of the free States that they highly commended his forwardness and all other matters for that time set apart agreed all with one consent at a prefixed day to send unto Vienna such warlike Forces as they had in any time before set forth for the defence of the Christian Religion and the Majesty of the Empire Whereupon he wrote unto Alphonsius Vastius his Lieutenant General in Italy and one of the greatest Captains of that age that he should without delay call together the old Captains and to levy so many Companies of Harquebusiers as they possibly could and with them and the Spanish Souldiers to repair forthwith unto him into Austria He also enjoyned Andreas Auria his Admiral that he should with like diligence rig up a strong Fleet of Gallies and Merchants Ships and to go against the Turks Navy into Graecia At the same time he sent for his choice Horsemen out of Burgundy and the Low-Countries and many noble Gentlemen and old Souldiers out of Spain for the guard of his own person he entertained twelve thousand Germans such as had longest served in his Wars in Italy over whom commanded Maximilian Herberstene and Tamisius both famous Captains At the same time Clement the seventh then Bishop of Rome although his Coffers were greatly emptied by the late Florentine Wars which had cost him ten hundred thousand Ducats yet to make some shew of his devotion in so dangerous a time with the great good will he bare unto the Emperor after he had with grievous exaction extorted from the Clergy a great mass of Mony whereunto his rich Cardinals contributed nothing as if it had been a thing utterly unlawful for them in so good a cause to have abated any jot of their pontifical shew in the Court of Rome sent the young Cardinal Hippolitus Medices his Nephew being then about twenty years of age a Man indeed fitter for the Wars than for the Church as his Legate unto the Emperor accompanied with more good Captains than Clergy-men and his Coffers well stuffed with Treasure whose coming to Ratisbone was unto the Emperor and the Germans very welcome for besides that he was a young Gentlemen of very comly Personage and exceeding Bountiful he entertained for those Wars besides the Company he brought with him eight thousand Hungarian Horsemen of all others best acquainted with the Turkish Wars King Iohn understanding that the formost of Solymanâ— great Army were come as far as Samandria in Servia thought it now a fit time to wring from King Ferdinand such Towns as he yet held in Hungary wherefore he sent Aloysius Grittus whom Solyman had left as a helper for his Estate to besiege Strigonium which is a City of Hungary situate upon the side of Danubius about thirty Miles from Buda the Castle thereof was at that time holden with a strong Garrison of King Ferdinands whereunto for all that Grittus laid such hard Siege both by the River and by Land that the Defendants doubting how they should be able to hold out especially if Solyman should take that in his way as it was most like he would sent for relief to Cazzianer a warlike Captain then Governour of Vienna and General of all King Ferdinands Forces by whose appointment certain small Frigats were sent down the River of Danubius from Possonium well manned who suddainly setting upon the Turks Fleet which so kept the River that nothing could that way possibly be conveied either in or out of the Castle should by their unexpected coming open that way But Grittus having intelligence thereof by certain Hungarians which though they served King Ferdinand made no great account to flie sometime to the one part sometime to the other as best fitted their purpose presently resolved to send his Fleet up the River and by his suddain coming to oppress his Enemies in like sort as they had thought to have done him And the more to encourage his Souldiers he promised great rewards to all such as should perform any extraordinary piece of service in that Action and so having throughly furnished all his Fleet with good Souldiers but especially with Turkish Archers sent them up the River to seek their Enemies who fearing no such matter as Men surprised with the same mischief they had prepared for others were at the first exceedingly dismaied yet considering that they were reasonably well provided for their coming although they yet wanted such help as Cazzianer had appointed to send them they thought it a great shame to flie and therefore putting themselves in order of Battel came down the River and with great courage encountred their Enemy There began a sharp and cruel Fight many being slain and wounded on both sides but at last they of Possonium not able longer to endure the deadly shot of their Enemies and especially of the Turkish Archers who with their Arrows sore gauled both the Souldiers and the Mariners they turned their backs and fled in which Fight of sixty Frigats which came from Possonium only thirteen escaped with Corporanus the General all the rest being either sunk in the Fight or else taken by the Enemy being run ashore and forsaken by the Possonians trusting more unto their Legs by Land than their Oars by Water Besides this loss of the Frigats there was slain of the Possonians almost five hundred After this Victory Grittus hoping that they in the Castle of Strigonium despairing now of relief and fearing the coming of Solyman would not long hold out left off to batter or undermine the Castle wherewith he perceived he little prevailed purposing by lying still and keeping them in the Castle from all relief to enforce them in time to forsake the place Thus whilst the divided Hungarians with their own hands inconsiderately sought one anothers destruction with the ruin of their Country Solyman the great Enemy of all Christians was ready at their backs to devour both the one and the other as in few years after he did Much about this time the old Spanish Souldiers in Italy drawn together by Vastius as the Emperor had before commanded were come to the Alpes In this Camp of one sort of Men and other was above twenty thousand whereof almost the third part was not serviceable for the old Souldiers enriched with the long Wars in Italy and the spoil of the rich Country of Lumbardy wherein they had of late been Billited brought with them all their old gotten spoils and substance not forgetting so much as their Women and whatsoever else served their pleasure for carriage whereof they drew after them a great multitude of Carriages and unnecessary People all which served for no other use but for the Souldiers pleasure and to consume Victuals Which their licentious wantonness Vastius desiring to reform gave strait commandment through all the Camp That they should leave behind them all such unnecessary Baggage and appointed what Carriages should suffice for every Company Whereat the Souldiers began at the first to
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
Emanuel himself being long before dead yet was he still desirous to have it of some one of the Greek Emperors whosoever he were Unto the Pope and the Italians both he and the Noblemen with him had before promised that the Greek Church should ever acknowledge the Supremacy of the Church of Rome and from thenceforth submit it self thereunto as unto the Soveraign Judge of all the Christian Churches which caused the Pope Innocentius by Letters by Legates by Embassadors and by all other means possible to further the Cause of the young Prince Alexius so combined with his own alledging the diversity of Opinions in matters of Religion betwixt the Greeks and the Latines to have been the chief cause that the Mahometans had not been long ago by their United Forces subdued or utterly rooted out In brief the young Prince spared not to promise most bountiful Rewards in general to all that should take his part against his Uncle the usurping Emperor By this means the devout War taken in hand for the Relief of the poor Christians in Syria was laid aside and the same Forces that should have been therein imploy'd now converted against the Greek Empire to the great weakning of that side of the Christian Common-weal and advantage of the Common Enemy who might then easily have been oppressed had he with the United Forces of the Christians been on this side charged home as he was on the farther by the Tartars The Grecian War thus resolved upon it seemed best unto the great Commanders of the Army to march directly to Constantinople as to the head of the Grecian State and place where the Tyrant whom they sought after was resiant In the mean time it was by them given out through all the Greek Cities which the Emperor had strongly manned and fortified for the staying of their passage that their purpose was not to make War against the Grecians their Friends but only to restore their lawful Emperor unto his former State and Honour And that forasmuch as every City and Town in ancient Greece had appointed Rewards and almost divine Honours unto such as had delivered them from Tyrants they should now more favourably receive and intreat them that came to restore unto every City and to every man in general their former Liberty and Honour And so upon the Resolution for Constantinople imbarking their Army and passing through the Ionian-Sea into the Aegeum and so without let through the Straits of Helespontus into Propontis and entring the Straits of Bosphorus Thracius which divide Europe from Asia they came to an Anchor even in the face of the City In this Fleet were two hundred and forty Sail of tall Ships sixty Gallies seventy Ships for burden and one hundred and twenty Sail of Victuallers which all together made a most brave shew covering that Strait in such sort as that it seemed rather a Wood than a part of the Sea. Thus for a space they lay facing the City attending if happily upon the coming and sight of so great a Fleet and the report of so puissant an Army as the young Prince Alexius had brought with him any Tumult or Sedition might arise in the City But the wary Tyrant had so well provided therefore before hand that the Citizens although they in heart favoured the young Prince and wished him well yet durst they not once move or stir in his Quarrel Whilst the Fleet thus lay Embassadors came from the Isle of Creet in two great Gallies with three banks of Oars yielding unto the young Prince that goodly Island with all the Towns and Cities therein which he forthwith gave unto the Marquess of Mont-Ferrat General of the Army thereby to encourage the other great Commanders of the Army to do the uttermost of their devoir in hope of Recompence and Rewards answerable to their deserts and valour Before the arrival of this Fleet Alexius the Emperor had with a great Chain made fast the entrance of the Haven betwixt Constantinople and Pera and appointed twenty great Gallies well manned for the keeping thereof but a great gale of Wind arising the General sent out the greatest and strongest Ship in the Fleet for her greatness and swiftness called the Eagle which with all her Sails up carried with a full gale of Wind by main force brake the Chain and made a way for the rest of the Fleet to enter which the Greeks in the Gallies seeing for fear fled leaving the Gallies for a spoil unto the Venetians by whom they were all taken but not a man found in them The Haven thus gained Theodorus Lascaris the Emperors Son in law was presently ready upon the shore with a select Company of the bravest Gallants of the City and of the Court to have hindred the Latines from landing who running their Ships aground landed with such chearfulness and courage and with such hast that in one moment you might have seen them leap out of their Ships take land enter into the battel and lay about them like mad men This hot skirmish endured a great while for that they were only Foot-men that sustained this brunt for the Horses could not so soon be landed and the Greeks were bravely mounted All this great fight the Constantinopolitans beheld with doubtful hearts expecting what should be the event thereof There were in the City six thousand of the Flower of Greece which bravely sallying out made the battel much more doubtful yet such was the valour and resolution of the Latines that in fine the Greeks discomfited were glad to retire themselves again into the City but with what loss was not certainly known easie it were to guess that it was right great for that the old Tyrant Alexius discouraged therewith and doubtful of his own estate with Theodorus Lascaris his Son in law and some few others of his trusty Friends hard to be found in so dangerous a case the next night following secretly fled out of the City carrying away with him a wonderful mass of Treasure which he against all such events had caused to be secretly hidden by his Daughter Irene in a Monastery of Nuns within the City whereof she was the Abbess and so saved himself The flight of the Tyrant once bruted the next morning the Constantinopolitans taking the old Emperor Isaac out of Prison saluted him again for their Emperor rejoycing greatly for his deliverance and the safeguard of his life and after that opened the Gates of the City to the Latines calling and saluting them by the names of the Revengers and Saviours of the Liberty of the Greeks as also of the Life and Majesty of their Emperor they requested them that they might see and salute Alexius their young Prince whom they had so long desired and so was the City of Constantinople by the submission of the Citizens for that time saved from saccage and spoil The old Emperor thus delivered and together with his Son Alexius again placed in the Imperial Seat
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
obstinacy defending the same and the other of the contrary Faction now countenanced by the Emperor without modesty or measure insulting upon them whereof arose exceeding great stirs and troubles especially in the beginning of hiâ— Reign to the great benefit of the incroaching Turks who in the mean time ceased not by all means to increase their Territories in Asia and not only there but in the Islands of the Miditerranean Sea also For Andronicus by the death of Charles King of Sicily delivered of the greatest fear for which both he and his Father before him had to their great cost and charge both built and maintained a strong Fleet of Gallies now perswaded by some whose actions and speeches were after the manner of the Court all framed unto the Princes Appetite as the readiest way to thrive without respect of the common good to spare that needless charge as they termed it which yearly cost him more than any thing else had discharged all his Mariners and Sea-men and commanded all the Gallies to be laid up some in one â—reek some in another where neglected and not looked unto they in time for the most part rotted and perished As for the Mariners they went some one way some another as their Fortunes led them to seek â—or their Livings in forreign Countries even with the Emperors Enemies and some gave themselves to Husbandry thinking it better by doing something to live than by sitting still to perish Which good Husbandry at the first seemed to be very profitable unto the Emperor but especially unto such as being near unto him and courteously given made small reckoning of all other the most necessary defences of the Empire in comparison of hoording up of mony until that it was afterward too late by experience found hereof to have sprung many great mischiefs unto the great weakning of the Greek Empire For besides that the Turks without let did great harm on the Sea the Pirats now out of fear of the Emperors Gallies at their pleasure took the Spoyl of the rich Islands in the Mediterranean and robbed the Towns all along the Sea-coast to the unspeakable grief of the poor Country People and yet not so contented came with their Gallies sometime two sometime three sometime more as it were in contempt even close unto the imperial City Yea the Venetians were so bold as upon a right small displeasure to rifle and afterward to set fire upon the Suburbs thereof which they would hardly have adventured had the Emperors Fleet been preserved and maintained in the wonted Strength At the same time also Andronicus the Emperor to the great hindrance of the Affairs of the Empire and advantage of the forreign Enemy was not a little troubled with a jealous Suspition of his Brother Constantine commonly called Porphyrogenitus as if he had sought to have aspired unto the Empire seeking by all means to win unto himself the love and favour of all men but especially of the Nobility both at home and abroad and so by that means to mount unto the height of his desires All which as most men thought were but meer Slanders maliciously devised by such as envying at his Honour and taking occasion by the Emperors Suspition ceased not to increase the same until they had wrought his unworthy destruction The first ground of this false Suspition in the Emperors head was for that this Constantine even from his Childhood was for many causes better beloved of the old Emperor his Father than Andronicus as better furnished with those gifts of Nature which beautifie a Prince and of a more courteous Bahaviour than was his Brother insomuch that had he not been the younger Brother his Father could willingly have left him his Successor in the Empire This was one and the chieâ—est cause of the Emperors grudge and the ground of his Suspition Yet was there another also and that not much less than this for that his Father in his life time had of long thought to have separated from the Empire a great part of Thessalia and Macedonia and to have made him absolute Prince thereof and had haply so done had he not been by death prevented which thing also much grieved Andronicus and the more incensed him against his Brother Which his secret hatred he for all that according to his Wisdom cunningly dissembled not only during the time that his Father lived but three years after his death also making shew of the great love and kindness towards him that was possible Constantine in the mean time of such greatest revenues as were by his Father assigned unto him reaping great profit most bountifully bestowed the same upon his Followers and Favourites and others that made sute unto him as well the meaner sort as the greater and with his sweet Behaviour won unto him the Hearts of all men for Affability and Courtesie in high degree easily allureth mens minds as do fair flowers in the Spring the Passengers Eyes This was that precept of the wise Indians That the higher a Prince was in Dignity and the more courteous he shewed himself unto his Inferiors the better he should be of them beloved He therefore that should for the two first causes blame Constantine should do him wrong as both proceeding not of himself but of his Fathers too much love but in the third he was not altogether blameless for if for want of experience he prodigally gave such gifts as for the most part might have beseemed the Emperor himself he ignorantly erred yet did he not little offend but if he knew that for his profuse bounty he could not be unsuspected of his Brother and yet without regard held on that course he was greatly to be blamed therein For if nothing else might have moved him yet he should have considered to what end the like doings of others in former times had sorted and how many it had brought to untimely end So although perhaps that Constantine meant no harm unto his Brother or any way to supplant him yet did these things not a little increase and aggravate the former Suspitions and open the Ears of the Emperor his Brother unto such calumniation as commonly attendeth upon immoderate bounty But to return to our purpose this honourable Constantine then lived in Lydia but lately married and in good hope long to live being not past thirty years old but pleasantly spending the time with his Wife at Nymphea in Lydia at such time as he was thus secretly accused unto his Brother the Emperor thought it good as upon other occasions of business to pass over into Asia himself but indeed with a secret resolution upon the sudden to oppress his Brother unawars as by proof it fell out For at his coming over Constantine fearing nothing less was forthwith apprehended with all his greatest Favourites of whom one Michael Strategopulus sometime a man in great Authority with the Emperor his Father and of all other for wealth honour and noble acts most famous
occasion upon the flight of Syrgiannes with all the power he could make marched towards the City and being come within sight thereof encamped laying ambushes upon every way and passage thereabout for to have intercepted Syrgiannes who was then at Perinthus and the third night after with three hundred select Souldiers deceiving them that lay in wait for him as if they had been all asleep before the rising of the Sun came to Constantinople and if thâ— old Emperor would have given him leave he had suddenly charged them that did lie in wait for him before they were aware of his coming But as soon as it was day the Prince hearing of the escape of Syrgiannes and no such tumult in the City as he had expected presently without more ado retired with his Army the same way he came back again into Thracia By and by after Constantine the Despot was by the old Emperor his Brother sent by Sea to Thessalonica to take upon him the Government of Macedonia and by the way to apprehend Xene the Empress the young Princes Mother and after with all the power he could make to invade the young Prince in Thracia that so setting on him on the one side out of Macedonia and Syrgiannes with the Turks for the Emperor in this civil Discord was glad to use their help also and the â—ithynian Souldiers on the other they might so shut him up betwixt them and take him According to which resolution the Despot coming to Thessalonica there took the Empress whom with all her Family he thrust into a Gally and so sent her to Constantinople where she was in the Palace kept close as too much favouring the proceedings of the Prince And afterward raising all the power he could in Macedonia invaded the Prince in Thracia breaking by force through the Wall of Cristopolis The young Prince seeing himself by this means now like to be driven to a great strait sent Synadenus with his Thracian Army to defend the Frontiers of his Empire towards Constantinople against Syrgiannes with his Turks and Bithynians in hope himself by many subtle devices and slights to be able to encounter his Uncle and Despot And first he caused divers edicts and prosâ—riptions to be written in hast wherein great rewards and preferments were with great solemnity of words promised to whomsoever could bring unto him the Despot either quick or dead which were of purpose given to the Country People passing to and fro to be dispersed abroad in the high Ways and about in the Country near unto the Despots Camp. And after that he caused the death of the Emperor his Grandfather to be every where proclaimed and how that he was by the Constantinopolitans in a tumult slain which the devisers thereof in every place reported Yea some there were that swore they were themselves present at his woful death and saw it with their Eyes othersome more certainly to perswade the matter shewed long white Goats hair or such like gathered out of white Wool as if they had been by the furious People pluckt from the old Emperors Head or Beard at such time as he was slain Which things being commonly reported in every Town and Village but especially in the Despots Camp wonderfully filled Mens Heads with divers strange and doubtful thoughts then divers also of the dispersed Edicts being found and brought to the Despot struck him and not without cause into a great fear insomuch that by the perswasions of his best Friends he without longer stay retired in hast to Thessalonica Whither shortly after came a Gally from Constantinople with secret letters from the Emperor to the Despot for the apprehension of five and twenty of the chief Citizens vehemently suspected for the stirring up of the People to Rebellion and so to have delivered the City to the Prince all whom the Despot should have sent bound in that Gally to Constantinople but they in good time perceiving the danger they were in secretly stirring up the People and by and by after ringing out the Bells the signal appointed for the beginning of the Rebellion had in a very short time raised a wonderful tumult in the City insomuch that all the Citizens were up in Arms who running headlong unto the House of the Despot found not him for he forewarned of their coming was fled into the Castle but slew all they met of his or else robbing them cast them in Prison As for the Despots House they took what they found therein and afterwards pulled it down to the ground Then coming to the Castle they fired the Gates which the Despot seeing and not able to defend the place took horse and fled to a Monastery not far off where being taken by them that pursued him he full sore against his Will for the safeguard of his life took upon him the habit of a Monk nevertheless he was from thence carried Prisoner to the young Prince his Nephew who shewed himself much more courteous to him than all the rest of his Nobility and Waiters for they as if they would have eaten him up were even forthwith ready to have torn him in pieces had not the Prince embracing him in his arms saved his life Yet the next day after by the perswasion of his Council he sent him to Didimotichum where he was cast into a most loathsom Prison being very deep and strait in manner of a Well no body to attend upon him but one Boy where he lay in miserable darkness and stink they which drew up his Ordure from him and the Boy whether by chance or of purpose pouring it oftentimes upon his Head. Where after he had lien a great while in most extreme misery wishing to die and could not he was at length by the Princes commandment entreated thereunto by certain religious men removed into a more easie Prison where we will for ever leave him Things falling out cross with the old Emperor and although they were never so well devised still sorting out unto the worst he became very pensive and doubtful what to do So it fortuned that one day in his melancholy mood having a Psalter in his hand to resolve his doubtful mind he opened the same as if it were of that heavenly Oracle to ask Counsel wherein the first verse that he light upon was Dum coelestis dissociat Reges nive conspergentur in Salmon When the Almighty scattered Kings for their sakes then were they as white as snow in Salmon Which he applying to himself as if all those troubles and whatsoever else had happened in them proceeded from the Will of God although for causes to him unknown he by and by sought to reconcile himself unto his Nephew contrary to the mind of Syrgiannes desiring nothing but trouble For as we have before said the young Prince although he was desirous of the Power and Liberty of an Emperor yet he left the Ornaments and Care thereof unto his Grandfather and had not he oftentimes and earnestly been egged
Grandfather being with as little stir as might be deposed he himself might alone injoy the Empire But needing Mony for the effecting of so great matters he by force took all the Mony from the Collectors whom the old Emperor had sent into Thracia for the taking up of Mony there telling them that he was an Emperor also and in need of Mony and that the common charge was likewise by the common Purse to be discharged After that he took his way towards Constantinople pretending that upon special causes he had occasion to send Embassadors unto the Sultan of Egypt for the transporting of whom he was there to take order for the setting forth of a great Ship and other things necessary for the journey Neither went he slenderly appointed but with a great Power and the Cities of Thracia before well assured unto him such as he suspected being thrust out of Office and others more assured unto him placed in their steads But whilst he thus bestirreth himself one of those that were most inward with him detesting so foul a Treason secretly fled from him unto his Grandfather from point to point discovering unto him all the intended Treacheries and withal how that his Nephew had determined to depose him from his Empire or otherwise to bereave him of his life if he should stand upon his Guard but if in the attempt he should find easie success then to spare his life and depriving him of the Imperial Dignity to thrust him as a Monk into a Monastery and therefore advised him to beware how he suffered him after his wonted manner to come into the City for fear of a general revolt but rather by force to keep him out Which the Emperor hearing and comparing with other things which he had heard of others yet sounding in his Ears deeming it to be true stood up and in the anguish of his Soul thus complained unto God Revenge my quarrel O God upon them that do me wrong and let them be ashamed that rise up against me and preserve thou unto me the Imperial Power which by thee given unto me he cometh to take from me whom I my self begot and advanced After he began to consider what course to take for the assurance of himself and his State in so great a danger And first he sent unto his Nephew come half way to forbid him from entring the City and to tell him that it was a great folly for him being so manifest a Traitor both unto his Grandfather and the State to think his traiterous purposes to be unknown unto the World. And beside in way of reproof to rehearse unto him how many occasions he had given for the breaking of the League with his Grandfather first in taking away the Mony from the Collectors whereof the State never stood in more need by reason of the division of the Empire which required double charge then in that he had in the City every where displaced such Governors and Magistrates as his Grandfather had sent thither and placed others at his pleasure with many other like facts declaring his treacherous aspiring mind for which he was not without cause by his Grandfather forbidden to enter the City After that the old Emperor by secret Letters craved aid of Crales Prince of Servia and Demetrius the Despot his Son who was then Governor of Thessalonica and the Countries adjoyning commanding him with Andronicus and Michael his Nephews Governors of Macedonia with all the Forces they were able to raise and such aid as should be sent unto them out of Syria with all speed to joyn together and to go against the young Emperor But these Letters thus written unto the Prince of Servia the Despot and others as is before said were for the most part intercepted by such as the young Emperor had for that purpose placed upon the Straits of Cristopolis and the other passages especially such as were written in Paper yet some others in fine white linnen Cloth and secretly sowed in the Garments of such as carried them escaped for all their strait search and so were delivered And in truth nothing was done or about to be done in Constantinople but that the yong Emperor was by one or other advertised thereof whereas the old Emperor on the other side understood nothing what his Nephew did abroad or intended For all men of their own accord inclined to him some openly both Body and Soul as they say and such as could not be with him in person yet in Mind and good Will were even present with him and that not only the common sort of the Citizens of Constantinople but the chief Senators the great Courtiers yea and many other of the Emperors nearest Kinsmen also who curiously observing whatsoever was done in the City forthwith certified him thereof Amongst whom was also Theodorus the Marquess one of the old Emperors own Sons who many years before by the Empress his Mother sent into Italy and there honourably married was by his prodigal course of life there grown far in debt so that leaving his Wife and Children behind him he was glad after the decease of his Mother to flie unto his Father at Constantinople and there now lived who beside that he most honourably maintained him in the Court and bestowed many great things upon him paid also all his Debts which were very great All which Fatherly kindness he forgetting went about most Iudas like to have betrayed his aged Father For he also dreaming after the Empire and for many causes but especially for that he was in Mind Religion Manners and Habit become a Latine by him rejected thought he could not do him a greater despight than by revolting unto the young Emperor so that the nearer he was in blood the more he was his Fathers unnatural Enemy Shortly after Demetrius the Despot having received the Emperors Letters at Thessalonica called unto him Andronicus and Michael his Nephews the Governors of Macedonia with whom joyning all his Force and dayly expecting more aid out of Servia he first spoiled the young Emperors Friends and Favourites in Macedonia giving the Spoil of them in all the Cities and Towns of Macedonia unto their Souldiers who made havock of whatsoever they light upon and whosoever seemed any way to withstand them or dislike of their Proceedings their Goods and Lands they confiscated and drave the men themselves into exile Neither was the young Emperor Andronicus in the mean time idle but secretly sent out his Edicts into all parts of the Empire yea into the very Cities of Constantinople and Thessalonica and over all Macedonia whereby he proclaimed unto the People in general a releasement of them from all Tributes Impositions and Payments and frankly promised unto the Souldiers and Men of War the augmenting of their Pensions and Pay which were no sooner bruited but that most men were therewith moved both in Word and Deed to favour his proceedings doing what they could to further the same and by secret Letters
Constantinople which so small a request he not only denied me but hath ever since taken me for his mortal Enemy But this and many other things else let pass I have now another request unto him by you which is That he would give me eight thousand Duckats to content my Souldiers withall who of long have from place to place roamed up and down with me following mine uncertain Fortune Which granted I will no more be unto my Grandfather troublesome but dismissing my Forces hold my self right well contented Having thus said he rose out of his Seat and taking them apart one after another courteously discoursed with them and so filling them with great hopes sent them away who departing from him and coming into the City became as it were the open Proclaimers of his Praises enflaming the people with a greater desire of him than before Which the old Emperor hearing and perceiving almost all his Friends in the City to be in heart revolted from him and withall fearing to be of them in some sudden concourse slain was therewith exceedingly vexed Yet he thought it best before any such thing should happen to prove their minds and to hear the Counsel of the Patriarch and Asanes and the other Bishops also unto whom being by one of the Senators called together he declared his mind as followeth Were I assured that having deposed my self of the Imperial Dignity I should my self live in safety and see my people well governed I would I should never be of the Company of the Faithful if I did not by much prefer a pleasant quiet contented life before an Empire For if a man would seek for the pleasure of the mind what can be more pleasant than to be disburdened of all Cares and free from such dangers as attend high Estates But if for my sin and the sins of my people as also for the sin of mine Ancestors the Vengeance of God in manner of a violent Tempest raging against us subverteth our Empire and I yet but a Youth by the help of God reformed and quieted the State of the Empire grievously troubled with Discord in the Church and the often invasion of the Enemy and taught by long experience know not how in so great hurle and tempest which way to turn my self How can I with safety commit unto my Nephew so great a Charge who as yet is both an unstayed Youth and so careless of his own good as that he knoweth not how well to govern his own private affairs For giving over his Power to young unskilful men and having flung away his Imperial Possessions amongst them he himself liveth in penury and want neither regardeth any thing more than his Dogs and Kites of whom he keepeth few less than a thousand Currs and as many Hawks and not much fewer men to look unto them Wherefore unto such a man how may I safely commit either my life or the administration of mine Empire by God committed unto me But I will never witting and willingly cast away either my Subjects or my Self For my Nephew I have loved not only more than my Wife and Children but to say the truth more than my self also as you well know how tenderly I have brought him up how carefully I have instructed and advised him as purposing to have left him the Heir and Successor both of my Wisdom and mine Empire that so he might the better please both God and man. But he contemning my good counsel hath spent whole nights in Banqueting and Riot and Brothelhouses where he hath also slain his own Brother and to be brief he hath risen and lifted up his hand against me his Grandfather and a Grandfather that had of him so well deserved attempting such a Villany as the Sun never saw Wherefore you ought also to hate and detest his wickedness and to rise up to restrain his impudent Disloyalty and by your Ecclesiastical Censure to denounce him unworthy of the Empire and the Communion of the Faithful as one separated from God that so ashamed and corrected he may lovingly thither return from whence he is shamefully departed and again be made Heir both of mine Empire and staidness for there is no man alive whom I had rather have promoted unto the Empire so that he would hear my Precepts and obey my Counsel As for the conclusion he used in his former Speech it was altogether feigned crafty and malitious for you have heard how many Reproaches he hath given me in all that Speech wherewith his conclusion agreeth not but the more to stir up the hearers thereof against me did of purpose so conclude his Speech Upon this most of the foresaid grave and learned Bishops agreed that the young Emperor should no more be named in the Prayers of the Church until he had better conformed himself Howbeit the Patriarch and some others secretly favouring both him and his proceedings liked not thereof and therefore saying nothing thereunto returned home unto their own houses But meeting once or twice afterwards in the Patriarchs house they there conspired together against the old Emperor with whom also divers of the Nobility consented and thereupon an Oath was conceived in writing whereby they bound themselves to continue constant in that their wicked Resolution Whereupon about three days after the Patriarch causing the Bells to be rung and a great number of the common people flocking together pronounced the Sentence of Excommunication against all such as should in their publick Prayers omit the name of the young Emperor or refuse to do him all Honour due unto an Emperor Which thing not a little grieved the old Emperor as appeared by his Speech in saying If the Doctor of Peace be so mad against us in hope of Reward promised by my Nephew that casting off all shame and gravity he doubts not to be the Author of Sedition who shall repress the rash attempts of the vulgar people against us if we respect but mans help for the Patriarch so much as in him lieth is I see the murderer of us So the Bishops of the contrary Faction moved with the notable impudency of the Patriarch excommunicated him likewise as he had done them with his mad Followers as the Authors of Sedition and Faction and incited with Bribes to the troubling of the State for which cause also he was by the Emperors Commandment committed unto safe keeping in the Monastery called Manganium But about two days after the young Emperor came to the Walls of Constantinople to know how his Grandfather had accepted the Messengers sent unto him earnestly requesting that it might be lawful for him alone to enter into the City to do his duty to his Grandfather But neither he neither his words were any whit at all regarded but was by such as stood upon the Walls himself with stones driven away who could not abide to hear him speak but shamefully railed at him saying All his talk to be nothing else but deceit and fraud and
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
Sultan of Egypt After this Victory Selymus having in short time and with little trouble brought all the lesser Asia under his obeisance and there at his pleasure disposed of all things determined to have returned to Constantinople but understanding that the Plague was hot there he changed his purpose and passing over at Callipolis and so travelling through Grecia came to Hadrianople where he spent all the rest of the Summer and all the Winter following and afterward when the Mortality was ceased returned to Constantinople where it was found that an hundred and threescore thousand had there died of the late Plague Hysmael the Persian King whose Fame had then filled the World hearing of the arrival of Amurat sent for him and demanded of him the cause of his coming The distressed young Prince who but of late had lost his Father together with the hope of so great an Empire and now glad for safegard of his life to fly into strange Countries oppressed with sorrow by his heavy Countenance and abundance of Tears more than by Words expressed the cause of his coming yet in a short strained Speech declared unto him how that his Father his Uncle with the rest of his Cousins all Princes of great Honour had of late been cruelly murthred by the unmerciful Tyrant Selymus who with like fury sought also after the life of himself and his Brother the poor remainders of the Othoman Family who to save their lives were both glad to fly his Brother into Egypt and himself to the Feet of his Imperial Majesty Hysmael moved with compassion and deeming it a thing well beseeming the greatness of his Fame to take the poor exiled Prince into his protection and to give him relief willed him to be of good comfort and promised him Aid And the more to assure him thereof shortly after gave him one of his own Daughters in marriage For it was thought that if Selymus for his Tyranny become odious to the World should by any means miscarry as with Tyrants commonly falleth out that then in the Othoman Family sore shaken with his unnatural Cruelty none was to be preferred before this poor Prince Amurat besides that it was supposed that if he should invade him with an Army out of Persia that upon the first stir all the lesser Asia mourning for the unworthy death of Achomates would at once revolt from him who for his Cruelty and shameful Murthers had worthily deserved to be hated together both of God and Man. Wherefore in the beginning of the Spring Hysmael furnished Amurat his new Son in Law with ten thousand Horsemen willing him to pass over the River Euphrates at Arsenga and to enter into Cappadocia as well to make proof how the People of that Country were affected towards him as of the strength of the Enemy after whom he sent Vasta-Ogli the most famous Chieftain amongst the Persians with twenty thousand Horsemen more with charge That he should still follow Amurat within one days journy and he himself with a far greater power staid behind in Armenia doubting to want Victual if he should have led so great an Army through those vast barren and desolate places whereby he must of necessity pass Amurat marching through the lesser Armenia year 1514. and entring into the Borders of Cappadocia had divers Towns yielded unto him by his Friends some others he took by force which he either sacked or else quite rased and brought such a general fear upon the Inhabitants of that Province that the People submitting themseves unto him all the way as he went it was thought he would have gone directly to Amasia had not Chendemus an old Warlike Captain whom Selymus had left for his Lieutenant in Asia with a great Army come to meet him at Sebastia which at this day is called Sivas This Chendemus had also long before advertised Selymus both of the preparation and coming of the Persians as soon as he had learned by his Espials That they were passed the River Euphrates Upon which news Selymus came presently over into Asia and commanding all his Forces to meet together at Prusa had with wonderful celerity levied thereabout forty thousand common Souldiers Which so soon as Amurat understood as well by such Prisoners as he had taken as by advertisement from his Friends although he was very desirous to have fought with Chendemus yet doubting that if Selymus should with his wonted celerity come against him he should be intangled in the Straits of the Mountain Antitaurus he retired back again to Vasta-Ogli But Selymus who all that year had in his haughty thoughts been plotting some such notable exploit as were worthy his greatness standing in doubt whether he should by Sea and Land invade Hungary the Rhodes or Italy at that time sore shaken with Civil Wars having now so fit an occasion given him by the Persian to the great joy of all Christendom converted himself wholly unto the East and in thirty days march came to Arsenga Where joining his Army with Chendemus when he understood that his Enemies having harried the Country were again retired prickt forward with the grief of the injury and desire of revenge with hope of Victory he resolved to follow after them foot by foot and forthwith to enter into Armenia the greater the principal Province of the Persian Kingdom But the difficulties of this notable expedition which were in Counsel propounded by them which had best knowledg of those Countries were great and many all which by his own good hap and invincible courage he himself afterwards overcame for the Souldiers which had in short time already marched by Land out of Illyria Epirus and Macedonia into Cappadocia must of necessity in this long expedition take upon them new labors they were to endure the sharp and pinching cold of the huge Mountain Taurus and by and by after the most vehement and and scortching heat in the Plains of Armenia the lesser with extream Thirst Hunger and most desperate want of all things and well the more for that the Persians in their Retreat spoiling the Country as they went had utterly destroyed all that might serve for the use of man of purpose to leave nothing to their Enemies but want of all things if they should pursue them besides that his most expert Captains stood in no small doubt of the petty Princes of Armenia the less and the Mountain King Aladeules whom they were to leave behind them at their backs without any great assurance of their Frindship who they well knew would leave them if any thing should happen otherwise than well to Selymus either in the Battel or for want of Victuals or in the strait passages For they were to be relieved with Victuals from the Armenians and Aladeules Forces then in readiness were neither for number nor power to be contemned who also with Castles commodiously placed and strong Garrisons at his pleasure commanded all the straits passages and entrances which led out of
happily in the absence of himself and of his Armies the Christian Princes might take occasion to invade his Dominions he strengthned the Frontiers of his Empire with most strong Garrisons and left his Son Solyman who afterward proved the scourge of Christendom at Hadrianople with a strong power and Pyrrhus Bassa his Tutor a man of great Wisdom and Government at Constantinople This great Bassa was of Cilicia a native Turk born which was a thing accounted strange forasmuch as the great Bassaes were alwaies chosen of the Christian blood After that he sent Cherseogles whom of all others he most trusted with his Army into Bithynia and made Zafferus an Eunuch Admiral of his Navy which he had but a little before built and with wonderful labor and charge rigged forth Then staying a few days at Constantinople to see the young Souldiers but then chosen Janizaries year 1516. he departed thence and went to his old Army lying with Sinan Bassa at Iconium purposing to have again invaded the Persian When he was come thither he understood that Campson Gaurus Sultan of Egypt with a great Army levied in Egypt and Iudea was come into Syria giving it out that he would aid the Persian King his Confederate and with all Hostility enter into Cilicia if Selymus should farther proceed to invade Hysmael the Sophi his Friend and Ally Selymus perplexed with these News and fearing that if he should once pass over the River Euphrates Campson lying so near in readiness should forthwith break in at his back into Asia by the Mountain Amanuâ— and so indanger that part of his Dominion staied at Iconium and sent his Embassadors with great Presents to Campson to pacifie him if it might be The chief Men in this Embassage were the Cadelescher a Man of great account amongst the Turks and of them exceedingly Reverenced for the opinion they had of his great knowledge in the Mahometan Superstition who afterwards wrote the Commentaries of this War and Iachis a great Captain The scope of whose Embassage was to intreat Campson that he would not hinder or disturb Selymus from making War upon the Persian King who had so oftâ—â— and so forcibly invaded his Dominions in Asia and by bringing in a new form of Superstition had corrupted and altered the most certain grounds of the Mahometan Religion And if they found him resolutely set down and not to be by any conditions removed then with all possible diligence to learn his strength and farther designs so far as by any means they could and with all speed to make their return But Campson now far spent with age and living in the height of worldly Bliss although he knew it fitter for him at those years to give himself to ease and quietness than to thrust himself into Wars and other Princes quarrels yet thought this Expedition to be for many causes both good and necessary First he deadly hated the Man for his inhuman Cruelty and therefore could never be perswaded to renew the League with him which he had in former time made with his Father Bajâ—zet besides that he desired to abate and repress his audacious insolency grown already by his prosperous Success beyond the bounds of reason for Selymus having taken Tauris overthrown the Persians and slain Aladeules began now to seem terrible to all the Princes that bordered upon him and there were many which said he was another Alexander who whilst other Princes sat still as Men asleep did in the mean time Plot in his victorious mind the Monarchy of the whole World. But above all things the fear of the losing of Syria and consequently the loss of all his Kingdom the quickest motive for stirring up of the suspitious minds of the greatest Princes most inforced Campson to take in hand this War so as much as the goodly Kingdoms of Egypt Iudea and Syria oppressed with the intollerable Government of the Proud Mamalukes and therefore less faithful to the Egyptian Kings were in danger to revolt to the Turks if the Persians should by any mischance or fortune of War be of the Turks vanquished For which cause Campson in the beginning of this War solicited by the Persian Embassadors had made a firm League and confederation with Hysmael and also moved with the misery of the woful young Prince Aladin the Son of Achomates was in mind perswaded that the cruel Turkish Tyrant might by his and the Persian Kings Forces easily be thrust out of his Empire in Asia and Europe For Aladin who after the death of Achomates his Father fled to Campson the Sultan of Egypt as is before declared had lived three years as a forlorn and distressed Prince in the Egyptian Court and by all means he could devise incited the Mamalukes to revenge the injuries and cruelty of his Uncle Selymus The eldest Son also of the late King Aladeules a goodly young Prince having at once lost his Father his Kingdom and whatsoever he had else was in good time fled to the Egyptian King and had so filled the minds of all Men with the indignation and detestation of Selymus his exceeding cruelty that the Princes of the Mamalukes of their own accord came to Campson humbly beseeching him to take upon him so just a War and if by reason of his great years he should think himself unable to indure the travel thereof it would then please him yet to give them leave of themselves to take the matter in hand for the repressing of the insolency of that great and wicked Tyrant These Mamalukes far excelled the Turks not only in strength of Body skilful riding and goodly armor but also in courage and wealth Beside that they had not forgotten with what small power they had under the leading of Caitbeius their great Sultan overthrown the Turks great Armies in Cilicia first at Adena and afterward at Tarsus where they took Prisoners Mesites Palaeologus the great Bassa and Cherseogles Bajazet his Son-in-Law by which Victory they grew into such a proud and vain conceit of themselves as if they had been the only Souldiers of the World able of themselves to vanquish and overcome whatsoever they should set upon These so valiant Souldiers were for the most part of the poor People called in ancient time Getae Zinchi and Bastarnae born near unto the Euxine Sea and the Fens of Maeotis especially on that side where the River Corax falleth into the Euxine Sea which Country is of later time called Circassia of the People called Cercitae near unto Cholchis These miserable and wretched People the Valachians Podolians Polonians Roxolanes and Tartars dwelling by Taurica pulled from their Mothers Breasts or by other violent means surprised were sold to Merchants who culling out the best for strength of Body or aptness of Wit conveied them by Sea to Alexandria from whence they were continually sent to the great Sultan of Egypt and by his appointment were at Caire after the old manner of that People delivered to Masters
and exercised most exquisite Cruelty upon his Enemies of whom he caused some to be torn in pieces and devoured of fierce Mastiveâ— kept hungry for that purpose Perellus he caused to be tortured his Secrets to be cut off and himself afterwards burnt to ashes in the Market place But Muleasses staid not long at Guletta offended with the Covetousness of Touarres who as he said had not faithfully restored such things as he had before put him in trust withal but had avaritiously in his misery deceived him of part of his rich Housholdstuff with certain notable precious Stones and some of his Treasure whereof the blind King so grievously complained to Charles the Emperor that for deciding the matter they were both commanded to repair unto him into Germany where in conclusion to end the strife Touarres was discharged of his Government and Muleasses sent into Sicily there to be kept of the common charge of that rich Island Muleasses by the way coming to Rome was honourably feasted by Cardinal Farnesius at which time he shewed himself both in his Apparel and Behavior not forgetful his better Fortune and being brought unto the presence of Palus the great Bishop would do him him no greater Honour but to kiss his Knee accounting it too great an indignity to have kissed his Foot. He was of Stature tall and of a Princely Disposition unworthy of so hard a Fortune had he not in the like manner before unmercifully dealt with his own Brethren Barbarussa weary of his long lying to so small purpose in Provence year 1544. requested the French King either throughly to imploy him or else to give him leave to depart offering if he so pleased to spoil all alongst the Coast of Spain from the Mountain Pyrenei to Cadiz But he not ignorant what hard Speeches ran of him already in all parts of Christendom for bringing in the Turks was loath to leave unto the memory of all Posterity the foul remembrance of so woful a slaughter besides that he was advised to disburden his Country of such troublesome Guests who roving about did much harm in the Province where they lay and as it was reported now and then snatcht up one Country Peasant or other and chained them for Slaves in their Gallies Wherefore in supply of the Turks that were dead the King gave unto Barbarussa all the Mahometan Slaves in his Gallies to the number of about four hundred and furnishing him with all kind of Provision and bestowing great gifts upon him and his Captains sent him away and with him Strozza with certain Gallies his Embassador to Solyman So the Turks departing out of Provence kept alongst the Coast until they came near unto Savona whither the Germans sent divers Presents and fresh Victuals to Barbarussa which he took so thankfully that he protested not to hurt any of their Territory From thence he kept a right Course to the Island of Elba belonging to the Duke of Florence over against Popâ—â—ona where understanding that one of the Sons of Sinan his old Friend was there kept Prisoner he writ unto Appianus Governor of the Island for his deliverance to this effect I know that a young man a Turk serveth thee the Son of Sinan sirnamed the Iew a famous Captain taken of late at Tunes him I would have thee friendly to restore which gift I will make thee to understand to be unto me most acceptable for this our great Fleet in passing by you shall faithfully forbear to use any hostility But if thou shalt in this so small a matter refuse to gratifie me expect upon the Coast of thy Country all the harms that an angry Enemy can do Whereunto Appianus shewing his men upon the Walls in token that he was not afraid answered That the young man was become a Christian and therefore might not in any case be delivered to the Turks but that he would in any other thing gratifie him in what he could and for his sake use the young man as his Son. And to molifie the unkindness of his answer he sent him fresh Victual with other Presents But Barbarussa offended with the answer landed his men round about the Island and commanded them to make what Spoil they could which they performed accordingly hunting the Island People up and down the Rocks and Mountains like Hares until that Appianus not without cause doubting the utter Spoil of the Island redeemed his Peace by delivering the young man to Salec the Pyrat who brought him to Barbarussa gallantly attired after the Italian manner of whom he was joyfully received as the Son of a most valiant Captain his old Friend and thereupon Barbarussa staied his Souldiers from doing any further harm upon the Island and gave Appianus great thanks for him This young Man Barbarussa honoured with the command of seven Gallies and afterwards sent him to his Father then lying at Suetia a Port of the Red Sea Admiral against the Portugals who greatly troubled those Seas But the old Jew overjoyed with the suddain and unexpected return of his Son whom he had for many years before given as lost in embracing of him fainted and so presently for joy died This man for Valour was accounted little inferior to Barbarussa but for discretion and just dealing far beyond him nothing of so furious and waiward a disposition as was he Barbarussa departing from Elba came into the Bay of Telamon in Tuscany and in short time took the City which he spoiled and burnt but especially the House of Bartholomeus Telamonius whose dead Body but a little before buried he caused to be pluckt out of the Grave and his Bones to be scattered abroad because he being Admiral of the Bishop of Rome's Gallies had in the Isle of Lesbos wasted Barbarussa's Fathers poor Possession and marching by night eight miles farther into the Land surprised Montenum and carried almost all the Inhabitants away with him into Captivity The like mischief he did at the Port called Portus Herculis but purposing to have taken Orhatello and there to have fortified he was by Luna and Vitellius two valiant Captains before sent thither the one by the State of Siena and the other by the Duke of Florence repulsed So though disappointed of his purpose yet having done great harm and put the whole Country of Tuscany in exceeding fear he departed from thence and landed again at Igilium now called Gigio an Island about twelve miles distant from Portus Herculis where he quickly battered the Town and carried a wonderful number of all sorts into miserable Captivity keeping on his Course he passing the Cape of Linar and coming over againg Centumcelle had burnt that City for the same reason he did Telamon had he not been otherwise perswaded by Strozza the French Embassador fearing to draw the French King into further obloquy From thence he came with a direct Course to the Island of Ischia where landing in the night he intercepted most part of the
pity at last requested that he would give him leave to shoo his Horses in his Territory telling him that he came unprovided of all things and therefore desirous in that fruitful Country to refresh his Horses a day or two and to new shoo them Whereunto the Bassa courteously answered That he would not let him to take whatsoever he needed But whether it was for the compassion that he had upon the state of Bajazet or for the secret love he bare him or that he thought by that means the easier to entrap him is doubtful and happily prevented by Bajazets quick speed had not as yet sufficient time to draw together his Souldiers He sent also unto Bajazet certain small Presents seeming to be glad of his welfare and coming who nevertheless kept on his way resting no part of the day and but a little of the night The Bassa of Erzirum understanding that Bajazet came still on made what hast he could also and joyned his power to the rest of the Bassaes which followed after for many Bassaes and Sanzacks hearing that Bajazet was fled from Amasia pursued fast after him being charged by Solyman upon pain of their Heads to bring him back either alive or dead but all in vain by reason of his speedy departure and for that he made more hast to flie than they did to follow Yet it cost no Man dearer than this Bassa of Erzirum of whom we have now spoken whom Solyman for this cause displaced and Selymus afterwards slew with two of his Sons young striplings whom he had before in despight shamefully abused against nature Yea Selymus himself and Mahomet the great Bassa with the Berglerbeg of Grecia followed also after Bajazet though it were a far off This his departure grieved Solyman above measure assuring himself as the truth was that he was fled into Persia wherewith he was so much moved that he could scarcely contain himself but would needs have gone with all his power in all hast against the Persian to have terrified him at hand from relieving his rebellious Son. But these his raging fits his grave Counsellors moderated by declaring unto him what danger he should adventure himself unto by reason of the doubtful faith of his best Souldiers And what if Bajazet as he was a desperate and suddain Man should in the mean time turn about above Pontus and the Fens of Meotis and so fetching a compass come to Constantinople and proclaiming a general liberty in his absence possess himself of the Empire By which wholesome perswasion Solyman staid his so hasty a Journy but Bajazet all the way as he went writ upon the the Gates and Doors That he would give double pay to all such as should follow him which caused Solymans Captains to have their own Souldiers in distrust and the more for that they might oftentimes hear amongst them speeches of great good will and love towards Bajazet After long flying he was at length come to the River Araxis which separated the Turks Kingdom from the Persian which having passed over and yet not so in safety he left certain of his Followers upon the Bank of the River to keep the Sanzacks who still eagerly pursued him from passing over whom the Sanzacks easily repulsed and so passing the River entred a great way into the Persian Kingdom until such time as that they were met withal by certain of the Nobility of Persia with great Troops of Horsemen who demanding of them what they meant and what they sought for in another Mans Kingdom were answered by the Turks That they pursued their Kings fugitive Son. To whom the Persians replied That they did not well contrary to the League with their Lord and Master to come in Arms beyond the Bounds of their own Kingdom and that there was a strong League between King Tamas and Solyman which it behoved them to regard as for Bajazet their King would consider what was convenient for him to do and not in that point forget himself in the mean time they should do well to get them out of that Country wherein they had nothing to do Whereupon the Turks forthwith left this pursuit and retired But by and by came Messengers from the Persian King to Bajazet to salute him and to demand the cause of his coming and also to see what strength he brought with him which as some account was about twenty thousand To whom Bajazet declared That he by his Brothers injuries and Fathers hard dealing driven out of his Country was fled unto the sacred Majesty of the Persian King as his most assured refuge who as he well hoped in compassion of Mans instability would not reject him so distressed and otherwise destitute of all help Whereunto the Persian replied That he had done very unwisely to come unto him that was in League and Amity with his Father whereof one condition was That they should account the Enemies of the one the Enemies of the other and the Friends of the one the Friends of the other Which Law to break he accounted a thing utterly unlawful nevertheless seeing the matter was so faln out he was welcome as unto his Friend who in his behalf would leave nothing unattempted to reconcile him to his Father which he despaired not to bring to pass So Bajazet meeteth with the Persian King but in an evil hour although at their first meeting there was great welcome friendly countenance chearful looks mutual kindness often conference and great feasting one of another things whereby the secret thoughts of hollow hearts are best concealed there was also a motion made of a straighter bond of alliance and one of the Persian Kings Daughters promised to Orchanes one of Bajazets Sons and he put in hope that the Persian King would never rest in quiet until Solyman had made him Governour either of Mesopotamia Babylon or Erziâ—um which Governments were by the Persians greatly extolled and that he might there live without fear of his Brother far from him and his Father also where if any thing should fall out otherwise than well he might have his Brother the Persian King a sure refuge to retire unto and so safe from all danger Which speeches were happily given out of purpose to avert Bajazet his thoughts from the feeling of the present danger who seemed unto himself so assured of the love and friendship of Tamas the Persian King that at such time as he sent his Embassadors to Constantinople for a reconciliation to be made between Solyman and him as was commonly supposed he willed the same Embassador to tell his Father that he had lost a Father at Constantinople and found another in Persia. But whether the Persian delt sincerely in this behalf for Bajazet by his Embassadors which where many may well be doubted Like it is that there was more fained shew of double diligence than of true meaning therein and the rather to feel the mind of Solyman than to do any good to the poor
their Dominions with new Fortifications and Garrisons as did also the King and the Pope in Italy for why no Ship or Gally could now look out of any Port but it was presently surprised and taken by the Turks which with the sundry calamities before received so confounded the Venetians that they in their Assemblies and Consultations seemed rather to quake for fear than after their wonted manner gravely to consult how the Enemy was to be repulsed Yet for the more safety of their City and for fear lest the Turks Fleet should forcibly break in upon them they strongly fortified the Passages through the Rock or Bank which defended the City from the Sea and kept continually twelve thousand Men in readiness in the City for the more assurance thereof All the Turks Fleet being again met together Partau and Haly departed from Aulona the twenty sixth of August and sailed directly to Corcyra which little Island seemed to be compassed in round with the great Enemies Fleet. Partau Bassa at his first arrival there landed eight hundred Horsemen and a thousand Foot who ranging up and down the Island did great hurt and burnt the very Suburbs of the City At which time the Garrison Souldiers sailing out upon them with a thousand Horsemen and five hundred Foot slew a great number of them and amongst the rest one Paphus Rays a Man of great name Thus the Turks Fleet having done wonderful harm in the Venetian Territory as well in the Islands as upon the Frontiers of Dalmatia enriched with the spoil of those Countries and carrying away with them fifteen thousand most miserable Captives departing from Corcyra arrived all in the Bay of Corinth now called the Gulf of Lepanto where we will for a while leave them to ride in safety At such time as this great Fleet the terror of that part of Christendom first put into the Adriatick Venerius the Venetian Admiral then lying with fifty Gallies at Corcyra and fearing if he staied there longer to be enforced with so small a power to fight against so strong an Enemy or else so to be shut up that he could not joyn his Forces with the Spanish Fleet which was daily expected upon the coming of the Fleet departed thence to Messina there more commodiously and more safely to attend the coming of Don Iohn of Austria General of the Spanish Forces At his coming Columnius met him with twelve Gallies which the Great Duke of Florence had sent in the aid of the Confederates and three Gallies of Malta who only were yet come thither and with great honour received him Not long after M. Antonius Quirinus and Antonius Canalis came thither also with sixty and two Gallies before appointed by the Venetians for the relief of Famagusta but now called back again to joyn with the rest of the Fleet and in short time the Gallies of Sicily arrived there also At last after long expectation in the later end of August came Don Iohn with the Spanish Fleet a Man then about four and twenty years old in whom wanted no honourable parts his Mothers blemish only excepted who although he was most dear unto his Father Charles the Fifth yet left he him nothing by his Will but only at his death commended him unto his Son Philip as his Brother The Venetian and the Popes Admirals hearing of his coming went to meet him and that with such triumph and joy that all the former heaviness before conceived of his long staying was turned into gladness with most assured hope of triumphant Victory Their doubled Forces and two great Fleets joyned in one encouraged them above measure filling all the West with the expectation of some great matter The Venetian Fleet consisted of an hundred and eight Gallies six Galleasses two tall Ships and a great number of small Galliots Unto them were joyned twelve Gallies of the Popes of whom Columnius was Admiral And with Don Iohn the General and Auria the Spanish Admiral came fourscore and one Gallies of whom three were from the Knights of Malta In this Fleet beside Mariners were reckoned to be twenty thousand fighting Men an Army not only beautiful for shew as consisting of most choice Bodies but indeed most strong and puissant old beaten Souldiâ—rs almost throughout it in every place intermixed with others of less skill many known to be Men of great experience rich and lusty Bodies were by name called forth to this so honourable service and divers other of great Nobility as well old Men as young and lusty Gallants for the natural hatred they bear unto the common Enemy came and as voluntary Men chearfully thrust themselves into that religious War every of which Noblemen as they were greater by birth or power so had they drawn after them a greater number of their Favourits and Followers strong and able Bodies of their own charge bravely armed who sought for no other pay for their pains and danger but by some notable Victory to eternise their names or honourably to spend their lives in so just a quarrel as for the defence of the Christian Faith and Religion Amongst these most honourable and resolute Men were three of greatest mark Alexander Farnesius Prince of Parma in time to be the honour and glory of Italy his native Country whose untimely death in the Low Countries even his honourable Enemies lamented and being dead is not without cause and worthy desert accounted amongst the most politick and famous Leaders of our age The second was Franciscus Maria Prince of Urbin a young Man honourably descended and of an invincible courage And the third Paul Iordanus Ursinus an honourable Gentleman of the Family of the Ursini in Rome All the power of the confederate Princes thus met together at Messina and all things now in readiness a Counsel was called by the General to resolve what course to take in those most dangerous Wars against so puissant an Enemy unto which Counsel were admitted only Don Iohn the General himself and Aloysius Rechezenes of some called Requisenius great Commander of Castile the General Lieutenant or rather director of his actions Sebastianus Venerius the Venetian Admiral and Augustinus Barbadicus General proveditor of equal authority and reputation with the Admiral and one Secretary Marcus Antonius Columnius the Popes Admiral with Pompeius Colonna his Kinsman The chief point whereon these great Commanders were to resolve was Whether they should adventure the general fortune of a Battel against so strong an Enemy or only seek to defend the Frontiers of their own Dominions Which question as all other of like sort was of divers diversly phantasied every Man pleasing himself with his own reasons Requisenius Don Iohn his chief Counsellor without whom he willingly did nothing and undoubtedly a Man of great valour and experience speaking first said That the Enemies strength was necessarily to be known before they committed all to the fortune of a Battel and that therefore delay was to be used lest
them at Calipolis and that therefore they should beware how they encountred with the Turks Fleet but upon equal strength It was also at the same time commonly reported That King Philip chief of the Confederates careless of the Wars against the Turk in the East was about to turn his Forces upon the Kingdom of Tunes or Algiers nearer unto him as indeed he did the year following The Venetians intangled with so many difficulties were even at their wits end and day by day the Senate sat from the rising of the Sun to the setting of the same consulting how all these mischiefs were to be remedied But for as much as the greatest danger was to be feared from the Turks Fleet as then hovering even over their heads they by Letters commanded Fascarinus their Admiral That whether the Confederates came unto him or not he should forthwith take his Course toward the East and there according to the Enemies designs and his own discretion and valour to do what he should think best to be done for the common good of his Country and not to refuse to joyn with the Enemy in Battel if he saw any good hope of Victory Neither ceased they at the same â—â—me both by their Embassadors and Letters earnestly to call both upon the Pope and the King to hasten their Forces to encounter the Enemy before he should come out of his own Seas and to carry the terror of the War home to his own doors rather than to receive it at their own The like Message was also done to Don Iohn putting him in mind what his place what the time and what the danger of the time required entreating him if it were possible of himself to add something unto that haâ—t which the necessity of so important a cause required Who nevertheless for all the Messengers and Letters to him sent which were many went still on fair and softly delaying from day to day telling That he would by and by come and that the Spaniards would always be so good as their word Which was so far from his thought that afterwards finding one excuse after another he not only staied his coming but called back again Requisenius also whom he had sent before with twenty Gallies to Corcyra Now were two months fittest for the Wars vainly spent when Superantius grieved to see time to no purpose so slip away and fearing lest the rest of the Summer should to as small effect in like manner pass also with great instance importuned him to hasten his journey Then at length Don Iohn answered That the Venetians requested but reason neither that he wished for any thing more than to satisfie their desires but that a greater care hindred the less which was first to be prevented He was advertised as he said that the French King pretending the suppressing of certain Pyrats had assembled a great Fleet at Rochel with purpose indeed to invade Spain now that the King was busied in these Wars against the Turk and that therefore they must pardon him if he prâ—ferred the regard of Spain before others being expresly commanded from the King not to depart from Mesâ—â—na until he had other commandment from him But whether this excuse by France proceeded of a true fear or otherwise the Venetians much doubted and the rather for that the French King understanding thereof by the Venetians was therewith as reason was exceedingly offended protesting that he was ever so far from that purpose of hindering any the Confederate Princes in that their Religious War that if the troubles of his own Country would have so permitted he would gladly have given them aid therein Many there were also that thought Envy the ancient Enemy of Vertue and Valour to have had a great power in his delay doubting whether the Spaniards would more rejoyce of the Victory well hoped for if they should joyn with the Venetians or grieve if the same should by the Venetians be obtained without them Superantius weary of discourses and long expectation and almost out of hope of any help in time from the Spaniard how untowardly soever things went thought better yet warily to moderate his grief than in so dangerous a time to give any occasion for the Spaniard to fall quite off Yet spake he not fauningly or flatteringly of the matter but with a certain modest gravity declared That he had thought Heaven would sooner have fallen than that Don Iohn would not at the appointed time have come to Corcyra And withal besought him and wished him to beware that he brought not the common State into some great danger if they had to do with such an Enemy as might be delayed with then he said he could easily abide delay but now for that the War and the Enemy was such as wherein or with whom never any General had delayed without loss to what end did he longer defer or trifle out the time Or what other Fleet did he expect If they should divide their Forces then were they all too weak but united together strong enough to defend the common cause The nearer the Enemy came the more haste were to be made to joyn with the Venetian Fleet. And what could be as he told him more honourable or glorious than for him a noble young Gentleman royally descended of whom the World had conceived a great hope that he would in Martial Honour exceed the glory of his most famous Ancestors again to vanquish the proud Turk the greatest and most mighty Monarch of the World to fight the Battel of the Highest to assure the Christian Common-wealth against so puissant an Enemy and to purchase unto himself immortal Glory and Renown As for the French there was no such thing to be feared as was pretended who with such slender preparation not worth the name of a Fleet was not so unadvised as to set upon a Kingdom of such strength and power as Spain Furthermore he said that it concerned not the Venetians more than the King himself to have the Turks repressed whose Kingdoms of Naples Sicilia and Spain were no less than their Territory exposed to danger by Sea. The good success of their Affairs in the East would open the way to the Conquest of Africk but if the Turk should prevail then were they to despair not of Africk but of all Italy Sicily yea and of Spain it self The time he said and necessity of the War with the extremity of the danger of the whole and common State required that he should with all his power and speed possible take upon him the defence of the common cause or to say more truly of the Christian Common-weal then so dangerously impugned These reasons drawn from the common good and the truth it self much moved the General but the Kings pleasure was to be preferred before all reasons or dangers that could be alledged But hearing afterward what resolute command the Venetian Senate had sent unto their Admiral he became exceeding careful for he feared
Military Insolency as the Turks term it now and then at their pleasures make incursions for booty both by Sea and Land which answered with the like from their Neighbours so molested there never wanted new Grievances and just causes of Complaint to the stirring up of greater troubles even amongst the greatest Princes The Venetians thus wronged at Sea year 1591 and their Merchants robbed by their Ambassadors complained at Constantinople of the Injuries done them by the Turks Pirats requiring to have them called home and Justice done upon them In like manner the Emperour also seeing many things both this year and the next attempted by Hassan Bassa in Croatia and the other Turks in Hungary contrary to the League to the great disturbance of his Subjects in both those Countries by his Ambassador then lying at Constantinople complained of these Outrages desiring to know whether they were done by the consent and knowledge of Amurath or not and if not then to require that order might be taken for the restraining thereof which was accordingly done and those Incursions for a while stayed and the former Peace continued Amurath still making shew as if he were willing that the League agreed upon for eight years should not be in any wise on his part infringed At which time the Persian King's Son the League not long before concluded died in the Turks Court where he lay in Hostage whose dead body Amurath caused to be honourably sent home to his Father into Persia with an Apology in defence of himself against the suspicion conceived by some That he should have been the cause of the untimely death of that young Prince still urging withal the confirmation of the League which by the death of the Prince was like enough to have been broken Whereof Amurath was the more desirous for that perswaded by his Bassa's as is aforesaid to make Wars with the Emperour although he notably dissembled the same he was in hope thereby to add unto his Empire the reliques of Hungary with some good part of the Territory of the House of Austria also and so to open himself a way into the heart of Germany For which purposes he now caused very great preparation to be made and a strong Army to be raised and at the same time put a great Fleet of Gallies into the Archipelago for the safety of his Islands in that Sea. According to these Designments year 1592 the Bassa of Bosna by the Commandment of Amurath with an Army of fifty thousand entred into Croatia and without resistance burnt and destroyed the Country before him sparing nothing that came in his way And not so contented laid siege to the City of Wihitz being the metropolitical City of that Country strongly scituate as it were in an Island compassed about with the River Vna Which City after he had sore battered and twice assaulted was by the distressed Defendants now despairing of relief and unable longer to hold it out yielded unto the Bassa upon Composition That the German Souldiers there in Garrison might in safety with bag and baggage depart and that such of the Christian Citizens as would might there still remain without hurt from the Turks either in Body or Goods Which Conditions the Bassa faithfully performed to the Garrison Souldiers whom in number but four hundred he sent with safe convoy into their own Territory but afterwards contrary to his faith and promise exercised all manner of Turkish Tyranny upon the poor Citizens The Emperour troubled with this unexpected Invasion of the Turks sent the Lord Petzen whom he had many times imployed in Embassages to the Turk to pray Aid of the German Princes against the common Enemy Who according to the greatness of the danger in large terms promised their help The first that made head was Ernestus Arch-duke of Austria the Emperour's Brother who with five thousand Souldiers came from Vienna to Savaria commonly called Greis the Metropolis of Stiria to whom repaired daily more strength out of Carinthia In the mean time the Turks Army daily increasing in Croatia inclosed six thousand Foot-men any five hundred Horse-men of the Christians who had taken the Mountains Woods and streight Passages and so hardly beset them that of all that number few escaped with life amongst whom many valiant Souldiers and expert Captains were slain namely Iames Prants George Plesbach and Iohn Welverdurff The Bassa after the barbarous manner of the Turks to make his Victory seem more famous laded six Waggons with the Heads of the slain Christians The Turks thus raging in Croatia brought a general fear upon all Hungary Bavaria Bohemia Stiria Carinthia Silesia and the rest of the Provinces thereabouts Whereupon the Emperour calling together the States of Silesia and Moldavia declared unto them the imminent danger perswading them to ioyn their Forces with the rest for the repulsing of so dangerous an Enemy and so imminent a Danger After long delay Ernestus the Arch-duke the tenth of August came to the Emperour his Brother with the Ambassadors of Hungary and the seventh day after were called together the Embassadors of the Kingdoms and Provinces of the Empire where it was throughly debated how the Turks were to be resisted and their attempts infringed as also from whence Forces Money and other Warlike provision was to be raised For now it was manifestly seen that longer to delay the matter was dangerous and the rather for that the Beglerbeg or great Commander of Grecia with threescore thousand select Souldiers both Horse and Foot of long time exercised in the Persian War was e're long expected who joyning with the rest of the Turks Army might do great matters both in Hungary and the Places adjoyning For preventing of which so great and manifest dangers they sate daily in Counsel in Prague yea oftentimes even from morning untill night for the Hungarians and especially the Lord Nadasti a most noble and valiant Gentleman amongst them instantly urged to have Succours sent into Hungary forasmuch as the Turkish Emperour if he should get into his hands the rest of the Towns and Castles yet holden by the Christians in Hungary it was to be feared lest he should in short time after endanger the whole state of Germany the strength whereof the Turk feared not so much as he did those poor reliques of Hungary Others were no less careful of the dangers of Croatia and Stiria as more proper to themselves the Enemy now there raging In these so great dangers the Hungarians with the rest of the distressed cried upon the Emperour for help and he likewise called upon the Princes of the Empire Divers Assemblies were made in Bohemia Hungary Moravia Silesia and the other Provinces of the Emperours and Embassadors sent from almost all the German Princes to the Emperour all was full of Consultation but as for help that came in very slowly yet such as was to be had was forthwith sent into Croatia to defend the Fortresses there against the
with Ensigns displaied with Bag and Baggage depart in safety and with a safe Convoy be brought to Altenburg Which Agreement though by Oath confirmed was not on the Turks part altogether performed for when the County had the 29 th day of September at ten a Clock in the Forenoon delivered up the City to the Bassa and the Christian Garrison was all come out the County himself with a few of his Friends was with a Convoy of Turks brought in safety to the appointed place but the Italians and other Garrison Souldiers that came behind and ought to have been by the Governour protected were contrary to the Turks promise spoiled of all that they had and hardly escaping with Life came that Night to Hochstrate and the next day to Altenburg Thus was Rab one of the strongest Bulwarks of Christendom traiterously delivered unto the most mortal Enemy of the Christian Religion being even then when it was given up victualled for a year and sufficiently furnished with all things necessary for defence all which Provision together with the City fell into the hands of the faithless Enemy A loss never to have been sufficiently lamented had it not been about four years after even as it were miraculously again recovered to the great rejoycing of all that side of Christendom as in the Process of this History shall appear Sinan glad of this victory as the greatest Trophy of his Masters glory over the Christians gave him speedy knowledge therof both by Letters and Messengers Of whom he was for that good service highly commended and afterward bountifully rewarded for now had Amurath already in hope devoured all Austria with the Provinces thereabout The great Bassa because he would not with too long stay hinder the course of this victory without delay repaired the rent City new fortified the battered Bulwarks enlarged the Ditches and filled the Cathedral Church with earth in manner of a strong Bulwark whereupon he planted great store of great Ordnance and with exceeding speed dispatched all things necessary for the holding of the place In the mean time he sent certain Tartars to summon the Town and Castle of Pappa which Castle and little Town subject thereunto the Christians the night following set on fire because it should not stand the Enemy in any stead for the farther troubling of the countrey and so fled The Bassa having at his pleasure disposed of all things in Rab and leaving there four thousand Ianizaries and two thousand Horsemen in Garrison departed thence with his Army and laid siege to Komara a strong Town of that most fertile Island which the Hungarians call Schut which scituated in the very point thereof about four miles from Rab is on the East South and North inclosed with the two Arms of Danubius All these ways Sinan with his Fleet which he had there notably well appointed laid hard siege unto the Town ang gave thereunto divers assaults and by Land the Beglerbeg of Greece ceased not both by continual battery and Mines to shake the Walls and Bulwarks thereof Thus was the City on all sides both by Water and by Land hardly laid unto But the Christians within with no less Courage defended themselves and the City than did the Turks assail them shewing indeed that the Liberty of their Religion and Country was unto them dearer than their Lives Matthias the Arch-duke in the mean time not ignorant how much it concerned the Emperour his Brother to have this City defended having after his late overthrow gathered together a good Army of Germans Bohemians and Hungarians resolved to go and raise the siege and so marching forward with his Army came and encamped the 28 th day of October at Nitria about five miles from Komara Now were the Tartars a little before departed from the Camp with purpose to return home yea the Turks themselves weary of the Siege and wanting Victual both for themselves and their Horses began also as men discouraged to shrink away Which the Bassa well considering thought it not best with his heartless Souldiers and Army now sore weakned to abide the coming of the Christians and therefore upon their approach he forthwith forsook the City which he had by the space of three weeks hardly besieged and by a Bridg made of Boats transported his Army and Artillery over Danubius to Dotis where he the next day after brake up his Army Immediately after the Turks were thus departed the Arch-duke arrived at Komara where he with great Diligence caused the Breaches to be repaired the Mines to be filled up and new Bulwarks and Rampiers to be made in divers Places for the more strength of the City leaving the charge thereof still unto the Lord Braun the old Governour who in the defence thereof had received a grievous Wound in his right Knee of whom also this notable Fact is reported The Bassa in time of the late siege of Komara under the Colour of a Parley had sent five Turks into the City to the Governour but indeed to prove if he were by any means to be won to yield up the City and not to hold it out to the last The faithful Governour having given them the hearing until they had discharged their whole Treachery presently caused four of their Heads to be strucken off and to be set upon long Pikes upon one of the Bulwarks for the Bassa to look upon but the fifth the beholder of this Tragedy he sent back unto the Bassa to tell him That although he had found one in Rab to serve his turn he was much deceived if in him he thought to find County Hardeck and that he wished rather to die the Emperours faithful Servant in the blood of the Turks than to betray the City committed to his Charge County Hardeck late Governour of Rab generally before suspected to have treacherously betrayed that strong Town unto the Bassa was therefore sent for to Vienna and there by the Emperours Commandment committed to Prison Where among many things laid to his Charge as that he should in the beginning of the siege negligently have suffered many things to be done by the Enemy which afterwards turned to the great danger of the Town and that in the time of the siege he had caused some of the Canoneers to discharge certain great Pieces against the Enemy with Powder only without Shot and that seeing one Piece among the rest to do the Enemy much harm he had caused the same to be removed and so placed as that it served to little or no use beside that he as it should seem making small rekoning of the Town should oftentimes say That if the Turks should win it he should be but one Town the richer with divers other such things giving just cause of suspition The thing that lay most heavy upon him was the Testimony of one of Sinan Bassa's Chamber who being taken young by the Turks and serving in the Bassaes Chamber was now fled from the Turks and coming
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
a large Channel which runneth from the one Sea to the other and is about seven miles in length The City is built upon the declining of a Hill in which there are many rare singularities which I omit being described elsewhere There are in this City seven little Hills upon the which are built seven principal Mosques or Churches by several Emperours whereof the fairest and most stately is that of Sultan Solyman Upon the North side of the City standeth the Grand Seignior's Palace or Seraglio commonly called by the Name of the Port The which hath on the one side thereof the Sea and on the other side of it the Haven the other two being towards the City being about three miles in compass some write of four It is walled about and within it are many Gardens Orchards Medows and Woods Being entred into the first Port which hath double Gates of Iron into a large Court on the left hand there stands a building like unto a Turkish Mosque which now the Grand Seignior useth for a Store-house wherein are great store of Arms which are for the defence of his Seraglio And on the other side of this Court are several Gardens walled in from which they pass to another Court with a Gate like unto the former where are Targuets and Cimitars hanging and many Porters attending as at the former After this they pass into another large Court which is planted with Cypress Trees and full of Grass where Deer feed but round about it is a Cloister which is in length about six hundred and fourscore Foot and above five hundred in breadth paved with Stone and covered with Lead it being supported with one hundred and forty Pillars of white and gray Marble standing upon Bases of Copper with Capitals of the same upon the North side whereof stands the Divano whereas the Visier Bassa and the other Bassaes sit in Council and hear Causes of Importance whereof we will speak hereafter In this Seraglio the Grand Seignior hath many Chambers which are richly appointed wherein he remains and there he hath six young Men which attend his Person and the Service of his Chamber whereof two wait daily and at Night they watch when he sleeps the one of them at his Head the other at his Feet with two Torches burning in their Hands In the Morning as Sanzovino writes when the Grand Seignior attires himself they put into one of his Pockets a thousand Aspers and into the other Pocket twenty Duckets of Gold the which if he give not away that Day is their Fee at Night neither as they say doth he ever put on the same Clothes and whensoever he goes to Hunting or to any other Exercise besides the Money which he hath with him his Casnadar Bassa or chief Treasurer still follows him with great store of Money to give away The Office of these six young Men who are changed as it pleaseth the Grand Seignior is distinct for the one carries his Shooes the second his Bow and Arrows the third his Vest the fourth a Vessel with Water the fifth carries a Seat and the sixth called Oda Bassa is head of the Chamber He hath daily a great number of Persons resident in his Palace imployed in their several Charges some in one place some in another under their several Commanders But among all the great Men in his Court these are of chiefest Eminency and Note First the Capi Aga that is to say the mouth of the Grand Seignior by whom the Sultan speaketh to such as have any great suit unto him for no Ambassadour is admitted unto him but at his first arrival when he delivers his Letters of credit and his Presents and when he hath any business to treat of he repairs to the Visier Bassa or his Aga. The second is Casnadar Bassa the chief Treasurer of the Houshold or Superintendent of the Treasure The third Chilergi Bassa chief Cup-bearer The fourth is Seraglio Agasi Steward or Master of the Houshold The fifth is Chiller Agasi or Saraidar Bassa Overseer of his Seraglio of Concubines who is always an Eunuch as the rest be The sixth and last is Bostangi Bassa chief Gardiner and Overseer of all his Gardens Captain of his Jamoglans and Steerer of his Barge whensoever he goeth by Water He hath a Protogero or Lieutenant and many Gardiners under him which are called Bostangi who when they come out of the Seraglio become Janizaries Solacchi or Capigi according to their Qualities These six Officers of the Sultans House above mentioned have no authority out of his Palace yet the greatest Bassaes stand in awe of them and fear them for that they have free access unto the Sultan and have daily opportunity to incense him against them for by their secret Suggestion and false Informations many of the greatest Bassaes are many times suddenly and undeservedly cut off in the height of all their pomp and glory He hath many Mutes or dumb Men attending about him whereof eight be his daily Companions and Play-fellows in the Seraglio in whose company he takes great delight besides many others to the number of forty which attend upon him as Pages They are all born deaf and dumb yet by long Practice they grow so perfect as they will understand any thing that shall be acted unto them by Signs and Gestures and will themselves by the gesture of their Eyes Bodies Hands and Feet deliver matters of great difficulty to the great admiration of strangers The Grand Seignior hath within his Palace a Seraglio of young Men to the number of five hundred from eight years of Age to twenty these are the well-favouredst and best proportioned of all the Tribute Children which he draweth from Graecia and Natolia and they are chosen out of his Seraglioes at Pera Adrianopolis and other Places and brought to this to be bred up where they are instructed in divers Arts according to their Disposition but especially to Read and Write and in the Doctrine of their Law and to Ride there being a great number of Horses kept within this Seraglio for their Exercise and for the Eunuchs They never go out of the Seraglio till the Sultan thinks them to be of fit Age to undergo some Charge and then he makes them Spacoglani or Silichtari and to some he gives greater Places according to their Valour or the favour they have gotten with him He hath in like manner about fourscore Mutaferache that is to say Lance-bearers to the Grand Seignior which carry his Lance whensoever he goeth to field and acknowledge no other Commander and in time by his Favour or their Merits are made Captains He hath always above one thousand Eunuchs entertained in several Places whereof some of them are in very great credit with him and can prevail much they are called Hudurni many of them are employed to attend his Concubines and Virgins in his Seraglio They are not only deprived of their Genitors but in their Youth
in the Garden according to his usual Custom throwing them one on the other into the Water the Queen grew so furious that she could not contain longer from venting her Anger in unhansome Terms and jealously against the Nurse and her Son. At which the Sultan being much displeased and being ill-natured if we may speak boldly of an Emperor took her Son which is now Sultan Mahomet out of her Arms and with some few Curses swung him into a Cistern where he had been certainly drowned had not every one in that instance applied themselves to save him at which time he received the Mark or Scar he wears at this day in his Forehead All thâ—se Matters served for farther Fuel to nourish the implacable Spirit of the Queen which the Kuzlir Aga well observing judged it prudence to give way to her Fury and so begged his Dismission from the Court together with his Slave and Son and that having visited Mecha according to his Law he might enjoy a Râ—tirement in Egypt which is the Portion of banished Eunuchs The Queen easily consented hereunto nor was it difficult to procure the Licence of the Sultan who was as easily perswaded to any by those who were about him wherefore the Eunuch having provided to be gone shipped himself with his great Treasure on the Fleet which was now designed and ready to depart for Alexandria which consisted of three Ships one a great Gallion and two others of lesser Burthen and seven Saiks these having at the beginning of their Voyage found contrary Winds put into Rhodes from whence loosing with more favourable Weather they unfortunately met with six Malta Gallies exâ—ellently well manned and provided The Admiral Gally immediately Boarded one of the Saiks and took her manned only by Greeks by whom they were informed of the Condition Quality and Cargo of the greater Ship which gave Heat and Resolution to the Souldiery In like manner with little Opposition the Gallies called the St. Iohn and Ioseph possessed themselves of one of the lesser Ships which being laden only with Timber brought from the Black Sea to build Ships at Alexandria was of little value having forty Turks aboard eight Women and a Child which sucked at the Mother's Breast In the mean time the three other Gallies called the St. Mary St. Lorenzo and Victory attacked the great Gallion and having cast their Iron Graples into the Ship with the Motion of the Ship the Irons gave way and broke only that of the St. Lorenzo held fast so that the whole force of the Ship both of small and great Shot was poured in upon the Gally to their damage and loss of Men. In the mean time the Admiral Gally came in to their Assistance and Assaulting the Ship on the other Quarter made a Diversion of their Men and having thrown in their Graples they scaled the sides of the Gallion as if it had been a Fortress where being entred they remained for some time at handy-blows with the Turks but at length all the Gallies coming to their help having made an end of subduing the other Ships the Turks were forced to retire under Covert of their Decks which they defended still with singular Valour wounding the Christians with their half Pikes through the Gratings But in fine the Captains of the Gallies perceiving that this was not the way to compel them to a speedy Surrender ordered several Musquetiers out of every Gally to fire in at the Windows and loop-holes of the Ship by which having killed their Commander in Chief their Valour and Constancy began to fail and desirous to save their lives with loss of Liberty and Estates they cast down their Arms and begged Mercy In this Engagement were killed the Captain of the St. Mary and seven Cavaliers of which sive were French one Italian and one German the Admiral himself and the Captain of his Gally were both wounded seventy nine Souldiers and Mariners killed and an hundred thirty two wounded Of the Turks it is not certain how many fell in regard as they were killed according to Custom they cast them over-board the Eunuch himself though always educated in the softness of the Seraglio and in the Conversation of the Female Court yet in the end concluded his days like one of the Masculine Sex fighting valiantly with his Sword until overwhelmed by his Enemies by which it is observable that those Persons lose not their Courage with their virile Parts for it hath been known in former days how that Eunuchs have been Generals in the Turkish and other Armies and conducted their Affairs with admirable Courage and Success The Prize which the Christians had gained in this manner was very considerable for besides the Gold Silver and Jewels which were the Treasure this Eunuch had amassed in the Reign of three several Sultans they gained three hundred and fifty Slaves besides thirty Women some of which were young and Virgins so that there was not a Souldier or Seaman who had not a considerable share of benefit proportioned unto him With this Fortune towing their Prizes they in a short time came to an Anchor in the Port of Calismene in the Island of Candia called anciently Phenice on the South-side of the Iâ—land remote from all Venetian Garisons and where as it is reported they were supplied with no Provisions excepting a small quantity of Bisket which was furnished by a Country Fellow who for that very Cause was shot to Death From hence the Gallies departing arrived in Malta with their Prizes where they were received in great Triumph The young Son of the Eunuch for so we call him was reported to be a Son of the Grand Signior sent into Egypt to be Educated and was accordingly saluted treated and reverenced by the Grand Master the same Opinion was dispersed and confirmed in all parts of Europe and the Errour for many Years maintained at the Expence of the Religion until the Boy growing up to a good Age and not judged worthy of a Ransom or enquiry after by the Turks it was thought convenient for him to put off his State and Greatness and become a Fryer and I think a Dominican and this is he who now goes under the name of the Padre Ottomano The News hereof arriving at the Ottoman Court Sultan Ibrahim was transported with Anger threatning Destruction and Ruin unto Malta besides he shewed a most inveterate Passion against the Venetians for not guarding the Seas from his Enemies and for relieving them in their Ports In which Rage and Fury he put his own Captain Pasha to death and Summoned the Christian Ambassadors braving them all for the little respect was shown to his proper Shiping and in short was angry with all but reserved the Effect of his Wrath to be poured on the Venetians to which this Accident administred the first Original and will afford us ample matter of Discourse in this ensuing History For the Grand Signior first made his Complaints against Venice to their
that he was contented to grant them Peace on Conditions that they surrendred to him all the Island of Candia with the Fortress of Clissia in Dalmatia and paiment of three Millions of Gold for the Dammages of the War. But these seemed to the Senate to be such unreasonable Propositions and so prejudicial to their Honour that they resolved to maintain the War and to defend themselves more vigorously than ever ANNO 1658. NOtwithstanding the Designs of the Turks against Dalmatia they were not less intent to their Affairs in Candia designing to try their Fortune once again in the Siege of the principal City of that Name for that falling into their Hands the whole Island would quickly be reduced and with that Conquest an end would be put unto the War. The Venetians on the other side attended to their Business with all diligence not neglecting any Provisions which might secure their Interest in that Country year 1658. and that they might regain what they had lost they held Intelligence with some Persons in Canea hoping by their means to surprise the Town but the Turkish Governour being very vigilant reinforced his Garison with five hundred Men and Chusaein Pasha coming to his Assistance with thirty Gallies disappointed the Venetians of landing at that place The Rendezvous of the Army which was to march into Dalmatia was ordered to be at Adrianople where the Brother-in-Law of the Pasha of Aleppo who was Commander of the Forces of that Place arriving later than the day prefixed was for that reason put to death by the Great Vizier This Severity so enraged the Pasha that immediately he raised an Army of forty thousand Men and marched towards Scutari threatning Constantinople it self unless the Head of the Great Vizier were given him by way of reprizal for that of his Brothers The Divan being startled hereat returned him a gentle Message neither denying nor granting his Demand as if they intended to amuse him with Hopes But he interpreting this Delay for a Refusal did not only persist in requiring the Head of the Vizier but of four other principal Counsellors whom he judged to have concurred in the Sentence for his Brother's Death and in farther prosecution hereof he burnt and spoiled all the Country about Constantinople and the Plague raging at the same time in the City affected the Inhabitants with such Sadness and Discontent that the chief Ministers apprehended more Evil from thence than from the Enemy without The Army of the Pasha daily increasing and being grown from forty to sixty thousand Men caused the Vizier to abandon all other Thoughts and Designs but those which tended to the destruction of the Pasha and his Complices so that there necessarily followed a Revulsion of the Forces from Dalmatia the Vizier himself diverting them from thence and Transylvania marched with the whole Army towards Constantinople Yet before the Great Vizier departed from Adrianople he perswaded the Grand Signior to set the Bailo Capello and the Secretary Ballarino at Liberty that thereby he might give some jealousy to the Rebels as if he designed to make a Peace with Venice to have more Power and better leizure to make his War against them This Counsel though prudently given had yet little Influence on the Humor of the Pasha who continued his March fortifying himself in the most advantageous Passes of the Country But what was most bold of all his Actions and rendred his Pardon beyond the Clemency of his Soveraign was the proclaiming a Youth of twenty Years of Age then with him in his Army to be the Son of Sultan Morat and consequently the lawful Heir of the Crown and that in right of him he had taken possession of a great part of Asia and was marching towards Constantinople with resolution to dispossess Sultan Mehmet and exalt this lawful and undoubted Heir on the Throne of his Ancestors This and other Rumors from Persia that that King taking the advantage of these Disorders was making Preparations to regain Bagdat or Babylon and revenge himself of all those Cruelties which the Turks had inflicted on his Subjects and Country increased the Fears and Cares of the chief Ministers of State. Notwithstanding which Chusaein Pasha prosecuted his Business no less in Candia than formerly in hopes to put an end to the War there before the end of the Summer and in order thereunto he received a Recruit of five and twenty thousand Men from the Morea But the daily increase of the Pasha's Forces and his approach towards Constantinople as it was a Matter of the highest Consequence so it required the most prudence and caution in the management In the first place therefore by Fetfa or Resolve from the Mufti the Pasha was declared a Rebel and guilty of High Treason against the Sultan notwithstanding which a Chaous was dispatched with Letters of Pardon if now repenting of his Fault he would disband his Army and return to his former Obedience he should be received into Grace and Favour The Pasha received the Chaous with the same Ceremony and Honour as if he had been an Ambassador being willing to consider him under that Character rather than under the Notion of a Pursuivant or Officer sent to affright him into his Duty and in Answer to the Message replied That it was not in his power to condescend to any Conditions for that since he had assumed the Cause of this Youth who was the Son of Sultan Morat concealed to that Age by his Mother for fear of the Power of his Uncle he could not assent to any Terms or Conditions less than the Exaltation of him to the Ottoman Throne And so carrying this Young Man with him as a Property whereby to cover his Rebellion with the Guise of Justice and Duty he maintained a Court for him after the Ottoman Fashion and causing the Tagho or Standards to be carried before him he permitted him to give Audiences send Dispatches and to take on him all the Royal Marks of Empire The Army of the Pasha was by this time encreased to seventy thousand Men one part of which he sent towards Scutari and another towards Smyrna which alarm'd all the Countries round about and gave the Grand Signior such cause of Apprehension that he tried divers Means and made many Propositions of Honours and Benefits to the Pasha whereby to allure him to Obedience One while he offered to him the Government of Grand Cairo but that being rejected he endeavoured to raise Men in Asia to oppose the progress of his Arms of which some numbers being got into a Body and perceiving the formidable Force of the Pasha revolted and joined themselves to his Party This Extremity of Affairs caused the Grand Signior not only again to proclaim the Pasha a Rebel but to give liberty to his People to destroy him and his Souldiers in any parts where they should encounter them In pursuance of which License a Village in Asia having killed twenty five or thirty of the Pasha's Men
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
slavery they profess and cannot but fansie a strange kind of projected baseness in all the deportment within the Walls of the Seraglio when there appears so much condescension Abroad to all the lusts and evil inclinations of their Master so that a generous Prince as some have been found among the Ottoman Emperors though he desired not the publick Liberty would yet be weary of this slavish compliance and seek other counsel and means to inform himself of the true state of his own and other Kings Dominions than such as proceed from Men unexperienced in any other Court or Country than that they live in This flattery and immoderate subjection hath doubtless been the cause of the decay of the Turkish Discipline in the Time of Sultan Ibrahim when Women governed and now in this present Age of Sultan Mahomet whose Counsels are given chiefly by his Mother Negroes Eunuchs and some handsome young Mosayp or Favourite seldom any from without being permitted or have their Spirits emboldened to declare a Truth or are called to give their counsel in Matters of greatest importance So that this Obedience which brave and wise Emperors have made use of in the advancement of noble Exploits and enlargement of their Empire is with effeminate Princes delighted with flattery the Snare of their own Greatness and occasion of weak Counsels and Means in the management of great Designs If a Man seriously consider the whole composition of the Turkish Court he will find it to be a Prison and Banniard of Slaves differing from that where the Galley-slaves are immured only the Ornaments and glittering out-side and appearances here their Chains are made of Iron and there of Gold and the difference is only in a painted shining servitude from that which is a squalid sordid and a noisome slavery For the Youths educated in the Seraglio which we shall have occasion to discourse of in the next Chapter are kept as it were within a Prison under a strange severity of Discipline some for twenty thirty others forty Years others the whole time of the Age of Man and grow gray under the correction of their Hogiaes or Tutors The two Brothers of this present Grand Signior are also imprisoned here restrained with a faithfull and carefull Guard and perhaps are sometimes permitted out of Grace and Favour into the presence of their Brother to kiss his Vest and to perform the offices of Duty and Humility before their Prince The Ladies also of the Seraglio have their faithful Keepers of the Black Guard to attend them and can only have the liberty of enjoying the Air which passes through Grates and Lattices unless sometime they obtain licence to sport and recreate themselves in the Garden separated from the sight of Men by Walls higher than those of any Nunnery Nay if a Man considers the Contexture of the whole Turkish Government he will find it such a Fabrick of slavery that it is a wonder if any amongst them should be born of a free ingenâ—ous Spirit The Grand Signior is born of a Slave the Mother of the present being a Circasian taken perhaps by the Tartars in their incursions into that Country The Visiers themselves are not always free-born by Father or Mother for the Turks get more Children by their Slaves than by their Wives and the continual supply of Slaves sent in by the Tartars taken from different Nations by way of the Black Sea as hereafter we shall have occasion to speak more fully fills Constantinople with such a strange Race Mixture and Medly of different sorts of Blood that it is hard to find many that can derive a clear Line from ingenuous Parents So that it is no wonder that amongst the Turks a disposition be found fitted and disposed for Servitude and that is better governed with a severe and tyrannous Hand than with sweetness and Lenity unknown to them and their Forefathers as Grotius takes this Maxim out of Aristotle Quosdam homines naturâ esse servos i. e. ad servitutem aptos ita populi quidem eo sunt ingenio ut regi quam regere norint rectius But since it appears that Submission and Subjection are so incident to the Nature of the Turks and Obedience taught and so carefully instilled into them with their first Rudiments it may be a pertinent question How it comes to pass that there are so many Mutinies and Rebellions as are seen and known amongst the Turks and those commonly the most insolent violent and desperate that we read of in Story To let pass the Mutinies of former Times in the Ottoman Camp and the usual though short Rebellions of ancient Days I shall instance in the Causes and Beginnings of two notorious Disturbances or rather Madnesses of the Souldiery not mentioned in any History which being passages of our Age deserve greatly to be recorded This Obedience then that is so diligently taught and instilled into the Turkish Militia as to the Spahees in their Seraglios or Seminaries the Janisaries in their Chambers sometimes is forgot when the Passions Animosities of the Court by which inferior Affections are most commonly regulated corrupt that Discipline which its Reason and Sobriety instituted For the affections of Princes are endued with a general Influence when two powerful Parties aspiring both to Greatness and Authority allure the Souldiers to their respective Factions and engage them in a Civil War amongst themselves and hence proceed Seditions destruction of Empires the Overthrow of Common-Wealths and the violent Death of great Ministers of State. And so it happened when ill Government and unprosperous Successes of War caused Disobedience in the Souldiery which some emulous of the Greatness of those that were in Power nourished and raised to make place for themselves or their Party For in the time of Sultan Mahomet the present Grand Signior when the whole Government of the Empire rested in the hands of one Mulki Kadin a young audacious Woman by the extraordinary Favour and Love of the Queen-Mother who as it was divulged exercised an unnatural kind of Carnality with the said Queen so that nothing was left to the Counsel and Order of the Vizier and grave Seniors but was first to receive Approbation and Authority from her the black Eunuchs and Negroes gave Laws to all and the Cabinet-Councils were held in the secret Apartments of the Women and there were Proscriptions made Officers discharged or ordained as were most proper to advance the Interest of this Feminine Government But at length the Souldiery not used to the Tyranny of Women no longer supporting this kind of Servitude in a moment resolved on a Remedy and in great Tumults came to the Seraglio where commanding the Grand Signior himself to the Kiosch or Banquetting-house they demanded without farther Prologue the Heads of the Favourite Eunuchs there was no Argument or Rhetorick to be proposed to this unreasonable Multitude nor Time given for delays or consultation but every one of the accused as he
encompass'd about with little Hills famous for the golden Mines and the Country well planted about it with pleasant Vineyards the Governours thereof would neither declare themselves at first either for the Emperor or for the Malecontents But when the Imperialists with their Army drew near to them they could no longer conceal their Affections and good Wishes but broke their Neutrality and declar'd for the Emperor Soon after which Tekeli making himself Master of the place put six of the Chief Inhabitants to death in punishment of their Infidelity and breach of Promise But before the end of this year the Imperialists had their changes of good Fortune as well as the Malecontents a Party of which the Garrison of Filek entirely defeated Filek is Situate in the Road-way from the Mountain Towns in Hungary leading to Transilvania and Cassovia and lies about five Leagues Northward from Agria This Success was seconded by another Rout which Count Esterhasi the Pope's General gave to a party of Five hundred Spahees and Two thousand Ianisaries near Vesprin who were design'd to make Incursions into the Emperor's Countries But least this Action should be ill represented to the Grand Seignior and become the Cause of a Rupture the Emperor dispatched away an Express to Constantinople to give a true account of the Cause and Reasons for this Engagement And now being come to that Season of the year when Armies draw into their Winter-quarters Both Parties being in cooler temper began to Treat so that a Cessation of Arms was agreed and the place appointed for the Conference was Oedembourg where all the Chief Lords of Hungary had agreed to Assemble The person who was to preside for the Emperor was the Prince of Swartzembourg and Count de Nostiz manag'd the Treaty applying himself with much Zeal and Diligence that this Negotiation might be happily concluded ANNO 1679. This Treaty with a Cessation of Arms continu'd till the end of the year with hopes that the beginning of the next would make that poor Kingdom happy with a Peace But the Emperor having as it were secur'd a Peace with France which was one of the greatest fears he had upon him in case of a War with the Turks refus'd to yield unto the same terms which he had frequently offer'd in former times to the Malecontents It was now resolv'd that the Office of Palatine should for ever hereafter be extinguish'd and made void year 1679. and that Kingdom govern'd by a Vice-Roy who was solely to be constituted by Commission from the Emperor 2 dly The Protestants were not to have Churches in Towns or Cities but to content themselves with such as should be allotted them in Villages 3 dly As a Preliminary to all the rest the Malecontents were to dismiss the Foreign Troops entertain'd in their Service before the Treaty upon any other Conditions and Articles should commence The very noise of this alteration in the Emperor's Councils put a stop to all proceedings of a Treaty and an end to the Truce and Cessation of Arms. And indeed the Malecontents were by this time so engag'd with the Turks that on their part also they had put themselves out of all possibility of Accommodation without their concurrence and concernment in the Treaty The Assembly at Oedembourg being dissolv'd the Malecontents held a Diet of their own at Coloswar alias Claudiopolis whereunto Prince Apafi and the Neighbouring Pashas resorted to treat and agree upon the measures which were to be taken for the ensuing year in order to carrying on the War. Whilst they were upon this Treaty a Messenger arriv'd from the Grand Seignior who brought a Scymitar to Prince Apafi which was a certain Signal of the Sultan's favour and acceptance of his Services which was much to the joy of all Persons there present for that it was doubtful before how far the Grand Seignior would abâ—tt the Cause of Pedipol to whom as we have mention'd he had given his Commission to be Prince of Transilvania with exclusion of Apafi Nor was the News of less concernment to them brought at the same time that the Grand Seignior was upon conclusion of peace with the Moscovites by which the whole Ottoman Empire would be at leisure to employ all their Troops against the Germans And with the same occasion the Pashas of Hungary were Commanded to joyn with Apafi and to assist the Malecontents with such Forces as they should desire of all which the Emperor having certain Intelligence from his Resident at Constantinople Order'd three Regiments to be sent into Hungary for recruit of the Forces under Count Lesley of which the Malecontents having Advice took the Field and passing the Theysse pitch'd their Camp near Debrezin to cover and relieve as occasion serv'd the Castle of Kovar This City of Debrezin or Debrechim is situated between Tokai and great Waradin and is very Rich and Populous It was a Free Town and conserv'd it self in a Neutrality during the late Revolutions but after Zolnock and Cassovia were reduc'd the Magistrates thereof desir'd his Imperial Majesty to take them under his protection with which and by payment of a Tribute to the Port the Inhabitants liv'd quiet and free until the year 1676. when it was taken by Count Strazoldo upon pretence that it was become the place of Sanctuary and common Refuge of the Malecontents tho' afterwards upon complaints from the Turks the Emperor withdrew his Forces from thence leaving them free and in their former Condition of Neutrality In the mean time Tekeli falling in love with a Daughter of the Princess Ragotski Dowager who was extreamly zealous as we have mention'd before for the Emperor's Cause refus'd to bestow her Daughter upon him unless he would first Relinquish the Interest to which he had adher'd The passion which Tekeli had for the young Lady was more powerful than his Inclinations to the discontented Party so that first seeming cold in his Old pursuits and declaring his Mind freely in open Discourse his Troops began to suspect his Fidelity and left him and put themselves under the Command of Wessellini Tekeli endeavour'd to perswade Palfi Imbre to joyn with him in his Revolt but not prevailing he singly with some few Servants went over to Vienna Coming thus alone to the Emperor without his Troops he was the less welcome and indeed he was so little regarded and his Merit so ill accounted on that when he made applications to the Emperor for Restitution of his Estate which was Confiscated to the value of two Millions those who enjoy'd the benefit of so great Riches obstructed his Request Representing unto the Emperor that the return to his Duty after a long continuance in Rebellion only in his own Person and without his Troops deserv'd nothing nor was it to be judg'd a satisfaction or an atonement for the many mischiefs and disservices that he had already done and that to recover the Emperor's favour there was something
laid all other Designs aside he might in that great consternation of the Turks have passed the Save and made himself Master of Belgrade without much difficulty and therewith have reduced all Bosnia to the devotion of the Emperor But this being an Over-sight and matters succeeding as before related let us return to the mutinous Army of the Turks whom we lately left raging against the Grand Vizier the Grand Seignior and all the Government The Grand Vizier as we have said having quitted the Army to give way to the Fury of the Soldiers took a Boat at Belgrade and rowed down the Danube accompanied with the Tefterdar or Lord Treasurer and the Reis Effendi or Secretary of State the Soldiers in the mean time chose as is aforesaid Sciaus for their General and immediately dispatched away Orta Chiaus an Officer of the Ianisaries to acquaint the Grand Seignior with what the Army had done It was now no time to expostulate with the Soldiers or disapprove their Actions but on the contrary Orta was kindly received and caressed by the Chimacan at Constantinople called Regeb Pasha And the Grand Seignior himself without any Hesistancy confirming the Choice which the Army had made dispatched Orta Chiaus immediately back with the Signals of Honour which are a Sword and a Vest of Sables declaring him General and ordering him to take care of the Frontiers The Vizier having got out of the reach of the Army took Post and came to Adrianople where he staid and gave time for his Friends to work in his behalf with the Grand Seignior who of himself was well enough inclined to Solyman and therefore after the Rout and Noise was a while appeased Regeb the Chimacam obtained his Pardon and Permission for him to come to Constantinople and Mamout Aga his Friend and a rich Man was sent for the Messenger to invite him thither But before Solyman arrived the Scene was much changed by the coming of four Officers from the Army with Arz and Max-Arz which is a Petition and Certificate signed by the principal Commanders in the Army attesting that Solyman was a Person of no Conduct a Coward and a Lyer and one who took no care to pay the Army and in short that he was not fit for that Sublime Office of Grand Vizier concluding their Petition with a Prayer that another might be placed in that Government Solyman having News hereof as he was on the Road to Constantinople and thinking thereupon that that place would be too hot for him at present sent the Seal and the Standard of the Prophet to the Sultan committing them to the care of the Tefterdar the Treasurer and Reis Effendi the Secretary his Friends and fellow Travellers to be delivered by them conveying himself privately within the Walls of Constantinople upon which without delay the Grand Seignior dispatched away the Seal and the Standard to Sciaus declaring him Grand Vizier in the place of Solyman Regeb would have disswaded the Grand Seignior from sending the Standard which is the Colours of their Prophet Mahomet and towards which the People bear a superstitious Devotion alledging that thereby he weakned himself and armed a Company of Mutiniers with the Charm of that holy Relick Howsoever the Kuzlier Aga who is the chief Eunuch of the Women was of a different Opinion being of a nature timorous like that of the Grand Seignior His Council prevailed and the Standard was sent by the Hand of the Selictar or Sword-bearer that the Soldiery might not have cause to believe that the Sultan treated them with reserves or with the least manner of diffidence But all this served not to appease or mollify the madness of the Soldiery who now talked of nothing but marching to Constantinople and there to Depose the Grand Seignior and reform the Government setting up his Brother Sultan Solyman under whose Reign they hoped for the like Auspicious Successes as they had found in the fortunate Reigns of those Sultans who had formed the Ottoman Empire and especially they had a singular Reverence for the Name of Sultan Solyman who they hoped would prove as great and fortunate as Solyman the Magnificent Sciaus Pasha who was in his Heart a cordial Friend to the late Vizier Solyman found now that he had conjured up a Devil he could not lay would gladly have disswaded the Soldiery from their designed March to the Port and rather advised them to guard their Frontiers and oppose the Enemy But this Council had cost him his Life had he not touched the Proposal very gently and at the same time assured them of his readiness to joyn with them in any Design they should contrive And accordingly marching away in a kind of a tumultuous and disorderly manner towards the River Save great Numbers of them were actually passing the Bridge near Belgrade when the Chimacam or Governour General of the Ianisaries of that place apprehending that they came to Plunder the Town refused them Passage causing several Pieces of Cannon to be fired upon them with which several being killed they returned back Howsoever persisting still in their Resolution the most wild and obstinate party of them passed the River in Boats at some distance from the Town leaving Sciaus Pasha with the rest of the Militia on the other side a good days March behind them by this slow Motion of Sciaus the Soldiery guessing at his backwardness to engage with them like enraged Mad-men they returned to him and treated him with Menaces vowing to kill him in case he refused to be their General and Leader in this good Cause of reforming the Government Whilst the Army was in this Commotion great were the Confusions Plots Stratagems and Contrivances at Constantinople which Regeb the Chimacam suspecting that the Friends of the late Vizier Ibrahim exiled to Rhodes did foment and also that the Mufti who was last year Banished to Prusa was too near he procured a Command from the Grand Seignior to remove that Mufti to Rhodes and the Kapugibashee or Messenger who was employed on this Affair and had the care upon him to conduct this Mufti to Rhodes carried also a Hatte-sheriff or the Command with him for the Head of Ibrahim Pasha which we shall shortly find at Constantinople about the same time almost that Regeb's Head was laid with others to augment the heap In the mean time the Tefterdar or Treasurer and the Reis Effendi or Secretary who were the Two Fellow-Travellers with Solyman the late Vizier were dispatched to the Army with soft Messages from the Grand Seignior approving all that they had done and offering to perform all they did or could desire But we shall see presently how well these Two Mediators succeeded in their Office of making Peace with a heady Multitude which would hear no Reason and endure no Government For Sciaus was now made only a Property to execute the Commands of the Ianisaries and Spahees who had entred into a solemn
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