege and that it was like enough to tend at length to his Dishonour thought it good once again to prove if he might by Composition gain that which he was now almost out of hope by Force to obtain And to that purpose caused a motion to be made unto the besieged for a Treaty to be had concerning a Peace and a Day appointed for the same Unto which motion for Peace the Imperials although they had no hope at all of any Peace to be concluded easily yielded lest they might be thought obstinately to have rejected the same Whereupon Commissioners were on both sides appointed to meet together to conferr of the matter And so for the Emperour Althem himself with Ferdinand Collonitz and Frederick of Hohenlo County of Rhene were appointed near unto the Rascian Town to meet with the Turks Commissioners to hear what they would say Howbeit the Commissioners on both sides being met at the Place aforesaid all their Conference was but vain and to no purpose the Turks still urging the yielding up of Strigonium and the Imperials as earnestly refusing the same So that the Treaty for Peace being broken off and the Commissioners departing the Siege was more cruelly by the Turks continued than before Now there were in the Turks Army lying at the Siege certain Companies of Cossacks Men for their Pay indifferent to serve any Prince of what Religion soever Which serviceable Men in Number seven hundred had agreed together the 28 th of September by night to forsake the Turks Camp and to come unto the Christians Of which their Purpose and Design the Visier Bassa having by some untrusty amongst them got knowledge caused the Foot-men of these Companies to be apprehended and slain the Horse-men in the mean time making themselves way over the Bellies of such as would have stayed them fled and escaped some of them to Komara and some to Dotis Threescore of these Cossacks being by the Turks hardly pursued adventured to swim over Danubius and so all naked came to Colloniâz by whom they were courteously entertained and apparelled And within three days after two hundred Horse-men more of the same Cossacks came unto Collonitz also who marching in good order unto the head of the Christian Camp were there sworn unto the Emperour's Service and in token of their Loyalty there discharged their Pistols thrice Which Horse-men Collonitz divided among the rest of his Troops as having before time had good experience of the Courage and good Service of divers such others of their Fellows By these fugitive Souldiers it was understood that the Janizaries in great number up in Mutiny against the Visier Bassa would have inforced him to have raised the Siege and so to have departed The cause of their so great Discontentment as they pretended was the manifest and assured danger of their Lives with little or no hope at all for the gaining of the Place they themselves being still exposed to the Dangers both of the Siege and of the Field having the besieged on head of them armed with an assured Resolution and the Christian Army at their Backs of known Valour and Experience besides that the Place it self was as they said impregnable being at all times to be relieved by reason that it commanded over the Danuby which might always relieve it both with Men and Victuals and that therefore after that they had satisfied their Honour by giving of an Assault or two unto the Fort of St. Thomas they had resolved to arise and to be gone And much about this time viz. the Nine and twentieth of September in the night time was a most dreadful fiery Impression seen in fashion much like a Rain-bow of a fiery red colour which beginning over Cockera and rising higher over Strigonium at length vanished away over the Fort of St. Thomas The sight whereof much troubled the Beholders thereof as well the Christians as the Turks such strange Meteors and Apparitions being oftentimes the Presages of the ruine of them to whom they appear In the mean time whilst the Turks thus lay before Strigonium at the Siege of Saint Thomas's Fort the Lord Basta Lieutenant-General of
who being come at divers times one after another were all with peculiar Letters dismissed from Prague the 29 th of November Unto the first of which Ambassadors Letters were given of this purport ZInel Chan Beg whom your Majesty hath sent Ambassador unto Vs we have willingly seen and received and given him Audience in declaring of such things as he had from you in charge It is unto Vs both acceptable and pleasing that your Majesty hath regard so friendly to salute Vâ and so carefully to seek to joyn in Amity and Friendship with Vs whereby your Majesty much bindeth Vs unto the like desire of mutual love and friendship and that Wâ again on our parts should be ready to perform such things as may be unto your Majesty pleasing and that we should with for nothing more than that our Friendship should daily more and more be confiâmed and for the common Good of Vs both for many years preserved wherein We for our parts will not be wanting Whereas your Majesty with great Courage hath undertaken and with so happy success of Victories continued your Wars against the Turk whereof you had so just cause We from our hearts in your behalf reioyce âs all other Christians worthily do and We ourselves are thereby much animated valiantly and constantly to proceed in our Wars which we now so many years have made with the same Enemy nothing doubting but that God the revenger of wrong will so prosper the honourable Endeavours of your Majesty as that you shall not only recover such things as have been wrongfully taken from you but also weaken and destroy the Power of that perfidious Enemy Which that it may the better be brought to pass We also renew our Wars raise greater Forces and by our Ambassadors and Letters exhort and incite the greatest Christian Princes and Potentates to extend their Power against this our common Enemy and thereby to give fitter opportunity and occasion unto your Majesty for the better proceeding of your Affairs in Asia The course of our notable Victories which we have in few years past obtained against the Turks the Tumults and Troubles which the Turks have by secret devices raised in Hungary have somewhat hindred howbeit we hope by Gods permission that all things shall shortly be again restored unto their former estate so that we may wholly without let turn our selves with our Power against the Turks Yet in the mean time we have thus much prevailed with the King of Spain as that he hath already set forth a Fleet unto the borders of his Territories to distract his Forces the prosperous Success of which Fleet we daily expect We have also moved the Pope that he should also give Aid in this common Cause and excite other Princes also to do the like which he with great Endeavour doth But concerning such things as shall hereafter happen We shall by Letters and Ambassadors certifie your Majesty as occasion shall require as at this present we had appointed to send unto you the Baron of Dohna a famous and noble Gentleman who all things being ready for his Iourney suddenly dyed and would now have sent another had not the unexpected change of the Affairs of the Muscovites otherwise dissuaded Vs we having no other way but that at this time to send into Persia. For concerning this great Prince who is now reported there to reign what his mind is or how he standeth affected we have as yet no Experience In the mean time We so desire a perpetual and firm Friendship to be established betwixt Vs and your Majesty with a certain secure and free Commerce that if your Majesty which We wish shall extend your Victories unto the Sea your Subjects may have free Access and Traffick unto all our Kingdoms and Dominions We also thank your Majesty That you so kindly entertain the Christians into your Kingdoms and grant to them to have the free exercise of their Religion as also for that you have sent your Ambassadors unto the King of France although without wished Success whereby We easily gather your Majesties great Care and Circumspection every way As concerning them whom your Majesty hath sent unto Vs they have diligently and faithfully performed their Duty so that they have deserved Praise and Favour both here and in Persia whom we much Commend unto your Majesty to whom in all things We offer our greatest Love and Affection Unto the Second Ambassador were also given Letters from the Emperour to this effect WHilst We were yet busied in the dispatch of Zinel Chan Beg your Majesties former Ambassador in the mean time Methi Culi Beg another Ambassador of yours came unto Vs whom we have courteously entertained and graciously heard by whose Speech as also by your Majesties Letters We have with exceeding great Pleasure understood both your friendly Greeting of Vs as also of the happy Success of your Affairs against the Turks since the departure of your former Ambassador together with your kind Affection towards the Christians in those Parts One of the Servants also of our Ambassador which dyed by the way hath reported unto Vs how courteously our said Ambassador was by your Majesty received and how you have shewed your self affected against the common Enemy which was unto Vs a thing both acceptable and pleasing Vnto both which your Embassies the more solemnly to answer We had appointed again to send an honourable Embassage unto your Majesty had not these Lets and Impediments hapned which in our Letters given unto your former Ambassador are declared But so soon and as often as may be We will endeavour either by Letters or by Ambassadors more at large to manifest our Love and Affection towards you Wherefore we greatly desire that your Majesty may continue in perfect Amity with Vs and valiantly proceed in subduing of the common Enemy We on our part being ready to perform all things whereby we may testifie unto you the desire we have for the preservation of our mutual Love and Friendship as also of our Endeavours in our Wars against him God Almighty long preserve your Majesty in Health and make you still Victorious against the common Enemy Unto the Third Ambassador were likewise Letters given from the Emperour of this purport WHereas Jus Bassi Hassan Beg your Majesties Ambassador unto the French King came this way at the same time that other two of your Ambassadors were here present with Vs we received him with the same Courtesie wherewith we received them making stay of him until that they might all three be together dismissed And because that his Embassage was undertaken for the furtherance of the common Good although it wanted the wished success yet We have thought it good to give thanks unto your Majesty therefore and in most friendly manner to greet you by this your said Ambassador whom we highly commend unto you for that for the time he here stayed in our Court he so behaved himself as that he well deserved both
forthwith calling together the States of Enseric declared unto them all that was done in the Assembly at Presburg And for as much as that Assembly was chiefly to that end appointed That the Kingdom of Hungary should not altogether be pluck'd away from the Empire and that after the revolt thereof the greatest harm to be done by the Incursions and spoyling of the Enemies would lie upon the Countries of Austria he advised them so to look unto themselves and carefully to provide for the Common-weal as that having Money always in readiness to maintain an Army they might with all convenient speed go to meet with the Haiducks if haply they would not conform themselves unto the Articles of the Pacification but again raise new Broils that so they might defend and preserve their Country from their Outrages About the beginning of this Spring when as Ierome Prince of Valachia was dead leaving behind him a Son but thirteen years old the Emperour admitted him as yet not capable of the Government under Tutors unto the Succession of his Heritage Which thing the Valachians being by no means willing to endure and bearing themselves upon the help of the Turks went about to make choice of another instead of their Prince of late dead For which cause the Princess Widow by Letters certified Polloscie her Son in Law of this Outrage and Injury of her Subjects and having obtained of him a great sum of Money and therewith raised an Army of ten thousand good Souldiers went forth against the Valachians and in open field overcame them in so bloody and terrible a Battel that having slain five thousand of the Valachians and Turks she had over them a notable Victory and by that means preserved the Principality of that Country for her Son. The Great Duke of Florence had hitherto done great harm with his Fleet unto the Turks in the Mediterranean Sea for which cause a Messenger about this time coming unto him in the Great Sultans Name promised him great Matters if he would from thenceforth forbear to hurt and pursue the Turks Gallies Which his Request served the Turks to no other purpose but as it were to put Oyl unto the Fire For the Duke afterward caused new Gallies to be made and his Fleet increased and therewith did more harm than formerly he had done Now although that after the ending of the Assembly at Presburg Illishascius and George Turson had delivered unto the Haiducks the Articles of the Pacification and commanded them from thenceforth to keep themselves quiet yet for all that could they not yet be perswaded to hearken unto such their Counsel for that they being Men still accustomed to the Wars and living by their Swords could not endure to fall to Husbandry and such other Labours For which cause they of the Country about Gymeric writ unto them which dwelt in the Country about Nusol Letters to this effect That forasmuch as they being divers times certified of the miserable estate of their Neighbours had refused to come to aid them they should yet now remember how necessary a thing it were with their conjoyned Minds and Forces to help one another for that the Haiducks having now passed the River of Teise were broken into that Province and were run as far as Budnoc neither were they minded so to stay but to rob and spoil all the Country before them if they were not with speed encountred And the rather for that but a few days before they had received thirty thousand Hungarian Duckats from the Turks whom they now acknowledged for their Lords with Horses and other Gifts to be divided among their Leaders and Captains and moreover daily expected Aid from the Tartars who in great Numbers lay about Belgrade Wherefore seeing it could not be expressed what great harm and loss was by the Haiducks done as well unto the Noblemen themselves as to the common Country-men that they should therefore thereof give their Neighbours to understand and with all speed to take up Arms against the same rebellious Haiducks Not long after about the latter end of March Proclamation was made by the Commandment of Matthias the Arch-duke throughout all Austria That every man should provide himself to take up Arms. The cause whereof men diversly suspected howbeit that unto this Proclamation was this Reason joyned That the Arch-duke was determined himself to go about the fourteenth of April into Moravia and there to gather together all his Power as well Hungarians as Austrians and Haiducks for the War he was to take in hand There were also Letters in the Arch-dukes name sent unto the Vassals of Austria to give them to understand That whereas they were not ignorant what for the obtaining of Peace and Defence of these Countries had of late been decreed at Presburg and that all the States of Enseric had approved the report thereof received from their Deputies and so promised their help and aid unto the Arch-duke as if that he himself would take in hand any Expedition they would joyn themselves unto him and together with him to live or dye yet that there were some which being more desirous of War than Peace did not only not rest upon the former Pacification but gathered an Army also in the Borders of Moravia with a purpose to make an inroad as well into Moravia as into Austria it self For which cause the States of Moravia also were enforced for defence of themselves to raise an Army and to crave help from their Neighbours And that therefore seeing the Arch-duke mindful of his promise for the common Defence of the Countrey was resolved to bestow his Life and all his Fortunes and in his own Person to undertake an Expedition unto those Places from whence the greatest danger was to be feared to fall upon those Countreys necessity then required that the States themselves also should suffer nothing to be wanting on their behalf but every one of them together with their Servants forthwith to joyn themselves unto the Arch-duke and to the uttermost of their power to endeavour themselves to deliver them and theirs from death and destruction That God in whose name this Expedition was by them to be taken in hand as by the lovers of Peace might so in short time make an end of all tumults and grant unto those Countries wished Peace and quietness And that therefore they were to be admonished That according to the tenor of the Decree made at Presburg they with such a number of Horse and Foot as they could upon the sudden raise at a day to be shortly after named unto them should joyn themselves unto the Arch-duke and not to suffer any thing to let them in so doing So that if haply any chance or sickness should happen unto their General yet notwithstanding that they should send their Power under the leading of some other man seeing that the Arch-duke himself spared not to adventure his Life and Fortunes and if God should see
discoursed diversly hereof Some said that the King had reason to do it for that they had secret Practices and Intelligence with the Turk his capital Enemy Others affirmed that he did wisely to prevent their Attempts against his Estate which were to be feared considering their Numbers were so great And some said plainly that it was to have their Lands and Inheritances which had continued so long in their Races But the King declared his own intent by his Edict the which he published in these Terms The King For that reason doth in Conscience bind a good and Christian Government to expel out of all Realms and Common-weals those things which breed scandal and bring hurt to our good Subjects and Danger to the Estate but especially which are offensive to God and prejudicial to his Service for this cause Experience having taught us That the residence of the new Christian Morisques and their abode in the Realms of Granado Murcia and Andelosia hath been the cause of all these Inconveniences For that besides the manner of their proceeding which joyned in the Rebellion of Granado the which began by cruel Murthers of all the Priests and old Christians which lived amongst them calling the Turk in to their Aid yet having drawn them out of the said Country and suffered them to live in our other Provinces so as they would repent them of their Faults and live faithfully and Christian like according to the Precepts and just Ordinances which were given them They have not observed and kept them according to the strict and direct Rules of our Holy Faith but have always made shew to contemn it and to have no fear to offend God as hath been seen by the great numbers which have been punished by the Inquisition and besides they have committed many Thefts and Murthers against the old Christians And not content herewith they have conspired against my Royal Crown and Realms seeking Aid and Succours from the Turk certain interposed Persons being sent to that effect and doing the like with other Princes promising unto themselves Aid and Assistance offering unto them their Persons and Means And seeing that during so many years in which they have practised these Treasons and Conspiracies not any one hath come to reveal them but they have always covered concealed and denied them it is a most apparent sign that they have all been of one Mind and Will against the Service of God and of me and against the good of this Realm yet they might have imitated many Knights of theirs of generous extraction who have done service to God to the Kings our Progenitors and to us like good Christians and most loyal Vassals Wherefore considering all this and how much I am bound to set down some good order and to procure the preservation and increase of my Realms and Subjects and desiring to provide for all I have decreed with the Advice and Counsel of many judicious learned men and others that are very religious wise and jealous of Gods Service and mine to chase out of the said Realms of Granado Murcia and Andelosia and out of the Town of Hernache although it be not within the Limits of the said Realms all the new Christians Morisques both Men Women and Children For when as a great or detestable Crime is committed in any Colledge or Communalty it is fit that Colledge or Communalty should be ruined and that the less for the greater and one with another should be punished and that such as pervert the good and sincere Life of Common-weals and of their Towns and Cities should be banished from other Inhabitants lest their Contagion infect them For this cause by vertue of these Presents we ordain and command That all the new Christians Morisques without any exception of Age or Sex of those that live and reside in the said Realms and in the Town of Hernache except such as be Slaves shall within the space of thirty days after the Publication hereof depart out of all our Realms and Dominions of Spain with their Wives Children Servants and others of their Nation and that they shall not presume to return nor make any residence in them in any sort whatsoever And we forbid them to depart by the Realms of Valencia or Aragon nor to enter into them not to stay in any of our Realms or Countries after the time prefixed upon pain of Death and confiscation of all their Goods And we command that no Person within our Realms and Seigniories of what Estate Qualities or Condition soever shall presume to receive conceal or defend publickly nor secretly any Morisque Man or Woman after the said term upon pain to lose all their Goods Vassals Forts and Lands and moreover to lose all the Graces and Benefits which they have from me to be applied to my Exchequer And though I may justly confiscate all the Goods moveable and unmoveable of the said Morisques as belonging to Traitors and guilty of high Treason yet using Clemency I am content that during the said term of thirty days they may dispose of their moveable Goods and carry them away not in Gold Silver Jewels nor Letters of Exchange but in Merchandise which is not prohibited bought of the natural Subjects of this Realm and not of others or in the Commodities of the said Country And to the end they may during the time of thirty days dispose thereof and of their moveable Goods and employ it in Merchandise or in the Commodities of the Country and transport what they shall buy for as for their Lands that must be annexed to my Revenues to be employed in the Service of God and the Common-weal as I shall think most fit I declare by these Presents that I take them into my Royal Protection and assure them and their Goods That during the said time they may go and come to sell exchange and alienate all their moveable Goods and to employ their Mony Gold Silver and Jewels in Merchandise not prohibited or in the Commodities of the Country and to transport the same freely without any let or interruption by Land or by Sea paying usual Customs so as they carry no Gold or Silver coined or to coin nor any other thing prohibited by the Laws of my Realm Yet we are content they shall carry so much Money as shall be needful âor their Passage by Land and embarking by Sea commanding all our Officers and loving Subjects to see this present Edict duely observed c. Signed I the King. After the Publication of this Edict the term of thirty days was restrained to twenty so as the Morisques were hastened to depart and the Ships and Vessels of what Country soever were stayed in all the Ports of Spain to transport them whither they would go Many passed from Spain into Barbary but during this year there came above 150000 of these Morisques into France the King sending Commissaries to see them well used and orderly transported away There was a War fallen
these Rebels of Asia whereof we have made mention the Governour of Sarepta or Sidon in Syria called Armil or Emir Facardin he who gave entrance into his Port to the Florentines and received them in their Courses to the Levant hearing that the Bassa of Damas and the Bassa of the Sea with the Gallies which he brought from Constantinople and the threescore which he took at Negropont whereof we have made mention came to fall upon him with a mighty and fearful Army he left his eldest Son within Sidon with Forces to command there and in other Forts about it and flying from a furious tempest of Enemies he went to Sea with three Ships to retire himself into Eârope with his four Wives ten Children seventy Turks and fourteen thousand pound weight in Gold. He arrived at Legorn and went from thence to Florence under the Protection of Cosmo de Medicis Great Duke of Tuscany whose hands he kissed presenting unto him a Cuttelas very curiously wrought and inriched with Stone and two Jewels to the Great Dutchess to the value of six thousand Crowns This Turk though he had no Faith yet he found Faith with this Prince of Tuscany Cosmo received him desraied him and all his Train furnished him with Money whether it were by way of Gratification or that Emir had consumed his own and by all kind of Courtesies made this Infidel see what difference there is to fly unto the Protection of a Christian Prince or to have recourse unto a Mahometan They say that Emir roade many goodly overtures for the settling of the Christians in Asia but to attempt it with a good and happy Success it should be necessary that most of the Christian Princes would joyn their Wills and Arms together for the general good of Christendom It is true that the Great Duke Ferdinand deceased and Cosmo his Successor had made proof of their good Intentions by many generous Enterprises against the Turk But one Prince alone cannot do all These things past in the Year 1613 the end whereof concludes with the Fury of terrible Tempests in the Mediterranean Sea. The Tenth of November a fearful Tempest full of Lightning Thunder and furious Winds was the cause of the loss of many Gallies and Ships in the Port of Genoa with a great number of Persons which were miserably drowned which loss was valued at above 800000 Crowns The Port of Naples was not free from this Storm and the Gallies of Malta with a great number of other Vessels received great loss The Grand Seignior having this Year and the Year before sustained great loss of his Gallies and Frigots in the Mediterranean Sea by the Gallies of Naples Malta and Florence and in the black Sea by the Cossacks who had taken two Gallies well manned and richly laden he now imposed a great Tax upon all his Christian Subjects towards the reparation of that loss so as he charged the Armenians to build him nine Gallies at their own costs and the Grecians twenty such is the Tyranny of the Turk as he suffers not the poor Christians to injoy any thing but he finds means to pull it from them The Grand Visier Nassuff held his credit with the Prince at whose return from Adrianople many Janizaries to whom the Visier was very odious conspired to kill him as he should enter in at the North Gate coming from Adrianople and had placed themselves there for the effecting of what they had intended but coming near unto the Gate the Sultan being ignorant of what was intended against the Visier called for him to speak with him keeping him by him until he was entred into the City by which means he escaped the pretended practice Soon after Nassuff invited the Sultan to a sumptuous Feast and within few days after theEmperour feasted the Visier who presuming upon his great credit caused all the Crosses in the Church of St. Sophia which is one of the goodliest Monuments in Constantinople to be thrown down and all the Images to be defaced the which had stood intire ever since the Christians Government The Year before the King of Persia had put to death 1200 Armenians upon a false Sugestion as if they had intended to reconcile themselves to the Pope that King hating the Papists and yet suffers divers Jesuits to live in his Dominions The English Ambassador's Chaplain desirous to know the reason of the Persians Cruelty conferred with the Patriarch of the Armenians which resided at Constantinople for there are two Patriarchs whereof the one is under the Persian and the other at Constantinople under the Turk who told him that it was true he had miserably slain many of their Nation by the cunning practises of an Armenian who had counterfeited Letters from the Patriarch of Armenia to the Pope by which the Patriarch with his whole Church of Armenians made offer to reconcile themselves to the Church of Rome and to acknowledge the Pope as their head intreating the Pope to write to the King of Persia to give them leave to do it freely which Letters the Pope receiving he rewarded the Messenger bountifully and returned Letters by him to the King of Persia whereby he intreated him to suffer the Armenians in his Country to use their Consciences freely The King of Persia having received these Letters grew into a great rage causing many of them to be put to death saying That if they would be obedient to the Pope he could expect no service nor obedience from them notwithstanding the Papists said that this was done directly by the Patriarch but the Armenians affirm that it was the practice of a counterfeit Rogue Soon after there arrived three Ambassadors at Constantinople the one was a Circassian the second a Georgian and this was a Bishop and the third a Mingrelian all of them to complain of the Persians Oppression and Cruelty imploring Succours from the Grand Seignior for their support Presently after them arrived a Persian Ambassador whom the Sultan would not admit to Audience until all Controversies were concluded betwixt himself and the Emperour which was then in question the Sultan having sent one Gasparo sometime a Servant in the English Ambassador's House to treat with the Emperour by whose means at length all matters were reconciled betwixt them The Year 1614 began by the horror of great Prodigies year 1614 which were seen in divers parts of Hungary and Silesia Over the Town of Vienna in Austria the Heavens grew so red and fearfully darkned as they feared that either the last day was come or else there would follow some horrible Effusion of Blood. But all these signs had no other effect this year than the ruine of the great Fortune and prodigious Authority of Nassuf Bassa Grand Visier of the Turkish Empire formerly one of the greatest and most fearful Rebels which had carried Arms in Asia against the sovereign Power of their Sultan but to comprehend more plainly the fall and
inviolably maintained between both our Kingdoms which on our part we shall be very loth to infringe or dissolve We do by these our Letters recommend unto your princely Favour this our said trusty Servant and Ambassador to reside and remain in your Port on our behalf to treat with you in all Affairs for the publick Weal of our Dominons and for the general Peace of us both and our Allies and Friends as also for the support and aid of all our Subjects which do live and trade within your Estates and Countries to whose good Discretion we recommend their Affairs and by whose Indâstry and Mediation we conceive our People may be relieved in their just and reasonable demands to the perfect maintenance and assurance of that mutual Commerce which hath so long time been continued between our Royal Progenitors And as we have great cause to profess our grateful Acknowledgement for many Favours which our former Ambassadors and all other our Subjects have and do receive from your Royal Hands so in our Princely love we do intreat you to take knowledge of and to command redress for divers Oppressions and Wrongs done unto some of our said Subjects Persons and Goods that live under the assurance of your Friendship with us which we have formerly signified to our Residents at your Port but as we verily believe they have never come unto your Ears that are open to the just Complaints of all Strangers whereof we have now given charge to our Servant and Ambassador to acquaint you with more at large unto whom we desire you to give Protection and Credit in whatsoever he shall move and propound for the establishing confirmation and inlargement in all Occasions of those Liberties and Priviledges which our Subjects have antiently enjoyed by the Benignity of your self and of your Royal Ancestors And in all other things and occasions wherein he hath or shall receive our Commands as if our self did communicate them with you which we doubt not shall redound to the great Vtility and Honour of both our Empires And so we wish you Health and true Felicity Dated at our Royal City of London the sixth day of September Anno Dom. 1621 and of our Reign of Great Britain France and Ireland the nineteenth Articles propounded by the Ambassador to the Grand Seignior FIrst his Sacred Majesty of Great Britain according to the most noble and renowned League of Amity between your Majesties and your Crowns and Dominions hath commanded me to renew the antient Capitulations and Priviledges granted by your Imperial Majesty and your Royal Ancestors and therein to move your Majesty that you will be pleased to inlarge and extend your Favour to our Nation that live under your Protection and to give Remedy to divers Injuries done unto them by the Customers of this Royal Port Aleppo Smirna Scio Patras and other Places contrary to the Justice and Honour of your Majesty and that you will be pleased to give order for several Commands to these Places in all our just Occasions that both the Fame of your Justice may be renowned and the Friendship of your Majesties confirmed and the Correspondence and Commerce between your Dominions established and increased Secondly his Majesty hath commanded me to offer himself as a Mediator of Peace to accommodate the late breach with the Kingdom of Poland the King of Poland having sent his Ambassador express into England to desire his Aid he hath thought it more agreeable to his Honour and to the antient League of Friendship to use his Credit with your Majesty to procure the general quiet and peace of the Princes of Christendom desiring your Majesty to consider his Interest in the publick cause and not to despise the Forces of so many as may partake in the quarrel which if your Majesty shall hearken unto the rather for his sake as your Royal Ancestor hath done in the like Occasion his Majesty will accept it as a respect of your Love which will assure and increase the Commerce and Friendship of your Dominions in which his Maiesty hath given me more particular and full Instructions to treat and mediate in this Business Thirdly his Majesty hath commanded me to move your Imperial Majesty for the release of divers of the Polish Nobility now your Captives and for one Scottish Gentleman a Subject of his Majesty my Royal Master Fourthly his Majesty desires that you will take some order with the Pyrats of Tunis and Algier who shelter themselves under your Royal Protection to the great Dishonour of your Majesty and do many Robberies upon the Subjects of Kings and Princes in Amity and League with your Empire and take even the Ships sent unto your Royal Port admonishing your Majesty to consider that if they be suffered to continue they will occasion the dissolution of all Commerce and Trade being common Enemies to all honest Merchants by whom the Friendship of these Kngdoms are maintained and increased And that if your Imperial Majesty please not to exercise your Royal Power and Authority to bridle or destroy them that then you will not take it in ill part that his Majesty with other Princes his Allies shall make an Army to punish both them and all others that receive and cherish them which hath hitherto been forborn in respect only of your Majesty and that the Towns where they harbor themselves are or ought to be under your Imperial Command Fifthly his Majesty hath commanded me to require Justice and Restitution of a great sum of Money taken from Arthur Garaway here imprisoned by force and Injury in the time of Achmet Bassa whereof his Majesties former Ambassadors have complained to Sultan Achmat your Majesties renowned Father and to Mehemet Bassa Visier to Hussen Bassa to the Hoja of the King and to the Mufti wherein your Majesties most noble Father gave Command for our Satisfaction All the said great Officers having heard the cause upon Examination giving their Testimonies of the great wrong done unto him Mehemet Bassa also writing a Letter by the order of your Majesties Royal Father promising Justice and Restitution which his Majesty doth yet expect and again demand And having so often written in this cause his Majesty will not believe but that in Justice and Honour this Royal Court would do right imputing the Fault to his own Ministers and Ambassadors that they never complained to your Imperial Majesty according to his Highness Command Also his Majesty hath commanded me to require and desire your Majesty to give him your Royal Answer in all these Particulars by your Letters in Writing as shall be fit for your own Honour and conformable to the antient League of Amity and Friendship between your Royal Majesties His Majesties Ambassador not many days after sent to the Visier who had promised him an answer unto these Articles who returned him this that followeth To the First he said That the Emperour his Master had given him order to renew the Capitulations and to
all were to swell this Work to a larger Volume than the Book of Martyrs Here was that Martial field into which remote Nations and unconcerned descended carried thither by zeal to the Christian cause or by certain Principles of Valour and Magnanimity so that though the War bore no other denomination than of the Venetian and the Turk yet so great was the confluence of both parts of the World to this little Isle as if it had been chosen by unanimous consent for a Stage to try the Title to the Universal Empire The Town being thus beleagured on all sides but where Neptune the Spouse of Venice kept it open the Christians endeavoured first to disturb the Traverses of the Turks by a Mine of Powder which they blew up but through the neglect or little experience of the Engineer it being the first which they had fired reverted and did more hurt to themselves than to the Enemy the errour of which being observed another Fornello was fired which taking its due place and measures so affrighted the Turks as yet not acquainted with this manner and invention of War that they began at the first onset to be discouraged considering that if the ground was unsecure and unstable at that distance what abysses and chasmes must there be prepared to make them graves under the Walls or entrance to the City To second and justifie this Gunpowder Plot the Christians made two Sallies one by the Savoyards under Command of Colonel Profito Torse who issued forth from tâe Revelin of Betlem and made great slaughter of the Turks with Granadoes on the side of Panigra another was performed by Colonel Arbârio and Colonel Marini accompanied with Count Brurasco Captain of the Guards to Marquess Villa who assaulted two Redouts of the Turks and forced them to flight and afterwards with some loss retreated victoriously to their Works In like manner Colonel Frigeri Commander of St. Demetrio made a Sally on Catirgi-Oglé near the Lazaretto and with some loss returned triumphant About this time arrived at Standi the Captain-General Francesco Morosini who after some Consultation disarming his Fleet of about a thousand men entred with that Succour into the Town and yet fitted out a convenient Squadron of Gallies and Galleasses to rove in the Archipelago to hinder the Enemies Succours and Recruits which were designed for Candia In this interim the Turks repaired the old Battery against the Lazaretto and laboured continually in their Galleries and subterranean Works so that by that time that the Christians had sprang five Fornelli upon them towards the point of the Half-moon of Mocenigo the Turks had advanced so well towards the Borders of Panigra that they sprang two Mines but these being but the first proofs or essays of this kind of invention reverted on themselves with the loss of two hundred of their men and again fired a third with little success which the Christians answered to better purpose blowing up sixty or seventy Turks Wherefore the Turks made a farther tryal of two Mines by the Half-moon rather to their own loss than to the damage of their Enemy In all the month of Iuly passed not a day without some considerable action sometimes to good sometimes with bad success to both Parties every day Mines were sprank on both sides destroying the Lines and overthrowing the Galleries but the main force and heat of the War as it were concentring it self towards the Quarters of Panigra in defence thereof the Engineer Castellan as freely as couragiously proffered the use of his Art and the hazard of his Person In which whilst he imployed himself and endeavoured to cleanse the Galleries of their rubbish which the Enemies Mines had thrown down the Turks threw such quantities of Bomboes and Stink-pots into those Caverns as made the stench thereof so suffocating and noisom that two Officers were choaked or smothered that went to view the place and Lieutenant-Colonel Cavalli and the Engineer Castellan himself were brought away half dead poysoned with Sulphur and pestiferous smoke to purifie which Grota nothing could render the air more wholesom in expulsion of the preceding vapour than the smoke of Juniper and burnt Aqua vitae which being made use of with good success the Christians fired two Mines which opened so dreadful an abyss as served for the grave of great numbers of Infidels During this time daily rencounters arrived the Auxiliary Gallies from the Pope and Malta commanded by Prior Bichi and Bali del Bene as also the Gallies of Naples and Sicily commanded by Gianettino Doria and the Duke of Ferrandina of whom the Captain-General would have borrowed some Forces to have served at Land but their Commissions it seems or their courages were too strait to afford any such Supplies being designed to cruise in the Archipelago only the generous Chevalier d'Harcourt with ten other Camerades that were imbarked on the Gallies of Malta agreed to enter the Garrison having come with no other design from France than to offer themselves in defence of the Christian cause and in a time of Peace when their Prince had no need of their assistance and service to give the World true evidences and proofs of the value and greatness of their souls In all Enterprises this Person worthily descended of the House of Lorrain was a Companion to Marquess Villa and one day venturing on a design to disturb the Enemies approaches was shot in the face with a Musket-bullet of which wound recovering some time after he with his Companions returned to France having like Cavaliers Passant acted the parts of true Chivalry But neither did the Prior Bichi Commander of the Popes Gallies nor Doria Admiral of those of Naples act agreeable to the bravery of those French Gentlemen for they not only denied as we have said to land a small number of their men but as if they came only to make them a visit sent this short Letter of Advice dated the 24 th of August in these words The Auxiliary Gallies are obliged to depart this night and to return to Suda where they are to remain until the expiration of that time which is appointed for them in these Seas Prior Bichi likewise sent word to Marquess Villa That he judged it fit to depart by reason that no action presented for them to undertake to which the Marquess replied That he who seeks may find and that such opportunities never offer to those who endeavour to avoid them Doria also to colour his excuses said That his Orders were not to land men unless the Town were in the extremity of danger of being taken to which Villa replyed That he could not well be assured in what condition the Town was since he never vouchsafed to set his foot ashore or conceived a curiosity of seeing the greatest and the most famous Siege that ever was in the World. In short these Holy and Catholick Squadrons departed without contributing any assistance to the Christians
great measure to the ill Conduct of Fieschi and judging the greatest part of this debt to be feigned sent another Resident called Signior Spinola to succeed him in his Office who arriving at Smyrna in the month of May of this present year year 1675. on a stout Ship hired of the Venetians and under the notion of a Man of War accompanied with a Merchant Ship and a new Consul the old one dying the year before setled there such Orders as were judged necessary for the government of their Affairs But before these Genoueses arrived a report had fore-ran them from Ligorne and other parts that their Ships brought great quantities of false Gold and false Pieces of Eight the which coming to the ears of the Turks Commands were provided against their arrival to search their Ships and try their Monies to which the Genoueses not condescending Arz or testimony was made thereof by the Kadi unto the Grand Signiors Court. In the interim whilst this Arz went up and the answer expected the Genouese Resident designing to proceed forward on his Voyage to Constantinople demanded the Kadi's Moraselau or Ticket of Licence for the Man of War on which he came to pass the Castle for that Ship had entred within the Port. The Kadi judging it necessary that both the Resident and Ship should attend the arrival of the answer from above refused to grant this Licence whereupon the Resident all in a rage imbarked himself and immediately set sail and having a fair Breez out of the Port gently slided along by the side of the Castle without any stop or interruption This affront being put upon the Kadi greatly displeased him so that calling the Lieutenant and Gunner of the Castle into question and not admitting of their Plea that the Ship was a Man of War and the person thereon a Resident both which were privileged and both going up to the Grand Signiors Court were to answer there for what was laid against them but this I say not being admitted for reason the Kadi committed them both to Prison from whence with some charge afterwards they released themselves The new Resident being arrived at Constantinople the Creditors of Count Fieschi demanded payment of the debts owing to them which was given in to amount to sixty thousand Dollars and so much was to be paid before Fieschi should be permitted to depart or at least that part thereof being satisfied in hand the new Resident Spinola should give security for payment of the remainder the which he refusing to do as not owning the accounts which Fieschi had given in in regard he judged them to be composed of extravagant Interests and to arise on charges not allowable by that Republick who after the death of Giustiniano disowned Fieschi for their Minister hereupon great disturbances and commotions arose amongst the Creditors some of which being in great Power as the Janisary-Aga and others Sequestration was laid on their Man of War so that she was toaed away to the Arsenal and there laid up and attached for payment of the debt which arising on the account of the Publick the Goods of the Common-wealth was justly esteemed liable to the Sequestration during which time the Pestilence the Epidemical disease of that season at Constantinople affecting with its contagion the Ships company about eighteen or twenty of them dyed thereof and all their affairs reduced to a strange consternation In this interim many and various were the disputes and contests between the two Residents sometimes they proposed to refer their differences to the decision of the English French and Venetian Ministers sometimes again finding the distance so wide and spatious between them they resolved to have their matters determined by Turkish Sentence At length the new Resident perceiving no end of this business and that the Ship lay ingaged at a great charge and as it were captivated to the great dishonour of the Republick came to an agreement to pay thirty three thousand Dollars one third whereof was to be paid in hand and the other two thirds by equal portions in the space of one year the first payment to be made after six months and the other six months after to which not only the Resident but their Merchants also entred personally into obligation In this manner the Ship being cleared and taking such Lading as offered for Genoua at Constantinople sailed for Smyrna where taking another Ship of the same Country into her company departed with the Dutch Convoy for Christendom But having remained six months in Port subjected to much charge and trouble and not finding a Freight equal to the time and expence was no great incouragement to the Genoueses to continue this Trade which by good experience appears in no manner agreeable to their Country nor yielding success answerable to the long expectation of ten years past In this Year it was that the Grand Signior and Great Vizier at the instigation of Chusaein Aga the chief Customer whom we have before mentioned casting their eyes on Smyrna and finding it a place of a great Trade and a convenient Port for which in ancient times it was always famous and for the same cause was frequented by Merchants both from the Eastern and Western parts of the World so that it was become the only great and considerable Mart or Scale within the Precincts of the Turkish Empire considering it I say in this manner with a benign eye as bringing great profit and advantage they began to think it worthy the Ornament of some publick Edifices founded with that Magnificence as might endure long and renew the ancient Honour and Reputation of Smyrna Hereupon they erected in the first place a Besasteen which is in the nature of our Exchange where several Shops are made and variety of Goods sold and to make the better Front towards the Sea it was founded therein on vast Stones and Piles fât to support a weighty Building The next Edifice erected was a Custom-house built into the Sea only on Piles of Timber with a handsom Front towards the Sea and this the Great Vizier judged to be a work not only necessary but also agreeable to the Majesty of his Master for until this time the Customer lived in a hired House not unlike the others which Merchants inhabit And now this House being compleated a Hattesheriff or Royal decree came down from the Court commanding that all Ships that came into that Port either to lade or unlade should lay their sides to that Custom-house Scale and thereon discharge their Goods and receive others And now whereas the Merchants injoyed at all times in former days the convenience of having their Goods landed on and laden from their own Keys or Scales they greatly resented this innovation and as they unwillingly quit any Priviledge so they judged this not unworthy to be contended for with singular constancy and resolution the commodiousness of which was thought so considerable that it not only caused this place in former
thing and had before born some Sway. The Souldiers whose help he had used in aspiring to the Government he rewarded with great bounty all their Offices and Preferments he bestowed either upon his own Children or other his great Favorites divers of the Nobility of whom he liked not were by him in short time driven into exile some were by him deprived of their sight and some others cast into prison not knowing any cause why more than that they were by him secretly condemned for that they were of the Nobility or had done some good Service for the State or exiled for their Personage or some other thing that grieved Andronicus or else for the spark of some old displeasure which yet lay hid as fire raked up in the ashes So that the State of that time began to grow most miserable and the treachery even of men nearest in blood seeking the destruction one of another for to serve their own turns or to gratifie Andronicus most horrible not only one Brother betray'd another but even the Father his Son and the Son his Father if Andronicus would have it so Some accused their nearest Kinsmen that they derided Andronicus his proceedings or that without regard of him they more favoured Alexius the young Emperor then a great offence Yea such was the mischief of the time that many in accusing others were themselves accused and charging others of Treason against Andronicus were themselves charged by them whom they accused and so clapt up both together in one prison Neither were they of the Nobility only which were Enemies to Andronicus thus hardly dealt withall but even some of his great Favorites and Followers also for some whom but yesterday he had used most kindly and enrolled among his best Friends upon them to day he frowned and tyrannized most cruelly so that you might have seen the same man the same to day as it is reported of Xerxes his Admiral to be crowned and beheaded to be graced and disgraced insomuch that the wiser sort deemed Andronicus his praisings the beginning of a mans disgrace his bounty his undoing and his kindness his death The first that tasted of his Tyranny was Mary the Daughter of Emanuel the Emperor who for the hate she bare to Alexius the late President and the Empress her Mother in law had as is aforesaid above all other wisht for his coming but was now by one Pterigionites sometime an Eunuch of her Fathers corrupted by Andronicus having in his aspiring mind purposed the utter destruction of all Emanuels Posterity cunningly poysoned as was her Husband Caesar who lived not long after her poysoned also as was supposed with the same Cup that his Wife was Now among others of the late Emperors House none had ever stood more in his light than had the fair Empress Xene the young Emperors Mother whom now he ceased not most bitterly though wrongfully to accuse as an utter Enemy both to the Emperor and the State making as if he would leave all and again depart if she were not removed from the Emperor her Son and by his cunning so incensed the giddy headed vulgar people against her that they came flocking to Theodâsius the good Patriarch ready to tear him out of his Cloaths if he consented not to the removing of the Empress as Andronicus had desired So a Council being called of such his Favorites and others as were not like indifferently to hear her Cause but assuredly to condemn her the Guiltless Empress after many things falsly laid to her Charge was accused of Treason as that she should by her Letters have solicited Bela King of Hungary her Brother in law to invade Brantizoba and Belligrade two strong places belonging to the Empire Whereupon she was condemned and shamefully cast into a most filthy Prison near unto the Monastery of St. Diomede Amongst other Noblemen called unto this wicked Council were Leo Monasteriotes Demetrius Tornicius and Constantius Petrenus who not yet altogether devoted to Andronicus being asked their Opinions concerning the Empress said They would be glad first to know Whether that Council against his Mother were called by the Emperors consent or not With which Speech Andronicus pierced to the heart as with a Sword in great rage started up and said These are they which encouraged the wicked President to all his Villanies lay hands upon them Whereupon they of his Guard in threatning manner shook their Weapons and Swords at them as if they would even presently have slain them and the tumultuouâ common people catching them by their Cloaks as they came out pulling them some one way some another were so fierce upon them as that they had much ado to escape out of their hands with life Now lay the fair Empress but the other day one of the greatest Princes of the East and honoured of all her Subjects in great misery and despair scorned even of her base Keepers every hour expecting the deadly blow of the Hangman Yet was not the cruelty of Andronicus against her any thing asswaged but grieving that she yet breathed shortly after assembled the former Council the Ministers of his Wrath demanding of them What punishment was by Law appointed for such as betrayed any Town or Province of the Empire whereunto answer being given in Writing That it was by the Law death he could no longer hold but that he must in great choler break out against the poor Empress as if it had been she that had done it and thereupon the wicked Counsellors crying out with one voice That she was to be taken out of the way as they had before agreed by and by without longer stay a damned Writing was subscribed by the young Emperor her Son as if it had been with the blood of his own Mother whereby she was I abhor to write it most unworthily condemned to die The men appointed to see this most horrible and cruel Execution done were Manuel Andronicus his eldest Son and Georgius Augustus his near Kinsman who both dismaid at the very mentioning of the matter not regarding the Emperors Command said plainly that they never before consented to the death of the Empress but had clean hands of so hainous an offence and therefore would now much less see her innocent Body dismembred in their sight At which unexpected answer Andronicus much troubled with his Fingers oftentimes pluckt himself by the hoary Beard and with burning eyes casting sometime up his head and sometime down sighed at his own most miserable tyrannical estate freting inwardly that they which were nearest unto him whom he thought he might even with a beck have commanded to have done any mischief abhorring his cruelty should refuse to do the thing he so much desired to have done yet repressing his anger for a while within a few days after he again commanded her to be strangled which was accordingly done by Constantinus Tripsicus and Pterigionites the ungracious Eunuch by whose help he
War is Peace so at length upon the evil success of Charles a Peace being concluded betwixt the two Kings and confirmed by a Marriage betwixt their Children Ronzerius living altogether by his Fortunes was to seek for new Entertainment both for himself and his men as having neither house nor certain dwelling place to repair to but being as needy men met together some out of one place some out of another in hope of booty as their Fortune led them In which case Ronzerius their General thought it best to offer his Service to the Greek Emperor in his Wars against the Turks whereof he gladly accepted and so sent for him unto whom he shortly after came with two thousand good Souldiers called after the proud Spanish manner by the name of Catalonians for that they were for the most part Spaniards of the Country of Catalonia Of whose coming the Emperor rejoycing more than he had cause as afterward by proof it fell out in token of his great favour honoured him with the name of the Great Captain and afterwards gave him his Neece Mary in marriage But within a while after when as one Tenza another Catalonian Captain sent for by Ronzerius was come thither also with more aid the Emperor to gratifie them both gave unto Ronzerius the name of Caesar and unto the other the name of the Great Captain But when these new Captains with their Followers were to be transported into Asia it is not to be spoken what harm they did by the way unto the Country people and in the Villages alongst the Sea-coast abusing the men and women as their Slaves and spending their substance at their pleasure for which they had many a bitter curse and this was their first years entertainment The next Spring they set forward to relieve the great City of Philadephia being as then long besieged by the Turks and hardly bestead without with the Enemy and within with extream Penury and Famine which good Service they most valiantly performed and raised the Siege For the Turks beholding the good order of these Latinâ Souldiers their bright Armor and couragious coming on rose presently and departed not only from the City but quite out of the Emperors Territory Besides that in this Army were joyned unto these Catalonians great numbers of the best Souldiers of the Greeks and all the Power of the Massagets so that had not the Emperor expresly before commanded not to pursue them too far it was by many thought all those Cities and Countries might then again have been in short time recovered from the Turks which they had before taken from him But in Kingdoms appointed unto ruine fair occasions help not for the stay thereof yea the greatest helps provided by the worldly wise by a secret commanding Power above being oftentimes converted to the destruction of that they were provided for the safeguard of as it now fell out with the Emperor and these Spanish Souldiers for this Service done the Greeks returned home as did the Massagets also But these Catalonians with Ronzerius their General roaming up and down the Emperors Territories in Asia did there great harm turning their Forces as Enemies upon them whom they were sent for to relieve alledging that they had not their pay according to the Emperors promise and that therefore they must live upon them that had sent for them and deceived them So were the poor people in every place spoiled their Wives and Daughters ravished their Priests and aged Fathers tortured to confess such secret store as they had all was subject unto these dissolute Souldiers rage and lust yea many of them that had nothing to redeem themselves upon the greedy Souldiers imagination having their hands or feet or some other part of their bodies cut off lay by the high-ways side begging an half-peny or a piece of bread having nothing left to comfort themselves with more than their miserable voice and fountains of Tears with which their Wrongs and Miseries worse than those they had sustained by the Turks the Emperor much grieved and well the more for that they were done by him whom he had entertained to relieve them but what remedy his Coffers were so bare as that he was not able to do any thing for the redress thereof Ronzerius having thus spoiled the Emperors Country in Asia and left nothing that pleased either him or his with all his Power passed over into Europe and leaving all the rest of his Army at Calipolis with two hundred of his men went unto the young Emperor Michael then lying with a small Power at Orestias in Thracia to demand of him his pay or if need were to extort it from him with threats with whose Insolency at his coming the Emperor more offended than before his Souldiers there present perceiving the same with their drawn Swords compassing him in fast by the Court slew him with certain of his Followers the rest fled in all hast to Calipolis to certifie their Fellows what had happened Thus by the death of Ronzerius the young Emperor had thought to have discouraged the Catalonians and abated their pride as like enough it was to have done yet in proof it fell not out so but was the cause of far greater evils So when God prospers not mens actions the best falleth out unto the worst and their wisest devices turn to meer follies for the Catalonians at Calipolis hearing of the death of Ronzerius their General first slew all the Citizens in the City and notably fortified the same took that as their Refuge Then dividing their Souldiers into two parts with one part of them manned out eight Gallies which under the leading of the great Captain Tenza robbed and spoiled all the Merchants Ships passing the straits of Hellespontus to or from Constantinople the other part left in the City in the mean time foraging the Country all about them But Tenza shortly after encountring with a Fleet of the Genowayes well provided for him was by them overthrown and most of his Gallies sunk and himself taken but yet afterwards redeemed by his Fellows and so again inlarged Now the Catalonians at Calipolis somewhat discouraged with the loss of their Fleet and so many of their men for certain days kept themselves quiet within their Walls not knowing well what course to take for they feared both the Massagets and Thracians them for that they had upon light causes abused them and slain divers of them in the late Asian War and these for that they had but even the other day burnt their Houses and spoiled their Labors in the Country there by for which and other their Outrages they utterly despaired of the Emperors Favor whom they had so highly offended But that which most of all terrified them was for that they looked for every day when Michael the young Emperor who as then lay not far off should with a great Power come to assault them for fear of whom they cast a deep Ditch about the
some great War besides that in the Cities for the Government thereof they placed their trustiest friends removing such others as they had in suspition All which they coloured by rumors falsly raised one while of the coming of the European Tartars from Danubius and another while by the coming of the Turks out of Asia against whose Invasions these preparations were given out to be made for avoiding of suspition and the Traitors for their provident care highly commended even by the Emperor himself against whom they were intended All which things Syrgiannes notably dissembled oftentimes withall certifying the young Prince what he had done and what was likewise of him to be performed But the old Emperor seeing his youthful Nephew not to hearken to his grave advice but still to proceed in his dissolute kind of life was about solemnly to have reproved him before the Patriarch and some others of the chief Nobility if happily such open reproof might have wrought in him some change of Manners if not then to have committed him to prison and like enough he was to have so done had he not been otherwise perswaded by Theodorus Mitochita who of all others was able to do most with him by reason of the liberty of the time for then it was almost Shrovetide when as the people distempred with excess of meat and drink were of all other times most fit upon any light occasion to be drawn into a tumult or uproar for fear whereof he was contented for that time to let him alone But Shrovetide past and a good part of Lent also the old Emperor seeing no amendment in his Nephew calling unto him Gerasimus the Patriarch and the rest of the reverend Bishops then present in the City sent for his Nephew openly before them all to chide him and to school him for his disordered life but especially for his purposed flight that ashamed of such open reproof before such reverend Fathers he might either amend his life or at leastwise of all men be thought justly punisht for the same if he should still proceed therein So the young Prince being sent for came accompanied with many of his Favorites and Followers most of them being secretly armed and he himself not altogether unprovided for it was agreed amongst them that if the Emperor should use gentle and fatherly admonition towards him that then they should be quiet without any shew of insolency or discontentment but if he should in anger reprove him or threaten to punish him then upon a sign given forcibly with their Swords drawn to break in upon him and to kill him in the Imperial Seat and without more ado to place young Andronicus his Nephew in his stead But coÌming in and as his manner was taking his place next unto his aged Grandfather his desperate Followers attending without he was indeed of him grievously blamed and reproved for all his former follies and evil course of life yet with such moderation and gravity 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 divers his Followers wished but the Assembly quietly dismissed and a solemn Oath taken on both sides of the Grandfather That he should not appoint any but his Nephew to succeed him in the Empire and of the young Prince That he should never go about to attempt any thing to the shortening or hurt of his Grandfathers life or Empire But the Conspirators thronging about him at his coming out fretted and fumed at him as if he had broken his Faith and Oath before given them saying What greater wrong couldst thou do us than being by us made strong and become dreadful unto thine Enemies to dispose of thine affairs at thy pleasure to thine own safety and to leave us thy most faithful Friends and Servants in the Devils mouth to be devoured For now they both doubted and feared lest their Conspiracy was discovered With which Speeches he both discouraged and ashamed sent for Theodorus Metochita his Grandfathers chief Councellor requesting him to deal with his Grandfather for the pardoning of all his Followers as he had done for himself of which motion he disliking told him That he was to give God thanks that he had himself escaped so great a danger and to him also as a mean for the safeguard of his life although he treated not for such traiterous persons with whom if he were well advised he would have nothing to do either think that they would eâer be faithful unto him that respecting neither God nor man had so fouly broken their Faith before given unto the Emperor his Grandfather With which unexpected Answer of so great and grave 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 own passions but afterwards commanding him without further reply to depart and the old Companions of his follies resorting unto him he by their perswasions entertained again his former disloyal thoughts and designments which his Grandfather vehemently suspecting and therewith not a little grieved would as if it had been by Inspiration oftentimes in his heaviness say unto them that were about him In our time is lost the Majesty of our Empire and the devotion of the Church Yet to prevent the worst he thought it good betime to lay hands upon his suspected Nephew and so to detain him in safe keeping acquainting none therewith but Gerasimus the Patriarch and his ghostly Father who presently acquainted the Prince therewith and was the cause that he hastned his flight flying himself before For he now certainly understanding the danger he was in the night before he should have been apprehended with all the rest of the Conspirators his Complices in the dead time of the night fled out of the City by the Gate called Gyrolimnia which Gate all the rest being shut was still at his Command for that he used commonly 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 coming The old Emperor before the rising of the Sun advertised of the flight of his Nephew the same day commanded him to be proclaimed Traytor and proscribed with all his Conspirators and whosoever else should take his part And for the more surety every man in the City was sworn to be loyal and faithful unto the old Emperor and Enemies unto his Nephew and his Adherents But he on the other side proclaiming Liberty and Immunity abroad in all the Cities and Villages in Thracia so won the hearts of the Country people in general that they resorted unto him from all places in great numbers ready armed to do whatsoever he should command them And to begin withall they first laid hands upon the Collectors of the Emperors money
him not far off Wherefore Solyman giving them leave they departed and shortly after making a little Boat or rather as some suppose a Raffe passed over Hellespontus by night and arrived in Europe side near unto a Castle of the Turks called Zemenic or Zembenic but of the Greeks Coiridocastron that is to say The Hogs Castle not far from Sestus where going ashore they took Prisoner a Greek in a Vineyard near unto the Castle whom they finding to be a good sensible Fellow without delay put him into their Boat or Raffe and returning back again presented him to Solyman This Christian Captive Solyman entertained courteously giving him great Gifts and rich Apparel to discover unto him the Estate of his Country and in fine learned of him a means to take the Castle Zembenic before the Christians should thereof be awar For atchievement whereof certain Boats were speedily made ready by Solymans Commandment and he with eighty chosen Souldiers easily passed over in them by night with their Christian Guide the Greek for in that place the Strait betwixt Asia and Europe is not past an Italian mile over This Guide brought Solyman directly to the aforesaid Castle where was a great Dunghil so high that from the top thereof Solyman with his Souldiers easily got into the Castle which they won without any great resistance for it was then Harvest time and most part of the People were in the Vineyards or treading out of their Corn all night as the use of those Countries is Solyman thus possessed of the Castle of Zembenic used no extremity against the Inhabitants thereof seeking rather by courtesie to gain their good Wills than by extremity to force them to his yet such Gentlemen as he took with some others also of the better sort he sent by shipping into Asia and by the same Ships returned Souldiers as fast as he could into Europe so that he had in one day two hundred Souldiers more brought over unto him and manning such small Vessels as he had left about the Castle sent Ezes-Beg alongst the coast on Europe side to burn such shipping or Vessels as he could find lest the Christians should by them hinder his passage upon the Strait of Hellespontus So in a few days Solyman had transported into Europe two thousand good Souldiers of the Turks whom he so governed that they did not in any violent sort injury to the vulgar Christians by reason whereof the common People began to like reasonable well of the Turks and to converse with them without fear This was the first coming over of the Turks into Europe with purpose there to conquer and inhabit under the fortune of the Othoman Kings For albeit that some of that Nation had at sundry times before come over as men seeking after Spoil or otherwise sent for yea sometimes by the Greek Emperors themselves yet never staid they long but having done what they came for or else lost themselves returned back again into Asia until that now conducted by Solyman and possessed of the little Castle of Zembenic as is aforesaid they there took so fast footing as that they and their Posterity after them were never thence to be since that time removed but still more and more encroaching upon the Christians have unto their Asian Kingdom joyned a great part of Europe also to the terror of the rest that yet remaineth as in the process of this History shall if God will at large appear About two miles from Zembenic in Chersonesus was another Castle called Maito or more truly Maditus which Solyman also took so that now he had gotten two Castles in Eurâpe both which he strongly manned After which time the Turks in great numbers came out of Asia into Europe over that narrow Strait of Hellespontus to dwell in Chersonesus and Solyman instead of them to make room for his Turks sent Christians out of Europe to be placed amongst the Turks in Asia The report of this coming over of the Turks into Chersonesus and of the taking of the Castle of Zembenic carried in post to Constantinople was sufficient to have stirred up any provident or careful men presently to have taken up Arms for the recovery of the lost Castle and the driving out again of the barbarous Enemies out of Europe before they had gathered any greater Strength or setled themselves in those places but such was the careless negligence and great security of the proud Greeks that instead thereof they to extenuate the greatness of the loss commonly said That there was but a Hogsty lost alluding unto the name of the Castle and vainly as said a grave Father of their own jesting at that was not to be jested at and laughing at that was not to be laughed at but lamented for as in few years it proved their foolish laughter being not without good cause converted into most bitter tâaâs Solymans Strength so still increasing by the dayly coming over of the Turks he proceeded further to spoil the Country of Chersenesus almost as faââs Callipolis distant from the Castle Zembenic about two and twenty miles after which pleasant City the proud Turk began now to long Which the Governor thereof perceiving by the Turks continual incroaching upon him raised what power he was able to make and so went out against them all the rest of the Greeks in the mean time lying still as if they had been asleep or that the matter had not concerned them but meeting the Turks he was by them after a great conflict overthrown and for safeguard of his life glad to âlie into his City after whom the Turks following spoiled the Country round about and in their return by plain force took the City together with the Castle also which happened in the year of our Lord 1358. Where the madness of the Greeks was again more than before to be wondred at foâ the nâws of the loss of Callipolis being brought to Consââââââople the People there made small account thereof although it was indeed a right great loss and much concerned the State but to extânuate the matter when they had any talk thereof in jeâting wise commonly said That the Turks had but taken from them a Pottle of Wine But by taking of such Hogsties and Pottles of Wine as they termed it the Turks in a few years after had gone so far in Thracia that Amurath the same Solymans Nephew which now took from the Greeks the City of Callipâlis even in the heart as it were of the Greek Empire placed his Royal Seat at Hâdâianople and immediately after him Bajazet his Son having subdued all the Country even to the Walls of Constantinople for ceâtain years laid hard Siege unto the Imperial City it self and had no doubt then carried it had not the great expedition of the mighty Tartar Prince Tamerlane unto Bajazet fatal in the mean time happened whereby God so appointing it the prosperous succeedings of the Turks were for a space well staied that they should
in that obscure and melancholy Life he weary thereof as some suppose as not a little revived with the late Victory or else solicited by Cali Bassa and other great Counsellors returned again to Hadrianople resuming unto himself the Government of the Kingdom to the great discontentment of his ambitious Son Mahomet Scanderbeg yet sticking in the borders of Servia and hearing what had happened unto King Uladislaus with the Hungarians was therewith exceedingly grieved and having now lost the hope whereupon he had undertaken that so great an expedition resolved to return home again into Epirus Nevertheless to be in some part revenged of the wicked Despot he with his Army forcibly brake into his Country and there did exceeding great harm In his returning homewards great numbers of Hungarians and Polonians lately escaped from the slaughter at Varna repaired unto him whom he according to the extremity of their Fortune courteously relieved and furnishing them with such things as they wanted provided them shipping to Ragusa from whence they might in safety return into their own Countries Thus by the Disloyalty and Treachery of the faithless Despot of Servia was Scanderbeg staid from being present at the bloody Battel of Varna to the unspeakable loss of the Christian Common-weal for it could not be but that so many thousands of most resolute and expert Souldiers under the leading of so worthy a Chieftain must needs have done much for the gaining of the Victory And what more glorious sight could a man have wished for than to have seen so puissant an Army in the Field against the sworn Enemy of Christendom directed by two such valiant and renowned Chieftains as never either before or since their time was seen the like in one Battel against the Enemy of Christ and the Christian Religion They were both men of invincible Courage of exceeding Strength and Agility of Body wise prudent and subtil both of long time exercised in the Turks Wars the greatest terror of that Nation and most worthy Champions of the Christian Religion being therein both very zealous Of the two Huniades was at that time accounted the better Commander and the more politick as a man in greater experience in Martial Affairs by reason of his greater years which was well countervailed by Scanderbeg his perpetual good Fortune still as it were attending upon him and by his experience afterwards gotten as in the course of his History well appeareth Amurath advertised of these proceedings of Scanderbeg as also of the great harms by him done in Macedonia and that the Frontiers of his Dominions bordering upon Epirus were by his Fury utterly wasted and spoiled and his People there for most part slain and that the rest had for fear forsaken their Dwellings and left the Country desolate and unpeopled was therewith exceedingly moved Yet for so much as he still stood in dread of the Hungarians and was now himself clogged with years and therefore more desirous of rest considering also the young years of his Eldest Son Mahomet as yet unfit for the Government of so great and troublesome a Kingdom with the perpetual good Fortune of Scanderbeg and Malice of Huniades he thought it not best to convert all his Forces upon him but to prove if he could cunningly draw him into some dishonourable Peace for a time that so he might afterwards at leisure be the better revenged of him For which cause he writ unto him Letters mixt with grievous Threats and some feigned Courtesies as followeth Amurath Othoman King of the Turks and Emperor of the East to the most ingrateful Scanderbeg wisheth neither Health nor Welfare I Never wanted honourable Preferments to bâstow upon thee all the while thou didst live in my Court of all others most unkind Scanderbeg but now I want Words wherewith to speak unto thee thou hast so highly offended my Mind and touched mine Honour that I know not in discretion what Words to use unto thee but of late one of my Domestical Servants For neither will hard speech mollifie the natural fierceness of thy proud disposition neither art thou worthy of better which hast far exceeded all Hostility And because thou wouldest omit no occasion to provoke me hast of late proceeded to that point of Folly that thou hast had thine own Affairs and the Welfare of thine own Subjects in small regard by confederating thy self in Arms with the Hungarians against me It grieveth me to rehearse other thy unkindness and as it were to touch those sores if my mind would ever suffer me to forget the same or that thine so manifold and horrible Treasons and strange examples of a most unthankful mind were to be covered with silence Yet I thought good to advertise thee although perhaps too late lest that thy unstaid heat do untimely overthrow thee with thy unlucky Kingdom and then thou wouldst make humble confession of thy long transgression when thou hast lost thy self and left no hope of refuge in thy desperate Estate We have hitherto sufficiently suffered thy manifold injuries thou hast sufficiently provoked the Majesty of the Othoman Empire with wrong and contumelious despight and I with patience have born all these thy contempts Thinkest thou that my Army by thee betrayed unto the Hungarians shall be unrevenged Thinkest thou that so many Cities and Towns in Epirus by thee rent from the body of my Empire with my Garrisons there slain shall be forgotten Or thinkest thou with thy late committed Outrages to escape my revenging Hand Remember the destruction of mine Army under Alis Bassa the wasting and burning of my Dominions and lately the Hungarian Wars 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 graceless man and expect not further whether my indignation will break out Let not these trifling allurements of thy good Fortune so puff up thy foolish desires and sharpen thy conceits that thy miserable Fortunes afterwards may move even thy greatest Enemies or my self to compassion I would thou shouldst at length remember my Courtesies if any spark of humanity remain in thy savage Nature and make me not longer sorry that I have so evil bestowed the same And although it is not the part of an honourable mind to rehearse those things which we have in bounty bestowed upon any man yet is it the token of a most unthankful Nature so easily to forget all kindness past as to need to be put in remembrance thereof Wherefore Scanderbeg I cannot bewail thy hap and lament thine estate For to let pass the health of thy Soul which thou a very Reprobate esteemest as nothing not to speak of the Laws of Mahomet by thee despised and the holy Prophet by thee contemned for the zeal thou hast unto the Christian Superstition what hast thou which now holdst thy poor and base Kingdom in such price ever wanted at my hands of all those things which most
Christians besides the noise of Trumpets Drums and other instruments oâ War with the horrible cry of the hellish Turks was so great and hideous that it seemed as if Heaven and Earth should have gon together nothing was to be heard but the very terror of the Ear nothing to be seen but death and the very instruments of death And now in this extremity a fearful cry ran through the City That without present help all would be lost at the great Gate whereupon not only they which were whole which were the fewest in number but they also which lay wounded or sick in their beds chearing up themselves with Weapons in their Hand ran with speed to the place where the danger was chusing rather there to die than to be slain in their beds Thus whilst the Christians of all sorts and from all parts of the City ran desperately to the Gate the Turks were on every side hardly pressed and in great number slain yet fresh men still coming up as if they had sprung out of the Earth the deadly ââght was by them still maintained for the Turks on the one side for fear of the Tyrant laboured with might and main to win the City and the Christians on the other knowing no hope left for them if they should be overcome with no less resolution defended the same In this obstinacy of mind many fell on both sides sometimes the Turks seemed to have the better and were straitway by the Christians put to the worse Which manner of mortal Fight with doubtful event was continued most part of that day until that at length many being on both parts slain and the rest for the most part sore wounded and hurt the fury of the Assault began to asswage for the Turks now weary of that long and deadly Fight and fainting with their wounds had no great stomach to mount up the Rampiers where they saw no hope to prevail but all things threatning present death Mahomet beholding the wonderful slaughter of his men and that having done what was possible for men to do they now fought as men discouraged and in despair of Victory himself caused a Retreat to be sounded which the Turks no sooner heard but that they left the Assault and without order ran to their Tents as men half scared out of their Wits Of this Victory the Christians as they had good cause rejoyced greatly yet was this joy mingled with much sorrow and heaviness for the loss of such worthy men as were slain in that Assault many of whose bodies they were glad to gather up by piecemeal some here some there some cleaving on this Wall and some on that which they as the time would give leave honourably buried with the rest of the slain At which time also they with all diligence and expedition repaired their breaches and put all things in such readiness as if they should have presently received a fresh Assault Mahomet wonderfully grieved with the shameful dishonour and great loss he had received at the last Assault repented himself that ever he had taken the matter in hand wishing that he had never heard of the name of Scodra and in his choler and frantick rage most horribly blasphemed against God most wickedly saying That it were enough for him to have care of Heavenly things and not to cross him in his Worldly Actions in which fury he descended from the Mount and got into his Tent where he again tormented himself with his melancholy Passions by the space of two days wherein he would neither be spoke withal or admit any man to his presence Upon the third day he called a general Counsel of his Commanders and best Souldiers and thereupon openly before them all said That he was determined to give the Enemy a fresh Assault for that being weakned with so many Assaults he could not possibly be able to hold out another and therefore hoped for an easie Victory But he had no sooner so said but that all they that heard him cried out with one voice to the contrary saying That it was not by any means to be attempted for as much as his best Souldiers were already slain and the greater part of them that were left either sore wounded or brought to that weakness that they were not able to do any more service and that therefore it were better for them to kill one another or else himself to kill them one by one than to expose them to be so shamefully butchered by the Christians In this diversity of opinions Achmetes Bassa the great Champion of the Turks a man reverend and of great authority for his birth years and rare experience in Martial Affairs and one by whom Mahomet had done great matters standing up with pleasing speech calmed his furious mind and with substantial reasons perswaded him to desist from that his intended purpose and to take another surer course as followeth A notable Speech of the great Bassa Achmetes YOUR great Valour and worthy Praises invincible Emperor said he who is able to express the greatness whereof the mind of man cannot conceive and my dull Spirit but wonder at my Tongue faltereth to speak of them neither would this time serve so much as to recount them It is of all men deemed a thing of great honour most dread Soveraign when a Prince hath received a Kingdom from his Ancestors to be able in safety to keep and defend the same greater than this is it honourably to increase and augment it so left but of a small thing by worthy prowess to bring it to the highest type of worldly honour is of all other things the greatest Which most rare excellency all men worthily ascribe unto your perfection and felicity and I of all others can thereof bring the most assured testimony who have oftentimes heard it of mine Ancestors which following the Othoâan Princes out of Asia into Europe that your worthy Predecessors at their first coming into Europe without offence be it said possessed but a corner thereof to whom you afterward by divine appointment succeeding have adjoined so many Provinces Kingdoms and Empires as were tedious to rehearse them For who can worthily express how you have in Europe subdued Constantinople the Imperial City of the East Empire with all Thracia Achaia Grecia Peloponnesus Boeotia Thebes and the noble City of Athens the Mother and Nurse of all good Learning The Empire of Trapezond with the Emperor thereof is by you overthrown The Kingdoms of Servia and Bosna with the Princes of Peloponnesus are by you gloriously vanquished You have at your command twelve Kingdoms in Asia the lesser Pontus Bithynia Cappadocia Paphlagonia Cilicia Pamphilia Lycia Caria Lydia Phrygia Nicomedia and Nicea with the famous City of Prusa Besides these Ionia Doris Smyrna Colophon Ephesus Miletum Halicarnassus Pergamus with the Country of Taurica are under your Subjection The great Country of Armenia hath felt your force The Islands of Lesbos Chios and Euboea are parts of your
or intermission bringing on fresh men as Selymus had before taken order and others at the same time breaking open the Gates and in divers places scaling the Walls enforced the Defendants to forsake their standings and to retire themselves into the Market place where although they were before sore spent with labour and wounds yet did they there with wonderful courage a great while notably withstand the multitude of their Enemies still swarming in and in defence of their Country like resolute men fought it out unto tha last man. Selymus having taken and ransacked Clamassum with two other small Castles which the Defendants had for fear before abandoned although he was with a deadly hatred and ambitious desire prickt forward against Hysmael and thirsted after nothing more than the subversion of the Persian Kingdom yet he thought it not good further to enter into Armenia before he had out of those Forests and Mountains chased the Mountain King Aladeules who but the year before had most treacherously done him and his Army so many injuries in his return from the Persian Expedition For Aladeules not without cause fearing his own estate as soon as he understood that Selymus had again taken the Field and that he was come to the River Euphrates and so to Clamâssum speedily assembling his Forces had in short time raised a great Army for the deâence of himself and his Kingdom purposing that if Selymus should go farther into Armenia then after his wonted manner to look on as a beholder and by the event of the War to take occasion of Prey and by shutting up the passages of his Country at his pleasure to rob and spoil the Turks in their return Wherefore Selymus leaving a Garrison at Clamassum retired back again over the River Euphrates unto the Mountain Antitaurus where it was reported that his Enemies lay This Aladeules as is aforesaid ruled over the rude and savage Mountain People inhabiting the great Mountains Taurus and Antitaurus which Mountains as it were linked together one to another run from the Mountains called Scodrisci and the Borders of Cappadocia with a perpetual rising through many large Provinces and Countries unto the great Mountain Amanus and uttermost bounds of Cilicia The People of this Country were by Nature fierce and warlike more famous for nothing than for the want of all things who as men dwelling in a rough and bare Country could little or nothing profit by Husbandry yet in such places as would bear any pasture they had their breed of Horses and Camels and did with all diligence use grasing but the greatest part of their living consisted in hunting and stealing These are supposed to have had their beginning from the Galatians Cappadocians Armenians and the old Inhabitants of Asia the less which by long and continual Wars in former ages and especially by the lamentable irruption of the Scythians were inforced to forsake their Cities and Dwellings and for safeguard of their lives to fly into those rough and desolate Mountains These distressed People searching every Hill and every Dale and following the opportunity of the Rivers and Fountains but especially the mildest temperature of the Air and favourable aspect of the Sun built in many places poor Country Villages and afterwards divers fair Towns where in process of time they growing to better estate there rose up some amongst them which overruling the rest ambitiously took upon them the name of Kings desiring to be had in regard and to be feared of their Neighbours although they commanded but over rough Woods and ragged Rocks Near unto the Confines of Aladeules Kingdom is the City Orpha which many suppose to have been the famous City Edessa because that as yet there remaineth certain Monuments of Baldwin in Latine Letters who after his Brother Godfrey was possessed of Ierusalem is reported to have taken Edessa and there reigned Not far from thence is also the ancient City Amyda which at this day is called Carimida joyning upon Mesopotamia which Country lying between the two great Rivers Euphrates and Tigris is now called Diarbecha The chief City of Aladeules Kingdom was Maras so called as may be thought of the fair River Marsias running through it out of the Mountain Celene taking the name of Marsias overcome by Apollo and made famous by the Verses of many learned Poets But Aladeules after he saw that Selymus with his Army was entred into the Frontiers of his Kingdom and drawing near unto him brought down all his Horsemen in number about fifteen thousand from the Mountains into a fair large Valley commanding his Footmen whereof he had great store to keep the Mountains on the right hand and the left where having the high rocky Mountains and strait passages much for his advantage he determined in that place which he had long before chosen and fortified to expect the coming of his Enemies Selymus considering the disadvantage of the place although he perceived the Victory could not without great loss of his men be obtained and before perswaded that his Enemies would never have willingly been drawn to Battel yet made no doubt to adventure his Fortune presuming upon the multitude and strength of his Army Wherefore he commanded Sinan Bassa the Eunuch whom he had made General of the Europeian Horsemen instead of Chasan Bassa before slain with a square Battel to charge the Enemy afront forasmuch as the place would not suffer him to range his Battel in length nor to use any Wings and he himself with his Janizaries and Asian Horsemen followed after in the Rearward Neither were the Souldiers of Aladeules unmindful of themselves or of their King who valiantly fought in the head of the Battel but having spent their Arrows did couragiously receive the furious assault of the Turks and standing close to them still keeping the advantage of the ground did with such force repulse them that the old beaten Souldiers of the Turks seemed little or nothing to prevail either with their Multitude or Valor for the Turks by reason of the straightness of the place could not inclose them on either side and were beside grievously wounded by Aladeules Footmen who standing upon the sides of the Hills with their Darts and Arrows from above overwhelmed the Turks in the Valley When Selymus saw that Aladeulus contrary to his expectation made strong resistance and valiantly withstood his Forces he drew certain Companies of Harquebusiers out of his own Squadrons and sent them to relieve their Fellows and at the same instant commanded the Janizaries for all the danger to mount the Hill. Then the Mountain People terrified with the strangeness of the Shot and not able to abide the force thereof by and by turned their backs and by known ways fled into their sure haunts in the Mountains and Woods fast by yet the greatest slaughter fell amongst these Footmen who when they saw the Horsemen put to flight and the Janizaries coming up the Hills against them did with much
and Authority with them of Aleppo having in his keeping a strong Citadel built upon the rising of an Iâill in the midst of the City 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 faithful secretly advised Cayerbeius to beware of the Sultan and by some good means in time to provide for his own safety He understanding of the danger and thinking all delay deadly sent secret Messengers unto Selymus discovering unto him the cause of his grief and promising as occasion should serve to come over unto him and to deliver into his power the Castle with the heart of the Citizens and all the strength of his own Horsemen thereby to provide for his own safety to revenge his Brothers death and to further his Victory against Campson and for performance of promises on both sides required secret Hostages to be given By the same Messengers he also advertised him what Strength the Sultan was of perswading him in any case to make hast to give him Battel before he had gathered any greater Power Selymus nothing doubted to condescend to all that the Traitor had requested promising of himself far greater things than ever he had required assuring himself of the Victory if his Enemy should lose so much of his Strength by the revolt of so great a Commander Campson enforced by the general consent of his Souldiers and the violence of his inevitable Destiny then at hand rejecting the good and faithful Counsel of Gazelles at such time as Selymus was reported to be at hand resolved according to the Counsel of the Traitor Cayerbeius to dare him Battel He lay conveniently incamped upon the River Singa almost ten miles from the City in such sort as that his Souldiers might use the benefit of the River and removed from the Houses and Pleasures of the City might yet nevertheless be easily relieved with the store and plenty thereof The Mamalukes were scarce in number twelve thousand but every one of them according as he was of greater Place or Calling so had he attending upon him more Servants well furnished with Horse and Armor A goodly and invincible Army if the Battel might have been tried by true Valor The Mamalukes wearing their Beards long and rough with grave and stern Countenance having strong and able Bodies used such cunning in all their Fights and Battels that after they had given the first charge with their Launces they would by and by with wonderful activity use their Bows and Arrows casting their Targets behind them and forthwith the Horsemans Mace or crooked Scimeter as the manner of the Battel or Place required Their Horses were strong and couragious in making and swiftness much like unto the Spanish Jennets and that which is of many hardly believed so docible that at certain signs or speeches of the Rider they would with their Teeth reach him up from the ground a Launce an Arrow or such like thing and as if they had known the Enemy run upon him with open mouth and lash at him with their heels and had by Nature and Custom learned not to be afraid of any thing These couragious Horses were commonly furnished with silver Bridles gilt Trappings rich Saddels their Necks and Breasts armed with Plates of Iron The Horseman himself was commonly content with a Coat of Mail or a Breast-Plate of Iron The chief and wealthiest of them used Head-pieces the rest a linnen covering of the Head curiously folded into many wreaths wherewith they thought themselves safe enough against any handy strokes the Common Souldiers used thrumb'd Caps but so thick that no Sword could pierce them Campson of all his Army made four Battels The first was committed to Cayerbeius because it was in his own Province where the Battel was to be fought The second was led by Sybeius who for his wonderful Activity was of them called Balvano which in their Language signifieth a Tumbler or one that sheweth Feats of Activity he was Governor of Damasco a man of singular Faith and Valor These two great Commanders were appointed at once to charge both the Wings of the Turks Army After them followed Gazelles with the third Battel to second either the one or the other of the two foremost as need should require Campson himself led the fourth all glistering in guilt Armor behind the rest almost a mile and an half The last was left for the defence of the Camp. But Selymus according to his wonted manner so ordered his Battel that his Asian Horsemen were in the right Wing his Europeian Horsemen in the left his Janizaries and Artillery in the main Battel before whom in the middle between the two Wings he placed his most valiant and gallant Pensioners amongst whom contrary to his wonted custom he chose to serve that day Cayerbeius as soon as he was come near the Enemy in token of his brave Courage gave a host charge upon the Europeian Horsemen and by and by as if he would have compassed in that Wing wheeled a great way about behind them where chancing upon a great Company of Scullions Drudges and other base People that followed the Camp with an infinite number of Camels and Carriages he made there a great stir with little slaughter that as a valiant and cunning Traitor he might in the self same time satisfie the expectation of his Valor and of his Treason together In the other Wing the Governor of Damasco to enter upon the open side of the Enemy forbearing to charge him afront and turning about his Troops on the left hand entred overthwart their Ranks where the Mamalukes fought with such fury that having made great Slaughter of the Asian Horsemen they brake in amongst them as if it had been a raging Floud bearing all down before them until they came to the Ensigns in the midst of that Wing neither could Mustapha the Beglerbeg who was by Birth a Hungarian and Selymus his Brother in law neither the Imbrahor-Bassa or Master of the House though they did what they might to withstand him after the first were overthrown stay the rest but that they would needs turn their backs and flie So Sybeius as a valiant Conqueror having cut in two pieces the right Wing of the Enemies battel and thrusting in betwixt the battel of the Footmen and the backs of the Pensioners brought a great terror and fear upon the whole main Battel The matter was now brought to extream danger for Selymus by the breaking in of Sybeius was almost cut off from his Footmen in whom he had reposed his greatest confidence And now the Janizaries were hardly charged by Gazelles who following the Fortune of Sybeius had set upon the head of the Enemies Battel The Asian Horsemen also being put to the worse and cut in pieces found no means how to restore again their disordered Battel In this extremity Sinan Bassa
more fierce or cruel Battel But by a fresh charge given by Ferdinands Horsemen who had now put to flight the right Wing of Bodo his Battel all Bodo his Army fighting most valiantly was disordered and put to flight Bodo the General labouring to restore the Battel and to save the Ensign to him before by the King delivered was by the coming in of Paulus Bachitius with his Light-Horsemen taken The other Captains seeing all lost and past hope of recovery betook themselves to flight all the Kings Artillery and Ensigns were taken by the Enemy The King seeing the overthrow of his Army for safeguard of his life fled into Polonia Ferdinands Captains following the course of the Victory entred into Transylvania where the People yielding themselves at the first all the whole Province submitted it self unto the Authority of Ferdinand Bodo and the rest of the Noblemen that were taken Prisoners with the Ensigns taken from the Enemies were sent to Ferdinand But when Bodo having his liberty promised could not be perswaded to renounce his Oath given to King Iohn and to bear Arms against him he was by Ferdinand his commandment cast into a dark Dungeon where shortly after consumed with sorrow and grief he miserably ended his life Shortly after Ferdinand the Hungarians generally submitting themselves unto him was by their common consent saluted King and crowned with the same old Crown wherewith King Iohn had been crowned which the same Perenus a man of little constancy brought unto him and with him was also crowned Ann his Wife the only Sister of the late King Lewis All which solemn ceremonies were celebrated at Alba Regalis the usual place for the Coronation of the Hungarian Kings Ferdinand by rare felicity thus possessed of two Kingdoms whereunto he was not born returned into Bohemia and left his Deputies for the Government of the Kingdom of Hungary these were Stephanus Bator whom he appointed Viceroy with whom he joyned Paulus Bishop of Strigonium who had also revolted from King Iohn and made Berethsaxtus Secretary and Alexius Tursonus a Moravian Treasurer King Iohn thus miserably distressed and thrust out of his Kingdom by Ferdinand fled to Hieronimus Lascus a man for his honourable descent and learned vertue of great fame and reputation amongst the Polonians who glad of so honourable a Guest was more careful of nothing than with all possible kindness and courtesie how to comfort him wrapt up in so many calamities with the loss of his Kingdom he frankly promised unto him all his own Wealth which was not small for the recovery of his former estate and that which more was for the reviving of his former felicity the uttermost of his Wit and Device which in the compassing of all great matters was accounted wonderful That bountiful entertainment of this poor King by Lascus was not altogether unpleasant to Sigismund King of Polonia although because he would not offend Ferdinand with whom he was joyned in Friendship and Alliance he seemed to most men plainly to forget himself in shewing so small kindness unto 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 deep Wit sharply to reason and advisedly to determine of most weighty causes at last rested upon this one point That ready help in so hard and desperate a case was only to be hoped for of the Turkish Emperor Solyman being of opinion that he being a most mighty Prince and of an honourable disposition answerable to his greatness would not reject the humble Prayers of an oppressed and exiled King especially if that being by his mercy and power restored he could be content for so great a benefit to hold his Kingdom as of the bounty of the Othoman Kings For Lascus saw that Solyman so great and proud an Emperor was not so desirous of Kingdoms whereof he had so many as could not easily be reckoned then commanding over a great part of the World as of glory and renown wherewith he understood him to be wonderfully delighted above all other Kings of the East naturally carried away with that windy vanity This Counsel as in effect it proved was unto King Iohn wholsome and reasonable if a man do but respect the poor Estate of a King so greatly wronged living in exile but respecting the Christian Common-Weal it was undoubtedly most dangerous and lamentable for one mans particular profit to bring the whole State into most dreadful and horrible danger but the sick minds of worldly men living in small hope of doing well and at the point of desparation refuse no worldly remedies be they never so doubtful or dangerous And not long after upon this resolution with the King Lascus desirous by noble actions to encrease the honour of his name took the matter upon him and went as Embassador from the exiled King to Solyman to Constantinople The report was that Sigismund did not only not stay him but secretly gave him his safe conduct with Letters of Credence wherein he commended him unto the Bassaes and other great men in Solymans Court descended of the Polonian Blood as his faithful and loving Subject sent thither upon an extraordinary and special Embassage Lascus as soon as he was come to Constantinople with wonderful dexterity had in short time won the Favour not of the Bassaes only but of the other Courtiers also presenting them with such Gifts as might for the fineness and rareness thereof rather than for the value as he thought be most acceptable and pleasing to their Wives 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 Authority was Luftebeius or rather Lutzis who had married Solymans Sister and Abraham born at Praga a base Village in Acarnania brought up in the Court from his Childhood with Solyman he was then Visier or chief of the Bassaes and Keeper of the Emperors Seal and was by his office to subscribe all such Grants or Letters as passed from the Emperor by which his great place and special favour he had with Solyman he in Magnificence Power and Authority far exceeded all the rest of the Bassaes doing whatsoever pleased himself and that with such Sovereignty and the good liking of Solyman that it was commonly said he was the commander of his thoughts Lascus thus insinuated into the Court and oftentimes talking with the Bassaes without an Interpreter for that he could well speak the Sclavonian Tongue the familiar speech of the Turkish Courtiers earnestly solicited the Kings cause wonderfully commending him for at his first coming after he had saluted Solyman and
against men who with more fear doubted of the success of things and the event of the Victory than beseemed them whom for their constant resolution and good opinion conceived of their discretion he had chosen to be of his most secret Counsel Saying That he desired not of them that their needless and dishonourable labour wherein they should shew themselves more careful of his person than of his honour forasmuch as those things which they now alledged should have been said before the War was taken in hand now by good hap half ended before he ever passed over into Africk For he might as he said have rested quietly in Spain and have easily neglected and rejected the injuries done upon the Sea Coasts and the complaints of his Subjects but he was as they well knew for most urgent causes come thither whereas he was resolved to satisfie the expectation of the world with a notable Victory or if God should otherwise appoint there to end his days with honour Wherefore he willed them to cease further to flatter him that was no way dismaid or to possess the minds of his valiant Souldiers with a vain forboding fear and with resolute minds together with him their Chieftain against the next day âto expect what the fortune of the Field should appoint for the full accomplishment of that War. For he was as he said set down to give the Enemy Battel or if he refused the same to batter the Walls of Tunes not doubting but that God would stand on his side in so good and so godly a quarrel The Emperor leaving a sufficient Garrison in the Castle of Guleâta commanded the Breaches to be repaired and the great Ordnance there taken to be laid upon Carriages which before after the old rude Sea fashion lay bound in great unweldy pieces of Timber with Iron Rings fastned thereunto and could not handsomely be handled or removed to or fro After that when he had caused the Country to be viewed all about which betwixt the Olive Groves and the right side of the Lake giveth a direct passage unto the City of Tunes he set forward with his Army in so good order that he still marched as ready to fight for fear of the Policies and suddain Assaults of the Enemy On the left hand marched the Italians next unto the Lake on the right hand the Spaniards near unto the Olive-Groves which in the manner of a great Wood ran alongst the Country from the ruins of Carthage almost to the Walls of Tunes in the midst betwixt both marched the Germans next unto them followed the great Ordnance and after it the Carriages of all the Army In the Vaungard was Vastius whom the Emperor had made General of the Army and especially for that day in the Rearward was the Duke of Alva with certain Troops of chosen Horsemen in the middle of the main Battel was the Emperor and by his side Lewis his Brother in Law the King of Portugals Brother The Italians were conducted by the Prince of Salerne the Spaniards by Alarco an ancient Captain and the Germans by Maximilian Eberstein But the Emperor in his Armor ceased not to âide from Squadron to Squadron with chearful countenance and full of hope recounting unto them the former Victories which they had gotten for him and telling them that he did that day expect of them a most honourable days service forasmuch as they were to fight against the naked Enemies of the Christian Religion wherefore they should with resolute minds set down themselves to endure the Weight of their Armor the painfulness of the March the heat of the Sun and Sand and the teediousness of the Thirst arising thereof until they might joyn Battel with their Enemies where they should undoubtedly by the goodness of God in whose quarrel they fought obtain the Victory in the mean time they should with patience overcome all difficulties comforting themselves with the undoubted hope of a most rich Prey which they were to expect of the Spoil of a rich City Whereunto every Squadron answered with a great shout that he should not trouble himself with those matters which he had before rehearsed but to assure himself that they his Souldiers would most patiently endure all extremities and not deceive the expectation he had conceived of their wonted valour but by valiant Fight to make him Emperor not of Africk but of Asia also Now Vastius had withdrawn two Companies of Harquebusiers out of the Spanish Squadron to skirmish with the Moors who continually âollowed in the tail of the Army whom by those Harquebusiers and certain Troops of Horââmen deputed to that purpose the Duke of Alva notably repulsed in the Rearward The Army was now come unto the Cistârns of fresh Water which Muleasses and otheâs which well knew the Country had before told them of which as soon as the Souldiers almost fainting under the weight of their Armor with the scortching heat of the Sun and extremity of Thirst descried afar off they for desire they had to quench their Thirst forthwith forsook their Colours and disorderly ran as fast as they could to those Cisterns Vastius the General to the uttermost of his power labouring in vain both by fair means and foul to have staid them who saw by that disordredness of the Souldiers a great advantage offred unto the Enemy which then was not far off But when the General could neither with words or blows prevail any thing with them the Emperor himself was glad to hast thither with his Presence and Authority to have kept them in order yet such was the force of their intollerable Thirst that neither the sight of the Emperor nor all that he could do could remedy the disorder some fainting in the Sand for lack of Drink and some other for greediness ready to burst their Bellies at the Fountains so that the Emperor was fain with his Truncheon to beat them away Amongst the rest one Sullius Cicero of Arpinas a famous Captain died at the Cistern side with drinking too much This extremity for want of Water seemed justly to have hapned unto them forasmuch as Vastius the day before had by general Proclamation through the Camp commanded that every Souldier should carry with him a Bottle of Wine or Water at his Girdle although he caused so much Water as he conveniently could to be carried in great Casks for the common relief of the Army whereof the Germans had the greatest part some almost ready to give over for Thirst were glad to get a draught of cold Water of their Fellows which had it for two Ducats This disorder being with as much speed as was possible reformed and the Army again brought into order the Emperor held on his march towards the Enemy for Barbarussa with a wonderful multitude of Horsemen and Footmen and a number of Ensigns the instruments of vain fear and foolish bravery gallantly displaied after the manner of the Moors was come about
that he to please himself in revenging of his own private injury regarded not what in that dangerous time might ensue thereof to the common State. A little before the coming over of the Turks into Italy Andreas Auria the Emperors Admiral lying at Messina in Sicilia understanding that Solyman was come with his Army to Aulona and that his Fleet was arrived there also put to Sea directing his course towards the Islands of Cephalenia and Zacynthus hoping indeed as it fell out to meet with the tail of the Turks Fleet for there according to his expectation he chanced upon divers of the Turks Victuallers whom he easily took The Mariners he chained in his own Gallies for Slaves and furnishing his Fleet with the Victual which was not for him provided fired the Ships Whilst Auria was thus beating too and fro in the Ionian Sea it fortuned that Solyman sent Iunusbeius his chief Interpreter a Man whom he made no small account of with two Gallies on a Message to Lutzis his Admiral This proud Turk coming near unto Corcyra where the Venetian Admiral lay with his Fleet offered scornfully to pass without vailing which his pride tending to the disgrace of the Venetians certain of the Venetian Captains not enduring set upon him with such fury that the Turks were enforced to run both their Gallies on shore upon the Coast of Epirus near unto the Mountains called Acroceraunij where having escaped the danger at Sea they fell almost all into the hands of the cruel Mountain pleople living for the most part by Theft and waiting for Wrecks as Hawks for their prey by these shavers the Turks were stript of all they had and Iunusbeius with much ado redeeming himself out of their hands returned to Solyman Auria sailing alongst the Sea Coast chanced upon these Gallies and finding them sore brused set fire on them For these unkind parts the Turks were wonderfully offended with the Venetians and grievously complained of them to Solyman although the Venetian Admiral laboured by all means he could to appease Iunusbeius and to excuse the matter as a thing done by great oversight on both sides Upon these small occasions the Turks sought to break off the League with the Venetians which fell out so much the sooner for that about the same time Auria sailing up and down the Ionian Sea and diligently looking into every Habour to intercept such as stragled from the Turks Fleet hapned by night to light upon twelve of Solymans great Gallies near unto Corcyra all filled with his Janizaries and choice Horsemen of the Court the best Souldiers of the Turks who had by Land sent their Horses to the Camp by their Lackies and were coming themselves with the Janizaries by Sea. Auria falling upon these Gallies had with them a cruel and deadly Fight for they as resolute Men wishing rather to die than to yield to their Enemies with invincible courage maintained a most bloody Fight against Auria with his thirty Gallies excellently appointed until such time as most part of them were slain and the rest sore wounded who seeing no remedy but that they must needs come into the hands of their Enemies threw their Scimiters overboord because those choice Weapons should not come into the hands of the Christians In this conflict Auria lost also many of his best Souldiers yet having got the Victory and possessed of the Gallies he anchored near unto Corcyra there to take view of his own harms and the Enemies but whilst he rid there at Anchor he was advertised that Barbarussa was coming against him with eighty Gallies Wherefore knowing himself too weak to encounter so strong an Enemy he departed thence and returned again to Messina to repair his Fleet. Solyman thorowly chafed with the loss of his Gallies and best Souldiers and with the double injury done unto him by the Venetians fell into such a rage that he cursed Barbarussa as one who in these Wars had done him no good service and thundred out grievous threats against the Venetians saying He was under the colour of an ancient League by them deceived and greatly abused and that they were secretly confederated with Charles his Enemy and had for that cause as they had always holpen Auria with intelligence and all things necessary receiving him into their Harbours and by their Espials giving him knowledge of the order of his Fleet that so he might at his own advantage surprise his Gallies as he had already done Unto which fire Iunusbeius his Interpreter Barbarussa and Aiax laid new Coals more and more incensing the Tyrant who was of himself sufficiently inflamed perswading him by all means they could to break the League with the Venetians Wherein Iunusbeius sought to revenge his own private injuries and the other two after their great profit and credit gaping after the Spoil of the Islands near hand especially of Corcyra now called Corfu Zacynthus and Cephalenia all subject to the Venetian Seigniory finding the Wars in Italy more dangerous and difficult than they had before imagined For the French King came not then into Italy as was by them expected and it was commonly reported That Petrus Toletanus Viceroy of Naples having put strong Garrisons into the Towns all alongst the Sea Coast was coming himself with a great Army beside that the Horsemen sent over from Aulona ranging about in the Country of Salentum for Spoil were many times cut off by Scipio Sommeius a noble Gentleman there Governour for the Emperor Wherefore Solyman changing his purpose for the invasion of Italy in his mad mood proclaimed War against the Venetians and rising with his Army from Aulona and marching alongst the Sea Coast until he came over against Corcyra he encamped near unto the Mountains called Acroceraunij where the fierce and wild People inhabiting the high and rough Mountain of Chimera a part of the Acrâceraunian Mountains by the instigation of one Damianus a notable Theef and very perfect in the blind and difficult passages amongst the Rocks and Woods in those desolate Mountains conspired to attempt a most strange and desperate Exploit which was by night to spoil Solyman in his own Pavilion These beggarly wild Rogues living for most part by Murther and Robbery altogether without Law or any manner of Religion in hope of so great a prey and to become famous in killing one of the greatest Monarchs of the World in the midst of his strength garded with so many thousands of his Soulders were not afraid of any danger how great soever hoping in the dead time of the night to steal into the Camp undiscovered and there so to oppress Solyman sleeping in his Tent. Which as was by many afterwards supposed they were like enough to have performed to the astonishment of the World had it not been by chance discovered for when they had put all things in readiness for that purpose Damianus ringleader of these desperate savage People by secret ways stealing down the
insolent Speech of purpose ministred by the Moldavian Ghests put into such a fret that laying his hand upon his Sword he in a rage flung from the Table at which time all the other Ghests starting up also laid hands upon him and took him fuming and in vain crying out that he was shamefully betrayed His Followers were all forthwith stript of all their bravery by the needy Moldavians and their Horses and Armor taken from them Whilst Maylat was yet furiously exclaiming of this Treason in came Achomates who to seem guiltless of the matter with deep dissimulation sharply reproved the false Moldavian that he had in doing so foul a Fact shamefully violated the Laws of Hospitality reverenced of all Nations falsified the Faith which he had given him for his safety and betraied the lives of such notable Captains as lay in hostage for him Whereunto the Moldavian as if it had been in contempt scornfully answered that he had upon good cause taken Maylat Prisoner and so would in safety keep him for Solyman unto whom it only belonged to judge whether he had justly or unjustly kept him Not long after the strong Town of Fogaras was delivered with the Hostages but whether by fear or corruption of Maylats Lieutenant is uncertain So Valentinus Turaccus and Maylat two of the greatest Noblemen of Hungary sufficient of themselves to have restored the Hungarian Kingdom first rent in sunder with civil Discord and afterward with the invasion of the Turks fell into the hands of the Enemy not vanquished in Battel but deceived by Treason The Town being thus surrendred almost all the Country of Transylvania was by Solymans consent delivered to the young King unto whom all the People most willingly submitted themselves and took the Oath of Obedience remembring that his Father had almost for thirty years space with great Justice and quietness governed that Province and with many Presents honoured the young King lying in Lippa with the Queen his Mother and his two Tutors the Bishop and Vicche At the same time Charles the Emperor at the importunate suit of his Subjects of Spain had prepared a great force both by Sea and Land for the conquering of Algiers from whence the Turkish Pyrats did so infest all that Coast of the Country from Gades to the Mountains Pyrenei that the Spaniards all Trade of Merchandise being set apart were glad to keep a continul Watch and Ward all alongst that Coast for defence of the Country Wherefore although he well knew of the coming of the Turks to Buda and how hardly he was by the Lantgrave and others spoken of for leaving his Brother so hardly bestead to go against a sort of Pirats in Africk yet persisting in his former determination he departed out of Germany into Italy where by the way he met Octavius Farnesius his Son in Law Alphonsus Vastius his Lieutenant by the Venetian Embassadors near to Verona and so brought to Millain where he was with great Solemnity joyfully received of the Citizens and under a Canopy of Gold brought unto the Palace he himself going in a plain black Cloke and a homely Cap in mourning wise when as the Women and vulgar People upon a curious simplicity expected to have seen so great an Emperor in his Royal Robes glistering with Gold and precious Stones and the Imperial Crown upon his Head. His heavy Countenance answerable also to his Attire was much noted as presaging the woful overthrow which was the day before received at Buda but not yet known in Italy From Millain he departed to Genoa where he was advertised by Letters from his Brother King Ferdinand of the overthrow of the Germans of the Victory of the Turks and the coming of Solyman Upon which news Vastius and Auria his two chief Commanders the one at Land the other at Sea would have perswaded him to have deferred his intended expedition for Africa until the next Spring and with such power as he had already raised in Italy and brought with him out of Germany to stay still in Italy so to make shew unto the Turks as if he would have returned and holpen his Brother and in the mean time to assure himself of his state in Italy against the French who as it was thought would be ready to take all occasion of advantage if any mishap should befal him either by the force of the Enemy or violence of Tempest But he constant in his former resolution answered them as they sat in Counsel that they had perswaded him for great reasons to stay in Italy but that he was for far greater to pass into Africk for if he should then stay in Italy it would be thought that he was for fear of the Turks fled out of Germany which disgrace could no otherwise be prevented but by the present prosecuting of his former determination for Algiers and satisfying the expectation of his Subjects of Spain and so by Sea valiantly to prove their better Fortune which had of late not so well favoured them at Land in hope that Algiers might be won before the Seas should grow rough and dangerous with Winter Tempests which if it should fall out according to his mind he would not as he said greatly care what the French could do Yet was it thought that the dissembling Friendship betwixt the French King and him would not long endure and the rather for that there was a new grudg risen betwixt them about the death of Antonius Rinuo who for certain years had lien Embassador for the French King at Constantinople to Solyman and was a few months before sent back again by him into France to the King but returning back again with new instructions from his Master for the confirmation of a further League betwixt the Turkish Sultan and him he was by certain Spaniards of the Emperors old Souldiers who had knowledge of his coming belaied upon the River Padus as he was going down to Venice so to have passed into Epirus and slain together with Caesar Fregotius or as the common report went first taken and tortured to get from him the secrets of his negotiation and afterwards slain Which report so much touched Vastius in Credit that in purgation of himself he offered the Combat to any man of like quality to himself that durst charge him with the truth thereof But many were of opinion that he was well and worthily taken away for undertaking so odious a Charge as to stir up the Turks against the Christians and to shew unto them such opportunities as might best serve their purpose by discovering unto them the Emperors Designs to the great hurt of the Christian Common-Weal But were it well or were it evil as Paulus the third of that name then Bishop of Rome meeting the Emperor at Luca as he came from Genoa could not or would determine sure it served as no small occasion to set those two great Princes again at ods whereby the wished Unity of the
Christian state was sore shaken and a way opened for the Turk The Emperor at his coming to Luca was honourably received by the Cardinals and Bishops and lodged in the Court the great Bishop was before placed in the Bishops Palace whither the Emperor came thrice to talk with him and the Bishop to him once But the Bishop having nothing at all prevailed with the Emperor and the French Embassador for the appeasing of the troubles even then like to arise betwixt him and the French King did what he might to perswade him to employ such Forces as he was about to pass over with into Africk against the Turks in defence of his Brother Ferdinand and of the Country of Austria if Solyman should happily pursue his late obtained Victory at Buda But he still resolute in that fatal determination of invading of Africk rejected that the Bishops request also So the great Bishop having moved much and prevailed little in the greatest matters which most concerned the common good taking his leave of the Emperor returned by easie journies to Rome The Emperor in the mean time with certain Bands of Italians under the leading of Camillus Columna and Augustinus Spinola and six thousand Germans came from Luca to the Port Lune and there imbarking his Souldiers in certain Merchants Ships provided for the purpose and five and thirty Gallies departed thence commanding the Masters of the Ships to direct their Course to the Islands of Baleares but after they had put to Sea they were by force of Tempest suddainly arising brought within sight of Corsica where after they had been tossed too and fro two days in the rough Seas and put out of their Course the Wind something falling they put into the Haven of Syracusa now called Bonifacium The dispersed Fleet once come together into the Port of Syracusa and the rage of the Sea well appeased he put to Sea again for the Islands Baleares now called Majorca and Minorca where in his Course he met with a Tempest from the West more terrible and dreadful than the first wherein divers of the Gallies having lost their Masts and Sails were glad with extream labour and peril in striving against the rough Sea to get into a Harbor of the lesser Island taking name of Barchinus Mago the famous Carthaginensian whose name it retaineth until this day From hence the Emperor with all his Fleet passed over to the greater Island being wonderful glad that Ferdinand Gonsaga his Viceroy in Sicilia was in good time come with the Sicilian Gallies and Ships of Italy in number an hundred and fifty Sail wherein he had brought such store of Bisket and Victual as might have sufficed for a long War. Mendoza was also expected to have come thither with his Fleet from Spain but he by reason of contrary Winds being not able to hold that Course altered his purpose according to the Tempest and so happily cut over directly to Algiers So the Emperor nothing misdoubting the careful diligence of Mendoza and thinking that which was indeed already chanced and the Wind now serving fair by the perswasion of Auria his Admiral hoised sail and in two days came before Algiers and there in goodly order came to anchor before the City in the sight of the Enemy Whilst the Fleet thus lay two of the Pyrates which had been abroad at Sea seeking for prize returning to Algiers not knowing any thing of the Fleet fell into the Bay amongst them before they were awar the bigger whereof Viscontes Cicada stemmed with his Gally and sunk him the other with wonderful celerity got into the Haven In the mean time Mendoza with his Gallies had passed the Promontory of Apollo now called the Cape of Cassineus and in token of honour saluting the Emperor after the manner at Sea with all his great Ordnance gave him knowledg that the Spanish Fleet was not far behind In this Fleet was above an hundred tall Ships of Biscay and the Low Countries and of other smaller Vessels a far greater number In these Ships besides the Footmen were embarked a great number of brave Horsemen out of all parts of Spain for many noble Gentlemen had voluntarily of their own Charge gallantly furnished themselves with brave Armor and couragious Horses to serve their Prince and Country against the Infidels Over these choice men commanded Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alva for his approved Valor then accounted a famous Captain These Ships going altogether with Sails were not able to double the Cape as did Mendoza with his Gallies for now it was a dead Calm howbeit the Billows of the Sea went yet high by reason of the rage of the late Tempest and did so beat against the plain Shore that it was not possible to land the Souldiers but that they must needs be washed up to the middle which thing the Emperor thought it not good to put them unto and so to oppose them Sea-sick and through wet against the suddain and desperate Assaults of their fierce Enemies He also staied for the coming of the Spanish Ships for two causes first that he might with his united Power more strongly assault the City and terrifie the Enemy then to communicate the whole glory of the action with the Spaniards at whose request and forwardness and greatest Charge he had undertaken that War. Which fatal delay of two days although it was grounded upon good reason did not only disturb an assured Victory but to the notable hurt of the whole Army opened a way to all the calamities which afterward ensued In the mean while the Emperor sent a convenient 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 sign of a Parly and answered by the Moors with like as their manner is went on shore and was of them courteously received and brought to Assan This Assan was an Eunuch born in Sardinia brought up from his youth in the Mahometan Superstition by Barbarussa a man both politick and valiant and by him left for the keeping of his Kingdom of Algiers in his absence with Solyman This Messenger brought into his presence required him forthwith to deliver the City first surprised by Force and Treachery by Horruccius and afterwards to the destruction of mankind fortified by Hariadenus Barbarussa his Brother to Charles the mighty Emperor come in person himself to be revenged on those horrible Pyrats which if he would do it should be lawful for the Turks to depart whether they would and for the natural Moors to abide still with their Goods and Religion wholly reserved unto them untouched as in former time and for himself he should receive of the Emperor great Rewards both in time of Peace and Wars so that he would remember himself 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 return again
do much to joyn in League with the King his Master against Charles the Emperor whose power began now to be dreadful to their Estate Polinus was not slack in his business but all the way as he went sought to win the favour of the Bassaes still giving them one Present or other and filling their minds with the hope of greater But when they were come to Constantinople in the later end of December Solyman promising what he had before said advised Polinus to return to France with his Letters and to bring him certain word back again from the King of the determinate time and full resolution of taking those Wars in hand and that he would in the mean time send Iunusbeius his Embassador to Venice who had been there divers times before and would provide to have such a Fleet in readiness as he desired Polinus exceeding glad of that answer with great speed returned back again to the King bringing with him as Presents from Solyman two goodly Turkish Horses and a Sword richly set with Stones of great price The French King having by his Embassador received Solymans Letters and Presents and three days together discoursed with him at large of the manner of his proceeding in the Turks Court in short time after sent him back again to Solyman with full instructions both of the time and places and other circumstances of the intended War. Polinus coming to Venice found not Iunusbeius there as he had well hoped yet to lose no time in expecting his coming he with Pellâcerius Embassador Lieger for the French King and other of the French Faction laboured the Senators in the behalf of the King. For it was thought like enough that the Venetians still measuring all their Councils by their profit would easily consent to that League especially being requested thereunto by Solyman and put in hope to have the Port-Town Maranus delivered unto them in reward thereof which otherwise the French in whose possession it was threatned to deliver to the Turks and to make them their evil Neighbours rather than to have it taken from them by the Germans Wherefore Polinus having audience given him in the Senate notably pleaded the French Kings cause grievously lamented the death of the Embassador slain by the Spaniards and bitterly enveighed against the ambition of the Emperor who as he said aspired to the whole Monarchy of Italy not by true vertue and valour but by meer craft and deceit encroaching still upon the liberties of the Free-States and by little and little imposing upon them the Yoke of Bondage In confirmation whereof he produced many examples to them well known requesting them as ancient Friends and Confederates of the French to joyn their Forces with the Kings in which doing they should assure themselves of such reward of the undoubted Victory as they could not desire greater Whereas if they should refuse so to do and would rather sit still and look on as neuters they should undoubtedly Fortune having decided the quarrel grievously offend both and might worthily expect of the vanquished hatred and of the conqueror injury Besides that in taking up of Arms they should highly gratifie Solyman who provoked with late injuries had determined with a puissant Army to invade Hungary and at the same time to send Barbarussa with a great Fleet against the Spaniards their common Enemies for the imparting of which his designs he would shortly send unto them Iunusbeius his Embassador As for the event of the War they needed not to doubt when as they of themselves were strong enough quickly to thrust the Emperor out of the Duchy of Millan being generally hated of the people feeding his Souldiers with the spoil of the Country and and on every side beset both by Sea and Land by two of the greatest Monarchs of the World. Whereunto the Senate delaying the time for certain days that Iunusbeius might in the mean time come thither gravely answered That the amity they held with King Francis ought to be unto them an ornament but no burden the like also they held with the Emperor whom they would in no case seem to cast off although they had been by him overwraught Wherefore the Senators and all the Citizens in general were of opinion to preserve their Peace as they which in the hard times of War had endured great extremities which would hardly be recovered with long Peace But if they did once see the Ensigns displaied and the Wars begun they would then take further advice Whether it were good for them to thrust themselves into those Wars or not when as they were in League and Friendship with three of the greatest Princes of the World. In the mean time Iunusbeius arrived at Venice and was there honourably received He requested That the League before made at Constantinople by Badoerius their Embassador might by the authority of the Senate be confirmed and so commended the French Kings cause to the Senate that he requested no more but that unto that amity which they already held with the French they would joyn further courtesies the rather for that Solyman had accounted him for his Brother and had undertaken to aid him against Charles King of Spain but as to joyn in League with him or in his quarrel to take up Arms he requested nothing Which was quite beside the expectation of Polinus and Pellicerius who by urging of the matter and by telling of all had thought easily to have perswaded the Senate to have granted what they requested and therefore thought the Turk who had so coldly spoken in the cause to be some way corrupted But as it afterward appeared there was such equity and modesty in Solymans Letters who was otherwise of a proud and insolent nature that he would not as then exact any thing of them which should not stand with the good of their Estate Wherefore Polinus having in vain staied certain days at Venice was in one of their publick Gallies transported to Ragufium and from thence travelled by Land to Constantinople where he found all things more difficult than ever he dreamed of For the great Bassaes said There could no Fleet be set out that year by reason that he was come too late to sue for such a matter the Spring of the Year being now past of all other times most fit for to take in hand so long a Voyage So that Polinus was above measure vexed with care and grief that he had so evil sped and was come so out of season both at Venice and Constantinople Dixius also one of the Masters of the Rhodian Gallies was come to Constantinople to carry news into France of the coming of the Turks Fleet who told Polinus That the Kings Sons were with strong power far entred into the Low-Countries and had already invaded Spain expecting nothing more than the coming of the Turks Gallies Wherefore Polinus as it easily chanceth to Men deceived by trust reposed in any other Mens promises and
of late the General neither were we vanquished although we prevailed not but honourably retiring valiantly repressed the insolency of the pursuing Enemy As for the Kingdom of Hungary I might then well have affected the same and easily have deserved it at Solymans Hands when as King Ferdinand after the death of King John was making his preparation for that War at which time my Friends and Followers at my devotion with the love of the Hungarians towards me seeming of no small importance for the obtaining of the Victory might have ministred no unreasonable or unseasonable hope to have drawn a Man into courses not altogether beseeming a Christian. Wherefore I have and will so long as I live fight against the Turks if King Ferdinand shall shew himself an indifferent Iudge in this accusation falsly surmised against me by the malice of mine Enemies When he had made an end of speaking the Admiral courteously perswaded him to have good hope in the clemency 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 deal favourably with Perenus For all that Perenus could not obtain that his cause might be openly heard but was committed to safe keeping there to remain in perpetual Prison but whether it was for the misprision of new Treason or for revenge of his old unconstancy is uncertain Thus three the only great Princes left of the Hungarian Blood equally worthy of the Kingdom Valentine Maylat and Perenus snarled almost in like Snares of envy cut off all hope of raising a King to their seditious and therefore miserable Countrymen when as Perenus lay too late bewailing his unconstancy in perpetual Prison and the other two fast in Chains near unto the Euxine Sea expected death the end of their miseries This end had the Wars taken in hand against the Turks by the general consent of the Germans in the year 1542. which many thought might worthily be compared with the greatest losses of those times when as King Ferdinand having in vain spent a great mass of Treasure the fittest stay for the imminent War and lost the opinion before conceived of the strength of Germany had now as a weak Prince and subject to injury provoked him against the Turks bold enough otherwise but as then insolent for their late Victories year 1543. Polinus the French King Embassador still following the Turks Court ceased not by all means to solicite Solyman with his Gallies to aid the King his Master in the invasion of the Dominions of Charles the Emperor in Italy Sicily and Spain In which sute he was so crossed by Solyman the Eunuch Bassa then Visier that he was almost in despair of speed for the Malicious Eunuch being himself a great Sea-man and envying the Honour of Barbarussa who was to be employed in that service sought by keeping him out of all honourable Actions to diminish his former Glory and concerning the present protested openly as he sat in Council That he saw no other cause why the Turkish Emperor should to his great charge and the common danger send out such a Fleet but to serve Barbarussa his own turn But Solyman having diligently heard and deeply considered of that the Bassaes had said rejected their opinions who would not he should have given the French King any aid and honourably decreed according to his promise whatsoever should ensue thereof to send his Fleet unto the King by Barbarussa Two days after the French Embassador before in despair but now revived with that Decree was solemnly Feasted by Rustan Bassa Solymans Son in Law and by Solyman the Eunuch Bassa for so it was their great Masters pleasure both of them joying of him for the friendship confirmed betwixt the two Princes by sending this Fleet. After which divers Gifts were bestowed upon the Embassador and his chief Followers and at such time as he was to take his leave Solyman gave him great charge of his Navy that it might be safely kept and so after the service done again returned and withal delivered him Letters unto King Francis wherein after the glorious rehearsal of his proud Titles he writ unto him as followeth We have upon a brotherly Bounty granted unto Polinus your Embassador such and so great a Fleet as you have desired throughly furnished for all assaies whose direction we have commanded Hariaden our Admiral to follow and by your appointment to proceed against the Enemy But you shall do well and friendly the Wars once happily ended to send back again my Fleet to Constantinople All things shall undoubtedly fall out according to your own desire and mine if you shall carefully take heed that Charles the Spanish King your perpetual Enemy do not again deceive you with the motion of a deceitful Peace For then shall you bring him to a most indifferent Peace when you have brought upon his Countries all the calamities of War. Polinus taking his leave of Solyman then lying at Hadrianople returned to Constantinople where he found Barbarussa with an hundred and ten Gallies and forty Gallions ready to put to Sea which he had with incredible celerity rigged up and furnished And so setting forward the eight and twentieth of April in the year 1543 and passing the Straits of Helespontus he arrived first at Caristius in Euboea and from thence to Malea where he was by contrary Winds cast into the Bay of Lacedemon and there staied nine days before he could double the Cape of Metapanium called in ancient time Tenarus After that he came to Methon and from thence crossing the Ionian came to the Strait of Messana where the Turkish Pyrats being come with their Galliots within the sight of Rhegium began to land their Men. They of Rhegium seeing so great a Fleet and the Turks already landing fled out of the City for fear but the Castle was still kept by Didacus Gaietanus a Spaniard who refused to have any parly with Polinus the French Embassador and with shot out of the Castle slew certain of the Turks wherewith the rest being enraged brake into the City and finding it desolate set it on Fire sore against the will of Polinus and Barbarussa who sought to have found out the Authors thereof and to have punished them accordingly After that certain Pieces of great Ordnance were landed and planted against the Castle which with a few Shot so terrified the Captain already troubled with the crying out of his Wife that he without any more ado yielded himself and the Castle with all therein into the hands of the Enemy unto whom with his Wife and Children Barbarussa at the request of the French Embassador granted both life and liberty the rest he shut up in a Church and gave the Spoil of the Castle to his Souldiers There was in the Garrison of the Castle about seventy Spaniards but many more Citizens which were all carried away Prisoners One of the Captains Daughters a young
knowledg thereof drive headlong his Son who was already running too fast of himself Besides that he was not ignorant that the Eyes of all Nations were bent upon this discord of his two Sons and therefore he desired by all means that these Grudges might be with as little stir as was possible appeased Wherefore he answered Bajazet courteously That concerning his Government of Amasia he could not alter it as resolutely set down as well for his Brother as himself and that therefore they should do well to go both to their appointed places as he had before commanded As for the rest they should be of good comfort for that he would take such order as that neither of them should have just cause to complain Partau Bassa the fourth of the great Bassa's of the Court was appointed to go with this Message to Bajazet and Mehemet third of the same great Bassa's with like charge to Selymus because the matter should seem to be done with all indifferency and both of these great Men commanded not to depart from them they were sent unto before they were both come unto the places of their Government whereunto they were assigned Which Solyman wisely did to keep them both within the compass of Duty by the presence of such two grave Counsellors Which thing Selymus took in good part but Bajazet not so who having resolved with himself to set all on a hurly burly thought nothing more unfit for his designs than to have one of his Fathers greatest Counsellors still at his Elbow as Censor of all his Speeches and Doings wherefore having courteously entertained him and rewarded him according to his Ability he dismissed him though unwilling to depart making this excuse That he would use him as his Patron and Defender with his Father forasmuch as he had no other in Court to defend his cause promising not to be unto him an unworthy or unthankful Client and to carry word back again unto his Father That he would above all things have care of his command if he might so do for his Brother Selymus whose Injuries and Treacheries he had much ado to brook Partau the great Bassa so sent away assured Solyman what the very mind and purpose of his younger Son was And albeit that Bajazet to make it seem as if something had been done by that Embassage made shew as if he would have presently gone towards Amasia yet Solyman nevertheless fearing the worst made all the preparation he could against him commanding the Begleâbeg of Grece although then sick of the Gout to make haste and with his Horsemen to pass over with all speed to aid Selymus and Mehemet Bassa but lately returned he sent foâthwith back again for the same purpose to Selymus with certain of the most trusty Companies of the Janizaries and the old Man in readiness made semblance as if he would himself in person have gone over also But the Janizaries and other Souldiers of the Court came with evil Will together detesting that War between the Brethren as altogether abominable for against whom should they draw their Swords was it not against the Emperors Son and happily the Heir of the Empire Wherefore this War might as they said well enough be let alone as altogether unnecessary and not they to be inforced to imbrue their Hands one in anothers Blood and to pollute themselves with such Impiety as for that which Bajazet did was to be holden excused as proceeding from necessity Which Speeches of the Janizaries being brought to Solymans Ears he forthwith declared them to the Mufti who in all matters of doubt they flee unto as unto a most sacred Oracle demanding of him how he was to be intreated who of himself presumed whiles he yet lived to levy Souldiers raise an Army ransack Towns and trouble the State of the whole Empire and what also he deemed of them that were his Followers and took part with him and last of all of them also that refused to bear Arms against him and said that he had in so doing nothing offended Whereunto the Mufti answered That both the Man and his Partakers were all worthy of death and that such as refused to take up Arms against him were as prophane and irreligious Men to be accounted detestable Which the great Priests answer was published unto the People and by the chief Chiaus sent to Bajazet to see if he might be therewith moved Within a few days after there came to Constantinople one of the Chiaus whom Bajazet had intercepted being sent from Solyman to Selymus by whom Bajazet gave his Father to understand That he was in all Duty his and that he had not taken up Arms against him neither refused to be unto him in all things obedient but that he had only to do with his Brother and with him to fight for his life by whose Sword he must die or else he by his for that a mischief was to be by one of them performed which quarrel he was resolved to try whiles he yet lived and that therefore he should do best not to meddle in the quarrel or to give Aid to either But if so be he would needs as the report was pass over the Sea to aid Selymus he should not think easily to get him into his hands for that he knew right well if the worst came how to escape and save himself and would before he could get over into Asia make such spoil with Fire and Sword as never had Tamerlane or other the cruellest Enemy of the Turks that âver was Which Message did not a little trouble Solyman And withall it was reported That the Town of Axuar where one of Selymus his Sons ruled as Sanzack was already taken by Bajazet and shamefully sacked But Selymus hearing that his Brother was gone toward Amasia and now on his way as far as Ancyra being out of all suspicion of danger which he feared upon the way so long as his Brother was yet lingring in those quarters hasted now towards Iconium which was with a strong Garrison kept for him for amongst other cares wherewith Solyman was vexed it was not the least That Bajazet intercepting Iconium should get into Syria and from thence into Egypt an open Country and not yet throughly established under the Turkish Government neither forgetful of the old Government of the Mamalukes and therefor desirous of change from whence it would have been an hard matter to have driven Bajazet especially the Arabians being always ready and at hand at every light stir where any hope of Prey was out of which Province also in case of extremity he might easily transport himself into any of the Christian Kingdoms Solyman therefore took great care that this passage which might seem the last refuge of Bajazets devices might be stopped up and concerning the same had given commandment unto most of his Commanders in Asia to be always in readiness to aid Selymus whensoever he should call With them
it self merciless yea even after death The Turks after they had taken the Castle finding certain of the Knights yet breathing and but half dead first cut their Hearts out of their Breasts and then their Heads from their Bodies after that they hanged them up by the Heels in their red Clokes with white Crosses which manner of Attire they after an ancient Custom use in time of War as they do black in time of Peace in sight of the Castles Saint Angelo and Saint Michael And yet Mastapha the Turks General not so contented commanded them afterwards to be fast bound together and so cast into the Sea whose dead Bodies were in few days after by the Surge of the Sea cast up into the Haven Major and known by their Friends were by the commandment of the sorrowful Great Master honourably buried With which the Enemies most barbarous Cruelty he was so moved that he commanded that no Turk should from that time be taken prisoner but to be presently slain And thereupon all that were before taken were forthwith put to the Sword and their Heads cast over the Walls on that side towards the Enemy From the beginning of the Siege to the taking of the Castle of the Christians were slain a thousand three hundred amongst whom were an hundred and thirty of the sacred Knights of the Order all worthy to be registred in the Book of everlasting Fame The Castle of Saint Elmo thus lost Valetta although his mind as he had good cause was inwardly attainted with exceeding grief yet made semblance otherwise because he would not daunt the minds of his Souldiers telling them that nothing was hapned unprovided for or unforeseen This was as he said the Will of God and the chance of War that sometimes one sometimes another should be overcome and that cowardise not such Valour as was in them that were gon gave occasion to living Friends to lament yet that the Enemy was not for that to be feared who had also received such a loss as he might thereby rather seem conquered than a victorious Conqueror whereas the loss of his Knights was recompenced with Honour and Immortality things of themselves sufficient to inflame all noble minds to behave themselves valiantly As for himself he said that trusting not in his own strength but in the help of Almighty God he had not yet cast off the hope of Victory over the relicks of the discomfited Enemy and that he well hoped they were all of the same mind wherein he most earnestly requested them to persist unto the end When he had thus said he being a Man armed against all Fortunes withdrew himself a little aside where casting many things in his troubled mind he determined to send Letters to Petrus Mesquita Governour of the City of Melita to certifie him and the Knights of the Order that were at Messana and the Viceroy of the loss of St. Elmo the Copy whereof because that in them evidently appeareth the Christian mind of him the Great Master I have thought good here to set down as followeth Whilst these Knights are setting forward in the mean time chanced the miserable misfortune of the Castle Saint Elmo which although it brought unto us that grief you may easily imagine we for all that as if it had happened by some secret appointment of God have taken it in that part that he as a most merciful Father purposeth thereby to warn us but not utterly to destroy us Neither do I think it lawful to doubt of his mercy and power Yet for all that I may nevertheless complain that we are of them forsaken of whom it least beseemed So that in the space of seven and thirty days wherein our most valiant Souldiers endured all the force of the Enemy which truly was done rather by the power of God than of Man we were holpen of our own which owe so much unto us not so much as with the least help which they might oftentimes have sent us But I list to ascribe it whatsoever it is to God of whom alone as we have hitherto received so many good things so rest we in hope hereafter to receive also For for any thing that I can see we must not now trust to Mans help forasmuch as we could by no Letters no Diligence no Prayers no Admonitions and to be brief by no Commands move them who of all others ought most to have obeyed it The shortness of the time suffereth us not to write to the Viceory of these things it shall be your part to certifie both him and other our Friends thereof who if they had obeyed our command or aided us with never so little a supply of Souldiers happily we had not lost the Castle St. Elmo in defence whereof we have spent the best part of our Souldiers Wherefore except the Viceroy make hast to deliver us from this Siege I fear that he cannot in time come but especially if we be here besieged before the coming of those our small helps which we as in a Dream have promised unto our selves and which we now scarce hope will be in time present For all that we do not distrust of God his love and providence by whose divine inspiration the rare courage of the Viceroy being in short time stirred up will hasten hither to relieve us For all our welfare consisteth in celerity Our Enemies having drawn all their Fleet into the Haven Marza Moxet are busied in cleansing the Castle and repairing the Breaches that they may afterward the better use them against us Wherefore upon the sight of these our Letters send unto us the Captains Catherin Belcacar Belmest and Zoricius with their Companies that we may use their faithful and valiant service God of his mercy send us aid from some place and keep you Fare you well from our Castle St. Angelo the twenty fourth of June 1565. Mesquita having received these Letters commanded a Galliot forthwith to be launched and therein embarked Masius Cedonellus one of the Knights to whom he delivered both the Letters of the Grand Master to him and others of his own almost of the same purport directed to the Knights of the Order which lay at Messana requesting him with all speed possible to pass over with them into Sicilia In the mean time Mustapha the Turks General sent a Messenger to Valetta and with him an old Spanish Captive with promise of liberty if he would go with his Messenger to the Town to talk with Valetta concerning the yielding up thereof and to try if he would by any means come to agreement who coming to the Town the Turk 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 soon as Valetta heard of the name of composition and yielding he was so filled with indignation that had he not been a Christian he would presently have commanded him to have
of the War and for ever to hold his Kingdom of the King of Spain as his Vassal and Tributary Which his request well considered of and the matter thought of no small consequence for the safety of the Christian Countries lying over against that part of Africk to have so dangerous an Enemy removed Don Iohn the year following in the beginning of October by the commandment of the King of Spain his Brother year 1573. departing from Drepanum in Sicilia with an hundred and five Gallies and forty Ships arrived the next day about noon at Guletta where the Gallies of Malta came unto him and shortly after Iohn Andreas Auria the Admiral with nineteen more and Columnius the Popes Admiral with fourteen more all well appointed At his arrival at Guletta he understood by Amida and the Governour the whole estate both of the City and of the Kingdom of Tunes and that the Turks and Moors terrified with so great a Fleet were about to forsake the City Wherefore having well viewed the place he the next day after landed his Forces about four miles from the City and sent two thousand five hundred Footmen before the rest of the Army to the City who found it all desolate the Turks and Moors being before for fear fled some to Caravana some to Biserta who entring without resistance came to the Castle wherein they found two hundred Moors who said they kept it for Amida their King but yet would by no means suffer the Christians to enter All which was forthwith made known to Don Iohn who then because it was almost night would not move but early the next morning set forward with his whole Army and entring the City before abandoned by the Inhabitants and so coming to the Castle found nothing therein but great store of Oil Butter and Wood. Amida the late King by the commandment of Don Iohn all this while staied at Guletta But whilst Don Iohn was yet at Tunes news was brought to him the thirteenth of October That the Turks Garrison before fled out of Tunes with divers Moors coming to Biserta were there kept out by the Citisens and not suffered to enter for which cause they began to burn and spoil the Country thereabout Whereupon the General sent Tovares the Captain of Guletta thither with part of the Army who encountring with those Turks overthrew them and had the City by the Citisens peaceably delivered unto him The Kingdom of Tunes thus easily once again recovered from the Turks Don Iohn throughly informed of the faithless and cruel dealing of Amida the late King and that in detestation of the Christians and their Religion he had already had intelligence with the Turks and procured the death of some of the Christians gave this definitive sentence upon him being yet in the Castle of Guletta That forasmuch as he had long time been the author of great discord and endless troubles in that Kingdom and had most unnaturally deprived Muleasses his Father first of his Kingdom and afterward of his sight and in like manner tyrannised over his natural Brethren the rightful Heirs of that Kingdom whereby the Turks had taken occasion both to invade and possess the same he should therefore by the commandment of the King of Spain be carried Prisoner with his two Sons into Sicilia there to remain for ever Which heavy doom he taking most grievously and yet crying out for mercy was forthwith thrust into a Gally and with his Wife and Children transported into Sicilia there to live in perpetual Exile The just reward of his merciless and unnatural dealing with his Father and Brethren God no doubt requiting him with the like measure he had before measured unto them After that the King of Spain so commanding Mahomet Amida his elder Brother and right Heir of that Kingdom was appointed King in his place who departing from Guletta to Tunes was received as King and there by solemn Oath promised for ever to be the King of Spain his Vassal and to do whatsoever he should command There was before departed out of Tunes forty thousand Moors who now came and offered their supplication to Don Iohn that they might again return and live with their new King which their request being easily granted they in great numbers every day returned into the City Shortly after 1500 Turks with 3000 of those wild People which some call Arabians some Alarbes sore troubled all the passages about the City who were at last by the Christians overthrown and 150 Christians whom they had taken Prisoners rescued After that Don Iohn by the advice of his most expert and skilful Captains commanded a strong Castle to be built in the middle way betwixt Guletta and Tunes and for the performing thereof left Gabriel Serbellio with 2000 Italians and Calazar a Spaniard with other 2000 at Guletta And so having performed that he came for and disposed of all things as he thought best returned again into Sicilia A grief of griefs it is and sorrow almost unconsolable when worthy actions most happily begun sort not to such happy end as was in reason hoped for The greatest and most famous Victory of all Ages gained against the Turk seemed to have lightned the Christian Common-weal and great hope there was that the Christians falling into unity amongst themselves would by an happy exchange make the Turkish Empire the Seat of their Wars and to turn into the Turks Dominions the terror slaughter and other calamities of War which had so many year afflicted the Christian Common-weal But by how much the more the joy was amidst such daily calamities and tears so much greater was the sorrow so great an hope to be come to nought and Men to be so blinded with the darkness of envy and disdain that they could not so much as think with what dishonour and danger of the Common-state they should shrink from so just so honourable and so needful a service including in it self the general good of all Christendom When posterity shall consider what things might then have been done and the devices whereby the common cause was overthrown it will worthily blame and greatly lament so notable a Victory and fit opportunity sent as it were from Heaven for the effecting of great matters to have been let slip and passed over so lightly regarded This made that they who before had reposed all their hope in Arms 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 Philip as of a most faithful just devout and honourable Prince yet greatly blaming his Officers and others of great authority about him as Men more regarding their own private than the good of the Christian Common-weal In these perplexities of the Venetians King Philip promised them to set forth a greater and stronger Fleet against the next year and to be sooner in readiness with all his Forces and warlike Provision and so to help
passed among the great Bassaes there was not any man found that made any account of that defect but all with one accord without farther 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 upon by the great Bassaes Mahomet Sinan and Mustapha That it would be better and less danger to attempt War against the Persians than against the Christian Princes Mustapha amongst the rest preferring the Valour of the Latines whereof he had made good tryal especially at Famagusta before the Armies and Forces of the Georgians and Persians Whereby it is apparent to the World that neither the zeal of their Religion nor any injury receiv'd from the Persian King but only the ambitious desire of Amurath to subdue a Kingdom both in his own conceit and other mens relations evil governed by an effeminate and sottish King and through civil dissention brought into great danger was the first provocation of making this War. Upon this resolution there arose new consultations touching the manner thereof and upon what coast they should begin their journey for the more honourable success thereof Which point Amurath greatly urged protesting before his chief Counsellors that he would not enter into that War except he were in great hope to bear away the Victory Some thought it most convenient to send the Army to Babylon and from thence to Syras called in old time Persepolis the chief City of the Country of Persia others there were that gave advise that the Army should be directly sent to Tauris 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 several Armies for both the fore-named Places and so by bringing the Enemy into a straight to enforce him to yield to whatsoever should be of him required But Amurath durst not repose such Confidence in his Forces as to think that with his Battels divided and so weakened he should be able to conquer that Enemy who had always most valiantly fought against the monstrous and puissant Armies of his Ancestors and therefore firmly resolved with himself to send one only Army and so with his united Forces to seek the overthrow of the Enemy And so preferring the strong hope he had conceived to conquer the Country of Siruan and the chief Cities of Media the great before the difficulty of making War upon 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 Counsellors in the same Opinion and withall discovered unto them a matter which to all of them but especially to Sinan seemed most strange namely that he was determined not to go himself in Person with his Army but to send one of his worthiest Captains in his stead The Causes why he so did were many but especially for that he was troubled with the falling Sickness and feared greatly and that not without good cause lest his Son Mahomet being much favoured of the People might peradventure in his absence be untimely advanced to the Empire beside the Dangers that he suspected at the hands of the Christian Potentates and withall perswaded it to be unto himself a great Honour to perform those things by his Servants which had in those Countries been unfortunately attempted by his most noble Predecessors in their own Persons While they were thus consulting about the Expedition and the great Bassaes Sinan Mustapha and others made means to be sent as the Sovereign Ministers of their Lords Designment he dispatched away sundry Posts and light Horse-men with order to the Bassaes and Governours of Van Babylon and Erzirum in the Frontiers of his Dominions that they should by often inroads spoyl the Towns and Castles of the Persians and by all means to do them what harm they could Which they were not slack to put in Execution and especially Vstref or rather Husreve Bassa of Van who with often Incursions did much Mischief as well in the Countries Tributary as subject to the Persian King. A forcible preparative for greater Troubles to ensue Now in these great Preparations for the Persian War which for many years after notably exercised the greatest part of the Turks Forces to the great quiet of the Christian Common-wealth Stephen Bathor the late Vayvod of Transilvania but now by the Commendation of Amurath become King of Polonia in the beginning of his Reign by his Ambassadour the great Lord Iohn of Syenna entred into a strong League and Confederation with the great Turkish Sultan Amurath at Constantinople Which for that it sheweth in what Terms that famous Kingdom then and yet standeth with the Turks great Empire and withall containeth Matter well worth the Christian Consideration it shall not be impertinent to our purpose omitting the long and glorious Stile of that barbarous Monarch serving to no other end but to shew the greatness of his Power plainly to set it down as it was on his part at the same time by him confirmed The League betwixt the most puissant and and mighty Princes Sultan Amurath the Turkish Emperour and Stephen King of Polonia agreed upon and concluded at Constantinople in the Year of our Saviour Christ Jesu 1577 and of the Prophet Mahomet 985. I Sultan Amurath the Son of Selym Chan the Son of Solyman Chan the Son of Selym Chan the Son of Bajazet Chan the Son of the Great Emperour Mahomet Chan c. Prince of these present times the only Monarch of this age of power able to confound the power of the whole World the shadow of Divine Clemency and Grace Great Emperour of many Kingdoms Countries Provinces Cities and Towns Lord of Mecha that is to say of the house of the glory of God of the resplendent City of Medina and of the most blessed City of Hierusalem Prince of the most fruitful Country of Aegypt Imen Zenan Aden and many other such like In most loving manner declare That the most Glorious and Renowned Stephen King of Polonia Great Duke of Lithuania Russia Prusia Masovia Samogitia Kiovia Livonia and many other Countrys moe Prince of the couragious followers of Jesus Governour of all the affairs of the people and family of the Nazarets the welcomest cloud of Rain and most sweet fountain of Glory and Vertue eternal Lord and Heir of the felicity and honour of the aforesaid noble Kingdom of Polonia unto whom all the distressed repair for refuge wishing a most happy success and blessed end to all his actions offering unto us many Religious vows and Eternal praises worthy our perpetual Love and most Holy League and with great Devotion performing these and other like Honours as for the dispatch of his Letters to our most Glorious Court for the new confirming of the most sacred League and Confederation with us sending the Honourable Lord John
could to have obtained that so honourable a place by order due unto him yet could he not find so much grace in the sight of Amurath his great Lord as to have it granted him under Seal although in effect he made him sit as Visier and all matters of State were brought unto him as chief Visier but in his stead the Seal was sent to Sinan Bassa who was now made General for the Persian Wars Which disgrace not a little discontented Mustapha fearing leât some other strange accident should in short time light upon him year 1580 After that Mustapha was thus displaced from his Generalship Amurath nominated Sinan Bassa to be General in his stead for this Expedition against the Persians and for the Preservation of Chars and Teflis giving him sovereign Authority to command and to set in order all such Preparations as he should think necessary for such Enterprises as he should think good to attempt in his first year who although by reason of his great favour he grew haughty and Glorious yet did he not foresâow to discourse throughly with himself upon all his Designments and namely beside the succouring of Teflis he determined to build a Fort at Tomanis to assure the Passage thither from Chars and withall to attempt all the means he could to induce the Persian King to send Ambassadors for Peace with such Conditions as should be acceptable to Amurath With these and such like Discourses did he busie himself whilst he was yet making preparation to set forwards towards Erzirum Of all these changes and alterations was the Persian King advertised as also that this new Turkish General Sinan was careful how this long War might by some means be appeased and a good Peace concluded Upon which occasion and by the Perswasion of Leuent Ogli the Georgian and of Mirize Salmas the Visier he was induced to send Ambassadors to Constantinople to demand Peace of Amurath Upon which Resolution he dispatched Maxut Chan of some called Maxudes his Ambassador with direction that he should go to Sinan and of him to receive Guides to conduct him to Constantinople with Letters to Amurath and as much as lay in him to labour for the pacifying of all these troubles and in any case to conclude upon it so that he would be content with Chars and Teflis With these Instructions the Ambassador departed and at length arrived at Chars and so came to Erzirum and was from thence conducted towards Amasia But when he came to Sivas he found Sinan the General there encamped gathering together his Army for the Execution of his Designments for Sinan upon the arrival of Mustapha departing from Constantinople the five and twentieth day of April was now come so far on his way Of the coming of this Ambassador the Turks received great Joy and News thereof was in post sent by Cicala Bassa to the Court. The Persian Ambassador informed Sinan of all that he had to treat with Amurath on the behalf of King Mahamet and laboured earnestly to perswade him of the Equity of the Cause and of his Request declaring unto him That forasmuch as both the Nations were conjoyned under the Law of Mahomet their common Prophet though there seemed some small difference not worth those troubles it were a very inconvenient thing for them to contend among themselves and to seek the overthrow or utter destruction of one another and that therefore he was in good hope to obtain of Amurath this desired Peace if he had no other cause wherewith he found himself agrieved as in truth he had not Wherefore he besought the General that he would with safe Convoy conduct him to Amurath to the end that if it were possible these bloody Wars might take end at the very report whereof the rest of the World rejoyced and stood attentively waiting to see what would be the issue thereof This Ambassador Sinan entertained after the best manner the rudeness of his Nature would afford and thinking that the very fame of his Valour had wrought in the Minds of his Enemies this Resolution to come to demand Peace granted unto the Ambassador a sure Convoy to conduct him to Constantinople and wrote to Amurath in his Letters all that he thought was fit to be demanded representing unto him what great and important matters he hoped might now be obtained But before he dismissed the said Ambassador he advised him not to go to Amurath without Resolution to offer unto him some great good Conditions and to yield unto him all that Country which he by force of Arms had before conquered for he knew the mind of Amurath very well that he was resolved in himself not to yield so much as one hands breadth of that Ground which he had won with the Sword. Which motion of the pround Bassa so troubled the Ambassador 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 return back again into Persia but considering better what belonged to his Duty in so weighty a business and hoping to receive more reasonable Conditions from the mouth of Amurath himself he gave large words to Sinan and so with a safe Convoy departed from Sivas and by long Journeys came to Scutari and so passing over that little strait the fourth of August arrived at Constantinople The Persian King in the mean time stirred up with the report of the Turks Preparations to cause it to be noised that he likewise intended some important matters commanded all the Chans and Governours of his Kingdom to meet together with all their Forces at Tauris where he himself with the Prince Emir Hamze his Son met them And after many Consultations there had for the repressing of the Turkish Invasion for as yet it was not certainly known what Sinan meant to attempt he resolved to send Souldiers into Georgia towards Teflis whether of necessity Succours must be sent by the Turks to them of the Fort and withall determined also to go himself with all his Army from Tauris to Caracach a place very commodious and near to guard both Tauris and Siruan being scituate even in the middest between the one and the other and there to expect the removing of Sinan whose ambitious Nature the King knowing doubted that he to surmount Mustapha would attempt some great Enterprise yea peradventure to run even upon Tauris But when it came to the point that he should send some of his Captains into Georgia he made choice of such as had best experience of those Countries and were nearest unto him with whom he sent Tocomac also and the rest whose Service he had before used against the Turks commanding them to joyn their Forces with Simon the Georgian and by all means possible to annoy the Enemy whom if they should perceive to bend for Tauris they should not fail to follow him to the end they might joyn together with him and so incounter the Enemies
to have chosen in his room some other Captain of Valour and Discretion but seeing he would needs make choice of the fame unfit man he was not now to blame any other for his Errour but only himself As for his coming to Constantinople it was a thing long before thought most needful not only for his advice how the matter of Peace might be brought to some good pass but also because if that treaty came not to the desired issue then he had to talk with him how he might compass the overthrow of his Enemy which thing as yet he had no fit time to declare unto him but was now ready to reveal it if it were so his Pleasure Wonderfully was Amurath grieved with this sullen answer when he conâidered that a slave of his own should so arrogantly and manifesâly reprove him of folly and improvidence Notwithstanding being desirous to know of him what that secret and important matter was which he had to reveal unto him for the easie compassing of his commenced Enterprise he dissembled his discontentment conceived against him and commanded him to disclose those his Devices which he had to utter Sinan in brief of all his Advices propounded these two things first his Counsel was not to proceed in this War as they had hitherto done by seeking with Forts and Foâtresses to hold and keep the Enemies Countries for that their Treasures were not able to yield such store of Money as was sufficient for the maintenance of so many and so great Garrisons contrary to the Opinion of Mustapha of late dead who with great pertinacy had perswaded that dangerous chargeable and difficult manner of War. His second Advice was that the true means to bring this War to the wished end consisted especially in the Resolution of Amurath himself who if he would go in Person and against so mighty a King oppose the Person of a King then might he most assuredly promise unto himself all speedy and honourable Victory for that at the only name of his coming the Persians would easily come to any Agreement or if not he might then proceed in his Wars and so obtain most glorious Conquests This his Advice so little pleased the effeminate King that instead of the great Opinion he before held of him he now conceived an envious 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 himself to go in Person not for any good could come thereof but only that so he might find means for the Prince his Son to make himself King and to drive 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 resolved to rid him out of his sight and so depriving him of all charge presently banished him the Court and out of Constantinople to Demotica a City of Thrace from whence afterwards he by most humble Supplication obtained to be removed to Marmara a little beyond Selymbria And into his place of Visiership was preferred Sciaus Bassa who had married Amurath's Sister an Hungarian born a goodly Personage and of honourable Judgment but above all men a seller of Justice and Preferments and yet a great friend to the Peace with the Christian Princes which Sinan had always most wickedly maligned The Persian Captains in the mean time with their Spoils year 1582 and divers of their Enemies Ensignes were with great Joy received at home in Persia but when the Discord that fell out between Mahamet Bassa and Mustaffa the Georgian was also reported the former Joy was redoubled every man being of Opinion that thesâ Discords might be great impediments unto ãâ¦ã further attempts into Persia which it was ãâã they would the next year attempt to the ãâ¦ã of Nassivan and Tauris Upon which ãâã the Persian King perceiving that he could not have a fitter Opportunity to imploy himself against Abas Mirize his Son then with him in disgrace determined with himself to leave the matters on this side of his Kingdom in their present state and to march toward Hâri whereunto he was earnestly sollicited by his elder Son Emir Hamze Mirize but especially by Mirize Salmas his Visier Upon which Resolution committing the defence of Reivan Nassivan and that side of his Kingdom to Emir Chan Governour of Tauris he set forward himself with his Army towards Casbin and so marching through divers Provinces arrived at length at Sasuaâ being on that side the chief of all the Cities subject to the Jurisdiction of Heri which City he took by force and without delay caused the Governour thereof to be beheaded although he alledged a thousand excuses for himself and objected a thousand Accusations more against the seditious Visier The King after this departing thence and having also put to death certain Captains and Sultans that were accused by the Visier to be Confederates in the Rebellion of his Son he arrived at last at the desired City of Heri Very strong is this City by Scituation compassed about with a good Wall and watered with deep Channels of running Springs conveyed into it by Tamerlane their Founder or Restorer beside that there was in it many valiant Captains Enemies to Mirize Salmas ready to lay down their Lives in defence of themselves and of Abas their Lord so that the winning thereof could not but prove both long and difficult As soon as the King approached the City he felt in himself many troubled Passions arising of Grief and Pity it grieved him to think that he should beget so graceless a Son who instead of maintaining his State and Honour should seek his Ruine and Destruction it grieved him also to remember the Blood of his Subjects before spilt upon so strange an occasion and scarcely durst he enter into the Cogitation thenceforth to shed any more of the Blood of his People Nevertheless being still more and more sollicited by his Visier he attempted to understand the mind of his Son and if it might be possible to get him into his hands But whiles the King travelling with these thoughts lay with his Army before Heri Abas Mirize in the mean time writ divers Letters to his Father and to his Brother wherein he besought them That they would make known unto him the Occasion of this their stir for if desire of Rule had moved them to seek the deprivation of him being their Son and Brother from the Honour he lawfully possessed and which his Father himself procured for him of his Grandfather Tamas they ought to abandon their Imagination for that he was always ready to spend his Wealth and his Blood together with his Estate in their Service 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 revenge some trespasses that he
was once attempted against the Portugals at Diu and Ormuz the like whereof Alphonsus Albuquercius the King of Portugal's Viceroy in India attempted when as with his light Horsemen running through that Country he thought upon a sudden to have spoiled Mecha and to have robbed the Sepulchre of Mahomet as had hapned under the Empire of the Sultans and as Trajan the Emperour had long since in like manner attempted to rage and spoâl Those Places which he possessed in Affrick were as they said to be set upon and the Coast of Spain towards the Mediterranean to be infested so at length to gratifie the Moors his Subjects who still instantly requested the same that so they might more safely traffick and travel and that so the Moors might at length be delivered from the imperious command of the Spaniards of which exploit Sultan Selymus lately before dead was in his life time well perswaded but might now at this time be much more commodiously done for that the Moorish Nation was now greatly increased and much oppressed by the Spaniards and having got great Wealth by the Trade of Merchandise even by Nature or Religion had conceived a mortal hatred against the Spaniards whereunto might not a little avail the Ports in Affrick whereinto the Turks Fleet might at all times in safety retire And in brief that which was of greatest importance to the better success of this War the French King and the Queen of England had of their own accord promised the Continuation of their Wars and that the French King should invade Navarre and by force of Arms recover the right he pretended unto that Kingdom whilst in the mean time the Queen of England should not only trouble him in the West Indies and other Places of the Ocean toward the North and West but might also stir up new Broils in the Kingdom of Portugal where most part of the People with great impatience bear the proud command of the Spaniard as perswaded and that truly all their Prosperity and Quietness to have been lost together with their last King their true and lawful Sovereign For he at Peace with the Kings of France and England exceedingly thereby enriched his Subjects by Traffick whereas since they fell into the Hands of the Spaniard they daily complain of their new Losses and Dangers by Reason of his perpetual Wars Moreover that there was to be found great store of exiled Spaniards dispersed here and there which being malecontent and weary of the Spanish Government were fled not only out of Portugal but even out of Arragon and other parts of his Kingdom which now living in France England and Constantinople both secretly and openly liberally offered great helps the like whereof many of the Moors also promised All which together seemed to promise a most easie Expedition and certain Victory if any should upon the sudden invade Spain for that there was almost no use of Arms the Inhabitants at home seldom times exercising themselves therein neither in Places needful having any ordinary Garrisons and but few Horses fit for Service And that in fine it was to be considered Spain to be greatly bared of men which knew how valiantly and courageously to manage Arms for the often choice they make of them which almost most daily transported into the Indies Italy and the Low-Countries whereby the strength of his Country must needs be exceedingly impaired so that if they should be invaded with any strong and mighty Army they might seem hardly able to be holpen or defended by their own People but should need the Aid and help of the other near Provinces subject unto this Kingdom which if they should be either letted or stay to come in good time they should leave so much the more easie Victory unto their Enemies In the fifth place were they which went about to perswade Amurath to break his League with the Venetians using Reasons rather probable than true although they might seem unto the Turks less doubtful for that men easily and willingly believe such things as they themselves desire These men went about to prove no Expedition to be less difficult than this as judging of things present by the event of former Wars passed wherein the Turks had always taken something from the Venetians who to redeem their Peace were divers ways enforced to satisfie the Turks That the Venetian Common-wealth was afraid of the Turks and abhorred War was manifest they said in that that in all Actions it had propounded unto it self Peace as the end thereof and after the manner of their Ancestors never entred into Wars but enforced thereunto and would happily upon the first denouncing of Wars willingly depart with certain Places for fear of greater harm or to be utterly overcome as it appeared they did in the yielding up of Cyprus The Power and Force whereof was not so great as that it could alone stand against the great Sultan and to confederate it self with others would require no small delay for the great and many Difficulties which commonly used 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 joyn himself unto the Venetians against the Turks yet that he could by no means afford unto them such Aid and Supplies as were of necessity to be required unto so great a War he himself being in his Wars otherwise so intangled as for all other Confederation they could make without him to be but weak and to no purpose That which the Pope could do herein to be but little for albeit he should according to his Duty exhort other Christian Princes to give Aid and to stir them up unto this War yet that beside some little supply of Money hardly drawn out of his own Coffers and the Ecclesiastical Revenues he could scarcely perform any thing more or when he had done his uttermost devoir could but joyn five Gallies of his own unto 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 twenty Gallies which was but a small matter Besides that the Turks were perswaded that betwixt the Venetian State and the other Christian Princes was no such Friendship and good Agreement as the greatness of the imminent Danger of that War and as the necessity of the cause would require and that hitherto their Treasures had been so exhausted in paying the Debt they were run into in the last War and in building of Fortresses that happily they were not now so furnished with Coin as was requisite for the defraying of so great a War. And unto this War against the Venetians consented almost all the Visier Bassaes differing only in this Where or against what Place of the Venetian Territory this War were to be first begun some naming one place
Second Emperour of the Romans to Sinan Bassa the Chief Visier greeting WE write at this present unto your most Excellent Emperour our most honoured Friend and Neighbour concerning such matters as we thought fit for the Preservation of the Peace and League betwixt us lest haply otherwise we might seem to have forgotten our Duty Now it shall well-beseem your uprightness and good will which we have at other times proved for the high Place and Authority which you hold and which we rejoyce to be again restored unto you to give unto these things such easie passage before his Majesty as that we may acknowledge your kindness and favour and have occasion therefore to shew our selves unto you thankful First we offer our selves most ready to continue the Peace and to perform whatsoever is according to the conventions of the renewed Peace on our part to be performed as also to send the honourable Present which is not as yet by us sent when as our Ambassador shall have with you appointed any certain time wherein it may be sent And we also assuredly hope so to prevail with your Emperour that on your part the Places within our Territories by your People forcibly possessed together with all such things as have been wrongfully taken away may be again restored and the Fort of Petrinia razed The Bassa of Bosna also who we think would have been kept within the compass of Duty if you had at that time held the Place of the chief Visier and whosoever else guilty of the wicked breach of the League to be worthily according to their deserts punished and displaced and your Souldiers severely charged not to make any farther Incursions nor to do any thing that may âend to the breach of the League as we likewise shall with new and strait Commands most carefully restrain our Garrison Souldiers upon our Frontiers from all such Incursions and Enemies Actions But of these things our Ambassador is more fully and at large to entreat with you unto whose Speech we desire such Credence to be given as unto our own and we will so provide that you shall have good proof of our great good will towards you From Prague the eighth of March 1593. Vnto which the Emperours Letters Sinan returned answer as followeth Sinan Bassa Chief Visier to Amurath the Third Emperour of the Turks unto Rodolph the Second Emperour of the Romans greeting BY these we give your Majesty to understand That two of your Majesties Letters were brought hither before we were chosen and confirmed Chief Visier in this most Royal Court wherein your Majesty excuses your self and shews the causes why the sending of the wonted Presents hath been so long deferred by laying the fault upon the Insolency of our Garrison Souldiers in Bosna and the breach of the publick Peace Which your Letters being by us read before our most mighty Emperour his Highness in great choler burst out into these words And thy Son the Beglerbeg of Buda hath still hitherto writ and given us to understand that the usual Presents would certainly come and that the King of Vienna would not in any case consent unto the breach of the League or of the Amity betwixt us and him and yet for all that the Presents are not hitherto come wherefore thy Sons Writings and Relations are not true But now the Bassa of Bosna hath sent word unto the Court That your Majesty will not send them and all your doings to be but meer deceit and fraud For which cause our most Mighty Emperour hath removed my Son from his Place in Buda and rewarded the Bassa of Bosna with honourable Garments whereas my Son is for your Majesties sake displaced Now on our behalf nothing is done against the Peace but our Souldiers as with a Bridle kept in whereas on your Majesties part excursions and harms into the Territories of our Emperour never cease especially into Bosna whereinto your Souldiers have of late in warlike manner broken although they were by our Garrisons over-come their great Ordnance taken and brought hither unto the Court. Wherefore seeing the case so standeth your Majesty is to resolve us upon two points whereof the first is Whether you be minded to keep friendship with us as beseemeth and to send hither the two last years Presents or not And the second Whether you will set at liberty our Captive Sanzacks or no Now if your Majesty shall be content to keep the League and within these two Months next to send the two years Presents as also to dismiss our Sanzacks the League shall on our part be likewise undoubtedly kept your Territories shall be in no case molested such Christian Captives as your Majesty shall require be inlarged and a most firm and sure Friendship by us continued Whereas if you shall upon any cause or excuse longer delay the sending of those honourable Presents and unto these our Demands send us nothing but certain vain and windy Answers let God on High be therefore for ever praised for now our most Mighty and Victorious Emperour who wanteth neither Ability nor Power hath Commanded That we our self should in Person go in this War and putting our Confidence in the Highest with the Army of the right-believing Turks to come into those Parts And therefore assure your Majesty that we will not fail there to encounter you at which time shall appear unto the World what is by God our Creator whose Holy Name be for ever blessed in his deep Wisdom pre-ordained and set down for Us. Wherefore seeing that all which concerneth the League together with the safety and quiet of our People on both sides is unto your Majesty thus declared you are to consider the End and to follow our good Advice whereas if otherwise you shall be the cause of the breach of this so wholsom a Peace and Unity which we hitherto have so sincerely and firmly kept the excuse thereof both in this World and in the World to come shall lie upon your self Now we request of you no more but forthwith to send us answer 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 year of our Holy Prophet Mahomet 10001. Yet for all these fair offers of Peace thus made by Sinan Bassa in his Letters was his purpose nothing less than to have performed the same seeking onely to have drawn the two years Presents from the Emperour amounting to a great sum of Money and so nevertheless to have prosecuted the inteded War 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 upon Of all which things the Emperour was not ignorant being thereof as we said fully before by his Ambassador advertised from Constantinople These Troubles of the Spring thus past ensued the Summer much more troublesome for Hassan Bassa of Bosna chief
of this League But that for lack of Heirs Male the Country of Transilvania with all the Territories thereunto annexed should descend unto his Sacred Majesty and his Successours the King of Hungary as a true and inseparable member thereof whereunto the Prince and all the States of Transilvania should bind themselves by solemn Oath But yet that at such time as the Heirs Male should fail in the line of the present Prince and that the Country of Transilvania should according to these present Conditions be devolved to the Crown of Hungary as well his present Imperial and Royal Majesty as his Successours should keep inviolate the antient Laws Priviledges and Customs of that Country and always appoint one of the Nobility of Transilvania to be Governour or Vayvod of the same and no other Stranger Thirdly That his Majesty should acknowledge the Prince of Transilvania for an absolute Prince and by special Charter confirm unto him the Title of Most Excellent Fourthly That his Imperial Majesty should procure one of the Daughters of the late Archduke Charles his Uncle for a Wife for the Prince that as they were now to be joyned in League so they might be joyned in Affinity also Fifthly That the Emperour should procure him to be made one of the Order of the Golden Fleece Sixthly That the Prince might with more chearfulness and security make War against the common Enemy his Imperial and Royal Majesty should not at any time howsoever things fell out forsake the said Prince or any of the Countries subject unto him and even now presently to aid him according as the present occasion required and afterward if great need should be with greater help whether it was by his General of Cassovia or others and this giving of Aid to be on both sides mutual and reciprocal according as the necessity of the one or the other part should require and that where most need was thither should most help be converted Seventhly That the sacred Roman Empire should take upon it the Protection and Defence of the Prince and his Territories and that his Imperial Majesty should create the said Prince and the Prince's Successors Princes of the Empire yet so as that they should have neither Voice nor Place among the said Princes Eighthly That whatsoever Castles Towns Cities or other Places of Strength should by their common Forces be taken or recovered from the common Enemy at such time as his Imperial Majesty should send into the Field a full Army should be all his Majesties but such Places as the Prince should by his own Forces or Policy gain from the Enemy should remain unto the Prince himself Yet that what Places soever the Prince should recover which at any time before belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary before it was taken by the Turk those he should forthwith deliver to his Majesty as soon as reasonable recompence were by him therefore made unto the Prince Ninthly His Sacred Majesty should promise of his own Bounty to give unto his Excellency sufficient Aid for the fortifying and defence of such Places as should be thought necessary for the behoof of the Christians as again the said Prince should likewise promise not to spare his own Coffers or Forces that the same Places should be throughly fortified and defended for the behoof of his Majesty and the common good of the Christian Common-weal Lastly That forasmuch as the Events of War are uncertain and many things suddenly happen contrary to mens Expectation if such necessity should chance unto his Excellency or his Successors which mishap God forbid that having spent themselves they should not be able longer to defend their State and Country but that the mighty Enemy prevailing they should at last be inforced to forsake the same in this their Extremity his Imperial and Royal Majesty should promise both for himself and his Successors within the space of one Month to assign some certain Place in some other of his Dominions where the said Prince and his Successors might honourably live and the like regard to be had also of other such principal men as should together with the Prince adventure their Lives and Livings in defence of the Christian Common-weal Which Articles of Confederation agreed upon and solemnly confirmed the same Ambassadors were with all Kindness Bounty and Magnificence dismissed and sent back again unto the Prince who was not himself in the mean time idle but labouring by all means he could to draw unto him Michael the Vayvod of Valachia a man of no less worth than himself and Aaron the Palatine of Moldavia both of them then the Turks Tributaries and by them to alienate from the Turk both those Countries that so with their combined Forces they might the better defend their Liberty and withstand their common Enemy wherein he did so much and prevailed so far with them both that casting off the Turks Obeisance they shortly after to the great Benefit of the Christian Common-weal and no less hindrance of the Turks proceedings in Hungary joyned hands both together with him for the recovery of their lost Liberty Which revolt of these bordering Princes for that it so much concerned the common good as that the safegard of Austria and of the remnants of Hungary with some good part of Germany also is even by them that in those matters saw much not without cause supposed to have rested therein and that this noble Vayvod 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 revolt also from the Turk as we have already the Transilvanians For the more Evidence whereof as for the Honour of the man whilst he lived a most worthy member of the Christian Common-weal we will a little step back to see how he obtained of the great Turk this so honourable a Preferment as was the Vayvodship of Valachia not without his revolt long now to be holden Alexander the late Vayvod of Valachia a Moldavian born and by Amurath himself promoted to that Dignity proud above measure of this his so great a Preferment as also of his own Nobility and the deceitful Favour of Fortune still fawning upon him not only oppressed his People himself with intolerable Impositions but to be in farther favour with the Turks brought into that Country too much before exhausted such a company of them as that they seemed now almost wholly to have possessed the same oppressing the poor Christians the natural Inhabitants with new Exactions and more than Tyrannical Injuries even such as were not elsewhere by the Turks themselves used not only breaking at their Pleasure into their Houses and despoiling them of their Goods but taking Tithe also of their Children as if it had been of their Cattel a thing never before there seen and for the satisfying of their beastly Lust ravishing their Wives and Daughters even in the sight of their Husbands and Parents with divers other such outragious
belong unto the Kingdom of Polonia which the Transilvanians took to be no other but mere and open wrong This supposed Title such as it was the Chancellor had so fashioned out unto the King and the States of that Kingdom that they referred it to his Discretion to invade the Country and removing the Vayvod placed by the Prince to place another in his stead and the rather to perswade them laboured by many forced Reasons to shew the Power of the Transilvanian Prince to be so far inferiour unto the Turks that it was to be feared he should at length be thrust out of all his Dominions and so they together with Moldavia become subject to the Turks which if it should so come to pass then should the Polonians have an untrusty and troublesome Neighbour and that therefore it were better that Moldavia were possessed by them that were better able to defend it than was he that so the Turk might be kept farther off from Polonia Which occasion he said was not longer to be delay'd but now betime to be laid hold upon perswading himself to find such Grace and Favour with the Turkish Emperour as that he should be therewith right well contented which was like enough for a time to be for that the Transilvanian should thereby be much weakened By these and such like Reasons framed to serve his own turn the Chancellor so prevailed with the King and the States of the Kingdom that he received as I said full Authority to proceed in the matter as he did and as is before declared to the great trouble of the Prince and benefit of the Turk the late chosen Vayvod not long after opening a way in three places for the Tartars into Transilvania one by the Country of Siculi another by the way that leadeth to Alba-Iulia and the third by Valachia The Transilvanian Prince seeing the Country of Moldavia by the practice of the Chancellor thus taken from him and dissevered from the other united Provinces to the great weakning of his Estate after the flight of Sinan sent âertain Companies both of Horse and Foot to Stephen the late Vayvod but now driven out by the Polonians to prove if haply he could by that means drive out the Polonians again and recover his former Dignity With this aid sent from the Prince and others that favoured his Quarrel he joyned a bloody Battel with the Polonians but being therein by them overcome and taken and for a space kept as the Prince feared to have been delivered unto the Turk he was by them as is reported cruelly afterwards put to death This foul dealing of the Polonian in Moldavia much grieved many good Christians as tending to the general hurt of the Christian Commonweal For which cause the Emperour by his Ambassadors sent for that purpose unto the Polonian King sought to perswade him to desist from such Invasion of the Transilvanian Prince by his Chancellor as nothing standing with his Honour and that some good Reconciliation might be made between the Prince and the Cardinal Bator and his Brother the Princes Uncles Authors of all these Troubles To which purpose also the Pope sent a Messenger with like Instructions and Letters unto the King perswading him not so to prosecute his Wars against the Prince but to turn his Thoughts unto a more peaceable and Christian-like course especially with him with whom he was so near linked in Marriage To the like effect he writ also unto the Cardinal Bator and after many grave Admonitions peremptorily cited him to Rome But forasmuch as the Proceedings of the Polonian against the Prince are more plainly to be gathered by the Pope's Letters unto the King it shall not I hope be mistaken if I here set them down thus as I find them by others reported POpe Clement the Eighth to our best beloved Son in Christ Sigismund by the Grace of God King of Polonia with the Benediction Apostolical sendeth greeting By how much greater affection of fatherly Love we embrace your Majesty in the Lord so much the more fervently we wish all your Actions to be adorned with the greatest commendation of true Godliness and Wisdom both before God and Men whereof it proceedeth that we are so much the more vehemently and grievously moved if we hear any such thing of you as may seem not agreeable to your Vertue and approved Zeal toward the Catholick Religion or tending to the obscuring of the Glory of your Name as is now brought unto us concerning the Affairs of Moldavia whereof not without great grief we write unto you And to rehearse things a little before past with what earnestness and fervency dealt I with you that for God's Cause and the defence of the health and liberty of the Christian Commonweal against the Tyranny of the Turks you would combine your self with our most dearly beloved Son Rodolph the Emperor and divers other Christian Princes and that you should not let slip so notable an occasion so worthily to deserve of God of the Catholick Faith and of the Christian Commonweal in general And albeit we then thought as well for many your own private respects as also of your Kingdoms That you were to be borne withal and excused if you did not now openly descend into this Confederation of the Christian Princes against the most mortal and common Enemy neither apertly joyn your Forces or give aid for the repressing of his Insolency yet we always assured our selves that no let should in any case proceed from you whereby either theEmperour or the other Christian Princes should be the rather hindered justly to prosecute their Injuries or to cast off from their Necks the heavy yoke of the most cruel Tyrant whose desire of Sovereignty is not comprised within the compass of any bounds But that you should in favour of the Turks impugn the Catholick Princes and Defenders of the Christian Faith and so joyn hands with the Enemies of the Cross of Christ as that by your help their force and fury should be encreased and ours not only weakened but in the very course of Victory hindered and cast into most grievous perils this we have not only not thought of you but not so much as once suspected yea and can now scarce be persuaded to believe those things to be done by you which are reported unto us as most true and undoubted For the report goeth That you having Intelligence with the Turks and Tartars have with them conspired and namely against our well-beloved Son Sigismund Prince of Transilvania who with invincible Courage fighteth the Battels of the Lord and lest he should be able to abate the force and attempts of the most proud Enemy which by the singular mercy of God he hath hitherto above his own power performed but rather be enforced much to fear his own Estate a new Vayvod and Prince as it were by a triumvirate Authority and compact to be placed in Moldavia and him by the Turks You and the
the upper hand but without any notable loss also yet not without great slaughter of theirs and would to God I had had such strength as that not only the conditions of Peace but even the Enemies themselves might have been in my power But when we were oftentimes come to parle they still requiring the same and so at length unto Conditions of Peace if such were given them as whereby this only Kingdom had without the wrong of any other been delivered from so great and sudden a danger what reasonable man could find fault therewith if we should have preferred the health and welfare of our Country whereunto all good men owe all they have before other mens Profits But now these things were so done as that it was no less provided for the good of the neighbour Christians yea and happily not the least for theirs who for the same slander this Kingdom unto your Holiness the fury of Sinan Bassa was by this means repressed who whilst he feared to be shut up in the Straits by our Army now come into Moldavia and expected the Tartars coming spent almost all the rest of the Summer idly and without any thing doing The Tartar himself was not only turned from the Bowels of Christendom whereinto he had purposed as the year before to have entred we having with our own Breasts received his force and fury but being brought unto Conditions was expresly enjoyned in a most short prefined time and without any more harm doing to return again into his Country by the self same way he came and by no other whereby it is come to pass that until this day Christendom hath not this year yet felt the Tartars Weapons But unto Transilvania and Hungary what a space and power was given for them to gather their Strength and Forces together and out of the same places to oppose them against the Enemy whenas our Army kept them safe at their Backs and eased not only Moldavia but Valachia and Transilvania also of that care Whereas if this cause of delay had not been objected unto the Turks first and after unto the Tartars not to say any thing of the Turks the Tartars at the very self-same time that the Transilvanian Army was gone into Valachia against Sinan might have broken into Transilvania before it could have returned home or else marching directly towards that Army might have met with it out of Transilvaniâ As for Moldavia which together with the Memory of the Christian name yet left in it had utterly perished it was most manifestly preserved by the coming of our Army Which what end it would have had if the Enemy might at his Pleasure have raged as he did in the farther Valachia those most bitter remembrances in it yet at this day smoking do well declare out of which it is well known more thousands of Christian Captives to have been carried away into most woful Captivity than almost out of any other Province in all the time of these miserable Wars Which altho it be thus yet boast we not thereof neither send we any triumphant Letters unto your Holiness nor brag we of our good Service done for the Christian Common-weal contenting our selves with the Conscience of the thing it self In the mean time we are accused unto your Holiness but for what cause If any man complain for the taking of Moldavia I will not say it was by them before willingly forsaken whilst I was yet in the Frontiers thereof but that this Kingdom hath a most antient Right unto it and such a Right as that when our Kings being busied in their Wars against the Muscovite the Cruciat Teutony Brethren or others some others also troubling the state thereof it for a time became a Prey unto the Turkish Tyrants yet in all the Leagues made or renewed betwixt this Kingdom and them was still excepted That all such things as the Palatine of Moldavia was of duty to perform unto the King should by him still be performed Which Kings of Polonia and namely Augustus himself the last of the Iagellonian Race appointed divers of those Palatines themselves Which altho they be things most manifest yet having more regard unto the welfare of that Province as a Christian Country than of our Right we restored the same into the same state wherein it hath been for many Years before these Wars Wherefore if any man think any thing done whereby the Enemies of the Cross of Christ might be eased or strengthened or the Defenders of the Faith hindred it is so far from any such thing to be done that rather as is before declared the Enemies force is repressed and averted and greater means given unto the Christians afront to impugne them the Enemy being at their Backs by us shut from them But I fear that they have not fully informed your Holiness how these things were done who have reported unto your said Holiness not only the Name of the Turks to have been 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 confederate together things to have been ordered in Moldavia Which their Complaint if it tend to that end as if a confederation were made with them I frankly confess certain Conditions to have been given them but such as whereby is provided not only for the quiet and security of this Kingdom but no less also for the whole Christian Commonweal as is before declared All which things for all that altho they were done for the good of this Kingdom and all Christendom in general yet were they so done that they were all by me referred unto the King's Majesty and the States of the Kingdom so that at this present the Kingdom is at free liberty either to joyn in Confederation with the rest of the Christian Princes or if that cannot upon certain and indifferent conditions be agreed upon yet with no mans injury or hurt to ratifie this joyned with the health and good of a great part of the Christian Commonweal only God grant that the Christian Princes may seriously think both of this so Christian a Confederation against the common Enemy and strive also all together against the enemy with their weapons and not with Misreports and Slanders one against another They are not to assail the enemies feet but his throat neither is the seat of the war to be placed in the borders of Polonia where it concerneth themselves much to have all things rather peaceable behind them but let the War be undertaken with no less charge preparation than if the enemies royal seat were to be assailed which standing in an open and plain Country shall always without much ado be his that being strongest can take it This have I written at large as my purpose was all which I most humbly beseech your Holiness with your divine Wisdom to consider of and with your wonted Clemency to
of a Country Shortly after 600 Garrison Souldiers or Lippa seeking after Booty and adventuring too far into the Enemies Territory were discovered by the Turks Scouts and so beset by the Turks and Tartars billeted in the Country about Temesware that there was no way left for them to escape Which they well perceiving resolved among themselves as became valiant men to fight it out even unto the last man and with no less Resolution performed what they had before determined for being on every side beset and hardly charged by their Enemies they as men before resolved to die altho scarce one to twenty fought most desperately seeking for nothing else but to sell their Lives as dear as they could unto their Enemies and so fighting were all slain except some few which by great fortune escaped leaving unto the Enemy a right bloody Victory Yet by this loss of so great a Party was the Garrison of Lippa greatly weakned which the Enemy knew right well and thereupon began forthwith to prepare to besiege the Town Which Barbelus the Governour a most valiant man wisely foreseeing sent in Post unto the Transilvanian Prince to request him with all speed to send him four or five thousand good Souldiers with which Power he doubted not by the Help of God to be able to defend the Town against all the Forces the Enemy was at that time able to bring against it Unto whom the Prince without delay sent 8000 who all in safety in good time arrived at Lippa for shortly after their arrival 40000 of the Turks and Tartars came and sat down before the Town inclosing it on every side and so lay for certain days without any thing doing worth the speaking of they of the Town in the mean time doing them all the harm they could with their great shot which they sent amongst them not sparingly But they had not so long lain but that News was brought into the Camp That the Transilvanian Prince was with a great Power coming thither to relieve the Town whereupon they presently rise and retired to the place where they had before encamped about two miles from Lippa where certainly understanding that the Prince neither was neither could in short time be in such readiness as was before reported they forthwith returned and more straightly besieged the Town than before They had now brought with them seventeen pieces of battery eight Waggons laded with Shot and Powder and forty six others laded with scaling Ladders and other warlike Provision thus appointed they began to batter the Town and afterwards gave thereunto divers desperate assaults which the Christians valiantly received and still with great slaughter repulsed their Enemies For that strong Town was with Towers and Bulwarks flanking one another so fortified that out of them the Christians with their murthering pieces made great spoil of their Enemies and still enforced them with loss to retire no bullet almost flying in vain In the heat of one of these assaults the Governour caused one of the Gates of the Town to be set open having before within the Town placed sixteen great pieces at the very entrance of the same gate charged with all kind of murthering Shot Unto which Gate as of mere Desperation set open by the Defendants the Turks and Tartars desirous of revenge came thronging as thick as might be thinking to have thereby entred when suddenly and as it were in the turning of an hand they were with the aforesaid murthering pieces cut down as with a Sithe and so again and the third and fourth time before they could clear themselves of the danger thereof their Heads Arms and Legs and other rent Limbs flying in the Air most miserably to behold Nevertheless the siege was by them continued and the often assaults so resolutely maintained as if they had thereupon purposed to have engaged all their Lives But this so obstinate a Resolution was by an unexpected accident when they least thought converted into such a desperate fear and astonishment that they upon the sudden no man forcing them forsook their Trenches wherein they lay encamped and leaving behind them their Tents their great Ordnance and whatsoever else they had they betook themselves to a most disordered flight The Transilvanian who by chance were even then coming thither pursuing them slew divers of them and took some others of them Prisoners At this Siege the Bassa of Temeswar himself was mortally wounded and Hamat Sanzack of Giula with divers others of good place slain and 4000 of the common Souldiers The cause of the Turks so great and sudden fear was this Whilst the Bassa of Temeswar lay at the Siege of Lippa as is aforesaid they that were left in the City fearing no harm lived in great Security in the mean time the Governour of Lugaz sent out six thousand Souldiers towards Temeswar now in the absence of the Bassa to seek after Booty who coming to Temeswar with great speed rifled the Suburbs of the City slew all the Turks they could light upon and set at Liberty a thousand Captives and so having trussed up their Booty set on fire all the Suburbs and departed Which fire grew so great and so terrible that it was plainly seen into the Camp at Lippa making a shew as if the whole City had been on a light Fire which so daunted the Hearts of the Turks at the Siege that they presently fled as is before said leaving all that they had behind them The Transilvanian all this while busied in raising of his Army and providing of things necessary for the maintenance of his Wars was come into the Confines of Hungary towards Temeswar even as the Turks fled from Lippa At which time certain Hungarian Heidons that served him getting over Danubius not far from Nicopolis took Plenia a little Town of the Turks which they ransacked and burnt and having slain in the Country thereabout above three thousand of the Turks returned with a rich Prey unto the Prince Not long before the Christians had surprised Clissa a strong frontier Town of the Turks in Dalmatia not far from Spalato which Town the Bassa of Bosna sought now again to recover and thereto layd hard siege For the relief whereof Leucowitz Governour of Stiria and the other Provinces thereabouts belonging to the House of Austria and the Governour of Zeng with a Fleet of two and forty Ships wherein they had embarked 4000 Souldiers well appointed with all things necessary set forward toward Clissa and by the way lighting upon a Galley of the Venetians bound with certain warlike Provision towards the Turks Camp took her as good Prize and rifled her This Fleet with a fair Wind arrived at Siret near unto Trau where the Governour landing his men marched that Night part of his way toward Clissa and all the next day lay close The Night following they set forward again and having marched fifteen miles came unto the Enemies Camp before day where setting upon the
to prosecute that they had taken in hand Neither failed the Turks in the mean time with often Sallies to trouble the Christians attempting above all things to have fired their Tents for that so lying open in that so cold a season of the year they must thereby of Necessity be inforced to raise their Siege and be gone But the Success of these their so great Designs was not answerable to their Hopes being still to their loss beaten back into the Town by the Christians whom it behoved to look well about them for that the besieged desperately set and all resolved rather to die than to yield adventured themselves to all Dangers never ceasing to do what they might to put the Christians out of hope for winning the Town But whilst the Turks with doubtful and as it were desperate hope so defend the Place and the Christians grown stronger by the coming of their Friends lay in hope to win the same lo in the latter end of November the North Wind accompanied with a deep Snow so furiously raged that it overthrew the greatest part of the Tents and Pavilions of the Christians and as it were buried their whole Army in the Snow and Ice in such wise as that in Ferdinand the Arch-duke's camp being reasonably well provided for were 1500 men with 300 Horses starved and frozen to death At which time the state of them that came with the Lord Russworm was most miserable who wearied with the siege of Alba-Regalis and as it were spent with the dirty Travel of the deep way had not brought with them their Tents or other Provision and were therefore inforced to lie abroad in so cold and unseasonable a time with whose Miseries although their good General was much grieved yet to do the Christian Common-weal Service he with them right patiently endured In which so great an Extremity the Arch-duke with the rest of the Commanders upon view taken well considering what small hope there was in good time to take the Town the unreasonableness of the Winter-weather still more and more increasing thought it better betime to rise than longer to expose their Army unto most certain Destruction either of the Enemy or the Cold. Which was done with such haste and confused Tumult as that their rising seemed rather an hasty flight than honourable departure leaving behind them for haste their great Ordnance with their Tents and Baggage a common Voice still running That they were well if they might but save themselves so that the Souldiers every man mindful but of himself and in fear to be pursued by the Enemy no man chasing them fled but still accompanied with such furious Winds Snow and extream Cold that with all the Labour they could take they could get them no heat but fell down to the Earth many of them frozen and so once falling never rose more being unable for want of heat to help themselves in which case they were not to expect for help from others every man having enough to do to look unto himself so that upon the way whereby the Army went thus dispersed with the Weather lay above five hundred dead of cold beside four hundred others left sick in the forsaken Trenches who forthwith after the departure of the Army were thought to have been all put to the Sword by them of the Garrison of Canisia But having thus passed through these Troubles of Hungary it is time now also to look back again into the frontier Countries of Transilvania and Valachia which to have kept in the Emperours Obeisance and so preserved as a lively Member of the Christian Common-weal no less concerned him than the keeping of any other his frontier Territories which are many Michael the Vayvod of Valachia the last year for his Cruelty first driven out of Transilvania by Basta and afterwards out of Valachia the great Chancellour of Polonia as is aforesaid and another placed in his stead as a man forsaken even of his own better Fortunes and not well knowing which way to turn himself thought it best now at last to submit himself unto the Emperour if so happily by his means he might in some sort repair his broken Estate and so at leastwise recover his Government in Valachia So resolved he set forward and in the beginning of this year viz. the three and twentieth of Ianuary with five and thirty of his Followers and six Coaches arrived at Prague where he was by the Emperours appointment honourably received and his cost at the Emperours charge defraied Unto whom he excused himself of the Severity by him used in Transilvania the cause of those late Troubles in that Country as inforced thereunto by the stubbornness of the Transilvanians themselves whom he found still inclined to rebellion and unwilling to be commanded by any but by themselves Which his excuse as true was well admitted and he with all Kindness used Now at this same time Basta lying also in Transilvania as Governour for the Emperour right slenderly accompanied as is before also declared the Parliament at Clausenburg being ended and all Controversies as was thought well composed now without fear one night the watch being set went to bed to take his rest where he had not long lain but that certain of the Transilvanian Lords among whom the Chiaki was chief came with their Followers and surprising the Watch and entering the Palace brake into the Chamber where he lay took him out of his Bed and so kept him Prisoner all that Night And the next morning going forth about twelve miles off met with Sigismund Bator their late Prince before secretly by them called in whom they honourably conducted to Clausenburg and there delivered unto him Basta the late Governour for the Emperour whom he commanded to be cast into Irons and so going to the Palace gave like order for the apprehending and safe keeping of the rest of the Nobility also such as had taken part with Basta in the behalf of the Emperour For now the Transilvanians were divided into three parts whereof the one stood for the Emperour the second for Istuan Bathor pretending that unto him belonged the Soveraignty of that Province but the third and far the greatest for Sigismund their antient Lord and Leader who now by means of the King of Polonia reconciled unto the great Turk and in this troublesome time by his Favourites called again into his Country was by them joyfully received at Alba-Iulia Clausenburg and the rest of the chief Cities of Transilvania Who now thereof again possessed for the better assuring of his Estate forthwith writ unto the Emperour what had happened requesting him to content himself that he was desirous of his Love and Favour promising to be always his good Friend and Neighbour and for ever to keep good Amity with him giving Basta also whom he had now at the Intercession of certain great Friends again enlarged to understand That he was forthwith to depart from all the
of his Cowardise if he failed in the performance thereof promising him indeed his Sister in Mariage amongst other the glorious Rewards and Trophies of his Victory and threatning him with Death as a Punishment amongst the Griefs of his Dishonour But it came to pass that by the Cowardise of our men he came unto the effect of his desire as is aforesaid and took the City which promised unto him the glorious Triumph in Constantinople And under the sweet influence of this Planet he returned to Constantinople where he found all things in readiness for the satisfying of his Expectation and the Advancement of his Glory He is magnificently received of his Prince courteously saluted by all the Nobility and with greatest reverence possible honoured of the People And as he had happily discharged his Charge he found in like manner all things prepared and in readiness for the performance of the promise of the Grand Seignior his Lord and Master who had caused them to be in most sumptuous manner provided for the solemnizing of the Marriage and the contentment of the Bassa But nothing now wanting that he could have desired or wished more than the very solemnizing of the Marriage it self and that also every day of all men expected the Ianizaries and Spahi with the other Souldiers of the Court to the number of five and twenty thousand even upon the sudden when as no such thing was feared came and in Arms presented theââselves before the Divano or Tribunal holden ãâã the chief Administration of Justice in the Turks Palace the first four days in every week and having set Guards at the Court Gates the more safely to execute what they were before resolved upon proudly demanded to have Audience for certain of the Spahi and Ianizaries of whom they had made choice in the names of them all to deliver unto the great Bassaes their Grievances and the Causes of that their Assembly Who as soon as they were entered into the Divano before the Bassaes of whom the most couragious of them was not without fear as looking for nothing but for present death they at the first demanded to have Hassan Bassa delivered unto them Who thinking that his Head should have served for a Sacrifice to pacifie this their Fury as a man altogether dismayed wan and pale passed through this mutinous Multitude to have gone unto the great Sultan protesting of his own Innocency and calling upon his Prophet Mahomet to discover unto them the truth of all things But they after a thousand Injuries and Reproaches by them heaped upon him rudely demanded of him whence it proceeded that whilst he with a great part of the Forces of the Empire was busied in Hungary for the recovering of Alba-Regalis there was in the mean time no good order taken for the repressing of the Rebel in Asia who by sufferance was as they said now grown so proud as with Ensigns displayed to come within three or four days Journey of Constantinople the Imperial seat of the Othoman Emperours Whereunto he in so small fear answered That he for his part had done his Duty as well while he had the charge of the Army in Asia as now of late whilst he had the like charge against the Christians in Hungary as even the Enemies themselves could witness But seeing himself even ready to die he yet requested them That his guiltless Death might be unto the State in general profitable and in discharging of his Conscience to declare unto them the Causes of this Contempt and Neglect for the surpressing of the Asian Rebel which they were so desirous to know It proceeded as he said only from the evil Government of the Grand Sultans Mother who then all commanded and from the negligent carelesness of the Capi-Aga Which his speech although they with much impatience and storming gave ear unto yet hearing him so well to excuse himself and to lay the blame there where they were well content it should rest they gave him leave to go to the great Sultan to request him that they might speak with him and further to deal with him that they might have the Head of them who had been the cause of this dishonourable Service or otherwise cowardly behaved themselves in the managing of the Wars against the Rebels in Asia Threatning him withall That if he failed to perform this his charge he should not fail to feel the heavy Effects of their just Fury An heavy charge yet glad was the Bassa to undergo the same to rid himself out of their Hands where he saw himself in great danger amongst them most of whom had sometimes served under him than amongst so many his most mortal Enemies but what Remedy he must now so do or die therefore for which he was the more to be excused So in great fear coming unto the great Sultan almost as fearful as himself he shewed unto him the great danger like even presently to ensue by the Mutiny of his best Souldiers and Guarders of his Person perswading him betime to appease their Fury before they had embrued themselves with Blood for fear of further danger like enough to ensue as well unto his own Person as unto the rest of his most faithful and trusty Counsellor from such furious head-strong men up in tumult with their Arms in their Hands And although that a Prince ought not for the Greatness of his Estate to do any thing as thereunto forced by his Subjects lest in so doing he might breed in them a Contempt of himself and increase their Insolency that yet nevertheless in this Action being altogether extraordinary he was not to rest upon that point for that these mutinous Souldiers turned not their Weapons as they pretended against his Imperial Power and Soveraignty but rather to the contrary against the Contemners thereof seeking to be revenged upon them that had done him such evil Service for the maintenance of his Honour and Majesty and for the Punishment of the insolent and disloyal And that therefore the Justice of the Cause requiting and covering the Malice of the Fact he was of Opinion That it were best for him to yield a little unto the Zeal of these his best Souldiers and to satisfie their just desire although they had by very evil and unlawful means sought for the same And therefore advised his Majesty in some sort to satisfie the just Complaints of these men armed for the Revenge of his Honour and to chastise the chief Commanders of his Asian Forces such as by whose Treachery or Cowardise his Service being neglected had armed these men against them with the same hand punishing such as had wronged his Majesty in Honour and appeasing the discontented for the good of his Service Mahomet thus by the Bassa perswaded as also to shew himself in his Majesty unto these his discontented Subjects one part of their desire the Necessity of the Cause so requiring in his Imperial Seat presented himself unto
so mindful of him but that he for his part desired not any greater reward for the Services by him done more than the Government which his Majesty had before promised him whereof according to which Promise which he could not think but to be agreeable to his good liking he was now possessed with a resolution to hold and keep the same for his Majesties Service Which was as much in effect as for a disloyal Subject to talk with his angry Sovereign with his hand upon his Sword but with this sly Answer such as it was Sultan Mahomet for all his Greatness must as yet content himself for fear lest if he should have sought to have by force removed him he might so have raised a more dangerous Rebellion in Europe than was already in Asia Zellaly so politick and resolute a man and not to seek what to do in such matters being possessed of so great a Government and the Christian Emperour at hand ready to have backed him if he should upon any Discontentment have revolted The Troubles of this Year 1603 thus overpast year 1604 the beginning of the next was like unto a fair blooming Tree which promising great store of Fruit but afterward blasted with the Extremity of the Weather proveth in effect as barren as it before seemed in hope fruitful for beginning with the sweet Western Winds of Peace it ended with the stern Northern Blasts of War. The Turks had oftentimes the last Year made motion of Peace but especially toward the end thereof outwardly making shew-of a great desire and forwardness in themselves thereunto Which business the last Year begun was even with the beginning of this Year also effectually continued that Commissioners were on both sides appointed to conferr and conclude upon the same Among these Commissioners Collonel Althem was one who to perform his Charge having taken with him the other Commissioners deputed with him for this purpose with certain other Captains embarqued himself with them in thirteen Ships from Strigonium and from thence sailing down the River landed with his Train in the Island betwixt Buda and Pesth Of whose Arrival there the Turks of Buda advertised and on their part ready came forthwith thither also with all the outward shews that might be of their most earnest desire for the concluding of Peace whereas our Men who by a thousand effects were assured of the unfaithfulness of the Turks and that Necessity and not the desire of any Quietness had drawn them to seek for Peace to the contrary shewed themselves very backward in this Business For why they knew âight well that the Turks had not taken this maâter in hand but to overtake them and by this time of Peace to gain a time of War more commodious and fit for their ambitious and cruel Designs They had the year before made sufficient Proof of our Forces accompanied with good Fortune which caused them to despair by strong hand to vanquish and overcome us besides that they still every hour in one place or other received a thousand Losses and Crosses from our Garrisons who distressed and annoyed them both with their Forces and with driving of them unto the extremity of Wants Our men knew moreover also that the Troubles of Asia as well from the Rebels as from the Persian which lay so heavy upon the Great Sultan drew them to this necessity to seek for a breathing time of Peace wherein to repair that which was in their Forces and Strength by Wars impaired And even yet also the manner of the Turks demeaning of themselves in this Action their Delays their Excuses and deferring from day to day to conclude upon some Point of this Treaty gave our men good cause to suspect them of evil meaning as men respecting their Profit more than their Faith and more subtil and cruel in all their Actions than honourable and valorous The Fifth of Ianuary was the day by our men expected for the Treaty for as then the Bassa of Buda had appointed with the rest of the Commissioners to come into the Isle to hear what our Commissioners should demand and to intreat of the Peace But he was too true an Infidel to fail of his Infidelity and so came not at all but deceived our Men both of their Hope and Expectation At length instead of himself Letters were brought from him to Collonel Althem whereby he excused himself for not coming requesting him with the rest of the Commissioners to come over the River to Buda the more commodiously for them to conferr together and so the better to conclude their Negotiation Now though Almain for the Majesty of his Prince and the Honour of the State ought not at the Request of these his Enemies to have put himself into their Power but to have stood fast upon the Terms of Honour yet to the end that the Country of Hungary so miserably spoiled with Wars should not take occasion to complain of his negligence in this Negotiation of Peace he resolved to go to Buda as the Bassa had requested deeming every Action tending to the hinderance of the common Good to be but in shew honourable and in deed hurtful Upon which Resolution he sent before the Gentleman of his Stable and his Cook with a Gentleman of the Turks sent but the day before from the Bassa which men going aboard together were assailed with such a cruel Tempest upon the River that neither the Skill of the Water-men nor Goodness of the Vessel was able to resist the force thereof so that the Boat was sunk and the men drowned an evil Presage of the Peace to be made the raging Water as it were foreshewing the Troubles to come But this Tempest by the sacrifice of those poor drowned men appeased Althem and Geisberg two of the chief Commissioners embarqued themselves and so passed over the River to Buda At whose Arrival the Turks gave in shew a thousand Testimonies of their Joy for their coming Neither did the Germans refuse their kind offered Courtesies but largely fed of the good cheer and filled themselves with the good Wines whereof the Turks had given them Plenty and they again using them as kindly as if they had been their Brethren and conversing with them as with their own Countrymen Amidst this carousing and Platters full of good cheer the Proposition of Peace which the Turks meant to demand were served in also and a Truce for twelve days demanded to consider of the matter during which time it should be lawful for every man without let freely to come and go whither they would which was forthwith on both sides agreed upon And for better Testimony of the Turks true meaning in this their Negotiation of Peace the Bassa in the presence of our Commissioners dispatched a Courrier toward the great Sultan to advertise him of this business and of the proceeding therein according to the Commandment by him before given Which he did to cause our men to
doing harm especially the Hungarians who were still running out even as far as the Emperours Camp and the new City of Prague Whom for all that the Emperours Souldiers being then twenty thousand strong would not meddle withal being so commanded by the Emperour Howbeit some of these Straglers going too far abroad into the Country were by the Country-men cut off and slain The three and twentieth day of May an Assembly of the States of Bohemia was called at Prague the Emperour himself being there present Adam Waldsteine carrying the drawn Sword before him In which Assembly the Nobility and States of the Country with one consent promised to spend their Goods and Lives in the Emperours quarrel yet in the mean time requesting these things following to be granted and confirmed unto them viz. That Religion according to the confession of Bohemia and Augusta should inviolately be kept and that they which professed the one should not therefore scoff or despise the other That Bohemians only should be preferred to Archbishopricks Abbotships and other spiritual Preferments That the Archbishop should not meddle with Civil and Political Affairs That Ecclesiastical Offices should be permitted unto the Protestant Ministers as in former time the Catholicks in the mean time holding that they had The Pontificial dispensation in causes of Matrimony according to the Decree of the Assembly holden in the Year 1602 should be abrogated and taken away That it should not be lawful for Priests and other Ecclesiastical Persons to buy Lands or Territories without the express consent of all the three States but to hold themselves contented with their Tyths and other their Revenues That it should be lawful for all men in their own Ground and Territories to build Churches for Religion on both sides That Protestants and Patrons of the University of Prague should be joyned to the Consistory as they were in the time of the Emperour Ferdinand That one should be chosen for Burgrave in this Assembly That chief political Offices should not be left void above a Month. That unto these political Offices men of both Religions should be admitted so that if the Burgrave were a Catholick the chief Judge should be a Protestant That every man should enjoy his Right and that no Decree should be published against the same neither that they which were of the Order of Knights should be rashly sued or bound to any arrest That one of the Bohemians should always be chosen into the secret Council and made acquainted with the Bohemian Affairs That every man might have access to the Emperour and not all things to be done by his Counsellors That it should be declared to all Men what was to be understood by the Crime of Treason That a difference should be made betwixt Offences and that no man should for any light Offence together with his Goods lose his Life and Reputation That the Suits of Widows Orphans and others also should with Expedition be dispatched and not from day to day deferred That from henceforth the Father should not be bound to pay the Sons debt which he was run into without his knowledge neither yet the Son himself That in political Offices Men should not be too much grieved with too heavie Exactions That Men sued should not be summoned but in good Terms and that such as were in any Reputation be bound unto any arrest without the hearing of their Cause and much less to be imprisoned That the Sword upon frowardness or madness taken out of the Church of Thine certain years before should be again set in the former place That Lawyers which pleaded mens Causes should be contented with such Fees as were by common Decrees appointed them And last of all to conclude they in any wise requested the Emperour that it would please him to ease the Nobility and States of Bohemia of these Griefs before they were compelled to answer unto such things as were to be propounded unto them on his behalf Who easily granted unto most of these Articles those which concerned Religion only excepted so that the Senators of the old Town of Prague obtained the desired Sword to be again forthwith set in the wonted Place But as for the business of Religion it was altogether put off and deferred unto the next Assembly to be holden at the Feast of St. Michael About the end of May the Arch-duke Matthias's Ambassadors having received saâe Conduct from the Emperour and the Nobility of the Kingdom of Bohemia came to Prague and being admitted into the Councel of the Nobility Charles Count Tiseratin to whom that charge was given having in the Archdukes Name first saluted the Nobility caused what he and the rest had in charge to be before them out of a long Writing in the Bohemian Tongue read which done when as the Nobility so requiring they were put aside and almost an hour after were called again they received Answer That the points of the Ambassage by them propounded were greater and of more weight than that sufficient Deliberation could thereof in so short a time be had and that therefore it was by the Nobility thought meet that Commissioners on both sides meeting together in the open Field near unto Debritse should there consult of these Articles and by the Consent of the Emperour and the Arch-duke to do what they might to end the matter Unto which Answer the Arch-dukes Ambassadors consenting the ninth of Iune returned again unto the Camp. The Emperours Ambassadors within two days after with forty Coaches and an hundred Horse following them unto the Place appointed who oftentimes going to and fro at length so wrought the matter on both sides that the Business quietly and friendly ended they were again made Friends The Articles of which Pacification and Agreement betwixt the Emperour and the Arch-duke were the seventeenth day of Iune in the Castle of Prague openly read in the Bohemian Tongue Lichtenstein Kintskie and other Chieftains the Arch-dukes Ambassadours being there present in order thus That the Emperour refused not but that the Crown of Hungary should be delivered into the Arch-duke Matthias's Hands and to yield unto him the Kingdom of Hungary and to remit unto his Subjects the Oath of their Allegeance before given unto him so that the Nobility and States of Hungary should chuse no other King but the Arch-duke That in the next Diet of the Empire he should propound unto the States of the Empire to be considered of what Contribution they ought to make unto the Archduke for the defence of their Frontiers if happily longer War were to be made with the Turk That he should cause the Writings which concerned that Kingdom of Hungary within the space of two Months to be delivered unto the Arch-duke That he should likewise also surrender up the Arch-dukedom of Austria by himself hitherto possessed unto the Arch-duke yet so as that the Arch-duke should take upon himself all the Emperours Debt as well in Hungary as in Austria
Armenian for their Interpreter parted from Thrace with this godly Resolution to preach unto the People far from God the Truth of his Holy Word and to guide them happily in the way to Heaven He passed the the Bosphorus of Thrace and the famous Castles of Leander and Hero and cut through those Waves whereas he that could not quench the Fire of his Passion quenched the flame of his Life he passed beyond Pompey's Pillar or rather that of the most happy Daniel Stylita who erected his towards this Mouth of the Sea and about the sixth of Iune this same year they arrived at Verna a famous Town in Thrace whereas a Company of French Souldiers whom the violence of Necessity had some years since forced to leave the Emperours Service in Hungary were in Garrison for the Turk to defend his Subjects against the Incursions of the Cossacks yet these Frenchmen do still observe the Catholick Religion inviolably From thence he sailed towards Cordula and by the encounter of a little Gallion he entered into the Port of Trabizond Within few days after he was carried in the same Vessel to Erissa in the Country of Laxia or Lassia which on the one side looks towards the Country of the Georgians and the other that of Trabizond The Christian Religion hath been for a long time planted among those People but very ill manured for the Fathers to free their miserable Children from the Tribute wherewith the Turks oppress them cause their Children to be circumcised after the Mahometan manner and for the same Consideration they marry their Daughters unto Janizaries Moreover they abandon themselves to the Mahometan Impiety to the end they may be delivered from their insupportable Oppressions and their Turkish Yoke The Jesuits found there a good Subject to work upon for the Health of Souls during their abode there for certain days they catechised the Men baptized the Children and advertised the Women married unto Turks what they were to do for the maintenance of their Faith But for that their Commission or Charge was to go unto Mingrelia or Cholcos they went again to Sea and sailed towards Govea which is the furthest Corner of the Black Sea this Haven being very unfit to cast Anchor in they followed the Gallies which carried a Bassa called Oneze from Constantinople who should treat a Peace on the behalf of Sultan Achmat with the Prince of the Mingrelians and dispose him to pay a Tribute with these Vessels they went into a Port called Macrogalo nine Miles from that of Govea holding this Place more safe than the other but in Truth there is little assurance whereas the Waves and Winds command Sovereignty A Northwest wind rising about Midnight on the fifteenth of September drave their Gallies near unto the Shelfs and Rocks whereas one was broken and cast away This Tempest continued many days and during the Violence thereof another Gallie was lost in the which the Jesuits had been by good advice they had retired to Land during the Fury of the Sea and Winds The Jesuits imputed the cause of this loss to the Prohibition which Oneze the Bassa had made unto them not to pass into Mingrelia before the Peace were concluded with the Princes of that Country the which grew long by reason of the Difficulties which happened in the Treaty In the end those Princes resolving to pay the Tribute unto the Turk it was concluded The Liberty of Travel follows Peace Grangier and his Companions proceeded in their Journey twenty days after their departure from Macregalo they arrived at Satrapella a place of Georgia whereas the Prince's Visier came to visit them and after the Georgian manner saluted them bare headed and kneeling upon one knee Gorel Prince of the Georgians who was then at Barlet whereas the Court was to pass the Feasts of Christenmas being advertised of the arrival of these new Christian and French Preachers sâât for them received them favourably and saluted them bare-headed and kneeling After that he had made them to bless his Court he held many Discourses with them of the Truth of the Roman Church and of the Popes Power as the Father of all Christendom being moved partly thereunto by a feeling of Piety to the Church and partly from the Instructions he received from these Jesuits so as enlightned with a new Beam of the true Light he intreated Grangier to crave Absolution of his Sins from the Pope the which said he he may give me by the Power he hath from God promising to send him his Confession in writing But understanding that the Jesuit had Power from the Pope to absolve him he purged his Conscience of all his Sins by a general Confession of his Life Without doubt the Zeal of these Souls so far from Succour shews plainly what the Harvest would be if so many Labourers were sent as are necessary A Monk of Georgia who had lived at Rome for the space of twelve years had in former times planted Piety there the which they of this mission did now alter This Prince Gorel intreated the Jesuits to send him some of their Company at their return into Europe promising to make great esteem of them and to give them a Church a House and all things necessary for their maintenance The Prince offered them Silver which they refused modestly excusing themselves upon the Rules of their Institution which forbids them to receive any temporal recompence for the Administration of Holy things Thus they parted from this Prince who commended much their manner of living and caused them to be conducted to Satrapella to continue on their Journey into Mingrelia The third of February in the year 1615 year 1615 they parted from this Town with the Turks who came to conclude the Peace and passing by the Banks of Fasso a River which doth water the Country of Cholchos now called Mingrelia they arrived at Herailcano otherwise called Heracka and from thence to Margoula whereas the Prince of the Mingrelians called Dodran then remained being busie in the Reception of Threbis Cham King of Georgia who was come thither to visit him being expelled his Country by the King of Persia. The Jesuits were brought to kiss the Hands of Prince Dodran and of Lipartia his Uncle who was Regent of the Realm during his Minority They both promised them assistance in their Affairs sending them to the Town of Macaury to make their abode there whilst they were busied in the Affairs of their Country the which at that time were somewhat confused The Bishop of that Place entertained them with great Demonstration of Love and soon after making a Feast to Threbis Cham or Prince of the Georgians he would needs have the Jesuits assist at this Banquet for a great Testimony of his Love. It is the manner of those of Cholchos or the Mingrelians as well as the Georgians to sing at their Meat The Threbis Cham desired that the Jesuits might sing some note when
Souldiers which had been ruined during the Troubles of Moldavia desiring the Polonian to remember it well lest they should be found to differ when they should come to treat of her Ransome The Tartarian returning soon after to his House he found Iaques the Polonian there whom he entertained very kindly both in reward of the good Offices he had done to his Brother and for the hope he had of his Prisoners ransome remembring that Iaques had told him that she was his Kinswoman and that it might be he would bring it After some little Discourse Iaques asked him What ransome he would require for his Polonian Prisoner To whom the Tartarian answered That he would have six thousand Chequines for her and her Son unless he would give him the Stone with the which he had cured his Brother to whom the Polonian replyed That as for the Stone it was not in his Power having restored it to a Nobleman whom he had followed when he was taken Prisoner And as for the ransome which he demanded for his Prisoner and her Child it was more than she and all her Kindred were worth she being Wife to a Captain who had been taken Prisoner at the defeat of Alexander and for want of means was still detained The Tartarian interrupted him saying That he understood she was of noble extraction and that she had rich Kinsfolks who would not suffer her to spend her Life in Captivity I confess said the Polonian that she is issued from Noble Parents but they are ruined during the Troubles of Moldavia adding withal that he would not have returned if he had thought he would have demanded above a thousand Chequines the which he offered him intreating him to accept it in regard she was his Kinswoman and for the good Office he had done for his Brother You have been satisfied reply'd the Tartarian and have no cause to complain Notwithstanding after some contesting by the mediation of the Captains Brother who had been so well cured the Ladies ransome was set at three thousand Chequines whereof her faithful Agent gave present Intelligence to Prince Charles Brother to prince Coreskie who sent this sum with all possible speed and so the Princess and her little Infant were redeemed from Captivity and conducted into Polonia by their faithful Sollicitor From whence she advertised the Prince by Letters of her delivery This relation was written by a Frenchman who by his report was present in all the Troubles of Moldavia but as touching her delivery by means of the Cure I cannot warrant it but leave it to the censure of Physicians and Naturalists who can best judge of the Virtuâs of Stones Herbs and Plants but it is certain that she was imprisoned and ransomed as an unknown Person In the year 1617 there came to Paris a Chiaus year 1617 a Spanish Renegado called Solyman sent from Constantinople with Letters from the Emperour Achmat to the King for the delivery of eight and twenty Slaves who had redeemed their Liberty for Money in divers Ports of Italy and in their return to Constantinople had been taken by the Ships of Merceilles the King caused them to be set at Liberty But the Chiaus had also charge to intreat his Majesty to cause Justice to be done unto the Moors Grannadines expelled out of Spain and wronged in their Goods and Persons upon their Passage into France wherein he had what contentment he could expect of Justice Notwithstanding he did witness openly his amazement at their long delays in the dispatch of Suits saying plainly That France which had the Reputation throughout the World to maintain every mans right inviolably did no Justice but after long and tedious Pursuits and that the Execution of decrees was many times longer than the Suit it self Whereas the Turks Justice said he was speedily administred to every Man and within eight days they saw an end of the greatest and most important Suits This Chiaus was favourably entertained and defraied with his Train for the space of six or seven Months at the Kings Charge As the Turks Estate hath not grown great but by Combustions so it is ordinarily full of Troubles whereby it seems that the Preservation thereof depends in making War upon others or to support it when as neighbour Princes seek to recover that which they had unjustly wrested from them by the Othoman Force So this great Estate entertained this year four great Armies two at Land the one against the Persians his antient Enemy the other consisting in a manner all of Tartarians against the King of Poland as supporting the part of the Vayvod of Moldavia against the Turk who had settled another in that Province And two naval Armies the one in the Black Sea against the Cossacks or Russians who made daily Incursions into the Othomans Country Men wholly given to Arms which go to Sea in small Boats able to carry but five or six Men made of the Bodies of hollow Trees but they are in a manner invincible with these kind of Boats for when as the disadvantage of a Combat forces them to sound a retreat they retire near unto the Land and in such Places whereas the Turkish Gallies cannot approach and so they easily prevent a total overthrow Finally in case of Necessity they carry their Vessels with them For in the end of the last year finding the passage of the Black Sea stopped at the mouth of the River of Danow by the Turkish Gallies they put their Boats into Carts and taking the way by the Mountains they brought them easily into the Sea. The Turks fourth Army is in the white Sea as they call it employed either to conduct the Caravan which brings the Tribute from Egypt to Constantinople or in search of the Gallies of Malta and Florence which scoure those Seas continually to annoy the Turk The Army against the Persian is led by Haly Bassa Successor to Mehemet Bassa he who fled into Persia after that he had lost threescore thousand men in a set Battel after which being sent for to come unto Constantinople fearing that the Sultan would take revenge of so great a loss upon his life he retired to the Sophy where he now remains The Turks being much annoyed both at Sea and Land by the Vscoques made great Complaint to the Estate of Venice with whom they are in League being greatly grieved at their Thefts and complaining much that they could not pass by Sea without danger of Servitude or Death adding withal that these Pyrates having gotten a way into Turkey by the Venetians Territories they were by them made Slaves and slain in their own Countries and although they went not from their Houses nor undertook any Voyages yet they were still in alarm and subject unto ruine That the small Resistance which was made gave great cause of jealousie that there was some secret Intelligence betwixt the Subjects of the Seigniory of Venice and the Vscoques and that they
for his ordinary Revenue for which they give divers reasons first That the Turks have no care buâ of Arms the which do rather ruine than inrich a Country secondly They consume so many men in their Enterprises as they scarce leave sufficient to manure their Land so as the Subjects despairing to enjoy their Wealth and necessary Commodities which they might get by their Labour and Industry imploy not themselves to work nor traffick no more than necessity shall constrain them for to what purpose is it say they to sow that another man must reap or to reap that which another will consume And for this reason you shall see in the Turks Estate whole Countries lie waste and many times great Dearth which grows by the want of Men to manure their Land for that the Country-men for the most part either die in the Voyages which they make or in carrying of Victuals and other necessary things for their Armies for of ten thousand which they draw from their Houses to row in their Gallies scarce the fourth part returns to their Houses by reason of the great Toyles they indure Another reason why the Sultan's Revenues be no greater is for that when he conquers any Country he assigns the Lands to his Timarri who are bound to maintain so many Men and so many Horses according to the proportion of Land which he gives them reserving no Rent But although his ordinary Revenues be no greater than we have spoken yet he draws great profit by his Extraordinaries especially by Confiscations and Presents for being all his Slaves no man enjoyeth any thing longer than it pleaseth him yea the Bassaes and greatest Officers of that Crown which oppress his Subjects and gather together inestimable Wealth in the end for the most part it comes into the Turks Casna or Treasury It is not strange there to send for any Subjects Head upon any suggestion whatsoever which no man dare contradict after which Execution his Slaves and Goods are sold in the Market at Constantinople and the Money applyed to the Prince's Coffers His Presents also amount to great sums for no Ambassadour may come before him without a Present neither may any man expect any Office or Dignity without Money no Governour being returned from his Province dares present himself to the Sultan empty handed neither are their Presents of small price The Sultan's Exchequer is governed by two Treasurers called Deftardari who are more rightly governours of the Revenues for that they keep an account of the Prince's Casna or Treasure the one hath charge of the Revenues which are raised in Natolia the other in Europe Also they draw great profit from their tributary Provinces especially from Valachia Moldavia and Transilvania where the Princes maintain themselves by Presents and Gifts so as they change daily for that they that offer most are advanced whereby they are forced to ruine the Country to perform what they have promised But having spoken of the Turks Forces and Revenues whereby they maintain their Armies to invade their Neighbours we must now speak something of their Laws whereby the Subjects are governed which are Institutions and Answers of Wise men the which they hold as an Interpretation of their Alcaron which is the ground of their Law. These Institutions are contained in twelve Volumes treating of all things belonging to civil Conversation Some Provinces of Turkey are governed by Customs and enjoy their Priviledges and their Wise Judges supply many things which are not written The Sultan makes choice of the wisest and worthiest Person that can be found of a sincere Life according to their Law and he is called Mufti that is Interpreter of their Alcaron he is as it were their High-priest attending only matters of Religion and Faith he is Head of the Church among the Turks and decideth all questions of their Law. He is of such eminency as all the Bassaes are subject to his direction he abaseth not himself so much as to sit in the Divano only passeth through it when he is sent for by the Sultan who so soon as he seeth him riseth from his seat as it were to honour him and then they both sit down face to face and so conferr together They make trial of the sufficientest of their Judges before they chuse any for which there are two Cadilesquiri Talismani that is Doctors of the Law and Examiners at Constantinople or wheresoever the Prince remains These examine the Judges or Cadies of divers Provinces The one hath his charge over Europe and is called Cadilesquirie Romly before whom after good information of his Life and sufficiency he swears that he will do Justice to all men and yield an account of his Charge when he shall be called The other Cadilesquirie is for Natolia they are sovereign Judges in all Causes and as it were Patriarchs They are of great Authority and have place in the Divano with the Bassaes to consult of weighty matters There is a Third degree of their Church-men belonging to their Law called Mulli which are Bishops and chief Governours under the Mufti and their Office is to place and displace Church-men at their discretion Next are the Nuderisi who are Suffragans to the Bishops and their Charge is to see the Cadies do their duties Next come the Cadies who are Judges to punish Offenders of which there is one in every City under the Seignior's command Under these are another kind of young Doctors of the Law called Naipi who are not so well read as to be absolute Judges but yet supply their places in their absence After these are the Hogi who write their Books for that they allow no printing and inferior unto them are the Calfi who read unto them that write And the youngest of all are called Sosti who are young Students or Novices in their Law. These are their several degrees of Lawyers or Church-men for the Turks are governed by a kind of Ecclesiastical Law according to their Alcaron They have Colledges called Medressae at Constantinople and in other places where they live and study their Law and Divinity and so they ascend by degrees to the highest Dignity of their Profession As for their Religion it began in the time of the Emperour Heraclius whenas the Empire was much dismembred by the Heresies of Arrius and Nestorius Mahomet born in Arabia embraced this opportunity seeking to overthrow the Divinity of Iesus Christ which was opposed by the Iews and Arabians he was assisted by two Hereticks the one was Iohn a Nestorian and the other Sergius an Arrian After which being assisted by many slaves to whom he allowed all that was pleasing to the sence and flesh if they should receive this Law he obtained many Victories By Mahomet's Law they make a Distinction of clean and unclean Meats to content the Iews and also it maintains Circumcision but not at the eighth day of their Birth as the Iews use it but after the eighth
Delavir Bassa the Hoja or Confessor of the King the Casâariaga Governour of the Women the Tefterdar or Treasurer the Cadde leschat or chief Justice and some others as Enemies to the State and consenting to this Voyage which they pretended would be the ruine of the Empire The first after a little dispute the King granted unto them promising to give over his Journey but they not content exacted it in Writing To the second he replyed That it was dishonour to him to have his Servants so used without order of Justice but perswaded them to have Patience to stay until Saturday the next Divan or publick Council where they should appear and if they were found culpable they should receive punishment not meaning to perform any of this but to get time and allay their present Fury These Fellows not content with this moderate Answer undertook to know that they were guilty and therefore that they needed no other Witness Tryal nor Judge but themselves and with extream clamour called to have them rendred But the King refusing to give them any other Satisfaction and they unprepared for force returned into the City which now was all in fear every House and Shop shut up expecting a general sack But they followed the way of their own hatred and first went into the House of the Hoja which they brake and pillaged But not finding him they proceeded to the great Visiers who made some defence and they being unarmed beat them off and so they separated being now Evening but yet kept a Guard in some parts of the Town That Night the King made an attempt to send over to Asia side but was prevented and to fortifie and defend the Seraglio which was strongly walled about and had alway in it of houshold Servants about three thousand but it seemed no man would arm himself in his Cause for the next Morning the Mutineers assembled again and taking their Arms went first to the Mufti or Arch priest among them and enforced him and divers others to accompany them to the Court where they a-new demanded these Men but with more Instance and Fury In the mean time the Hoja Caddeleschar and Tefterdar fled and were not in long time discovered The Visier retired to the King and perswaded him earnestly to go over in Person in his own Boaâs which from his Garden he might easily do to Asia and there to take Horse and he would secure him from all Peril but the King would not move bidding him stay confident and assured that he would punish these Rebels The Wise old Man seeing this Constancy or Obstinacy desired leave to shift for himself which he took or obtained and so got away to the Hermitage of a Saint renowned amongst them who like himself betrayed him yet did him the favour as not to deliver him to the Multitude but perswaded and carried him back to the King's House At this time it was disputed in the Seraglio about the delivery of those Officers the Emperour refusing the Rebels clamouring and threatening insomuch as he began to fear they would break in and in their Rage do worse than was yet pretended Whereupon whether by the King's order or by his own consent willing to be the Peace-Offering the brave Visier went out to them and with a good assuredness demanded what they sought of him and wherein he had offended At first they were amazed but one Insolent Villain breaking the general Modesty they answered him with their Swords and suddenly cut him in pieces The Emperour seeing their Fury so outragious had now more cause to doubt and retired himself then too late when he had lost his faithful Counsellor and would have fled into Asia but could not yet he conveyed himself into a private Place prepared by his Bostangi Bassa or chief Gardiner The Rebels continued without in their madness asking for the King and for more Sacrifices But the Servants protesting they knew not where he was they said they must have a King and if he would not appear they would make another and having a while attended they resolved to enter the Palace but first took a general Oath not to sack the Imperial Throne which they called their House and their Honour and there seeking for the King not able to find him they extorted by confession the Caslariaga and slew him and then they demanded for Mustapha Uncle to Osman by him formerly deposed a Man esteemed rather Holy that is Frantick than Wise and indeed fitter for a Cell than a Scepter The King the first day of this Tumult had put Mustapha into a Vault with two Negro Women without bread or drink in which estate these new Electors found him almost naked and half pined At first sight he thought they had been the messengers of Death but that fear passed over and his first request was a Cup of Water Whom they took up and instantly proclaimed him their Emperour which he was loth to accept in a manner ashamed to be raised to that Dignity How unstable are the Estates of the greatest Princes for he that was but even now in the Jaws of Death naked starved and dying for Thirst is become a great Monarch and may drink Gold or innocent Blood. They as yet not knowing what was become of Osman and loth to trust Mustapha in the Palace carried him in Triumph to the old Seraglio and there lest him departing to the sack of the Visiers House and so in the Evening to their Rendezvous where they kept both good guard and good order in the City from Fires and other Insolencies Sultan Osman amazed with these News so soon as they had left the Court came out and called to Counsel in the Night Huzein Bassa late Visier in the Polish War and the Aga of the Janizaries both faithful to him and demanded their advice first having sent to the old Seraglio to practise the Women there to strangle Mustapha but some of them taking his part a new uprore began in the House between that Sex and the Souldiers that kept watch hearing the noise entred in and rescued him and from thence removed him to the Chambers of the Janizaries where they guarded him for that Night in an ill lodging All this while Osman consults what course to take These two his Friends and some others tell him that the case was desperate and could not be cured but by a desperate Remedy and therefore they agreed that the Aga should go and perswade with the Mufti and that the King in the Morning should suddenly present himself to the Souldiers at their own Door and make experience what his Presence his Submission and his Benevolence promised could work to move them to Loyalty or Compassion Which Counsel early in the Morning they put in practise The King accompanied with the Mufti who never consented to his deposing though he favoured the Souldiers against the Visier with Huzein Bassa and about twelve Horsemen went directly to the Janizaries
Turk And so Peace was without long Debate clapt up the Grand Signior by reason of his Indisposition which increased upon him being not inclinable to trouble his Head with the Burden of Business Peace being thus concluded with Persia there appeared a perfect Sun-shine aâd fair Weather in the Ottoman Court neither Dissensions at home nor Wars abroad troubling the Quiet and Repose of the Sultan Until some Differences happening between the Princes of Moldavia and Walachia exhaled the first Cloud of Disturbance At that time Lupulo was Prince of Moldavia a Person of evil Principles covetous and unjust Matthew was Prince of Walachia a good Man zealous for the Christian Religion and one who administred equal Justice to his People Lupulo not contenting himself with his own but desirous also of his Neighbours Possession made instances to the Port to have the Principality of Moldavia conferred upon his Son alledging that thereby he should be better enabled to balance the Power of Ragotski in Transylvania and on all occasions be rendred more serviceable to the Grand Signior's Designs and Interest And seconding this Proposition with a Present of fifty thousand Dollars to the Chimacam and promise to increase the annual Tribute he obtained the Chimacam's Friendship at whose Instance the Grand Signior was perswaded to write unto Matthew to surrender up his Province into the hands of the Son of Lupulo declaring That it having been accustomary to change the Princes of those Countries every three years he ought after an Injoyment of above seven years to content himself with a quiet and voluntary Resignation unless he would desire to draw upon himself a Ruin by the Anger and Displeasure of the Sultan Matthew having no Posterity resolved not to surrender his Government but with his Life and having a particular Animosity against Lupulo could by no means incline his Mind to make his Enemy happy with the Spoils of his Estate Wherefore having obtained Assistance from Ragotski he resolved to withstand tâe Forces of young Lupulo and engage with him And being ready to mount on Horse-back and begin the Battel he first dispatched an humble Message to the Grand Signior acquainting him That he was ready at his Command to resign his Principality into the Hands of the meanest Greek his Majesty would appoint who being the Source of all Equity and Justice he hoped that he would not oblige him to such Terms as would raise his Mortal Enemy upon his Ruin a Man so intent to his own Interest and so unconscionable to compass them that all late Revolutions Wars and Commotions have been raised either by him or by his Instruments This Letter being received and read by the Grand Signior was seconded in a few hours after with News of the total Defeat of young Lupulo which put the Grand Signior so much into choler that he immediately committed the Chimacam to the seven Towers for being the Projector and Author of this Counsel It was supposed however that Morat's Anger would not proceed to that degree as to extend to his Life but being informed that he was rich and that he was possessed of two Millions of Dollars which lay by him in ready Mony it was concluded that so vast a Wealth could not in a short time be honestly gained which appearing as an undeniable Evidence and Testimony of his Violence and Oppression the Grand Signior made no Difficulty to pass the Sentence of Death against him nor to condemn the Mony to his own Exchequer His Office was given to Sinan Pasha and the Principality confirmed unto Matthew During all this Time the Quarrel which the Turks conceived against the Venetians for violating their Port of Valona was not yet composed but now having time to peruse and consider old Accounts the Venetian Bailo was called by the Chimacam to Audience and to a Conference with him concerning this Matter In the first place therefore the Bailo alledged That the Pirates of Barbary had for the space of twenty Years roved in the Venetian Gulf and made Prize in that time of so many Ships and Goods belonging to Merchants that the Republick had been prejudiced by them in several Millions which also did in some manner prejudice the Customs of the Grand Signior to whom the Venetian Merchants pay for the most part yearly the Sum of an hundred thousand Dollars in Custom for their Goods besides the benefit which the Ottoman Dominions receive by so profitable a Commerce Hereunto the Chimacam replied That the damages which the Turks received by the Corsairs or Free-booters at Sea under the Colours of Malta Leghorn Majorca and other places were greater and more dishonourable to the Majesty of the Ottoman Grandeur than the depredations of the other side were to Venice And therefore it would bâ necessary for the good of the World that such Violences were prevented in all places and that Men of such wicked Profession should be esteemed for universal Enemies and to have no other Quarter nor Articles granted theâ than what we give to wild and hurtful Beasts whom we destroy by Snares and Gins and all Advantages The which also was never denied to the Venetians whilst they encoântred and took them in the open Seas but to enter into priviledged Places and violate a Sanctuary of the Grand Signior's without respect to the mighty Power of so dreadful a Monarch was an act so insolent as could never obtain Pardon without due Compensation for the Offence which could not be done but either by a Restitution of the Vessels or else of a like Number in the places of them Hereunto the Bailo replied That if an Accommodation could not be made on other Terms nor Peace maintained but by a submission to Pyrats and supportation of all their Injuries and Robberies a War must inevitably ensue for the good success of which they depended on the Blessing of God Almighty and the general Assistance of all Christendom which will esteem it self universally concerned in this Cause and obliged as well to make good this Quarrel against Pirates as to preserve Venice for their main Bulwark and Defence against the Ottoman Force You make me Smile answered the Chimâcam when you tell me of the Power of Christendom which contains nothing more of Terrour than the Name Do not I know who have been Pasha of Buda that the Emperour hath no Mony and that when the Swââds a small and inconsiderable People have made War upon him they have almost over-run his Country As for France if they understand their own Politicks they will scarce bâ perswadâd to lend assistance to the Empire when we make War against it The Spaniards have so much to do at Home and to conserve themselves from the Incroachments of their powerful Neighbour the French that they are wholly unable to lend Forces to wage a War at such a distance from their Dominions Wherefore considering the Advantage we have upon you which we well know and understand you must either
Quiet of their State. But the Resentment that the Turks had conceived was grown apparent in the comportment towards the Bailo for having one day demanded Audience he attended several hours without admission yet when the Ambassador of Ragotski come to the Vizier he no sooner entred the House than he was received and at the same time it was told the Bailo that he might retire for that there was no Place nor Season at present to aââord him Audience In the mean time Ibrahim himself walked often to the Arsenal to forward and hasten his Preparations laying an Embargo on all Strangers Vessels in all Ports of the Ottoman Dominions Orders were likewise dispatched to Thâbes Negropont and other Parts of Greece for making Bisket and to the Moâca for cutting and squaring of Timbers and sacking Wools to fill up Trenches in all which Rumor and Stir there was no other discourse but of Malta and of throwing that Island into the Sea with the Shovel and Mattock and rendring it the most dreadful Example in the World of the Ottoman Rage and Greatness With such Preludes as these began a War of long continuance maintained with various Successes for divers Years the fatal Issue whereof we our sâlves have seen and heard But it is sârange to consider that an Exploit so Martial as this should commence in the Reign of a Sultan wholly given up to his Pleasures and so swallowed in Sensuality that all those luxurious and wanton Actions which are recounted of Sardanapalus and Heliogabalus are flat and fâiât Similitudes of that prodigious Effeminacy in which this Sultan outdid all other Examples of former Ages Amber was the common Perfumes which burned perpetually in the Womens Apartments and the common Sauce to most of his Viands not perhaps because it so much pleased his Palate as that it was a provocative and incitement to his Lusts. And this puts me in mind of a Story I have heard of an English Merchant living then at Galata who was Master of a rare piece of Ambârgrieâe which was in form like a Pyramid the News whereof was told to the Grand Signior late at Night when the Smoke of the Perfumes bâgan to abate Which so soon as he heard though it was near Midnight he dispatched a Messenger to call the Merchant with his Ambergriese who being knocked out of his Bed in haste by the importunity of the Officer came to the Seraglio Gate two hours before Day where he attended until it was broad Light and then without more words found a Market for his Ambâr and before his departure received 13 thousand Dollars The Female Court was then extreamly rich and splendid all Italy was scarce able to supply it with Silks and Cloth of Gold so that the Trade was in those days flourishing above other Times and gave great employment to English Shipping and so impatient were the Women for their Gay Cloaths that so soon as the News of a Ship from Italy came and that she was arrived within the Castles of the Hellespont but there detained by contrary Winds Gallies were immediately dispatched to bring up their Silks which they oftentimes forced away without any Account or Price made with the Merchant of which that worthy Gentleman Sir Thomas Bendysh then Ambassador complaining to the Vizier and finding no other Relief than good Words resolved on an Expedient of making known his Cause to the Grand Signior which was this In Turkie they have a Custom that when any one receives a notable Injury or Injustice from the Chief and Great Ministers of State they put Fire on their Heads and running to the Grand Signior no Man can hinder or deny them access to his presence In like manner the English Ambassador not being able to obtain Satisfaction from the Vizier in return to his many Complaints drew out all the English Ships in Galata which were then thirteen in number and drawing in their Guns and shutting the Ports put fire on every Yard-Arm of their Ships and came to an Anchor just before the Seraglio The Customer being the first that espyed this unusual sight immediately apprehended the Reason and sent to acquaint the Vizier thereof in all haste the Vizier likewise fearful left the Complaints should by this means come to the Grand Signior's Ear sent the Customer aboard with a considerable part of the Mony and desired that the Fires might be extinguished promising faithfully to comply in paiment of the rest hereupon Consultation being had between the Ambassador and the Merchants the Ships returned to their Stations not seeming to have been taken notice of by those in the Seraglio And notwithstanding the great number of Women within the Seraglio all which were at the Devotion of the Sultan yet Ibrahim not being contented herewith passing one day to Sâutari had by chance cast his eye on an object which much pleased him what it was becomes not the modesty of my Pen to relate but being returned to his Seraglio he sent Orders to the Vizier to seek out for him the biggest and best proportioned Woman which was to be found in all Constantinople and the parts thereabouts Hereupon Emissaries were dispatched into all Quarters of the City at length they happily procured a huge tall Armenian Woman well proportioned according to her height and a Giantess for her Stature which being found she was presently washed and perfumed in the Bath and as richly Cloathed and Adorned as the shortness of time would permit There was no great difficulty to perswade her to become Turk having so high preferment in her prospect So that being introduced to the Grand Signior's presence he became immediately Enamoured and was so pleased with her Society that he preferred her before all the Women of his Court an Evidence whereof he gave in that he could not deny her in any request she could make and particularly about that time the Pashaluck of Damascus being void this Woman begged it for her self substituting another in the Office who was accountable to her for all the Profits and Emoluments thereof By these particulars of favour the Queen-Mother becoming jealous one day inviting her to Dinner caused her to be strangled and perswaded Ibrahim that she died suddenly of a violent Sickness at which he poor Man was greatly afflicted But not to insist long on these luxurious Pastimes we shall return again to Matters of higher Concernment Ibrahim had now understood that the Venetians growing jealous of his Preparations began likewise to Arm and provide for the worst which being in no wise pleasing to the Turks who were apprehensive that their Marine Forces consisted most in surprize caused Ibrahim to complain of the Defensive Posture in which they Arrayed themselves alledging that Suspicions of this Nature argued no hearty Disposition towards their Friends nor was any thing more contrary to a good Correspondence or more disobliging than such like Jealousies which oft-times beget that Enmity which was never designed and farther it was judged necessary if
People which would trouble that good Correspondence which hath been so long established between Vs and our Empires And as we have cause to believe that Your Highness desires much to continue this friendship and good understanding upon what hath been wrote Vs on Your Part and to concur with You herein we desire much likewise to continue to maintain an Ambassador at Your High Port in place of the said Sieur de la Haye And since We have none of Our People that is more intelligent than the Sieur de la Haye the Son in what concerns the Affairs and Functions of this Embassy We have elected him for this employment to which we We shall willingly dispatch him if We may be assured of the good usage and kind reception which shall be given him This is that which We expect from Your Highness reserving a more particular information to be sent by the Sieur de la Haye the Son of the good Correspondence which We desire always to have and maintain with You. And hereupon We pray God That You may be most High c. as above in his Holy and Worthy Protection Written at Paris the twelfth day of Ianuary 1662. Your true and perfect Friend LOVIS De Lomenie The Viziers Answer to the foregoing Letters TO the most Glorious amongst the Sublime Christian Princes chosen amongst the Great and Sublime of the Religion of the Messiah Mediator of the Affairs of all the Nazarene Nation Lord of Majesty and Reputation Master of Greatness and Power Louis Emperor of France the end of whose days be happy The Salutations which respect Friendship and are desired from Love and Affection being premised Your Majesty shall know that the Letter which was sent to Your Friend by the Honourable du Pressoir and Fountain hath been delivered me by the Sieur Roboli Agent and Attorney of the Embassy at the High and Imperial Port the Contents whereof We have apprehended to be as Your Majesty gives to understanstand touching the intire Amity and good Correspondence Certainly Your Majesty knows that the Augmentation and daily Encrease of that Amity proceeds from the protection and honourable Observance of Conditions and Capitulations between both Parties By the Grace of the Most High GOD the Sublime and Imperial Port of the most Happy most Puissant most Valarous most Magnificent and most Strong Emperor Support of the Mussulmans My Lord whose Arms God prosper with double Force is always open for our Friends and others without any Obstacle as all the World knows and particularly for Your Majesty Who is our Friend and hath been long in Amity with the most Serene Ottoman Family whom Gâd establish until the day of the Ballance It being a most certain Truth that there hath happened neither on one side or other any Action contrary to the promised Faiâh And now since Your Majesty desires for a new Ornament of the Ancient and Good Correspondence and to the end that the Agreement and Conditions thereof be honoured as they ought that the considerable Person amongst the Nâbles of the Court of Your Majesty the Sieur Denys de la Haye Son of the late Ambassador a Subject of Reputation Your Gentleman of Credit whose Days may they conclude in happiness be sent to reside at this Happy and Imperial Port for Your Majesty according to the ancient custom to the end that the Intention of Your Majesty may be performed We have exposed it at the High Throne of the thrice Happy most Mysterious and most Great Emperor My Lord Who with an Imperial regard of courteous Demonstration hath accepted the said Demand with willingness and therefore in signification of his Pleasure We write You this Our present and friendly Letter and if it please God according to the ancient Custom when the said Embassador shall arrive at this High Port with the Letters of Friendship from Your Majesty he shall be honoured on the Imperial part and entertained according to the ordinary custom the Imperial Capitulation shall be renewed the Ornament of Affection on one side and the other shall be confirmed and for an efficacious Confirmation of a good Peace between both Emperors an Imperial Letter shall be sent to Your Majesty whose health be happy and prosperous From the Imperial City of Constantinople The Poor Hamet Pasha In Answer to the Kings Letters the Grand Signior made no reply but only by his Vizâer by reason that in all the Ancient Turkish Registers and Archives there was no example found that the Grand Signior ever wrote to any King who had not an Ambassâdor actually resident at his Port. But this Negotiation about a French Ambassador took not effect until some time after in which other Letters and Messages intervened as will appear by the following âequel of this History It was now towards the beginning of Winter when the Season of the Year compelled the Turkish Fleet of Gallies to return according to custom to the Port of Constantinople The whole Summer before they had for the most part passed in some Harbour or Creek amongst the Greek Islands having afforded nothing of Convoy or succour towards the safe Conduct of the Fleet of Grand Cairo but suffered them to fall into the hands of the Enemy as before mentioned and indeed for several years the Marine Affairs of the Turks have always gone decaying in Fame and Force and the preparations of the Armata every Spring have been of Form and Course rather than with hopes of success correspondent to the expence In their return home near Constantinople they encountred a fierce storm so that three Gallâes were cast away at Ponte Piccolo by the Turks called Cucuccheckmage about four Leagues distant from Constantinople Howsoever the Weather clearing the remainder of the Fleet got into Port entring with Joy with Vollies of great and small Shot with Streamers flying Pipes sounding and all other sorts of their Country Musick bringing with great Ostentation a small Flyboat which had been a ââgornese Man of War taken by them as she was cruising singly in the Arches of Pelago which was brought in with so much Ceremony used in toaing her into Port decking her with Streamers and Pendants with such signs oâ Victory and Triumph as if they had led Captive the whole Venetian Armaâa But I must not omitâthe relation of what befel one of the Beghs Gallies designed with the reât to rendezvous at Constantinople whilst she loitered amongst small Isles in the Gulâ of Nâcomedia It was a Gally the Commander of which had newly received as the Portion of his Wife being a Young man lately married who entertained great thoughts of raising his Fortunes by the spoils and prize he was to make At these isles several of the Officers and Levents went on shore where whilst they entertained themselves with Wine and merriment the Slaves made an insurrection in the Gally seized the Captain cut off his Head and threw his Body into the Sea and so becoming Masters
of their Ships besides several others which were put ashore and strand by four Maltese Corsairs who entered into the Fight being called at a distance by the sound of the Cannon About that time also a Turkish Gally was surrendred by the Industry and Ingenuity of the Slaves who having secretly boared some holes in the bottom of the Gally and plugged them up afterwards so as that they might let in the Water or stop it when they pleased it happened that the Gally being near the Rock which is called Polycandro they secretly drew out the plug whereby so great a Flood of Water on a sudden came in that the Gally being ready to sink the Turks affrighted forsook the Gally to save themselves on the Rock leaving the Slaves in the Gally to shift as well as they could The Slaves being thus freed of their Masters the Turks plugged up the holes again and clearing the Gally of Water rowed away and delivered themselves into the hands of the Venetians upon which advice the Captain General dispatched the Captain of the Gulf Lorenzo Cornaro with two Gallies to that Rock where they became masters of all the Turks except two who threw themselves into the Sea preferring Death before Slavery In the mean time the Duke of Savoy recalled Marquess Villa who was his Subject from Candia the reasons for which was attributed to an appearance of Breach with Geneva the Switzers and the Valtelines who were his Subjects or rather to the ill Offices of those who envied his preferment being desirous to have him recalled from a place of so much honour and reputation In obedience to this revocation Marquess Villa taking his leave of General Cornaro returned from Candia as far as Zant where meeting the new Captain General Francesco Morasidi and being by him assured That the Pope and Senate of Venice representing the difficulty of Affairs in Candia and the present urgency and necessity for his presence there had obtained License from the Duke of Savoy for his continuance in that employment upon which assurance Marquess Villa took a resolution to return again to Candia being accompanied with a strong Squadran of Vessels carrying considerable quantities both of Amunition and Provisions The History of the famous Siege of Candia On the 27 th of April the Forces from Egypt under the Command of Messir Bey appeared in the field and on the 5 th of May N S. the General of the Janisaries incamped on the right side of New Candia that he might better view and survey the ground near the Lazaretto year 1667. At the beginning of the New Moon of this Year's May being the 12 22 th day of the month publick Prayers being first made through the most principal places of the Empire for the success of the Ottoman Arms and so solemnly continued every Monday and Thursday for the space of a year the Great Vizier first appeared before the renowned Fortress of Candia and began the memorable Siege of that City which for the space of twenty five years preceding had been the subject to which the special care and expence of Venice and the Art of the most subtle Engineers of the World as far as humanely was possible did concur to render it the most impregnable Fortress of the Universe The Town was fortified with seven great Basâions viz. the Sabionera Vetturi Iesus Martinengo Betlem Panigra and St. Andrea these were all incompassed with a large and deep Ditch of which were the Revelin of St. Spirito the Revelin of Panigra flanked to the right with the Half-moon of Mocenigo next hereunto was the Revelin of Betlem bordering on the Work of St. Maries which to the left had the Revelin of St. Nicholas and this adjoyned to the Fortification of de Palma next whereunto was the Revelin of Priuli with the Redoubt of Crepa-cuore and over all was the Royal Fort of St. Demetrio which commanded the Work of Molino and Sabionera unto the very Sea. Marquess Villa at his last return was chiefly intent to strengthen the Fortifications and repair the Out-works especially that of St. Andrea which was almost ruined and the old subterranean Traverses were so full of water and the old Galleries so high that the Enemy could easily pass under them all which he repaired and amended in a short time In confidence of gaining this strong Fortress the Turks demolished New Candia situate about two miles from the Old which the Vizier now pointed out to them as a better Seat and incouraged them to win and inhabit it so that 14 24 th of May the Turks incamped over against St. Maries along the Valley of Gioffiro with the sound of their Drums and Trumpets and firing great Guns and Vollies of Muskets Their Forces at first consisted of about forty thousand fighting Men and eight thousand Pioniers but soon afterwards increased to seventy thousand and so for the most part were maintained during the Siege The first Traverses began from the side of St. Maries and were carried to the Sea the Great Vizier took his Quarters over against Panigra the Janisar-Aga against Martinengo and other Pasha's between that and Betlem On the other side the Pasha of Romelia incamped against the Lazaretto and Catirgi-Oglé Pasha of Canea against Sabionera Achmet Pasha Vizier of the Camp and Zagargibashee Major General of the Janisaries who had the reputation of old souldiers and good Enginâers were ordâred to inlarge and lengthen the Traverses on the side of the Half-Moon of Mocenigo Quarters being thus assigned they raised three Batteries the first against the Bastion of Martinengo and the right side of the Work St. Maries a second against Panigra and soon after a third against the Half-moon and Bulwark of Betlem from whence they continually thundered with their great Cannons shooting Bullets of sixty ninety to an hundred and twenty pound weight Nor were the Besieged within less industrious or wise in the disposition of their Affairs for Marquess Villa took his Quarters at the entrance of the Bulwark Iesus Proveditor Barbaro at Panigra the Proveditor General of the Kingdom at Martinengo the Duke of Candia Francesco Battaglia in the Fort of Sabionera and other Officers between the Curtains of St. Andrea Betlem and Sabionera Things thus disposed on both sides many and various were the valiant Assaults and Sallies the Traverses extraordinary the Rencounters bloody the resistance vigorous not known or recorded in any Siege before which though they can never be fully expressed or particularly denoted yet I should do injury to the ashes of those Heroick Christians who so freely entred the List and on this Theatre of the World sacrificed their lives in defence of Christendom should I not signalize some of them of divers Nations for their Prowess and Valour And here pardon me good Reader if I come short or fail in this relation where many of unparalleled Valour and Vertue dyed obscurely and unknown and the numbers of others so great that to specifie them
Articles with them bestowed on them a Grant of all the Immunities and Priviledges they desired the which he signed with the form of his whole hand wetted in Ink and clapped on the Paper which was all the Firm and Seal in those days and is now reverenced amongst the Turks with the same esteem as the Iews do the Tables of Moses or we the most Sacred and Holy Reliques ever since that time this Tribute hath yearly continued and been brought always in the month of Iuly by two Ambassadors who reside at the Turkish Court for the space of a Year the former returning Home these are relieved at the same Season of the following Year by the accession of two others with the like Tribute which with the Presents they also bring to the Prime Vizier chief Eunuch of the Women the Queen-Mother and other Sultans with the Charges and Expences of the Embassy is computed to amount yearly to the Sum of twenty thousand Zechins They were in Times past before the War between the Republick of Venice and the Turk very Poor and put to hard Shifts and Arts to raise the Turkish Tribute but this War hath opened their Scale and made it the Port for transmitting the Manufactures of Venice and all Italy into Turkey which yields them such considerable Customs as thereby their Tribute is supplied with Advance and other Necessities provided for So that now the old Ornaments of the Ambassadors as their black Velvet Bonnets and Gowns of Crimson Satten lined heretofore with Martins Fur but now with Sables are not laid up in the common Wardrobe for the Ambassadors of the succeeding Year but a new Equipage and Accoutrements are yearly supplied at the common Charge and thus they pass honestly and in good esteem at the Ottoman Court being called the Dowbrai Vendick by the Turks or the Good Venetian This petty Republick hath always supported it self by submission and addresses for Favour and Defence to divers powerful Princes courting the Favour of every one never offering Injuries and when they receive them patiently support them which is the cause the Italians call them le sette Bandiere or the seven Bannerers signifying that for their Being and Maintenance of the name of a free Republick they are contented to become Slaves to all parts of the World. And it is observable on what a strange form of jealous Policy their Government is founded for their chief Officer who is in imitation of their Doge at Venice is changed every month others weekly and the Governour of the principal Castle of the City is but of 24 hours continuance every night one is nominated by the Senate for Governor who is without any Preparation or Ceremony taken up as he walks the Streets having a Handkerchief thrown over his Face is led away blindfold to the Castle so that none can discover who it is that commands that Night and by that means all possibility of Conspiracy or Combination of betraying the Town prevented These People in former Times were great Traders into the Western Parts of the World and it is said that those vast Caracks called Argosies which are so much famed for the vastness of their Burthen and Bulk were corruptly so denominated from Ragosies and from the Name of this City whose Port is rather forced by Art and Industry than framed by Nature Some of the Provinces also of Georgia formerly Iberia but now supposed to be called from St. George the Cappadocian Martyr and the poor Country of Mengrelia are also Tributaries to the Turk who every three Years send Messengers with their Sacrifice to the Grand Siginior of seven young Boys and as many Virgins a-piece besides other Slaves for Presents to great Men this People chuse rather this sort of Tribute than any other because Custom hath introduced a forwardness in the Parents without remorse to sell their Children and to account Slavery a Preferment and the miseries of Servitude a better Condition than Poverty with Freedom Of the whole retinue which these Beggarly Ambassadors bring with them for so the Turks called them being about seventy or eighty Persons a crue of miserable People are all set to sale to the very Secretary and Steward to defray the Charge of the Embassy and bring back some Revenue to the Publick Stock so that the Ambassadors return without their Pomp reserving only the Interpreter as a necessary Attendant to their Voyage home The Emperor of Germany may also not improperly be termed one of the Tributaries to the Ottoman Empire whom for Honour's sake we mention in the last place in so ungrateful an Office being obliged according to the Articles made with Solyman the Magnificent to pay a yearly Tribute of 3000 Hungars but it was only paid the first two Years after the conclusion of the Peace afterwards it was excused by the Germans and dissembled by the Turks until taking a resolution to make a War on Hungary made that one Ground and Occasion of the Breach for upon the Truce made for eight Years between Sultan Solyman and the Emperor Ferdinand as Augerius Busbeck reports in those Capitulations that the Tribute is made the Foundation of the Accord Cujus concordiae pacis ac confoederationis hae conditiones sunto primè ut tua dilectio quotannis ad aulam nostram pro arra induciarum 30000 Hungaricos Ducatos mittere teneatur unà cum residuo quod nobis proxime praeterlapsum biennium reservetur CHAP. XV. The Desolation and Ruin which the Turks make of their own Countries in Asia and the Parts most remote from the Imperial Seat esteemed one cause of the conservation of their Empire THIS Position will appear a Paradox at first sight to most Men who have read and consider'd the Roman Conquest whose âurisdiction and Dominions were far larger than this present Empire and yet we do not find that they so studiously endeavoured to dispeople and lay waste the Nations they subdued but rather encouraged industry in Plantations gave Privileges to Cities meanly stored invited People to inhabit them endeavoured to improve Countries rude and uncultivated with good Husbandry and Maritime Towns with Traffick and Commerce made Citizens of their Confederates and conferred on their conquered Subjects oftentimes greater Benefits than they could expect or hope for under their true and natural Princes and certainly the Romans thrived and were richer and more powerful by their Policy and therefore why the Turk might not proceed in the same manner and yet with the same advantage is worth our consideration For the Solution of which Difficulty it will be necessary to consider that these two Empires being compared there will be found a vast difference in the Original Foundation Progress and Maximâ each of other For the Romans built their City in Peace made Laws by which the Arbitrary Will of the Prince was corrected and afterward as their Arms succeeded and their Dominions were extended they accommodated themselves often to present Necessities and Humours and
Ambassador and other Personages amongst the Turks of chief Note and Quality the Dishes are served in by one at a time which as soon as touched or tasted are taken off to make room for another and thus there is a succession of threescore or forescore Services all the Dishes being of China worth about an hundred and fifty Dollars a piece which are reported to have a virtue contrary to Poison and to break with the least infusion thereof and for that reason esteemed more useful for the Service of the Grand Signior Nam nulla aconita bibuntur Fictilibâs c. Juvenal The Banquet being ended the Chaousbashee or chief of the Pursivants conducts the Ambassador with some of his Retinue to a place apart where several gay Vests or long Garments made of Silk with divers Figures are presented them as a sign of the Grand Signior's Favour which the Ambassador first putting on and then the others to the number of eighteen or nineteen attended with two Capugibashees or chief of the Porters Persons of good esteem in that Court with Silver Staves in their Hands he is conducted nearer towards the Grand Signior's Presence then follow the Presents brought by the Ambassador which are carried to the best advantage for appearance and are delivered to Officers appointed to receive them The Courts without are filled with Janisaries amongst whom is observed so profound a silence that there is not the least noise or whisper understood and the Salutation they give their principal Officers as they pass bowing altogether at the same time is warlike and yet courtly and savours of good Discipline and Obedience The Ambassador is then brought to a great Gate near the Audience the Porch of which is filled with white Eunuchs clothed in Silks and Cloth of Gold farther than this none is suffered to proceed besides the Secretary Interpreter and some other Persons of best Quality at the door of the Chamber of Audience is a deep silence and the murmuring of a Fountain near by adds to the melancholy and no other Guard is there but a white Eunuch and here a pause is made and they tread softly in token of fear and reverence so as not to disturb with the least noise the Majesty of the Sultan for access to the Eastern Princes was always difficult and not permitted with the same familiarity as hath been practised amongst the Romans and at present with us where the sight of the King is his own Glory and the Satisfaction of his Subjects For it is with the Turks as it was with the Parthians when they received Vonones their King educated in the Roman Court who conforming to those manners saith Tacitus Irridebantur Graeci Comites prompti aditus obvia comitas ignota Parthis virtutes the affability and easiness of address to their Prince was a scandal to the Nation At the entrance of the Chamber of Audience hangs a Ball of Gold studded with pretious Stones and about it great Chains of rich Pearl the Floor is covered with Carpets of Crimson-velvet embroidered with Gold-Wire in many places beset with Seed-pearl The Throne where the Grand Sigâior sits is raised a small height from the ground supported with four Pillars plated with Gold the Roof is richly gilded from which hang Balls that seem to be of Gold the Cushions he leaned upon as also those which lay by were richly embroidered with Gold and Jewels In this Chamber with this occasion remains no other Attendance besides the first Vizier who stands at the right Hand of the Grand Signior with modesty and reverence When the Ambassador comes to appear before the Grand Signior he is led in and supported under the Arms by the two Capugibashees before-mentioned who bringing him to a convenient distance laying their hands upon his Neck make him bow until his Forehead almost touches the Ground and then raising him again retire backwards to the farther parts of the Room The like Ceremony is used with all the others who attend the Ambassador only that they make them bow somewhat lower than him The Reason of this Custom as Busbequius saith was because that a Croat being admitted near to Amurath to communicate something to him made use of that opportunity to kill him in revenge of the Death of his Master Marcus but the Turkish History saith That this was done by one Miles Corbelitz who after the defeat given Lazarus the Despot of Servia rising from amongst the Dead had near access to the presence of Amurath The Ambassador at this Audience hath no Chair set him but standing informs the Grand Signior by his Interpreter the several Demands of his Master and the Business he comes upon which is all penned first in Writing which when read is with the Letter of Credence consigned into the Hands of the Great Vizier from whom the Answer and farther Treaty is to be received This was the manner of the Audience given to the Earl of Winchelsea when Ambassador there for his Majesty and is as is there said the Form used to others who come from a Prince equally honoured and respected But though the Turks make these outward Demonstrations of all due Reverence and Religious Care to preserve the Persons of Ambassadors Sacred and free from Violence yet it is apparent by their Treatment and Usage towards them in all Emergencies and Differences between the Prince they come from and themselves that they have no esteem of the Law of Nations or place any Religion in the maintenance of their Faith. For when a War is proclaimed the Ambassador immediately is either committed to close Imprisonment or at least to the custody of a careful Guard confined within the Limits of his own House In this manner the Representative of Venice called there the Bailo by name Sorânzo in a strait Chamber of a Castle situated on the Bosphorus endured a severe Imprisonment having his Interpreter strangled for no other cause than performing his Office in the true Interpretation of his Master's Sense Afterwards this Bailo for so they call there the Ambassors from Venice was removed to another Prison at Adrianople where he continued some Years and in fine by force of Presents mollifying the Turks with Mony with which their Nature is easily made gentle and pliable he obtained liberty to remain in the House appropriated to the Representatives of Venice but under a Guard whose Office was to secure him from escape and observe his Actionââ and yet with Liberality and Presents whiâh overcome the Turks more than any Consideration in the World he enjoyed as he pleased licence for his Health to take the fresh Air and use what freedom was reasonable Nor less injurious to the Law of Nations have been the Examples of Violence and Rage acted on the Persons of the French Ambassadors first on the Sieur Sensi accused upon suspicion of having contrived the escape of Konispolski General of the Polish Army taken Captive in a Fight and sent Prisoner to the above-said
with that necessary formality required in their devotion the Mufti resolved this doubt almost like the former prescribing a kind of circular motion in prayers by which means they cannot miss of having at some time their faces towards the holy City which in a case of so much difficulty is a sufficient compliance with the duty Many cases of this nature are proposed to the Mufti and many particular rules of Conscience required one of which is remarkable that Busbequius relates that occurred in his time during the Wars between the Emperour of Germany and Sultan Solyman Whether a few Christians taken Captives by the Grand Signior might be exchanged with many Turks in the hand of the Emperour It seems the Mufti was greatly perplexed and puzzled in the resolution for sometimes it seemed a disesteem to the value of a Turk to be rated under the price of a Christian on the other side It appeared want of charity and care of the interest of the Mosselmans to neglect real terms of advantage on such airy and subtile points of formality In fine he consulted his Books and declared that he found two different Authours of great Authority of contradictory opinions in this controversie and therefore his Judgment was to incline to that which had most of favour and mercy in it The Mufti whilst qualified with that title is rarely put to death but first degraded and then becomes liable to the stroke of the Executioner but in cases of notorious crimes or conviction of Treason he is put in a Mortar for that intent remaining in the Prison called the Seven Towers at Constantinople and therein beaten to death and brayed to the contusion of all his bones and flesh The next Office to the Mufti is Kadeleschere or Judge of the Miliâia otherwise Judge Advocate who hath yet power of determination in any other Law Suits whatsoever for this privilege the Souldiery of this Country enjoys to have power extensive over all other conditions of people but to be onely subject themselves to the Government of their Officers this Office of Mufti must necessarily pass through and discharge with approbation before he ascends the top and height of his Preferment The next inferiour degree is a Mollah and there are of two sorts one of Three hundred Aspers and the other of Five hundred Aspers so called for distinction sake the first sort are principal Judges in petty Provinces containing under them the command of Kadees of poor and inconsiderable places the others have their jurisdiction over the whole dominion of a Beglerbeg and have the Kadees of several rich and renowned places under their Government these rise often to the Mufti 's Office but proceed by several degrees and steps and must first gradually command where the Imperial Seats have been as first to be Mollah in Prusa then in Adrianople and lastly in Constantinople at which time he is next to the Office of Kadeleschere and thence to that of the Mufti The Sultan when he writes to any of his Mollahs or Kadees of the first degree he uses this following style To the most perfect judge of the Faithfull the best President of Believers in God the Mine of Vertue and True Knowledge the Distributer of all just Sentence to all Humane Creatures Heirs of the Prophetick and Apostolick Doctrines elected by the singular Grace of God for our Governour and Iudge of whose Vertues may they ever flourish These and Kadees which are the lower and ordinary sort of Judges are as much to be reckoned in the number of religious men as the Mufti himself for as I have said before the Civil Law of the Turks is conceived by them to be derived from their Prophet and the other Expositours of their Law with as much engagement and obligation as these which immediately concern the Divine Worship and therefore are to be treated and handled together The Emaums or Parochial Priests must be able to read in the Alchoran and be counted men of good fame and moral lives amongst their Neighbours before they can be promoted to this Function and must be one of those who have learned at the appointed times of prayer to call the people together on the top of the Steeple by repeating these words Allah ekber Allah ekber Esehedu enla Ilahe ilallah we esehedu enne Mahammed evvesul tuah Fleie ala Selab heie ala Felah Allah ekber allah ekber la Ilahe ilallab that is God is great God is great I profess that there is no Deity but God and confess that Mahomet is the Prophet of God in this manner the people of a Parish recommending any to the Prime Visier declaring that the former Emaum is dead and the Office vacant and that this person is qualified in all points to the Function or better and more knowing than the present Incumbent he receives immediate induction and establishment in the place but for better proof or tryal of the truth of the testimony that accompanies him he is enjoyned to read in presence of the Visier some part of the Alchoran which being done he is dismissed and approved and takes the Visier's Teschere or Mandamus for the place This is all the Ceremony required in making an Emaum for there is no new Character or state of Priesthood as they hold conferred upon them nor are they a different sort distinguished from the people by holy Orders or Rites but meerly by the present office they manage when being displaced they are again numbred with the Laity their Habit is nothing different from others but onely that they wear a large Turbant like the Lawyers with some little variety in folding it up and put on a grave and serious Countenance Their Office is to call the People to Prayers and at due hours to be their Leader in the Mosque and to read and repeat upon Fridays certain Sentences or Verses out of the Alchoran few of them adventure to Preach unless he be well conceited or râally well gifted but leave âhat office to the Soigh or him that makes Preaching his Profession who is one commoâly that pâsses his time in the Convents that we shall hereafter treat of The Mufti hath no Jurisdiction over the Emaums as to the good order or government of the Parishâs nor is there any Superiority or Hierarchy as to rule amongst them every one being Independent and without controll in his own Parish excepting his Subjection in Civil and Criminal Causes to the chief Magistrates and considering the manner of their Designation to the Religious Office the little difference between the Clergy and the Laity and the manner of their single Government in Parochial Congregations may not unhappily seem to square with the Independency in England from which Original pattern and example our Sectaries and Phanatick Reformers appear to have drawn their Copy The Church-men and Lawyers are greatly in esteem amongst them as is apparent by the Title they use towards them in their Writings and Commands directed to them in this
presum'd to represent unto his Imperial Majesty That it was one of the Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of their Country to have the Office of Palatine supply'd soon after the vacancy which having now been void for a considerable time all those Acts which have pass'd since ought to be esteem'd null and of no effect The Emperor who was well enough satisfy'd within himself that what was here alledg'd was the true and undoubted Right of the People of that Kingdom to observe which he had Sworn at his Coronation was inclinable to gratifie his People with a concession of these just Privileges but his Chief Ministers and Councellors disswaded him from it alledging that such a Condescension as this would raise again the Spirits of the Malecontents to such a degree as would blow up the fire of Rebellion into a flame That it was improper and incongruous to put the Tryal of the three Counts into the hands of those who were Conspirators and Complices in the same Plot with them That the People of Hungary had forfeited all their Charters and Priâileges by their Rebellion and Revolt having sought for aid and protection from the Turks who are mortal Enemies both of âhe Emperor and all Christendom That Serini and Nadasti were actually Officers and Servants of the Emperor the first being Vice-King of Croatia and the other President of his Majesty's Privy-Council and for that Reason could not decline the Jurisdiction of that Court which his Imperial Majesty should erect for their Tryal These Reasons being given to the Assembly at Leusch little reply could be made thereunto nor knew they well how to proceed in other Matters in regard that being compos'd of different Religions and Interests their Meeting broke up abruptly without any Conlusion It will not be necessary in this place to enlarge upon the several Tryals of the Counts Serini Nadasti and Frangipani as also of Count Tassembach and Nagiferents Secretary of the League let it be sufficient for us to say that they were all Judicially Arraign'd and receiv'd Punishments agreeable to the blackness of their Crimes only we shall add that Nadasti was Executed at Vienna and the same day Serini and Frangipani at Newstadt year 1670. The Emperor out of his innate Clemency and Mercy restor'd their Estates in Land to their Children with Orders only to change their Arms and Names And accordingly the Children of Nadasti which were eleven in number took the Names of Creuzemberg and the Son of Serini was call'd Gadé who was a Gentleman of such Integrity and of that Loyalty to the Emperor that when his Father was living and would have given him for a Hostage to the Turks he refus'd to submit unto such a dishonourable Character protesting that he would continue uncorrupt in his Allegiance to his Prince Howsoever afterwards being provok'd and resenting highly the death of his Father he deserted those Principles and in revenge joyn'd himself with the Malecontents in their defection Tassembach us'd such Arts and Subterfuges supported by the interest of powerful Friends as conserv'd his Life for seven Months after the death of the aforesaid Lords tho' afterwards he was forc'd also to submit unto his Fate Notwithstanding all this Care and Severity of the Emperor the fire of discontent could not be smother'd but in other places under different Heads and Leaders burst forth into a flame Count Tekeli the Father was one of those who appear'd openly in the Field declaring That tho' he had ever own'd all Fidelity and Allegiance to the Emperor yet he desir'd to be number'd amongst those good Patriots who were oblig'd both in Honour Conscience and Religion to maintain and defend the Rights Privileges and Liberties of their Country Count Tekeli to maintain this Cause fortify'd himself in his Castle of Kus with a Garrison of 800 Hâssars and caus'd all his Subjects with the Morlaques to take up Arms for his defence Col. Heister with a considerable Force was dis-speeded to suppress this Party which was the only open Enemy then appearing in the Field but whilst preparations were making to Besiege this Castle Count Tekeli died therein and resign'd up his Cause and Country to be maintain'd by his Son who afterwards was the grand Incendiary that again kindled the fire of War which continu'd for many years and in conclusion miserably wasted the Kingdom of Hungary and prov'd fatal to the Ottoman Empire And tho' in course of time the Turks were driven out of that Kingdom and the Emperor gain'd an absolute Dominion therein as of a Conquer'd Country yet it was done with such an effusion of Christian blood and with the loss of so many brave Captains and valiant Soldiers that the price or purchase thereof seems to have been gain'd at a dear rate In fine I say Count Tekeli the Father dy'd in his Castle which being hardly press'd by the German Forces was Surrender'd to Count Paul Esterhasi General of the Kingdom But young Tekeli together with his Kinsmen Kizir de Paragozi and Petrozzi made their escapes and retir'd to Licoüa but being also pursu'd unto that place which could not long stand out these young Lords made a second escape from thence by night and fled to Husse a very strong Castle in Transilvania but Paragozi was taken Prisoner in his way thither and carried to Vienna and Licoüa was Surrender'd year 1671. Thus whilst all Commotions seem'd to have been appeas'd and quieted in Hungary and that Esterhasi the General with Colonel Heister were return'd to Vienna fresh Advices were brought to the Emperor that the Chiefs of the Malecontents with great numbers of People were fled into Transilvania under protection of the Turks and that Prince Apafi by Order of the Port had given them assurance of Safety within his Dominions upon condition that as Subjects they should pay Carach or Pole-Money to the Grand Seignior But what Administred the greatest apprehension was the rumour that Apafi had been at Constantinople and there concerted and agree'd upon the methods of War and that upon his return the Malecontents had held long Conferences with the Pasha of Varadin and with the Ambassadors of Tartary and the Agents from Moldavia and Walachia and that all the Troops which were in their Quarters near Adrianople had Orders to march into Hungary where the Garrisons were to be reinforc'd and the Stores and Magazines replenish'd 'T is certain that Apafi being of the Protestant Religion was affected with much compassion towards the poor Hungarians who for that Reason and for maintaining the Liberties and Privileges of their Country year 1671. were forc'd to yield up their Lands and abandon their Habitations and therefore it will not be strange in case we find him abetting that Party and using all his endeavours and interest with the Turks to engage them in this Quarrel The Emperor on the other side alarm'd with these Preparations sends strict and severe Orders enjoyning all the Officers
In the mean time Tekeli thinking of nothing less than Peace or means of Accommodation burnt the Suburbs of Cassovia and having receiv'd a Recruit of four hundred Horse which the Brother of Baragotzi who Revolted to his Party had brought over to him he seiz'd on the Citadel of Zeilaverd where were found sixteen pieces of Ordnance He then designing to pass the River of Tourna to re-take the Fortress so call'd which the Enemy had lately gain'd he found the Passage obstructed by a Party of the Imperialists on the other side but bringing four pieces of Cannon to play on the Enemy they clear'd the way and kept them at a distance by which means a Regiment of the Poles first passed and after them the whole Army Thus Fortune favouring the Malecontents a hundred Soldiers of the Imperial Troops revolted over on this Occasion to the Enemy such prevalence hath Success always on the Minds of Mankind the which facilitated also the taking of Tourna which was Surrender'd at discretion After this Tekeli March'd towards Chiacatorno and in his way he took Zerenetz and Melkasso which yielded also at discretion without any resistance but Podrach standing out was taken by force and all the Garrison put to the Sword except some Officers who were conserv'd and made Prisoners of War. Whilst these Successes attended the Malecontents Tekeli remain'd Master of the Field so that the Count de Wourmb neither durst remove his Encampment from before Esperies nor Count Lesley adventure on a March to joyn with him until Tekeli removing from those parts towards Strigonium and to make himself Master of Leventz the Imperial Forces found an opportunity to March as far as the River of Waagh where they joyn'd with the Regiments of Dunewald Holstein Massigni Caraffa and Strazoldo which came lately out of Silesia and tho' these Forces were joyn'd together with those also of Count Lesley yet they were not sufficient to withstand the Army of Count Tekeli which consisted of at least twenty thousand effective Men besides Garrisons and several Detatchments Tekeli being thus strong and having made himself Master of Leventz Wrote circulary Letters in his own Name to all the Inhabitants of that Country Representing before them the ill Treatment which all Hungary had received from the Germans and the Slavery they lay under by a Foreign Yoak That he was resolved with the chief of his Party to defend the Liberties and Privileges of Hungary with his Life and Estate Exhorting all others to joyn with him in this good Cause and Threatning such who either out of Cowardize or Coldness towards the wellfare of their Country or favour to the Emperor should place themselves in the Condition of a careless Neutrality No sooner had Count Wourmb raised his Camp from before Esperies to joyn with the Silesian Troops but Tekeli observing his motion Invested the place and took it in three days The like he did to the Castle of Arva which Surrendred even in the sight of Count Lesley his Forces not being sufficient to give assistance or relief thereunto At this time Wessellini falling Sick and Dying the Command of the Hungarian Troops was given to Tekeli Boham was Chief of the Auxiliaries and Tekeli himself Generalâssimo of all so that the whole management of the War was now in the Hands of these three Leaders The Tartars as Flying and Independant Troops acted by themselves they pillaged Newstadt and burnt all the Country round within three Leagues of Leopolstadt and afterwards made their Passage over the River Waagh near Trenschin which the Counts Forgatz and Esterhasi being not able to oppose the People of Moravia were so affrighted that taking what Goods with them they could in so suddain and distracted a fear they fled to the Mountains for refuge Boham and Tekeli understanding that Count Lesley was quarter'd near to Zatmar they marched to Attack him which when Lesley understood he divided his Troops into three Bodies with a seeming resolution to Engage the Enemy but so soon as they came near they show'd some signs of Irresolution and a desire as it were to make a handsome Retreat But being pursued by Tekeli with six Battalions he engaged them near Leutsch and Killed or made Prisoners the greatest part of that Body Boham in the mean time totally defeated another Party of which Four hundred Horse only escaped The third Body saved themselves in the Mountains and other fast places After this Victory Tekeli sent a Detachment of his Forces to joyn with the Tartars in Moravia who took Barin the capital City thereof which gave an Alarm to all the Hereditary Countries And at the same time one Colonel Iosua otherwise call'd Father Ioseph who had been a Friar but now turn'd Protestant and a Soldier such another kind of a daring Fellow as Duke Iohn before mention'd joyn'd with the Malecontents and enter'd Austria with Six thousand Fighting Men raised at his own Charge which put all those Countries into such a Consternation that the People abandoned their Towns and Villages and fled unto Vienna for their place of Refuge The courage and experience of this Colonel Iosua was so well known to the Arch-Bishop of Strigoniam that he perswaded the Emperor to take him off from the Malecontents and engage him by Promises of reward to his own Party This Office was committed to the Management and Conduct of Count de Wourmb because Count Lesley remain'd Sick at Cassovia but such was the constancy of this Martial Friar to his Cause and Principles that nothing could avail with him to change his Party Suspecting perhaps that when once the Arch-Bishop should get him into his Power he would immure him within the Walls of his Convent and oblige him to the performance of his Vow But he rejected all the offers which were made him and reserved himself for greater Exploits which happened the year following Such is the fury of Civil Wars much more active and violent than Foreign that few days passed without Fights or Skirmishes in one place or other Count Wourmb having received all the Recruits that he could expect marched directly towards Tekeli and Boham and engaged with them early in the Morning in a Fight which continued until three a Clock in the Afternoon with such equal Fortune that the Malecontents being sensible of the valour and resolution of the Imperialists retreated with good order under the Cannon of Alsol a Town Situate on the River of Gran between Newsol and Kremnitz In the mean time twenty Squadrons of the Rebels endeavouring to pass the Mountains were repulsed by Colonel Reyters who at the Head of his Regiment defended the Passages and drove them back to their Camp having killed Five hundred of them on the place But this loss was the next day revenged by Tekeli who took Bistrick by force of Arms with much Blood and Slaughter of the Inhabitants This Bistrick is a Town Situate in a Plain
encompass'd about with little Hills famous for the golden Mines and the Country well planted about it with pleasant Vineyards the Governours thereof would neither declare themselves at first either for the Emperor or for the Malecontents But when the Imperialists with their Army drew near to them they could no longer conceal their Affections and good Wishes but broke their Neutrality and declar'd for the Emperor Soon after which Tekeli making himself Master of the place put six of the Chief Inhabitants to death in punishment of their Infidelity and breach of Promise But before the end of this year the Imperialists had their changes of good Fortune as well as the Malecontents a Party of which the Garrison of Filek entirely defeated Filek is Situate in the Road-way from the Mountain Towns in Hungary leading to Transilvania and Cassovia and lies about five Leagues Northward from Agria This Success was seconded by another Rout which Count Esterhasi the Pope's General gave to a party of Five hundred Spahees and Two thousand Ianisaries near Vesprin who were design'd to make Incursions into the Emperor's Countries But least this Action should be ill represented to the Grand Seignior and become the Cause of a Rupture the Emperor dispatched away an Express to Constantinople to give a true account of the Cause and Reasons for this Engagement And now being come to that Season of the year when Armies draw into their Winter-quarters Both Parties being in cooler temper began to Treat so that a Cessation of Arms was agreed and the place appointed for the Conference was Oedembourg where all the Chief Lords of Hungary had agreed to Assemble The person who was to preside for the Emperor was the Prince of Swartzembourg and Count de Nostiz manag'd the Treaty applying himself with much Zeal and Diligence that this Negotiation might be happily concluded ANNO 1679. This Treaty with a Cessation of Arms continu'd till the end of the year with hopes that the beginning of the next would make that poor Kingdom happy with a Peace But the Emperor having as it were secur'd a Peace with France which was one of the greatest fears he had upon him in case of a War with the Turks refus'd to yield unto the same terms which he had frequently offer'd in former times to the Malecontents It was now resolv'd that the Office of Palatine should for ever hereafter be extinguish'd and made void year 1679. and that Kingdom govern'd by a Vice-Roy who was solely to be constituted by Commission from the Emperor 2 dly The Protestants were not to have Churches in Towns or Cities but to content themselves with such as should be allotted them in Villages 3 dly As a Preliminary to all the rest the Malecontents were to dismiss the Foreign Troops entertain'd in their Service before the Treaty upon any other Conditions and Articles should commence The very noise of this alteration in the Emperor's Councils put a stop to all proceedings of a Treaty and an end to the Truce and Cessation of Arms. And indeed the Malecontents were by this time so engag'd with the Turks that on their part also they had put themselves out of all possibility of Accommodation without their concurrence and concernment in the Treaty The Assembly at Oedembourg being dissolv'd the Malecontents held a Diet of their own at Coloswar alias Claudiopolis whereunto Prince Apafi and the Neighbouring Pashas resorted to treat and agree upon the measures which were to be taken for the ensuing year in order to carrying on the War. Whilst they were upon this Treaty a Messenger arriv'd from the Grand Seignior who brought a Scymitar to Prince Apafi which was a certain Signal of the Sultan's favour and acceptance of his Services which was much to the joy of all Persons there present for that it was doubtful before how far the Grand Seignior would abâtt the Cause of Pedipol to whom as we have mention'd he had given his Commission to be Prince of Transilvania with exclusion of Apafi Nor was the News of less concernment to them brought at the same time that the Grand Seignior was upon conclusion of peace with the Moscovites by which the whole Ottoman Empire would be at leisure to employ all their Troops against the Germans And with the same occasion the Pashas of Hungary were Commanded to joyn with Apafi and to assist the Malecontents with such Forces as they should desire of all which the Emperor having certain Intelligence from his Resident at Constantinople Order'd three Regiments to be sent into Hungary for recruit of the Forces under Count Lesley of which the Malecontents having Advice took the Field and passing the Theysse pitch'd their Camp near Debrezin to cover and relieve as occasion serv'd the Castle of Kovar This City of Debrezin or Debrechim is situated between Tokai and great Waradin and is very Rich and Populous It was a Free Town and conserv'd it self in a Neutrality during the late Revolutions but after Zolnock and Cassovia were reduc'd the Magistrates thereof desir'd his Imperial Majesty to take them under his protection with which and by payment of a Tribute to the Port the Inhabitants liv'd quiet and free until the year 1676. when it was taken by Count Strazoldo upon pretence that it was become the place of Sanctuary and common Refuge of the Malecontents tho' afterwards upon complaints from the Turks the Emperor withdrew his Forces from thence leaving them free and in their former Condition of Neutrality In the mean time Tekeli falling in love with a Daughter of the Princess Ragotski Dowager who was extreamly zealous as we have mention'd before for the Emperor's Cause refus'd to bestow her Daughter upon him unless he would first Relinquish the Interest to which he had adher'd The passion which Tekeli had for the young Lady was more powerful than his Inclinations to the discontented Party so that first seeming cold in his Old pursuits and declaring his Mind freely in open Discourse his Troops began to suspect his Fidelity and left him and put themselves under the Command of Wessellini Tekeli endeavour'd to perswade Palfi Imbre to joyn with him in his Revolt but not prevailing he singly with some few Servants went over to Vienna Coming thus alone to the Emperor without his Troops he was the less welcome and indeed he was so little regarded and his Merit so ill accounted on that when he made applications to the Emperor for Restitution of his Estate which was Confiscated to the value of two Millions those who enjoy'd the benefit of so great Riches obstructed his Request Representing unto the Emperor that the return to his Duty after a long continuance in Rebellion only in his own Person and without his Troops deserv'd nothing nor was it to be judg'd a satisfaction or an atonement for the many mischiefs and disservices that he had already done and that to recover the Emperor's favour there was something
laid all other Designs aside he might in that great consternation of the Turks have passed the Save and made himself Master of Belgrade without much difficulty and therewith have reduced all Bosnia to the devotion of the Emperor But this being an Over-sight and matters succeeding as before related let us return to the mutinous Army of the Turks whom we lately left raging against the Grand Vizier the Grand Seignior and all the Government The Grand Vizier as we have said having quitted the Army to give way to the Fury of the Soldiers took a Boat at Belgrade and rowed down the Danube accompanied with the Tefterdar or Lord Treasurer and the Reis Effendi or Secretary of State the Soldiers in the mean time chose as is aforesaid Sciaus for their General and immediately dispatched away Orta Chiaus an Officer of the Ianisaries to acquaint the Grand Seignior with what the Army had done It was now no time to expostulate with the Soldiers or disapprove their Actions but on the contrary Orta was kindly received and caressed by the Chimacan at Constantinople called Regeb Pasha And the Grand Seignior himself without any Hesistancy confirming the Choice which the Army had made dispatched Orta Chiaus immediately back with the Signals of Honour which are a Sword and a Vest of Sables declaring him General and ordering him to take care of the Frontiers The Vizier having got out of the reach of the Army took Post and came to Adrianople where he staid and gave time for his Friends to work in his behalf with the Grand Seignior who of himself was well enough inclined to Solyman and therefore after the Rout and Noise was a while appeased Regeb the Chimacam obtained his Pardon and Permission for him to come to Constantinople and Mamout Aga his Friend and a rich Man was sent for the Messenger to invite him thither But before Solyman arrived the Scene was much changed by the coming of four Officers from the Army with Arz and Max-Arz which is a Petition and Certificate signed by the principal Commanders in the Army attesting that Solyman was a Person of no Conduct a Coward and a Lyer and one who took no care to pay the Army and in short that he was not fit for that Sublime Office of Grand Vizier concluding their Petition with a Prayer that another might be placed in that Government Solyman having News hereof as he was on the Road to Constantinople and thinking thereupon that that place would be too hot for him at present sent the Seal and the Standard of the Prophet to the Sultan committing them to the care of the Tefterdar the Treasurer and Reis Effendi the Secretary his Friends and fellow Travellers to be delivered by them conveying himself privately within the Walls of Constantinople upon which without delay the Grand Seignior dispatched away the Seal and the Standard to Sciaus declaring him Grand Vizier in the place of Solyman Regeb would have disswaded the Grand Seignior from sending the Standard which is the Colours of their Prophet Mahomet and towards which the People bear a superstitious Devotion alledging that thereby he weakned himself and armed a Company of Mutiniers with the Charm of that holy Relick Howsoever the Kuzlier Aga who is the chief Eunuch of the Women was of a different Opinion being of a nature timorous like that of the Grand Seignior His Council prevailed and the Standard was sent by the Hand of the Selictar or Sword-bearer that the Soldiery might not have cause to believe that the Sultan treated them with reserves or with the least manner of diffidence But all this served not to appease or mollify the madness of the Soldiery who now talked of nothing but marching to Constantinople and there to Depose the Grand Seignior and reform the Government setting up his Brother Sultan Solyman under whose Reign they hoped for the like Auspicious Successes as they had found in the fortunate Reigns of those Sultans who had formed the Ottoman Empire and especially they had a singular Reverence for the Name of Sultan Solyman who they hoped would prove as great and fortunate as Solyman the Magnificent Sciaus Pasha who was in his Heart a cordial Friend to the late Vizier Solyman found now that he had conjured up a Devil he could not lay would gladly have disswaded the Soldiery from their designed March to the Port and rather advised them to guard their Frontiers and oppose the Enemy But this Council had cost him his Life had he not touched the Proposal very gently and at the same time assured them of his readiness to joyn with them in any Design they should contrive And accordingly marching away in a kind of a tumultuous and disorderly manner towards the River Save great Numbers of them were actually passing the Bridge near Belgrade when the Chimacam or Governour General of the Ianisaries of that place apprehending that they came to Plunder the Town refused them Passage causing several Pieces of Cannon to be fired upon them with which several being killed they returned back Howsoever persisting still in their Resolution the most wild and obstinate party of them passed the River in Boats at some distance from the Town leaving Sciaus Pasha with the rest of the Militia on the other side a good days March behind them by this slow Motion of Sciaus the Soldiery guessing at his backwardness to engage with them like enraged Mad-men they returned to him and treated him with Menaces vowing to kill him in case he refused to be their General and Leader in this good Cause of reforming the Government Whilst the Army was in this Commotion great were the Confusions Plots Stratagems and Contrivances at Constantinople which Regeb the Chimacam suspecting that the Friends of the late Vizier Ibrahim exiled to Rhodes did foment and also that the Mufti who was last year Banished to Prusa was too near he procured a Command from the Grand Seignior to remove that Mufti to Rhodes and the Kapugibashee or Messenger who was employed on this Affair and had the care upon him to conduct this Mufti to Rhodes carried also a Hatte-sheriff or the Command with him for the Head of Ibrahim Pasha which we shall shortly find at Constantinople about the same time almost that Regeb's Head was laid with others to augment the heap In the mean time the Tefterdar or Treasurer and the Reis Effendi or Secretary who were the Two Fellow-Travellers with Solyman the late Vizier were dispatched to the Army with soft Messages from the Grand Seignior approving all that they had done and offering to perform all they did or could desire But we shall see presently how well these Two Mediators succeeded in their Office of making Peace with a heady Multitude which would hear no Reason and endure no Government For Sciaus was now made only a Property to execute the Commands of the Ianisaries and Spahees who had entred into a solemn
Ali Bey departed but with some Threats that he would make this Denial known unto the Seraskier and how he had given Entertainment to a suspected Stranger Dambi fearing some stop or trouble from hence would immediately take leave of his Friend who just at his departure desired him that so soon as he should be arrived in the Morea that he would kiss the Feet of his most Serene Highness and return him a thousand Thanks for the great Goodness and Favours which he had by many instances demonstrated unto him giving him to understand the Reasons and Causes which debarred him from enjoying the true Felicity of those many Offers of his most precious Grace and Favour Howsoever he gave him Assurances of doing all Services possible to his Highness by advising and informing him of all the Motions and Designs of the Turks but because the practice hereof might be dangerous by Letters which were subject to be intercepted he desired that his Highness would direct the way and manner of such a Correspondence And in the mean time he pray'd Dambi to inform him year 1689. That the Seraskier was at Zittuni with 4000 Soldiers amongst which were 1200 Horse That his Orders from the Gâand Seignior were That in case the Venetians should make a second Attempt upon Negropont and that he had force sufficient that then he should give them Battle and not suffer them to Intrench before the City But if on the contrary the Venetians should be too strong for him that then he should endeavour to make a Diversion by falling into the Morea wasting and consuming the Country and that he Liberachi was ordered with his Forces being about 2000 Men to joyn with the Seraskier in this Action And farther he desired him to acquaint the Captain-General That in Negropont they had made a Pallisade round Carababa about a Musket-shot distant from the Town which was of great Defence to the place Likewise That Ibrahim who Commands in Negropont had declared That in case the Seraskier at Land should not assist him in the Defence of Carababa it would be impossible to maintain and conserve the City That they were making other Outworks to cover the place That the Seraskier was ordered not to depend upon any Succours from Constantinople but received Commands to raise what Men he was able in the Parts where his Army was as far as to Larissa and that the Garrison of Negropont consisted of no more than 30â0 Men And that the Orders which he himself had received were to bring all the Country under Contribution from Salona to Santa Maura which he was resolved to do with great rigour by forcing them to pay ten Dollars a Head by which means they would be constrained to fly for Refuge into Morea which he thought would be of some Advantage to the Venetians Discoursing farther upon these Matters Dambi desired to know what was become of Captain Bossina who Commanded the Oltramarines which had deserted from the Army to which he gave Answer That they were in the Villages of Carpenizi In this manner the Discourse being ended Liberachi would accompany Dambi on some part of his way and brought him four Miles with 70 Horse and some Footmen commanding also two of his Captains with some Men to give him Convoy so far as the River Lepanto to which place being conducted with safety he was admitted with all readiness to the presence of his Serene Highness who much applauded the punctual Relations and Services of Dambi hoping from thence that the Plot could not fail that he had laid for Liberachi for either he would be forced thereby to leave the Service of the Turks with many of his Followers or otherwise falling into the Jealousie of the Turks by this free Conference it could not but prove fatal to him so that take it which way they would Liberachi was under a necessity with his Men of seeking Refuge under the Protection of the Venetian Arms. These Circumstances being well considered were a sufficient motive to Embark the Troops and to order some Ships and other Vessels to sail forthwith to Malvasia and to direct Orders to Gradenigo Proveditor-Extraordinary to march with the Horse into those Parts But whilst the Doge was in a readiness to Embark there arrived an Express with Letters from Demetrio Gaspari an Athenian dated at Culuri advising That he and those Inhabitants had received Intelligence That several Galleots belonging to the Enemy were coming upon them and therefore in all Humility they supplicated that they would come to their Assistance and Succour Whereupon Orders being given to the Galleasses Ships and Galleots to sail for Malvasia the Doge with the Gallies took his Course directly for Culuri but before they could come thither labouring against the Winds by force of their Oars the Turks had been there and transported from thence 350 Greeks for the most part Women and Children for the Men had secured themselves in the Mountains but great Instances being made for their Transportation to some more secure place and that they might be set ashore on the Island of Egena it was ordered that three Vessels should attend and carry them to what Place they should determine and then the Doge proceeded to the Island of Specie and the day following to Malvasia And here having Intelligence That several Barbarosse Ships infested the Coasts of Zant and Sapienza and had already taken a Patach belonging to Zant the Doge began to be in some fear for the Convoy expected with Money from Venice for Subsistence of the Army under the Command of Girolamo Cornaro Proveditor-General of the Sea the which being debated at a Council of War and the importance of the Matter well consider'd it was resolved to dis-speed away immediately the Proveditor of the Armata Augustino Sagredo with twelve Gallies and Lorenzo Venier Captain-Extraordinary with six Ships with Orders to sail as far as Corfu to meet the aforesaid Cornaro and to bring him and the Ships under his Convoy laden with Money and other Necessaries in security to the Fleet. In which matter both the Commanders of the Gallies and Ships having received their Instruction and having provided themselves with all things necessary for their Voyage they set sail in few hours before Night In the Morning the Ships were observed to be at some distance from the Shore and at least ten Miles from the Gallies which were making their way to Cape St. Angelo the which gave some Trouble to the Doge by thinking that in case these two Divisions were so far separated at the beginning what would become of them before the end of the Voyage Whilst the Doge thought of these things a great Fleet appeared Steering directly to that Port which coming nearer was found to be the Fleet which brought the Duke of Guadagne Serjeant-General Baron Spaar and several other Officers with 333 Foot Soldiers About this time arrived the unhappy News of the loss of
Reports being aggravated to the Grand Seignior put him into a grievous Affrightment so that in all haste he dispatched Posts one after the other to fetch the Grand Vizier from Belgrade to Adrianople but howsoever he would not move until first he had supplied Temeswaer with all sorts of Provisions for want of which the Turks died of Fluxes and all sorts of Camp Diseases and lying on wet Grounds and upon Morasses more Men died than would have done in a Day of Battle By these means the whole Turkish Army was reduced to 30000 fighting Men to repair which and make the Numbers to seem a little more formidable they forced and Pressed about 10000 Artisans and Country Men Raw and Unexperienced Fellows to make a Shew of which had they most died the World would scarce have missed them only the Albanians a Stout and Valiant People were to be lamented of which not one half returned into their own Country The Mufti and others growing sensible of their Low and Miserable Condition and overwhelmed on all sides by Enemies by Sicknesses by Famine and Poverty wrote a Letter to the Scheriff exhorting him to Peace at such a time as this is when the Enemies to the Mahometan Cause overwhelmed them in all Parts declaring That without betraying the Musselman Cause they could not persist in their Wars against the Sultan and therefore they exhorted them to retire into their own Dominions and to live quietly there rather than to expose the Holy Religion to the Insults of Infidels By this Letter and other Advices which were seconded by many Exhortations of he Religious and Holy Seighs or Preachers in their respective Monasteries the Scheriff seemed to be somewhat appeased and to relent a little of his revengeful Humour against the Turks Besides the meaner Princes of the Arabians who are the most Religious and Superstitious of all the others falling off from the Alliance with the Scheriff on the score of Religion things became more quiet in Arabia and gave the Turks less Fears and Apprehensions than before Moreover Calailicos Ahmet Pasha a cunning Sophister of whom we gave lately an Account having been sent from Constantinople with some Forces against the Scheriff changed his Method from Arms to Epistles Sermons and Exhortations perswading him that since he saw so many Martyrs on all sides Dying for the Mahometan Cause that he should not add to the Slaughter of the Musselmen nor joyn with Infidels to the Destruction of the True Faith. To these were added also divers Letters from other Pasha's as also from Mulla's Seighs and Cadi's of the most esteem in Asia which so prevailed upon the Mind of the Scheriff that he for some time desisted from all Hostilities upon the Turks Notwithstanding which the Eastern Princes bordering on Arabia were a little cautious how they trusted the sincerity of the Scheriff for in despight of all his fair Words they would not be decoyed to leave their Country open and exposed to the Mercy of the Ishmaelites a People that never kept Faith so that the Turks received no more Forces from Asia the following Year than they had done in this present by reason of the Jealousie they conceived of the Arabians Notwithstanding the pressing Desires of the Sultan to hasten the return of his Vizier he made his Excuses to delay his Journey alledging That Prince Lewis had been reinforced by considerable Recruits and therefore it was necessary to observe his Motions that the Floods by the Land-Waters caused by perpetual Rains made it impossible for the Army to march without Hardships and unsupportable Labours But at length the old Year drawing towards an end and it becoming necessary to provide for the Actions Wars and Counsels of the New the Vizier was forced to leave the Army which he did with great haste and arrived before Adrianople about the 8th or 10th of December where he remained under his Tents making a show as if he intended to march into the Morea with intention to recover Scio but before this Design was resolved a Conference was held in the Vizier's Tents where the Mufti was present after which the Chimacam was called as also the Aga of the Janisaries and the Aga of the Spahee's with divers other Officers who returned back with the Grand Vizier at which Assembly it was concluded That by reason of the urgency of the Times and that the Imperialists were chiefly to be attended as being the strongest and most considerable Party and Grand Vizier should remain at Adrianople to raise new Forces and prepare for the Wars of the following Year But as to the present that all their Thoughts and Stratagems should be employed for the recovery of the Island of Scio the which obstructed all Correspondencies and Commerce with Smyrna Rhodes and even with Egypt it self so that Coffee Rice and Sugar were raised to an excessive Price Wherefore cost what it would it was agreed That that place was the first to be taken for which Expedition Misir-Oghli was appointed Captain-Pasha an old experienced Sea-Captain To provide against which Attempt the Venetians put all things in good order both by Sea and Land and in all Places where they suspected that the Enemy might Land and make their Descent they raised Forts and planted Cannon and supplied all necessary Provisions against a Siege giving a report That they would make it as strong as Malta it self The Sultan being sensible that his People were become much disheartned and weakned by the many Misfortunes and Troubles which they had sustained gave Orders to the Chimacam of Adrianople named Mustapha Pasha to treat the People with Kindness and Civility This Chimacam was a prudent Person and being a lover of Justice and tender of the Welfare of the People was esteemed and well spoken of by all and having known Miseries and Hardships during the time that he had undergone a Slavery in Poland he knew the better how to commiserate the Afflictions of others But above all as Matters stood now in these Times the great Concern of a Chief Governour was to prevent Tumults and Insurrections of the People of the danger of which the late Disturbances had given a pregnant Example and so moved the Spirit of the Chimacam to prosecute the Offenders that 315 were put to Death at Adrianople for the aforesaid Sedition and six of the principal Officers being forced to fly to Constantinople were there taken and being put into Sacks were strangled and after the Ancient Fashion thrown into the Sea the which had been amongst the Romans the Punishment for Parricides Insui voluêrunt in culeum vivos dejici in mare After the Conference which the Grand Vizier had held at his Tents with the Principal Ministers of State he made divers Dispatches into several Parts namely Halil Pasha whom he made Seraskier in the Morea with Instructions to keep a watchful Eye upon the Island of Negropont Likewise three Aga's were dispatched to Algier Tripoli
from Sultan Mahomet IV who after a Reign of 48 Years was Deposed by reason of the Ill Fortune and Avaritious Temper of some of his Ministers or to please the Soldiers who said That he had Lived and Reigned long enough Moreover the People had a great Esteem for this his Son being Young and Handsome and in his Robust and Mature Age nor was there any Person able to stand against him nor capable of being offered to the Soldiery for their Emperor There was none of the Ottoman Family known unto the World but a Child of two Years old the Son of the late Sultan Achmet and of such an one in such a Conjuncture of time it was not so much as to be thought of tho' most of the Ministers in Power did all they could to keep Sultan Mustapha from the Throne Sultan Mustapha the Second the Present Emperour Eldest Son to Sultan Mahomet the 4 th When the Grand Seignior Vested him as is commonly done by every Sultan at his Inauguration he told him That he should be careful what he did that he should treat his Soldiers well and above all that he be sure to tell him the truth and if not he should soon know and be sensible of what would follow But since this Severity and sharp Saying he remitted something of his Angry Temper and became more mild and easie so that to encourage and raise his Spirit a little he sent his Kuzlir-Aga in Ceremony with a great Attendance to carry to the Grand Vizier a Prayer which he himself had composed in the time of his Solitude and Seclusion from the World which were received with profound Respect the Bearer himself had five Purses presented to him and the Chief of his Attendants was treated with several Rich Vests and the others of meaner Degree had a good number of Zaichins distributed amongst them The Grand Seignior also would not want his own Present which was in Horses and Jewels several Young Damsels richly adorned with above 100 Purses of Money and yet for all this the Vizier thought not himself safe nor did the bitter Thoughts of Death pass from him for whilst he was trembling for himself he received a Hattesheriff or a Royal Command from the Hand of the Grand Seignior requiring him to command the Chiaus Pasha to Arrest the Chimacam of Adrianople the Vizier's own chief Creature and Confident and to put him between the Gates a Prison for great Personages The Fault objected to his Charge was That in the time of the late Sultan Achmet he had put to Death two of this present Sultan's Favourites for endeavouring to promote the Interest of their Master to the Prejudice of the Ruling Prince Notwithstanding all which Mortifying Commands and Accidents the Grand Vizier appeared outwardly with a chearful Countenance for the least Sadness would have been interpreted for Contumacy and a Discontented Spirit against the Commands and Pleasure of his Master for which reason he bore up bravely against all Misfortunes concealing the Agitations of his Mind from all those who had Business with him and even from his own Domesticks At this time my Lord Paget Ambassador from His Majesty King William was then at Adrianople watching an Opportunity to make Proposals for a Peace with the Emperor of which tho' about the latter time of Sultan Achmet there was a great and a fair appearance yet after his Decease this young Sultan mounting the Throne all the hopes vanished he himself being of a hot and fiery Spirit was fully resolved to try his Fortune in the War from which Design neither his Mother nor his Women nor his greatest Favourites could divert them And the Kiah-Bey himself who was Lieutenant-General of the Janisaries a Person of great Esteem and Power in the Army was disgraced and put out of Office for arguing in the Divan against the Grand Seignior's taâing ths Field this Year in Person These Changes had disconcerted all the Measures which my Lord Paget had taken towards a Peace of which there now remained no hopes for this Year for the Sultan was not to be removed from his Resolution nor the Soldiery averse to it having fixed it in their Minds that this Sultan was Lucky and Fortunate and was to restore all that had been lost since the Siege of Vienna and the fatal Managements of the Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha And to this purpose the Grand Seignior discoursing with the Vizier he told him how sensible he was of the evil management of Affairs in the Empire and that they were much worse than they had been in the time of his Father to restore which to a better Condition he again declared his Resolution to try his Fortune for another Year the which not succeeding well he was of an Opinion That he could at any time make a Truce with the Christians which perhaps he might be inclined to accept next Year not out of a Necessity thereof but in consideration to his People to whom after a long War of 17 or 18 Years he was glad to give Ease and Quiet for he was sensible that the Ottoman Empire was in great Disorder by reason of the Ignorance Negligence and ill Administration of some of the principal Ministers of State which he would make it his Care to remedy With these Resolutions of the Sultan all things were preparing to take the Field early with a strong Army it being divulged and published amongst the Soldiery that their first March should be towards Belgrade from whence if they could have made any Conquest on the other side of the Save the Turks might yet as low as they were have proved a troublesome and a dreadful Enemy to all Germany And indeed the Christians were more sensible hereof than formerly for the Turks had lately had many lucky Hits to encourage them and which did indeed animate the People very much seeming to them like good Omens of Change of Fortune in their favour For the Venetians had in two several Engagements at Sea been worsted by the Turks which was the cause of the Surrender of Scio to the Turks of which they possessed themselves without any great Difficulty where tho' the loss the Venetians had sustained both in Ships and Men was very considerable yet the loss of their Reputation at Sea was much more and of a more evil Consequence for the Turks animated hereby fell boldly upon the Venetians in the Morea and put them to the Rout fansying the Summer following to regain all again despising now the Enemy which lately they durst not see and were afâraid to approach To these good Fortunes of the Sultan the News was added by way of Moldavia of a great Victory that the Tartars had obtained against the Poles which with the Successes the Ottoman Pasha's had obtained against the Rebels in Asia put all things at the Port into a smiling Condition no Man doubting but that the influence of these prosperous Beginnings would crown all the Actions
vented an abundance of Reproaches against the French Nation only the Grand Vizier using his accustomed Patience said That Iustice could never do Injury to any for that their Law and the Alchoran commanded it so to be done And in this manner this Difference passed over with some Advantage to the French who had obliged so great a Person as the Iew who is the Negotiator of all the Affairs of Egypt to leave his Employment to attend the Summons of the French Ambassador at such a distance as it is from Gran Cairo to Adrianople Howsoever after all this the French Nation did not seem to be fully satisfied because that the Vizier after all shewed some Respect to the Iew bestowing upon him a Coftan or Vest of Favour and Honour declaring himself in favour of the Iew that he had been falsely accused and injuriously drawn away from the Grand Seignior's Service To repair which Affront and Neglect to the King of France a Demand was made by the Ambassador That License might be given to Repair and Rebuild the Cathedral Church in Galata which had for above 500 Years remained in the Christian Hands and lastly had been Repaired and Rebuilt at the Charges of the Most Serene Republick of Venice soon after the last War which they had with the Turks in Candia but now the French depending on the great Services they had done the Turks seized on the Church which had been the Cathedral of that Diocese and affixed the Arms of France upon the Gates thereof at which the Venetians being greatly offended who were the Patrons thereof and had many Years past purchased the Advowson from the Turks made their Complaints to the Grand Vizier of the Injustice which had been done them Upon which the Vizier resolving to end the Controversie between the Christians seized the Church of Saint Francis or Francisco in Galata and Converted it into a Turkish Mosch and in such like manner commonly end all the Controversies which Christians have between themselves that are referred to or to be termined by the Turks The Ceremony which the Turks used in turning the Christian Church into a Mosch was by a Command from the Sultan to the Chimacam to enter the Church with 200 Men of his Followers together with a good Number of their Imaums who began at their first Entry into the Church to sing with a loud Voice the Tune and Song called Sele which is a Hymn extracted out of the Alcoran to the Praise and Glory of God the which caused great Sadness in the Hearts and Eyes of many good Christians in Galata which had not been done as many Turks confess had not the French pretended a Right to that Church with which they in a short time were forced to swallow two very bitter Pills to the Dishonour of France and Prejudice to the Chrâstian Cause Towards the end of the Month of March the Sultan equipped out seven great Men of War of 50 and 60 Pieces of Cannon each and all armed with 500 Levents or so many Sea-Soldiers a piece besides which there were 14 light Gallies with 25 Frigats and all accompanied with divers Saiches laden with Provisions every one of which will carry as much as 200 Carts which are laden with Biskets Meal and all sorts of other Ammunition Whilst these things were in Action the French Ambassador Monsieur de Chateaneuf offered this Summer to make his Campaign with the Grand Seignior in Hungary against the Emperor with which the Turks were well enough pleased in regard they esteemed this Ambassador to be a Man of great Wisdom and Experience Tekely likewise about this time was preparing himself to accompany the Vizier to the War in Hungary the which some were of an Opinion That it would be of good consequence to the Sultan upon which account the Vizier conceived a great esteem for him and was desirous to see the good Effects of all those Promises which Tekely's Princess had made to him This Lady of Tekely went unto and returned from Adrianople and was observed to be of an Humour very Assiduous Diligent and Malitious against the Imperiallists but very kind and obliging towards the French but most especially to Monsieur de Laurent who the last Year was with the Sultan in the Campaign of Hungary and was often invited by Tekely's Lady and by Count Tekely himself to take a Dinner or a Supper or some other Repast with them at which Monsieur de Laurent was often welcomed and highly Treated A Friend of mine once acquainted me That having a Curiosity to see the Wife or Princess of Tekely he had the Fortune to hear Mass with her at the Capuchin's Church at Galata where well observing her Physiognomy it appeared very Ill-favour'd Old and Ugly She professes to be a Roman Catholick of which she boasts to many People and that her Husband hath divers Correspondents almost in every Regiment belonging to the Imperial Army from whom he hath all the Correspondencies imaginable with the Principal Commanders both of Horse and Foot by means of which nothing passes but what he hath a good and perfect Account of from all parts of the Imperial Army The Army which was formed and drawn up against the Moscovites consisted for the most part of Spahee's from Anatolia and of a sort of a Militia of Pascialagio belonging to Silistra of which they reckoned about 35000 Men besides Tartars The Reputation of this present Sultan was so great that in all Parts both of Asia Africa and Europe he was esteemed the most Fortunate of all the Sultans for that in the space of two Years only appearing in the Wars he had showed so much Courage and good Conduct that he had always beaten the Germans that is to say when he went himself in Person to the Wars for which cause he was highly Esteemed Honoured and Obeyed But as to the Rebels in Asia they drew themselves up very formidably in the Field expecting to encounter the Army of the Port and to give them Battel The great Power and Nerve of the Ottoman Force is at present in Asia that of the Turk-men who are a sort of People well mounted on very strong and Warlike Horses Brave and Valiant and well Exercised in the Lance and Bow so that there was great expectation when some Feats of Arms would begin And on the other side of Aâatolia they began to Transport over their Militia being designed early this Year against the Moscovites after which the Actions in Hungary were to begin But before that something may be discoursed in relation to the present State of the Greek Church the Patriarch of which was very Froward and Passionate ready to act any thing which came into his Head without consideration of the Prejudice which might result thereby And accordingly having a Quarrel with the Metropolite or Bishop of Salonica he deprived him of his Title and Office on occasion of some Disobedience to certain Commands to which the Patriarch
on his actions and to vent any thing which but favoured of his commendations The reason of which I adventure to assign unto two causes The first is that Antipathy or natural aversion the Germans have to the Hungarians and Croatians these endeavouring to maintain the Priviledges of a People who have a free liberty of the Election of their Prince whilst the others desirous to take occasion to weaken and impoverish them would necessitate them to yield their Kingdom to the Emperor by an hereditary Right The second is the fury of Serini and Soise whose zeal without consideration of irritating the Turk or fear of moving the passion of the Lyon beyond the terms of an easie pacification transported them to commit all damage and ruine which are the just concomitants of War which rage seemed over violent to the Court at Vienna and not to suit with the present Policy of the War which was designed to be carried on rather in a defensive than in an offensive posture imagining perhaps that the good nature of the Turk might be complemented into Peace and that gentleness and generosity might have the same effect upon them as it had upon Saul when David had his life at his mercy and yet spared him according to which counsels of the Court Montecuculi squaring every particular of his motion and thereunto adding success mounted on the wings of Fame and had his Glory celebrated without diminutions but the hot and zealous temper of Serini which Souldier-like understood nothing but down-right blows knew not how to use that moderation and caution which the Imperial Court judged an ingredient so requisite to the prudent management of the present War that he was esteemed uncapable of command who had not discretion enough to practice it And this was the true reason that Serini was discountenanced and that his Command was taken from him and that his Appeal to the Court was without redress Howsoever in regard that the Fame he had won carried him high in the esteem of all Christendom he was entertained with hopes and fair promises and even aâter the very âattel of Rab nothing was more commââlâ discoursed than the giving Nicholas ãâã command independent of any other Generaâ ãâã âut in the end it proved nothing but vaiâ Proposals to humour the fancy of Serini himself and to satisfie the World which admired a Person so qualified and deserving as he should be made a subject of so much disgrace and neglect With this News the Turks remained greatly ashamed and dejected having but two days before demonstrated excesses of joy congratulated the happy News one to the other and after their manner sent Presents abroad deâided the Christians upon the News exprobriated them with a Thousand injuries and applauded their own Virtue Valour and the righteousness of their Cause and Religion But on a sudden Intelligence coming contrary to their expectations such a dampness fell upon their spirits that for some days there was a deep silence of all News at Constantinople they that the Day before sought for Christians to communicate to them the Miracles of their Victory now avoided their Company ashamed of their too forward joy and the liberty they had taken to contemn and deride the low condition of the Christian Camp. And now the ill News not being able longer to be concealed Prayers and Humiliation were appointed publickly to be made at all the great Moschs of Constantinople and Adrianople where all Emaums with their young Scholars were commanded to resort and sing certain Prayers appointed for such occasions The minds of the Soldiery after this defeat were very much discomposed tending more to sedition than obedience Every one took licence to speak loudly and openly his opinion that the War was commenced upon unjust and unlawful grounds That the total Eclipse of the Moon which portends always misfortunes to the Turks should have caused more caution in the Commanders in ingaging the Armies this year until the malignancy of that Influence had been overpassed All generally accused the first Vizier as the Author and ill Manager of the War Iniquissima bellorum conditio est prospera omnes sibi vendicant adversa uni imputantur and calling to mind the solemn Oath with which Sultan Solyman confirmed his Capitulations with the Emperor particularly vowing never to pass the Rab or place where the Turks received their defeat without a solid and reasonable ground of War concluded that this Invasion was a violation of the Vow and an injury to the sacred Memory of that fortunate Sultan and therefore that all Enterprises and Attempts of this War would be fatal and destructive to the Mussulmen or Believers and the end dishonourable to the Empire This opinion was rooted with much superstition and strength of fancy in the minds of the Vulgar And the rumors in the Camp that the Vizier upon a false Alarm of the approach of the Enemy towards his Quarters had commanded the Army to retreat administred fury and courage to the Christians and fear and amazement to his own from which errour and timidity was occasioned that slaughter which ensued on which discourses and reports dangerous discontents daily increasing in the hearâs of the souldâery it is thought they would have vented their passion and revenge on their General had he not at a publick Assembly of all the Heads and Commanders of the Army cleared himself freely by charging the miscarriage of all upon the Grand Signior having acted nothing but with Authority of the Imperial Command promising with as much speed as honour and safety would permit by agreement and composition of Peace to bring the War to a conclusion And this contrivance and art was that as is supposed which for the presenâ secured his life for the Soldiery were greatly terrified and possessed with a dread of the Christians and amazement upon every Alarm For the old and experienced Commanders and Veterane Souldiers were either destroyed by the secret Proscriptions of the Vizier Kuperlee or slain in the Engagements of this Year and the Asian Spahees and other Soldiers having Wives and Children and Possessions to look after were grown poor and desired nothing more than in peace and quietness to return to their homes So that nothing could come more grateful to this Camp no largesses or donatives could pacifie the minds of the Soldiery more than the promises and expectations of a Peace The Sultan during these disturbances and misfortunes was preparing for a hunting Journey to an obscure Village called Yamâoli about three or four days travel from Adrianople designing to drive all those vast Woods along the Black Sea for Game where he had a small ruinous Seraglio The Queen Mother the Chimâcam with all the Court were to accompany him The Equipage and Pomp he went in perswaded many that the design of that Journey was grounded on other causes of Policy than what were generally penetrated Some conceived that the Vizier contrived his Journey thither
to divert him from opportunities of receiving intelligence from Spahees and others of the true state of the Camp and management of Affairs Others judged it might be to avoid in that obscure place the mâtinous seditions of the Soldiery On what consideration soever it might be the Grand Signior having spent some time abroad returned again to Adrianople with all his Retinue without doing any thing more important than killing great numbers of wild Beasts and ennobling those Wildernesses and Woods about Yamboli with the fame of his renowned Hunting Keblelee Pasha being slain as we have said before Serinswar who was Husband to the Viziers Sister the Vizier bestowed the Widow on Husaein Pasha of Silistria And much about the same time the Grand Signior considering that his own Sister by the death of her old Husband Ishmael Pasha slain in the last Battel led a single life conferred hââ in Marriage upon the old Mahomet Pasha whom before we have related to have been Kahya to the Vizier late Pasha of Darbiquier and now of Aleppo who as an Honour charged with a weight of troubles and other inconveniences seemed thankfully to receive her and though he was a man of Ninety years of age and had long since forgot the solaces of the bridal Bed yet according to the custom of Marriage with a Sultana he was ingaged to divorce his former Wife with whom he had past the Summer and Winter of his age and as a constant Husband was still uxorious in his love So that in the midst of Wars where some found Graves others found Marriage-beds and reason of State found a Vacation to conjoyn Mars and Venus without interruption of ruder Enterprises The Great Vizier after his defeaâ marched to Stultweissenburg or Alba Regalis to recruit and refresh his Army and expect the Recruit of the Pasha of Aleppo who was said to bring with him about Eight thousand Soldiers From Sâââweissenburg the Turks with the gross of their Army returned to Strigonium and here the Vizier not unmindful of the shameful flight and rebellious return of the Princes of Moldavia and Valachia to their own Countries without his order or permission sent one Messenger after the other in great haste and fury after the Turkish manner to recal those Princes to the War and that laying aside all excuses whatsoever they should immediatly with what Forces they could collect repair again to the Camp. The Princes weary of the War and fearful of the Viziers evil intentions to take away their lives endeavoured to excuse their flight alledging that their People would not obey or follow them to the Wars in any considerable numbers and that now it being the end of the Summer new Levies would be of great expence and of little benefit and disenable them from paying their yearly Tribute of which notwithstanding their consumption of Treasure in the last Expedition they were like to find no ease or relaxation though a burden too great for their harassed and impoverished Country to support But these excuses were no arguments to resolved Turks so that Commands came doubled and trebled one after the other full of threats and menaces to march forward with what Forces they could collect the Messengers assuring them That there was no design prepared against them by the Vizier but what was friendly and of good intention At length the Princes not able to remain longer without a censure of Rebellion to the Port with heavy Hearts and light Purses set forwards with about fifteen hundred men a piece sending before such sums of Money and Presents as they hoped might mollifie and prepare their access to the Vizier whilst they themselves marched slowly to afford longer time to the Operation of this Physick The Prince of Valachia had intrusted about Forty thousand Zaichins to an Officer of his called his Vestiario or Master of his Wardrobe whom he had sent before him therewith to make his access easie and safe to the Vâzier Of whose faith that he might assure himself the better he made him swear before the Holy Altar and take the Communion thereupon that he would be faithful and active in this Negotiation The Vestiario thus departing added to his religious Vows common promises and protestations but no sooner was he a few Miles distant from his Master before he tired in his Vows and altered his road from the Vizier to the way leading to Constantinople declaring as he went That his Prince was become Rebel and was fled and that he not to be Partner in his perfidiousness was hasting to Constantinople there to give evidence of his faith and submission to the Turks This unexpected news coming to the Prince caused him to despair of all security and reconciliation with the Vizier and force him by flight to make good the words of his treacherous Servant so that taking with him his Wiâe and remainder of his Wealth passed through Transylvania with much difficulty and at length arrived within the Emperors Territories resolving to exchange an inconstant and dangerous Principality for a more secure and private course of life year 1684. But this impious Greek did not rest quiet with his ill acquired Estate without receiving disturbance from the Boiars or Nobles of the Country and Stridia Bei the new-made Prince justly accusing him for having robbed the Publick Treasury extorted from him the Sum of 150000 Dollars towards his Investment in the Principality and ease of the Country which was now wracked for payment of old debts and the growing charges of the new Prince And thus much of the Princes of Moldavia and Valachia At Strigonium great were the Consultations what course was to be taken The Christians were now Masters of the Field and the Turks discouraged and now the Summer was so far spent that it was too late to think of recovering their reputation that year with the hazard of a Battel So that at length it was resolved to unite the shattered Forces of Chusaein Pasha lately defeated by Count Susa to the Army of the Vizier and attend to secure Oywar or Newhausel with Provisions Ammunition and Reinforcement of that Garison whereby this War might conclude with some Trophies of advance and inlargement of the Ottoman Borders which in all their Wars is the design and Maxime of the Turks So that marching thither they gathered and collected all the Provisions possible and having supplied the Garison they returned again to Strigonium with all expedition retaining still impressions of terror from the late ill success And that they might march with less impediment they sent their Artillery and heavy Baggage down the Danube Such was the fear of the Turkish Army at present that it is supposed had the Christians eagerly pursued their Victory they had not only defeated the whole Turkish Force with little opposition but also without any impediment marched to the very Walls of Buda But what infatuation soever blinded the Christian Counsels little or no advantage was taken as if the