at that time of the yeare haue put into those dangerous seas which Quirinus well knowing came foorth againe with his gallies and roaming vp and downe at his pleasure tooke two of the enemies ships richly laded comming vnto the camp with which bootie he enriched his souldiors and farther incited by occasion landed his men in diuers places alongst the sea coast in PAMPHILIA and there did great harme So hauing filled the countrey with the terrour and fame of his name he returned againe to FAMAGVSTA where he notably encouraged the garrison souldiors persuading them to remember their woonted valour and filling them with hope that the Christian fleet would be with them in the beginning of the next Sommer to deliuer them from their enemies and to raise the siege So hauing in twentie daies dispatched that he came for and done what good seruice else he could he departed from FAMAGVSTA and within fiue daies after arriued at CRETE It was not long but Selymus had knowledge of this late supply put into FAMAGVSTA and of the harmes done by Quirinus wherewith he was so highly displeased that he commaunded the Gouernour of CHIOS his head to be strucke off and the Gouernour of the RHODES to be disgraced whose charge it was to haue kept those seas so that nothing should haue been conuaied into FAMAGVSTA Neither spared he Pial Bassa but depriued him of his Admiraltie and placed Pertau Bassa Admirall in his stead for that he had not the yeare before discomfited the Christian fleet at the island of CRETE as it was supposed he might haue done From the beginning of this warre the Venetians with Pius Quintus then Pope who greatly fauoured their cause had most earnestly from time to time solicited Philip king of SPAINE to enter with them into the participation and fellowship of this warre which their request standing in deed with the good of his state he seemed easily to yeeld vnto and therefore sent Auria his Admirall the last yeare with his fleet to aid them but with such successe as is before declared As for to joyne with them in a perpetuall league and confederation as it was tearmed against the common enemie that he referred vnto the discreet consideration of the two Cardinals Granuellan and Pace and Io. Zunica his embassadour sent for that purpose to ROME promising to performe whatsoeuer they should on his behalfe agree vpon or consent vnto At the same time and for the same purpose lay also Surianus the Venetian embassadour at ROME vnto whom the Pope joyned Cardinall Morone Aldobrandinus and Rusticucius with certaine other of the chiefe Cardinals as men indifferent to both parties to moderat and compose such differences and difficulties as should arise betwixt the aforesaid commissioners for the king and the Venetians concerning the intended league But these graue men sent from so great princes about so great a matter as well there could not be a greater were no sooner met togither and set in consultation but that forthwith they began to jarre about the capitulations of the league Necessarie it was thought that a league should be agreed vpon against so puissant and dangerous an enemie but to find the way how the same might be concluded to the contentment of all parties seemed a matter almost impossible Oftentimes these commissioners sat but the oftener the farther off if one difficultie were by the discretion of some appeased in stead thereof at the next meeting arise three others The chiefe commaund of the armie to be raised the proportion of the forces the maner of the war with many other such like circumstances incident to so great actions made great differences among them but most of all the indifferent proportioning of the charge the Spanish commissioners seeking to turne the greatest part therof vpon the Venetians and the Venetians vpon them which was done with such earnestnesse and studie of euerie man towards his owne part as if they had all there met for the bettering of the particular state from which they were sent rather than for the common good For the Spaniard who in former time was glad to keepe the frontiers of his large dominions in ITALIE SICILIE SARDINIA CORSICA MAIORCA MINORCA yea and of SPAINE it selfe with strong garrisons for feare of the Turke now that the warre was risen betwixt the Venetians and him and the danger thereof translated farre off into other mens territories enjoyed now in his owne an vnwonted quietnesse to the great content of his subjects easing of his owne charge in maintaining of so many garrisons as before whereof many were now thought needlesse Besides that he by the indulgence of the Pope raised such great summes of money vpon his cleargie as was thought by many sufficient to discharge the charge of the warre For which causes he cared not for entring into any farther league with the Venetians but as it were of courtesie to send them a yearely aid to maintain a defensiue lingering war and so to keepe the Turke busied vpon the Venetian a far off from his owne territories But the Venetians in whose dominions the fierce enemie daily raged as well in DALMATIA as in CYPRVS were euen for the same reasons moued to hasten and shorten the war that the Spaniard was to protract it for beside the neerenesse of the danger and the infinit calamities by the sustained their yearly reuenues arising for most part of their customes were greatly empaired and their traffique the maintenance of their State almost quite cut off which caused them more earnestly to confederat themselues with the Spaniard But hard it was to joyne in one States so farre differing in respect of their particular profit and almost by nature contrarie Thus was all the last yeare and a great part of this also spent by the aforesaid commissioners in turbulent and fruitlesse conferences but nothing as yet concluded concerning the league which troubled the Venetians not a little being of themselues too weake for so mightie an enemie as was Selymus and yet no other certaine strength from their friends to rest vpon But whiles they stood thus doubtfull of the league with SPAINE and quite out of hope of any attonement with Selymus vpon the sudden when they least expected it was by good fortune laid as it were in their laps to make choise whether they would as they had before most earnestly desired joyne in league with the Pope and the king of SPAINE or else fall to agreement with Selymus and that by this meanes Muhamet the chiefe Bassa a secret friend vnto the Venetians of whom he had been of long time honoured had no great liking of the prosperous successe of Mustapha in CYPRVS and therefore deuised night and day how to crosse the rising of him the competitour of his honour and withall to help the Venetians vnto whom he was much beholden He by secret messengers had before oftentimes sounded the mind of the Venetian embassadour and put him in hope that if
victors now glad to turne their backes and flie in which flight a great number of the Turkes fell the fierce Tartars most eagerly pursuing them Paleologus with the generall of the Turks hardly chased by the Tartars and glad euery houre to make a stand and to fight for their liues with much adoe after many daies flight recouered a castle of the Generals neere vnto CASTAMONA and so saued themselues The Tartars after this so great a victorie wherein they had broken the whole strength of the Turkes and brought in hazard the whole state of their kingdome without resistance forraged all the countries and prouinces subject vnto the Turkish Sultan making spoile of whatsoeuer they light vpon insomuch that the Sultan discouraged and hauing now no strength left to oppose against them fled vnto the Greeke emperour Theodorus for aid who most honourably entertained him with all his traine and comforted him with such small aid as he thought good then to spare him Which for his more safetie he sent home with him vnder the leading of Isaacius Ducas surnamed Murtzufle a man in great credit with him In recompence of which kindnesse the Sultan gaue vnto the emperour the citie of LAODICEA whereinto he presently put a strong garrison neuerthelesse it was not long before it fell againe into the hands of the Turkes being a place not to be holden by the Greekes Yet for all this the Sultan finding himselfe still too weake to withstand the continuall inuasions of the Tartars and wearie of the harmes he dayly sustained by the aduise of his cheefe counsellors made a league with them yeelding to pay them a certain yearely tribute therby to redeeme his peace From which time the Tartars accounted of the Turks as of their tributaries and vassales Not long after this Michaell Paleologus was by the emperours kind and gracious letters called home with his faithfull promise also before giuen for his securitie who before his return bound himselfe also by solemne oath to be vnto the emperour and his sonne alwayes loyall and from thencefoorth neuer to seeke after the empire or giue cause of new suspect for such matters as he had been before charged with but for euer to yeeld vnto the emperour his sonne or other his successors in the empire his dutifull obedience and fidelitie Vpon which conditions he was again made Great Constable and so receiued into the emperours fauour and liued the rest of his raigne in great honour and credit with him Now Theodorus the emperour hauing raigned three yeares fell sicke and died leauing behind him his sonne Iohn then but a child of six yeares old to succeed him in the empire whom hee vpon his death bed together with the empire commended to Arsenius the Patriarch and one George Muzalo his faithfull counsellor as to his trustie tutors to see him safely brought vp the empire well and peaceably gouerned This Muzalo was a man of meane parentage but for his familiar acquaintance and ciuile behauior of a child brought vp in the court with the emperour as his play fellow with whom he growing vp so framed himselfe vnto his manners and disposition that he alone was vnto him in stead of all still at hand readie to say or doe whatsoeuer might be vnto the emperour gracious or pleasing And the elder they grew so increased this their mutuall affection and loue also in such sort that with him now emperour he was of all others in greatest fauour and authoritie a warie obseruer of his delights a readie minister of his affaires and faithfull partaker of his secrets for which he was in short time promoted vnto the greatest honors of the court and honourably married vnto one of the emperours nigh kinswomen and now at his death by his last will with the reuerend Patriarch appointed tutor to the yong emperor and his two yong sisters And for the more assurance thereof a solemne oath of obedience vnto the yong prince as emperour and vnto them as his tutors was exacted of all sort of men both high low of what vocation soeuer and that not once but first a little before the emperours death and againe after he was now dead for many of the nobilitie honourably descended seeing the suddain change of Muzalo his fortune among themselues murmured thereat as greeued with his preferment seeing there were many among them vnto whom both the tuition of the yong emperour and administration of the empire of better right appertained insomuch as they were both neerer of kin vnto the emperor and fitter as they thought for so great a charge than was Muzalo whom as they said they had many causes both to contemne and hate For beside that hee was not honourably borne and had serued the late emperour Theodore as the minister of his wrath against some of the nobilitie causes sufficient of the peoples hatred if hee should now also in so great authoritie affect the empire it was by his malicious enemies vainly doubted that he would not spare to commit any manner of villanie for the effecting of his inordinat desire Of all which Muzalo was not ignorant a man at all other times of a most quicke apprehension for such matters but as then especially his wits being awaked with these so great motiues dangers Wherfore speedely calling together all the nobilitie into the court he welcommed them one by one and courteously discoursing with them offered to discharge himselfe both of the administration of the empire and tuition of the yong emperour and willingly to yeeld the same vnto any one of them whom the rest should thinke fittest for so great a charge which though they all with one consent as it were refused saying That he was of all others to be preferred vnto whom the emperour lord both of the empire and the child had committed the same yet Muzalo earnestly requested them to the contrarie and stiffely withstood their desire wishing indeed rather to haue led a quiet priuat life in securitie than to haue been so ouercharged not so much for doubt of the enuie then arising as for feare of some great danger thereof to ensue But would he would he not remedie there was none but that as the late emperour had appointed so he must take the charge vpon him And now was euery one as well of the nobilitie as of the inferiour sort againe with greater solemnitie than before the third time sworne to the vttermost of their power to defend the yong emperour in his empire and Muzalo in the tuition of him and administration of the affaires of the state and faithfully to yeeld vnto them both all due honour and obedience which if they should faile religiously to performe they wished vnto themselues euery man to all theirs a shamefull end and destruction Yet notwithstanding all this solemne swearing mixt most times with much forswearing there were not fully nine daies past but that certaine of the chiefe nobilitie forgetfull or else carelesse
price he thrust in armed men couering those packs with homely couerings sending them by carriages to the castle of BILEZVGA giuing charge that they should not come thither before twilight After that he appareled certaine of his best souldiours in womens apparell as if it had beene his wife and mother in law with their women so casting his journey that he with these diguised souldiours and the other sent in packs might at one instant meet at the castle aforesaid The captaine being now in the countrey and vnderstanding that Othoman was comming in the euening with a great tâ—ame of gentlewomen thought the cause of his late comming to be for that the Turkish women vse to shun the sight of Christian men by all meanes they can Othoman being now come to the place in the countrey where the mariage was next day to be solemnized hauing done his humble reuâ—rence to the captaine requested him to do him the honour That his gentlewomen which were nigh at hand might by his appointment bee sent to his castle there to haue some conuenient lodging where they might alight and bestow themselues a part from others according to the homely fashion of their nation least peraduenture the presence of so honourable a companie of noble men and gallants might put them out of countenance which the captaine graunted and hauing saluted them a far off after the Turkish manner commaunded them to be conueyed to his castle making reckoning of them all as of a rich prey At the same time that these disguised souldiours arriued at the castle came thither also the other souldiours couered in packes in the cariages which so soone as they were within the castle suddenly leapt out of the packs and drawing their short swords with the helpe of their disguised fellowes slew the warders of the castle and without more adoe possessed the same the greatest part of the captaines people being before gon out of the castle to the place of the mariage Othoman hauing taried so long with the captaine as hee supposed the castle by that time by his men surprised so soone as the captaine had taken his chamber suddenly tooke horse with all his followers accompanied also with Cossi taking his way directly to the castle of BILEZVGA of whose sudden departure the captaine vnderstanding presently tooke horse and pursued him with all his traine which were for the most part drunke and ouertaking him before he came to the castle set vpon him in which conflict he was by Othoman slaine and the rest put to flight The same night Othoman vsing great celeritie earely in the morning surprised the castle of IARCHISAR also where he tooke prisoners the captaine thereof with his faire daughter Lulufer which should haue beene maried to the captaine of BILEZVGA the next day with all her friends as they were readie to haue gone to the mariage which faire ladie he shortly after married vnto his eldest sonne Orchanes who had by her Amurath third king of the Turkes and Solyman Bassa Othoman omitting no opportunitie presently sent one of his captaines called Durgut-Apes a man of great esteeme and valour to besiege the castle of EINEGIOL wherein he vsed such celeritie that preuenting the same of that was done at BILEZVGA he suddenly inuironed the castle in such sort that none could passe in or out vntill such time as that Othoman hauing broght his prisoners and prey to the castle of BELIZVGA and there hauing set all things in good order came with the rest of his men of war to EINEGIOL which he presently by force tooke promising the spoile thereof vnto his souldiours The captaine called Hagio-Nicholaus his antient enemie he caused to be cut in small peeces and all the men to be slaine which crueltie he vsed because they a little before had vsed the like tyrannie against his Turks When Othoman had thus got into his subjection a great part of the strong castles and forces of the greater PHRIGIA with the territorie to them belonging he began with all carefulnesse to make good lawes and to execute justice to all his subjects as well Christians as Turkes with great indifferencie studying by all meanes to keepe his countrey in peace and quietnesse and to protect his subjects from the spoile of others as well Christians as Turkes whereby it came to passe that the old inhabitants which for the most part had forsaken the country by reason of the great troubles therein repaired now againe to their antient dwellings and not onely they but many other strangers also supplying the places of them whom the late warres had consumed So that by his good gouernment that wasted countrey in short time grew to be againe verâ—â— populous The ciuile gouernment of his countrey well established hee besieged the citie of ISNICA in antient time called NICE a citie of BITHINIA famous for the generall Counsell there holden against Artus in the time of Constantine the Great This citie hee brought into great distresse by placing his men of war in forts new built vpon euerie passage and way leading vnto the same so that nothing could be brought out of the countrey for the reliefe of the poore citizens They in this extremitie by a secret messenger certified the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE vnder whose obedience they were in what distresse the citie stood and that except he sent them present reliefe they must of necessitie either perish with famine or yeeld themselues into the hands of their enemies the Turks The emperour mooued with the pittifull complainâ— of this messenger with all expedition embarked certaine companies of souldiours from CONSTANTINOPLE to relieue his besieged citie But Othoman vnderstanding by his espials where these souldiours were appointed to land in secret manner withdrawing most of his forces from the siege lay in ambush neere vnto the same place where the emperours souldiours casting no perill landed who before they could put themselues in order of battell were by Othoman and his Turks in such sort charged that most part of them were there slaine and the rest driuen into the sea where they miserably perished Othoman hauing thus politikely ouerthrowne the Constantinopolitan souldiours returning to his siege continued the same in straighter manner than before The besieged citizens driuen into great pâ—nurie and now despairing of all helpe yeelded themselues with the great and rich citie of NICE into the hands of Othoman with the spoile whereof he greatly enriched his men of war Aladin the great Sultan of ICONIVM glad to heare of this good successe of Othoman against the Christians in token of his fauour and loue sent vnto him a faire ensigne with certaine drums and trumpets a sword and princely robe with large charters That whatsoeuer he tooke from the Christians should be all his owne and also that publike praiers should be said in all the Turks temples in the name of Othoman for his health and prosperous estate which two things properly belonged to the dignitie of the Sultan
that did this Cobelitz vnto Amurath The dead bodie of Amurath was presently with all secrecie conueied into his tent by the Basâ—aes and captaines present at his death whether Baiazet was also brought with an ensigne before him as the successour in his fathers kingdome His younger brother Iacup surnamed Zelebi or the noble yet ignorant of that had hapned was by the great Bassaes sent for as from his father who casting no perill but comming into his fathers tent was there presently by them strangled by the commaundement of Baiazet as most histories report howbeit the Turkes annales charge him not therwith This was the beginning of the most vnnaturall and inhumane custome euer since holden for a most wholesome and good policie amongst the Turkish kings and emperours in the beginning of their raigne most cruelly to massacre their brethren and neerest kinsmen so at once to rid themselues of all feare of their competitors This Amurath was in his superstition more zealous than any other of the Turkish kings a man of great courage and in all his attempts fortunat he made greater slaughter of his enemies than both his father and grandfather his kingdome in ASIA hee greatly enlarged by the sword mariage and purchase and vsing the discord and cowardise of the Grecian princes to his profit subdued a great part of THRACIA called ROMANIA with the territories thereto adjoyning leauing vnto the emperour of CONSTANTINOPLE little or nothing more in THRACIA than the imperiall citie it selfe with the bare name of an emperour almost without an empire he wan a great part of BULGARIA and entred into SERUIA BOSNA and MACEDONIA he was liberall and withall seuere of his subjects both beloued feared a man of verie few words and one that could dissemble deeply He was slaine when hee was threescore eight yeares old and had thereof raigned thirtie one in the yeare of our Lord 1390. His dead bodie was by Baiazet conuaied into ASIA and there royally buried at PRUSA in a faire chappell at the West end of the citie neere vnto the Bathes there where vpon his tombe lieth his souldiours cloake with a little Turkish tulipant much differing from those great turbants which the Turkes now weare Neere vnto the same tombe are placed three launces with three horse tailes fastened at the vpper end of them which he vsed as guidons in his wars a thing in antient time not strange There standeth a castle with a tombe made in remembrance of him in the plaines of COSSOUA where he was slaine and his entrailes buried which giueth occasion for some to report that hee was there also himselfe enterred FINIS Christian princes of the same time with Amurath the first Emperours Of the East Iohn Palaeologus 1354. 30. Andronicus Palaeologus 1384. 3. Emanuell Palaeologus 1387. 30. Of the West Charles the fourth 1346. 32. Wenceslaus son to Charles king of Bohemia 1378. 22. Kings Of England Edward the third 1327. 50. Richard the second 1377. 23. Of Fraunce Iohn Valois 1350. 14. Charles the fifth 1364. 16. Charles the sixt surnamed The welbeloued 1381. 42. Of Scotland Dauid Bruce 1341. 29. Robert Stuart 1370. Bishops of Rome Innocent the VI. 1354. 10. Vrban the V. 1364. 8. Gregorie the II. 1372. 7. Vrban the VI. 1378. 11. BAIAZET BAIAZETTHES PRIMVS QVARTVA TVRCORVM REX ANNO 1390 Fulminis in morem celeri rapit agmina motu Baizethes fidei pacis impatiens Regni Hadrianopolim sedes sibi legit vt esset Posset vt Europae iungere regna suis. Constantinopolim gemina obsidione fatigat Iam Graetas vana spe sibi spondet opes Cum Tamburlano praebet sua terga catenis Vinctus in cauea probra pudenda subit Prowd Baiazet most false of faith and loathing blessed peace His warlike troupes like lightening to shake he doth not cease Of HADRIANOPLE he makes choice for his imperiall seat That EVROPS kingdomes he might joyne vnto his empire great CONSTANTINOPLE he distrest twice with straight siege and long And vainly thought to haue possest the Graecians wealth by wrong But ouercome by Tamberlane fast bound in fetters sure Trod vnder foot and cloas'd in cage great shame did there indure THE LIFE OF BAIAZET THE FIRST OF THAT NAME THE FOVRTH AND MOST VNFORTVNAT KING OF THE TVRKES BAiazet or as the Turks call him Baiasit of his violent and fierce nature surnamed Gilderun or lightening succeeded his father Amurath in the Turkish kingdome his younger brother Iacup being strangled immediatly after his fathers death as is before declared He in the first yeare of his raign inuaded SERVIA and there besieged CRATOVA a citie of the Despots whereunto the siluer mines of SERVIA not the least cause of that warre belonged Which citie was yeelded vnto him vpon condition That the Christian inhabitants might with life and libertie depart Who were no sooner gone out of the cittie but that by his commaundement they were all most cruelly slaine by his men of warre for that purpose sent out after them At this time hee also woon VSCUPIA with diuers other castles in the countrey neere vnto CRATOVA Sigismund at the same time king of HUNGARIE a yong prince of great hope and brother to Wenceslaus then emperour of the West aduertised from the Seruians his allies and confederats of these proud proceedings of Baiazet by his embassadours sent of purpose requested him That as he was a just prince and wished to liue in quiet with his owne to desist from doing of such open wrong and from inuading of such countries of his friends and confederats as he had no right in Which embassadours so sent Baiazet detained without answere vntill such time as he had ouerrun a great part of the Despot his country and therein done what he thought good Then calling the said embassadours vnto him into one of the strong townes which hee had in euerie corner filled with his owne souldiours told them that they might there see that his right both vnto that towne and the rest by him taken was good inough for as much as the verie wals acknowledged the same and so giuing them leaue to depart willed them so to tell their master Which his proud answere by the same embassadors reported vnto the yong king no lesse troubled him than if open warre had by them been denounced vnto him seeing the tyrant as should seeme pretending right vnto whatsoeuer hee could by force get neuerthelesse being himselfe not yet well setled in his kingdome and in doubt of the contrarie faction that altogether liked not of his election into HUNGARIE for their king he was glad at that time to put it vp and so to hold himselfe content The next yeare Baiazet by Ferises Beg tooke the citie of VIDINA with many other strong townes and castles in SERVIA and afterwards returned to HADRIANOPLE But whilest that hee thus raged in EUROPE the Caramanian king inuaded and spoiled the frontiers of his countries in ASIA which although he was not then at
entertainement there in the time of the ciuile wars betwixt Caesar and Pompeius This citie Mahomet thought to haue taken vnprouided and so vpon the suddaine to haue carried it but was therein much deceiued finding it strongly fortified and manned both by the Venetians and Scanderbeg Where when he had there spent some time and to his great losse in vaine attempted the cittie hee rise vpon the suddaine and retiring into EPIRVS came and sat downe againe before CROIA of purpose by his suddaine comming to haue terrified the cittizens and vainely persuaded that he had left Scanderbeg in DIRRACHIVM for that in the assailing thereof he had discouered many of Scanderbeg his men and thereby supposed him to haue beene there also the greatest cause why he so suddenly rise and came to CROIA At his first comming he offered great rewards and large priuiledges vnto the cittizens if they would forthwith yeeld vp their citie otherwise he threatened vnto them all the calamities of warre vowing neuer to depart thence before he had it whereunto he receiued no other answere out of the cittie than was sent him by the mouth of the Cannon or brought him by many most braue sallies Scanderbeg in the meane while continually molesting his campe and euery night falling into one quarter or another thereof Mahomet taught by experience to what small purpose it would bee for him to lie there long rise with his armie marched againe to the sea side to a place now called the head of REDON vpon the gulfe of VENICE not farre from DIRRACHIVM where Scanderbeg had begun to build a new cittie called CHIVRILL not yet finished which Mahomet in despight of the man rased downe to the ground After that hearing that many of the Epirots were retired into the mountaines hee went to seeke them out and was with greâ—â— losse by those mountaine people repulsed Scanderbeg still following him at the heeles and awaiting all oportunities daily cut off part of his armie So that at last the tyrant despairing of any good to bee done in that expedition was glad to depart out of EPIRVS hauing atcheeued nothing worth his comming and so full of discontentment and melancholie returned to CONSTANTINOPLE After all these great troubles Scanderbeg rid ouer most part of EPIRVS to view the state of his kingdome and so at last came to LYSSA a citie of the Venetians which he had alwaies specially liked there to conferre with the Venetian legate and other the confederate princes of matters concerning their state in generall as his manner was but more particularly how they might take the citie of VALMES which Mahomet had the last yeare built in the siegnorie of Aryannites Comynat and much troubled that part of EPIRVS But whilest he lay there he fell sicke of a feauer which daily so encreased vpon him that he became sicke euen vnto death and now perceiuing his end to draw nigh sent for his wife and sonne with the princes and lords his confederates and the embassadours of the Venetians into his bed chamber Where after he had at large with greater paine notably discoursed of his troublesome life led amongst them than he had before passed the same and carefully forewarned them of the dangers like to ensue he earnestly exhorted them to continue in vnitie and concord and valiantly to stand in defence of their religion countrey and libertie And afterwards turning his speech to his wife and his sonne commended them both with his kingdome to the tuition of the Venetians who by the articles of the confederation betwixt him and them were in honour bound to protect his sonne and kingdome during the time of his minoritie and afterwards peaceably to place him in the same In fine he willed his wife after his death to passe ouer with her sonne into APVLIA where they might in safetie and quiet liue vpon such possessions as he there held by the gift of king Ferdinand And so after he had with most feruent prayer commended his soule into the hands of Almightie God departed in peace the seuenteenth day of Ianuarie in the yeare of our Lord 1466 when hee had liued about 63 yeares and thereof raigned about 24. His death was worthely lamented of all Christian princes but especially of the Venetians and princes of ALBANIA who had now lost their most carefull watchman and inuincible champion the sorrow of his subjects is not to bee expressed euery man bewayling him as the onely stay of the commonweale and as if with him they had lost all their hope His deadâ—bodie was with the generall lamentation of all men royally buried in the cathedrall church of S. Nicholas at LYSSA where it rested in peace vntill that about nine yeares after the Turkes comming to the siege of SCODRA by the way tooke the citie of LYSSA and there with great deuotion digged vp his bones reckoning it in some part of their happinesse if they might but see or touch the same and such as could get any part thereof were it neuer so little caused the same to be set some in siluer some in gold to hang about their neckes or weare vpon their bodies persuading themselues by the wearing thereof to be partakers of such good fortune and hap as had Scanderbeg himselfe whilest he liued which is not vnaptly by Gabriell Fairnus of CREMONA thus in verse expressed SCANDERBEG In English thus The bloudie bane of faithlesse Turkes and terrour of their name EPIRVS strong defence and guard lay buried there with fame Within that tombe wherein long since Great Castriotus lay But now those limbs and tombe defac'd are carried quite away The remnants of that worthy wight out of his graue were torne And being dead could find no rest but were for jewels worne For after he farre spent with age gaue place to fatall doome And left his fathers kingdome got and kept with great renowme Forthwith the cruell Turkes preuaild and all things there possest Who worshipping his stately tombe and place of quiet rest Dig'd vp his bones and brake the tombe wherein he did remaine And glad was he that could thereof some little part obtaine As if in them some martiall force or vertue great had beene Or fortune rare such as before in him was liuing seene So vertue which to others giues a sepulture and graue Bereft it him yet forst his foe in honour it to haue Most part of the time of these warres betwixt Mahomet and Scanderbeg the Venetians by sea and the Hungarians by land kept the Turkes throughly busied Mathias Coruinus king of HVNGARIE according to his promise made vnto the Venetians entred into the kingdome of BOSNA where by force he ouerthrew the strong forts which the Turks had built for the defence of their frontiers and manfully draue them out before him vntill he came to IAZIGA of some called IAITZE the chiefe citie of BOSNA which he at length tooke and following the course of his victorie scarcely suffered the
foure of their great fusts sunke with great store both of men and ordinance the defendants also in the tower with shot timber stones and other such like things prouided for that purpose grieuously ouerwhelmed the Turks that were scaling the wals and beat them downe with great slaughter This hoat assault was desperatly maintained by the Turkes from three a clocke in the morning vntill ten when the Bassa seeing no hope to preuaile gaue ouer the assault hauing therein lost aboue 2500 men whose dead bodies shortly after driuen on shoare were spoyled by the Christians The same night two mercinarie souldiors of CRETE going about to haue fled vnto the enemie were apprehended and put to death And George Frapaine who in the beginning of the siege fled from the Turks now againe vehemently suspected of treason was executed also Thus neither force nor treason preuailing the Bassa because he would leaue nothing vnproued that might better his cause sent certaine messengers vnto the great Master offering vnto him in the name of the Turkish emperour great rewards with many honourable preferments if he would yeeld vp the citie which he could not as they would haue persuaded him long hold against so mightie an enemie wishing him now in his declining estate not to refuse such honourable and princely offers for feare he were afterwards constrained to accept of farre worse or els through his desperat wilfulnesse plunge himselfe and his people into such extreame perill as should be impossible for him or them to find any way out of Whereunto the great Master in breefe answered That he would not willingly in his sure estate vse the counsell of his enemie neither in his greatest distresse refuse chearefully to yeeld his life vnto Almightie God to whom he did owe it and that with farre better will than to yeeld vp the citie vpon any conditions beare they neuer so faire a shew of honour or profit The messengers perceiuing his constant resolution rather to die than to yeeld his citie began according to instructions before giuen them by the Bassa to temper with him another way and to persuade him to yeeld vnto the mightie emperour some small yearely tribute or other homage as an acknowledgement of his greatnesse and so to liue as his friend in peace But the great Master knowing by the wofull example of others that in that small request lay included the beginning of the Turkish thraldome and slauerie vtterly refused to pay him the least tribute or to doe him the least homage that could be deuised With which answere the messengers returned hauing obtained nothing of that they were sent for The resolute answer of the great Master reported by the aforesaid messengers vnto the Bassa troubled him exceedingly for though he had small hope by force to win the citie yet hee was alwayes in hope vntill now at his pleasure to forsake the siege with some such reasonable composition as might stand with his honour But sith nothing remained now but by plaine force to constraine his enemies hee resolued for the safegard of his honour in that extremitie to vse that extreame remedie Wherfore beside the great peeces of batterie he had alreadie planted against the wals he mounted diuers smaller peeces much higher thereby the more to annoy the defendants by beating downe of their churches and high built houses His ordinance thus placed he battered the citie day and night for the space of foure dayes together without intermission during which time the Christians out of the citie spared not liberally to bestow their shot amongst their enemies also so that the aire seemed to grow thicke and the light of the day to be darkned with the smoke of the great ordinance and the great shot came so thicke into the citie that the fearefull women and children were glad to shroud themselues from the danger thereof in cellars and caues vnder ground So long continued this great batterie that at length the strength of the wall gaue place to the furie of the cannon and a faire breach was laid open for the enemie to enter which was no sooner made but that with the first shew thereof the Turks gaue thereunto a desperat assault and preuailing by reason of their multitude had vpon the suddaine recouered the top of the wals and there set vp some of their ensignes but the Christians speedily comming in on euery side to the defence of the breach they were againe quickly repulsed and beaten down into the ditches out of which most of them neuer rise more At which time the Turks in another place with their scaling ladders had gained the top of the wals and there aduanced their ensignes also and were now fiue hundred of them entred the citie and come into the street called the Iews street where they were encountred by the Great Master his followers and all slaine that were alreadie entred and their ensignes that stood vpon the wals throwne downe The rest yet scaling the wals and ignorant of the fortune of their fellowes were likewise beaten from the wals and with wonderfull slaughter rejected So that the Bassa not able longer to endure the slaughter of his men being in both places repulsed caused a retreat to be sounded and left the assault wherein he had lost of his most forward men about fiue thousand with small losse of the Christians In this assault the great Master himselfe receiued fiue wounds whereof one vnder his right pap was thought to haue been deadly which yet afterwards was very well cured with the rest After that the Bassa had by the space of three months to small purpose spent all his forces and deuises vpon the citie he began to doubt whether it were better for him to raise his siege and depart or to tarrie and expect some better fortune which in all his former actions had seemed almost to haue waited vpon him to forsake the siege was dishonourable and to continue it without hope presented no lesse danger Besides that in the former assaults he had alreadie lost nine thousand of his best souldiours and all the rest of his armie was filled with heauinesse and despaire to heare the wofull sighing and groning of their fellowes of whom fifteene thousand lay dispersed in the campe sore wounded and readie many of them to giue vp the ghost and also but euen a little before two great ships sent from Ferdinand king of NAPLES with men and munition were in despight of all the Turkes gallies safely arriued at the RHODES to the great joy and encouragement of the besieged and no lesse discontentment of the Turks Whilest the Bassa was thus deliberating what course to take a rumor was raised in the campe That the Christian princes were comming with great power to relieue the town with which news the whole armie was exceedingly troubled whereupon he raised his siege Some others say that Mahomet hearing of the euill successe of his armie in the island of the RHODES with the
him alone for his great vertues Baiazet stood in feare and doubt least hee should by some chance escape out of prison to the troubling of his state For the performance of this his request he promised faithfully to pay vnto the bishop two hundred thousand duckats and neuer after so long as he liued to take vp armes against the Christians Otherwise than had his father Mahomet and his grandfather Amurath done who both as deadly enemies vnto the name of the Christians neuer ceased by continuall warres to worke their woe But George the bishops embassadour and Dautius trauelling towards ITALIE and hauing now happely passed the Adriaticke as they were about to haue landed at ANCONA were bourded by Io. Rouereus brother to Iulianus the Cardinall a man of great account in those quarters and cleane quit of their treasure and whatsoeuer else they had aboord Rouereus pretending for the defence of the fact That the bishop did owe him a great summe of money due vnto him for his good seruice done in the time of Innocentius his predecessour for which he now paied himselfe Neither could the bishop much troubled with that injurie euer after recouer any one part thereof although he threatened vengeance with fire and sword and also sought for recompence of the Venetians whom it concerned to saue the Turkes harmelesse in those seas for why Rouerius bearing himselfe vpon the French which were now vpon comming whose faction he followed kept the money and set at nought the bishops thundering curses and vaine threats Dautius himselfe Baiazets embassadour being set on shore was glad to goe on foot to ANCONA and so from thence passing vp the riuer Padus came to Franciscus Gonzaga duke of MANTVA of whom for the antient friendship betwixt him and Baiazet hee was courteously entertained and furnished both with money and apparell and so spoiled returned into GRaeCIA to carrie newes vnto his master how he had sped When Baiazet vnderstood by Dautius the euill successe he had in his late journey he forthwith sent Mustapha one of the Bassaes of the court vnto the great Bishop Alexander with like instructions as he had before giuen to Dautius who with better hap arriued in ITALIE and came to ROME in safetie where he forgot no part of that was giuen him in charge by his great master But amongst manie other things the life of Zemes was that he most sought for at the Bishops hands At the same time which was in the yeare 1495 the French king Charles the eight of that name passing through the heart of ITALIE with a strong armie against Alphonsus king of NAPLES and taking his way without leaue through the citie of ROME so terrified Alexander the bishop who as we haue before said altogither fauoured and as much as in him lay furthered the cause of Alphonsus that he was glad to yeeld to all such articles and conditions as it pleased him then to demaund not purposing in himselfe at all the performance of anie of those things which for feare he had with great solemnitie promised as the â—equell of the matter afterwards declared Amongst other things he was enforced to giue vnto the king his gracelesse sonne Caesar Borgia Valentinus then one of the cardinals in hostage for the performance of the other of his promises Which disgrace the craftie old bishop sought to couer by gracing his sonne with the title of his legate and with him he was also enforced to deliuer Zemes the Turke Baiazet his brother his honourable prisoner who to the great profit of the bishop and his predecessour had remained in safe custodie at ROME about the space of seauen yeares But Zemes within three daies after he was deliuered vnto the French died at CAIETA being before his deliuerance poisoned as it was thought with a powder of wonderfull whitenesse and pleasant tast whose power was not presently to kill but by little and little dispersing the force therof did in short time bring most assured death which pleasant poison Alexander the bishop skilfull in that practise corrupted by Baiazet his gold and enuying so great a good vnto the French had caused to be cunningly mingled with the sugar wherewith Zemes vsed to temper the water which he commonly dranke His dead bodie was not long after sent to Baiazet by Mustapha his embassador who to the great contentment of his master had thus contriued his death with the bishop Not long after this dead bodie so farre brought was by the appointment of Baiazet honourably enterred amongst his auncestors at PRVSA Caesar Borgia also the bishops sonne a little before giuen in hostage vnto the French king deceiuing his keepers at VELITRAS returned againe to ROME before the French king was come to NAPLES This wicked impe come of an euill strain not worth the remembrance but by way of detestation the verie monster of nature if a man should well consider the course of his whole life shortly after his escape enuying at the honour of Candianus his brother who then was Generall ouer the bishop his fathers forces which were at that time great when he had one night merily supped with his said brother with their mother Vannotia traiterously caused him to be vnawares murdered in the streets as he was going home and his dead bodie to be cast into the riuer of Tiber. Then casting off his priestly habit with his Cardinals roabs he tooke vpon him the leading of his fathers armie in his brothers stead and gaue himselfe wholy to martiall affaires a vocation best fitting his fierce and bloudie disposition And with exceeding prodigalitie wherwith he exhausted his fathers coffers and the treasures of the church bound fast vnto him desperat ruffians and souldiours especially Spaniards his fathers countrey men such as he knew fittest to serue for the execution of his most horrible deuises Which manner of his proceedings although they were such as all good men detested yet did the old hypocrit his father winke thereat fearing as it was thought to be murdered of the viper himselfe when it should serue for his purpose Now when he had thus strengthned himselfe and that he was become a terrour to all the nobilitie of ROME and the seigniories thereabout he by the deuise and helpe of his father who desired nothing more than to make him great first draue the most honourable family of the Columnij out of the citie and afterwards out of LATIVM and by most execrable treacherie poisoned or killed the honourable personages of the great houses of the Vrsini and Caetani taking vnto himselfe their lands and possessions With like crueltie he strangled at one time foure noblemen of the Camertes and draue Guido Feltrius out of VRBIN He tooke the citie of PISAVRVM from Io. Sfortia who with much difficultie escaped his bloudie hands and draue the Malatestaes out of ARIMINVM The great ladie Catherine Sfortia he thrust out of FORVM LIVII and FORVM CORNELII and shamefully led her in triumph
other Sciemscia the eldest gouernor of CARAMANIA for his towardlinesse most deerely beloued of his father died of a naturall death before him and was of him and his subjects greatly lamented Alemscia died in like manner of whose death as soone as he was aduertised by mourning letters written in blacke paper with white characters as their manner of writing is in certifying of heauie newes he cast from him his scepter with all other tokens of honour and caused generall mourning to be made for him in the court and through all the citie of CONSTANTINOPLE by the space of three daies during which time all shops were shut vp all trading forbidden and no signe of mirth to be seene and for a certaine space after the manner of their superstition caused solemne sacrifices to be made for the health of his soule and 7000 Aspers to be giuen weekly vnto the poore His dead bodie was afterward with all princely pompe conuaied to PRVSA and there with great solemnitie buried Tzihan gouernor of CARIA and Mahomet gouernor of CAPHA vpon their fathers heauie displeasure were by his commaundement both strangled Of his other foure sonnes Achmet otherwise called Achomates Machmut or Mahometes Corcut or Corcuthus and Selymus the second namely Mahometes was of greatest hope and expectation not giuen to sensualitie or voluptuous pleasure as Achomates his eldest brother neither altogither bookish as was Corcuthus nor yet of so fierce and cruell a disposition as Selymus but of such a liuely spirit sharpe wit bountifull disposition and princely carriage of himselfe that in the judgement of most men he seemed alreadie worthie of a kingdome Which immoderat fauour of the people caused his elder brother Achomates yea and Baiazet also himselfe to haue him in no small jealousie as if he had affected the empire and was in short time the cause of his vntimely death Which thing he nothing doubting hastened as fatall things are by such meanes as hee least feared might haue procured anie such mortall distrust or danger Most of Baiazet his children were by diuers women yet Achomates and this Mahometes were by one and the same mother for which cause Mahometes tooke greater pleasure in him than in any his other brethren although it were not answered with like loue againe Achomates was lord and gouernour of AMASIA and this Mahometes of MAGNESIA who desirous to see the manner of his brothers life and gouernment disguised himselfe with two of his familiar and faithfull friends as if they had been religious men of that order which the Turkes call Imailer These men are for most part comely personages borne of good houses who in cleanly attire made after an homely fashion doe at their pleasure wander vp and downe from towne to towne and countrey to countrey noting the disposition and manners of the people whereof as fitteth best their purpose they make large discourses afterwards to others they commonly carrie about with them siluer cymbals whereon they play most cunningly and thereunto sing pleasant and wanton ditties for which idle delight they receiue money of the people as an almes giuen them of deuotion These are the common corrupters of youth and defilers of other mens beds men altogither giuen to ease and pleasure and are of the Turkes called The religious brethren of Loue but might of right better be tearmed Epicurus his hogs than professours of anie religion at all Mahometes and his two consorts as men of this profession trauelled vp and downe the countries of PONTVS and CAPADOCIA where Achomates commaunded and so to the citie of AMASIA receiuing for their merrie glee by the way as they went the almes and deuotion of the foolish countrey people And being at the length come to AMASIA vpon a solemne holiday they awaited the comming of Achomates to the church who passing by staied a while listening attentiuely vnto their pleasant and alluring harmonie which was for that purpose most curiously and skilfully before deuised and by them both with their instruments and voices performed When they had ended their musicke and according to the manner of their idle profession expected his deuotion Achomates being a man of a spare hand commaunds fiue aspers to be giuen them in reward which is about six pence of our money Mahometes disdaining his brothers base reward as a signe of his miserable disposition would in no wise discouer himselfe as he had before determined but taking horse returned with speed to MAGNESIA from whence hee writ taunting letters vnto his brother Achomates scoffing at his good husbandrie no praise to a prince and in contempt sent him backe againe his fiue aspers which thing Achomates tooke in so euill part as that he was neuer afterwards friends with him The report of this fact was in short time dispersed throughout all parts of the Turkish empire diuers men diuersly deeming of his purpose therein Not long after Mahometes had in this sort plaied with his brother Achomates he attired himselfe with certaine of his trustie followers as if they had beene seafaring men and with a small bark came to CONSTANTINOPLE and there landing as aduenturers from sea tooke diligent view both of the imperiall citie and of the citie of PERA standing opposite against it curiously noting how all things were by his fathers appointment ordered and gouerned It happened whilest he was thus staying at CONSTANTINOPLE that Baiazet had appointed a solemne assembly of all his chiefe Bassaes at the court which Mahometes was desirous to haue the sight of as also of the fashion of his fathers court but as he with his companions pressed to haue entred in at the court gate they were by their base apparell taken of the porters to haue been rude mariners and so by them kept out Wherefore consulting what to doe in that case he went and presently bought a most beautifull Christian captiue boy and the next day comming againe to the court with two of his companions as if they had been aduenturers at sea requested to be let in for that they had brought a present for the emperour So finding means to be admitted vnto the presence of Baiazet one of his consorts as if he had been a sea captaine boldly stept forth and with due reuerence offered the present vnto the emperour which he thankfully tooke and in token thereof gaue him his hand to kisse and commaunded a rich garment wrought with gold to be giuen vnto him with two other of lesse valour vnto Mahometesâ—nd â—nd his fellow supposed to be the said captaines followers who all this while stood a farre off as if it had beene for reuerence of the emperor but in deed for feare to be discouered As these counterfeit guests were returning from the court in their garments of fauour they happened to meet with three courtiers which knew Mahometes who dismounting from their horses had done him honour and due reuerence as to the sonne of the great emperour had he not by secret signes forbidden them as one
You heard sacred fellowes in armes and valiant citizens of the RHODES these imperious and sorrowfull letters whereunto how we are to answere requireth no great deliberation we must as resolute men either yeeld or die all hope of victorie is gone except forraine aid come Wherefore if yâ—â— will follow my counsell let vs with weapons in our hands vntill the last gaspe and the spending of the last drop of our bloud like valiant men defend our faith and nobilitie receiued from our auncestours and the honour which we haue so long time gotten both at home and abroad and let it neuer be said that our honour died but with our selues This speech of the Great Master seemed vnto many heauier than the imperious commaundement of the Turkish tyrant and a great while men stood silent heauily looking one vpon another many with changing of their countenance and outward gesture more than by words expressing what they thought in heart At length a certaine Greeke priest with great compassion of mind as it seemed and teares trickling downe his cheekes brake forth into these words And I would also hold my peace if I were a priuat man and not first of all in so great and troubled an assemblie broach mine owne opinion But for as much as the regard of our common preseruation can wring a word out of no mans mouth and all men know that now is the time to speake and say what euery man thinketh best which shall neither alwaies nor long be graunted vnto vs I will not let it now ouerpasse and slip away Wherefore let vs suppose that no commaund of a most mightie prince besieging vs were come vnto vs but that I were reasoning as a priuat man with his neighbor or one friend with another by the fire side or in our cups without care without any great affection to either partie as men indifferent not liking or hating as men oftentimes doe of princes affairs which cencerne them nothing and then as I hope my speech shall be vnto you neither vnpleasant nor vnprofitable We Greekes and Latines with ioined armes haue now this six moneths withstood our deadly enemies not onely abroad before our wals but also in the very bowels of our citie without any forraine helpe which as we haue of long time all vainely looked for so are we now euery one of vs out of hope thereof And yet our enemie either moued with the secret goodnesse of God or els ignorant of our strength and forces spent with wounds slaughter sicknesse and perpetuall labour doth voluntarily offer that vnto vs which was of vs to be most of all desired and earnestly sued for Your publicke and priuat treasures the bodies of your selues your wiues and children he keepeth vnuiolated he taketh from vs only the citie which he hath for most part alreadie beaten downe and taken Worthie Great Master and you most valiant Knights I haue knowne your prowesse and valour in many battailes at sea but especially in this siege whereof seeing there is no more vse in this our desperat estate I doe appeale vnto your wisdome and discretion Sithence all is now the conquerors in that he leaueth vnto vs our liues and goods is to be accounted gaines and the yeelding vp of the citie and Island no losse which the victorious enemie alreadie commaundeth which although it be a heauie matter and greâ—uous vnto the nobilitie yet your fortune persuadeth you thereunto Wherefore if you be to be moâ—â—d with any compassion I account it better to yeeld than to be slaine your selues or to see your wiues and children by law of armes to be led away before your faces into miserable captiuitie and seruitude If any Christian compassion remaine in your warlike minds I beseech you seeke not the vtter destruction of this innocent people who I may with modestie say hath not euill deserued of you whom Christ Iesus whom the enemie himselfe would haue preserued That I say this which I speak vnto you for Christian charitie and for no other cause let this be a sufficient testimonie That so long as you were able to resist by your owne power or hoped for aid from forraine princes I neuer spake word or once thought of yeelding but now seeing the fatall ruine of all things about vs our common estate brought vnto the vttermost extremitie our deadly enemie in the heart of our citie no hope and that the warre cannot longer be protracted I wish you to yeeld and for my part had rather make choise of peace thâ—â— warre and to proue the enemies fauour than his furie Most of them there present were of the same mind with the priest But as nothing can be so reasonably spoken as to content all men so this speech was not of them all liked some there were though not many which considering the harmes they had done vnto the Turkes and doubting with what safetie they might yeeld themselues into the power of that faithlesse people had rather to haue fought it out to the last man and so to haue left vnto them a bloudie victorie Amongst these one bold spoken fellow stept forth and in presence of them all dissuaded the yeelding vp of the citie in this sort I haue not been with any thing more vnacquainted than to deliuer my opinion before princes or in such great and publicke assemblies being alwaies more desirous modestly to heare other mens opinions than impudently to thrust forth mine owne But now seeing extreame necessitie will not longer suffer me to keepe my wonted course of silence I will frankely speake my mind and tell you what in my opinion is to be answered vnto the heauie message and imperious commaund of the most perfidious tyrant This cruell enemie hath ouerthrowne our wall and is entred three hundred foot and more within our cittie and as a most troublesome guest liueth and conuerseth with vs as it were vnder the same roofe Such as list not longer to endure such an vnwelcome guest and troublesome neighbour persuade you because he is troublesome to giue him all But worthie and sacred knights I am of far different opinion neither doe I thinke a possession of 214 yeares is so lightly to be deliuered vp and the ground forsaken but rather that this troublesome intruder is in like manner to be himselfe troubled and with deadly skirmishes continually vexed whom after we had by force of armes and vndaunted courage maugre his head held out fiue moneths at length he brake into our citie not by any valour in himselfe but holpen by time which tameth all things and since his first entrance it is now almost fortie daies in which time for all his hast he hath scarcely got forward 130 paces hindered by the blockes we haue laied in his way and will not cease continually to lay if we be wise men and mindfull of our former valour Destroy me you heauenly powers before I see with these eies these sacred knights to yeeld vp this famous citie
or wound them which appeared vpon the wals The gallies also did oftentimes out of their prows discharge their great pieces against the citie to the greater terrour than hurt of the defendants Solyman perceiuing that he did but lose his labour in besieging the citie as he was told at the first by his great captaines Lutzis Aiax and Barbarussa determined now to raise his siege and to returne to CONSTANTINOPLE greatly ashamed that he had no better sped neither in ITALIE nor at the siege of CORFV But when he was about to haue departed it was told him how vnfaithfully some of his soldiors had dealt with them of CASTRVM in ITALIE who yeelding themselues vpon the Turks faith to them giuen for the safegard of their libertie and goods were neuerthelesse most injuriously spoiled of all that they had and caried away into bondage Which fact as tending to the dishonour of his name and the deterring of others from yeelding Solyman tooke in so euill part that for amending thereof he caused the authors of that fact to be put to death and the captiues of CASTRVM to be diligently sought out and sent home againe into their countrey well deseruing therein the commendation of a most just prince The Turks left the siege of CORFV and departed out of the island about the twelfth of September in the yeare 1537 carrying away with them aboue sixteene thousand of the island people into perpetuall captiuitie So Solyman rising with his armie marching thorow ACARNANIA and AETOLIA returned thorow MACEDONIA to CONSTANTINOPE hauing in this his expedition done great harme both in ITALIE and CORCYRA but yet nothing encreased his empire or honour Before his departure calling vnto him Lutzis his Admirall he commaunded him also to returne with his fleet to HELESPONTVS who passing by ZAZINTHVS and landing some of his men in the night tooke diuers of the countrey people prisoners But vnderstanding that the citie it selfe was both strong and well manned he departed thence to CYTHERA where vnfortunatly attempting to haue taken the castle and disappointed of his purpose he made what spoile he could vpon that island and with eight hundred prisoners returned into AEGEVM to AEGINA a rich and famous island and well peopled both with marriners and other inhabitants Approching the island he by his messengers sent before vnto the Gouernour of the citie attempted first by faire meanes and afterwards by threats to haue had the citie yeelded vnto him and not so preuailing but perceiuing them to stand vpon their defence he landed his men and gaue the signall of battell Which they of the island refused not but manfully met him and at the first encounter slew many of his men wherewith the Admirall grieuously offended and still landing fresh men euen with his multitude oppressed them of the island being but in number few and wearie of long fight and so enforced them them to retire into the citie To be reuenged of this injurie the Bassa caused certaine pieces of great ordinance to be landed and a batterie planted against the citie by force whereof he had in short time in diuers places opened the wals and then with all his power assaulting the breaches forthwith tooke the citie which after he had rifled he burnt it downe to the ground rased the wals and put the men euerie mothers sonne to the sword As for the women he gaue them without respect vnto the lust of his souldiors and marriners whom afterwards togither with the boies and young children he shipped into the countrey neere vnto ATHENS to be from thence conuaied to CONSTANTINOPLE into most miserable seruitude AEGINA thus vtterly rased he with much like force and crueltie raged vpon them of PAROS and the other islands thereabouts killing the old men and such as made resistance and thrusting the rest into his gallies Shortly after he came to the island of NAXOS where all the island people were for feare of his comming fled out of the country into the citie there landing his men he made hauocke of whatsoeuer came to his hand And in the meane time sent a messenger vnto the duke to will him to yeeld himselfe and his citie to the obedience of the Turkish emperour Solyman Which messenger admitted into the citie and brought before the duke in blunt and plaine tearmes without farther circumstance deliuered his message as followeth If thou wilt without more adoe yeeld thy selfe thy citie and territorie to the Constantinopolitane emperour thou shalt deserue his fauour and so saue thy selfe with that thou hast But if thou otherwise aduised shalt now refuse this grace thou shalt neuer hereafter haue the like offer but for euer vndoe thy selfe thy wife and children thy citisens and subiects in generall Here is present a most mightie fleet with most valiant and victorious souldiours furnished with all the habiliments of war requisite for battell or siege Be warned by them of AEGINA PAROS and other thy neighbours princes of the islands Thy hap is good if thou be not misaduised and warned by other mens harmes wilfully refuse to remedie thine owne and when thou mightest be safe wilfully cast away thy selfe This said he was commaunded by the duke to stand aside and a while to expect his answere who with the chiefe of his subjects there present but much troubled and all full of heauinesse and sorrow consulted what answere to make But after they had according to the waightinesse of the cause and necessitie of the time fully debated the matter it was with generall consent agreed That for as much as they were not themselues of power to withstand so furious an enemie neither to expect for helpe from others they should therfore yeeld vnto the present necessitie which otherwise threatned vnto them vtter destruction and reserue themselues vnto better times Whereupon answere was giuen vnto the messenger by the duke That he was readie to yeeld himselfe vnto Solyman as his vassaile and of him as of his soueraigne to hold his seignorie for the yearely tribute of fiue thousand duckats Of which offer the Bassa accepted receiuing in hand one yeares tribute So was that notable island yeelded vnto the Turkish obeisance the 11 of Nouember this yeare 1537 from whence Lutzis the proud Bassa laded with the rich spoile of the countries and islands he had passed by returned to CONSTANTINOPLE with his fleet Not long after this great Bassa then in credit and authoritie next vnto Solyman himselfe fell at ods with his wife Solymans sister for that he after the vnnaturall manner of those barbarous people kept in his house a most delicat youth in whom he took more pleasure than in his wife Which she being a woman of great spirit not able to endure and knowing her husband by marrying of her to haue been from base degree aduanced vnto the highest honours that the emperour her brother could heape vpon him in great rage reproued him with most bitter words saying That she had married
with so great charge set out so great a fleet and so far off to helpe his friend hardly beset with his enemies and 〈◊〉 done nothing besides that he tooke on like a Turke that he who in time of seruice neuer vsed negligently to let slip the least opportunitie should now blemish his former credit and estiâ—ation by lying still all that Sommer in the harbour of MARSEILLES where his souldiors grew lazie with doing nothing Wherefore Polinus going to the king told him of the proud Turkes great discontentment for lacke of imploimenâ— and returning to Barbarussa brought oâ—der from the king that he should lay siege to NICE a citie of PROVINCE then holden by the Duke of SAVOY This citie standing vpon the sea was by one of the French kings for a great sum of money pawned vnto the duke which money king Francis had many times offered to haue repaid but could neuer get the citie out of the dukes hands Vnto which seruice the French king sent also his fleet of two and twentie gallies and eighteene ships wherein were embarked eight thousand footmen and victuall for many daies This fleet departing from MARSEILLIS keeping close by the shoare came to the port called MONOC whither two daies after came Barbarussa also with an hundred and fiftie gallies From thence Polinus by commandement from the king writ vnto the State of GENVA That they should not feare of that great fleet any hostilitie which was not to hurt any but them of NICE and not them neither if they would yeeld themselues For more assurance whereof he obtained of the Turks diuers GENVA captiues which had long time been chained in their gallies and courteously set them at libertie and sent them home without raunsome After that he friendly exhorted the citisens of NICE to yeeld themselues againe vnto their auntient and lawfull prince renowned for his bountie and power rather than to aduenture their state to all extremities for that poore and distressed duke who betweene the emperor and the French king despoiled of the greatest part of his dominions saw no other end of his miseries but to leaue that little which yet remained as a prey to the one or the other that should first lay hand thereon Whereunto the magistrates of the towne answered That they knew no other prince or soueraigne but Charles their duke wherefore he should desist farther to solicite them by letters or messengers whom they would make no other account of but as of their enemies Wherefore the Frenchmen and Turks landing their forces laid siege to the towne in three places The citisens had but a little before newly fortified their wals by the direction of Paulus Simeon captaine of the castle and one of the knights of the RHODES a man of great experience who long before taken at sea by pirats had sometime serued Barbarussa and therefore persuaded the citisens as resolute men to withstand the Turks Which that they should more constantly performe he tooke their wiues and children and weaker sort of the people into the castle and from thence furnished the citisens with all things necessarie for their defence The citie was at once in diuers places battered by the Turks and French both by sea and land so that at last the Turks had beaten downe one of the new built bulwarks and made so faire a breach that with their ensignes displaied they attempted to haue entred whose forwardnes Leo Strozza then seruing the French king with a band of Italians imitating sought to haue entred also but the citisens standing valiantly vpon their defence manfully repulsed both the Turkes and Italians and caused them with losse to retire In this assault were slaine about an hundred Turkes and of Strozza his souldiors two and twentie Presently after Barbarussa with all his force began a fresh batterie in such terrible manner that the citisens seeing their wals in diuers places opened and the few souldiors they had sore wounded and no hope to be in conuenient time relieued began to parley with the French Generall from the wall concerning the yeelding vp of the citie vpon condition that they might in all respects liue vnder the French king as they had done vnder the duke for performance whereof the Generall gaue them his faith But Polinus fearing least the Turks should violate this composition and for greefe of the losse of their fellowes or for hope of the spoile breake into the citie entreated Barbarussa to recall his souldiours and to cause them to goe abourd his gallies For which cause not long after the Ianizaries as men deceiued of their hoped prey were about to haue slaine both Polinus and Strozza as they came from talking with Barbarussa The citie thus yeelded they began to consult for the taking of the castle the performance whereof consisted first in the assailing of the castle it selfe and then in defending of the citie from the sudden sallies of them in the castle and likewise in defending of them which besieged the castle so that no enemie should come to raise the siege of which two things Barbarussa put the French to choice which they would take shewing himselfe readie either to besiege the castle or to keepe the field The French standing in doubt of which to make choice the proud old Turk scorning their slow resolution and them also as men vnfit for the readie accomplishment of any martiall exploit caused seuen pieces of batterie whereof two were of wonderfull greatnesse to be placed in a trice in place most conuenient and the same quickly entrenched and fortified to the great admiration of the French with which pieces he had quickly beaten downe the battlements of the wals and centenell houses so that no man was able to shew himselfe vpon the wals The Frenchmen likewise on the other side did with their great ordinance continually batter the castle but with long shooting they came to such want of shot and pouder that Polinus was glad to request that he might either borrow or buy some of Barbarussa whereat the Turke fretted and fumed exceedingly That they should in their owne countrey stand in need of his prouision who at MARSEILLES had better fraughted their ships with wine than with necessaries for the warres For the rough and seuere old Turke could not forbeare to taunt them and oftentimes complained that he was deluded with the hope of great matters which Polinus had promised at CONSTANTINOPLE and that in such a rage that he would threaten to lay hands vpon Polinus who had brought him from CONSTANTINOPLE thither whereas he must either lose his honour or hauing spent his shot and pouder expose himselfe and his fleet to all dangers Wherefore being exceeding angrie with the French he suddenly called a counsell of his captaines other cheefe officers giuing it out That he would presently return toward CONSTANTINOPLE seeing that among these cowardly and vnskilfull men as it pleased him to tearme them he found nothing readie or
of pyrats in your hauens and murthering of his subiects haue oftentimes broken the league Which iniuries although they were by war to haue beene reuenged yet hath he so mightie a monarch hitherto beene alwaies more mindfull of your honor and friendship than of his owne maiestie and profit But for so much as there is no end of these iniuries and wrongs and that it is now come to that point That longer to forbeare might be imputed vnto him rather for cowardise than courtesie as also that it much more concerneth your State than him and that therefore you ought no lesse than he to desire that all causes of vnkindnesse might be cut off and order taken that in so great and mutuall good-will there should be no falling out by new quarrels daily arising the onely remedie thereof is if you shall deliuer vnto him the island of CYPRVS the cause of all these grieuances Now it beseemeth you for your great wisedome to make small reckoning of so small a matter in comparison of the fauour of so great a prince which if you shall willingly of your selues yeeld vnto him you shall right wisely prouide for your affaires and haue him so great a monarch alwaies your friend and confederat wher as if you shall shew your selues obstinat and not to yeeld to this his so small a request his purpose is by strong hand not onely to take from you the island the cause of the warre but also to prosecute you with most cruell warre both by sea and land And thereupon I take God to witnesse all the blame of the calamities to ensue of so mortall a warre to be imputed vnto your selues as the worthie reward of your wilfulnesse and breach of faith Which said hee in the name of Muhamet the Visier Bassa told the Senatours that hee was right sorie that this breach was fallen out betwixt the emperour Selymus and them and that although he doubted not but that they would right wisely consider of all things yet he could not for the good will he bare vnto them but admonish them of such things as he deemed for them both profitable and wholsome and therefore did most instantly request them and withall aduise them not to enter into armes against so mightie a prince neither wilfully to plunge themselues into such dangers as they could hardly or neuer find the way out for that their strength was nothing answerable vnto his and that the euent of that warre was like to be vnto them deadly and that therfore he tooke God and the loue he bare vnto them to witnesse that he had in friendly sort forewarned them of their harmes and aduised them for their good Giuing them farther to vnderstand that Selymus did nothing but thunder out most cruell threats against their State which his indignation was raised of the manifold complaints brought against them to his court at CONSTANTINOPLE Selymus his letters answerable to his embassadors speech were also full of false surmised grieuances he complained That the Venetians had in warlike manner entred into the frontiers of his empire in DALMATIA and there had done great harme that they had put to death certaine Turkish pirats whom they had taken aliue that their island of CYPRVS was an harbour for the pirats of the West and that from thence they robbed his peaceable countries and surprised his subjects trauelling that way for deuotion vnto the temple of MECHA or otherwise about their affaires And that therefore those causes of discord might be taken away and the hinderance of traffique remoued he required them to yeeld vnto him the island of CYPRVS which if they refused to doe he would by force of armes take it from them and by force and strong hand cause them to doe that which they might better haue done franckly and of their owne accord and farther to make them to vnderstand how farre the Turkes did excell all other men in martiall prowesse As for the league before made betwixt his father and them he said he had renewed the same not because he had any liking thereunto but because he had as then set downe with himselfe for a while in the beginning of his empire peaceably to endure all things The Venetians for that they knew the embassadours errand before his comming hauing now read his letters gaue him such answere as they had before resolued vpon which was That the Venetians had at all times inuiolably kept their leagues with the Othoman emperours and had in regard thereof let slip many opportunities and fit occasions for them to haue augmented their dominions in That they could without any danger to themselues haue destroied the Turkes fleet both at the RHODES and MALTA and other places also but that they more regarded their honour and alwaies thought that nothing better became great and magnificent princes than to performe their faith once giuen and in all their actions to be like themselues And therefore had dissembled and put vp many grieuous and bitter indignities least they might be thought to haue first broken the league That they had neuer passed their owne bounds or inuaded the Turkes onely to haue taken order that no pirats should at their pleasure roame vp and downe the seas Now whereas all duties being on their part sincerely and most religiously kept Selymus complained himselfe to be wronged whereas he himselfe had done the wrong and had contrarie to the league denounced warre against them expecting nothing lesse sithence that they could not by the power of the league they would by force of armes defend that kingdome which they by auntient and lawfull right possessed deliuered vnto them by their auncestors That God in whose helpe they trusted would weigh in indifferent ballance all mens words and deeds whom they tooke to witnesse that they were the authours of peace and Selymus the cause of warre and that the same God would be now present vnto their just complaints and forthwith after with his power to take reuenge on them which falsifying their faith and promise giuen and violating the sacred league had enforced them to take vp most just and necessarie armes which they would with the same courage manage that they had taken them in hand With this answere the embassadour departed let out by a secret posterne for feare of the people who hauing got knowledge of the matter were in great number assembled to the Court gate muttering among themselues that it were well done to rend in pieces that accursed Turke the messenger of his faithlesse master Which outrage it was thought they would in their furie haue performed had not such as by the commaundement of the magistrates guarded him better assured him of his safetie than either regard of dutie or the law of nations he by the way as he went still storming and swearing by his Mahomet to be of that so great an indignitie reuenged This answere of the Senat vnto the Turkes embassadour concerning warre was of some
then proceed in his wars and so obtaine most glorious conquests This his aduise so little pleased the effeminat king that in stead of the great opinion he before held of him he now conceiued an enuious affection against him and a further suspition fostred by the great ladies of the court especially Amuraths mother That Sinan had thus counselled the king himselfe to go in person not for any good could come therof but onely that so he might find meanes for the prince his sonne to make himselfe king and to driue out his father Which suspition was in such sort nourished in the mind of Amurath especially being assured of the great affection which the prince carried towards Sinan and he likewise towards him that he resolued to rid him out of his sight and so depriuing him of all charge presently banished him the court and out of CONSTANTINOPLE to DEMOTICA a citie of THRACE from whence afterwards he by most humble supplication obtained to be remoued to MARMARA a little beyond SELYMBRIA And into his place of Visiership was preferred Sciaus Bassa who had married Amurath his sister an Hungarian borne a goodly personage and of honorable judgement but aboue all men a seller of justice and preferments and yet a great friend to the peace with the Christian princes which Sinan had alwaies most wickedly maligned The Persian captaines in the meane time with their spoiles and diuers of their enemies ensignes were with great joy receiued at home in PERSIA but when the discord that fell out betweene Mahamet Bassa and Mustaffa the Georgian was also reported the former joy was redoubled euerie man being of opinion that these discords might bee great impediments vnto the Turkes further attempts into PERSIA which it was feared they would the next yeare attempt to the great danger of NASSIVAN and TAVRIS Vpon which occasions the Persian king perceiuing that he could not haue a fitter opportunitie to employ himselfe against Abas Mirize his sonne then with him it disgrace determined with himselfe to leaue the matters on this side of his kingdome in their present state and to march toward HERI whereunto he was earnestly solicited by his elder sonne Emir Hamze Mirize but especially by Mirize Salmas his Visier Vpon which resolution committing the defence of REIVAN NASSIVAN and that side of his kingdome to Emir Chan Gouernour of TAVRIS he set forward himselfe with his army towards CASBIN and so marching through diuers prouinces arriued at length at SASVAR being on that side the chiefe of all the cities subject to the jurisdiction of HERI which citie he tooke by force and without delay caused the Gouernour thereof to be beheaded although he alleadged a thousand excuses for himselfe and objected a thousand accusations moe against the seditious Visier The king after this departing thence and hauing also put to death certaine captaines and Sultans that were accused by the Visier to be confederats in the rebellion of his sonne he arriued at last at the desired citie of HERI Verie strong is this citie by situation compassed about with a good wall and watered with deep channels of running springs conuaied into it by Tamerlane their founder or restorer besides that there was in it many valiant captaines enemies to Mirize Salmas readie to lay downe their liues in defence of themselues and of Abas their lord so that the winning thereof could not but proue both long and difficult As soone as the king approched the citie he felt in himselfe many troubled passions arising of griefe and pietie it grieued him to thinke that hee should beget so gracelesse a sonne who in stead of maintaining his state and honour should seeke his ruine and destruction it grieued him also to remember the bloud of his subjects before spilt vpon so strange an occasion and scarcely durst he enter into the cogitation thenceforward to shed any more of the bloud of his people Neuerthelesse being still more and more solicited by his Visier he attempted to vnderstand the mind of his sonne and if it might be possible to get him into his hands But whiles the king trauelling with these thoughts lay with his armie before HERI Abas Mirize in the meane time writ diuers letters to his father and to his brother wherein he besought them That they would make knowne vnto him the occasion of this their stirre For if desire of rule had moued them to seeke the depriuation of him being their sonne and brother from the honour hee lawfully possessed and which his father himselfe had procured for him of his grandfather Tamas they ought to abandon that imagination for that he was alwaies readie to spend his wealth and his bloud togither with his estate in their seruice and acknowledged his father to be his good father and king But if they were not induced hereunto for this cause but by a desire to reuenge some trespasse that he had committed to the prejudice of the crowne of PERSIA or his fathers honour he was most readie to submit himselfe to any amends and with all reason to yeeld vnto them the kingdome yea the whole world and euen his owne life the rather to satisfie their minds with a more full contentation With twise and thrise reading ouer were these affectionat letters considered and disgested and at last both the father and the brother perceiuing in them such liberalitie of words and ouercome with pitie or if not with pitie yet with great admiration and contentment they determined to put the matter in practise and moderating their desire of reuenge to attempt the reducing of the yong mans mind to some good passe Whereupon they wrote backe vnto him That no greedie desire to vsurpe his gouernment had induced them to make so great a voyage to trouble so much people and to shed such aboundance of bloud but onely his disobedience and presumption in that he had caused himselfe to be called the king of PERSIA and had not sent so much as one captaine to aid them in the late warres against the Turkes Glad was Abas the yong prince when he vnderstood the accusations that were laied against him hoping to make it manifest before all men how the king and his brother were misinformed in these particularities and therefore incontinently did write backe vnto them That if they would faithfully promise him honourably and without any outrage to receiue his embassadours he would send vnto them such euident matter and so cleare information touching those his accusations as that they should not onely clearely perceiue that there was neuer any such kind of though in him but also that he had alwaies desired laboured the contrarie and would moreouer open vnto them such matter as in respect of other men and not of himselfe might cause their comming to proue profitable and commodious to all the kingdome of PERSIA Which his request they both solemnly promised faithfully to performe being verie desirous to vnderstand what those strange
regarded of Amurath himselfe the disorders of his whole campe for his want of discretion and to be short the particularities of all such actions as had not altogither so honourably been by him performed that yeare causes of themselues sufficient to induce the king to remoue the said Ferat from his Generalship To which occasions were also added sundrie other secret respects for euer since the last departure of Ferat from ERZIRVM Amurath had still in his head the next yeare following to attempt the enterprise of TAVRIS and thereby to stirre vp through the world a famous report of his conquests correspondent to his greatnesse Now among the captaines whom he esteemed to be worthie men to whom he might with trust commit this so great an enterprise he bethought himselfe of Osman Bassa left at SVMACHIA in SIRVAN by Generall Mustapha in the first yeare of this warre who hauing in that prouince remained euer since had without any helpe of the Tartarians by his owne industrie and valour to the great contentment of Amurath brought that large countrey into a reasonable obedience of the Turkish empire and that which most of all pleased the Turkish emperour had in a countrey so farre distant maintained his armie wherewith he had done all this without any expences at all to his king hauing now a good while leuied his souldiors stipends vpon the lands and territories of that region and still exercised a kind of gouernment and soueraigntie ouer those places Of all which his good proceedings he had caused intelligence from time to time to be sent vnto the court by which meanes and other fauourers which he had about the king there was fostered in the mind of Amurath a wonderfull good opinion of him so that now without delay he resolued to send for him to CONSTANTINOPLE and for that purpose before Ferat was arriued at ERZIRVM he had dispatched certaine Capigi and Chiaus to call this famous warriour vnto him yet wanted there not some and those not of the meanest sort that went about to hinder both his comming to the court and also these designments of so great importance For Sciaus the chieâ—e Visier who rather for the comelinesse of his person and alliance with the king than for any other his vertues was mounted to that high roome did greatly feare least Osman whose course it was to sit next vnto him in the order of the greatest Bassaes partly for his experience in matters of warre and partly for the good affection the king did beare vnto him should at his comming to CONSTANTINOPLE persuade the king to what he listed and so peraduenture take from him the chiefest office and get into his hands the whole gouernment of the empire whereby so great wealth was to be gained Wherefore to rid himselfe of these feares he cast about by all meanes to keepe him from comming to the Court but because that to attempt the same openly might proue a matter both difficult and dangerous he thought it better to make triall of a more commodious and secret meanes This Sciaus in consideration of many gifts bestowed vpon him by Mahomet the Cuman Tartar king had many times excused him to Amurath of diuers accusations which Osman by his letters had laid to his charge For not aiding him in the subduing of SIRVAN as he was both by promise and dutie bound and for all his ouersights alleadged such reasons in his behalfe as if they did not altogither persuade Amurath to be kind vnto him yet at the least not to carrie a mind of reuenge against him and had so far proceeded in countenancing this Tartarian king that there was betwixt them confirmed an interchangeable amitie and mutuall confederacie Him Sciaus imagined to find willing and readie by all meanes possible to hinder the comming of Osman his enemie to the Court if he were but made acquainted with the matter And therefore Sciaus as soone as he vnderstood the certaine resolution of Amurath to call Osman to the Court secretly wrote to the Tartar king who lay encamped neere to the hauen of CAFFA vpon the Fens of MEOTIS certifying him That Osman was to come to the Court and that therfore it were good for him to call to mind how great an enemie he had been to him and how much he had endeuoured by letters to Amurath to turne all his hatred and displeasure against him and withall That if he was able to doe so much by letters as if Sciaus had not defended him with verie reasonable excuses the king had executed his wrathfull indignation vpon him to his great danger he should then imagine with himselfe what Osman should be able to doe when he should come in person to the presence of Amurath and without any mediator betweene themselues determine of all matters what they should thinke conuenient These and peraduenture worse letters which Sciaus wrote to the Tartar ministred matter enough vnto him to resolue to doe what he might not to suffer so pernicious an enemie of his to arriue at CONSTANTINOPLE and especially perceiuing that Sciaus in whose breast he reposed all his hope and all his protection did so greatly feare his comming Wherefore to rid himselfe of that feare he commaunded twelue thousand souldiors that changing their weapons and appparell they should go and lie in wait for Osman in the borders betweene COLCHIS and Iâ—ERIA towards the Tartarian Nomades by which way he was to come and so making an assault vpon him to bereaue him of his life Hoping that such an outrage once done could not or would not be imputed to his procurement but rather to the Tartar Nomades or to the Mengrellians or to the Georgians or to the Moscouites or to the robbers by the high way and to be short rather to any bodie else than to him This commaundement of the Tartar king was accordingly by the souldiors put in practise who without further stay joyned themselues together and so rode towards the place appointed And now were the messengers sent from Amurath come to Osman who readily put himselfe on his way towards CONSTANTINOPLE hauing left behind him at DERBENT and SVMACHIA two Bassaes thought to be the most sufficient men in SIRVANIA hauing also appointed very good orders in the same and an assured establishment of all those countries and places which Mustapha first had subdued and he himselfe had afterwards maintained vnder the obedience of Amurath He had also prouided for the safetie of his own person in passing those troublesome and dangerous passages through which he was to trauell by chusing out foure thousand souldiors which he had tried in diuers battels and brought vp vnder his own discipline through whose valour he doubted not safely to passe through the treacheries of the Albanians and the populous squadrons as well of the Tartarians as of the Mengrellians Thus departed he from DERBENT and coasting along the rockes of CAVCASVS that at all times of the yeare are all white and hoarie
traines that should at a certaine time take fire Which done they departed secretly out of the citie in the dead time of the night hoping so in the darke to haue escaped the hands of the enemie which they did not so secretly but that they were by the Turks descried and most of them slaine Ferdinand Samaria Gouernor of the citie after he had for a space valiantly defended himselfe fell at last into the enemies hand and so was taken aliue together with one Hofkirke a Germane captaine The Turkes entered the citie the sixt of October striuing who should get first in for greedinesse of the prey when suddenly the pouder in the mines tooke fire and blowing vp the very foundations of the wals and bulwarkes slew a number of the Turks that were within the danger thereof and wonderfully defaced the citie From VESPRINIVM the Bassa remoued with his armie to PALOTTA and gaue summons to the castle but receiuing such answere as pleased him not hee layed siege vnto it with all his power Which at the first Peter Ornand captaine of the castle chearefully receiued but being afterward without any great cause discouraged the castle as yet being but little shaken and but one man slaine and the rest of the souldiors readie to spend their liues in defence thereof he sent vnto the Bassa offering to yeeld the castle vnto him so that he with his souldiors might with bag and baggage in safetie depart Of which his offer the Bassa accepted and graunted his request But he was no sooner come out of the castle with his souldiors and readie to depart but the faithlesse Turke contrarie to his oath and promise caused them all to be cruelly slaine except only the captaine and two other After that the Bassa without any great labour tooke in all the country thereabouts neere vnto the lake of Balaton Now at last though long first about the middle of October the Christians began to muster their armie in number about eighteene thousand all good and expert souldiours with which power they shortly after passing ouer Danubius at the first encounter with the Turkes put them to the worse slew a great number of them and rescued a number of poore Christian captiues In the latter end of this moneth countie Hardeck Gouernour of RAB and Generall of the Christian armie in that part of HVNGARIE departing from KOMARA with all his power came and layed siege to the strong citie of ALBA REGALIS which by the force of his artillerie hee in short time made saultable but in assaulting the breaches was by the Turkes there in garrison notably repulsed So hauing made sufficient proofe both of the strength and courage of the defendants and perceiuing no good could be done without a long siege for which hee was not as then prouided after consultation had with the rest of the captaines he resolued to raise his siege which he did the second of Nouember remouing that day but halfe a mile from the citie because he would be sure of all his armie But as he was about the next day to remoue news was brought him by his espials that the enemies power was at hand and euen now almost in sight which proued to be so indeed For the Bassa of BVDA by the commaundement of Sinan Bassa the Generall was come forth with thirteene Sanzackes and twentie thousand souldiors thirtie field pieces and fiue hundred wagons laded with victuall and other warlike prouision to raise the siege and to relieue the citie and was now euen at hand comming directly vpon the Christians wherupon the countie assisted by the countie Serinus the lord Palfi the lord Nadasti Peter le Hussar and other valiant captaines of great experience with wonderfull celeritie put his armie in order of battell and so couragiously set forward to encounter the enemie The Bassa seeing the Christians marching towards him tooke the aduantage of the higher ground and from thence discharged his field pieces vpon them which mounted too high by good hap did them little or no hurt at all The Christians for all that desirous of battell and nothing regarding the disaduantage of the ground but calling vpon the name of the Almightie mounted the hill and joyning battell with the Turkes by plaine force constrained them to flie In this armie of the Turkes being for most part horsemen were about fiue thousand foot and many of them Ianizaries who in flying oftentimes made stands and wounded many and yet neuerthelesse were almost all there slaine with many others amongst whom were three great men the Sanzacks of STRIGONIVM SETCHINE and NOVIGRAD seuen Chiaus and many other men of marke the most valiant captaines of the Turkes borderers The lord Nadasti with some others taking view of the Turkes that were slaine and lost in this battell deemed them to haue beene at the least in number eight thousand few prisoners were saued all being put to the sword which caused Sinan to sweare by his Mahomet neuer more to spare any Christian. All the Turks artillerie wagons and prouision became a prey vnto the Christians many ensignes were there found and weapons of great value It is hard to be beleeued how much this victorie encouraged the Christians daunted the Turkes Whereupon the countie with great joy brought backe his armie to ALBA REGALIS and encamped neere the bulwarke called STOPASCH where the Turks most feared to be assaulted Palfi Nadasti and some others earnestly persuaded with the countie not to depart from the citie before he had woon it But he considering the hard time of the yeare the strength of the citie which was now full of souldiours by reason of them that were fled in thither from the late ouerthrow with the want of things necessarie in his armie to maintaine a longer siege and fearing also after long lying to be enforced with dishonour to forsake it would not hearken to their persuasions but calling a counsell resolued to raise his siege and to content himselfe with the victorie he had alreadie gotten which was afterward imputed vnto him for more than an ouersight So setting fire vpon the suburbes of the citie he rise with his armie and departed thence the fift of Nouember and returned to RAB Not long after Christopher lord Teuffenbach the Emperours lieutenant in the vpper part of HVNGARIE who lay encamped at CASSOVIA with his armie of foureteene thousand souldiors remooued thence and marching along the countrey two dayes came and layed siege to SABATZKA one of the Turkes strongest castles in those quarters out of which they vsually did much harme among the Christians This castle Teuffenbach battered in three places and hauing at length made it saultable tooke it by force the nineteenth of Nouember and put to the sword all the Turkes there in garrison in number about two hundred and fiftie and instead of them left a strong garrison of his owne whereby all the countrey thereabouts was restored to great quietnesse SABATZKA thus taken the
him with a sonne to succeed him in his gouernment euery housholder should giue vnto him a good fat oxe For all which seruice they craued no more but that they might as his subjects liue vnder his protection yet so as to be gouerned by their owne auntient lawes and customes Of which their offer the prince accepting it was forthwith by them proclaimed in their campe and all the people sworne to the performance of the aforesaid agreements And hauing at that present but fiue and twentie thousand in the field they without delay sent out their officers to presse out fifteene thousand moe for the filling vp of the promised number of fortie thousand wherewith they came vnto the prince who taking a view of his armie found himselfe to be now fourescore thousand men strong to welcome the Bassa withall when he should come againe into his countrey Now had Sinan with great speed raised an armie of seauentie thousand choice souldiours amongst whom were many whole bands of the Ianizaries the strength of the Turkish empire With which power joyned vnto the reliques of his other broken forces he thought himselfe strong ynough for the subduing of the prince vnto whom came also afterwards Hassan Bassa the sonne of the great Bassa Muhamet one of the Turkes most renowned men of warre and Bogdanus the late expulsed Vayuod of VALACHIA with many others of great name With this armie the old Bassa by a bridge which he with exceeding charge had made of boats passed ouer the great riuer of Danubius at a towne called ZORZA or GIORGO with vs S. George in VALACHIA a great way beneath that place where sometime the emperour Traian built his famous bridge of stone worthily accounted amongst the rare and wonderfull buildings of the world From ZORZA he marched with his armie to TERGOVISTA sometime the Vayuod his chiefe citie but then in the power of the Turks where is a notable monasterie which he conuerted into a castle fortifying it with deepe trenches and strong bulwarks and good store of great ordinance purposing to make that the seat of his warre vntill he had againe restored those late reuolted countries vnto the Turkish empire which hee vpon paine of his head had vndertaken to performe The prince both by messengers and letters vnderstanding of the Bassaes arriuall there and hauing his armie in good readinesse set forward to meet him and to giue him battell But being come into VALACHIA and there encamped it is reported that a great Eagle descending from an high rocke thereby called The Kings rocke and houering ouer the Christian armie flew about the princes tent and there lighting was taken and presented to the prince who commaunded her to bee kept as the presage of his good fortune holding on still his way and the fifteenth of October being come within halfe a dayes march of TERGOVISTA he vnderstood by two Christians lately escaped from the Turks That two dayes before the Turks hearing of his comming were strucken with such a generall and sudden feare that Sinan had much adoe either by faire meanes or by foule to stay the Ianizaries from flight and that when he had done what he could yet that certaine companies of them were quite fled and gone But the truth was that Sinan seeing the generall feare of his armie and he himselfe no lesse fearefull than the rest vpon the princes approch fled with all his armie leauing behind him for hast his tents his great ordinance with much victuals and other warlike prouision carrying with him onely such things as were of most value As for the citie of TERGOVISTA with the castle which he had made of the monasterie he committed it to the keeping of Hassan Bassa and Bogdanus the late Vayuod now become a renegate Turke with a garrison of foure thousand chosen souldiors promising within a few daies if need should be to relieue them but fled himselfe in all hast with his armie to BVCARESTA a daies journey from TERGOVISTA From whence he presently writ backe againe to Hassan Bassa willing him if he could to defend the castle but if he should thinke it not possible to be kept against the power of the prince then be time to forsake it and to shift for himselfe But these letters being intercepted by the Christians neuer came to the Bassaes hands Not long after the departing of Sinan the prince comming to TERGOVISTA entred the forsaken campe where he found many tents with some ordinance and great store of victuals without further delay summoned both the citie and the castle which for all that were both denied him But the next day after Hassan considering the flight of Sinan the power of the prince and withall doubting if need should be to be relieued by Sinan whom he not without cause suspected not to loue him was about vpon some reasonable composition to haue yielded vp both the citie and the castle wherunto the garrison souldiors being most part of them Ianizaries would not in any case giue their consent but stood vpon the defence of the place Whereupon the prince began furiously to batter both the citie and the castle and after some few houres batterie by assault tooke both and put to sword the whole garrison onely Hassan Bassa as taken with his owne hand he spared and two other Sanzackes Bogdanus the renegate was there slaine among the rest The Christians had there a rich prey besides 42 great pieces of ordinance and good store of all manner of warlike prouision Hassan thus taken grieuously complained that Sinan had of a malitious purpose exposed him to so manifest danger for the grudge he bare vnto his dead father the Visier Muhamet vpon whom because he could neuer be reuenged he now by sinister meanes had cunningly performed it vpon his sonne yet he craued of the prince to bee well vsed offering for his ransome 100000 Hungarian duckats Whilest the prince yet thus lay at TERGOVISTA came thither 4000 Turks whom Sinan had before his departure thence sent forth to spoyle the countrey and to seeke after prey thinking to haue there found him still who now falling into the hands of the Christians were there all slaine and 60000 head of cattell recouered which these Turkes had taken out of VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA and should by Sinans appointment haue been sent to CONSTANTINOPLE For VALACHIA and MOLDAVIA doe so abound with corne and cattell that they plentifully serue the imperiall citie of CONSTANTINOPLE not onely with come and flesh but also yearely send at the least 150 ships thither by the black sea laded with other kind of victuals Of which so great commodities the Turkes were now depriued by the reuolt of the aforesaid countries The prince leauing a strong garrison in TERGOVISTA set forward with his armie towards BVCARESTA hoping there to haue found Sinan But he hearing of the losse of TERGOVISTA and thinking himselfe in no good safetie at BVCARESTA fled thence also to ZORZA The prince comming
soâ—â—â—diors well appointed with all things necessarie set forward toward CLISSA and by the way lighting vpon a gallie of the Venetians bound with certain warlike prouision towards the Turks campe tooke her as good prize and rifled her This fleet with a faire wind arriued at SIRET neere vnto TRAV where the gouernour 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 againe and hauing marched fifteene miles came vnto the enemies campe before day where setting vpon the Turkes in their trenches fearing no such perill they brought such a generall feare vpon the whole campe that the Turks as men amased fled some one way some another euery man as in such sudden feare it commonly happeneth making shift for himselfe leauing whatsoeuer they had in their trenches behind them The Christians contented so to haue put their enemies to flight fell presently to the spoile as more desirous thereof than by the hastie pursute of their enemies to put themselues in possession of an assured victory Which the Turks quickly perceiuing and from the hils with the dawning of the day discouering the small number of the Christians and how they were disordered they gathered themselues againe together and comming downe enclosed on euery side the disordered Christians greedily hunting after the spoile and slew them downeright Leucowitz himselfe with the gouernor of ZENG and some others got into CLISSA where hauing staied two daies and doubting to be able to keepe the towne they secretly by night issued out with six hundred men in hope to haue recouered their fleet but the Turkes suspecting such a matter had so beset the passages that of all that companie Leucowitz had much adoe himselfe with three others to escape The enemie now againe possessed of his trenches laid straighter siege to the towne than before which they of the garrison perceiuing and now out of hope of reliefe agreed with the Bassa that they might with bag and baggage depart and so yeelded vp the towne Thus CLISSA one of the strongest townes of DALMATIA through the greedie couetousnesse of the disordered souldiors fell againe into the hands of the Turks About the same time Palâ—i gouernour of STRIGONIVM vnderstanding of the meeting together of certaine notable aduenturers of the Turks at SOMDOCK a castle almost in the mid way betwixt ALBA REGALIS and BVDA raised the greatest strength he could and so with certain pieces of artillerie and other things necessarie for an assault set forward from STRIGONIVM the two and twentith of May before the rising of the Sunne and about three a clocke in the afternoone came to the aforesaid castle whereunto he presently gaue a most terrible assault which he neuer gaue ouer vntill he had taken it For after that he had by the space of three houres together with great danger maintained a most desperate assault at length hee with much difficultie preuailed and put to the sword all the Turkes he found therein man woman and child and with the rest fiftie Ianizaries but that day come thither This castle was of great beautie and most pleasantly situated whereunto the Bassa of BVDA oftentimes for his pleasure repaired for which cause Palfi was very desirous to haue taken it without spoyling but the fire hee had therein alreadie raised so preuailed that it burnt downe all the goodly buildings thereof with great store of victuals and other prouision nothing remaining but what the Christians had saued for themselues The Transyluanian prince hauing raised a great armie for the reliefe of LIPPA being by great chance a little before his comming relieued came and layed siege to the citie of TEMESVVAR where he had not long lien but that the Turkes and Tartars fearing to loose that so famous a citie assembled together from all places thereabouts to the number of fortie thousand and so came to raise thâ— siege Of whose comming the prince hearing rise with his armie and went to meet them and had with them a great and terrible battell the victorie for a great while standing very doubtfull yet seeming to encline rather to the Turkes and Tartars than to the Christians but at length the Turkeâ— disordered with the great artillerie and the Transyluanians charging them afresh began to giue ground and so at last to betake themselues to plaine flight In this battell were slaine of the Turkes and Tartars fiue thousand and of the Christians fifteene hundred It was for a time reported that the prince himselfe was in this battell slaine which was not so being reserued to the further plague of the Turkes and comfort of his afflicted countrey After this victorie he returned againe to the siege which he more straightly continued than before leaâ—â—â—g nothing vnattempted that he could possibly deuise for the winning of the citie Where wâ—â—lest he yet thus lay battering the citie both night and day newes was brought him That Gâ—â—ffar Bassa and the Tartars were comming with a great armie to the reliefe of the besieged whereupon hee considering his owne strength and the power of his enemies and that the aid promised him both from the Emperour and out of HVNGARIE was not yet readie with great griefe of mind raised his siege and retired with his armie to LIPPA there expecting new supplies as well of his owne as from his friends Whilest he yet there lay he was certainely aduertised That the Bassa of NATOLIA the forerunner of the great Sultan Mahomet was come to BELGRADE with foureteene thousand horse and foure thousand Ianizaries to joyne with the Bassa of BVDA for the relieuing of TEMESVVAR whose forces joyned together were in number about threescore thousand and that Mahomet himselfe of whose comming rise report had been all this yeare was now comming after with a farre greater power Wherupon he departed from LIPPA leauing therein a strong garrison and so returning to ALBA IVLIA called there an assembly of all his states for the repressing of so puissant an enemie Mahomet for the better successe of his warres in HVNGARIE had drawne forth the Tartar with a mightie power who although he was at the first so vnwilling to that seruice considering the great losses he had therein before receiued that he would not as he said send so much as one Asse thereunto yet ouercome with great gifts and the respect he had of the Turkish Sultan was now ready with a strong armie vpon the frontiers of MOLDAVIA to meet him in HVNGARIE vnto whom the late chosen Vayuod sent certaine presents with such store of victuals as he could possibly prouide for him Yet for as much as he was not that way to passe without the leaue of the Polonian Mahomet had both by letters and diuers his embassadours entreated with the Polonian king for his passage as also for the confirmation of the auntient league hee and the Polonian kings his predecessours had to their good of long time had with the Othoman
themselues in Europe Prusa yeelded vnto the Turks The death of Othoman Othoman 〈◊〉 at Prusa The wealth that Othoman left vnto his two sonnes Orchanes and Aladin When that barbarous manner of murthering their brethâ—eâ— first began among the Turkish Sultans The city of Nice with diuers other castles recouered from the Turks after the death of Othoman The emperour wounded The city of Nice surprised by the Turks Abydus besieged by the Turks Nicomedia yeelded vnto Orchanes Orchanes remoueth his court to Nice Orchanes inuadeth the country of Carasiâ—a The countrey of Carasina yeelded vnto Orchanes The castle of Maditus taken by the Turks Calipolis taken by the Turkes The death of Solyman Bassa Orchanes his eldest sonne The death of Orchanes * Lazarum Seruiae principeâ— Lazarâ—â— Despot of 〈◊〉 Amurath succeedeth his father Orchanes in the Turkish kingdome Didymotichum yeelded vnto the Turks Hadrianople yeelded vnto the Turks Rhâ—destum surâ—â—ised by the Turks Hadrianople the royall seaâ— of the Turkish kings in Europe Boga taken by Amurath and recouered again and rased by the Christians Boga new buâ—â—â— by â—he Turks Amurath inâ—â—deth Seruia Nissa taken by the Turks Appolonia woon by the Turks Amurath and Aladin prepare themselues for waâ—â—e The death of Chairadin Bassa The great battaile in the plaines of Caramania betwixt Amurath and Aladin Aladin flyeth to Iconium Iconium besieged by Amurath Lazarus the Despot by his embassadour craueth ayd of the king of Bozna Amurath maried the emperour of Constantinople his daughter The castle of Sarkiuâ— with the citie ioining vnto it taken by the Christians and rased Lazarus slaine Amurath slain Amurath burâ—â—ed at Prusa Phi. Lonicer Hist. Tur. li. 1. Baiazet iâ—â—adeth Seruia Seruia the second time inuaded by Baiazet â—â—â—ladelâ—hia 〈◊〉 by Baiazet Thessaâ—â—a inâ—â—ded by Baiaâ—et Constantinople eight yeares besieged by Baiazeâ— Constantinople the second time besieged by Baiazet Baiazet 〈◊〉 Despina the faire daughter of Lazarus the Despot Temurtaseâ— Baiazet his great 〈◊〉 â—enant in Asia taken prisoner by Alaâ—â—â— the young 〈◊〉 of Caâ—amaniâ— Amasia yeelded vnto Baiazet Sebastia deliuered to Baiazet Baiazet inuadeth Isfendiar prince of Castamona The Mahometan princes of Asia oppressed by Baiazet disguâ—sed flye vnto Tamerlane for aid Tamerlane his opinion concerning the diuersitie of religions The base opinion some haue concerning the birth and rising of Tamerlane Tamerlane honorably dâ—sceÌ„ded The cause why some haue reported him to haue been a shepheard or heardsman Tamerlane marrieth the daughter and heire of the great Chaeâ—â— of Tartariâ— Prince Axalla in great credit with Tamerlane The number of Tamerlane his great armie Sebastia besieged by Tamerlane Sebastia yeelded to Tamerlane A shepheard more happie than Baiazet The prince of Ciarcan dealeth politickly with the forerunners of the Turks armie The great and mortall battaile betwixt Baiazet and Tamerlane The prince of Ciarcan sâ—aâ—ne The Turks ouerthrowne Baiazet and his sonne Musa taken prisoners Baiazet brought before Tamerlane with his pride Baiazet like a beast shut vp in an iron cage Solyman set â—p in his fathers sâ—ead Prusa taken by Axalla Tamerlane goeth to Constantinople Tamerlan much deâ—ighted with the pâ—easures of Constantinople A great battell fought betwixt the Sultan of Aegypt and Tamberlane Damasco woon by Tamerlane Tamerlane commeth to Ierusalem Damiata taken by Axalla Tamerlane marchâ—th towards Caâ—er Caler bâ—sieged by Tamerlane Caier assaulted by Tamerlane The Sultan flieth from Alexandria Tamerlane desirous to returne into his country The misâ—rablâ— death oâ— Baiazet A comparison betwixt Baiazet and Tamerlane Baiazet in his posteâ—â—â—ie more fâ—rtunat than Tamerlane Phil. Lonicer Hist. Turc lib. 1. Diuers opinions concerning the successours of Baiazet The true posterâ—tie of Baiazet Mahomet Gouernor of Amasia Mahomet sendeth spies into Tamerlane his campe Cara Dulet slaine Mahomet his letters to Inall Ogli the Tartar pince Inall Ogli his answere to Mahomet Inall Ogli ouerthrowne by Mahomet Mahomet his speech to Tamerlans embassador The great power Tamerlane continually kept The death of Tamerlane The discription of Tamerlane Paulus Iouius Illust. virorum Elog. lib. 1. pag. 97. Mahomet goeth against his brother Isa. The answâ—re of Isa to Mahomet his oâ—â—ers The bodie of Baiazet honourabâ—y 〈◊〉 at Prusa Good counsell Isa with a great armie sent by his brother Solyman into Asia against Mahomet Prusa burnt by Isa. Isa â—lieth into Caramania and there dieth in obscuritie The castle of â—rusa besieged 〈◊〉 Solyman Musa marieth the prince of Valachia his daughter Musa in the absence of Solyman receiâ—ed at Hadrianople as king Musa goeth against Soâ—yman Solyman flyeth Solyman strangled by his brother Musa This Solyman is that same whom some call Celebinus and other-some Calepinus and reckon him for the fift king of the Turks The battaile betwixt the two brethren Mahomet and Musa Mahomet his letters vnto the prince Dulgader Ogli his father in law The answere of prince Dâ—lgader Ogli to Mahomet Hadrianople besieged by Mahomet Musa his cheefe captaines reuolt to Mahomet Musa taken Musa strangled 1415. Prusa burnt by the Caramanian king 1416 Mahomet inuadeth the Caramanian king 1417 Valachia tributarie to the Turke Burgluzes slain Bedredin hanged Mahomet dieth at Hadrianople The death of Mahomet cunningly concealed from the Ianizaries by the tâ—ree great Bassaes. Phil. Lonicer Hist. Turc lib. 1. Murat is the same that we caâ—â— Desiderius Mustapha the supposed sonne of Baiazet raiseth rebellion against Amurath Mustapha â—lyetâ— Mustapha hâ—â—ged Two Asapi sold by a Ianizarie for a sheepes head Constantinople in vain besieged by Amurath Mustapha betraied strangled Eiuases-Bassa 〈◊〉 put out The king of Caramania slaine Thessalonica besieged Thessalonica takeÌ„ by Amurath Plague among the Turks Hungarie spoiled by Amurath Amurath contrary to his faith inuadeth Seruia and subdueth it Vladislaus accepteth of the kingdome offered Belgrade besieged of the Turkâ— Belgrade in vain assaulted The notable speech of Amurathâ—â—â—ncourage 〈◊〉 souldiors to the assault of Belgrade Belgrade notably defended by the Christians Amurath his answerâ— to the embassadours 1440 Transiluania inuaded and spoiled by Mesites Bassa Huniades flieth Huniades the bishop of Alba-Iula entrapped by the Turks A great battell betwixt Mesites and Huniades Great reioicing for the victorie The speech of an old Turke in deliuering the present vnto the king Valachia grieuouslâ— spoiled by the Turks The most Christian speech of Huniades to encourage his souldiours against the Turks A cruell barrell betwixt Huniades and Abedin Bassa The Turks â—lie The effectuall speech of Iulian the Popes legate in the parlâ—ment to persuade the warre The pitifull comâ—â—â—â—â— of the Desâ—ot of tâ—e crueltiâ— of the Turks persuadâ—â—â— the Hunâ—â—â—ians to take the warre against them in hand Sophia taken Huniades with ten thousand horsemen assaâ—leth the Turks by night The meeting of Vladislaus and Huniades after the victorie The Hungarianâ— inforced with the diffâ—cultie of the passage of the mountaine Hemus retire A great battell betwixt Huniades the Bassa Carambey The Turks ouerthrowne and Carambry taken prisoner Scanderbeg reuâ—lteth from the Turks
Vladislaus seâ—keth in value to open the passage of the mountainâ— Hemus The Hungarians much troubled in passiâ—g a thicke â—ood Vladislaus honorably receiued at Buda Scanderbeg wisely dissembleth his desire for the deliuerse of himselfe and his countrey Scanderbeg commeth with his armâ—â— to Petrelâ—a Petrella yeelded vnto Scanderbeg Petra-Alba yeelded Stellusa yeelded by the garrison A notable speech of a common soldior to the rest of his fâ—llowes for the holding out of the citie against Scanderbeg Scanderbeg his short answere to the souldiors speech Desdrot gouernour of Stellusa executed Macedonia spotâ—ed by Scanderbeg Alis Bassa with an armie of forty thousand sent against Scanderbeg The battell betwixt Alis Bassa and Scanderbeg A great slaughter of the Turks Amurath in dispâ—â—e Amurath by thâ— persuasion of Cali Bassa seeketh for peace of king Vladislaus The capitulatâ—ons of the ten yeares peace concluded betwixt Vladislaus and Amurath Amurath inuâ—deth Caramania The â—unning speech wherwith Iulian the Cardinal perâ—â—adeth 〈◊〉 Vladislaus to breake the leaguâ—â—e had before made with Amurath Iulian the Cardinall absolueth king Vladislaus and the â—ect from their oath before giuen to Amurath The letters of king Vladislaus to Scanderbeg Scanderbeg his answere by letters vnto king Vladislaus King Vladislaus setteth forward against the Turks Dracula aâ—â—eth Vâ—adâ—slaus with his sonne and 4000 horse His last farewell vnto the king The great battell of Varna fought betweene king Vladislaus and Amurath Amurath prayeth vnto Christ. A cruell fight Amurath in danger King Vladislaus slaine Huniades flyeth Amurath to perform his vow resigneth his kingdome to his sonne Mahomet which he in short time after taketh again vpon him The comparison betwixt Huniades and Scanderbeg The sullen and craftie letters of Amurath to Scanderbeg The resolute answere of Scanderbeg to Amurath his letters Amurath 〈…〉 Sâ—anderbeg Scanderbeg his valiant resolution for the assaulting of Mustapha in his camp Peloponnesus made tributarie vnto the Turke 1446 Baiazet borne Huniades in the minoritie of the king chosen Gouernor of all the kingdome of Hungarie 1448 Huniades goeth against the Turks The false Despot giueth Amurath knowledge both of Huniades his comming and of his strength The omynous speech of an old woman The notable speech of Huniadâ—s to 〈…〉 against the Tuâ—ks The great baâ—â—aile of Cossoâ—â— fought betwixt Amurath and Huniades three daies together The battaile begun againe the second day Huniades encourageth his souldiors The battaile againe begâ—n the third day Huniades flieth The number of the Turks and Christians slain in the battaile of Cossoua Huniades taken prisâ—ner noâ— by the Dâ—spot 1449 The Despot inuaded by Amurath craueth aid of Huniades Amurath his graue letters of aduertisement to Mustapha concerning his going againe into Epirus The sâ—eech of Caragusa the Tuâ—ke to Manessi Manessi his stout answere to Caragusa The battaile betwixt Scanderbeg and Mustapha Mustapha ranâ—somed Thâ— lamentable 〈◊〉 of the â—â—â—ke ciâ—izenâ— out of Croia Scanderbeg commeth to Sfetigrade The effectuall speech of Scanderbeg vnto the souldiors and citizens of Sfetigrade to encourage theÌ„ against the comming of Amurath A notable â—tratageme of Scanderbeg for the intrapping of his enemies 1449 Amurath commeth to Sfetigrade with his armie The resolute answere of Perlat the Gouernor vnto the Bassa Sfetigrade assaulted The Turkes 〈…〉 The Ianizaries desperatly attempt to surprise the citie The Ianizaries repulsed Scanderbeg commeth to trouble the assault and 〈◊〉 met with by Feri-Bassa Amurath by greâ—â— pâ—â—miseâ— seeketh to corrupt the garrison of Sfetigrade A traitor â—orrupted with Amurath his Lâ—â—ge pâ—omises conspireth to betray the citie The carkas of a dead dog cast by the traitor into the common 〈◊〉 that serued the citie The Gouernor in vaine seeketh to peâ—suaâ—e the garrison sâ—uldiors to drinâ—e of the water of the well A traitoâ—â—orthâ—ly rewarded according to his treason 1450 Amurath assembleth againe his army at Hadrianople Croia baâ—â—red The cheerefull speech of Vranacontes the Gouernour to encourage his soldiours Croia assaulted Scanderbeg in danger Mahomet thinking to deceiue Scanderbeg is himselfe by him deceiued The Turkes retire Amurath seeketh to vndermine Croia The craftie speech of the Bassa sent from Amurath to corrupt the Gouernour and to persuade the â—â—â—hers to yeeld vp the cittie Vranacontes reiecteth Amurath his presents and threatenâ—th the Bassa Croia againe in vaine assaulteâ—â— The last speech and admonition of Amurath vnto his sonne Mahomet vpon his death bed Amurath his death Amurath an example of the vaâ—itie of worldly honour Amurath buried at Prusa A great poliâ—â—â— Amurath his disposition The sonnes of Amuraâ—h Paulus Iouius Illust virorum Elog. lib. 3. 1450 Mahomet of no religion Mahomet murdereth his brethren A cruell reuenge of an angrie woman Mahomet reformeth the Turkish coÌ„monweale 1451 Mahomet goeth against the king of Caramania Mentesia subdued by the Turks 1452 Mahomet maketh preparation for the besieging of Constantinople Constantinus the emperor in vaine craueth aid of the Christian princes 1453 Vide â—â—onardi Châ—ensis Archiepiscopi Miâ—â—len hist. dâ— captiuitate Con lantinopolitana Mahomet encamâ—eth before Constantinople The situation of Constantinople Constantinople built by Pausanâ—as destroyed by Seuerus reedified by Constantine the Great and now taken by Mahomet the Turke The magnificent temple of S. Sophia The frugalitie of the Turkes in their pâ—iuat buildâ—â—gâ— The Turks flâ—et Constantinople vndermined by the Turks Seuentie of the Turks galliots brought eight miles ouerland by the deuice of a Christian into the hauen of Constantinople A wonderfull bridge made by the Turks ouer the hauen of Constantinople A notable fight betweene four of the Christians ships and the Turks flâ—et The citizens of Constantinople without cause murmure against the emperour A bare shift for money Constantinople assaulted by the Turks Mahomet renueth the assault The Christians forsake the 〈◊〉 Constantinople woon by the Turkes Mahomet solemniseth his feastâ— in Constantinople with the bloâ—d of the Grecian nobilitie Pera yeelded to the Turke Mahomet notably dissembleth his hatred against Caly Bassa Mahomet placeth his imperiall seat at Constantinople and is worthely accounted first Emperor of the Turks 1454 Thomas and Demetrius rebell against Mahomet and are by him spoiled of part of their dominion Mahomet commeth againe into Peâ—â—ponesus Demetrius submitteth himselfe to Mahomet Peloponesus subdued by the Turks The death of George Despot of Seruia Serâ—ia yeelded to the Turke Belgrade besieged The Turks fleet ouerthrown by the Christians Carazies Bassa slaine Belgrade assaulted by the Turks The Turks notably repulsed The death of the most famous captaine Huniades 1461 Vsun Cassan the Persian king sendeth embassadours with presents to Mahomet Mahomet inuadeth Ismael prince of Sinope Trapezond besieged by Mahomet Trapezond yeelded vnto the Turks The ruine of the empire of Trapezond 1462 Mahomet seeketh to entrap Wladus prince of Valachia Chamuzes Bassa and the Turkes secretarie haÌ„ged Mahomet himselfe in person inuadeth Valachia A most horrible spectacle Two thousand of the Valachies slaine The death of Wladus 1462 Mitylene besieged Mitylene yeelded to
the great trouble of all his souldiors for whereas the journey was wont to be two waies worke ordinarily as well in respect of the length of the way as the difficultie of the passage the Generall would now needs haue it done in one the rather thereby to grieue his souldiors But of this his wilfulnesse he receiued euen the same day the just reward for that the chariots wherein his women rode were conuaied away togither with the eunuchs that were their keepers some say by the Georgians that lay in wait for such a prey some others say by the Ianizaries who the more to dishonour their Generall wrought him this injurie Great was the reproach that Ferat receiued in the armie but farre greater at CONSTANTINOPLE when these newes were there knowne but there was no remedie he must now perforce endure it and discontented as he was keepe on his way towards ERZIRVM In ARDACHAN he tooke a surueigh of his armie and there gaue his souldiors leaue to depart himselfe afterwards arriuing at ERZIRVM hated of all his souldiors enuied by his captaines derided for the losse of his women and fallen into the disgrace of euerie man No lesse than the rest was the Turkish emperour discontented with him also first for that he had done nothing worth the speaking of in reuenge of the shamefull injurie done by Manucchiar the Georgian and yet so mightily discontented his souldiors and secondly for that without any care he had suffered Aliculi Chan the Persian prisoner to escape away about whose flight it was thought he could not chuse but haue some intelligence For Ferat after he was by new order from the court to diuert his journey from NASSIVAN to the straits narrow passages of GEORGIA being desirous to be throughly enformed of those dangerous waies in this second yeare when he remoued from ERZIRVM tooke Aliculi Chan out of prison of purpose to vse him as his guide in those dangerous straits and therefore carried him vnder a guard whatsoeuer it was afterwards of his most faithfull vassals still intreating him well and taking such order as that he wanted nothing at last being come to the straits of TOMANIS in GEORGIA where the Castle as we haue before said was erected he from thence secretly escaped into PERSIA The manner of his escape is diuersly reported some say that Ferat in discharge of his promise for his good direction had gratified him with his libertie others say that Ferat corrupted with money gaue him opportunitie to escape some others with more probabilitie that this escape was made neither for money nor discharge of promise but by the onely vigilancie of Aliculi himselfe and the sleepinesse of his keepers and that watching the opportunitie of the night a friend to all escapes he started away Howsoeuer it was in fine hee was deliuered from his long captiuitie to the discredit of Ferat and returned into PERSIA to performe such enterprises against the Turkes as shall bee hereafter declared Generall Ferat before his departure out of GEORGIA had commaunded Aly the Bassa of GRaeCIA whom he left as is before declared in the new castle of LORâ— to fortifie a certaine castle called SAITAN CHASI in our language the Castle of the Diuell which he with great diligence performed and left therein fiftie pieces of arâ—illerie and a thousand souldiors vnder the charge of a Sanzacke and so quieted the passages from fort to fort as that all the waies from REIVAN to CHARS and from CHARS to TEFLIS were made easie and safe and all the means taken away whereby the enemie might be able to plot any new treacherie vpon those passages which was no small piece of good seruice The Persian king in the meane time lying at TAVRIS with his armie vnderstanding that the Turkes had changed their purpose from NASSIVAN to GEORGIA so that there was no further need to employ his armie against them for the defence of TAVRIS or NASSIVAN at last resolued with himselfe to licence his souldiors to depart and to apply himselfe to more priuat reuenges For calling Emir Chan vnto him whom he had left Gouernor of TAVRIS and Generall for that part of his kingdome he required of him the occasion why he had not performed the great promises which he had made to him before his departure to HERI nor done his endeuour to hinder the Turks Fabrik at REIVAN and why he went not ouâ— with other souldiors appointed for that purpose and namely with the Turcomans as he had promised to reuenge so great an injurie and in best manner he could to haue endomaged the Turkish forces Sundrie excuses did Emir Chan alleadge for the colouring of his manifest default but none sufficient to cleare him of the crimes objected against him by the king and the Sultans wherefore he was by the king adjudged to haue his eies burnt out with an hoat yron and so depriued of his sight to be despoiled of all his goods and shut vp in close prison Which heauie doome was without further delay accordingly put in execution whereof within the space of a few moneths the wicked Chan but yet a famous souldior miserably died in prison Whose death so highly offended the Turcoman nation who had him alwaies in great estimation that they absolutely denied their defences for the crowne of PERSIA and the more when they heard that the king had bestowed the roume of Emir Chan vpon Aliculi who although he had in many respects deserued all preferment yet for that he was an auntient enemie to certaine Turcoman captaines they would not in any wise endure that he should be exalted to so great an honour And therefore they waxed more disdainfull and ill affected towards the king whereby the Persian forces became the more weakened and diuided The Turkes notwithstanding the league yet in force betweene Amurath and Rodolph the Christian emperour that now is did many times make incursions into the vpper part of HVNGARIE burning the countrey villages and carrying away the people into captiuitie but in their returne they were oftentimes cut off by the emperours souldiors and slaine Which being reported at CONSTANTINOPLE much moued the Turkish tyrant but when he vnderstood that his men had without any cause made those inrodes into the territorie of the Christians and so receiued the foresaid losses he was againe appeased and in the beginning of this yeare 1584 renewed the league betwixt him and the emperour for eight yeares more Ferat from ERZIRVM aduertised Amurath of all that had happened in his late expedition desiring him to commaund what he would haue taken in hand the next Spring But besides this information from him there wanted not many others which did the like also although in another manner declaring vnto the king and that in an odious sort the whole proceedings of Ferat the escape of Aliculi Chan the shamefull losse of his women his quarrels with the Ianizaries his falling out with Vies Bassa a man well