days dispatched that he came for and done what good service else he could he departed from Famagusta and within five days after arrived at Crete It was not long but Selymus had knowledge of this late supply put into Famagusta and of the harms done by Quirinus wherewith he was so highly displeased that he commanded the Governor of Chios his Head to be struck off and the Governor of the Rhodes to be disgraced whose charge it was to have kept those Seas so that nothing should have been conveied into Famagusta Neither spared he Pial Bassa but deprived him of his Admiralty and placed Partau Bassa Admiral in his stead for that he had not the year before discomfited the Christian Fleet at the Island of Crete as it was supposed he might have done From the beginning of this War the Venetians with Pius Quintus then Pope who greatly favoured their cause had most earnestly from time to time solicited Philip King of Spain to enter with them into the participation and fellowship of this War which their request standing indeed with the good of his State he seemed easily to yield unto and therefore sent Auria his Admiral the last year with his Fleet to aid them but with such success as is before declared As for to joyn with them in perpetual League and Confederation as it was termed against the common Enemy that he referred unto the discreet consideration of the two Cardinals Granvellan and Pace and Io. Zunica his Embassador sent for that purpose to Rome promising to perform whatsoever they should on his behalf agree upon or consent unto At the same time and for the same purpose lay also Surianus the Venetian Embassador at Rome unto whom the Pope joyned Cardinal Morone Aldobrandinus and Rusticucius with certain other of the chief Cardinals as Men indifferent to both parties to moderate 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 grave Men sent from so great Princes about so great a matter as well there could not be a greater were no sooner met together and set in consultation but that forthwith they began to jar about the Capitulations of the League Necessary it was thought that a League should be agreed upon against so puissant and dangerous an Enemy 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 oftner the farther off if one difficulty were by the discretion of some appeased in stead thereof at the next meeting arise three others The chief command of the Army to be raised the proportion of the Forces the manner of the War with many other 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 turn the greatest part thereof upon the Venetians and the Venetians upon them which was done with such earnestness and study of every Man towards his own 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 keep the Frontiers of his large Dominions in Italy Sicily Sardinia Corsica Majorca Minorca yea and of Spain it self with strong Garrisons for fear of the Turk now that the War was risen betwixt the Venetians and him and the danger thereof translated far off into other Mens Territories enjoyned now in his own an unwonted quietness to the great content of his Subjects and easing of his own Charge in maintaining of so many Garrisons as before whereof many were now thought needless Besides that he by the Indulgence of the Pope raised such great Sums of Mony upon his Clergy as was thought by many sufficient to discharge the Charge of the War For which causes he cared not for entring in any further League with the Venetians but as it were in courtesie to send them a yearly Aid to maintain a defensive lingering War and so to keep the Turks busied upon the Venetian a far off from his own Territories But the Venetians in whose Dominions the fierce Enemy daily raged as well in Dalmatia as in Cyprus were even for the same reasons moved to hasten and shorten the War that the Spaniard was to protract it for beside the nearness of the danger and the infinite calamities by them sustained their yearly revenues arising for most part of their Customs were greatly impaired and their Traffick the maintenance of their State almost quite cut off which caused them more earnestly to confederate themselves with the Spaniard But hard it was to joyn in one States so far differing in respect of their particular profit and almost by nature contrary Thus was all the last year and a great part of this also spent by the aforesaid Commissioners in turbulent and fruitless Conferences but nothing was as yet concluded Concerning the League which troubled the Venetians not a little being of themselves too weak for so mighty an Enemy as was Selymus and yet no other certain strength from their Friends to rest upon But whilst they stood thus doubtful of the League with Spain and quite out of hope of any attonement with Selymus upon the suddain when they least expected it was by good Fortune laid as it were in their Laps to make choice whether they would as they had before most earnestly desired joyn in League with the Pope and the King of Spain or else fall to agreement with Selymus and that by this means Muhamet the chief Bassa a secret friend unto the Venetians of whom he had been of long time honoured had no great liking of the prosperous success of Mustapha in Cyprus and therefore devised night and day how to cross the rising of him the Competitor of his Honour and with all to help the Venetians unto whom he was much beholden He by secret Messengers had before oftentimes sounded the mind of the Venetian Embassador and put him in hope that if suit were made unto Selymus for Peace it would undoubtedly be granted and further promised to be himself a helper and intercessor for the same But finding the Embassador to cast many perils and to give small credit unto their talk who had before by trusting them deceived him he did not so give over the matter but referring the further tempering with him unto a more fit time for the present he took opportunity to enter into discourse with Selymus himselfe concerning the Venetians and told him that it was reported That they weary of the long altercation they had had with the Spaniards concerning the League and now destitute of all hope and aid would now haply of their own accord grant him that which they had before to him denied And perceiving him not unwillingly to hear so
of a few Months the wicked Chan but yet a famous Souldier miserably died in Prison Whose Death so highly offended the Turcoman Nation who had him always in great Estimation that they absolutely denied their defences for the Crown of Persia and the more when they heard that the King had bestowed the room of Emir Chan upon Aliculi who although he had in many respects deserved all Preferment yet for that he was an ancient Enemy to certain Turcoman Captains they would not in any wise indure that he should be exalted to so great an Honour And therefore they waxed more disdainful and ill affected towards the King whereby the Persian Forces became the more weakned and divided The Turks notwithstanding the League yet in Force betwixt Amurath and Rodolph the Christian Emperour that now is did many times make Incursions into the upper part of Hungary burning the Country Villages and carrâ—ing away the People into Captivity but in their return they were oftentimes cut off by the Emperours Souldiers and slain Which being reported at Constantinople much moved the Turkish Tyrant but when he understood that his men had without any cause made those inrodes into the Territory of the Christians and so received the foresaid Losses he was again appeased and in the beginning of this year 1584 renewed the League betwixt him and the Emperour for eight years more Ferat from Erzirum advertised Amurath of all that had hapned in his late Expedition desiring him to command what he would have 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 unto the King and that in an odious sort the whole proceedings of Ferat the escape of Aliculi Chan the shameful loss of his Women his Quarrels with the Ianizaries his falling out with Veis Bassa a man well regarded of Amurath himself the Disorders of his whole Camp for his want of Discretion and to be short the particularities of all such Actions as had not altogether so honorably been by him performed that year Causes of themselves sufficient to induce the King to remove the said Ferat from his Generalship To which occasions were also added sundry other secret respects for ever since the last departure of Ferat from Erzirum Amurath had still in his head the next year following to attempt the Enterprise of Tauris and thereby to stir up through the World a famous Report of his Conquest correspondent to his Greatness Now among the Captains whom he esteemed to be worthy men to whom he might with trust commit this so great an enterprise he bethought himself of Osman Bassa left at Sumachia in Siruan by General Mustapha in the first year of this War who having in that Province remained ever since had without any help of the Tartarians by his own Industry and Valour to the great Contentment of Amurath brought that large Country into a reasonable Obedience to the Turkish Empire and that which most of all pleased the Turkish Emperour had in a Country so far distant maintained his Army wherewith he had done all this without any Expences at all to his King having now a good while levied his Souldiers Stipends upon the Lands and Territories of that Region and still exercised a kind of Government and Soveraignty over those Places Of all which his good Proceedings he had caused Intelligence from time to time to be sent unto the Court by which means and other Favourers which he had about the King there was fostred in the mind of Amurath a wonderful good Opinion of him so that now without delay he resolved to send for him to Constantinople and for that purpose before Ferat was arrived at Erzirum he had dispatched certain Capigi and Chiaus to call this famous warriour unto him yet wanted there not some and those not of the meanest sort that went about to hinder both his coming to the Court and also these Designments of so great importance For Sciaus the chief Visier who rather for the comeliness of his person and alliance with the King than for any other his Virtues was mounted to that high room did greatly fear lest Osman whose course it was to sit next unto him in the order of the greatest Bassaes partly for his experience in matters of War and partly for the good Affection the King did bear unto him should at his coming to Constantinople perswade the King to what he listed and so peradventure take from him the chiefest Office and get into his hands the whole Government of the Empire whereby so great wealth was to be gained Wherefore to rid himself of these Fears he cast about by all means to keep him from coming to the Court but because that to attempt the same openly might prove a matter both difficult and dangerous he thought it better to make trial of a more commodious and secret means This Sciaus in consideration of many Gifts bestowed upon him by Mahamet the Cuman-Tartar King had many times excused him to Amurath of divers Accusations which Osman by his Letters had laid to his charge for not aiding him in the subduing of Siruan as he was both by promise and duty bound and for all his oversights alleadged such reasons in his behalf as if they did not altogether perswade Amurath to be kind unto him yet at the least not to carry a mind of revenge against him and had so far proceeded in countenancing this Tartarian King that there was betwixt them confirmed an interchangeable Amity and mutual Confederacy Him Sciaus imagined to find willing and ready by all means possible to hinder the coming of Osman his Enemy to the Court if he were but made acquainted with the matter And therefore Sciaus as soon as he understood the certain Resolution of Amurath to call Osman to the Court secretly wrote to the Tartarian King who lay incamped near to the Haven of Caffa upon the Fens of Meotis certifying him That Osman was to come to the Court and that therefore it were good for him to call to mind how great an Enemy he had been to him and how much he had indeavoured by Letters to Amurath to return all his Hatred and Displeasure against him and withall That if he was able to do so much by Letters as if Sciaus had not defended him with very reasonable Excuses the King had executed his wrathful Indignation upon him to his great danger he should then imagine with himself what Osman should be able to do when he should come in Person to the Presence of Amurath and without any Mediator between themselves determine of all matters what they should think convenient These and peradventure worse Letters which Sciaus wrote to the Tartar ministred matter enough unto him to resolve to do what he might not to suffer so pernitious an Enemy of his to arrive at Constantinople and especially perceiving that Sciaus in whose breast he reposed all
Wrath but struck as it were to the heart with a remorse of Conscience and oppressed with heaviness with tears running down his Cheeks and fetching a deep sigh said Why provoke you me to punish so just a man Whereas if I would my self have lived without reproach and infamy I should have kept my Imperial Majesty unpolluted or stained But now sith I my self have been the cause both of mine own disgrace and of the Empires I may thank mine own deserts if of such evil seed as I have sown I now reap also an evil harvest After the death of this good Emperor Theodorus his Son born the first year of his Fathers Reign being then about three and thirty years old was by the general consent of the People saluted Emperor in his stead who in the beginning of his Empire renewed the League which his Father had made with Iathatines the Turkish Sultan And so having provided for the security of his affairs in Asia he with a puissant Army passed over the Straight of Hellespontus into Europe to appease the troubles there raised in Macedonia and Thracia by the King of Bulgaria his Brother-in-Law and Michael Angelus the Despot of Thessalia who upon the death of the old Emperor began to spoil those Countries not without hope aâ— length to have joyned them unto their own by whose coming they were for all that disappointed of their purpose and glad to sue to him for peace But whilst he was there busied he was advertised by Letters from Nice that Michael Paleologus whom he had left there Governour in his absence was secretly fled unto the Turks with which news he was not a little troubled The cause of whose flight as Paleologus himself gave it out was for that he perceived himself divers ways by many of his Enemies brought into disgrace and the Emperors Ears so filled with their odious complaints so cunningly framed against him as that they were not easily or in short time to be refelled and therefore fearing in the Emperors heavy displeasure to be suddenly taken away to have willingly gone into exile if so happily he might save his life from the malice of them that sought after it At his coming to Iconium he found Iathatines the Sultan making great preparation against the Tartars who having driven the Turks out of Persia and other the far Eastern Countries as is before declared and running still on did with their continual incursions spoyl a great part of their Territories in the lesser Asia also and now lay at Axara a Town not far off from Iconium against whom the Sultan now making the greatest preparation he could gladly welcomed Paleologus whom he knew to be a right valiant and worthy Captain commending to his charge the leading of certain Bands of Greeks whom he had retained to serve him in those Wars as he had others of the Latines under the conduct of Boniface Moline a Nobleman of Venice and so having put all things in readiness and strengthened with these forreign Supplies of the Greeks and Latines set forward against his Enemies the Tartars who at the first fight of the strange Ensigns and Souldiers were much dismaied fearing some greater force had been come to the aid of the Turks nevertheless joyning with them in Battel had with them at the first a most terrible and bloody conflict wherein that part of the Army that stood against Paleologus and his Greeks was put to the worse to the great discomfiture of the Tartars being even upon the point to have fled had not one of the greatest Commanders in the Turks Army and a nigh Kinsman of the Sultans for an old grudge that he bare unto the Sultan with all his Regiment in the heat of the Battel revolted unto the Tartars whereby the fortune of the Battel was in a moment as it were quite altered they which but now were about to have fled fighting like Lions and they that were Victors now glad to turn their Backs and flie in which Flight a great number of Turks fell the fierce Tartars most eagerly pursuing them Paleologus with the General of the Turks hardly chased by the Tartars and glad every hour to make a stand and to fight for their lives with much ado after many days flight recovered a Castle of the Generals neer unto Castamona and so saved themselves The Tartars after this so great a Victory wherein they had broken the whole Strength of the Turks and brought in hazard the whole State of their Kingdom without resistance forraged all the Countries and Provinces subject unto the Turkish Sultan making Spoil of whatsoever they light upon insomuch that the Sultan discouraged and having now no Strength left to oppose against them fled unto the Greek Emperor Theodorus for aid who most honourably entertained him with all his Train and comforted him with such small aid as he thought good then to spare him which for his more safety he sent home with him under the leading of Isaacius Duâ—as sirnamed Murtzufle a man in great credit with him In recompence of which kindness the Sultan gave unto the Emperor the City of Laodicea whereinto he presently put a strong Garrison Nevertheless it was not long before it fell again into the Hands of the Turks being a place not to be holden by the Greeks Yet for all this the Sultan finding himself still to weak to withstand the continual invasions of the Tartars and weary of the harms he dayly stustained by the advice of his chief Councellors made a League with them yielding to pay them a certain yearly Tribute thereby to redeem his peace From which time the Tartars accounted of the Turks as of their Tributaries and Vassals Not long after this Michael Paleologus was by the Emperors kind and gracious Letters called home with his faithful promise also before given for his security who before his return bound himself also by solemn Oath to be unto the Emperor and his Son always loyal and from thenceforth never to seek after the Empire or give cause of new suspect for such matters as he had been before charged with but for ever to yield unto the Emperor his Son or other his Successors in the Empire his dutiful Obedience and Fidelity Upon which conditions he was again made great Constable and so received into the Emperors Favour and lived the rest of his Reign in great honour and credit with him Now Theodorus the Emperor having reigned three years fell sick and died leaving behind him his Son Iohn then but a Child of six years old to succeed him in the Empire whom he upon his death bed together with the Empire commended to Arsenius the Patriarch and one George Muzalo his faithful Councellor as to his trusty Tutors to see him safely brought up and the Empire well and peaceably governed This Muzalo was a man of mean Parentage but for his familiar Acquaintance and civil Behaviour of a Child brought up in the Court with the
of gilt Plate Cossi took upon him this Message which when he had delivered to Othoman he found him very willing to go as a man not doubting any harm But Cossi inwardly grieving to see so brave a man and his kind Friend by such treacherous manner to be brought to his end moved with compassion discovered unto him the whole Conspiracy of the Captain against him and of the Plot laid for his destruction willing him to take heed unto himself for which vertue Othoman gave Cossi great thanks as to his Friend for saving his life and withall richly rewarded him promising him greater matters if he would continue that his faithful Friendship Now concerning the Captain of Bilezuga saith he at your return recommend me unto him and tell him That I think my self much bound unto him for many curtesies but especially for that he hath heretofore divers times in most friendly manner protected my Goods and Cattel within the safeguard of his Castle which his Friendship I most humbly request him to continue for one year more enforced thereunto by reason of the dangerous Wars betwixt me and the Prince Germean-Ogli as he well knoweth wherefore if it might so stand with his good pleasure I would presently send unto his Castle such things as I make most reckoning of requesting him once more to be the faithful keeper thereof as he hath been before and tell him further that my Mother-in-Law with her Daughter my Wife desire nothing more than to find opportunity to be acquainted with the honorable Lady his Mother for which cause if it please him I will bring them both with me to the marriage This Othomans request when the Captain of Bilezuga understood by Michael Cossi he sent the same Cossi back again to hasten his coming willing him to bring with him what guests he pleased appointing certain time and place when and where the marriage should be solemnized And because the Castle of Bilezuga was thought to be too little conveniently to receive the multitude of People which were expected at the marriage there was another open place of greater receipt appointed in the Country for that purpose about three miles distant from the Castle The marriage day drew nigh whereunto Othoman must repair for his promise sake and therefore prepared with all diligence to set forward and to put in execution what he had devised for the safety of himself and destruction of his Enemy Othoman had of long accustomed in dangerous times to send by carriage the best of his things made up in packs to be kept in safety in the Castle of Bilezuga under the colour whereof he now made great packs in form as he was wont but instead of his rich Houshold stuff and such other things of price he thrust in armed men covering those packs with homley coverings sending them by Carriages to the Castle of Bilezuga giving charge that they should not come thither before twilight After that he apparelled certain of his best Souldiers in Womens apparel as if it had been his Wife and Mother-in-Law with their Women so casting his journey that he with these disguised Souldiers and the other sent in packs might at one instant meet at the Castle aforesaid The Captain being now in the Country and understanding that Othoman was coming in the Evening with a great train of Gentlewomen thought the cause of his late coming to be for that the Turkish Women use to shun the sight of Christian men by all means they can Othoman being now come to the place in the Country where the marriage was next day to be solemnized having done his humble reverence to the Captain requested him to do him the honour that his Gentlewomen which were nigh at hand might by his appointment be sent to his Castle there to have some convenient lodging where they might alight and bestow themselves apart from others according to the homely fashion of their Nation lest peradventure the presence of so honorable a company of Noblemen and Gallants might put them out of countenance which the Captain granted and having saluted them a far off after the Turkish manner commanded them to be conveyed to his Castle making reckoning of them all as of a rich prey At the same time that these disguised Souldiers arrived at the Castle came thither also the other Souldiers covered in packs in the carriages which so soon as they came into the Castle suddenly leapt out of the packs and drawing their short Swords with the help of their disguised Fellows slew the Warders of the Castle and without more ado possessed the same the greatest part of the Captains people being before gone out of the Castle to the place of the marriage Othoman having tarried so long with the Captain as he supposed the Castle at that time by his men surprised so soon as the Captain had taken his Chamber suddenly took horse with all his Followers accompanied also with Cossi taking his way directly to the Castle of Bilezuga of whose sudden departure the Captain understanding presently took horse and pursued him with all his Train which were for the most part drunk and overtaking him before he came to the Castle set upon him in which conflict he was by Othoman slain and the rest put to flight The same night Othoman using great celerity early in the Morning surprised the Castle of Iarchisar also where he took Prisoners the Captain thereof with his fair Daughter Lulufer which should have been married to the Captain of Bilezuga the next day with all her Friends as they were ready to have gon unto the marriage which fair Lady he shortly after married unto his eldest Son Orchanes who had by her Amurath third King of the Turks and Solyman Bassa Othoman omitting no opportunity presently sent one of his Captains called Durgut-Alpes a man of great esteem and valour to besiege the Castle of Einegiol wherein he used such celerity that preventing the fame of that was done at Bilezuga he suddenly environed the Castle in such sort that none could pass in or out until such time as that Othoman having brought his Prisoners and Prey to the Castle of Bilezuga and there having set all things in good order came with the rest of his men of War to Einegiol which he presently by force took promising the Spoil thereof unto his Souldiers The Captain called Hagio Nicholaus his ancient Enemy he caused to be cut in small pieces and all the men to be slain which cruelty he used because they a little before had used the like tyranny against his Turks When Othoman had thus got into his subjection a great part of the strong Castles and Forces of the greater Phrygia with the Territory to them belonging he began with all carefulness to make good Laws and to execute justice to all his Subjects as well Christians as Turks with great indifferency studying by all means to keep his Country in peace and quietness and to protect his Subjects
Feet suddenly stabbed him in the bottom of his belly with a short Dagger which he had under his Souldiers Coat of which Wound that great King and Conqueror presently died The name of this man for his courage worthy of eternal memory was Miles Cobelitz who before sore wounded was shortly after in the presence of Bajazet cut into small pieces The Turks in their Annals somewhat otherwise report of the death of Amurath as that this Cobelitz one of the Despot his Servants in time of the Battel coming to Amurath as a Fugitive offering him his Service and admitted to his presence in humbling himself to have kissed his Feet as the barbarous manner of the Turks is stabbed him into the belly and so slew him being himself therefore shortly after as is aforesaid in the presence of Bajazet most cruelly hewen into small pieces Whereupon ever since that time the manner of the Turks hath been and yet is that when any Embassador or Stranger is come to kiss the Sultan his hand or otherwise to approach his Person he is as it were for honours sake led by the Arms unto his presence betwixt two of the great Courtiers but indeed by so intangling him to be sure that he shall not offer him the like violence that did this Cobelitz unto Amurath The dead body of Amurath was presently with all secrecy conveyed into his Tent by the Bassaes and Captains present at his death whether Bajazet was also brought with an Ensign before him as the Successor in his Fathers Kingdom His younger Brother Iacup sirnamed Zelebi or the Noble yet ignorant of that had hapned was by the great Bassaes sent for as from his Father who casting no peril but coming into his Fathers Tent was there presently by them strangled by the commandment of Bajazet as most Histories report howbeit the Turks Annals charge him not therewith This was the beginning of the most unnatural and inhumane custom ever since holden for a most wholsome and good policy among the Turkish Kings and Emperors in the beginning of their Reign most cruelly to Massacre their Brethren and nearest Kinsmen so at once to rid themselves of all fear of their Compâ—â—itors This Amurath was in his Superstition more zealous than any other of the Turkish Kings a man of great courage and in all his Attempts fortunate he made greater slaughter of his Enemies than both his Father and Grandfather his Kingdom in Asia he greatly inlarged by the Sword Marriage and Purchase and using the Discord and Cowardise of the Grecian Princes to his profit subdued a great part of Thracia called Romania with the Territories thereto adjoyning leaving unto the Emperor of Constantinople little or nothing more in Thracia than the Imperial City it self with the bare name of an Emperor almost without an Empire he won a great part of Bulgaria and entred into Servia Bosna and Macedonia he was liberal and withall severe of his Subjects both beloved and feared a man of very few words and one that could dissemble deeply He was slain when he was threescore and eight years old and had thereof reigned thirty one in the year of our Lord 1390. His dead body was by Bajazet conveyed into Asia and there Royally buried at Prusa in a fair Chappel at the West end of the City near unto the Baths there where upon his Tomb lieth his Souldiers Cloke with a little Turkish Tulipant much differing from those great Turbants which the Turks now wear Near unto the same Tomb are placed three Launces with three Horse-tails fastned at the upper end of them which he used as Guidons in his Wars a thing in ancient time not strange There standeth a Castle with a Tomb made in remembrance of him in the Plains of Cossova where he was slain and his Entrails buried which giveth occasion for some to report that he was there also himself enterred FINIS Christian Princes of the same time with Amurath the First Emperors Of the East John Paleologus 1354. 30. Andronicus Paleologus 1384. 3. Emanuel Paleologus 1387. 30. Of the West Charles the Fourth 1346. 32. Wenceslaus Son to Charles King of Bohemia 1378. 22. Kings Of England Edward the Third 1327. 50. Richard the Second 1377. 23. Of France John Valois 1350. 14. Charles the Fifth 1364. 16. Charles the Sixth sirnamed The welbeloved 1381. 42. Of Scotland David Bruce 1341. 29. Robert Stewart 1370. Bishops of Rome Innocent the VI. 1354. 10. Urban the V. 1364. 8. Gregory the II. 1372. 7. Urban the VI. 1378. 11. The LIFE of BAJAZET The First of that NAME The FOURTH and most UNFORTUNATE King of the Turks BAjazet or as the Turks call him Baiasit of his violent and fierce Nature sirnamed Gilderun or Lightning succeeded his Father Amurath in the Turkish Kingdom his younger Brother Iacup being strangled immediatly after his Fathers death as is before declared He in the first year of his Reign invaded Servia and there besieged Cratova a City of the Despots whereunto the Silver Mines of Servia not the least cause of that War belonged Which City was yielded unto him upon condition That the Christian Inhabitants might with Life and Liberty depart Who were no sooner gon out of the City but that by his commandment they were all most cruelly slain by his men of War for that purpose sent out after them At this time he also won Uscupia with divers other Castles in the Country near unto Cratova Sigismund at the same time King of Hungary a young Prince of great hope and Brother to Wenceslaus then Emperor of the West advertised from the Servians his Allies and Confederates of these proud proceedings of Bajazet by his Embassadors sent of purpose requested him That as he was a just Prince and wished to live in quiet with his own to desist from doing of such open wrong and from invading of such Countries of his Friends and Confederates as he had no right in Which Embassadors so sent Bajazet detained without answer until such time as he had overrun a great part of the Despot his Country and therein done what he thought good Then calling the said Embassadors unto him into one of the strong Towns which he had in every corner filled with his own Souldiers told them that they might there see that his Right both unto that Town and the rest by him taken was good enough for as much as the very Walls acknowledged the same And so giving them leave to depart willed them so to tell their Master Which his proud answer by the same Embassadors reported unto the young King no less troubled him than if open War had by them been denounced unto him seeing the Tyrant as it should seem pretended Right unto whatsoever he could by force get nevertheless being himself not yet well setled in his Kingdom and in doubt of the contrary Faction that altogether liked not of his Election into Hungary for their King he was glad at that time to put it
certain Troops of Horsemen rid even to the Gates of the City perswading the Defendants to yield the City making them in the name of his Master such Offers and Promises as he thought might most move them But they nothing regarding his words but rather incensed with his presumption sallied out upon him and inforced him to retire but he therewith enraged and half mad for anger came upon them with a fresh charge thinking by plain force to have driven them back into the City In which skirmish he was by one Georgius Alexius with a Bullet shot quite through the Throat and feeling himself mortally wounded setting spuâ—s to his Horse ran as fast as he could to his Camp where he presently fell down from his Horse and died The Turks discouraged with the death of their General and the coming of Scanderbeg rose the same night and with great silence retired themselves unto the Plain of Tiranna about eight miles from Croia Scanderbeg the next morning entring the forsaken Tents of the Turks found therein greatstore of Corn and other Victuals which he caused to be forthwith conveighed into the City and in triumph followed after himself to the great joy and comfort of his late besieged Subjects whom he highly commended for their Fidelity and bountifully rewarded according to their deserts The same day he sent certain companies of Souldiers to take the strait passages whereby the Turks must needs pass in their return out of Epirus which when the Turks understood they sent two Messengers to Scanderbeg who seemed to be men of good account in the Army offering in the name of the rest of the Captains and Commanders to deliver unto him their Horses and Arms so that they might in safety depart with their lives Which their request Scanderbeg propounding to his Counsellors and Captains was by them diversly digested In conclusion they received this answer from Scanderbeg himself That as they came into his Country without his Commandment so should they not by his leave depart thence The Turks receiving this short answer by their Messengers and considering that they must needs in that bare Country in short time perish either with Famine or with the Sword the same night departed from Tiranna and in the dead time of the night entring the aforesaid Straits by plain force desperately brake through and escaped but not without their great loss for whose escape the common Souldiers murmured grievously against Scanderbeg and were not without much ado appeased In short time after Scanderbeg recovered all such places as Mahomet had before taken from him and put to Sword the Souldiers he had left for the keeping of the same which done he brake up his Army retaining only two thousand Horsemen and a thousand Foot for the defence of his Frontiers The Turkish Tyrant hearing of the evil success of his Affairs in Epirus as that his General was slain Croia relieved his Army discomfited and all that he had done brought to nought fretted thereat exceedingly and was therewith so much grieved that he could not for a season eat or drink or take rest his discontented thoughts so much troubled him In the end to remedy the matter he resolved the next Spring to go again in person himself with a most puissant Army into Epirus and so if it were possible to make a full Conquest thereof of which his purpose Scanderbeg understanding provided for his coming as he had in former time The Spring being come Mahomet according to his former resolution with a mighty Army entred into Epirus and there with exceeding labour and charge first repaired or rather re-edified the old ruines of the City of Valmes wherein he left a strong Garrison of purpose to trouble that part of the Country From thence he marched to Dirrachium now called Durazzo but of old time Epidamnum a City upon the Sea-coast then in the possession of the Venetians famous for many things in the time of the Roman Empire but especially for the Flight of the Roman Senate thither and their entertainment there in the time of the civil Wars betwixt Caesar and Pompey This City Mahomet thought to have taken unprovided and so upon the suddain to have carried it but was therein much deceived finding it strongly fortified and manned both by the Venetians and Scanderbeg Where when he had there spent some time and to his great loss in vain attempted the City he rose upon the suddain and retiring into Epirus came and sate down again before Croia of purpose by his suddain coming to have terrified the Citizens and vainly perswaded that he had left Scanderbeg in Dirrachium for that in the assailing thereof he had discovered many of Scanderbegs men and thereby supposed him to have been there also the greatest cause why he so suddainly rose and came to Croia At his first coming he offered great rewards and large priviledges unto the Citizens if they would forthwith yield up their City otherwise he threatned unto them all the calamities of War vowing never to depart thence before he had it whereunto he received no other answer out of the City than was sent him by the mouth of the Canon or brought him by many most brave Sallies Scanderbeg in the mean while continually molesting his Camp and every night falling into one quarter or another thereof Mahomet taught by experience to what small purpose it would be for him to lie there long rose with his Army and marched again to the Sea side to a place now called the head of Redon upon the Gulf of Venice not far from Dirrachium where Scanderbeg had begun to build a new City called Chiuril not yet finished which Mahomet in despight of the man rased down to the ground After that hearing that many of the Epirots were retired into the Mountains he went to seek them out and was with great loss by those Mountain People repulsed Scanderbeg still following them at the Heels and awaiting all opportunities daily cut off part of his Army So that at last the Tyrant despairing of any good to be done in that Expedition was glad to depart out of Epirus having atchieved nothing worth his coming and so full of discontentment and melancholy returned to Constantinople After all these great troubles Scanderbeg rid over most part of Epirus to view the state of his Kingdom and so at last came to Lyssa a City of the Venetians which he had alwaies especially liked there to confer with the Venetian Legate and other the confederate Princes of matters concerning their state in general as his manner was but more particularly how they might take the City of Valmes which Mahomet had the last year built in the Seigniory of Ariannites Comynat and much troubled that part of Epirus But whist he lay there he fell sick of a Fever which daily so increased upon him that he became sick even unto death and now perceiving his end to draw nigh sent for his Wife and Son with the Princes and
power of the Turk without the help of such base minded Cowards In the mean time he commanded them to surcease from their mutinous talk threatning otherwise to make them examples to others what it is so much to forget themselves But these Spaniards shortly after better considering of the matter and what a dishonour it would be both to themselves and their Nation if they should so dishonourably be sent away repenting themselves of that they had done came and craved pardon of the Great Master and to redeem their former fault in all sallies and services during that Siege shewed themselves most valiant and forward men for all that the Great Master would never afterwards trust them in any service alone The Bassa attempting much and prevailing little thought it would much further his designs if he could by any means take the Great Master out of the way by whose careful policy he saw all his devices still countermanded wherefore to bring this his purpose to pass he practised by the means of one Ianus a Dalmatian to poyson him This Ianus having conceived this Treason from the Bassa was received into the City of the Rhodes as a Christian Fugitive fled from the Turks where he acquainted himself with one Pythius an Epirot of great familiarity with Marius Philelphus of late Secretary unto Damboyse but as then out of favour and in disgrace for that he was partaker with the Spaniards in the late mutiny Ianus by the means of Pythius whom he had now throughly corrupted sought after Philelphus who then as he right well knew lived discontented as a fit instrument whereby to work this Treason for that he was a man well acquainted with the Cooks and Butlers and other Servitors in the Great Masters House and himself yet there very conversant also Pythius presuming of his old acquaintance and familiarity with Philelphus and waiting upon his melancholy humor began to perswade him to revenge the disgrace he lived in and withal to shew him the means how to do it by poysoning the Great Master which might as he said fall out to his greater good than he was yet aware of Philelphus making semblance as if he had not disliked of the motion was desirous to know of him what farther benefit might thereby arise to him more than revenge To whom Pythius forthwith shewed the Bassaes Letters to Ianus whereby he assured him that whatsoever he should promise unto any man for the furtherance of the practice he would to the full perform the same Philelphus having got full understanding of the Treason presently discovered the same to Damboyse By whose commandment Ianus and Pythius were straitwaies apprehended and being examined confessed the Treason for which Ianus lost his Head and Pythius as he had well deserved was shamefully hanged Philelphus for his Fidelity was pardoned his former error and again received into the Great Masters favour The Bassa understanding that the Treason was discovered and the Traitors executed was much grieved therewith Nevertheless he ceased not with continual battery to shake the City but especially the Tower of S. Nicholas for the assailing whereof he made wonderful preparation Amongst other things he had framed a great Bridge staied with strong Ropes and Cables over a short fret of the Sea betwixt the place of his Battery and the same Tower whereon six men might march abreast in which device he reposed great hope But as the Turks were making fast this Bridge and had as they thought brought the work to a good perfection Gervaise Rogers an Englishman of great courage and very skilful in Sea matters found means by night to cut and break in sunder all the Ropes and Cables wherewith the Bridge was staid which now looâ—e was by the violence of the Sea quickly carried away and the Turks disappointed of their purpose For which good service he was by the Great Master honourably rewarded and of him in publick audience highly commended Yet was the furious Battery by the Bassa still maintained and a new Bridge framed upon small Boats and Lighters fast moored with Cables and Anchors and divers Pieces of great Ordnance placed in Fusts and Gallies So that the Tower was at one time battered both by Sea and Land the Defendants assailed with small Shot and Arrows innumerable and the Tower at the same instant desperately scaled But Damboyse had so placed his great Ordnance that with the force thereof the Bridge was broken in sunder four of their great Fusts sunk with great store both of Men and Ordnance the Defendants also in the Tower with Shot Timber Stones and other such like things provided for that purpose grievously overwhelmed the Turks that were scaling the Walls and beat them down with great slaughter This hot Assault was desperately maintained by the Turks from three a clock in the morning untill ten when the Bassa seeing no hope to prevail gave over the Assault having therein lost above two thousand five hundred men whose dead bodies shortly after driven on shore were spoiled by the Christians The same night two Mercenary Souldiers of Crete going about to have fled unto the Enemy were apprehended and put to death And George Frapaine who in the beginning of the Siege fled from the Turks now again vehemently suspected of Treason was executed also Thus neither Force nor Treason prevailing the Bassa because he would leave nothing unproved that might better his cause sent certain Messengers unto the Great Master offering to him in the name of the Turkish Emperor great Rewards with many honourable Preferments if he would yield up the City which he could not as they would have perswaded him long hold against so mighty an Enemy wishing him now in his declining estate not to refuse such honourable and princely Offers for fear he were afterwards constrained to accept of far worse or else through his desperate wilfulness plunge himself and his People into such extreme peril as should be impossible for him or them to find any way out of Whereunto the Great Master in brief answered That he would not willingly in his sure estate use the counsel of his Enemy neither in his greatest distress refuse chearfully to yield his Life unto Almighty God to whom he did ow it and that with far better Will than to yield up the City upon any conditions bear they never so fair a shew of honour or profit The Messengers perceiving his constant resolution rather to die than to yield his City began according to instructions before given them by the Bassa to temper with him another way and to perswade him to yield unto the mighty Emperor some small yearly Tribute or other Homage as an acknowledgment of his greatness and so to live as his Friend in Peace But the Great Master knowing by the woful example of others that in that small request lay included the beginning of the Turkish Thraldom and Slavery utterly refused to pay him the least Tribute or to do him the
he had recovered that Kingdom he would forthwith from thence invade the Turks Dominions in Grecia Which great attempt the haughty King was enduced to take in hand by the perswasion of divers of his Nobility but especially the solicitation of Lodovious Sfortia Duke of Millan whereby the whole state of Italy was in short time after sore shaken and Sfortia himself Author of those troubles at last carried away by the French miserably ended his days as a Prisoner in France Alphonsus the Neapolitan King doubting the greatness of the French King his Enemy entred into a confederation with certain of the States of Italy against the French but especially with Alexander the Sixth then Bishop of Rome for the better assurance whereof he gave his base Daughter in Marriage to Godfrey Borgia the Bishops Son and made him Prince of Carinula his other Son Francis he entertained also in great pay to serve him in his Wars And by his Embassador Pandonius Camillus lately returned out of France gave Bajazet to understand what the French King had purposed against them both requesting him to aid him with six thousand Horsemen and as many Foot against their common Enemy promising to give them honourable entertainment during those Wars And to futher the matter Alexander the great Bishop sent George Bucciard a Ligurian skilful in the Turkish Language Embassador to Bajazet to declare unto him with what great preparation both by Sea and Land the young French King desirous of honour and the enlargement of his Kingdom was about to invade Naples and then with what great power after he had dispatched his Wars in Italy he purposed to pass over into Grecia and that he had to that end earnestly travelled with him to have Zemes his Brother delivered into his hands whom he desired to use as a most fit instrument for the troubling of his State and Empire by reason of his many Friends yet that his Holiness having the French in distrust as a proud and ambitious People as also careful for the danger of the City of Rome and of the State of Italy in general had entred into a confederation with Alphonsus King of Naples with their united Forces to withstand that proud Nation both by Sea and Land wanting nothing more for the accomplishment thereof than Mony by which means only Bajazet might as he said provide for the safety of his Kingdom in Grecia if he would put to his helping hand to furnish them with Mony for the entertainment of Souldiers forasmuch as the City of Rome and the Kingdom of Naples were the surest Walls of that side of the Othoman Empire if he not altogether refusing the charge would not spare for a little cost to maintain the War rather in that forreign Country than to receive it brought home to his own door concluding That it were much more commodious and easie with his Treasures to repress his Enemies in a strange Country afar off than by dint of sword and plain battel in his own A thing by experience well known That they which have neglected and set at nought remote dangers for sparing of charge have afterwards been inforced with greater danger to receive the same into their own bosoms when as they were become desperate and past remedy Bajazet who both by his Espials and often Letters and Embassadors from Alphonsus knew all this to be true gave great thanks to the Bishop by his Embassador for that he sitting in so high place did so friendly and in so good time admonish him both a Stanger and of a contrary Religion of things of so great consequence yet for answer he willed him to return again unto his Master with one Dautius his Embassador who should carry with him both Mony and other his secret resolutions concerning those matters Among other things given him in charge was an Epistle written in Greek wherein the barbarous King with great cunning perswaded the Bishop to poison Zemes his Brother as a man of a Religion altogether contrary to his for indeed of him alone for his great Vertues Bajazet stood in fear and doubt lest he 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 unto the Bishop two hundred thousand Ducats and never after so long as he lived to take up Arms against the Christians Otherwise than had his Father Mahomet and his Grandfather Amurath done who both as deadly Enemies unto the name of Christians never ceased by continual Wars to work their woe But George the Bishops Embassador and Dautius travelling towards Italy and having now happily passed the Adriatick as they were about to have landed at Ancona were boarded by Io. Rovereus Brother to Iulianus the Cardinal a man of great account in those quarters and clean quit of their Treasure and whatsoever else they had aboard Rovereus pretending for the defence of the Fact That the Bishop did owe him a great sum of Mony due unto him for his good service done in the time of Innocentius his Predecessor for which he now paid himself Neither could the Bishop much troubled with that injury ever after recover one part thereof although he threatned vengeance with Fire and Sword and also sought for recompence of the Venetians whom it concerned to save the Turks harmless in those Seas for why Rovereus bearing himself upon the French which were now upon coming whose faction he followed kept the Mony and set at nougt the Bishops thundering Curses and vain Threats Dautius himself Bajazets Embassador being set on shore was glad to go on foot to Ancona and so from thence passing up the River Padus came to Franciscus Gonzaga Duke of Mantua of whom for the ancient Friendship betwixt him and Bajazet he was courteously entertained and furnished both with Mony and Apparel and so spoiled returned into Grecia to carry news unto his Master how he had sped When Bajazet understood by Dautius the evil success he had in his late journey he forthwith sent Mustapha one of the Bassaes of the Court unto the great Bishop Alexander with like instructions as he had before given to Dautius who with better hap arrived in Italy and came to Rome in safety where he forgot no part of that was given him in charge by his great Master But amongst many other things the life of Zemes was that he most sought for at the Bishops hands At the same time which was in the year 1495 the French King Charles the Eighth of that name year 1495. passing through the heart of Italy with a strong Army against Alphonsus King of Naples and taking his way without leave through the City of Rome so terrified Alexander the Bishop who as we have before said altogether favoured and as much as in him lay furthered the cause of Alphonsus that he was glad to yield to all such Articles and Conditions as it pleased him then to demand not purposing
by the Turks Horsemen and brought back to the Bassa Techellis thus put to flight Ionuses caused strait inquisition to be made through all the Cities of the lesser Asia for all such as had professed the Persian Religion and them whom he found to have born Arms in the late Rebellion he caused to be put to death with most exquisit Torments and the rest to be burnt in their Foreheads with an hot Iron thereby for ever to be known whom together with the Kinsfolks and Friends of them that were executed or fled with Techellis he caused to be transported into Europe and to be dispersed through Macedonia Epirus and Peloponnesus for fear lest if Techellis now fled into the Persian Kingdom should from thence return with new Forces they should also again repair unto him and raise a new Rebellion This was the beginning course and ending of one of the most dangerous Rebellions that ever troubled the Turkish Empire wherein all or at leastwise the greatest part of their Dominions in Asia might have been easily surprised by the Persian King if he would throughly have prosecuted the occasion and opportunity then offered The remainder of Techellis his Followers flying into Persia by the way lightning upon a Caravan of Merchants laden with Silks and other rich Merchandize took the Spoil thereof for which outrage coming to Tauris the Captains were all by the commandment of Hysmael executed and Techellis himself to the terror of others burnt alive year 1509. The next year which was the year 1509. the fourteenth day of September chanced a great and terrible Earthquake in the City of Constantinople and the Countries thereabouts by the violence whereof a great part of the Walls of that imperial City with many stately Buildings both publick and private were quite overthrown and thirteen thousand People overwhelmed and slain The terror whereof was so great that the People generally forsook their Houses and lay abroad in the Fields yea Bajazet himself then very aged and sore troubled with the Gout for fear thereof removed from Constantinople to Hadrianople but finding himself in no more safety than before he left the City and lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. This Earthquake indured by the space of eighteen days or as the Turks Histories report a month with very little intermission which was then accounted ominous as portending the miserable calamities which shortly after hapned in the Othoman Family After this Earthquake ensued a great Plague wherewith the City was grievously visited and for the most part unpeopled But after that the Earthquake was ceased and the Mortality asswaged Bajazet caused the imperial City to be with all speed repaired and to that purpose gave out commissions into all parts of his Dominions for the taking up of Workmen so that there were at once in work eighty thousand Workmen who in most beautiful manner in the space of four months again repaired the ruins of that great City Bajazet had by his many Wives eight Sons and six Daughters which lived to be Men and Women grown and the Sons all Governors in divers Provinces of his large Empire whom the Turkish Histories reckon up in this order Abdullah Zelebi Alem Scach Tzihan Scach Achmet Machmut Corcut Selim and Muhamet Yet Antonius Utrius a Genoway who long time lived in Bajazet his Court and as he of himself writeth waited in his Chamber at the time of his death reckoning up the Sons of Bajazet maketh mention but of these six Sciemscia Alemscia Achomates Mahometes Selymus and Corcutus naming the forenamed by names something differing from the other Sciemscia the eldest Governor of Caramania for his towardliness most dearly beloved of his Father died a natural death before him and was of him and his Subjects greatly lamented Alemscia died in like manner of whose death as soon as he was advertised by mourning Letters written in black paper with white Characters as their manner of writing is in certifying of heavy news he cast from him his Scepter with all other tokens of Honour and caused general mourning to be made for him in the Court and through all the City of Constantinople by the space of three days during which time all Shops were shut up all trading forbidden and no sign of mirth to be seen and for a certain space after the manner of their Superstition caused solemn Sacrifices to be made for the health of his Soul and seven thousand Aspers to be given weekly unto the Poor His dead body was afterward with all Princely Pomp conveyed to Prusa and there with great solemnity buried Tzihan Governor of Caria and Muhamet Governor of Capha upon their Fathers heavy displeasure were by his commandment both strangled Of his other four Sons Achmet otherwise called Achomates Machmut or Mahometes Corcut or Corcutus and Selymus the second namely Mahometes was of greatest hope and expectation not given to sensuality or voluptuous pleasure as Achomates his eldest Brother neither altogether bookish as was Corcutus nor yet of so fierce and cruel a Disposition as Selymus but of such a lively Spirit sharp Wit bountiful Disposition and Princely Carriage of himself that in the judgment of most men he seemed already worthy of a Kingdom Which immoderate favour of the People caused his elder Brother Achomates yea and Bajazet also himself to have him in no small jealousie as if he had affected the Empire and was in short time the cause of his untimely death which thing he nothing doubting hastened as fatal things are by such means as he lest feared might have procured any such mortal distrust or danger Most of Bajazet his Children were by divers Women yet Achomates and this Mahometes were by one and the same Mother for which cause Mahometes took greater pleasure in him than in any his other Brethren although it were not answered with like love again Achomates was Lord and Governor of Amasia and this Mahometes of Magnesia who desirous to see the manner of his Brothers Life and Government disguised himself with two of his familiar and faithful Friends as if they had been religious men of that Order which the Turks call Imâ—lier These men are for the most part comely Personages born of good Houses who in cleanly Attire made after an homely fashion do at their pleasure wander up and down from Town to Town and Country to Country noting the disposition and manners of the People whereof as fitteth best their purpose they make large Discourses afterwards to others they commonly carry about with them silver Cymbals whereon they play most cunningly and thereunto sing pleasant and wanton Ditties for which idle delight they receive Mony of the People as an Alms given them of Devotion These are the common corrupters of youth and defilers of other mens beds men altogether given to ease and pleasure and are of the Turks called The religious Brethren of Love but might of right better be termed Epicurus his Hogs than any
sent for the imperious Letter of the Turkish Tyrant was openly read before the Knights of the Order and the better sort of the Citizens Whereunto the Great Master accounting it both honour enough and sufficient term of life honourably to die answered in this sort You heard sacred Fellows in Arms and valiant Citizens of the Rhodes these imperious and sorrowful Letters whereunto how we are to answer requireth no great deliberation we must as resolute Men either yield or die all hope of the Victory is gone except forraign Aid come Wherefore if you will follow my Counsel let us with Weapons in our Hands until the last Gasp and the spending of the last drop of our Blood like valiant Men defend our Faith and Nobility received from our Ancestors and the Honour which we have so long time gotten both at Home and Abroad and let it never be said that our Honour died but with our Selves This Speech of the Great Master seemed unto mâ—ny heavier than the imperious Commandment of the Turkish Tyrant and a great while Men stood silent heavily looking one upon another many with changing of their countenance and outward gesture more than by words expressing what they thought in heart At length a certain Greek Priest with great compassion of mind as it seemed and Tears trickling down his Cheeks brake forth into these words And I would also hold my peace if I were a private Man and not first of all in so great and troubled assembly broach mine own opinion But forasmuch as the regard of our common preservation can wring a word out of no Mans mouth and all Men know that now is the time to speak and say what every Man thinketh best which shall neither always nor long be granted unto us I will not let it now overpass and slip away Wherefore let us suppose that no command of a most mighty Prince besieging us were come unto us but that I were reasoning as a private Man with his Neighbour or one Friend with another by the fire side or in our cups without care without any great affection to either party as Men indifferent not liking or hating as Men oftentimes do of Princes Affairs which concern them nothing and then as I hope my Speech shall be unto you neither unpleasant nor unprofitable We Greeks and Latins with joyned Arms have now these six Months withstood our deadly Enemies not only abroad before our Walls but also in the very bowels of our City without any forreign help which as we have of long time all vainly looked for so are we now every one of us out of hope thereof And yet our Enemy either moved with the secret goodness of God or else ignorant of our strength and forces spent with Wounds Slaughter Sickness and perpetual Labour doth voluntarily offer that unto us which was of us to be most of all desired and earnestly sued for Your publick and private Treasures the bodies of your selves your Wives and Children he keepeth unviolated he taketh from us only the City which he hath for most part already beaten down and taken Worthy Great Master and you most valiant Knights I have known prowess and valour in many Battels at Sea but especially in this Siege whereof seeing there is no more use in this our desperate estate I do appeal unto your wisdom and discretion Since all is now the Conquerors in that he leaveth unto us our lives and Goods that is to be accounted gains and the yielding up of the City and Island no loss which the victorious Enemy already commandeth which although it be a heavy matter and grievous unto the Nobility yet your Fortune perswadeth you thereunto Wherefore if you be to be moved with any compassion I account it better to yield than to be slain our selves or to see your Wives and Children by Law of Arms to be led away before your Faces into miserable Captivity and Servitude If any Christian compassion remain in your warlike Minds I beseech you seek not the utter destruction of this innocent People who I may with modesty say hath not evil deserved of you whom Christ Iesus whom the Enemy himself would have preserved That I say this which I speak unto you for Christian Charity and for no other cause let this be a sufficient Testimony That so long as you were able to resist by your own power or hoped for Aid from forrein Princes I never spake word or once thought of yielding but now seeing the fatal ruine of all things about us our common Estate brought unto the uttermost extremity our deadly Enemy in the heart of our City no hope and that the War cannot longer be protracted I wish you to yield and for my part had rather make choice of Peace than War and to prove the Enemies Favour than his Fury 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 harms they had done unto the Turks and doubting with what safety they might yield themselves into the power of that faithless People had rather to have fought it out to the last Man and so to have left unto them a bloody Victory Amongst these one bold spoken Fellow stept forth and in presence of them all disswaded the yielding up of the City in this sort I have not been with any thing more unacquainted than to deliver my opinion before Princes or in such great and publick Assemblies being always more desâ—rous modestly to hear other Mens Opinions than impudently to thrust forth mine own But now seeing extream necessity will not longer suffer me to keep my wonted course of silence I will frankly speak my Mind and tell you what in my Opinion is to bâ— answered unto the heavy Message and imperious Command of the most prefidious Tyrant This cruel Enemy hath overthrown our Wall and is entred three hundred Foot and more within our City and as a most troublesome Guest liveth and converseth with us as it were under the same Roof Such as list not longer to endure such an unwelcome Guest and troublesome Neighbour perswade you because he is troublesome to give him all but worthy and sacred Knights I am of far different Opinion neither do I think a Possession of two hundred and fourteen Years is so lightly to be delivered up and the Ground forsaken but rather that this troublesome Intruder is in like manner to be himself troubled and with deadly Skirmishes continually vexed whom after we had by force of Arms and undaunted Courage maugre his Head held out five Months at length he brake into our City not by any Valour in himself but holpen by time which tameth all things and since his first entrance it is now almost forty days in which time for all his hast he hath scarcely got forward a hundred
first encounter slew many of his Men. Wherewith the Admiral grievously offended and still landing fresh Men even with his multitude oppressed them of the Island being but in number few and weary of long fight and so enforced them to retire into the City To be revenged of this injury the Bassa caused certain pieces of great Ordnance to be landed and a Battery planted against the City by force whereof he had in short time in divers places opened the Walls and then with all his power assaulting the Breaches forthwith took the City which after he had rifled he burnt it down to the ground rased the Walls and put the Men every Mothers Son to the Sword. As for the Women he gave them without respect unto the lust of his Souldiers and Mariners whom afterwards together with the Boys and young Children he shipped into the Country near unto Athens to be from thence conveyed unto Constantinople into most miserable servitude Aegina thus utterly rased he with much like force and cruelty raged upon 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 Isle of Naxos where all the Island people were for fear of his coming fled out of the Country into the City where landing his Men he made havock of whatsoever came to his hand And in the mean time sent a Messenger unto the Duke to will him to yield himself and his City into the obedience of the Turkish Emperor Solyman Which Messenger admitted into the City and brought before the Duke in blunt and plain terms without further circumstance delivered his Message thus If thou wilt without more ado yield thy self thy City and Territory to the Constantinopolitan Emperor thou shalt deserve his favour and so save thy self with that thou hast But if thou otherwise advised shalt now refuse this Grace thou shalt never hereafter have the like offer but for ever undo thy self thy Wife and Children thy Citizens and Subjects in general Here is present a most mighty Fleet with most valiant and victorious Souldiers furnished with all the habiliments of War requisite for Battel or Siege Be warned by them of Aegina Paros and other thy neighbour Princes of the Islands Thy hap is good if thou be not misadvised and warned by other Mens harms wilfully refuse to remedy thine own and when thou mightst be safe wilfully cast away thy self Thus said he was commanded by the Duke to stand aside and a while to expect his answer who with the chief of his Subjects there present but much troubled and all full of heaviness and sorrow consulted what answer to make But after they had according to the weightiness of the cause and necessity of time fully debated the matter it was with general consent agreed That forasmuch as they were not themselves of power to withstand so furious an Enemy neither to expect help from others they should therefore yield unto the present necessity which otherwise threatned unto them utter destruction and reserve themselves unto better times Whereupon answer was given unto the Messenger by the Duke That he was ready to yield himself unto Solyman as his Vassal and of him as of his Sovereign to hold his Seigniory for the yearly Tribute of five thousand Ducats Of which offer the Bassa accepted receiving in hand one years Tribute So was that notable Island yielded unto the Turkish obeisance the 11 of November in the year 1537. from whence Lutzis the proud Bassa loaded with the rich Spoil 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 authority next unto Solyman himself fell at ods with his Wife Solymans Sister for that he after the unnatural manner of those barbarous People kept in his house a most delicate 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 have been from base degree advanced unto the highest Honours the Emperor her Brother could heap upon him in great rage reproved him with most bitter words saying That she had married him to be of him beloved and used as his Wife and not contemptuously abused by his Minions Wherewith the Bassa moved gave her a Blow on the Ear and caused her as a foolish and unquiet Woman to be shut up in her Chamber But she not brooking such abuse came weeping to Solyman her Brother and complaining of her Husband requested to be Divorced from him who made no better reckoning of her And with her complaint so incensed Solyman that he took from him his Seal and thrust him out of all his honourable Promotions and had undoubtedly put him to death had not the remembrance of his old love and friendship staied his fury yet having utterly disgraced him he banished him the Court into Macedoniâ— where he spent the remainder of his loathed life like a poor priâ—ate Man of whom Boisardus thus writeth Quae tibi cum molli res est pollute Cynedo Cum cubet in Thalamis regia nympha tuis Ex humili fortuna loco te evexit in altum Ex alto major saepe ruina venit On dainty Boys thou filthy Man why do'st thou fix thine eye Whilst Princely Dame of Royal Blood doth in thy Chamber lie From base estate to honours height blind Fortune did thee call And set thee up with Princes great to work thy greater fall Solyman thus fallen out with the Venetians as is aforesaid to intangle them at once with Wars in divers places commanded his Lieutenants in every place bordering upon any part of the Venetian Seigniory to vex and molest them with all Hostility which they did accordingly In Pelâ—ponnessus Cassimes besieged Mauplium and Epidaurus two strong Cities of the Venetians Barbarussa landing his Men in Dalmatia surprised the ancient City of Botrotus belonging to the Venetians carried away the Citizens and rased the City Obroatium another City of the Venetians in Dalmatia called in ancient time Argirutum with the Castle of Nadin were taken by Ustref Solymans Lieutenant in Illyria The Venetians thus invaded on every side requited them again with the like Pisaurius and Veturius the Venetian Admirals landing their Men besieged Scardona a City of the Turks in the borders of Dalmatia which they took by force put the Turks to the Sword and overthrew the Walls of the City because it should be no more a refuge unto the Turks they also sent one of their Captains called Gabriel Ribeus to besige Obroatium who upon the coming of Amurathes one of Ustref his Captains cowardly fled and in flight lost most of his Men for which his Cowardise Pisaurius caused his head to be struck off aboord the Admiral Galley And Camillus Ursinus appointed by the Venetian State Governour of Iadera
be in convenient time relieved began to parly with the French General from the Wall concerning the yielding up of the City upon condition that they might in all respects live under the French King as they had done under the Duke for performance whereof the General gave them his Faith. But Polinus fearing lest the Turks should violate this composition and for grief of the loss of their Fellows or for hope of the Spoil break into the City entreated Barbarussa to recal his Souldiers and to cause them to go aboard his Gallies For which cause not long after the Janizaries as men deceived of their hoped Prey were about to have slain both Polinus and Strozza as they came from talking with Barbarussa The City thus yielded they began to consult for the taking of the Castle the performance whereof consisted first in the assailing of the Castle it self and then in defending of the City from the suddain sallies of them in the Castle and likewise in defending of them which besieged the Castle so that no Enemy should come to raise the Siege of which two things Barbarussa put the French to choice which they would take shewing himself ready either to besiege the Castle or to keep 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 unfit for the ready accomplishment of any Martial exploit caused seven Pieces of Battery whereof two were of wonderful greatness to be placed in a trice in a place most convenient and the same quickly intrenched and fortified to the great admiration of the French with which Pieces he had quickly beaten down the Battlements of the Walls and Centinel Houses so that no man was able to shew himself upon the Walls The Frenchmen likewise on the other side did with their great Ordnance 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 Turk fretted and fumed exceedingly That they should in their own Country stand in need of his Provision who at Marceilles had better fraighted their Ships with Wine than with necessaries for the Wars For the rough and severe old Turk could not forbear 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 upon Polinus who had brought him from Constantinople thither whereas he must either lose his honour or having spent his Shot and Powder expose himself and his Fleet to all dangers Wherefore being exceeding angry with the French he suddainly called a Counsel of his Captains and other chief Officers giving it out That he would presently return to Constantinople seeing that among these cowardly and unskilful men as it pleased him to term them he found nothing ready or according to promise Yet for all that when he had chafed his fill by the fair intreaties and large promises of the French General and Polinus together the Wayward old man was perswaded to change his mind and to continue the Siege But he was yet scarcely well pacified and his mind set again upon the Siege but Letters were intercepted from the great Captain Alphonsus Vastius to Paulus Captain of the Castle wherein he requested him to hold out a while against the Enemy till that he who had already sent before his light Horsemen might come also himself with his Men at Arms who were upon the way alongst the Alps by the Sea side and would in two days with the slaughter of the Turks put him and his Castle out of all fear and danger Which thing once bruted in the Camp such a great and suddain fear came upon the Turks and Frenchmen the night following the more to terrifie them proving by chance very rainy and tempestuous that they all forsook their Trenches and great Ordnance and laying down their Weapons by narrow Paths climbing over the top of the high Mountain came down headlong to the Sea side to the Fleet. But the day appearing and no Enemy to be seen they were ashamed of that they had done and came again to the Siege Not long after when as the Castle in all mens Judgment was hardly to be battered and standing upon a firm Rock was not but in long time with hard labour and doubtful success to be undermined it was generally thought good to raise the Siege The Turks upon their departure brake into the City and when they had taken the Spoil thereof set it on fire Barbarussa retiring with his Fleet to Antipolis came to anchor at the Island Lerina called of the Mariners Margarita at which time Vastius and the Duke of Savoy with Auria his Fleet arrived at Villa Franca in the entrance of which Haven the Gally wherein Vastius went was like to have been lost Four other Gallies by force of suddain Tempest were driven upon the Rocks and so suddainly beaten in pieces with the Surge of the Sea that the Gally Slaves had not leisure to strike off their Irons but were there all drowned and all the Ordnance lost Polinus understanding this distress of the Enemy sent one Petrus Angelus to Barbarussa to shew him the occasion offered and to perswade him with all speed to hast thither with his Fleet as to a most assured Victory Barbarussa seemed to like well of the motion and promised to go yet he moved not letted as it was thought with the contrary Wind which then blew hard at East and with the roughness of the Sea. But the Wind being fallen and the Sea become calm and he contrary to his wonted manner making no haste set slowly forward and being a little on his way came again to anchor and went no further the Sanzacks and other Captains first marvelling and afterward laughing thereat scoffingly said That Barbarussa did but reason to deal kindly with Auria as his Brother and Friend of his own Profession for that he had some years before received the like Friendship at his hands in letting him escape at Hippona which he now honestly paid him again Whereunto Barbarussa both then and afterwards at Constantinople answered no otherwise but that he being an old Commander and half blind saw more in the matter than all those green Captains with their sharp sight Not long after he returned again to Marceilles and put into the Haven of Tolon called in ancient time Taurenta Vastius and the Duke coming to Nice commended the Captain of the Castle and wondering at the cunning manner of the Turks Fortifications preferred them in that point before the Christians Barbarussa lying with his Fleet at Tolon and by the Kings Officers entertained with all possible Courtesie delivered five and twenty Gallies to Salec the famous Pyrate and Assanes his nigh Kinsman who passing the Bay
for Cowardise than Courtesie as also that it much more concerneth your State than him and that therfore you ought no less than he to desire that all causes of unkindness might be cut off and order taken that in so great and mutual goodwil there should be no falling out by new quarrels dayly arising the only remedy thereof is if you shall deliver unto him the Island of Cyprus the cause of all these grievances Now it beseemeth you for your great Wisdom to make small reckoning of so small a matter in comparison of the Favour of so great a Prince which if you willingly of your selves yield unto him you shall right wisely provide for your Affairs and have him so great a Monarch always your Friend and Confederate whereas if you shall shew your selves obstinate and not to yield to this his so small a request his purpose is by strong â—and not only to take from you the Island the cause of the War but also to prosecute you with most cruel War both by Sea and Land. And thereupon I take God to witness all the blame of the calamities to ensue of so mortal a War to be imputed unto your selves at the worthy reward of your wilfulness and breach of Faith. Which said he in the name of Mahâ—met the Visier Bassa told the Senators That he was right sorry that this breach was fallen out betwixt the Emperor 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 unto them but admonish them of such things as he deemed for them both profitable and wholesome and therefore did most instantly request them and withal advise them not to enter into Arms against so mighty a Prince neither wilfully to plunge themselves into such dangers as they could hardly or never find the way out for that their strength was nothing answerable unto his and that the event of that War would be unto them deadly and therefore he took God and the love he bare unto them to witness that he had in friendly sort forewarned them of their harms and advised them for their good Giving them further to understand that Selymus did nothing but thunder out most cruel 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 was also full of false surmised grievances he complained That the Venetians had in warlike manner entred into the Frontiers of his Empire in Dalmatia and there had done great harm that they had put to death certain Turkish Pyrates whom they had taken alive that their Island of Cyprus was an Harbor for the Pyrates of the West and that from thence they robbed his peaceable Countries and surprised his Subjects travelling that way for Devotion unto the Temple of Mecha or otherwise about their Affairs And that therefore those causes of discord might be taken away and the hindrance of Traffique removed he required them to yield unto him the Island of Cyprus which if they refused to do he would by force of Arms take it from them and by force of strong hand cause them to do that which they might the better have done frankly and of their own accord and further to make them understand how far the Turks did excel all other Men in Martial prowess 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 down with himself for a while in the beginning of his Empire peceably to endure all things The Venetians for that they knew the Embassadors errand before his coming having now read his Letters gave him such answer as they had before resolved upon which was That the Venetians had at all times inviolably kept their Leagues with the Othoman Emperors and had in regard thereof let slip many opportunities and fit occasions for them to have augmented their Dominions in That they could without any danger to themselves have destroyed the Turks 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 perform their Faith once given and in all their actions to be like themselves And therefore had dissembled and put up many grievous and bitter indignities lest they might be thought to have first broken the League That they had never passed their own Bounds or invaded the Turks only to have taken order that no Pyrates should at their pleasure roam up and down the Seas Now whereas all Duties being on their part sincerely and most religiously kept Selymus complained himself to be wronged whereas he himself had done the wrong and had contrary to the League denounced War against them expecting nothing less siththence that they could not by the power of the League they would by force of Arms defend that Kingdom which they by ancient and lawful right possessed delivered unto them by their Ancestors That God in whose help they trusted would weigh in indifferent Balance all Mens Words and Deeds whom they took to witness that they were the Authors of Peace and Selymus the cause of War and that the â—ame God would be now present unto their just complaints and forthwith after with his power to take revenge on them which falsifying their Faith and Promise given and violating the sacred League had enforced them to take up most just and necessary Arms which they would with the same Courage mannage that they had taken them in hand With this answer the Embassador departed let out by a secret Postern for fear of the People who having got knowledge of the matter were in great number assembled to the Court-Gate muttering among themselves that it were well done to rend in pieces that accursed Turk the Messenger of his faithless Master Which outrage it was thought they would in their fury have performed had not such as by the commandment of the Magistrates guarded him better assured him of his safety than either regard of Duty 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 indignity revenged This answer of the Senate unto the Turks Embassador concerning War was of some well liked and highly commended as full of Honour and Valour Others deemed it too sharp liking of nothing that was said or done to the further incensing of the Turkish Emperor being of opinion that they might have of him obtained a more indifferent Peace by Courtesie than by Rigor As for the decreed War they utterly disliked forasmuch as all Wars were woful but especially those that were to be maintained against them that are too strong for us In such diversity of opinions it appeared That
Castle carrying with him the Treasurer Now Sinan the General being come with his Army to Buda resolved with himself to begin his Wars in that part of Hungary with the siege of Vesprinium This Episcopal City was by Solyman the great Turk taken from the Christians in the year 1552 and again by them recovered about fourteen years after about the year 1566 since which time untill now it had remained in the hands of the Christians Sinan without delay marching with his Army to Vesprinium compassed the City round and encamping as he saw good planted his Battery wherewith he continually thundered against the City The Christians there in Garrison easily perceiving that the City was not long to be holden against so great a Power placed divers Barrels of Gun-powder in certain Mines they had made under the Walls and Bulwarks of the Town with Trains that should at a certain time take Fire Which done they departed secretly out of the City in the dead time of the Night hoping so in the Dark to have escaped the hand of the Enemy which they did not so secretly but that they were by the Turks descried and most of them slain Ferdinand Samaria Governour of the City after he had for a space valiantly defended himself fell at last into the Enemies hand and so was taken alive together with one Hofkirke a German Captain The Turks entred the City the sixth of October striving who should get in first for greediness of the Prey when suddenly the Powder in the Mines took fire and blowing up the very foundations of the Walls and Bulwarks slew a number of the Turks that were within the Danger thereof and wonderfully defaced the City From Vesprinium the Bassa removed with his Army to Palotta and gave summons to the Castle but receiving such answer as pleased him not he laid siege unto it with all his Power Which at the first Peter Ornand Captain of the Castle chearfully received but being afterward without any great cause discouraged the Castle as yet being but little shaken and but one man slain and the rest of the Souldiers ready to spend their Lives in defence thereof he sent unto the Bassa offering to yield the Castle unto him so that he with his Souldiers might with Bag and Baggage in safety depart Of which his offer the Bassa accepted and granted his Request But he was no sooner come but of the Castle with his Souldiers and ready to depart but the faithless Turk contrary to his Oath and Promise caused them all to be cruelly slain except only the Captain and two other After that the Bassa without any great Labour took in all the Country thereabouts near unto the Lake of Balaton Now at last though long first about the middle of October the Christians began to muster their Army in number about 18000 all good and expert Souldiers with which Power they shortly after passing over Danubius at the first encounter with the Turks put them to the worse slew a great number of them and rescued a number of poor Christian Captives In the latter end of this Month County Hardeck Governour of Rab and General of the Christian Army in that part of Hungary departing from Comaria with all his Power came and laid siege to the strong City of Alba Regalis which by the Force of his Artillery he in short time made assaultable but in assaulting the Breaches was by the Turks there in Garrison notably repulsed So having made sufficient proof both of the Strength and Courage of the Defendants and perceiving no good could be done without a long siege for which he was not as then provided after Consultation had with the rest of the Captains he resolved to raise his Siege which he did the second of November removing that day but half a mile from the City because he would be sure of all his Army But as he was about the next day to remove News was brought him by his Espials that the Enemies Power was at hand and even now almost in sight which proved to be so indeed For the Bassa of Buda by the command of Sinan Bassa the General was come forth with thirteen Sanzacks and twenty thousand Souldiers thirty Field-pieces and five hundred Waggons laden with Victual and other Warlike Provision to raise the Siege and to relieve the City and was now even at hand comming directly upon the Christians whereupon the County assisted by the County Serinus the Lord Palfi the Lord Nadasti Peter le Hussar and other valiant Captains of great Experience with wonderful Celerity put his Army in order of Battel and so courageously set forward to encounter the Enemy The Bassa seeing the Christians marching towards him took the Advantage of the higher Ground and from thence discharged his Field-pieces upon them which mounted too high by good hap did them little or no hurt at all The Christians for all that desirous of Battel and nothing regarding the Disadvantage of the Ground but calling upon the Name of the Almighty mounted the Hill and joyning Battel with the Turks by plain force constrained them to flie In this Army of the Turks being for most part Horsemen were about five thousand foot and many of them Ianizaries who in flying oftentimes made stands and wounded many and yet nevertheless were almost all there slain with many others amongst whom were three great Men the Sanzacks of Strigonium Setchine and Novigrade seven Chiaus and many other men of mark the most valiant Captains of the Turks Borderers The Lord Nadasti with some others taking view of the Turks that were slain and lost in this Battel deemed them to have been at the leaâ—t in number eight thousand few Prisoners were saved all being put to the Sword with caused Sinan to swear by his Mahomet never more to spare any Christian All the Turks Artillery Waggons and Provision became a Prey unto the Christians many Ensignes were there found and Weapons of great Value It is hard to be believed how much this Victory encouraged the Christians and daunted the Turks Whereupon the County with great Joy brought back his Army to Alba Regalis and encamped near the Bulwark called Stopasch where the Turks most feared to be assaulted Palfi Nadasti and some others earnestly perswaded with the County not to depart from the City before he had won it but he considering the hard time of the year the strength of the City which was now full of Souldiers by reason of them that were fled in thither from the late overthrow with the want of things necessary in his Army to maintain a longer Siege and fearing also after long lying to be enforced with Dishonour to forsake it would not hearken to their Perswasions but calling a Council resolved to raise his Siege and to content himself with the Victory he had already gotten which was afterward imputed unto him for more than an oversight So setting Fire upon the Suburbs of the City he rose with
Turks in their Trenches fearing no such Peril they brought such a general fear upon the Turks whole Camp that the Turks as men amazed fled some one way some another every man as in such sudden fear it commonly happeneth making shift for himself leaving whatsoever they had in their Trenches behind them The Christians contented so to have put their Enemies to flight fell presently to the spoil as more desirous thereof than by the hasty pursuit of their Enemies to put themselves in possession of an assured Victory Which the Turks quickly perceiving and from the Hills with the dawning of the day discovering the small number of the Christians and how they were disordered they gathered themselves again together and coming down inclosed on every side the disordered Christians greedily hunting after the spoil and slew them downright Leucowitz himself with the Governour of Zeng and some others got into Clissa where having stayed two days and doubting to be able to keep the Town they secretly by Night issued out with 600 men in hope to have recovered their Fleet but the Turks suspecting such a matter had so beset the Passages that of all that Company Leucowitz had much ado himself with three others to escape The Enemy now again possessed of his Trenches layd straighter siege to the Town than before which they of the Garrison perceiving and now out of hope of relief agreed with the Bassa that they might with Bag and Baggage depart and so yielded up the Town Thus Clissa one of the strongest Towns of Dalmatia through the greedy covetousness of the disordered Souldiers fell again into the hands of the Turks About the same time Palfi Governour of Strigonium understanding of the meeting together of certain notable Adventurers of the Turks at Sombock a Castle almost in the mid way betwixt Alba-Regalis and Buda raised the greatest strength he could and so with certain pieces of Artillery and other things necessary for an assault set forward from Strigonium the two and twentieth of May before the rising of the Sun and about three a Clock in the Afternoon came to the aforesaid Castle whereunto he presently gave a most terrible assault which he never gave over until he had taken it for after he had by the space of three hours together with great danger maintained a most desperate assault at length he with much difficulty prevailed and put to the Sword all the Turks he found therein Man Woman and Child and with the rest fifty Ianizaries but that day come thither This Castle was of great Beauty and most pleasantly scituated whereunto the Bassa of Buda oftentimes for his Pleasure repaired for which cause Palfi was very desirous to have taken it without spoiling but the Fire he had therein already raised so prevailed that it burnt down all the goodly Buildings thereof with great store of Victuals and other Provision nothing remaining but what the Christians had saved for themselves The Transilvanian Prince having raised a great Army for the relief of Lippa being by great chance a little before his coming relieved came and laid Siege to the City of Temeswar where he had not long lain but that the Turks and Tartars fearing to lose that so famous a City assembled together from all places thereabouts to the number of 40000 and so came to raise the Siege Of whose coming the Prince hearing rise with his Army and went to meet them and had with them a great and terrible Battel the Victory for a great while standing very doubtful yet seeming to incline rather to the Turks and Tartars than to the Christians but at length the Turks disordered with the great Artillery and the Transilvanians charging them afreâ—â— began to give ground and so at last to 〈◊〉 themselves to plain flight In this Battel were slain of the Turks and Tartars 5000 and of the Christians 1500. It was for a time reported That the Prince himself was in this Battel slain which was not so being reserved to the further Plague of the Turks and comfort of his afflicted Country After this Victory he returned again to the Siege which he more straitly continued than before leaving nothing unattempted that he could possibly devise for the winning of the City Where whilst he yet thus lay battering the City both night and day News was brought him That Giaffer Bassa and the Tartars were coming with a great Army to the Relief of the Besieged Whereupon he considering his own strength and the power of his Enemies and that the Aid promised him both from the Emperour and out of Hungary was not yet ready with great grief of mind raised his Siege and retired with his Army to Lippa there expecting new Supplies as well of his own as from his Friends Whilst he yet there lay he was certainly advertised That the Bassa of Natolia the fore-runner of the great Sultan Mahomet was come to Belgrade with fourteen thousand Horse and four thousand Janizaries to joyn with the Bassa of Buda for the relieving of Temeswar whose Forces joyned together were in number about threescore thousand and that Mahomet himself of whose coming had been rife report all this year was now coming after with a far greater Power Whereupon he departed from Lippa leaving therein a strong Garrison and sore-turning to Alba-Iulia called there an Assembly of all his States for the repressing of so puissant an Enemy Mahomet for the better success of his Wars in Hungary had drawn sorth the Tartar with a mighty Power who altho he was at the first so unwilling to that Service considering the great Losses he had therein before received that he would not as he said send so much as one Ass thereunto yet overcome with great gifts and the respect he had of the Turkish Sultan was now ready with a strong Army upon the Frontiers in Moldavia to meet him in Hungary unto whom the late chosen Vayvod sent certain Presents with such store of Victuals as he could possibly provide for him Yet forasmuch as he was not that way to pass without the leave of the Polonian Mahomet had both by Letters and divers his Ambassadors intreated with the Polonian King for his Passage as also for the Confirmation of the ancient League he and the Polonian Kings his Predecessors had to their good of long time had with the Othoman Emperours from which he well knew the Christian Emperour with divers other the Christian Princes to seek by all means to withdraw him Mahomet also not ignorant how hurtful and dangerous the Confederation betwixt Michael the Vayvod of Valachia and the Transilvanian was unto him and his Designs sent unto him an Ambassador by the shew of great dangers to deterr him from the Transilvanian and by many glorious Promises to allure him to submit himself again unto his Protection and in token of his Fidelity to deliver unto the Sultan two of his Frontier Towns such as he should require in regard whereof he should
of his Cowardise if he failed in the performance thereof promising him indeed his Sister in Mariage amongst other the glorious Rewards and Trophies of his Victory and threatning him with Death as a Punishment amongst the Griefs of his Dishonour But it came to pass that by the Cowardise of our men he came unto the effect of his desire as is aforesaid and took the City which promised unto him the glorious Triumph in Constantinople And under the sweet influence of this Planet he returned to Constantinople where he found all things in readiness for the satisfying of his Expectation and the Advancement of his Glory He is magnificently received of his Prince courteously saluted by all the Nobility and with greatest reverence possible honoured of the People And as he had happily discharged his Charge he found in like manner all things prepared and in readiness for the performance of the promise of the Grand Seignior his Lord and Master who had caused them to be in most sumptuous manner provided for the solemnizing of the Marriage and the contentment of the Bassa But nothing now wanting that he could have desired or wished more than the very solemnizing of the Marriage it self and that also every day of all men expected the Ianizaries and Spahi with the other Souldiers of the Court to the number of five and twenty thousand even upon the sudden when as no such thing was feared came and in Arms presented theâ—â—selves before the Divano or Tribunal holden 〈◊〉 the chief Administration of Justice in the Turks Palace the first four days in every week and having set Guards at the Court Gates the more safely to execute what they were before resolved upon proudly demanded to have Audience for certain of the Spahi and Ianizaries of whom they had made choice in the names of them all to deliver unto the great Bassaes their Grievances and the Causes of that their Assembly Who as soon as they were entered into the Divano before the Bassaes of whom the most couragious of them was not without fear as looking for nothing but for present death they at the first demanded to have Hassan Bassa delivered unto them Who thinking that his Head should have served for a Sacrifice to pacifie this their Fury as a man altogether dismayed wan and pale passed through this mutinous Multitude to have gone unto the great Sultan protesting of his own Innocency and calling upon his Prophet Mahomet to discover unto them the truth of all things But they after a thousand Injuries and Reproaches by them heaped upon him rudely demanded of him whence it proceeded that whilst he with a great part of the Forces of the Empire was busied in Hungary for the recovering of Alba-Regalis there was in the mean time no good order taken for the repressing of the Rebel in Asia who by sufferance was as they said now grown so proud as with Ensigns displayed to come within three or four days Journey of Constantinople the Imperial seat of the Othoman Emperours Whereunto he in so small fear answered That he for his part had done his Duty as well while he had the charge of the Army in Asia as now of late whilst he had the like charge against the Christians in Hungary as even the Enemies themselves could witness But seeing himself even ready to die he yet requested them That his guiltless Death might be unto the State in general profitable and in discharging of his Conscience to declare unto them the Causes of this Contempt and Neglect for the surpressing of the Asian Rebel which they were so desirous to know It proceeded as he said only from the evil Government of the Grand Sultans Mother who then all commanded and from the negligent carelesness of the Capi-Aga Which his speech although they with much impatience and storming gave ear unto yet hearing him so well to excuse himself and to lay the blame there where they were well content it should rest they gave him leave to go to the great Sultan to request him that they might speak with him and further to deal with him that they might have the Head of them who had been the cause of this dishonourable Service or otherwise cowardly behaved themselves in the managing of the Wars against the Rebels in Asia Threatning him withall That if he failed to perform this his charge he should not fail to feel the heavy Effects of their just Fury An heavy charge yet glad was the Bassa to undergo the same to rid himself out of their Hands where he saw himself in great danger amongst them most of whom had sometimes served under him than amongst so many his most mortal Enemies but what Remedy he must now so do or die therefore for which he was the more to be excused So in great fear coming unto the great Sultan almost as fearful as himself he shewed unto him the great danger like even presently to ensue by the Mutiny of his best Souldiers and Guarders of his Person perswading him betime to appease their Fury before they had embrued themselves with Blood for fear of further danger like enough to ensue as well unto his own Person as unto the rest of his most faithful and trusty Counsellor from such furious head-strong men up in tumult with their Arms in their Hands And although that a Prince ought not for the Greatness of his Estate to do any thing as thereunto forced by his Subjects lest in so doing he might breed in them a Contempt of himself and increase their Insolency that yet nevertheless in this Action being altogether extraordinary he was not to rest upon that point for that these mutinous Souldiers turned not their Weapons as they pretended against his Imperial Power and Soveraignty but rather to the contrary against the Contemners thereof seeking to be revenged upon them that had done him such evil Service for the maintenance of his Honour and Majesty and for the Punishment of the insolent and disloyal And that therefore the Justice of the Cause requiting and covering the Malice of the Fact he was of Opinion That it were best for him to yield a little unto the Zeal of these his best Souldiers and to satisfie their just desire although they had by very evil and unlawful means sought for the same And therefore advised his Majesty in some sort to satisfie the just Complaints of these men armed for the Revenge of his Honour and to chastise the chief Commanders of his Asian Forces such as by whose Treachery or Cowardise his Service being neglected had armed these men against them with the same hand punishing such as had wronged his Majesty in Honour and appeasing the discontented for the good of his Service Mahomet thus by the Bassa perswaded as also to shew himself in his Majesty unto these his discontented Subjects one part of their desire the Necessity of the Cause so requiring in his Imperial Seat presented himself unto
distressed was now both by Water and by Land plentifully relieved The Christians the last year having left the siege of Buda for the Reasons before written in their return took the Castle of Adom â—eated upon the Bank of Danubius about two Leagues from Buda and for the keeping thereof left therein a Garrison of Haiducks This Castle was commodious for the annoying of the Turks in Buda and for the relief of the Christians in Pesth for that it impeacheth the bringing of Victuals unto the one and favoured the victualling of the other The good and faithful defence of which Place these Haiducks undertook to the uttermost of their Power upon their Honour and Credit as they would be accounted valiant and couragious men but yet refused to be bound by Oath to render an account of the Place whatsoever might befall a thing as they truly said above their Forces and more than was in their Power to perform These men now upon the brute of the coming of the Turks great Army afraid of their Shadows having before trussed up their Baggage set fire on the Castle and so departed retiring themselves to Strigonium where examined by the Governour Althem of the cause of their flight and what Enemies had chased them thence and being not able to make therefore any excuse neither to yield thereof any reason more than their imaginary fear were by his commandment imprisoned there to remain until order were taken by the General of the Army for their further Punishment Sultan Mahomet now wallowing amidst his sensual Delights in Constantinople yet found not therein so full Contentment but that his Pleasures had also their Griefs fully mixt with them In Constantinople the strong Seat of his mighty Empire he was in the midst of the Insolencies and Mutinies of his proud Bassaes and tumultuous Janizaries and abroad he was in Wars both against his rebellious Subjects in Asia and the Christians in Europe Unto all which Troubles he saw not how to give Remedy at once and therefore resolved if it were possible first to appease the Troubles abroad with his rebellious Subjects in Asia as more desirous to be at peace with his own Subjects than with Strangers howbeit that the punishing of Rebellion is more necessary in a Prince for the maintenance of his State than is War against a Stranger for the conquering of a new Country or Kingdom the one preventing the danger hanging over his Head the other serving but his vain and ambitious desire so he preferring Peace with the Rebels his Subjects before Peace with the Christians his Enemies resolved as I said to pacifie the first the more easily to ruinate the other But whether he upon good Faith or upon Policy entered into this Resolution and whether indeed he meant plainly with these Rebels or but only to deceive them is hard to say Howbeit as the sequel of the matter shewed Falshood and Treachery was the ground of all this Business both on the one side and the other For these â—en respecting only the safety and assurance of their Estate held all other Actions to them indifferent whether they were good or bad so that they served to that effect and nourished with the same Milk of Infidelity that their Prince was trained up in the same School and fostered with the same Air feared in him against them that which they felt in themselves against him An hard matter it is to assure minds fraught with like Craft Subtilty and Deceit and possessed with like distrust one of another Howbeit Mahomet spared no kind of cunning to deceive these crafty and subtil men offering unto them together with his gracious Pardon great Preferments Dignities and Honours so that they would but yield to him their due Obedience lay down their Arms and no more take up the same but in his Service But these wily Foxes knew right well that the Promises of faithless Princes cost them nothing but Words the honour and credit whereof they regarded not so that thereby they might attain unto the effect of their desires which they esteemed above all other things so that for them to trust unto a thing of so small Value with him that was so prodigal thereof and for the same so easily to yield up their Lives and Fortunes which they esteemed as their only Treasure they thought right worthily to deserve all shame and mishap that might betide them So that they not only refused to lay down Arms and to yield their Obedience unto him as he desired but even to have Peace with him upon any Conditions whatsoever seeing them dangerous unto themselves and good only for him their Enemy Mahomet finding the Rebels so resolutely set down as not by any means but by force to be appeased thought it now best to turn his purpose unto the Christians and to offer them that which the other had refused in hope that Peace made with the one should be the Ruine and Destruction of the other Upon which Point he being in himself resolved sought now but some honest means not unbeseeming his Greatness to joyn unto this his Project to give him a way thereunto For the easing him of which care the French Ambassador then Lieger at Constantinople was very fitly then entreating with the Visier Bassaes for the Deliverance of the County Ysolan taken at Alba-Regalis the last Year and against all Law of Arms detained Prisoner at Constantinople This noble Gentleman Mahomet thought fit as well for the Sufficiency of himself as with Instructions to deal with the Emperour concerning an entreaty of Peace to be had Whereupon he commanded him to be set at liberty with Charge That he should both discreetly and faithfully deal with the Emperour concerning this matter of Peace which if he should by his Industry effect to the good liking and contentment of Mahomet the great Sultan that then he should become and remain free otherwise to return again into his former Captivity and Bondage for whom the French Ambassador gave his Word and became Pledge Upon which barbarous Conditions the Earl was forthwith delivered who by the Law of Arms should not at all have been detained Besides this Plot laid for the Negotiation of this Peace Achmet Bassa to this purpose writ to Collonitz then Commander of the Emperour's Army in Hungary But see the Copy of the Letters themselves TO thee our Friend Collonitz Health and Greeting I suppose that you yet remember the Propositions concerning Peace which our Sovereign and most mighty Monarch not long ago caused to be opened and propounded unto you by certain of his Bassaes near unto Strigonium which as then remained not resolved But if now it shall seem unto you good that we should assemble our selves together into some place of Assurance both to the one side and to the other we may again conferr about that Business as hâ—ving on my part full Power and Commandment from my Prince so to do yet with Charge That
all the Dogs and Cats Mice and Rats that they could get fell to eating of dead Horses and the loathsome Carrion of other hunger-starved Beasts It is reported also That one man should eat another and that at Hermanstat a Woman having six Children did among them eat one another until they were at length all six devoured and to the contrary that two men did eat their own Mother yea Thieves and other Malefactors hanged for their Villanies were by the poor and miserable hungry People cut down from the Gallows and devoured the People generally living upon nothing but upon the Roots of Weeds green Herbs and the leaves of Trees For remedy of which so extream Miseries it was on all Parts agreed That a General Assembly of the States of the whole Province should be holden at Dewa wherein it was accorded That all Hostility set apart the Gentlemen of Transilvania having by their Rebellion forfeited both their Lives and Lands should be pardoned their Lives with three fourth Parts of their Lands reserved unto them and that for ready Money they might of the Emperour redeem the fourth part also But concerning the Moveables of such as were dead in the time of these Troubles and already confiscate unto the Emperour they should so remain and that they should pay their Dismes or tenth part of their Wine and Fruits unto the Emperour And farther That there should be no farther exercise of Religion permitted unto them but only the Romish Religion and that thâ— Towns of Cronstadt and Clausenburg should within the space of three Weeks pay the one twenty thousand Dollars and the other eight thousand and the Magistrates of those Towns should deliver the Keys of their Towns with all their Power into the hands of the Emperour's Lieutenant and that the Gentlemen of these Towns which would not be accounted in the number of the Rebels should for the safety of their Persons take Letters of Pardon for their Rebellion of the General of the Army This Pacification gave some little time of breathing unto this poor distressed Country which bared of all strength and as it were upon the Graves brink had now but even the last Gasp to give and the Country People began again to give themselves unto their wonted Labours in hope at length to reap the profit thereof themselves but alas all in vain for why the ravening Souldiers inured to Prey after their wonted manner made havock and spoil of all things leaving nothing unto the poor Country-man but his labour for his Pain and time enough to bewail his manifold and remediless Miseries the Causes whereof were the Nobility and Gentlemen themselves who not liking to be governed or rather as they took it oppressed by the Germans and having not upon any desire that they had of Peace but rather by necessity inforced yielded unto the Pacification aforesaid ceased not still under-hand to incite the Souldiers ready enough of themselves to do mischief and in what they might to trouble the Government of the State by the Germans being unto them as they accounted of them but Strangers All which their doings Basta the Emperour's Lieutenant well perceiving caused three of the greatest of the Gentlemen of the Country and whom he most suspected to be the Authors of these Troubles to be apprehended and fast mured up betwixt two strong Walls in an old ruinous Monastery whither their Friends afterwards coming to have visited them and finding them starved to death were therewith much abashed as were also other their Complices assoon as they heard thereof But leaving them to work themselves farther Troubles let us again return unto the Turks Affairs Now was all the hope of Peace betwixt the Christians and the Turks become desperate the Turks making thereof no more account seeing that according to their Desire they had provided Alba-Regalis Agria and Buda of their necessary Provisions They had in four Waggons put into Agria the Pay due unto their Garrisons so that their Affairs being now in good estate and their Courages revived they began to scoff and jest at our Credulity to believe that they had had any purpose to conclude upon any thing that was not agreeing with their Profit how far soever it were differing from their Honour or from their Faith so that now these faithless men began again to renew their wonted Incursions and Pillages upon the Christians with all other manner of Hostility and that in more cruel manner than ever before and our Hussars on the other side well requited them with the like being as well contented as they with these manner of doings their whole Fortune depending upon the points of their Weapons and ever ready to the Service of their Prince for their Pay Now it fortuned that fourscore of the Turks going forth to seek for Booty chanced to meet with certain of these Hussars who finding themselves too weak to encounter with our men and betaking themselves to flight were certain of them taken Prisoners and so brought unto the General unto whom they upon Examination confessed That the Turks much marvelled at the Simplicity and Foolishness of the Christians to believe that they were desirous of Peace and not to have discovered their so manifest Intentions to the contrary tending only to the pleasuring of themselves and the annoying of them their Enemies to the strengthning of themselves and destruction of the Christians as by Proof it appeared so soon as their Desires were accomplished unto the prejudice of their Enemies and that their young Emperour was always against this Treaty of Peace whatsoever shew he had made to the contrary constrained thereunto by the Victories and Conquests of the Persian King all his Wishes and Desires aiming at no other mark than at the general Ruine of Christendom Our Garrisons also seeing themselves charged by the Turks took up Arms likewise and requited them with like Outrages as they did They of Pappa and Vesprinium were the first which began these Broils after the Treaty of the Peace who having joyned their Forces together and making head toward Alba-Regalis met with a number of Turks driving of Sheep and Cattel thither whom they surprised and together with their Cattel carried them away with them Prisoners Which good hap was seconded with the Liberty of twenty Christian Prisoners from Buda who one night seeing their Keepers oppressed with Sleep and with Wine cut their Throats and so happily escaped over the River to Pesth Now while these Troubles betwixt the Christians and the Turks after the Treaty of Peace broken off thus began again in Hungary the Turks beside the Rebellion in Asia were together by the Ears in the Province of Bosna Zellaly having by force joyned with Policy driven Zeffer Bassa as is aforesaid out of Bosna and possessed himself of that Province thought himself now sure enough within the strength of his Government although he being by the great Sultan sent for to Constantinople had
his Penitence and return to Obedience The approach of these two great Personages near to Constantinople made much noise and rumor in the City some blamed the weakness of the Government for accepting an Enemy unto Favour and that the crowning of his Rebellion with Rewards was to encourage others in the like Practices The Vizier was also murmured against for leaving the Army and the War contrary to the Royal Command by such as were emulous of his Greatness But as Envy is converted into Veneration and ceases as Smoke doth when it is blown up by the Flame of Success and Glory so those who were emulous of these Persons submitted to all obsequious Offices towards them and dissembling their Malice went to meet them as far as Scutari that they might add to their Train and Equipage and help at the Solemnity of their Entrance All People now cast their Eyes on the Vizier and Abassa as the two great Men of this Age the first was esteemed for his dexterous and successful management in bringing over Abassa to his Submission and Obedience for though he was not famed much for his great Feats of Arms yet this Reconciliation of Abassa was accounted a Master-piece of Policy and better Seâ—â—vice than a Victory Abassa also drew the Eyes of the People who crowded to see so great a Captain that could contend with the Port and put all Asia into Disturbance and in conclusion could make the same Arms serve his Master which had lately before given a check and stop to all the Ottoman Force The Vizier was the first introduced to the Royal Presence where being graciously received he was presented with a Vest of Sables and a Cemiter set with Jewels Abassa was afterwards admitted and having performed his Obeisance by touching the Ground with his Forehead after their fashion he declared That he never was other than a faithful Vassal to the Sultan and that he had taken up Arms for his sake that he might subjugate the insolence of the Janisaries and with their Blood revenge the Death and sacrifice to the Ghost of his murdered Brother Osman that they might learn to reverence their Princes for the future learn to know how sacred the Blood is of their Soveraign The Grand Signior seemed kindly to accept this Apology and as a Token thereof bestowed three Vests upon him which was a treble Honour of that kind and made him Pasha of Bosna on which employment he immediately entred And though when such offices are bestowed it is commonly the custom for that Person who is invested in the Employment given to kiss the Sleeve of the Grand Signior publickly by way of Thanks Yet lest such Demonstration of Honour should ill affect the Eyes of the Janisaries and cause murmuring and repinings amongst the most envious of the Souldiery his last Audience was designed privately and his Dispatch procured in more secret and familiar manner and therefore more obliging than was usual To yield some assistance to the present growing Charges of the Empire the Vizier imposed a heavy Tax on the Christians and Jews on the first it was levied with all severity but the Jews found more favour by their Arts and secret management of Affairs for they are a People of some Authority and Power in Turkie they are cursed by particular Persons but caressed by the generality they are Slaves in all Countries and yet acquire somewhat of Mastership and Propriety they are Vagabonds and yet every Country is their own they cannot buy Lands and yet daily increase their Fortunes they multiply in abundance because they all marry and are not destroyed by Wars they are great Confidents of the Turks and Enemies to the Christians In short Covetousness in Constantinople is like a publick Courtisan to whom the Jews are the Panders and Ruffians The Grand Signior passing one day through the Streets year 1629. unhappily met with the Ambassador of the Prince of Transylvania who because he did not immediately descend from his Horse in token of Reverence he caused him and his whole Family to be imprisoned but being afterwards excused by the Chimacam to have only been a matter of inadvertency his Omission was pardoned and so released from his Restraint The Souldiery having for a long time been governed by a loose and gentle hand continued their licentious way of living committing many outrages on the Merchants and Inhabitants of Constantinople against which many Decrees having been published and Proclamations made without any effect or notice of the Souldiery the Vizier was unwilling to dally longer and therefore taking a Spahee and a Janisary hanged them up and cut off their Heads and with such course and method of Severity he so abated the haughty Stomachs of the Souldiers already mortified by the assumption of Abassa into favour that they began to yield unto Command and to behold their Rulers with an eye of Respect as those which were seated in some degree above themselves for till now there was scarce a common Janisary but who thought himself to be the Creator or Elector of his General and therefore to be little inferior to him in Power and Dignity And as this Vizier was severe towards the Souldiery so he demeaned himself with equal rigour towards the Pasha's and Grandees of the Court which though it was an Humor in the Vizier at that conjuncture laudable and necessary yet it procured him such enmity as removed him at a distance and caused him to be sent into Persia to command the Army and by that means to expose him to the hazard and difficulties of doubtful Success in a dangerous War. The Vizier being departed the Grand Signior appeared in publick on Horse-back together with his Brother by his side an unusual sight amongst the Turks But the Queen-Mother who in absence of the Vizier ruled much commanded that it should be so The Grand Signior had this Year a Son born which caused great rejoycing at Constantinople because there were few Males at that time surviving of the Ottoman Line but scarce was the Festival ended before the Child died But let us now for a while withdraw our Discourse from the Wars of Persia and look to the Actions in Poland and Transylvania Mehmet the late King of Tartary who was so displeasing to the Port as we have already related was now dead to whom succeeded a Kinsman of his called Iembeg Gheray universally pleasing and acceptable to that People This new King to demonstrate his Prowess and to act something acceptable to the Port dispatched forty thousand Horse into Podolia and Russia to sack and ravage the Country which dividing themselves into several Parties made their Incursions as far as Socal But in the mean time the Polonians and Cossacks having formed a strong Body of Horse under the Command of Stephen Chmieleskie met them at their return near to Burstinow where they gave them a total overthrow And in like manner Stanislauâ— Lubomiskie encountred another Party and
Sabatai Sevi was Son of Mordecai Sevi an Inhabitant and Natural of Smyrna who gained his Livelihood by being Broker to an English Merchant in that place a person who before his Death was very decrepit in his Body and full of the Gout and other infirmities But his Son Sabatai Sevi addicting himself to study and learning became a notable Proficient in the Hebrew and Arabick Languages and especially in Divinity and Metaphysicks he was so cunning a Sophister that he vented a new Doctrine in their Law and drew to the profession of it so many Disciples as raised one day a tumult in the Synagogue for which afterwards he was by censure of the Kockhams who are the Expounders of the Law banished out of the City During the time of his Exile he travelled to Thessalonica now called Salonica where he married a very handsom Woman but either not having that part of Oeconomy as to govern a Wife or being impotent as to Women as was pretended or that she found not favour in his eyes she was divorced â—rom him Again he took a second Wife more beautiful than the former but the same causes of discontent raising a difference between them he obtained another Divorce from this Wife also And being now free from the incumbrances of a Family his wandring head moved him to travel through the Morea thence to Tripoli in Syria Gaza and Ierusalem and by the way picked up a Ligornese Lady whom he made his third Wife the Daughter of some Polonian or German her Originaâ— and Country not being very well known And being now at Ierusalem he began to reform their Law and to abolish the Fast of Tamuz which they keep in the month of Iune and meeting there wâ—th a certain Iew called Nathan a proper Instrument to promote his design he communicated to him his condition his course of life and intentions to declare himself the Messiah of the World so long expected and desired by the Iews This design took wonderfully with Nathan and because it was thought necessary according to Scripture and ancient Prophecies that Elias was to precede the Messiah as St. Iohn Baptist was the Fore-runner of Christ Nathan thought no man so proper to act the part of the Prophet as himself and so no sooner had Sabatai declared himself the Messiah but Nathan discovers himself to be his Prophet forbidding all the Fasts of the Iews in Ierusalem and declaring that the Bridegroom being come nothing but joy and triumph ought to dwell in their habitations writing to all the Assemblies of the Iews to perswade them to the same belief And now the Schism being begun and many Iews really believing what they so much desired Nathan took the courage and boldness to prophesie That one year from the 27 th of Kislau which is the Month of Iuly the Messiah was to appear before the Grand Signior and to take from him his Crown and lead him in chains like a Captive Sabatai also at Gaza preached Repentance to the Iews and Obedience to himself and Doctrine for that the Coming of the Messiah was at hand Which novelties so affected the Iews Inhabitants of those parts that they gave up themselves wholly to their Prayers Alms and Devotions and to confirm this belief the more it happened that at the same time that news hereof with all particulars were dispatched from Gaza to acquaint the Brethren in foreign parts the rumour of the Messiah had flown so swift and gained such reception that Intelligence came from all Countries where the Iews sojourn by Letters to Gaza and Ierusalem congratulating the happiness of their deliverance and expiration of their time of servitude by the appearance of the Messiah To which they adjoyned other Prophecies relating to that Dominion the Messiah was to have over all the World that for nine Months after he was to disappear during which time the Iews were to suffer and several of them to undergo Martyrdom but then returning again mounted on a Coelestial Lion with his Bridle made of Serpents with seven heads accompanied with his Brethren the Iews who inhabited on the other side of the River Sabation he should be acknowledged for the sole Monarch of the Universe and then the Holy Temple should descend from Heaven already built framed and beautified wherein they should offer Sacrifices for ever And here I leave the Reader to consider how strangely this deceived People was amused when these confident and vain reports and dreams of Power and Kingdoms had wholly transported them from the ordinary course of their trade and interest This noise and ruâ—our of the Messiah having begun to fill all places Sabaâ—ai Sevi resolved to travel towards Smyrna the Country of his Nativity and thence to Constantinople the capital City where the principal work of preaching was to be performed Nathan thought it not fit to be long after him and therefore travels by way of Damascus where resolving to continue some time for better propagation of this new Doctrine in the mean while writes this Letter to Sabatai Sevi as followeth 22. Kesvan of this Year TO the King our King Lord of our Lords who gathers the dispersed of Israel who redeems our Captivity the Man elevated to the height of all sublimity the Messiah of the God of Jacob the true Messiah the Coelestial Lion Sabatai Sevi whose Honour be exalted and his Dominion raised in a short time and for ever Amen After having kissed your hands and swept the dust from your feet as my duty is to the King of Kings whose Majesty be exalted and his Empire enlarged These are to make known to the Supreme Excellency of that place which is adorned with the beauty of your â—anctity that the Word of the King and of his Law hath inlightned our faces that day hath been a solemn daâ— unto Israel and a day of light unto our Rulers fâ—r immediately we applied our selves to perform â—our Command as our duty is And though we have heard of many strange things yet we are couragious and our heart is as the heart of a Lion nor ought we to inquire a reason of your dâ—ings for your works are marvelâ—ous and past finding out and we are confirmed in our fidelity without all exception resigning up our very â—ouls for the Holiness of your Name And now we are come as far as Damascus intending shortly to proceed in our Iourney to Scanderoon according as you have commanded us that so we may ascend and see the face of God in light as the light of the face of the King of life and we servants of your servants shall cleanse the dâ—st from your feet beseeching the Majesty of your Excellency and Glory to vouchsafe from your habitation to have a care of us and help us with the force of your right hand of strength and shorten our way which is before us And we have our eyes towards Iah Iah who will make haste to help us and save us that the children of
and assigned Fifthly That what shall remain unshipped at the end of the twelve days aforesaid the Vizier shall with his own Boats assist to the lading thereof Sixthly That during this time of truce no person whatsoever shall transgress his Limits or pass the bounds of his Station or Quarters and that he who doth shall be treated as an Enemy Seventhly That so soon as these Articles shall be subscribed under the white Flag all Acts of Hostility shall cease both on one side and the other Eighthly That for security of performance of these Articles three Hostages be mutually given on one side and the other Ninthly That for better assurance that the Venetians will use all their endeavours to embark their Men and Goods the Turks may employ two Officers for Eye-witnesses of the same Tenthly That for better effecting hereof all Ships Gallies and other Vessels may freely approach near unto the shore and enter into the Port both by Day and Night Eleventhly That the Venetian Fleet may remain at Standia or at any other Island in the Archipelago until such time as they are dispatched or that things are duly prepared for their departure Twelfthly That all Commissions given by one side and the other be revoked and that whosoever shall after the space of forty days commit any Act of Hostility against the tenor of these Articles of Peace shall be punished with capital punishment Thirteenly That so soon as an Ambassador from Venice shall arrive at the Port all Slaves or Prisoners of War taken under the Venetian Colours shall be freed and released Fourteenthly That what depredations shall be made at Sea or Land after these Articles are subscribed and before the publication thereof shall be faithfully made good and restored Fifteenthly That a general pardon be given to the Subjects of both sides who have acted contrary to their Faith and Allegiance during this War. Sixteenthly That in Vertue of these Capitulations the former Articles be likewise confirmed which were made in the Year 1571 and that no Tribute or Present be demanded from the Port unless as hath formerly been paid for such Islands as the Venetians hold in the Archipelago Seventeenthly That of these Articles two Copies be made one in Turkish with its Translation into Italian subscribed by the Vizier and sealed with the Grand Signior's Signet and the other in Italian underwrote by the Captain-General and sealed with the Seal of the Republick These Articles being signed the Hostages were given both on one side and the other Those given by the Venetians were Faustino da Riva Lieutenant-General Giovanni Battista Calbo Commissary and Zaccaria Mocenigo who had been Duke of Candia Those given by the Turks were Belin Assan Pasha Mahomet Aga of the Janisaries and Giâ—gi Bei Tefterdar of Treasurer During this Siege of the Venetians side there were killed and wounded thirty thousand nine hundred eighty five of the Turks one hundred eighteen thousand seven hundred fifty four The Batteries which the Turks raised against Sabionera and St. Andrea consisted of fifty nine Pieces of Cannon carrying from fifty to an hundred and twenty pound weight of Bullet The Storms which the Turks made upon the Town were fifty six The Combats under ground forty five The Sallies made by the Venetians ninety six The Mines and Fornelli sprang by the Venetians eleven hundred seventy three by the Turks four hundred seventy two The Venetians spent Battels of Powder fifty thousand three hundred and seventeen Bomboes of all sorts by the Venetians of fifty to five hundred weight were forty eight thousand an hundred and nineteen Granadoes of Brass and Iron an hundred thousand nine hundred and sixty Granadoes of Glass eighty four thousand eight hundred seventy four Cannon shot of all sorts two hundred seventy six thousand seven hundred forty three Pounds of Lead eighteen millions forty four thousand nine hundred fifty seven Of Match pounds thirteen millions twelve thousand five hundred What quantities the Turks might consume of Ammunition is not certain only it is observable That the Brass taken up in the streets which came from the Enemies Bomboes was so much that whole Ware-houses were filled with the Metal and so much sold as yielded many thousands of Crowns The Articles being subscribed and Hostages given the Captain-General attended with all application of mind and industry imaginable to imbark the Men and Ammunition committing in the mean time the care of the City to Cornaro the Proveditor of the Fleet. During these days that all things were providing in order to a Surrender there was great silence in the Turkish Camp and no disorder in the City the Souldiers on the Ramparts and the Turks in their Trenches saluted each other with civility and entertained communication and discourses together with friendship and freedom of several passages relating to their War nothing of quarrel or sâ—â—ffle or rude words happening out between them in all the term of the twelve days The Vizier sent divers times civil Messages and Presents of refreshment to the Captain-General and Marquess St. Andrea which they returned with equal respect and generosity and so excessive were the Turks in these offices that the Venetians began to be jealous lest under this mark and guise of courtesie some sraud or design should be covered according to their own Proverb Chi ti fa piu carezze che suole ó ti ha engannato ó enganar ti vuole In short all things were dispatched with that diligence and care that on the 27 th of September the City was consigned all the Inhabitants departed thence not one remaining in the City except only two Greek Priests a Woman and three Jews In this manner the Whole Isle of Candia the cause and occasion of all that Blood and Treasure that was spilt and exhausted in twenty five years War fell at length to the fortune and increase of the Turkish Empire with its most impregnable Fortress of the World strengthened with as much Art and Industry as the human Wiâ— of this Age was capable to invent after a strait Siege of two years three months and twenty seven days For the space of twelve days allotted for the Surrender being expired on the 27 17 th of September being Friday the great Cross erected on the Wall was after midnight taken down and advice given to the Venetians so soon as the morning dawned that the Turks did that day attend the Surrender which was accordingly performed by the Principal Citizen about nine of the clock of the same morning who offering the Keys of the City to the Great Vizier in a Bason of Silver on the breach of St. Andrea was by him presented with a Vest of Sables and five hundred Zechins in Gold and to his Servants were given two hundred To Morosini also a Present was offered worthy his Quality but he refused it saying That he would never give a seeming occasion to the malicious World to slander him with the least appearance of having
Year of Peace and repose of this Empire what the Sultan contrived for security of himself by the death of his Brothers We acquainted you formerly in what manner the Sultan was disappointed in his designs against his Brothers by means of his Mother to whom the Janisaries had committed the care of their safety which she according to her promise had maintained and tendered equally with her own But now the Vizier being returned from the Wars and the most seditious amongst the Janisaries withdrawn from Constantinople it was thought fit to make a new attempt on the Princes still residing in the old Seraglio which was performed with those due preparations and secrecy that it took effect on Sultan Orchan the eldest of the two who in the Month of September 1671. dyed by a draught of poyson which was administred to him as a Present from his courteous Brother some say he was strangled and that before he submitted his neck to the Bow-string he killed one of the Executioners with his Hanjarre This Prince was reported by the people to be a comely Person of a strong and robustious body of large and black eyes like Sultan Morat his death was lamented by all and presaged as fatal to the Empire in regard that that very night that he was murthered the Moon suffered a greater Eclipse than it had done for many years before which happening out in this conjuncture was interpreted as â—minous and served to increase the maledictions and evil spâ—eches which the Turks in all places cast out upon those who gave this counsel to the Sultan About this time the State of Genoua desirous to change their Officers in Turkie sent a new Resident to Constantinople and a Consul to Smyrna which change was principally obtained at the request of the old Ministers who weary of an employment so tedious without a benefit corresponding to their melancholy life and perceiving their Trade decline before it was arrived to any tolerable state or degree of reputation by the assistance and mediation of friends sollicited their Letters of Revocation For the Trade of Genoua being cheifly founded on hopes of those advantages which they expected from a coarse or base alloy of mony did instantly decay so soon as the Turks discovered themselves to be abused by the vast quantities of Temins imported as we have before related after which their profit â—ailing the Consulage consequently decayed which is the only subsistence and encouragement of such Officers as are necessary to reside for the continuance of that Peace which but a few years before they unadvisedly made with the Turk The new Resident had no sooner arrived at Constantinople and considered the poor and mean estate and ill foundation of their Trade the growing charge of the Residency and the great debts thereof that were to devolve upon him from his Predecessor but he perceived into what a Labyrinth of troubles he had ingulfed himself instead of being preferred according to his hopes into a place of Honour and happy retirement In which confusion of thoughts arising one morning before day from his bed and sitting on his Close-stool as the servants of the house report reached at a Towel which being intangled within the Lock of a Carbine that hanged always charged near his bed unfortunately drew the Trigger too hard which with that gave fire and shot the poor Gentleman into the belly with a brace of Bullets of which being mortally wounded after Confession and some Prayers in a few hours he passed to another life unhappy mischance if it may be called a chance for I have understood from a sober person of that Nation that the anguish of mind which he conceived at the evil condition of his Affairs wrought in him a deepness of melancholy and despair under which languishing some days did at last most miserably lay violent hands upon himself And now it is time to recal to mind the Conspiracy of Count Serini Marquess Frangipani and Count Nadasti Persons of Quality and of great Power in Croatia and Hungary who as we said before had sent their Messengers to the Great Vizier then remaining in the Leagure of Candia with overtures of submission to the Ottoman Power It was strange News to the World to hear that the House of Serini should abandon the Christian Party and those renowned Defenders of their Country should apostatize though not from Christianity yet from that Cause and Liberty which their Ancestors and themselves had defended with Blood Treasure Valour and Constancy But dissentions and animosities sown by Satan the Enemy of the Christian Church did strangely corrupt the minds of those famous Persons and raise in them a Spirit resolved to avenge the neglect and injuries put upon them by the Ministers of the Imperial Court though at the expence and hazard of their fortunes and lives and ruine and shiprack of their Honour and Consciences For the neglects and affronts undeservedly cast on Nicholas Serini during the late War as before related and the contempt and scorn put on the Croatian and Hungarian Nobility was supposed to have fited the hot and ambitious Spirits of these Persons who could more easily endure the slavery of the Turkish yoke than condescend to the Government and prevalency of a contrary Party Wherefore in prosecution of their design the complices of Serini being resolved to submit to the Turk dispatched two other Gentlemen to the Ottoman Court besides those which were sent the year before to Salonica who arrived at Adrianople the 11 th of February 1670 1 demanding the protection of the Sultan for which they promised a Tribute of thirty Purses or fifteen thousand Dollars every year for those Lands they held in Croatia To make Answer hereunto a Divan or Council was called in which were weighed all the Arguments and Reasons on one side and the other The Muftee opposed their receiving into protection as being against the Capitulations and Agreement so lately concluded with the Emperor wherein the receiving or abetting of Rebels is expresly forbidden and provided against by one side and the other but Vanni Efendi the Preacher who used to be always of a different opinion to the Muftee urged to have them received because that the advancement of the Mahometan Cause and enlargement of their Empire was more sacred than the conservation of their League with an Infidel Prince And that the Ottoman Court was no longer to be termed the Refuge of the World if it could not yield that protection which oppressed Kingdoms and distressed Princes petitioned to obtain In this manner the matter being controverted without Agreement it was in fine resolved to refer the matter to the determination of the Grand Vizier who was now a few months past return'd triumphant from Candia But by this time Intelligence being come by way of Bosna that the Emperor had already entered Croatia with thirty thousand men that he had taken Chiacheturno in Cotoriba and that Serini and his Associates were
the commandment of his Brother Selymus strangled 542 b. Achomates the great Bassa appeaseth the Souldiers up in Arms for the unworthy death of Mustapha 516 a. his miserable end 517 a. Achmat the great Sultan crowned 837 b his disposition 839 a. sick of the small pox 845 a. contemneth good counsel ib. b. his first son born 857 b. seeketh in vain to make peace with the Persian 881 a. makes Gambolat General of his Army into Asia and suddenly commandeth him to be slain 897 a. his extreme severity 905 b. beats his Sultana 907 b. in danger to be slain by a Deruice 908 a. cometh in state to Constantinople 912 a. admonisheth the Transilvanians to obey Gabor 920 b. commands all the Christians to be slain 933 b. entertains four Armies 942 b. his death and disposition 943 b. Adom Castle abandoned by the Haiducks 820 b. Agria in vain besieged by the Turks 511 b yielded unto Mahomet the Third 767 a. Aladin the son of Kei-Husreu of the Selzuccian Family driven out of Persia seiseth upon Cilicia 54 a. Aladin his Modesty about the division of his Father Othomans Inheritance and Goods with his Brother Orchanes 125 a. Aladin the Caramanian King hanged 144 a. Aladin Amurath's eldest Son slain with a fall from his Horse 197 a. Alba-Regalis yielded to King Ferdinand 472 b. besieged by Solyman 500 a b. the lake and ditches with incredible labor filled up by the Turks ib. b. the suburbs won ib. b. the miserable slaughter of the Christians in their â—light 501 a. yielded unto Solyman 501 b. besieged by Duke Mercurie 793 a. the suburbs of the City surprised by Lord Russworm ib. b. the City taken by the Christians ib. b. besieged by the Turks 799 b. terribly assaulted 800 a. won by the Turks ib. b. Alba-Regalis the suburbs by the Christians sacked and burnt 820 a. Aladeules his Kingdom 353 a. the battel betwixt him and Selymus ib. b. he flyeth into the Mountains ib. b. taken by Sinan Bassa and brought to Selymus is put to death 354 a. his head sent to Venice for a present and his Kingdom brought into the form of a Province ib. a. Albuchomar discovereth unto Selymus the power of Tomombeius and the treason intented by them of Caire 372 a. Aleppo in Syria betrayed and taken from the Christians by Saladin Sultan of Damasco 43 a. by the Tartars taken from the Turks and by them sacked and rased 79 b. by Cayerbeius the Traitor delivered to Selymus 361 a. Alessandro the Georgian submitteth himself unto Mustapha 660 b. Alexius the great President of Constantinople committed to Prison 32 b. his Eyes put out by the commandment of Andronicus ib. b. Alexius Comnenus otherwise called Prophyrogenitus succeedeth his Father Emanuel in the Empire 30 b. by the practice of Andronicus is deprived of his Empire and strangled 35 b. Alexius the young Prince craveth Aid of Philip the Emperour and the Latine Princes against his Vncle the Vsurper 54 a. cometh to the Army of the Christian Princes going towards the Holy Land 55 a. arriveth with a great fleet of the Latins before Constantinople ib. b. taketh land and after a hot skirmish forceth the old Tyrant Alexius to â—lie out of the City ib. b. seeketh to bring the Latins again into the City 56 b is betrayed and strangled by Murzufle 57 a. Alexius Philantropenus by Andronicus the Emperour made Governour of the frontiers of his Empire in Asia against the Turks 103 a aspireth ib. b. betrayed hath his Eyes put out ib. b. Alexius Strategopulus with a small power sent into Graecia by the Emperour Michael Palaeologus by the treason of two Greeks taketh the City of Constantinople from the Latins 80 b. 81 a. Alexander proclaimed Prince of Moldavia 930 a. sendeth Ambassadors to Sultan Achmat ib. a. another to Prince Michna 931 a a third to Bethlem Gabor ib. b. 800 of his Souldiers slain by their hosts for their Insolency 932 b. he receiveth new Aids some whereof are defeated 932 b. 933 a. treacherously forsaken by his General 936 b he and his confederates invironed by the Turks Army 937 b. taken Prisoner and carried to Constantinople 938 b. Algiers described 486 a. in vain besieged by Charles the Emperour ib. a. Aliculi Chan taken 668 a. in hope of liberty conducted Hassan Bassa through the straight passages of Georgia ib. b. cast in prison at Erzirum ib. b. escapeth from Ferat 685 b. by the Persian King to the great discontentment of the Turcomans made Governour of Tauris 686 a. killeth the Bassa of Maras and doth the Turks great harm and so flieth from Tauris 698 b. conspireth with Abas Mirize against the Persian Prince 704 a. being by the Prince sent against the Turks performeth nothing 705 a. Alis Bassa with a great Army overthrown by Scanderbeg 196 b. Alis Bassa sent by Bajazet with an Army ouâ— of Europe against Techellis slain 323 a. Alis Beg and his four Sons treacherously slain by Ferat Bassa 404 b. Alis Bassa of Buda by the commandment of Amurath strangled 706 b. Alis Beg Governour of Strigonium coming down into the lower Town is there stayed by the Ianizaries 748 a. his resolute answer unto the Message sent him from the Lord Palfi 750 a. slain with a great shot 757 a. Almericus Earl of Joppa after the death of his Brother Baldwin chosen the sixth King of Jerusalem 39 a. with a puissant Army entereth Egypt and in plain battel overthroweth Dargan the Sultan ib. a aideth Sanar the Sultan against Saracon Noradins General whom he overthroweth in Egypt ib. b. taketh Alexandria 40 a. winneth Pelusium ib a. dieth 41 a. b. Aloysius Grittus the Duke of Venice's Son sent by Solyman as his Lieutenant into Hungary to oversee King John 426 a. contemned by Americus causeth him to be murthered 427 b. besieged by the Transilvanians 428 a. taken and beheaded ib. b. the great Riches found about him ib. b. Alphonsus King of Naples sendeth aid unto Scanderbeg 252 a. with Alexander Bishop of Rome craveth aid of Bajazet the Turk against Charles the French King 307 a. Alphonsus resigneth his Kingdom of Naples unto his Son Ferdinand 309 a. Alphonsus Daualus Vastius Lieutenant-General of the Emperour's Land-forces in his Expedition for Tunes 441 a. his Speech unto the Spanish Captains 443 b. commandeth the Emperour 448 a. with Hannbaldus sent Ambassadors from the Emperour and the French King to the State of Venice for a confederation betwixt that State and them to be made against Solyman 468 a. his Oration in the Venetian Senate the Answer of the Duke the Senators diversly affected towards the Confederation 466 b. Alteration of Religion in the Greek Church the cause of great troubles 100 b. Althems Regiment in mutiny 841 a. Altensol yielded to the Hungarian Rebels 873 a. Amesa with his Turks overthrown and taken prisoner by Scanderbeg 249 a. Amesa employed by his Vncle Scanderbeg for the recovery of Croia out of the hands of the Turks 183 b
laid all other Designs aside he might in that great consternation of the Turks have passed the Save and made himself Master of Belgrade without much difficulty and therewith have reduced all Bosnia to the devotion of the Emperor But this being an Over-sight and matters succeeding as before related let us return to the mutinous Army of the Turks whom we lately left raging against the Grand Vizier the Grand Seignior and all the Government The Grand Vizier as we have said having quitted the Army to give way to the Fury of the Soldiers took a Boat at Belgrade and rowed down the Danube accompanied with the Tefterdar or Lord Treasurer and the Reis Effendi or Secretary of State the Soldiers in the mean time chose as is aforesaid Sciaus for their General and immediately dispatched away Orta Chiaus an Officer of the Ianisaries to acquaint the Grand Seignior with what the Army had done It was now no time to expostulate with the Soldiers or disapprove their Actions but on the contrary Orta was kindly received and caressed by the Chimacan at Constantinople called Regeb Pasha And the Grand Seignior himself without any Hesistancy confirming the Choice which the Army had made dispatched Orta Chiaus immediately back with the Signals of Honour which are a Sword and a Vest of Sables declaring him General and ordering him to take care of the Frontiers The Vizier having got out of the reach of the Army took Post and came to Adrianople where he staid and gave time for his Friends to work in his behalf with the Grand Seignior who of himself was well enough inclined to Solyman and therefore after the Rout and Noise was a while appeased Regeb the Chimacam obtained his Pardon and Permission for him to come to Constantinople and Mamout Aga his Friend and a rich Man was sent for the Messenger to invite him thither But before Solyman arrived the Scene was much changed by the coming of four Officers from the Army with Arz and Max-Arz which is a Petition and Certificate signed by the principal Commanders in the Army attesting that Solyman was a Person of no Conduct a Coward and a Lyer and one who took no care to pay the Army and in short that he was not fit for that Sublime Office of Grand Vizier concluding their Petition with a Prayer that another might be placed in that Government Solyman having News hereof as he was on the Road to Constantinople and thinking thereupon that that place would be too hot for him at present sent the Seal and the Standard of the Prophet to the Sultan committing them to the care of the Tefterdar the Treasurer and Reis Effendi the Secretary his Friends and fellow Travellers to be delivered by them conveying himself privately within the Walls of Constantinople upon which without delay the Grand Seignior dispatched away the Seal and the Standard to Sciaus declaring him Grand Vizier in the place of Solyman Regeb would have disswaded the Grand Seignior from sending the Standard which is the Colours of their Prophet Mahomet and towards which the People bear a superstitious Devotion alledging that thereby he weakned himself and armed a Company of Mutiniers with the Charm of that holy Relick Howsoever the Kuzlier Aga who is the chief Eunuch of the Women was of a different Opinion being of a nature timorous like that of the Grand Seignior His Council prevailed and the Standard was sent by the Hand of the Selictar or Sword-bearer that the Soldiery might not have cause to believe that the Sultan treated them with reserves or with the least manner of diffidence But all this served not to appease or mollify the madness of the Soldiery who now talked of nothing but marching to Constantinople and there to Depose the Grand Seignior and reform the Government setting up his Brother Sultan Solyman under whose Reign they hoped for the like Auspicious Successes as they had found in the fortunate Reigns of those Sultans who had formed the Ottoman Empire and especially they had a singular Reverence for the Name of Sultan Solyman who they hoped would prove as great and fortunate as Solyman the Magnificent Sciaus Pasha who was in his Heart a cordial Friend to the late Vizier Solyman found now that he had conjured up a Devil he could not lay would gladly have disswaded the Soldiery from their designed March to the Port and rather advised them to guard their Frontiers and oppose the Enemy But this Council had cost him his Life had he not touched the Proposal very gently and at the same time assured them of his readiness to joyn with them in any Design they should contrive And accordingly marching away in a kind of a tumultuous and disorderly manner towards the River Save great Numbers of them were actually passing the Bridge near Belgrade when the Chimacam or Governour General of the Ianisaries of that place apprehending that they came to Plunder the Town refused them Passage causing several Pieces of Cannon to be fired upon them with which several being killed they returned back Howsoever persisting still in their Resolution the most wild and obstinate party of them passed the River in Boats at some distance from the Town leaving Sciaus Pasha with the rest of the Militia on the other side a good days March behind them by this slow Motion of Sciaus the Soldiery guessing at his backwardness to engage with them like enraged Mad-men they returned to him and treated him with Menaces vowing to kill him in case he refused to be their General and Leader in this good Cause of reforming the Government Whilst the Army was in this Commotion great were the Confusions Plots Stratagems and Contrivances at Constantinople which Regeb the Chimacam suspecting that the Friends of the late Vizier Ibrahim exiled to Rhodes did foment and also that the Mufti who was last year Banished to Prusa was too near he procured a Command from the Grand Seignior to remove that Mufti to Rhodes and the Kapugibashee or Messenger who was employed on this Affair and had the care upon him to conduct this Mufti to Rhodes carried also a Hatte-sheriff or the Command with him for the Head of Ibrahim Pasha which we shall shortly find at Constantinople about the same time almost that Regeb's Head was laid with others to augment the heap In the mean time the Tefterdar or Treasurer and the Reis Effendi or Secretary who were the Two Fellow-Travellers with Solyman the late Vizier were dispatched to the Army with soft Messages from the Grand Seignior approving all that they had done and offering to perform all they did or could desire But we shall see presently how well these Two Mediators succeeded in their Office of making Peace with a heady Multitude which would hear no Reason and endure no Government For Sciaus was now made only a Property to execute the Commands of the Ianisaries and Spahees who had entred into a solemn
he capable of any for when any thing was propounded to him He answered Yes or No or with some very short Reply after the manner of Laconick brevity and then presently turned away to read the Alchoran He was at first reputed after the manner of his Father to be impotent as to Women but afterwards taking five or six into his Embraces he gave the World cause to conceive another Opinion of him He sat as aukwardly on Horse-back as his Father that Exercise being uneasie to him his chief Divertisements were his Books which we may believe he ill understood and sometimes taking the Air on the Water and in Chiosks or Garden Houses on the side of the Bosphorus he passed his pleasant time Yeghen still continued to Ravage the Country between Sophia and Belgrade as his Comrade Yedic that Arch-robber did in Anatolia And the Government being too weak to suppress two such Thieves or Highway-Men how much less was it able to contend with the German Troops They were forced to dissemble and give way to the present Extremities by making Yeghen Seraskier in Hungary whilst Hassan Pasha was forced to give way and fly privately out of the reach of his Competitor The News hereof flew with great hast to the Thieves in Anatolia who being encouraged with the Success of Yeghen under whose Government they all fancied to be made Pashas or Grandees came over in great numbers to joyn with him Amongst which one Temac Boluckbashee a leading Man with Four hundred of his Robbers passed boldly over from Asia to Constantinople and Yedic their General was not only pardoned but made a Pasha To this hard Plight and Extremity was the Ottoman Empire reduced when the Turks placing their greatest hopes in the Tartars dispatched away an Aga to Apafi Prince of Transilvania with a Patent to confirm him in his Principality and with Orders to demand of him in consideration thereof a round Sum of ready Money wherewith to Succour and pay the Garrisons on the Boristhenes and to provide for the Maintenance of Caminiec which was in want of Ammunition and all things necessary And to persuade Apafi hereunto he told Stories very improper and unfit to compass his ends for he rehersed all the Tumults of the Zorbas at Constantinople and that the Grand Seignior was forced to create Yeghen who was their Chief and Leader to be Seraskier in Hungary That in Constantinople there was want of every thing even to a Famine caused by the Seditions and Mutinies of the Soldiers and that for the appeasing these Tumults and for the Donative unto the Soldiers which is usually given by the Sultans at their Inauguration the Exchequer had been drained of Twenty Millions of Dollars wherefore he urged the States of Transilvania to grant him his Demands in failure of which he threatned them with the Incursions of the Tartars who had already passed the River Prut and were enter'd into the Neighbouring Provinces where they had left sad Marks of their cruel and miserable Devastations And that Sultan Galga and Noradin with a mighty Army were marching to oppose the Emperors designs upon Belgrade General Carafa having notice of these Practices upon Transilvania went with all hast thither and in a short time not only defeated this Aga in his Negotiations but also so well disposed Apafi and the States of Transilvania with entire Devotion to the Emperor that in despight of the Message brought by the Aga they absolutely renounced all Obedience and Duty to the Ottoman Port The which Renuntiation follows in this manner We Michael Teleky de Szek General George and Alexius de Bethlem Laodislaus Szekel of Boroszeno Valentine Frank one of the Iudges Christian Zato Consul of the City of Hermanstadt Counsellors to the Illustrious Prince of Transilvania As also Nicholas of Bethlem Stephen Appor Peter Alvinzy and John Starosy Principal and publick Notaries Michael Filstrick Iudge of the City of Braslavia Plenipotentiaries deputed by the Prince aforesaid and by the States of the Kingdom of Transilvania do hereby declare and make known unto all the World desiring that these Presents may remain upon Record for a lasting Testimony unto all Ages With great Reason may this present Age remain astonished and envious Eyes become dazled with the Splendor of the Divine Clemency which not suffering its beloved Christendom to Groan longer under the Yoak of Barbarous Pride nor remain in Bonds to Tyrannical Servitude nor longer to be overwhelmed and drowned after so many Wars in a Sea of Innocent Blood hath at length out of his great Compassion been pleased to exert the strong Power of his Omnipotent Arm to Rescue so many Kingdoms and Provinces from an unsupportable Slavery under the Turks who transported with senseless Fury had rendered themselves formidable to the World ruinous to their Neighbours and Despisers of all People besides their own But behold How the God of Hosts being justly displeassed with these vain Boastings hath thrown his Thunder-bolts amongst them and dispersed them making the most August Emperor Leopold the First an Instrument of his Vengeance and having showred Flouds of Blessings on his Glorious and Triumphant Arms hath encompassed his Royal Head with Wreaths of Victorious Laurel whilst the Ottoman Throne is dressed up with Mournful Cipress Such were the astonishing operations of the Divine Power made manifest to all the World. For when the barbarous Tyranny was in its full Career and was in the Trail of a hot Scent after Christian Blood then was God pleased to stop them in their Course and reduce their unstable and depressed Fortune to the doubtful Terms of Hope and Fear It is now near an Age that unhappy Transilvania hath been depressed by the unsupportable Ottoman Yoak and bewailed the loss of her lawful King and Lord And after having been Turmoiled tossed with Storms of War with Fire and Sword and Civil Dissentions all things have been so confused and defaced that scarce any thing hath remained on the Registers of it's ancient Glory only since the Dominion of the Turk gained by the intestine differences of it's own Princes some Memorials are written and reserved to represent to the World a History of a most direful Tragedy But now the maligne Influence of the Stars being either abated or entirely exhausted and the Ambitious Pride and Designs of private Men defeated Transilvania embraces the Paternal and Powerful Protection of the most August Emperor of the Romans Leopold the First and Hereditary King of Hungary and of all his Successors and particularly of the most Serene Prince Joseph King of Hungary whose Life may God long continue and of his Heirs after him according as it hath been concluded and agreed in the year 1687 at the last Diet at Possonium with full Consent Approbation and Concurrence of all the States of Hungary who have for a long time poured out their Prayers and Tears and Sighs before God that at length through the Divine Mercy they might
Prusa besieged by Othoman Michael Cossi turneth Turk Alteration of Religion in the Greek Church Persecution in the Greek Church for matters of Religion Andronicus spariâ—g to maintain his Navy weakneth his Empire Immoderate bounty in great men dangerous Alexius Philanthropenus aspireth Libadarius opposeth himself against the proceedings of Philanthropenus Andronicus the Greek Emperor reposing more trust in foreign aid than in his own Subjects greatly hurteth his State. Ronzerius what he was Ronzerâ—us for want of pay spoileth the Emperors Subjects Ronzerius slain The Turks first called into Europe by the Catalonians The Turcopuli The unfortunate battel of Michael the Emperor against the Catalonians and Turks Cassandria The Catalonians shut out of Macedonia A notable stratagem of the Catalonians The Turks divided into two Factions The unfortunate battel of the Emperor Michael Paleologus with the Turks in Chersoneâ—us Thracia spoiled by the Turks Philes Paleologus requesteth of the Emperor that he might go against the Turks The Battel betwixt Philes and the Turks The Turks overthrown The causâ—s of the decay of the Greek Empire Syrgiannes his craâ—ty Seditious Speech unto young Andronicus Young Andronicus cometh secretly armed to his Grandfather Thracia revolteth unto Andronicus Articles of agreement betwixt the old Emperor and his Nephew The Greek Empire in Europe divided whilst the Grecians are at discord amongst themselves Othoman layeth the foundation of the Turks Empire and the other other Turks incroach upon them also The Island of the Rhodes was by the Knights Hospitalers recovered from the Turks in the year 1308. Andronicus the old Emperor seeketh for Counsel of the Psalter as of an heavenly Oracle and so seeketh to make peace with his Nephew Psal. 68. vers 14. A treacherous meeting The young Emperor sendeth Embassadors unto his Grandfather The Speech of the young Emperor to his Grandfathers Embassadors The Speech of the old Emperor unto the Patriarch and the rest of the Bishops and Nobility concerning the young Emperor his Nephew The Patriarch with divers of the Bishops conspire against the Emperor Thessalonica yielded unto the young Emperor Constantinople bâ—â—râ—yed unto the young Emperor The pitiful Supplication of the old Emperor to his Nephew Niphon incenseth the young Emperor against his Grandfather The old Emperor becometh blind Andronicus the old Emperor against his will made a Monk and called Anthony The notable answer of the old Emperor to the catching question of the proud Patriarch The death of the old Emperor The Turks Kingdom founded by Othoman in Asia at such time as the Greek Emperors were at variance betwixt themselves in Europe Prusa yielded unto the Turks The death of Othoman Othoman buâ—ied at Prâ—sa The wealth that Oâ—homan leâ—t unto his two Sons Orchanes and Aladin when that barbarous manner of murthering their Brethren first began among the Turkish Sultans The City of Nice with divers other Castlâ—s recovered from the Turks after the death of Othoman The Emperor wounded The City of Nice surprised by the Turks Abydus besieged by the Turks Nicomedia yielded unto Orchanes Orchanes remoueth his Court to Nice Orchanes invadeth the Country of Carasina The Country of Carasina yielded unto Orchanes The Castle of Maditus tâ—â—en by the Tâ—rks The death of Solyman Bassa Orchanes his eldest Son. The death of Orchanes Amurath succeedeth his Father Orchanes in the Turkish Kingdom Didymotichum yielded unto the Turks Hadrianople yielded unto the Turks Rhodestum surprised by the Turks Hadrianople thâ— Royal Seat of the Tâ—rkish Kings in Europe Boga taken by Amurath and recovered again and rased by the Christians Boga new built by the Turks Amurath invadeth Servia Nissa taken by the Turks Appolonia won 〈◊〉 the Turks Amurath and Aladiâ— prepare themselves for War. The death of Chairadin Bassa The great battel in the plains of Caramania betwixt Amurath and Aladin Aladin flieth to Iconium Iconium besieged by Amurath Lazarus the Despot by his Embassador craveth aid of the King of Bosna Amurath marrieth the Emperor of Constantinoples daughter The Castle of Sarkive with the City jâ—yning unto it taken by thâ— Christians and rased Lazarus slain Amurath slain Amurath buried at Prusa Bajazet invadeth Servia Servia the second time invaded by Bajazet Thessalia invaded by Bajazet Constantinople eight years besieged by Bajazet Constantinople the second time besieged by Bajazet Bajazet marrieth Despina the fair Daughter of Lazarus the Despot Temurtases Bâ—jazet his great Lieutenanâ— in Asia taken Prisoner by Aladin the younâ— King of Caramania Amasia yielded unto Bajazet Sebastia delivered to Bajazet Bajazet invadeth Isfendiar Prince of Castamona The Mahometan Princes of Asia oppressed by Bajazet disguised flie unto Tamerlane for aid Tamerlâ—ne his opinion concerning the diversity of Religions The base opinion some have concerning the Birth and Rising of Tamerlane Tamerlane honourably descended The cause why some have reported him to have been a Shepherd or Herdsman Tamerlane marrieth the Daughter and Heir of the great Cham of Tartary Prince Axalla in great credit with Tamerlane The number of Tamerlanes great Army Sebastia besieged by Tamerlane Sebastia yielded to Tamerlane A Shepherd more happy than Bajazet The Prince of Ciarcan dealeth politickly with the Forerunners of the Turks Army The great and mortal Battle betwixt Bajazet and Tamerlane The Prince of Ciarcaâ— slain The Turks overthrown Bajazet and his Son Musa taken Prisoners Bajazet 〈◊〉 bâ—sâ—e Tamerlane with his Pride Bajazet like a Beast shut up in an Iron Caâ—e Solyman set up in his Fathers steaâ— Prusa taken by â—â—â—lle Tamerlane goeth to Constantinople Tamerlane much delighted with the pleasures of Constantinople A great Battel fought betwixt the Sultan of Egypt and Tamerlane Damasco won by Tamerlane Tamerlane cometh to Jerusalem Damiata taken by Axalla Tamerlane marcheth towards Caâ—er Caier besieged by Tamerlane Caier assaulted by Tamerlane The Sultan flieth from Alexandria Tamerlane desirous to return into his Country The miserable death of Bajazet A comparison betwixt Bajazet and Tamerlane Bajazet in his Posterity more fortunate than Tammerlane Divers opinions concerning the Successors of Bajazet The true Posterity of Bajazet Mahomet Gâ—vernor of Amasia Mahomet â—â—ndâ—â—h Spies into Tamerlane his Camp. Cara Dulet slain Mahomet his 〈◊〉 to Inaâ—l Ogli the Tartar Prince Inall Ogli his answer to Mahomet Inall Ogli overthrown by Mahomet Mahomet his Speech to Tamerlanes Embassador The great power Tamerlane continâ—ally kâ—pt The death of Tamerlane The description of Tamerlane Mahomet goeth against his Brother The answer of Isa to Mahomet his Offers The body of Bajazet honourably buried at Prusa Good counsel Isa with a great army sent by his Brother Solyman into Asia against Mahomet Prusa burnt by Isa. Isa flieth into Caramanâ—a and there dieth in obscurity The Castle of Prusa besieged by Solyman Musa marrieth the Prince of Valachia his daughter Musa in the absence of Solyman received at Hadrianople as King. Musa goeth against Solyman Solyman flieth Solyman strangled by his Brother Musa This Solyman is that same whom some call Celebinus and other some Calepinus and reckon
to have chosen in his room some other Captain of Valour and Discretion but seeing he would needs make choice of the fame unfit man he was not now to blame any other for his Errour but only himself As for his coming to Constantinople it was a thing long before thought most needful not only for his advice how the matter of Peace might be brought to some good pass but also because if that treaty came not to the desired issue then he had to talk with him how he might compass the overthrow of his Enemy which thing as yet he had no fit time to declare unto him but was now ready to reveal it if it were so his Pleasure Wonderfully was Amurath grieved with this sullen answer when he conâ—idered that a slave of his own should so arrogantly and manifesâ—ly reprove him of folly and improvidence Notwithstanding being desirous to know of him what that secret and important matter was which he had to reveal unto him for the easie compassing of his commenced Enterprise he dissembled his discontentment conceived against him and commanded him to disclose those his Devices which he had to utter Sinan in brief of all his Advices propounded these two things first his Counsel was not to proceed in this War as they had hitherto done by seeking with Forts and Foâ—tresses to hold and keep the Enemies Countries for that their Treasures were not able to yield such store of Money as was sufficient for the maintenance of so many and so great Garrisons contrary to the Opinion of Mustapha of late dead who with great pertinacy had perswaded that dangerous chargeable and difficult manner of War. His second Advice was that the true means to bring this War to the wished end consisted especially in the Resolution of Amurath himself who if he would go in Person and against so mighty a King oppose the Person of a King then might he most assuredly promise unto himself all speedy and honourable Victory for that at the only name of his coming the Persians would easily come to any Agreement or if not he might then proceed in his Wars and so obtain most glorious Conquests This his Advice so little pleased the effeminate King that instead of the great Opinion he before held of him he now conceived an envious affection against him and a further suspition fostred by the great Ladies of the Court especially Amuraths Mother That Sinan had thus Counselled the King himself to go in Person not for any good could come thereof but only that so he might find means for the Prince his Son to make himself King and to drive out his Father Which suspition was in such sort nourished in the Mind of Amurath especially being assured of the great affection which the Prince carried towards Sinan and he likewise towards him that he resolved to rid him out of his sight and so depriving him of all charge presently banished him the Court and out of Constantinople to Demotica a City of Thrace from whence afterwards he by most humble Supplication obtained to be removed to Marmara a little beyond Selymbria And into his place of Visiership was preferred Sciaus Bassa who had married Amurath's Sister an Hungarian born a goodly Personage and of honourable Judgment but above all men a seller of Justice and Preferments and yet a great friend to the Peace with the Christian Princes which Sinan had always most wickedly maligned The Persian Captains in the mean time with their Spoils year 1582 and divers of their Enemies Ensignes were with great Joy received at home in Persia but when the Discord that fell out between Mahamet Bassa and Mustaffa the Georgian was also reported the former Joy was redoubled every man being of Opinion that thesâ— Discords might be great impediments unto 〈…〉 further attempts into Persia which it was 〈◊〉 they would the next year attempt to the 〈…〉 of Nassivan and Tauris Upon which 〈◊〉 the Persian King perceiving that he could not have a fitter Opportunity to imploy himself against Abas Mirize his Son then with him in disgrace determined with himself to leave the matters on this side of his Kingdom in their present state and to march toward Hâ—ri whereunto he was earnestly sollicited by his elder Son Emir Hamze Mirize but especially by Mirize Salmas his Visier Upon which Resolution committing the defence of Reivan Nassivan and that side of his Kingdom to Emir Chan Governour of Tauris he set forward himself with his Army towards Casbin and so marching through divers Provinces arrived at length at Sasuaâ— being on that side the chief of all the Cities subject to the Jurisdiction of Heri which City he took by force and without delay caused the Governour thereof to be beheaded although he alledged a thousand excuses for himself and objected a thousand Accusations more against the seditious Visier The King after this departing thence and having also put to death certain Captains and Sultans that were accused by the Visier to be Confederates in the Rebellion of his Son he arrived at last at the desired City of Heri Very strong is this City by Scituation compassed about with a good Wall and watered with deep Channels of running Springs conveyed into it by Tamerlane their Founder or Restorer beside that there was in it many valiant Captains Enemies to Mirize Salmas ready to lay down their Lives in defence of themselves and of Abas their Lord so that the winning thereof could not but prove both long and difficult As soon as the King approached the City he felt in himself many troubled Passions arising of Grief and Pity it grieved him to think that he should beget so graceless a Son who instead of maintaining his State and Honour should seek his Ruine and Destruction it grieved him also to remember the Blood of his Subjects before spilt upon so strange an occasion and scarcely durst he enter into the Cogitation thenceforth to shed any more of the Blood of his People Nevertheless being still more and more sollicited by his Visier he attempted to understand the mind of his Son and if it might be possible to get him into his hands But whiles the King travelling with these thoughts lay with his Army before Heri Abas Mirize in the mean time writ divers Letters to his Father and to his Brother wherein he besought them That they would make known unto him the Occasion of this their stir for if desire of Rule had moved them to seek the deprivation of him being their Son and Brother from the Honour he lawfully possessed and which his Father himself procured for him of his Grandfather Tamas they ought to abandon their Imagination for that he was always ready to spend his Wealth and his Blood together with his Estate in their Service and acknowledged his Father to be his good Father and King but if they were not induced hereunto for this cause but by a desire to revenge some trespasses that he
had committed to the Prejudice of the Crown of Persia or his Fathers Honour he was most ready to submit himself to any amends and with all reason to yield unto them the Kingdom yea the whole World and even his own Life the rather to satisfie their Minds with a more full Contentation With twice and thrice reading over were these affectionate Letters considered and digested and at last both the Father and the Brother perceiving in them such liberality of Words and overcome with Pity or if not with Pity yet with great admiration and contentment they determined to put the matter in practise and moderating their desire of revenge to attempt the reducing of the young mans Mind to some good pass Whereupon they wrote back unto him That no greedy deâ—ire to usurp his Government had induced them to make so great a Voyage to trouble so much People and to shed such abundance of Blood but only his disobedience and presumption in that he had caused himself to be called the King of Persia and had not sent so much as one Captain to aid them in the late Wars against the Turks Glad was Abas the young Prinâ—â— whâ—n he understood the Accusations that were laid 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 back unto them That if they would faithfully promise him honourably and without any outrage to receive his Ambassadors he would send unto them such evident matter and so clear Information touching those his Accusations as that they should not only clearly perceive that there was never any such kind of thought in him but also that he had always desired and laboured the contrary and would moreover open unto them such matter as in respect of other men and not of himself might cause their coming to prove profitable and commodious to all the Kingdom of Persia. Which his request they both solemnly promised faithfully to perform being very desirous to understand what those strange Novelties should be Whereupon Abas Mirize sent unto them two of his chief Counsellors men of great account and reverence both for Years and Wisdom with full Instructions who after many Speeches in the end swearing according to their custom by the Creator that spread out the Air that founded the Earth upon the Deeps that adorned the Heaven with Stars that poured abroad the Water that made the Water and briefly of nothing brought forth all things swearing by the head of Ali and by the Religion of their Prophet Mahomet that such perverse thoughts never entred into the head of Abas Mirize they alleged many Testimonies and manifest Proofs that most loyally in all due time as well when he was advanced to the Kingdom of Persia as also in his Battels against the Turks his Son had always caused devout Prayers and Supplications to be made to God for his Prosperity neither ever desired to hear any other but happy and fortunate success of him They brought with them a thousand and a thousand Precepts and loyal Letters which the young man had caused to be written as occasions required to the Governours that were his Subjects for the Government of the State wherein he never named himself King of Persia but only Your King and Governour of Heri They prayed the King also to cause a diligent Process to be framed against his Son and if there should be found in him any sign or shadow of so wicked a suspition then to take from him his Estate and Liberty offering themselves to remain as Hostages for him But when all this should be done and Abas found altogether free from these unjust Accusations then falling even to the Earth and kissing it they besought him and as it were conjured him not to leave the matter thus imperfect to the Prejudice of his Blood but returning to his Counsellor to take information likewise upon what mind and consideration he had advised the King to take upon him this unorderly and dangerous Voyage where no doubt he should find nothing in him but malignant ambitious and wicked Affections and such an even deserved that with his Blood there should be revenged all the Blood of those which till that hour had been brought to their unworthy and undeserved Deaths And for as much as nothing remained whereof the Visier had informed the King against his Son but the commandment that was given by Abas Mirize to the Governours under him That they should not go to the Wars against the Turks they confessed in Truth that such an order was taken but not to that wicked and traiterous end and purpose as was reported to the King by his great Counsellor but only in respect of an Invasion justly feared in those quarters by the Tartarian Iesselbas who by divers inrodes had already done great harm in the Country about Heri and put young Abas and his Counsellors in such a fear that they durst not disfurnish their Cities of their Guards and Forces and therefore had commanded the said Governours not to go to war against the Turks but to stay and expect further direction And that all this was by writing signified unto the Visier himself which he of a malicious mind had concealed only to try if in these common troubles he could bring to pass that Abas Mirize and the King might be taken away and Emir Hamze succeed in his place and so he himself remain the Superintendent of his Son-in-Law and Moderator of that most famous Kingdom Of which so treacherous a purpose they for all that thought Emir Hamze the young Prince altogether ignorant knowing his honourable Disposition and Love towards his own kindred but imputed it only to the immoderate and ambitious desire of the wicked Traitor Mirize Salmas Of these grave Speeches of the Ambassadors Mahamet the Father by nature credulous began to make great Construction and deeply to consider of their so earnest and important requests which seemed unto him so upright and equal as that he could not chuse but hearken unto the same And therefore calling unto him the Governours the Captains the Judges and Treasurers of all the Cities that were subject to Heri he demanded of them how and in what sort they esteemed of Abas Mirize and in what degree of Honour he desired to be esteemed of them and of them all received one answer That they held him for their Lord and Lieutenant to the King of Casbin and that he himself had always desired to be so taken and thought of for proof whereof every one of them brought in divers Letters Precepts and Orders wherein he never caused himself to be honoured with any other Title but only Your King of Heri He demanded further Whether any such Wars were attempted by the Tartarian Iesselbas or not whereof he received a large and solmen Information that so it was to the great detriment of all those Territories And thus the King