Noua Militia a new Souldierie New not because it was newly brought in for it was instituted euen by Osmanne Gasi otherwise called Ottoman and renued or rather bettered and enlarged by Amurath the first vpon the aduice and counsell of Cara Rustem who was then helde by the Turks to be a verie holy man But new or fresh they are called because the Giannizzaries are the sonnes of Christians taken from their fathers whiles they are but children by the Officers of the great Turke as it were for a tribute euerie fift or seuen yeare and sometimes oftener beeing of the age some peraduenture of eight some of ten some of twentie yeares and some aboue And afterwardes they are for the most part destributed among the Turkes in Natolia to the end they may be instructed betimes in the lawes of Mahamet learne the fashions and language of that Nation and accustome themselues to labour and hardnesse and then are they called Agiamoglani as it hath beene told you before When they are growne fit for the warres then they are sent to the Court to be admitted into the order of the Giannizzaries Those that are not found fit for the warres are sent to the Shippes and to the Gallies that they may be employed in the Arte of Sea-faring But they that are of a pregnant wit and good Spirit are at the verie first shut vp in one of the Serraglioes of Andrinople or of Constantinople or of Pera and so by means they come to be employed in the seruice of the great Turke about his Chamber vnder the rule and subiection of certaine particular gouernours The Giannizzaries haue for their stipend betwene fiue and sixe Aspres a day and so haue the Agiamoglani likewise but they are distinguished by liueries For the Giannizzaries haue two liueries euery yeare and the Agimoglani haue but one The Giannizzaries doe handle the Arquebuse very well and are properly called the Arquebusiers of the great Turkes guard They will fight resolutely for honour Some of the Giannazzaries remaine in the frontiers and in Garisons some of them also keepe on the sea and serue in the Gallies but the greatest part of them are resident where the great Turke is and hereupon it commeth that there are so many in Constantinople where principally they may sooner become Giannizzaries But those that are made Giannizzaries at Damasco at Cairo elswhere perhaps when they come to Constantinople vnlesse they be there confirmed may not wear the Coyffe which is called Zarcula the last time that they wēt out to wars with their Aga a thing not verie vsual they rather caused great disorder thē did any seruice partly because they do not willingly obay their Generall Captaine whō by the Persian word they call Ser-Dar and by the Arabike Ser-Asker and partly because in our times their order is indeed imbasterdized and nothing so valourous and faithfull as it hath beene heretofore Aga is the name of the Giannizzaries Captaine and is the chiefe of all the Agalari who are principall Horsemen that alwaies accompanie the person of the great Turke and are so called of the word Aga which signifieth a staffe and is a token of the authoritie which they haue ouer the Chiliarches the Tribunes and the Droncarii or Troncarii so tearmed a Tronco of a Bastone or Tronchion which they carie in their hand Moreouer the Giannizzaries are verie insolent not onely towards priuate persons who greatly respect them per-force but also towardes the great Turke himselfe For hauing in their hands all the principall forces of the Ottoman Empire and being verie seldome or verie sclenderly chastised for any fault and thereupon knowing themselues to be very mightie and greatly feared they haue not forborne many times to threaten that they would depose their great Lord and Maister and set his Son in his throne yea and verie oftentimes they haue violently with most barbarous furie enforced their Emperour to yeelde vnto them in most vnrighteous causes As for example to leaue those that are auncient they so dealt with the last Amurath as they compelled him to giue them into their handes either quicke or dead the chiefe Dephterdaro and Mahamet Bassa the Armenian a man whome hee loued beyond all measure accusing them that through their fault they were not payed their wages by them with good monies These Dephterdari or treasourers are three one is the chiefe and as it were the President of the chamber the other two are as Collegues or Assistants in the Exchecker It hath fallen out also that they are thus become the more sedicious and insolent because the number of them is greatly encreased and multiplied and that through the default of the officers that are sent to make the choice of the youthes for they doe not choose the best and the most able for warfare as it was wont to be vsed in times past but such as they may haue for want of better men shuffeling in oftentimes by fauour and bribes many natural borne Turkes and sonnes of the Giannizzaries themselues as indeede it came to passe in these last yeares wherin they haue had no consideration of any other thing but onely of the disposition of bodie and ripenesse of yeares to the end they might the sooner shew themselues in the warres and so passe for old and experienced souldiours though in truth vtterly voide of any militarie discipline §. XXII SOme Spahi there be also that serue on foote as those which are at Negroponte Misitra and other maritimall places and are emploied for ouerseers of the Gallie-Slaues they are subiect to the Captaine of the Sea There is likewise an Infanterie or company of footemen in the Garrisons which is comprehended vnder the name of Asappi and of Besli The Asappi or Asepi are not the same which the Hungarians call Hussaroni as one Greek author hath written for the Asappi go to warre for wages on foote but the Hussaroni on horsebacke §. XXIII FInally the last Amurath perceiuing that he had not such a number of souldiours of action and seruice as that Empire was wont to haue in times past for the reasons which I will touch hereafter hath brought in a new kind of souldierie both of foote and horse consisting of townesmen and peasaunts being naturall Turkes and hath granted vnto them many priuileges of profite and honour calling them Culcardasi a word that signifieth brethren to Slaues proper onely to the Slaues Rinegate and is a most honourable tearme among the Turkes §. XXIIII IN Africa the Turkes haue either no horsemen at all or else verie few but some footmen they haue which remaine in the Garrisons of Algieri of Tunisi of Tripoli of Goletta and of other places on that coast where for feare of the Spanyardes who are verie well fortified with Garrisons and strongly fensed in those parts because they are afraid of loosing that which they haue there in possessiō it is verie necessarie
THE OTTOMAN OF LAZARO SORANZO VVherein is deliuered aswell a full and perfect report of the might and power of Mahamet the third Great Emperour of the Turkes now raigning together with the Interestes and dealinges which he hath with sondrie other Princes what hee is plotting against the State of Christendome and on the other side what we may practise and put in executition against him to his great damage and annoyaunce As also a true Description of diuers peoples Countries Citties and Voyages which are most necessarie to bee knowen especially at this time of the present Warre in Hungarie Translated out of Italian into English by ABRAHAM HARTVVELL LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Windet 1603. TO THE MOST Reuerend Father in God the Lo. Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace of all England Primate and Metropolitane one of the Lords of her Maiesties most honourable priuy Councell my singular good Lord and Maister MOst Reuerend father in God and my singular good Lord It pleased your Grace in the beginning of Michaelmas terme last to demand of me a question touching the Bassaes and Visiers belonging to the Turkish Court and whether the chiefe Visier were promoted and aduanced to that high supereminent authority aboue the rest according to his priority of time and antiquity of his being Bassa or according to the good pleasure and election of the Graund Turke himselfe wherein although I did for the present satisfie your Grace to your contentment by the smal skill knowledge which I haue in those Turkish affaires yet bethinking my selfe of this Discourse which hauing been by me translated out of the Italian tongue had passed the Print had lyen by me these two years not published to the viewe of this English world vpon some speciall considerations that moued me for the time to conceale the same I thought it would bee a very acceptable and pleasing matter now to thrust it forth for the better satisfaction of your Grace and others that are desirous to vnderstand the ful truth estate of that tirannical and Mahameticall Empire The Booke was written and penned by one Lazaro Soranzo a Venetian Gentleman in the yeare 1598. at what time Mahamet the thirde of that name now raigning was expected to haue entended warre vpon the State of Christendome eyther in his owne persō or by sending forth some one of his Bassaes or Visiers to bee his Generall in that action whereupon the Gentleman author of this Discourse beganne to enter into a very deepe and subtle consideration of al the designments purposes which the Turke and his Councell had plotted at home against the poore distressed seuerall States commō wealths of the christian Empire hauing performed the same did publish it in print for the general plesure benefite both of his own country and also of al others that may haue any interest in so waighty important a busines In which treatise if he haue somewhat trespassed by terms and wordes against the Caluinists the error will soone be pardoned if we shall remember that he is but a relator of others opinions speeches though himself indeed be greatly addicted to the popish religion and the maintenance thereof It containeth first a perfect and true discouery of the present estate wherin that Easterne Empire now standeth together with a speciall report of the reuenewes and forces thereof secondly the particular discourses that were made where and vpon what parte of Christendom this war should be first attēpted and thirdly a most christian resolute aduise giuen by the author to all Christian Princes how they may cōbyne confederate themselues togither in this sacred war be able euery way to meete withall or any of these Turkish deuises plots wheresoeuer whensoeuer they shall be put in practise which aduise I wold to God might deeply and foundly sinke into the heartes and mindes of all our western princes to the end they might ioyne altogether with prayer and force to eclipse that cressant Moone being now I hope at the full and according to the Turkes owne fearefull presages as it is mentioned in the 83. page of this little worke like vtterly to bee extinguished whensoeuer it shall please the Moderator of all kingdomes to call away this present fatall Mahamet who dooth as yet domineere in that vaste and huge tyrannie I was once minded my most gracious good Lord to haue added hereunto a more ample discourse of the estate forces and reuenues of that Empire comprehended in a Treatise entituled Il Turco vincibile in Hongheria viz. That the Turke is vanquishible and to bee ouerthrowne in Hungary written by an other Italian Gentleman called Achillis Tarducci of the Marquisate of Ancona But the time preuēted me so that I could not couple them together according to my desire And therfore I most hūbly beseech your Grace to accept of this my poore trauell being performed by starts and at idle houres which I should ought to haue employed in your more serious seruices not doubting but that if it shall please God to adde any moe yeares to this my Quinquagenarian yere of Iubile for which I most hartily thanke his diuine Maiesty I shal be hereafter if not more able yet assuredly more willing to discharge my dutie to your Grace and my country by doing some further seruice that may be pleasing acceptable to any indifferēt reader In the meane time I do hereby as I am bound wholy deuote my selfe to your seruice beseeching the Almightie still to preserue maintaine your Grace in al health honor and happines to the continuation of the peace of this English Church and the comfort of all your friendes and followers Among whome I must acknowledge myselfe though the least and the worst yet in all dutie and affection Your Graces most loyall faithfull and obedient seruant A. H. At your Graces house in Lambhith the first of Ianuarie 1603. The Preface EVen as for Princes that would learne wel to gouerne and maintaine them selues aswell in time of peace as of warre there is no one thing more necessarie then the knowledge first of their owne affaires and next of the state of other principalities as those do write who haue the greatest vnderstanding in ciuil causes as Experience it selfe doth manifestly declare so is it most fit and cōuenient for them to vse their vttermost care diligence that they may haue perfect skill discretion to iudge betweene truth and falshood For if the second part of their knowledge I meane touching other mens states Principalities for of the first it is not my purpose to discourse bee not founded and established vpon truth it will neuer be possible that their counsailes shall sort to any profite or aduauntage because it is well knowne that a false information either of a speech or of an Astion or of a place may oftentymes breed no lesse damage and daunger then a Counseller that is either of small capacitie or else a
lyer or a Captaine that hath neither wisdome nor experience And therefore verie greatly are those Princes to be commended who not onely endeuour to enforme themselues of the wittes and loyaltie of their owne seruants but also for the more certaintie how matters do passe in truth maintaine either at home in Court or abroad in forreine places Men of learning and of practise the one for matter of Historie and properly appertaining to good ciuill gouernment and the other for the knowledge of the estates inclinations designements interests treasures armour weapons confederacies preparations and all the forces of other Princes whereunto may be added also as a matter of great impertance to know those Countries which haue not onely beene knowne many a yeare ago but also those that haue beene lately dicouered or may hereafter bee made knowne to the world In respect whereof assuredly aboue all other Don Iohn king of Portugall and Isabell of Aragon are most worthie of eternall memorie for the discouerie of the East Indies and of the new world which was performed by their fauour and assistance And the reason of that which hath beene said is this touching the first because such matters hauing beene reported or written for the most part either to please or for some aduaÌ„tage or falsly penned by persons that neuer were present at the Action or for feare haue concealed the truth their reports and writings haue need of great caution censure before they be beleeued and touching the second because one eye-witnes as the Poet sayth is more certaine worthy of beleefe then a thousand eare-witnesses as they do most manifestly approue who by the view of their own eies which they haue made in diuerse Prouinces do find acknowledge that in bookes of Cosmographie Geography Chorographie there be many faults and errors to be noted in the gouernement of sundry principalities in the maners and customs of diuerse peoples and in the true situation of seuerall places and Countreyes besides many other tales and fables which are here and there dispersed as well in writers of old as in writers of late times and onely because the Authours of them haue written and recorded either all these matters or at least verie many of them without euer seeing any part of them but referring themselues wholy to the ancient descriptions which in deed do not fully answere to the knowledge and experience of these dayes and without iustifying the same by such persons as haue not onely seene them which euery common Curseters and prating cousener can also do but also such as haue had the skill to obserue euery action and an intent truly to report it againe Homer called Vlysses a wise man which is the goodliest title that can bee giuen to a Prince or to a Captaine not because he had heard but because hee noted and obserued the manners and customes of sundrie peoples and sawe many Cities And peraduenture it was the reason which moued Plato to make a law that none of his Citizens should trauaile abroad before hee was xl yeares olde to the end that being growen wise by age he might with more iudgemeÌ„t obserue the affairs of the world and then report them to his Countrey for the common benefite thereof True it is that those Princes which doe not willingly admit any trafficke with straungers contrary to the law and course of all Nations as for example the Moscouite and Presbyter Iohn but especially and aboue al other the Princes of China who being strengthned by fortifications and keeping continuall watch and ward for that purpose will not suffer their subiects to passe or trauell into forraine Countries because they hold Platoes opinion to bee true which he setteth downe in his common wealth that strange fashions and customes may corrupt home-borne natures such princes I say haue no neede in deed to be any diligent inquisitors or searchers of other mens actions But for other states that with all humane intertainment and entercourse do admit all forreiners and coÌ„uerse kindly with them and embrace their enterests and confederacies and therfore are more strongly entirely enforced of necessitie to guard themselues from their neighbors that are of great power might to the end they may the better maintaine their owne seigniâ—uries and dominions for such states I say it is great reason verie conuenient that they should throughly informe themselues endeuour to their vttermost not only ingeneralitie but also in euery particularitie to vnderstand all matters whatsoeuer which may be referred not vnto priuate Interestes and commodities such as matters of trafficke and marchandizes be but to the state of the whole common wealth which are properly belonging to Princes themselues For as we do read written Hystories to the end we may learne how to gouerne and manage matters aswell present as to come by vnderstanding and reading how things haue fallen out that haue beene heretofore recorded in particularitie so ought we also to knowe how the affaires of the world do presently stand to the ende we may prouide remedies in time and meete with all inconueniences according to the generall knowledge which we haue learned by our reading for such is the course and order of our knowledge that by singularities we proceede to the notice of vniuersalities And therefore the Venetian Magnificoes who are not meanely exercised and experienced in matters of state do not onely send vnto other princes such Embassadors as are of quicke wit and conceit according to the custome of other principalities but also haue established for a lawe that at their returne they shall in the Senate make a true and particular report of the Prince and state with whom they haue beene Ledgers during the time of their Embassage and so by that meanes they shall instruct the yonger sort which are trained vp in the studie of politike affaires to be the better enabled for the seruice of their Countrey And to the same purpose that their Common-wealth may be also better gouerned as well by the example of such matters as haue alreadie passed as also by the fresh information of things presently in action they preserue and keepe the said writings with great faithfulnesse and secrecie in a Register especially appoynted therevnto And this was the cause that I perceyuing how the actions of the Turkes were publikely either too much extenuated and diminished or else beyond all truth magnified and enlarged rather vpon want of true instruction and information then vpon any sting of passionate affections which oftentimes make report of many matters to diuerse priuate persons verie indiscreetly and inconsiderately began to bethinke my selfe that it could not choose but proue verie profitable to the state of Christendome if I would take vpon me the care to examine the present estate of the Turkish Empire and endeuour to discouer the disignements which that Prince hath plotted against the Christians in the best manner I could And forasmuch as it is not alwayes good to
to Venice yea the Venecians thēselues haue bin occasioned to do the like as wel for the maintenāce of the iurisdiction which they pretend to haue in the Adriaticall sea as also because they would take away al occasions frō the Turks to come with an Armada for reuenge of the iniuries and losses which they haue receiued by thesaid Vscocchi and finally because they would not bee troubled with the great Turke as alwayes they are when his subiectes are spoyled by demaunding amendes for the same Moreouer the Vscocchi haue within this little time laid their hands to robbe the Christians also of their marchandizes and particularly the Venitians not as their Vaiuodes and Arambassi do say for the losses which they receyued these last yeares whiles they were besieged in Segna but in truth to enrich themselues by all the iniurious wayes and meanes they could Wherevnto they doe the more willingly applie themselues because they know verie well that they cannot be hindred or at least verie hardly by the said Venetians for that they come backed and assisted by the Imperialistes and can quickly recouer their owne home as in deede they doe both safely and securely and whensoeuer they list These Vscocchi may come forth into the Sea to pray and spoyle by foure wayes that is to say betweene Fiume Veghia and Cherso betweene these Islandes and Arbe betweene Arbe and Pago and betweene Pago and the firme land of Zara. This last passage hath somewhat a straite Channell and may bee of some 100. paces The Venetians do keepe diuerse Gallyes and Barkes armed that walke continually vp and down these Channels to hinder the Vscocchi but by reason of the many disorders that haue hetherto hapened there are now but some Gallyes onely or at least accompanied with a fewe Barkes of small auaile It were verie necessarie principally to multiplie the number of Barks which being backed behind with Gallyes might easily set vppon the Vscocchi and then without all doubt they might make the passage for Marchantes to bee more safe and secure and somuch the better if there were appointed certaine watches euen in such places as were fittest for that purpose And although to doe this the costes and charges would be of some moment yet they might well bee borne considering they shall bee vsed but for a small time for the Vscocchi being once seuered and scattered they cannot so easily vnite themselues together againe And the Marchants also no doubte would willingly contribute to the charges forasmuch as it concerneth their benefite and interest principally There might also a remedy be had against their Theeueries in another sort that is by contributing to the chiefe Captaines of the said Vscocchi a certaine summe of money competent to the end they should abstaine from doing any domage by Sea eyther to the Turkes or Christians For to hinder theeues from robbing especialy such as these bee who are very couragious and hardie is a thing almost impossible vnlesse it might bee performed in deed by an open warre And if any man should thinke that this course would displease the Turke for that hee could not but suspect that the Venetians did not effectually employ themselues against the Vscocchi so long as their owne Marchants did passe to and fro in safety and forasmuch also as this deliberation and agreement could not be kept so secret but that it must needes come to the knowledge of the Turkes I doo thinke verily that it may be prouided for by one of these two meanes eyther by signifying so much to the great Turke himself whose satisfaction is principally respected or else by making supplication to the Pope that in regarde of the publike quiet he would enterpose himselfe to cause payment to bee made to the said chiefe Captaines with the monies of the state of Venice or of the Marchantes to bee deliuered to his Holines secretlie Moreouer the Emperour himselfe might be treated withall that his Emperiall Maiesty would bee pleased to accept of a conuenient Garrison for the defence and custody of Segna and of those Confines Or rather which would be the true remedie indeed they might by generall consent and agreement bee driued quite out of those Countryes considering that they are publike and common theeues and authors of the greatest troubles in Christendome yea and so much the rather for that otherwise they can neuer be diminished much lesse vtterly extinguished aswell because they are not forbidden or hindered from multiplying themselues and receiuing new supplies dayly into their troupes as also and principally because they haue a law that when the husband dieth the wife remaineth heire of all and he that afterwards taketh her to wife becommeth Lord and Maister of all that she possesseth And hitherto let it be sufficient to haue spoken of the Vscocchi and of the meanes how to represse their insolencies wherein I referre my selfe as also in all other things which I haue heretofore sayd and am hereafter to say to better iudgements then mine owne and to persons that are better informed then I am § XVIII AMurath then hauing moued warre agaynst the Emperour Sigismundo Battori the Prince of Transiluania shewed himselfe openly to be agaynst the Turke a matter verily not expected by him and little hoped for by those that examined things onely by reason and according to state for assuredly it was the worke of the onely prouidence of God For by this open declaration of this prince there is arisen without all doubt the securitie and safetie of Germanie ond Italie with the most notable diuersion of the warre that euer hath happened hitherto against the proceedings of the Turks by all the princes Christian that haue fought with them Whereupon Sinan hauing offered himselfe after the death of Hassan to goe in person for the recouerie of that which was lost and to restraine the tongues of such as did sting and backbite him to his grand Seignieur as being the Authour of this councell and being gone forth in deed with supreeme and soueraigne authoritie there happened betweene the one side and the other all those actions which shall be particularly written by the Historiographers And behold whiles this Sinan was at Belgrado the Emperour Amurath died the 9. day of Ianuarie in the yeare 1595. and was buried at Constantinople in a Meschita or Meszita which he had made in his life time and dedicated to Bahalzebuf that is to say to the Idole of Flies for thereupon peraduenture such fabrikes or buildings are either corruptly or in mockage called by vs Christians Moschee of Moscha which signifieth a Flie. Prince Mahamet being returned frō Magnesia to Constantinople after the death of his father by the great carefulnes of Ferat who presently dispatched a Gally vnto him and being inthronized according to the accustomed Ceremonies of the Ottomans the deliberations and consultations touching the war were renued It was thought at the first that Mahamet was rather
inclined to peace then otherwise hauing found as it was noted vnto you in the beginning of this discourse the Citie full of dearth his subiects not well pleased with this warre the Bassaes diuided among themselues and specially the two chiefest of them Sinan and Ferat for the one chalenged the chiefe place because hee was alwayes most louing towardes him and had disswaded his father from a certain determination that sometimes he had to put him to death for iealousie of the state and had euer aduertised him from time to time whatsoeuer had happened in the Empire The other thought that he had purchased great merite because he had in so short a time brought him into the possessiō of his Empire that he had so greatly desired and that at such a time as was most important for the estate of all his affaires In such sort as for these causes and for others also which I haue told you before they iustled lustily one agaynst the other◠till in the end they were both brought to their deathes Notwithstanding Mahamet after that hee had somwhat setled his houshold domestical affaires was of necessitie constrained to go forth to the war in his owne person and principally besides the reasons before alledhed because the Souldiers did not sticke openly to giue him to vnderstand that to the camp they would go no more without the presence of their great Lord for that they were greatly discontented with the former Generals Sinan and Ferat who had intreated them verie hardly Besides that the seedes of ciuill discords did as yet remaine aliue in those that were affectionate some to one of them and some to the other And lastly because Cicala had promised him assured victorie if hee would so doe § XIX IN this yeare which was the first yeare of his going foorth hee surprised Agria a place which although it bee not verie strong in regard of the hill that commandeth it yet is it of great inportance for the situation because the vniting of the Transiluanians forces with the Emperours will be now more difficult for that the Turkes will continually haunt and beate the way that leadeth from Toccai to Cassouia for the other vpper way of Sacmar is much longer And it is so much of greater importance because if the walles of Agria bee repaired the Turke may there maintaine a puissaunt armie betweene both his enemies § XX. IN this yeare also happened the battaile whereof without doubt it may be said that either both the armies remained victorious the Imperiall in the beginning and the Ottoman in the end or else that neither of them was vanquished by the other seeing both of them retired vncertain of their owne estates or how the matter had gone with them And so do we read that it happened euen alike in the battaile betweene Lewes the xi king of Fraunce and Charles Duke of Burgoine to leaue the examples of the Greekes and Romaines that are more auncient Whereupon it was that both the armies following the aduise and counsaile of Leo the Emperour did rather giue encouragement to their seueral peoples with signes of apparant ioy on both sides then confesse their losses True it is in deed that Mahamet saw with his owne eyes that at the beginning his armie was so discomfited and confounded as greatly fearing his life he fled to a hill in the sight of Agria accompanied with some few of his Agalaries and there dryed and wiped his eyes with a peece of Mahomets apparrell which for reuerence hee carried about him Trne it is that our Men had shewed very great valour for lesse then 50. thousand Souldiers so many iumpe as Francisco Maria Duke of Vrbino required for the extirpation and rooting out of that tyranny went to meete with the enemie fought with him and discomfited an Armie of 300. thousand persons euen in the presence and viewe of their Prince who had gathered the same together almost out of all the Forces of his Empire Insomuch as it cannot any way bee doubtted but that if our men had been lesse greedy more vnited better aduised and instructed and aboue all if they had beene the friends of the Lord of Hostes they had obtayned one of the most singular victories that peraduenture was euer obtained by the Cbristians yea and had taken Mahamet prisoner as Baiazet the first was at Mount Stella by the Greate Tamur Chan that is to say an Iron Lorde who is otherwise by some corruptly called Tamerlan and Tamburlan In briefe to conclude this parte the Turkish Captaines hauing shewed small knowledge and little valour and therefore many of them were degraded and put to death and almost all the common Souldiers hauing likewise shewed great cowardize and astonishment of mind it is very likelie that their Great Lord and Maister will thinke better of his businesse in the yeare to come eyther by making peace or by continuing the warre with lesse daunger Whereupon whiles Christendom attendeth and waiteth in great perplexitie of her doubtfull cogitations peraducnture it shall not be vnprofitable if asmuch as shal lie in me I go about a little further to search out the thoughts and counsels of our enemies and examine what may or ought to bee done by our Princes Christian to aduance their businesses to the glory of God and man The end of the Second Part. The third part Wherein is treated That suppose the Turke will growe to Peace whether it bee good that the Emperour and the Transyluanian make peace with him with a discourse of such matters as if the warre continue the said Princes may worke against him what the other Christian Princes may also doe to meet at all times with such daungers as may alight vppon Christendome by the Ottoman Forces IN this last Part then I will shewe first That let it be supposed Mahamet the Emperour of the Turkes hath a desire to grow to a Peace with the Christian Emperour and with the Transyluanian whether it be good that those Princes should make peace with him and secondly I will discourse vpon such matters as the great Turke feareth if the warre bee continued may bee wrought against him as wel by the said Princes as by the other Princes of Christendome Wherewith I will also endeuour my selfe to giue you such notice and knowledge of peoples and places as peraduenture this my trauaile shall bee deemed altogether vnprofitable § I. EVen from the verie beginning of this warre Amurath refused to treate of peace whereunto he was greatly solicited by the Embassadors of France and England to the ende they might haue procured him to make warre by Sea as before I noted against the king of Spaine of purpose to diuert him from the warre which the said king continued against their Princes Their instant motions they reinforced againe after the two ouerthrowes giuen to the two Hassans the one in Croatia and the other in Hungarie
hee deuest and depriue himselfe of all pretenses and tytles which hee sayeth hee hath thereunto Moreouer that hee restore vnto him Lippa which is of great importance to Transyluania because it is in his confines and within the Bassanate of Temesuar vpon the riuer Marisso And finally that the Sangiacke-shippes of Ianoua and Bezcherech with diuers other places of lesse name which hee had burned may be repayred or els that hee may be well payed for thē besides some other giftes and yearely augmentations which he looketh for On the other side yee may almost be assured that there will neuer bee gotten of Mahamet the Countrey of Tureuopolie which is betweene Saua and Cupa now vnder the iurisdiction of the Bano Bani are certaine Gouernors of Prouinces but are of lesse authoritie then the Beglerbyes though some haue written otherwise Neither shall ye euer get of him Biz or Bicagi a place of some importance because it is more towardes the Sea coast neare to the territorie of the Venetians to come to Nouigrad nor in Hungarie on this side of the Danowe Vesprino and Giauarino with the Castles neare adioyning and beyond the Danow Agria the last place that he hath taken I haue thought good to set downe the said places by their particular names to the ende that by knowing what matters of greatest moment and importance are in the possession of either side my narration and discourse may proue the plainer § IIII. THE second thing to be considered is this if the Turke refuse to make peace ioyntly with the Emperour and the Transiluanian togither whether these Princes ought to agree to a peace the one without the other Certaine it is that to doe it seuerally and disioyned would bee to the great daunger of him that is the weaker or of him that is excluded out of the peace and also it would bee agaynst the confederacie against the couenants and conditions wherunto they haue sworne and against the promises which they haue both made to the Pope Moreouer who can doubt but that it would also bee against all law and dutie of gratitude on the Emperours behalfe in regarde of the singular benefite which hee hath receyued by this open declaration that the Transiluanian hath made against the Turke and on the Transiluanians part would it not bee agaynst the obseruation and keeping of his worde which he professeth to be inuiolable and quite contrarie to that which he hath hitherto refused to doe although he hath beene therunto required both by the last and also by this now present Emperour of the Turkes with most ample and large conditions of benefite of hononrable tytles and of perpetuall protection Which if the Emperour Ferdinand◠had regarded most certaine it is that little lesse then all Hungarie had beene at this day in the possession of our enemes Moreouer who can euer promise to himselfe any faith in an Infidell without feare that he will not breake the bonds of all lawfull peace at his pleasure considering that princes specially the barbarous Princes neuer wanted plausible and likely pretenses so to do as the Venetians do know verie well by the faith and promise that Selim did breake with them in the yeare 1570. besides almost an infinite number of examples that might be alledged thereof Which point of breach of faith although in truth no prince can in reason feare yet certaine it is that the Transiluanian Prince hath an exceeding great cause to feare it because the Ottoman house thinketh that from him onely it hath receiued all the iniuries and al the losses of this present warre and that by his onely Rebellion for so doe the Turkes call this his iust and lawfull desire which he hath to withdraw himselfe from the Turkish soueraigntie all their designements and complots haue beene interrupted and frustrated and the course of their hoped victories vtterly stopped and so much the rather ought he to feare it for that if the whole tide and force of the warre should come vpō him alone hardly could he defend himselfe from so mightie an enemie if he should not be ayded and succoured neither by the Polacke nor by the Emperour for of himselfe alone he is but a poore and a weake Prince And although it may seeme that he hath a state fortified by nature and therefore might peraduenture be defended for some time yet in the ende he should of necessitie be constrained either willingly or by force to yeeld to that power which is now growne to be so terrible and fearefull to the whole worlde both for number of people and also for treasure and in respect of all maner of furniture for warre almost inuincible Neither should the Emperour be free from feare in this point if the Transiluanian should be at peace with the Turke because it would be inough for the Ottoman Emperour onely to haue these princes disarmed for a time For hee knoweth verie well with how great difficulty Souldiers are brought togither againe vnder their ensignes after that they are once returned home and especially how hard it is for the Emperour who is constrained to make warre rather with auxiliarie Souldiers then with his owne who also cannot come to succour him without some time and the meeting togither of circuites and dietes which are to be holden before any thing can be done And thus vpon these reasons that haue beene set downe it may be concluded verie resolutely that to make peace on this fashion would not onely not be helpefull to the two Princes but also much more daungerous and pernicious to both their estates for that the enemie may shortly after take vp armes againe and renue the warre with greater aduauntage whensoeuer hee shall thinke it fit and conuenient for him § V. THE third and last consideration which appertaineth not so much to the aforsaide Princes but to all Christendome togither is that suppose the Turk do make peace and keepe it for a while where may we thinke in reason that hee will hereafter direct his arrowes For we haue established this for a most certaine ground and foundation that the Ottoman Empire doth keepe her Subiects alwayes occupied and emploied in new warres against some state or other as hauing had her originall and maintenance by force and armes Of truth it is not to be thought that he will renue the warre against the King of Persia at the least as yet and not being prouoked thereunto because the Souldiers of Europe who are the sinewes and strength of his Armies doe abhorre to go thither by reason of the length of the iourney the want of vittailes the roughnesse of the wayes and the braue valour of the Persians And so much the lesse is it likely that he will renue the warre there because it is but a while agoe since hee made peace with that king and for that he hath not as yet fullie established the foundations of his new Fortresses And